HOUSTON – After finishing an efficient drive in crunch time with a 12-yard touchdown pass to The Man of the Hour, Cee Dee Lamb, that gave the Dallas Cowboys a four-point lead, you can’t blame Dak Prescott for feeling some anxiety inside raucous Reliant Stadium.
There were 40 seconds on the clock.
And a week of intense criticism and soul-searching were all too fresh after what happened in Rio just seven days earlier.
“Obviously, the nerves are there,” Prescott said after the Cowboys pulled out a 34-30 victory in a thriller against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Prescott and his unit, with plenty of lifting from Lamb – who produced a career-high 17 receptions for 189 yards – had done its part. But it’s a team game. Dallas’ defense, which had an embarrassing
meltdown against the Ravens in the final seven seconds in Week 3, was again in the position to make or break the outcome.
Déjà vu, anyone?
“You’re hoping that they do their job, and I felt like they would,” Prescott added, “and they did a great job of doing that.”
Barely. The game wasn’t decided until the clock struck zero as C.J. Stroud’s Hail Mary pass to the end zone from the Dallas 48-yard line came within a whisker of becoming a miracle touchdown catch amid a mass of bodies. Cowboys safety Malik Hooker was credited with breaking up the pass, but it was so close that it appeared that several players, including a Texans receiver, had a chance to make a play on the ball before it fell to the turf.
Relief.
“That's what makes this game so special,” Prescott said. “It takes everybody that steps on that field and everybody has a part in it and (Sunday was) a good example of that.”
It was also an example of week-to-week growth. Prescott considers himself Mr. Optimist and insists that he didn’t doubt the defense would come through with the game on the line. A week earlier the Cowboys (2-2) allowed Lamar Jackson to connect with Zay Flowers for a 27-yard completion over the middle that set up Tyler Loop’s 52-yard game-winning field goal. Yet Prescott also has a point when he contends the offense put the defense in a bad position by not punching the ball in for a touchdown after setting up first-and-goal from the 2-yard line, instead settling for a game-tying field goal.
“It's a lot easier, or it's a lot more fun to learn from things with a win,” Prescott said. “Last week we went through it, learning from a lot, which was needed with the loss.
“I think I had a conversation with a couple of coaches. If we won that game last week, are we focusing on the things that we need to? That's the blessing in disguise and that's the perspective I think all of us need to have, good or bad or whatever happens in life.”
Of course, Cowboys coach Brian Schotteheimer was as big a culprit as anyone for the fiasco in Rio, given the shaky clock management and other strategical details that can be so essential in winning at situational football. It drew the public ire of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who said there was “no explanation you’re satisfied with” yet expressed confidence that his coaches would use the setback as a learning experience.
All of this certainly resonated with Lamb, who fueled the comeback on Sunday.
“I just wanted Schotty to know that I’ve got his back,” Lamb said. “I’m with him; I’m one of his strong soldiers. It’s just going to battle with each other.”
The Cowboys certainly demonstrated resilience with their latest outing. They trailed by 10 points at halftime, and again early in the third quarter. After taking their first lead early in the fourth quarter, they lost it with a little more than 2 minutes left.
And during that exchange, the defense looked so ripe for more embarrassment. The go-ahead touchdown for the Texans, a 6-yard run by Woody Marks, was set up by a 21-yard gain on a hook-and-lateral play – Dalton Shultz caught a short pass and lateraled to David Montgomery – that converted on third-and-14.
So, when the game came down to one final Texans possession, there were no guarantees. Then Stroud completed two passes to move his squad to midfield.
Cowboys fans couldn’t be blamed if they covered their eyes.
But lesson learned. This time they survived. And if this season turns out to be extra special, the turning point is duly noted.
Whipping around Week 4:
What I learned
Marquee value is just part of the equation for the Los Angeles Rams defense, which went into Philadelphia without D-line stars Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, plus cornerback Jaylen Watson, and put together a dominant performance that was essential to the comeback from a double-digit deficit.
The unit, coordinated by Chris Shula, held the Eagles to 172 net yards, didn’t allow a single third-down conversion (0 for 12), collected four sacks (paced by Byron Young’s 2 ½ sacks) and produced a goal-line stand early in the fourth quarter that set up a 98-yard TD drive that made it a 3-point game. And boy, did they blitz. The Rams had a 60.6% blitz rate, according to NextGen Stats and brought an extra rusher on every third down except the last one. It resulted in Hurts being pressured on 57.6% of his dropbacks, the second-highest rate of his career.
Sure, the Philly offense is having major issues; it played without Lane Johnson and Saquon Barkley was knocked out the game in the first quarter. Then again, the Rams were down a few guys, too. What a rebound performance following the heartbreaker at Denver a week earlier.
Did you notice?
Drake Maye didn’t just sting the Bills with his arm in passing for three TDs to help New England stop its bleeding and become the first visiting team to win at the new Highmark Stadium. He also rushed eight times for 54 yards – season highs in both categories – to remind us of why he was so special in leading the Patriots to Super Bowl 60. It seems pretty apparent that when Maye is moving, which includes bolting from the pocket to escape pressure, it links to the rhythm and flow that shows in the passing game. Maye entered the game with an NFL-worst 1-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio, but got his groove back just in time for an upset at Buffalo.
2-minute drill
- Head coaches aren’t the only ones on the hot seat. With the Broncos scoring an NFL-low 13 first-half points, Sean Payton is fielding an increasing number of questions about whether he will take back the play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb. Meanwhile, winless Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was asked whether new coordinator Mike McDaniel’s job is in jeopardy. For the record, Harbaugh says McDaniel is safe. Also for the record, the Chargers issues run the gamut – blocking breakdowns, fumbles, a disjointed quarterback Justin Herbert, an underwhelming receiver corps as they try to adjust to a new system.
- Deebo Samuel’s return to the 49ers seems like a true homecoming. The versatile receiver added more proof with his 1-yard TD catch from Brock Purdy off a busted play. And Samuel logged 44 rushing yards against Denver. Samuel played last season in Washington and often appeared to be out of sorts. Now that he’s back, he’s still a 49ers fit with coach Kyle Shanahan pushing the buttons.
- If the Jaguars (3-1) run away with the AFC South title, games like the victory at Cincinnati will be a key reason. Jacksonville’s defense might have allowed 437 yards to the Bengals, but it clamped down on the run (15 rushes, 23 yards), disrupted Joe Burrow with a consistent rush and picked off two passes. It marked the 13th game since the start of the 2025 season that Jacksonville garnered multiple takeaways. And the 39 takeaways during that span is tied with the Bears for most in the NFL. Burrow, who passed for 428 yards, was pressured 20 times (34.5% of his dropbacks), the most he has absorbed in a game in nearly two years. Good teams win with many different scenarios. And the Jaguars are shaping up to be a very good team...with a top-tier defense.
- For everyone (myself included) who figured Deshaun Watson’s tenure would be short-lived as Cleveland’s starting quarterback under new coach Todd Monken, think again. The Browns (3-1) won their third consecutive game on Thursday night against the Steelers to snag a share of first place. And for the third consecutive game Watson led a game-winning drive, the longest-such stretch of his career. Watson is resembling the quarterback he was during his best days in Houston, committing just two turnovers on the season. Now if people can only quit with the Shedeur Sanders trade speculation. Every team needs backups. And options.
- With Tyquan Thornton (ankle) and Rashee Rice (hamstring) leaving the gritty win at Las Vegas, figure on another round of Tyreek Hill buzz for the Kansas City Chiefs. Of course, a key factor involves Hill’s health – as is his rehab from knee surgery. And another factor is need.
- In his debut with the Cowboys, cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. played 24 of the 52 defensive snaps (46.2%) against Houston. On his 19 coverage snaps, he didn’t allow a reception and was targeted just once. Although Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had an impressive return after missing two games due to a hamstring injury (7 catches, 118 yards, 2 TDs), he was not targeted for a pass on the five snaps he was covered by Porter.
- Giants quarterback Jameis Winston won consecutive starts for the first time since he won four in a row with the Saints in 2021. In defeating the Cardinals, Winston found a sweet spot in the middle of the field, connecting with Malik Nabers on all three targets for 73 yards when the receiver was aligned in the slot.
- Lamar Jackson was sizzling before sitting out the second half of Baltimore’s victory against the Titans with an ankle injury. Jackson had a 144.2 passer rating – his 18th career game over 140. Jackson left M&T Bank Stadium with his foot in a walking boot, placing his case high on the list of notable injuries to watch as Week 5 looms.
Studs of the Week
- Cee Dee Lamb. On a day when he produced a career-high 17 catches for 189 yards, the Cowboys star passed Drew Pearson (7,822 yards) to move into fourth place (7,914) on the franchise’s list for career receiving yards.
- Byron Young. The Rams linebacker notched 2 of his 2 ½ sacks in the final two minutes at Philadelphia to prove that he can be quite the closer.
- Kenneth Walker III. Kansas City’s new dimension and NFL rushing leader (537 yards) romped through Las Vegas for a career-high 177 yards and two TDs on 22 carries. This included a career-long 76-yard jaunt. And with Walker averaging 134.3 yards per game, projections of how he might threaten Eric Dickerson’s single-season NFL record (2,105 yards) are in full force.
- Tetairoa McMillian. The burgeoning connection between the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Bryce Young added an exclamation point on Sunday night when T-Mac burned the Lions for a career-best 14 catches, 192 yards and two TDs.
What intrigues me about Monday Night Football
To mark the 20-year anniversary of the rebirth, the night the Saints marked their return to New Orleans as the city rebounded from Hurricane Katrina with an emotional victory against the Falcons, the NFL scheduled another matchup against their heated division rival.
No way it matches the emotions from 20 years ago, when the Saints were so essential to the fabric of the city’s comeback – and Steve Gleason provided an electrifying jolt early in the game with a blocked punt forever etched into the franchise’s lore – but the environment inside the Superdome will be raucous enough. And the venue will provide quite the introduction to the NFC South rivalry for Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr., facing the Saints for the first time in his young career.
Penix, with the help of Bijan Robinson, had a sterling season debut at Lambeau Field in Week 3. His presence provided a glimpse of the potential that Atlanta possesses for a prolific offense, so here’s to a shootout. The other side of this matchup involves Tyler Shough, the second-year quarterback, pitted against the NFL’s 29th-ranked pass defense. Shough leads the league in completions and pass attempts, while ranking second for yards (917) and third for TD passes (8). In other words, more than five years since Drew Brees retired, the Saints look like they’ve found a long-term gunslinger.
What I’m looking forward to in Week 5
49ers at Seahawks. San Francisco takes its undefeated (4-0) record to the Pacific Northwest for a litmus test against the defending Super Bowl champs. The 49ers have an early-season MVP candidate in Brock Purdy (11-1 TD-to-INT ratio) and a victory against another key NFC West rival (L.A. Rams), but Seattle (3-1) has won three of the past four games in the series. And the 49ers are thin along the D-line again. One thing for certain: It won’t be the final answer for what happens in the NFL’s best division, boasting perhaps the NFL’s three best teams, but it sure will be fun to watch. It should also be noted that the previous two times Shanahan led the 49ers to 4-0 start, they wound up in the Super Bowl.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Dallas' relief to Drake Maye's rebound, what stood out in NFL Week 4
