Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) makes a nice escape moves on Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) in overtime before making a big throw to wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, October 5, 2014. The Cowboys beat the Texans in overtime 20-17. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)
Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys will have a much shorter journey this Sunday than last week’s trip to Rio de Janeiro.
Dallas will travel to Houston to face the Texans in Week 4 of the NFL season.
Since the Texans joined the NFL in 2002, the teams have met seven times. Dallas leads the series 4-3.
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The matchups between these two teams have produced lasting memories, including the time Tony Romo avoided J.J. Watt’s sack with an incredible spin move.
Other memorable moments include two games decided by field goals in overtime (2014 and 2018). The Cowboys’ victory in 2014 came on a 49-yard field goal from Dan Bailey.
The most recent matchup at AT&T Stadium featured a scare when a large piece of sheet metal and other debris fell from the retractable roof onto the field before kickoff.
Here are the highlights from each matchup:
(September 8, 2002) Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans — Texans’ Gary Walker taunts Jerry Jones after the Texans’ 19-10 win in Houston on Sunday September 8, 2002.
HUY NGUYEN/Dallas Morning News
2002: Texans 19, Cowboys 10
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Where: Reliant Stadium in Houston
Highlights: This was Dave Campo’s final season as head coach of the Cowboys. In their regular-season debut, the expansion Texans earned a historic win over Dallas in front of 69,604 fans at the brand-new Reliant Stadium in Houston during a Sunday Night Football game. Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter threw for 131 yards, completing 13 of 30 passes with one interception. With the victory, the Texans became just the second expansion team in NFL history to win its regular-season debut.
Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens (No. 81) catches his second touchdown against the Houston Texans’ Dexter McCleon (No. 20) and C.C. Brown (No. 24) in the third quarter of action at Texas Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006.
IRWIN THOMPSON/Dallas Morning News
2006: Cowboys 34, Texans 6
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Where: Texas Stadium in Irving
Highlights: Bill Parcells’ Cowboys showed no mercy to their Texas neighbors, delivering an impressive performance at Texas Stadium in front of 63,186 fans. Dallas’ defense allowed just 17 rushing yards. On offense, wide receiver Terrell Owens caught three second-half touchdown passes, while quarterback Drew Bledsoe completed 17 of 28 passes for 168 yards.
Tony Romo made his NFL debut late in the game, replacing Bledsoe. Romo completed both passes he attempted. One was a touchdown pass to Terrell Owens.
Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) and defensive end Stephen Bowen (72) react after Ware’s sack of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub during the Cowboys’ 27-13 win Sunday, September 26, 2010 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
G.J. McCARTHY/Staff Photographer/Dallas Morning News
2010: Cowboys 27, Texans 13
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Where: Reliant Stadium in Houston
Highlights: Wade Phillips was still the Cowboys’ head coach when the teams met at Reliant Stadium in front of 71,456 fans. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Roy Williams. Cowboys running back Marion Barber had 17 carries for 55 yards. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware sacked Texans quarterback Matt Schaub three times.
This was Phillips’ only win of the season before getting fired after losing to Green Bay in a 1-7 start.
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) runs after a reception as Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) defends during the Houston Texans vs. the Dallas Cowboys NFL football game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, October 5, 2014. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)
Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News
2014: Cowboys 20, Texans 17 (OT)
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Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington
Highlights: Dan Bailey kicked a 49-yard game-winning field goal 7:15 into overtime in front of 91,159 fans. Jason Garrett was the Cowboys’ head coach. Tony Romo threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, completing 23 of 30 passes.
That season, Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray set an NFL record by rushing for at least 100 yards in each of the first eight games. Against the Texans, Murray ran for 136 yards on 31 carries. The win gave Dallas a 4-1 record to start the season, and the team went on to finish 12-4. The Cowboys lost to Green Bay in the divisional round in the game remembered for the “Dez Caught It” play.
The game also featured one of Romo’s career-defining plays. He evaded J.J. Watt’s rush with a 360-degree spin and threw a long touchdown pass. Twelve years after that iconic play, Watt has replaced Romo in the CBS booth.
Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (7) scores the game winning field goal during the Texans’ win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Ryan Michalesko/The Dallas Morning News)
Ryan Michalesko/Dallas Morning News
2018: Texans 19, Cowboys 16 (OT)
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Where: NRG Stadium in Houston
Highlights: Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked the game-winning 36-yard field goal with 1:50 left in overtime after a 49-yard reception by DeAndre Hopkins from Deshaun Watson set up the score. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 208 yards and one touchdown, completing 18 of 29 passes. He threw two interceptions and was sacked twice. Jason Garrett was the Cowboys’ head coach. The game drew 72,008 fans.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates his fourth quarter touchdown run with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, December 11, 2022. The Cowboys defeated the Houston Texans, 27-23.
Tom Fox/Dallas Morning News
2022: Cowboys 27, Texans 23
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington
Highlights: Facing a 23-20 deficit late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys marched 98 yards for the go-ahead score behind Dak Prescott. The defining offensive series started at the Cowboys’ 2-yard line after the defense made a stop on fourth-and-goal from the 3. Ezekiel Elliott capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left. A crowd of 93,843 watched the comeback unfold. Mike McCarthy was in his third season as the Cowboys’ head coach.
This was another playoff season for the Cowboys that ended with a loss in San Francisco in the divisional round.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush is slow to get up after being sacked by Houston Texans defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. 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
2024: Texans 34, Cowboys 10
Where: AT&T Stadium in Arlington
Highlights: The Monday Night Football game is remembered for a large piece of sheet metal and other small debris falling from AT&T Stadium’s retractable roof onto the field before kickoff. On the field, things were just as bad for the home team. Joe Mixon led the Texans’ offense with 109 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush threw for 354 yards and connected with KaVontae Turpin on a 64-yard touchdown pass, but the Cowboys suffered their fifth consecutive loss.
It was Mike McCarthy’s final season as the Cowboys’ head coach. A total of 92,969 fans watched the game at AT&T Stadium.