The “Governor’s Cup” might be an exhibition title, but the stakes felt like a season-defining crossroads when the Houston Texans rolled into AT&T Stadium on November 18, 2024. The houston texans vs dallas cowboys match player stats reveal a game that was as much about Houston’s physical identity as it was about Dallas’s growing structural collapse. Behind a three-touchdown masterpiece from Joe Mixon and a defense that turned the fourth quarter into a highlight reel, the Texans (7-4) asserted their dominance over their in-state rivals, handing the Cowboys (3-7) their fifth consecutive home loss.
The Stakes: A Lone Star Hierarchy Shift
For the Texans, the mission was to snap a two-game skid and solidify their lead in the AFC South. With Nico Collins returning to the lineup, Houston looked to regain the offensive rhythm that had eluded them in recent weeks. For the Cowboys, playing without Dak Prescott, the game was a desperate attempt to salvage a season spiraling out of control. The narrative focused heavily on whether Dallas could protect Cooper Rush against a ferocious Houston pass rush—a question that was answered with a resounding “no” by the final whistle.
Game Flow Narrative: The Mixon Show & The Scooted Score
The Texans set the tone on their very first possession. Joe Mixon shredded the Dallas interior for a 45-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the game, a play that immediately sucked the energy out of the Dallas crowd. While KaVontae Turpin provided a brief spark for the Cowboys with a 64-yard touchdown reception to cut the lead to 14-7, the Dallas offense spent most of the night in neutral.
The game remained competitive at 20-10 heading into the fourth quarter, but then “the wheels fell off” for Dallas in spectacular fashion. Derek Barnett strip-sacked Cooper Rush, and after a chaotic sequence where Dallas lineman Tyler Guyton fumbled the recovery, Barnett scooped it up and rumbled 28 yards for a defensive touchdown. This “double-fumble” score was the dagger, followed quickly by Mixon’s third touchdown of the night to turn a contest into a blowout.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Houston Texans 34, Dallas Cowboys 10
- Date & Location: November 18, 2024 | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
- Attendance: 92,969
- Sacks: Texans (5) | Cowboys (1)
- Time of Possession: Texans (30:37) | Cowboys (29:23)
The Statistical Core: Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys Match Player Stats
Top Performers Comparison
| Category | Houston Texans | Dallas Cowboys |
| Passer | C.J. Stroud (257 Yds, 1 INT) | Cooper Rush (354 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT) |
| Rusher | Joe Mixon (109 Yds, 3 TD) | Rico Dowdle (28 Yds) |
| Receiver | Nico Collins (54 Yds) | CeeDee Lamb (93 Yds) |
| Tackler | Jalen Pitre (9 Tot) | Malik Hooker (1 INT) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Metric | Houston Texans | Dallas Cowboys |
| First Downs | 21 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 391 | 388 |
| Passing Yards | 250 | 324 |
| Rushing Yards | 141 | 64 |
| 3rd Down Conv % | 33.3% (4/12) | 33.3% (5/15) |
| Red Zone Eff | 3-for-4 (75%) | 0-for-1 (0%) |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Sacks/Yards | 5-34 | 1-7 |
The Quarterback Contrast
C.J. Stroud: The Managerial Growth
While C.J. Stroud didn’t throw a touchdown pass, his contribution to the houston texans vs dallas cowboys match player stats was defined by efficiency and safety. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 257 yards. After throwing several interceptions in previous weeks, Stroud played a “cleaner” game, relying on the ground attack and intermediate routes to Move the chains. His ability to navigate the pocket behind an offensive line that allowed only one sack was the quiet engine behind Houston’s success.
Cooper Rush: Empty Yards
On paper, Cooper Rush’s 354 passing yards look impressive, but the reality was far bleaker. Forced to throw 55 times because of a non-existent run game, Rush was under siege for 60 minutes. He was sacked 5 times and hit on nearly 20% of his dropbacks. Despite the chemistry with CeeDee Lamb, Rush’s inability to finish drives in the red zone and his two fourth-quarter turnovers encapsulated the Cowboys’ current offensive futility.
QB Stat Comparison
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD/INT | Sacks | Rating |
| C.J. Stroud | 23/34 | 257 | 0/1 | 1 | 77.7 |
| Cooper Rush | 32/55 | 354 | 1/1 | 5 | 75.9 |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War: Rushing Stats
The game was won in the trenches. Joe Mixon became the first Texan since 2019 to record three rushing touchdowns in a single game, while the Dallas “running-back-by-committee” averaged a miserable 3.6 yards per carry.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
| Joe Mixon (HOU) | 20 | 109 | 5.5 | 3 | 45 |
| Rico Dowdle (DAL) | 10 | 28 | 2.8 | 0 | 9 |
| C.J. Stroud (HOU) | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 0 | 20 |
| CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 | 13 |
The Aerial Attack: Receiving Stats
Nico Collins made an immediate impact in his return, drawing coverage that opened lanes for Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. For Dallas, KaVontae Turpin’s explosive speed provided their only touchdown, but CeeDee Lamb was the volume leader, fighting for yards on 12 targets.
| Player | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR |
| CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | 12 | 8 | 93 | 0 | 11.6 |
| KaVontae Turpin (DAL) | 3 | 3 | 86 | 1 | 28.7 |
| Luke Schoonmaker (DAL) | 10 | 6 | 56 | 0 | 9.3 |
| Nico Collins (HOU) | 7 | 4 | 54 | 0 | 13.5 |
| Tank Dell (HOU) | 7 | 4 | 54 | 0 | 13.5 |
The Defensive Front: “The Bayou Blitz”
Defensive Player of the Game: Derek Barnett (HOU)
Barnett was a one-man wrecking crew. His stats for the night included 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and the 28-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Combined with Danielle Hunter’s 2 sacks, the Texans’ defensive front proved that Dallas’s offensive line struggles are now a liability that no quarterback can overcome.
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
Looking at the houston texans vs dallas cowboys match player stats, the discrepancy in EPA (Expected Points Added) per Play is startling. Despite similar total yardage, Houston’s rushing success gave them a +0.12 EPA per play, while Dallas’s inability to protect Rush resulted in a -0.24 EPA on passing downs. The Cowboys also failed on all four of their 4th-down attempts, effectively handing the ball back to a Houston offense that was happy to play ball control.
Read More About: Carolina Panthers vs Chicago Bears Match Player Stats & Box Scored
The Verdict
The balance of power in Texas has officially shifted. The Texans showed they have the formula for a deep playoff run: a workhorse back in Joe Mixon, a poised young QB in Stroud, and a predatory defense. For the Cowboys, the 2024 season is now about evaluation and the future. With 3 turnovers and 5 sacks allowed on their own turf, the “Star” in Dallas has rarely looked dimmer.
FAQ Section
Who won the Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys match?
The Houston Texans defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 on Monday Night Football.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was Derek Barnett’s strip-sack and fumble return touchdown early in the fourth quarter. It transformed a 20-10 lead into a 27-10 advantage and broke the Cowboys’ remaining momentum.
How many touchdowns did Joe Mixon have?
Joe Mixon was the star of the houston texans vs dallas cowboys match player stats, recording 3 rushing touchdowns and 109 rushing yards.
