Man, what a game! The Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys match player stats from November 18, 2024, tell the story of a total beatdown. Houston came into Dallas and walked away with a massive 34-10 win at AT&T Stadium. Over 92,000 fans watched the Texans absolutely dominate their Texas rivals on Monday Night Football.
This wasn’t just any win – it was Houston’s first-ever victory at Jerry’s World. The Texans vs Cowboys player statistics show how one team came ready to play while the other just couldn’t get anything going. Dallas has now lost five games in a row and can’t even win at home (0-5 record). Meanwhile, Houston improved to 7-4 and looks like a real playoff team.
Let me break down everything that happened, player by player, so you know exactly who showed up and who didn’t.
Joe Mixon Absolutely Went Off
Let’s start with the star of the show – Joe Mixon. This dude was unstoppable. Seriously, the Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans matchup was basically the Joe Mixon show from start to finish.
Here’s what he did:
- Ran for 109 yards on 20 carries
- Scored 3 touchdowns (yes, THREE!)
- Averaged 5 yards every time he touched the ball
- That’s now 6 games in a row with a touchdown
Mixon’s first touchdown set the tone right away – a 45-yard run where he just burst through the line and nobody could catch him. Then he punched in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 before the first quarter even ended. Dallas had no answer for him all game long.
By the end of the night, Mixon added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the deal. The Texans Cowboys game stats show he basically did whatever he wanted against Dallas’s defense, which ranks 29th in stopping the run. Not great, Bob!
C.J. Stroud Played It Smart
Houston’s young quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t need to do anything crazy to win this game. He just played solid football:
- Threw for 257 yards
- Completed 23 of 34 passes (that’s about 68%)
- Had 1 pick but 0 touchdown passes
Now, I know what you’re thinking – zero touchdowns? But here’s the thing: Stroud didn’t need to throw touchdowns when Mixon was running wild. He just made smart throws, kept the chains moving, and didn’t turn the ball over (except for that one pick).
Sometimes the best thing a quarterback can do is get out of the way and let the run game work. Stroud did exactly that.
Nico Collins Was Stroud’s Go-To Guy
Nico Collins was Stroud’s favorite target all night:
- Caught 4 passes
- Racked up 54 yards
- Averaged over 13 yards per catch
Collins made some really clutch catches on third down that kept drives alive. Nothing flashy, just solid football when the team needed it.
Cooper Rush Tried His Best But…
Let’s give Cooper Rush some credit here. He’s the backup quarterback filling in for injured Dak Prescott (who’s done for the season with a hamstring injury). Rush actually threw for more yards than Stroud but it just didn’t matter.
Here’s what Cooper did:
- Threw for 354 yards (more than Stroud!)
- Completed 32 of 55 passes (about 58%)
- Tossed 1 touchdown and 1 interception
- Got sacked 5 times (ouch)
- Threw to 11 different receivers
The problem? All those yards didn’t turn into points. The Cowboys vs Texans statistical comparison shows this perfectly – Dallas moved the ball fine between the 20-yard lines but couldn’t finish drives. They’d get close and then… nothing.
Rush’s best moment was a beautiful 64-yard touchdown pass to KaVontae Turpin in the second quarter that made it 14-7. For a minute there, it looked like Dallas might make a game of it. But that was pretty much it for the Cowboys’ offense.
CeeDee Lamb Did His Thing
CeeDee Lamb continues to be Dallas’s only bright spot this season:
- Caught 8 balls
- Gained 93 yards
- Got targeted 12 times
That’s five games in a row where Lamb got at least 10 targets. He’s clearly trying to carry this team on his back, but he can’t do it alone. When your star receiver is catching everything but you’re still losing by 24 points, that tells you everything about how bad things are.
KaVontae Turpin’s One Big Play
KaVontae Turpin had the play of the game for Dallas:
- 64-yard touchdown catch (his longest ever)
- Showed off that blazing speed
This was actually Turpin’s career-long reception, beating his previous best of 34 yards. It was a great play, but one big play doesn’t win games. The NFL player stats from the Cowboys Texans game prove that you need consistent production, not just one explosion.
Rico Dowdle and the Invisible Running Game
Dallas’s running game? What running game? Rico Dowdle tried his best:
- Rushed for only 28 yards on 10 carries
- Averaged a terrible 8 yards per carry
Compare that to Mixon’s 109 yards and you see why Houston won. They could run the ball whenever they wanted. Dallas couldn’t run at all. It’s really that simple.
Derek Barnett Made THE Play of the Game
Time to talk defense! Derek Barnett absolutely changed this game with one incredible sequence:
- Got 2 sacks
- Forced 1 fumble
- Recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown
Let me paint the picture: Fourth quarter, Cowboys are trying to make a comeback. Barnett strip-sacks Cooper Rush. Dallas’s left tackle Tyler Guyton recovers the fumble but then gets hit by Jalen Pitre and fumbles AGAIN. Barnett scoops it up and runs it in for six points!
That made it 27-10 and basically ended any hope Dallas had. It was Houston’s first defensive touchdown all season and it came at the perfect time.
Jalen Pitre Was Everywhere
Safety Jalen Pitre led the defense in tackles and made big plays:
- Recorded 9 total tackles (4 solo)
- Forced 1 fumble (that hit on Guyton I just mentioned)
- Was in on multiple quarterback pressures
Pitre plays with so much energy and physicality. He was flying around making plays all night.
Derek Stingley Jr. Locked Down His Side
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is quickly becoming one of the best corners in the league:
- Picked off 1 pass
- Broke up 2 other passes
- Played elite coverage all game
The Houston defense statistics show a unit that completely shut down Dallas in the second half – zero points allowed while the offense kept scoring.
Danielle Hunter Feasted on Cooper Rush
Pass rusher Danielle Hunter gave Cooper Rush nightmares:
- Got 2 sacks
- Pressured Rush constantly
Between Hunter and Barnett getting 2 sacks each, Houston had 5 total sacks as a team. The defensive line was in Rush’s face all night, which is why he was so inaccurate.
Eric Kendricks Tried to Hold Down Dallas’s Defense
On the Dallas side, linebacker Eric Kendricks did what he could:
- Made 9 tackles(5 solo)
- Led the Cowboys in tackles
But even Kendricks couldn’t stop Houston from putting up 391 total yards. The Cowboys’ defense had no answer for Mixon’s running.
Let’s Compare the Numbers
The Texans Cowboys match statistics tell an interesting story:
Total Offense
| What We’re Measuring | Houston | Dallas |
| Total Yards | 391 | 388 |
| Rushing Yards | 109 | 28 |
| Passing Yards | 257 | 354 |
| First Downs | 21 | 24 |
Look at that – almost the same total yards! But Houston turned their yards into points. Dallas didn’t. That’s football.
The Important Stuff (Third Downs, Fourth Downs, Red Zone)
| What We’re Measuring | Houston | Dallas |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 4/12 (33%) | 5/15 (33%) |
| 4th Down Conversions | 1/2 (50%) | 0/4 (0%) |
| Red Zone Scores | 2/4 (50%) | 0/1 (0%) |
THIS is where Dallas lost the game. They went 0-for-4 on fourth down tries. ZERO. And in the red zone (inside the 20-yard line where you should be scoring touchdowns), they were 0-for-1. You can’t win in the NFL playing like that.
Houston wasn’t amazing on third down either, but they went for it on fourth down twice and made it once. They were aggressive and it paid off.
Turnovers
| What We’re Measuring | Houston | Dallas |
| Total Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles Lost | 0 | 1 |
Dallas turned it over twice including that fumble return touchdown. Game over.
How the Score Happened Quarter by Quarter
First Quarter: Houston Dominates
Score: Houston 14, Dallas 0
Houston came out swinging. Mixon’s 45-yard touchdown on the opening drive (took just 2 minutes and 18 seconds) shocked everyone. Then they marched down again, this time a slower 5-minute drive, and Mixon scored again from 1 yard out.
Dallas couldn’t do anything. The Cowboys first quarter stats this season are brutal – they’ve given up 75 first-quarter points, which is the worst in the entire NFL. Not a great way to start games.
Second Quarter: Dallas Shows Signs of Life
Score: Houston 17, Dallas 10
KaVontae Turpin’s 64-yard touchdown made it 14-7 and gave Cowboys fans a little hope. Houston kicked a field goal to make it 17-7. Then Dallas added their own field goal before halftime to make it 17-10.
Going into halftime down just 7 points, Dallas probably felt okay. They shouldn’t have.
Third Quarter: Field Position Battle
Score: Houston 20, Dallas 10
Only one score this quarter – Houston kicked another field goal. But the important part was Dallas kept failing on crucial plays. They missed a field goal attempt and then failed to convert a 4th-and-2 at Houston’s 8-yard line.
You HAVE to score touchdowns when you get that close. Dallas couldn’t do it.
Fourth Quarter: Houston Runs Away
Score: Houston 34, Dallas 10
This is where Houston put the game away for good. Derek Barnett’s fumble recovery touchdown made it 27-10. Then Mixon added his third touchdown to make the final score 34-10.
Dallas didn’t score at all in the second half. Zero points. That’s how you lose by 24.
What This Means for Both Teams
Houston’s Playoff Push
This win moved Houston to 7-4 on the season. They’re now in great shape to win the AFC South division and make the playoffs. They’re playing like a team that could actually do some damage in January.
Their next game was against Jacksonville, and they were feeling confident after beating Dallas so badly.
Dallas’s Season is Basically Over
For Dallas, this loss dropped them to 3-7. That’s five losses in a row. They can’t win at home (0-5 at AT&T Stadium). Their season is pretty much done.
Owner Jerry Jones is NOT happy. Coach Mike McCarthy is feeling the heat. When America’s Team can’t even beat Houston at home, you know things are bad.
What the Coaches Said After the Game
DeMeco Ryans (Houston’s Coach)
“Derek Barnett, the play he made, really changed the game for us. He’s a force for us. Over 100 yards, three touchdowns, I just really liked the way we just kept churning it in the run game.”
Ryans was pumped about the running game and that huge defensive touchdown. He’s got his team playing really physical football.
Mike McCarthy (Dallas’s Coach)
“I feel in times of adversity the confirmation comes into what you know from your past experiences, but also just trust the people in the room; the people that are doing the work. I believe in this locker room.”
Translation: We’re struggling but I still believe in these guys. McCarthy is trying to stay positive, but five losses in a row isn’t good for any coach’s job security.
Jerry Jones wasn’t nearly as nice: “This isn’t what we expect from our football team. We have to find answers, and quickly.”
What the Players Said
Joe Mixon on his big game: “I thought we had a hell of a week of practice and it started with that. We knew we were going to get their best shot.”
C.J. Stroud on playing four full quarters: “We just played four quarters, we didn’t really change nothing, didn’t change our philosophy. We looked back at some other games, if we did that we would’ve came up on top.”
Cooper Rush on staying ready: “It’s just the competitive nature in me. Luckily, the NFL is not slowing down and our game is coming. You’re happy to have another chance to get out there. But you definitely want to get rid of the bad taste in your mouth.”
Some Cool Historical Stuff
This was the first time Houston ever won at AT&T Stadium since the Texans became a team in 2002. That’s over 20 years! Dallas had always beaten them at home before this.
The all-time record between these teams is now 4-3 with Dallas still leading. But momentum is definitely on Houston’s side now.
Special Teams Notes
Ka’imi Fairbairn (Houston’s kicker):
- Made all 5 extra points
- Hit both field goals he tried
- No drama, just solid kicking
Brandon Aubrey (Dallas’s kicker):
- Made 1 extra point
- Only made 1 of 2 field goals (had a 64-yarder called back because of a penalty)
Special teams weren’t the reason either team won or lost, but Fairbairn was perfect when Houston needed him.
Fantasy Football Impact
If you had Joe Mixon on your fantasy team, you were HAPPY:
- 109 rushing yards = 10.9 points
- 3 rushing TDs = 18 points
- Total: About 29 fantasy points!
That’s a week-winning performance right there.
C.J. Stroud was okay but not great:
- 257 yards = about 10 points
- 1 pick = -2 points
- Total: About 8 fantasy points
CeeDee Lamb was solid as always:
- 8 catches = 8 points (in PPR leagues)
- 93 yards = 9.3 points
- Total: 17.3 fantasy points
The Crazy Roof Incident
Before the game even started, a piece of sheet metal fell from AT&T Stadium’s roof when they were trying to open it! Nobody got hurt, thank goodness, but they decided to keep the roof closed for safety.
Can’t make this stuff up. Even the stadium was against Dallas that night.
Why Houston Won and Dallas Lost
Let’s keep it simple:
Houston won because:
- Joe Mixon ran all over Dallas
- The defense created turnovers at perfect times
- They made plays on fourth down when it mattered
- They scored in the red zone
Dallas lost because: 5. Couldn’t stop the run AT ALL 6. Went 0-for-4 on fourth downs 7. Couldn’t score in the red zone 8. Defense gave up a touchdown (the fumble return)
That’s football. Houston did the important things right. Dallas didn’t.
Looking Back at the Season
Houston ended up finishing 10-7 and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. They even won a playoff game before losing in the next round. Not bad for a young team!
Dallas? They finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs completely. From Super Bowl talk in the preseason to not even making the playoffs – that’s a disaster.
This game in November was the moment everyone realized Houston was for real and Dallas was in serious trouble.
Common Questions People Ask
Who played the best in this game?
Joe Mixon hands down. 3 touchdowns and over 100 yards rushing. Derek Barnett’s fumble return touchdown was also huge.
How did C.J. Stroud do?
He threw for 257 yards with no touchdowns and 1 pick. Not spectacular but he managed the game well and didn’t need to do much with Mixon running wild.
How many times did Houston sack Cooper Rush?
5 times total. Derek Barnett and Danielle Hunter each got 2 sacks.
What was Dallas’s red zone record?
0-for-1. They only got inside the 20-yard line once and didn’t score a touchdown. That’s terrible.
Did Joe Mixon break any records?
He extended his touchdown streak to 6 straight games, which ties the Texans franchise record. He’s also the fifth player in NFL history to have his specific stat line (at least 90 yards and a TD) in seven of his first eight games.
What happened to Dak Prescott?
He’s out for the season with a hamstring injury. That’s why Cooper Rush was playing.
Final Thoughts
The Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys match player stats from November 18, 2024, show a complete mismatch. Houston came in with a game plan – run the ball with Mixon, play tough defense, and take care of business. They did exactly that.
Dallas had the same total yards (388 vs 391) but couldn’t turn those yards into points. They failed on fourth down four times. They couldn’t stop the run. They turned the ball over at the worst times.
This was Houston’s coming out party – announcing to the league that they’re a playoff team. And it was Dallas hitting rock bottom in a season that’s gone completely wrong.
If you’re a Texans fan, this was the kind of win you’ll remember for years. Beating your state rival at their own stadium for the first time ever? On Monday Night Football? By 24 points? That’s special.
If you’re a Cowboys fan… well, there’s always next year.
