Even though it was called back on the first play of the game, NIco Collins' first play in weeks showed that this would be a night of big plays against the Dallas Cowboys.
I broke down a few of them right here in Big Play Breakdown on a night no Texans fans will ever forget.
1st quarter - Texans ball
12:50 remaining - first drive of the game
No score…for now
1st and ten
+46-yard line
After Nico Collins' 70-yard screen TD was called back on the first play of the game, the Texans went back to work and picked up a couple of first downs, setting up a 1st and ten just on the other side of the 50-yard line. The Texans had 11 personnel in the game with a bunch set to the left and a condensed WR alignment to the right. Simple zone play to the right side. The Texans OL did a GREAT job getting a hat on a hat on the right side. The left side of the OL did a great job staying latched on blocks, but the key block on the backside was an excellent cut block by TE Dalton Schultz. That chopped down the backside contain player, then John Metchie did a great job on S Israel Mukamamu as Tank Dell then went up to block S Malik Hooker. RB Joe Mixon saw the cutup lane perfectly, cut inside Dalton's block and past Metchie's, let Tank make his block and then it was a track meet that Joe was not about to lose. That was Joe's first of three rushing TDs on the night. Big time start after what should've been a first play TD - great way to rebound after a crushing first play TD was called back.
1st quarter - Cowboys ball
5:58 remaining
Texans ahead 7-0
3rd and eight
+41-yard line
STING TIME. Throughout the game CB Derek Stingley Jr. traveled with the Cowboys Pro Bowl WR CeeDee Lamb. So, on this key third down, the Cowboys had a bunch set to the left side - a 3x1 look. Just prior to the snap, Lamb went from the inside receiver on the bunch to the outside receiver in the bunch. The thought was that they would run the TE to the flat and when the DB in coverage on him jumped the flat route, Cowboys QB Cooper Rush would then have a void where he could stick a curl route to Lamb at the sticks for a potential first down. But, on his way to the flat, Texans S Jimmie Ward accidentally collided with Lamb who could never get to the top of his route. Rush threw where he anticipated Lamb to be, but all he found was Derek Stingley Jr., hit him right in the hands. Sting came up with the easy pick and his INT led to a Kai'mi Fairbairn field goal to make it 10-0 in the first quarter.
4th quarter - Cowboys ball
12:45 remaining
Texans ahead 20-10
2nd and six
-39-yard line
The Cowboys weren't going away quietly in the second half and down ten had the ball in position to make something happen to cut into the Texans lead. They came out in 11 personnel with TE Brevyn Spann-Ford on the left side of the line in a 2x2 formation. But, Spann-Ford went in motion to the right side creating a bunch set with two Cowboys receivers. RB Rico Dowdle went immediately into his route, leaving rookie LT Tyler Guyton one-on-one with DE Derek Barnett.
Bad move. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told me after the game that Barnett said he owed him one after a personal foul on a field goal attempt gave the Cowboys a key first down near the end of the third quarter.
Fast forward back to the action, Barnett ripped right underneath Guyton and hit Cowboys QB Cooper Rush right as he was attempting to throw. The ball popped up in the air, hit a Cowboys OL in the back and then landed in the arms of…Guyton. Any OL wants a chance to make up for his mistake so he caught the ball and started running. DE Dylan Horton held him up and then S Jalen Pitre dove at the ball, knocked it out and it bounced into the hands of…Barnett. The Texans DE rumbled down the sideline with the rock and the whole defense in tow. TOUCHDOWN TEXANS! Man, that had me supercharged up and I took a second to look into the crowd and noted the excitement of the Texans fans on hand. To say it was COOL is the understatement of the year. I'll never forget it!
The Texans scored their two highest outputs in the 2024 season in places they had never won in their history. In New England, they put up 41 points in that win and in Arlington, they put up 34 in this win over the Cowboys. It can never be said again that the Texans couldn't win in Dallas because they put the WHAT FOR on the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. YES SIR!
