Cowboys: Scores, Stats & Game Highlights
The Cowboys once again found themselves in a tight game during the third quarter, only to see it slip away in the second half.
The Texans took control of the final score, but the Cowboys had their opportunities. Let’s look at some key plays that could easily be overlooked but had the potential to alter the outcome.
- Mazi Smith’s Holding Call: At the beginning, the Cowboys seemed poised for a lucky break when the Texans were penalized for an illegal man downfield, nullifying a long touchdown catch by Nico Collins. Following this, on first-and-15, the Cowboys managed to halt Joe Mixon’s run, setting up a second-and-long situation. However, a defensive holding call on Mazi Smith granted Houston a first down. Subsequently, the Texans capitalized on this momentum, ultimately scoring a long touchdown from Mixon to establish a 7-0 lead.
- Mixon’s 9-Yard Gain After the Touchdown: Despite the Cowboys narrowing Houston’s lead with a lengthy touchdown by KaVontae Turpin, a mishandled kickoff by the Texans placed them deep on their own 8-yard line for the subsequent possession. Nonetheless, Mixon swiftly gained 9 yards on first down, providing the Texans with some breathing space. Even a false start in the subsequent play wasn’t detrimental due to the initial first-down gain. This enabled the Texans to secure a field goal, extending their lead to 10 points.
- Dowdle’s Missed Catch and Failed Field Goal: Just before halftime, with the Cowboys trailing 17-7, they were within range to score. At second-and-9 on the Texans’ 24-yard line, Cooper Rush targeted Rico Dowdle on the right flat, but Dowdle failed to secure the pass, resulting in an incompletion with 1:06 remaining. Rush managed only a two-yard scramble on third down. Following this, Brandon Aubrey surprisingly missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. Reflecting on the missed opportunity with Dowdle, a modest 4-5 yards could have made a difference in Aubrey’s kick, which narrowly missed the right upright.
These moments, often overlooked, could have altered the game’s course significantly.
