Official Texans @ Cowboys Game Thread, 12/11/2022

[Keith]

Texans offense goes three-and-out on their initial drive. Couple runs by Dameon Pierce net a yard, and a third down completion is short by like 8 yards. Texans punt and...

Cowboys FUMBLE! Bobbled by KeVontae Turbin on fair catch, recovered by Blake Cashman. Texans take over at the Cowboys 24. Cashman just signed a one-year extension two weeks ago.

TE Jeff Driskel is at QB. On 3rd and 2, Pierce takes a shotgun handoff for 8 yards and a first down. Pierce gets the offense to the 1-yard line when they then try to quick snap a QB sneak on third. Cowboys stuff it, but they jump offsides. Pierce gets into the endzone on the replayed third down. Good block by Heck to create the hole, but Pierce gives the ball to Laremy Tunsil for the TD spike.

Extra point by Care Bear is good.

Texans 7, Cowboys 7.
5:33 remaining in the 1st

[Keith]

Cowboys respond with a three-and-out. Texans will start ensuing drive on their 31 following 12 yard punt return by Desmond King.

Davis Mills returns at QB. One second down, he completes deep to Chris Moore, but the Cowboys challenge the one-handed catch as the ball squirts a bit when he goes to the ground. Upheld! 36-yards goes to the Cowboys' 27.

A couple handoffs to Pierce, and Driskel is in for the 3rd-and-5. He hands to Ogunbowale for the zone read and the RB is buried behind the LOS by Osa Odighizuwa. Kenyon Green's block is miserable, and he hobbles off the field. Osa broke Green's ankle figuratively, who knows maybe literally, too.

Ka'imi Fairbairn's 43-yard field goal attempt is good.

Texans 10, Cowboys 7
0:18 remaining in 1st

[Keith]

1st quarter ends with a completion to Pollard that loses two yards. Next play is a batted pass attempt. Prescott is flushed from the pocket by Jerry Hughes on third and completes a 51-yard pass to Noah Brown with Stephen Nelson defending, called for holding, declined of course. Nice adjustment by Brown.

From the Texans 25, Pollard get around the right side for an 18-yard run to the 5. Completion to Pollard gets the touchdown. Piss poor tackling in the secondary again, this time by King.

Maher's extra point is good.

10-14, Cowboys
12:28 remaining in the half.

[Keith]

Mills at QB. 2nd down completion to Akins sets up 3rd-and-3 fro 31. Completes to Moore at the sticks for the first. Driskel back in, hands to newcomer Amari Rodgers for a 3-yd end around. Pep really feelling it, huh? On 2nd, Driskel keeps the zone read this time and gets going the other way for 6 yards. Keeps it himself for a QB sweep to get a new set of downs on the Dallas 49.

Seven yard first down run by Pierce, and all of a sudden the Cowboys D looks a little gassed. Next two runs get nothing though, but Lovie keeps the offense on the field for the fourth down. Driskel gives the snap to Pierce is tackled just inches short. Chains confirm it, Cowboys take over on downs at their own 40.

10-14 Cowboys
6:13 remaining

[Keith]

Cowboys three-and-out. Punt to King is returned to the Texans' 21.

Mills back at QB. Either the time missed with the Allen starts or the rotation today with Driskel is working. He is 5-5 for 55 yards so far with a 112.5 QB rating.

Spoke too soon. Mills' 2nd & 3rd down attempts are incomplete. Texans punt to the Cowboys' 36.

10-14, Cowboys
3:42 remaining in the half

[Keith]

INTERCEPTION!

Tremon Smith nabs a deflected pass intended for Brown off the receiver (and maybe Stewart in coverage) and returns it to the Cowboys' 27.

Drive starts with a foul start on Green, who is back in the game (yay?).

Driskel from the shotgun fakes a handoff to Pierce and rolls right, throwing into the endzone to Rodgers for a touchdown, 28 yards. Welcome to the team, Amari!

Extra point is good.

Texans 17-14
2:23 remaining

[Keith]

Prescott comes out throwing following the 2-min warning. Completions of 8, 7, and finally 16 yards get the Wagon to the Texans' 37 before a pair of incompletions set up a 3rd and 10. Prescott converts the first down with a completion to his TE Dalton Schultz, who then drops a potential TD catch on the next play.

Cowboys OL Terence Steele is injured on the play as Hughes pushed him into Prescott as he threw the pass.

The 3rd-and-10 attempt is deflected by Pitre, who has been hitting everything hard this drive, now another PBU.

Maher's 33-yrd field goal attempt is good. Game is tied at 17, 40 second left in the half.

Touchback on the kickoff. Mills passes to Moore for 18 then a timeout. From their 43, Mills checks down to Ogunbowale for 3, then completes to Rodgers to cross midfield, calls timeout. Cowboys jump offsides then commit DPI on the free play, moving the Texans to the 41, 0:17 on the clock.

Mills completes a 9-yd slant route to Phillip Dorsett to the 32. Texans let the clock run down to 0:02 before calling their final timeout. Fairbairn connects on a 50-yard field goal, and well well well... the Texans go into halftime with the lead.

Texans 20, Cowboys 17
Halftime