Texans fall to Cowboys 21-14 in preseason finale

Sep 03, 2015 at 02:58 PM

Despite a strong defensive effort, the Texans dropped their final game of the preseason, falling to in-state rival Dallas 21-14 on Thursday night at AT&T Stadium. With the defeat, the Texans fall to 2-2 on the preseason. The Cowboys picked up their first win of the preseason, ending the slate with a 1-3 mark.

The Texans open the 2015 regular season on September 13, as they will host the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium.

Tom Savage started at quarterback for Houston, finishing the night 18-of-29 for 135 yards. He left midway through the fourth quarter due to an undisclosed injury. The second-year signal caller threw for two touchdowns, a preseason single-game career high. Ryan Mallett came in for the team's final offensive series.

The Texans running game failed to find traction, with the team's backs combining for 75 yards on 30 carries. Keshawn Martin was the team's leading receiver, hauling in five passes for 31 yards, including a touchdown.

Offense was hard to come by for both teams in the early going, as the two squads combined for only 97 yards in the opening quarter.

The Texans finally got on the board at end of the first half, executing a nine-play drive that covered 54 yards for the score. Savage completed six passes in a row, including a key 18-yard throw to rookie Jaelen Strong. Polk capped it off, giving the Texans a 7-0 lead.

The Cowboys would respond, scoring 14 unaswered points, including a 'pick six' interception off a Savage pass at the 11:39 mark of the third quarter. Dallas held a 14-7 advantage heading into the fourth.

A special team turnover would get the Texans back in it, as Kenny Hilliard recovered a Cowboys muffed punt in the Dallas red zone. Savage and company would quickly capitalize, going 20 yards in three plays to tie the game. Savage found Martin to tie it up at 14.

Dallas would once again respond, marching down the field in eight plays to recapture the lead at 21-14. A last ditch effort on the Texans final drive fell short, as they failed to convert a 4th-and-5, turning the ball over to the Cowboys.

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