A week after blowing the opportunity to win a game late, the Dallas Cowboys learned their last-minute drive lesson. It was a rough first half for the Cowboys, but a big second half from quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense helped lift the team to victory as they beat the Houston Texans, 34-30.
It didn’t look good for the Cowboys early; they gave up a huge pass on the first play of the game and proceeded to give up a touchdown on their first defensive drive. Another brutal coaching sequence near end of the first half was also frustrating, but the Cowboys found a way to right the ship in the final 30 minutes behind the play from their big three. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly for the Cowboys in their Week 4 win over the Texans.
The Good: Big three dominate
Prescott
didn’t look like himself in the first half, but he played lights out after halftime to lead Dallas to victory. In the second half, Prescott threw for 248 yards, including on the game-winning 12-yard score to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb also answered the call, hauling in 17 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, 110 of which came in the second half.
17 CATCHES. IN ONE GAME?! 😮
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 4, 2026
CeeDee Lamb had himself a month in Week 4, recording a career-high 17 receptions, including the game-winning TD.
He also finished with his 7th career game with 150+ receiving yards, tied for 2nd-most in Cowboys history. Only Michael Irvin had more… pic.twitter.com/yURD5HZEQH
On the game-winning drive, Prescott went 8-11 for 74 yards and a score, and Lamb caught five of those passes for 41 yards and the winning touchdown. The duo was in sync for the entire second half, leading the Cowboys to the win.
The third part of the big three, running back Javonte Williams, also played a crucial role in the win. Wiliams ran for three second half touchdowns and had 62 yards in the game.
That’s a lot of good for an offense going against one of the premier defenses in the league. Driving down the field with the game on the line and scoring the winning touchdown was an impressive feat.
The Bad: Special teams
It was another week where special teams failed the Cowboys. Kicker Brandon Aubrey had a long field goal attempt blocked, missed another try and the kickoff return unit allowed a big return.
Aubrey’s 62-yard kick was blocked when offensive lineman Broderick Jones couldn’t stop Texans’ star defender Will Anderson from beating him and getting his hand on the ball. It gave Houston’s offense great field position, and they cashed in with a field goal of their own six plays later.
The kickoff team gave up a 53-yard return early in the third quarter when the Cowboys’ offense gave the team the momentum. After a quick touchdown drive to start the second half, the return unit allowed WR Jaylin Noel to return the ball to Dallas’ 38-yard line. Four plays later the Texans scored a touchdown of their own to reclaim their 10-point lead.
The special teams’ miscues could have been back-breaking plays, but the Cowboys were able to overcome the mistakes.
The Ugly: Brian Schottenheimer’s decision
One week after saying he would learn from his mistakes, Schottenheimer made another remarkably questionable decision. Late in the first half, the Cowboys were down seven points and facing a 4th-and-16 at the Texans’ 46-yard line. With just 30 seconds left and the Texans out of timeouts, the Cowboys could have chosen to punt the ball and likely leave the half down only one score.
Dallas also got the ball to start the third quarter, so punting would have been the smart move instead of attempting a 65-yard field goal.
Schottenheimer chose to try the long kick, which missed and gave the Texans 0:26 to try to add three points of their own. That’s exactly what happened, the Texans only needed to move the ball nine yards and Ka’imi Fairbairn nailed a 54-yard field goal to give Houston a 10-point lead at halftime.
The decision from Schottenheimer backfired and cost the Cowboys points.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Despite Schotty & Sorensen, Big 3 lead Cowboys to big win over Texans
