In back-to-back seasons, the Houston Texans are starting off 0-3.
Now, they welcome in a Lone Star showdown against the Dallas Cowboys in what could be a must-win game should Houston hope to make the playoffs.
Afterlosing to the Indianapolis Colts behind poor coaching and a lackluster offense, the Texans head home to slow down Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' offense in Week 4. Houston has won the last two games against the Cowboys, including one on the road in Arlington on Monday Night Football back in 2024.
Everything that could have gone wrong at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 3 did for DeMeco Ryans and Co. QuarterbackC.J. Stroud threw for 167 yards against the Colts and threw a touchdown pass, but the run game stalled for a second straight week behind
uncreative play-calling from second-year coordinator Nick Caley.
The Texans' defense struggled to slow down Daniel Jones in the first quarter, but eventually found a rhythm to shake him. Will Anderson Jr. recorded two strip sacks that were recovered by the offense, including one on Indianapolis' opening drive.
In the fourth quarter, Anderson took his game to new levels, strip-sacking Jones a second time to give the offense a chance to take the lead. Stroud delivered, converting multiple throws to get Houston in the red zone, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Woody Marks.
All the defense had to do was force a stop and it would have led to a win. Instead, poor clock management from Ryans and a couple of throws from Jones set up the game-winning field goal from Spencer Shrader.
"It’s a 0-3 start as a team. Wherever we are it all starts with me. So right now, it’s not good enough from our perspective," Ryans said. "I liked the way our week went. Our process went well this week. Our guys connected; our guys brought the joyful intensity that I was asking them to bring throughout the week. Today on game day, we came up short today. I’ve got to get back to the drawing board, and I’ve got to do a better job.”
This is a do-or-die game for Houston. In the history of the NFL, only one team has ever gone from 0-4 to a playoff-bound roster, and that was in 1992.
Butwhat do oddsmakers think about this battle between two Texas-based teams in need of a must-win to get right?
Buy Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys tickets
How to watch Texans vs. Cowboys
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
- Time: 12 p.m. CT
- Location: Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas)
- TV: CBS
- Stream: FuboTV (try it for free)
- Radio: 95.7 The Fan (Houston)
Watch Texans vs. Cowboys game FREE on Fubo
Texans' regular-season schedule 2025
Below is Houston's regular-season schedule.
Week 1: Sunday, September 13, Noon CT: vs. Buffalo Bills - L 36-31
Week 2: Sunday, September 20, Noon CT: vs. Cincinnati Bengals - L 20-6
Week 3: Sunday, September 27, Noon CT: at Indianapolis Colts - L 19-17
Week 4: Sunday, October 4, Noon CT: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 5: Sunday, October 11, Noon CT: at Tennessee Titans
Week 6: Sunday, October 19, 8:30 a.m.: at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
Week 7: Sunday, October 25, 9 p.m. CT: vs. New York Giants
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1: Bye Week
Week 9: Sunday, November 8, 3:00 p.m. CT: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 10: Sunday, November 15, Noon CT: at Cleveland Browns
Week 11: Thursday, November 19, 7:20 p.m. CT: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 12: Thursday, November 29, Noon: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 13: Sunday, December 6, 7:20 p.m. CT: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14: Sunday, December 13, Noon CT: at Washington Commanders
Week 15: Sunday, December 20, Noon CT: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 16: Thursday, December 24, 7:15 p.m. CT: at Philadelphia Eagles (Amazon Prime)
Week 17: Monday, January 4, 7:20 p.m. CT: at Green Bay Packers
Week 18: TBD: vs. Tennessee Titans
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL Week 4 odds: Texans open as slight home favorites vs. Cowboys
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