Summary
- Mixon rushes for 3 TDs
- Derek Barnett forces fumble, recovers a different fumble, scores TD on same play
- Houston defense outscores Dallas offense in second half
- Derek Stingley Jr. secured another interception
- C.J. Stroud hits eight different receivers in win
- Danielle Hunter records two more sacks
Joe Mixon rushed for three touchdowns and the Houston defense outscored the Dallas offense in the second half as the Texans bulldozed the Cowboys 34-10 at AT&T Stadium.
The Texans hit the ground running when Mixon sprinted 45-yards to the endzone to cap a 10 play 77-yard drive. Mixon has scored in four straight games and he was just getting revved up for a big first quarter.
The Cowboys killed the visitors' momentum when Malik Hooker picked off C.J. Stroud on the next drive. But Cooper Rush gave the ball right back when he challenged Derek Stingley Jr. and lost. Stingley Jr. returned his interception seven yards to set Stroud up at his own 37-yard line.
Houston pounded the ball once they got inside the Dallas red zone, and Mixon fought his way into the endzone from one yard out.
Dallas turned to KaVontae Turpin to bring them back into the game. Cutting across the middle of the field, Turpin flew 64-yards into the endzone.
The teams traded field goals before Brandon Aubrey had a chance to cut the Houston lead to 17-13 but pinged the right upright. The score at the half remained 17-10 with the Cowboys receiving to start the second half.
Cooper Rush was only able to move his team five yards before punting, and Ka'imi Fairbairn added some breathing room to the scoreline with a 29-yarder on the Texans' only drive of the third quarter.
In the final 15-minutes, the Houston defense decided to close things out. Rush started on his own seven-yard line and drilled CeeDee Lamb for 29-yards. But after a penalty and a nine-yard run, chaos ensued.
Derek Barnett stripped Rush from behind as he set to throw but Tyler Guyton snagged the ball and rumbled back toward the line of scrimmage. Jalen Pitre and Dylan Horton converged on the lineman and popped the ball loose. Barnett was still on the scene and scooped it up smoothly before charging 28-yards into the endzone.
The Cowboys ran out of answers. They went four yards in seven plays and punted, then Rush moved them 26-yards on nine plays before Denico Autry beat his man and threw down the Dallas QB for a sack and turnover on downs.
It only got worse for Dallas after that. Stroud and the Texans offense wanted a second half touchdown of their own, and, of course, Joe Mixon got it on a one-yard run to make the score 34-10.
Houston is back home on November 24 to face the Tennessee Titans. Tickets are available now.
