Last night’s matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football was competitive for the first half. The Texans turned the game into a rout, with a commanding 34-10 win over their in-state rivals at AT&T Stadium. Here at the “Keys to the Game”:

• Joe Mixon: Joe Mixon was the standout player for the Texans, rushing for 109 yards on 20 carries and scoring three touchdowns. The Texans capitalized on the Cowboys inability to stop the run once again. This also extended Mixon’s touchdown streak to six games.
• Texans’ Defense: The Texans’ defense was formidable, particularly with Danielle Hunter contributing with two sacks, three quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss. A pivotal moment in the game came when Derek Barnett forced a fumble from Cowboys’ quarterback Cooper Rush, and after the Cowboys’ Tyler Guyton picked it up and fumbled it himself, Barnett scooped it up for a touchdown for the Texans.
• Cowboys’ Offense Struggles: Cooper Rush, stepping in for the injured Dak Prescott, had 354 passing yards but was sacked five times and threw an interception. The Cowboys’ offense struggled to score points, with only one touchdown on the board through KaVontae Turpin’s 64-yard reception, which momentarily kept the game competitive in the first half. Ceedee Lamb had 8 catches for 93 yards. The Cowboys managed only 64 yards rushing with Rico Dowdle being contained for only 28 to lead Dallas.
• Injuries and Penalties: The Cowboys were further hampered by injuries. Tight end Jake Ferguson left the game with a concussion, and key offensive linemen like Zack Martin and Tyler Smith also sustained injuries. The game was also marred by penalties, with the Cowboys drawing nine, a reoccurring issue for them.
• Coaching Decisions: A notable decision by Mike McCarthy was opting to take points off the board after a penalty on a successful 64-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey, which didn’t pay off as they failed to convert on fourth down shortly after. A ill-advised fake punt attempt also provided momentum to the Texans.

Cowboys Season Crumbling

The Dallas 5-game losing streak is its longest since a 7-game streak in 2015, and the Cowboys drop to 0-5 at home. Dallas is the first team in NFL history to trail by at least 20 points in six consecutive home games, including last season’s wild-card playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Cowboys now sit at 3-7, third in the NFC East. The Texans, with this victory, improved to 7-4 which is first in the AFC South. The Cowboys now face the Washington Commanders in DC on Sunday, while the Texans are set to host the Tennessee Titans.

Photos courtesy of AP, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, NBC, and Dallas Morning News. 

“Cowboy Regg” – Co-Host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. The podcast is available on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. 

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