Dallas Cowboys @ Houston Texans
CeeDee Lamb’s late TD caps a wild Cowboys rally to beat winless Texans 34-30
HOUSTON -- — CeeDee Lamb shined in his first NFL game in the city he considers his second home to carry the Dallas Cowboys to a victory on Sunday.
Lamb had a career-high 17 catches for 189 yards and his 12-yard TD reception with 40 seconds left lifted Dallas to the 34-30 win over Houston to keep the Texans winless.
“I knew this one was a big one for him,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said. “I know how much Houston means to him and his family means to him. And he put on a show.”
Lamb was born in Louisiana and lived in New Orleans until relocating to the Houston area after the city was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“My grandma came out here, which was really good to see,” Lamb said. "She doesn’t really come to many of my games and do all the hoorah and screaming. It was good to see my family here. It’s just been a long road to end up in this situation and I’m grateful for it.”
Javonte Williams ran for a career-high three touchdowns — all in the second half — to help the Cowboys to the victory.
Dallas (2-2) trailed by 4 after a 6-yard touchdown run by Woody Marks with about 2 ½ minutes to play. The Texans were facing third-and-14 when a hook-and-ladder play with a 2-yard catch by Dalton Schultz and a 19-yard run by David Montgomery set up that score.
Dak Prescott then orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard drive that included a fourth down conversion and capped it with the throw to Lamb to give the Cowboys the victory.
“As soon as it was called,” Prescott said, "I knew it was a touchdown.”
The Texans (0-4) had a last chance after that, but C.J. Stroud’s desperation pass fell incomplete.
“Our guys moved the ball really well,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We just did not play well enough defensively and it’s really a bad feeling.”
Prescott threw for 335 yards and Stroud had 347 yards passing.
Nico Collins had seven receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his return after missing two games with a hamstring injury. But his big day wasn't enough to get the Texans in the win column.
“It's tough,” Collins said. “We’re 0-4 right now. You've got to move forward. Go to the next week, man. You can’t look back on this.”
The Cowboys took their first lead on the third score by Williams, a 2-yard run that made it 27-23 with about 11 minutes to go.
Dallas cut the lead to 16-13 on an 8-yard run by Williams on the opening drive of the third quarter. A 30-yard reception by Lamb set up the score.
The Texans had great field position on their next drive thanks to a 53-yard kickoff return by Jaylin Noel. The second score by Collins made it 23-13 with about 11 minutes left in the third.
George Pickens grabbed a 53-yard reception over Kamari Lassiter to get the Cowboys to the 11-yard line after that. Lassiter was flagged for pass interference on Pickens on third down to give Dallas a first down at the 1.
Jadeveon Clowney stuffed Williams for a loss of 3 on first down and the Cowboys couldn’t move the ball after that to bring up fourth down. Dallas went for it and a holding penalty by Lassiter gave the Cowboys another first down at the 1.
Williams plunged in for the touchdown on the next play to cut the lead to 23-20 with seven minutes left in the third.
Collins had a 45-yard catch-and-run on Houston’s first play and made it 7-0 when he capped the drive with a 7-yard TD reception.
Houston led by 4 when Will Anderson blocked Brandon Aubrey’s 62-yard field-goal attempt about 4 ½ minutes before halftime.
Kaʻimi Fairbairn’s 39-yard field goal on Houston’s next drive extended the lead to 13-6.
Aubrey’s 65-yard attempt with about 30 seconds left in the second quarter sailed wide left.
A 54-yard field goal by Fairbairn made it 16-6 at halftime.
Houston: CB Jaylin Smith left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. … DT Jaden Crumedy injured his shoulder in the third quarter.
The Texans, who are in their 25th season, had an anniversary celebration at halftime. Texans greats including Hall of Famer Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, DeAndre Hopkins, Brian Cushing and Billy Miller along with former coach Gary Kubiak were honored in the ceremony. J.J. Watt did not attend but recorded a message that was played on the video boards.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. played extensively in his debut with the Cowboys after being traded from the Steelers on Wednesday. It was his first action of the season after he was inactive for the first three games while upset about his contract situation and dealing with a back issue.
“Man that’s the main thing I was missing was to play football,” he said. “So the fact that I got out there, got the dub with the guys, man it’s a blessing.”
Cowboys: Host Tampa Bay Thursday night.
Texans: Visit Tennessee next Sunday.
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