Game Recap: Depleted Cowboys lose, 34-10

So it continues. The same struggles that have plagued the Dallas Cowboys all season led to a 34-10 loss to the Houston Texans in a prime-time showdown on Monday night. Dropping their fifth home game of the season — all by double-digit deficits — the Cowboys were hard pressed to put points on the board, were hampered by penalties and turnovers and struggled to stop the run.

And unfortunately, a team already decimated by injuries just got more bad news on that front. Starting cornerback Jourdan Lewis had already been ruled out of the game Saturday, the latest blow to the Dallas defense. But then late in the first quarter, tight end Jake Ferguson with a concussion left safety Markquese Bell headed to the sideline early in the second quarter with a shoulder injury.

Then the fourth quarter proved disastrous for the team’s offensive line. Freshman left tackle Tyler Guyton did not return after taking a knock on the shoulder, and then Zack Martin, who has battled a series of injuries all season, left the game. Eventually, left guard Tyler Smith rolled up his left ankle and his night was done as well.

While Cooper Rush’s second start of the season might have been a little better than his first, his numbers didn’t exactly jump off the page. Sacked five times, the quarterback threw for 354 yards with a touchdown and an interception for a 75.9 passer rating. Eleven different receivers caught passes with CeeDee Lamb as the top target. He collected eight receptions for 93 yards.

Dallas tried to establish a ground game, but didn’t have much success. Although they handed the ball to Rico Dowdle 10 times while the game was still close, the running back averaged just 2.8 yards per carry. carry. As a team, the Cowboys earned a 3.6 rating.

Conversely, the Texans were able to chew up 5.6 yards per carry. carry in their running attack. Joe Mixon led the offense with 109 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback CJ Stroud had three scrambles for 26 yards, an 8.7 average.

Stroud was also effective through the air. Last season’s Rookie of the Year was sacked just once while completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 257 yards with one interception for a 77.7 rating.

Overall, the team stats were close, with Houston outgaining Dallas 391 to 388. Both sides converted 33 percent of their third-down chances and each had nine penalties. The Texans narrowly won time of possession, 30:37 to 29:23.

On the first snap of the game, Nico Collins took a screen pass 77 yards for what would have been a Texans touchdown. Fortunately, Houston was called for a penalty, which negated the score. Of course, six plays later, the Texans were indeed in the end zone. Mixon took a pass up the middle and scampered 45 yards for a quick 7-0 lead.

And that lead looked like it would soon grow when the Cowboys decided to try a fake punt on fourth-and-9 at their own 33-yard line. Punter Bryan Anger completed his pass attempt to Juanyeh Thomas, but he was tackled wide of the markers.

However, the Dallas defense shut down any scoring attempts when safety Malik Hooker on fourth-and-3 at the Cowboys’ 30-yard line picked off a Stroud pass. Despite getting a gift, Rush gave himself one on the ensuing Dallas series, with Texans cornerback Derek Stingley picking up the interception to get the visitors going again.

This time, the Cowboys couldn’t deny Houston the end zone. The drive took 10 plays, but the Texans amassed the necessary 63 yards. Mixon got his second score of the night with a run to the right pylon from 1 yard out.

And then lightning struck. On the first snap of the second quarter, KaVontae Turpin made a great move at the line of scrimmage, took a Rush pass in stride over the middle, then turned on the jets to streak untouched to the goal line for a 64-yard touchdown. The deficit was thus halved, 14-7.

The two sides then traded field goals and the Cowboys stayed within striking distance. Houston first drove 77 yards in 9 plays, but eventually had to settle for a 33-yard field goal. That was immediately followed by Brandon Aubrey splitting the uprights from 53 yards out, capping an eight-play, 35-yard possession for Dallas. With his boot, Aubrey set a new team record, the first to hit 20 field goals of at least 50 yards.

Aubrey then had a chance to cut the deficit to just four, but as he attempted a 40-yard field goal with 59 seconds left, his foot slipped. It caused his kick to sail right and carom off the post, not good. Dallas would go into the half down 17-10, but clearly had some momentum.

Third quarters have been a nightmare for the Cowboys this season, and the team coming into this game has been outscored 82-22 in the frame. The dizziness continued.

Dallas got the ball to start the half and quickly went three-and-out, which was followed by the Texans coming back and kicking a 29-yard field goal to extend their lead to 20-10. The Cowboys appeared to get a 64-yard field goal from Aubrey, but when Houston was called for a penalty, Dallas took the first down and continued its march.

That allowed the Cowboys to reach the Texans’ 8-yard line, where head coach Mike McCarthy decided to go for it on fourth-and-2. When Rush’s pass then fell incomplete, the offense left the field empty-handed.

And then the wheels fell off. On second-and-6 at his own 40-yard line, Rush dropped back to pass, only to have the ball stripped from his hand. The fumble then bounced off the back of a lineman and into the arms of left tackle Tyler Guyton, who collected the award and tried to get all he could. Instead, he was hit and fumbled with Houston defensive end Derek Barnett, who scooped up the ball and rumbled 28 yards for the touchdown.

With that, the game was pretty much over.

The Texans got into the end zone once again. Dallas had no choice but to go for it on fourth-and-16 at its own 40-yard line, only to see Rush sacked for a 6-yard loss. Houston, lined up at the Cowboys’ 35-yard line, needed six plays to cross the goal line, and Mixon rushed in from the 1 for his third score of the night.