The Houston Texans need a win to just get the bad taste of losing out of their mouths.
Here's the problem: So do the Dallas Cowboys
The Texans look to finally get back to their winning ways at home in Week 4. Houston has started slowly out of the gate in the DeMeco Ryans era, going 0-3 in back-to-back seasons, but an 0-4 loss would almost certainly end any playoff chatter behind an elite defense.
The Texans’ Week 4 showdown between the Lone Star State foes will air on FOX at 12 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon. The television commentators for the game are Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst) and Pam Oliver(sideline).
Everything that could have gone wrongat Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 3 did for DeMeco Ryans and Co. as the Indianapolis Colts
ended their nine-game losing streak with a 19-17 victory. QuarterbackC.J. Stroud threw for 167 yards and had a touchdown pass, but the run game stalled for a second straight week behind uncreative play-calling from second-year coordinator Nick Caley.
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.
There's plenty of line for this October matchup. With a loss, the Texans would need to become the first team since the 1992 San Diego Chargers to go from 0-4 to a postseason-bound team.
Can the Texans avoid a 0-4 start for the second time since the days of the Bill O'Brien era?
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Texans vs. Cowboys odds, money line, over/under
Texans vs. Cowboys predictions: picks for Week 4
Cole Thompson: "This is a must-win for both sides, but the Texans' defense stepped up last week and recorded three turnovers, including two inside the red zone. Even though the offense still looks like it's sputtering, I'll take a pick-six and two touchdowns from C.J. Stroud as the difference in this game. But, on the flip side, Dak Prescott stands ready to make plays. And while the Cowboys have struggled defensively, the Texans seem to get in their own way. The loss of linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair also just makes it easier to lean in favor of Prescott in the fourth quater pulling away." - Cowboys 27, Texans 20
Ariana Pensy: "Houston's defense faces an uphill challenge with their leading tackler Azeez Al-Shaair out for Week 4. Their defense has typically been their strength. But this season, the Texans' defense has struggled against the pass in each of their first three games this season and is facing one of the best receiver duos in the NFL: CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Houston's offense should look better with Nico Collins returning to the lineup, but it's hard to get much going without a good run game and the Texans have the third-fewest rushing yards out of any team in the NFL right now."- Cowboys 28, Texans 21
Texans vs. Cowboys time, TV channel today
- Kickoff time: 12 p.m. CT
- TV Channel: FOX
- How to watch online: Watch FuboTV (here's how to stream it live)
Texans' regular-season schedule 2026
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
Texans preseason schedule
- Week 1: Chargers vs. Texans (Aug. 13, 7 p.m. CT on ABC) - L 27-7
- Week 2: Raiders vs. Texans (Aug. 20, 7 p.m. CT on ABC) - L 23-20
- Week 3: Texans at Panthers (Aug. 28, 6 p.m. CT on ABC)- L 16-13
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans vs. Cowboys predictions, picks, odds: Who wins Week 4 NFL game?
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