Following the last-second heartbreak last week, and staring down the barrel of a tough upcoming schedule, the 1-2 Cowboys needed a win in week three. And they got it. Behind CeeDee Lamb’s career day, Dak Prescott posting a great second half, and the defense closing it out when they needed them, Dallas got it done. Joey Porter Jr., Dallas’ recent acquisition, not only played but, according to NextGen stats, had a great debut.
Cowboys 34 Texans 30: A Needed Win- Cody Warren, Inside The Star
Falling to 1-3, even this early in the season, would have put the Cowboys
in an early hole. However, the offense got the job done and the defense did just enough to escape Houston with a win.
The defense finally settled down enough in the second quarter to force consecutive three-and-outs. After the frustrating first quarter, I will give them credit. They gave the offense chances they didn’t take advantage of.
Instead, we watched Brandon Aubrey trot out four different times. He made 39 and 50-yard field goals. Followed by a Will Anderson Jr. blocked 62-yard attempt and missed from 65. I can’t blame Aubrey for the miss, but I am irritated the offense couldn’t do anything.
8 instant reactions to Cowboys’ heart-stopping win vs. the Texans- Jerry Trotta, The Landry Hat
With another week in the books, we now have a clearer picture of who the 2026 Dallas Cowboys are. So what did we learn during week four’s exciting victory?
1. Why is DaRon Bland covering Nico Collins in the red zone?
The Texans polished off a commanding eight-play, 85-yard opening drive with a Nico Collins touchdown from C.J. Stroud.
Returning from a two-game absence, Collins beat DaRon Bland off the line of scrimmage, and Caleb Downs traveled with the underneath crossing route, leaving Bland in 1-on-1 coverage. Bland was playing catch-up from Collins’ first step. It was an easy score.
If you’re curious, yes, Joey Porter Jr. was in on the play.
Joey Porter Jr.’s impact is immediate- Kurt Daniels, DallasCowboys.com
The big news this week was obviously the trade for JPJ. And it took no time for JPJ to prove that he is a massive upgrade over the other cornerbacks on the roster.
Porter played 24 of the Cowboys’ 52 defensive snaps (46.2%) and did not allow a catch. In fact, Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud largely steered clear of Porter when he was on the field, targeting him just once in 19 snaps of pass coverage, according to Next Gen Stats.
Of course, the biggest problem for Porter was just quickly getting a grasp of coordinator Christian Parker’s defense. Over the last few days, though, he’s had plenty of help.
“Communication, that’s the biggest thing. Communication,” Porter said.
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6 Winners & 2 Losers From Cowboys Thrilling Week 4 Win vs. Texans- Randy Gurzi, Sports Illustrated
In a shootout like this one, there are plenty of winners and losers. Players like Daron Bland and Jake Ferguson fell flat, while Rashan Gary had a good day.
Winner: Rashan Gary, EDGE
Dallas needs someone to step up as a pass-rusher and Rashan Gary finally emerged. The veteran outside linebacker recorded his first sack of the season, chasing C.J. Stroud down for a short loss during the second quarter. He also ended a drive late in the first half by generating pressure on Stroud, forcing him to throw the ball away. That held the Texans to a field goal, keeping the score close at 13-6.
Cowboys vs. Buccaneers odds: Opening lines for Week 5 matchup – Dave Halprin, Blogging The Boys
With the short week, it is not too early to look ahead. Dallas, at least according to Vegas, looks poised to start off the season 3-2. However, the Thursday night game is far from a guarantee.
So what do the oddsmakers think? Well, you might be surprised but the Cowboys are a whopping 9.5-point favorites at home according to FanDuel. Let that sink in for a second.
The Bucs are having their struggles so far in 2026. Tampa Bay is 0-4 on the season and they have lost QB Baker Mayfield for at least a few weeks if not more. Just like the Houston Texans this week, Dallas will play another winless team desperate for anything positive.
