Houston Texans Tommy Togiai, Will Anderson Jr. (510 and Danielle Hunter (55) warm up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans huddle up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans jogs across the field before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans tight end Brevin Jordan warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans Tommy Togiai, Will Anderson Jr. (510 and Danielle Hunter (55) warm up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans fans watch warm ups before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys fans make their way to their seats before an NFL football game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Dallas Cowboys fan Trey Coffey, left, and Houston Texans fan Kristen Orrenmaa walk toward the stadium before an NFL football game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans fan Veronica De Leon dons a temporary H tattoo as she watches warm ups before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) warms up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches his team warm up before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
It’s only Week 4, but suffice it to say it’s desperation time for the Houston Texans.
The Texans are trying to avoid a 0-4 start, which has all but one time in NFL history spelled doom for a team’s playoff hopes, The Dallas Cowboys make their first visit in eight years for today’s intrastate matchup.
We’ll have updates and analysis throughout the day from Reliant Stadium.
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The penalty on left tackle Aireontae Ersery at the start of the drive set things back for the offense, and resulted in the Texans having a three-and-out. Those are among the things that have hurt this offense. — Jonathan M. Alexander
A sack of C.J. Stroud on third down leads to the game’s first punt. The Cowboys take over at their 32 with 10:18 to go before halftime. — Greg Rajan
Brandon Aubrey connects on a 50-yard field goal with 12:30 left before halftime as another Cowboys drive stalls in Texans territory. — Greg Rajan
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How much does Nico Collins add to the Texans offense?
Here are his stats in just one quarter: 3 receptions, 57 yards and a touchdown.
Here’s the total stats for the other four active wide receivers during Weeks 2 and 3 when he was injured.
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Xavier Hutchinson: 6 receptions, 88 yards
Kayshon Boutte: 5 receptions, 58 yards
Jared Wayne: 3 receptions, 53 yards
Jaylin Noel: 3 receptions, 48 yards
Dallas has third-and-5 at the Houston 44 when the second quarter begins. — Greg Rajan
The penalties today for the Texans have been a killer. Five for 44 yards, and the Cowboys don’t have a single one yet. — Jonathan M. Alexander
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A promising Texans drive is short-circuited by penalties, so they settle for Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 51-yard field goal with 1:49 left in the first quarter. — Greg Rajan
That 52-yard reception by Jaylin Noel is the longest of his career. He also gained more receiving yards on that play than any offensive player managed in the entire game last week against the Colts. — Peter Warren
C.J. Stroud called for the Texans to be more aggressive and offensive coordinator Nick Caley has obliged with two early explosive plays. — Jonathan M. Alexander
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C.J. Stroud hits Jaylin Noel for 52 yards up the left sideline. So far, this Dallas defense is as bad as advertised. — Greg Rajan
The Texans’ defense held up there near the red zone, only allowing three points on that first drive. It’ll be interesting to see if the Texans’ offense can follow up their first drive. It would be huge for their confidence. Last week, the Texans had far too many three-and-outs. — Jonathan M. Alexander
Brandon Aubrey makes a 39-yard field goal after the Cowboys’ first drive stalls outside the red zone. There’s 5:10 left in the first quarter. — Greg Rajan
Jadeveon Clowney, who is also back after missing the last two weeks, brought down Dak Prescott with Jaden Crumedy on that first possession for a sack.
Clowney now has sacks in his first two games back with the Texans after rejoining the team in training camp. — Peter Warren
Kenneth Murray, elevated from the practice squad, gets the start at linebacker in place of Azeez Al-Shaair.
The Texans signed Murray, an Elkins graduate, to the practice squad following Henry To’oTo’o’s injury in Week 1 but this is the first week he is active.
Murray spent the 2025 season with the Dallas Cowboys, starting 16 of 17 games and finishing with 81 tackles. — Peter Warren
The Texans managed only three plays on each of their opening possessions in the first three weeks of the season.
With Nico Collins back in the fold, Houston went 85 yards down the field on eight plays to start Sunday’s game. C.J. Stroud picked up 72 of those yards via the air, with Collins’ two catches going for 52 yards. — Peter Warren
Man, did the Texans miss Nico Collins. He was huge on that drive, as was C.J. Stroud, whose birthday was Saturday. Ideal start for the Texans, whose offense was terrible the past two weeks. — Jonathan M. Alexander
Nico Collins hauls in a 7-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to cap a crisp opening drive for the Texans. Eight play, 85 yards and 4:59 off the clock. — Greg Rajan
First on the board just like ’02
📺: @nflonfox https://t.co/IiQWlc8Lf2
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 4, 2026
Brevin Jordan’s first catch of the season gives the Texans first down at the Cowboys’ 14. — Greg Rajan
Welcome back, Nico Collins. The Texans’ first play in the game is a 45-yard completion to Collins, who missed the last two weeks. — Peter Warren
This will be the first time this season that tight Brevin Jordan is active. He suffered consecutive season-ending knee injuries over the past two years. He strength is in pass catching, so he may provide Houston another weapon.
Rookie Marlin Klein being inactive was not a surprise as the Texans have rarely used him. Perhaps the biggest thing about that is the fact that no one from the 2026 draft class, other than guard Keylan Rutledge, has done much this season. — Jonathan M. Alexander
Texans vs. Cowboys preview. https://t.co/8QSJ84rwv8
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) October 4, 2026
Texans receiver Nico Collins can expect to see a lot of Joey Porter Jr., today. The cornerback, who the Cowboys acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, is active and Jerry Jones sounds hopeful he plays a lot in his Cowboys debut. “Hopefully he gets a lot of snaps,” the Cowboys owner said on the team’s pregame show Sunday. “We’re sure happy to have him.” — Matt Young
Today’s inactives for the Texans:
LB Azeez Al-Shaair
DE Chris Braswell
TE Marlin Klein
T Nate Thomas
And the Cowboys’ inactives:
WR Camden Brown
CB Caelen Carson
OL Ajani Cornelius
RB Emari Demercado
CB Cobie Durant
OLB James Houston
LB DeMarvion Overshown
In an exclusive interview with the Chronicle, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, one of the NFL’s biggest power brokers, discusses his role in Houston getting another NFL franchise after the Oilers’ departure and why it was important to Dallas. — Jonathan M. Alexander
When: Noon
TV: Fox with Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst) and Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)
Radio: 95.7 FM, 610 AM, 101.1 FM (Spanish)
The all-time series between the Texans and Cowboys: