Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) looks to pass under pressure from Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) during the second half of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — A Week 4 game between the Cowboys and Texans presents two desperate teams. Houston is 0-3 for the second consecutive year. The Texans have battled from such difficulties and reached the postseason in 2025 and 2023 (0-2 start).
The Cowboys have a win, Week 2 against Washington. A tough loss to the Ravens last week has pushed them to 1-2, with a short week against Tampa Bay on Thursday next.
Houston has won two of the last three meetings, including a 34-10 win in 2024.
Article continues below this ad
We look at five things to watch on Sunday:
Sacks and more sacks
After three weeks, the Cowboys have two sacks while their opponent has 11. Maybe the appearance of Hall of Famer Charles Haley at Thursday’s practice will help the Cowboys’ pass rushers. If Joey Porter Jr. plays Sunday at corner, that could also help the pass rush. Porter’s presence might take a receiver out and allow some pass rushers to take down the quarterback.
“Starts with stopping the run and getting them in third-and-longs and then we got to get after the passer,” defensive tackle Kenny Clark said. “We got to finish at the end of the day. That’s what we talk about all the time as a defensive line, as a team. And we got to get that first one and I think it’s going to get us rolling.”
Get the run game going
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (33) gets past Baltimore Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson (32) during the first half of an NFL football game at Maracanã Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys rushed for a season-high 148 yards in the loss to the Ravens. There were four runs of 10 or more yards in that contest, including a 22-yard gain by running back Javonte Williams. Can the run success continue against the Texans? That defensive unit is fifth in the NFL, allowing 86.7 yards per game.
Article continues below this ad
“I think I said this early and I really do think it’s the case every year,” offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said. “It’s been more extreme this year because of the quarterback and the playmakers that we have outside. But you’re going to find out early in the season what people have been thinking about all offseason. So we have 17 games on tape and there are people, they’re just sitting and looking at it all year. It’s OK. Well, how do you defend this team? And we kind of got a wake-up call on that in Week 1. It’s kind of been the exact same thing ever since.”
Adams added the Cowboys have adjusted to teams sneaking defenders near the line of scrimmage to make run stops. But that opens up the middle of the field for the offense if a pass play is called.
“If you can get through it and handle those movements and those pressures and make sure that the guy who’s doing it, whether it’s the nickel or one of the [linebackers] is part of your ID, you got a chance of getting through and running on one of those DBs.”
Pressure on C.J. Stroud
It seemed Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was headed toward a productive career. He was named to a Pro Bowl in his rookie season in 2023, but his career hasn’t blossomed. He is off to a so-so start. He’s completed 60% of his passes, which is a career low. He’s also been sacked 10 times. Stroud has three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He is a mobile quarterback, something that’s given the Cowboys struggles this season.
Article continues below this ad
The pressure will be intense on Stroud to get the Texans out of an 0-3 start. In two of his three seasons, Stroud’s teams started the year winless, including an 0-3 mark last season. Houston has reached the postseason in every season Stroud has been the starter.
Who starts at corner?
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) reacts after an interception during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Matt Durisko/AP
Whether newly acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. starts or not against the Texans, the depth at the position will get tested. If Porter doesn’t start, the Cowboys can move either Caelen Carson or Ameer Speed into the starting lineup. Carson has eight starts in three seasons. Speed, while playing for five teams, has never started an NFL game. The Cowboys also could elevate Reddy Steward, Alex Austin or Tyrek Funderburk from the practice squad for depth or quite possibly a start. All three players were signed this week. It seems the Cowboys would lean on Speed if Porter doesn’t play.
International trip impact
The NFL’s grand experiment, or basically what happens to a team that plays overseas — and whether sports science can help or not — reaches the Cowboys and the Ravens this week. In the last two seasons, the NFL has conducted eight international games. Three teams (Jets, Falcons and Chiefs) that lost in their international game also lost the next week. The Rams, Vikings and Browns lost in their international game but won the next contest. Six teams had a bye following their international contest. The 49ers, Broncos and Chargers won their international game and won the following week. The Vikings had two international games last season, splitting between winning an international game and losing the next week or losing abroad then winning the next week.
Article continues below this ad