Cowboys limit Houston’s ground game as Porter makes Dallas debut

Dallas’s defense left Houston with an uneven result Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026: the Cowboys allowed 397 total yards but won 34–30, with stronger work against the run than the pass.

The Texans gained 62 rushing yards on 19 carries, an average of 3.3 yards, according to the Cowboys’ news-and-notes report. The same report credited Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark with a combined seven run tackles and three run stuffs, citing Next Gen Stats.

Williams and Rashan Gary each recorded a sack. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud nevertheless threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns, a reminder that the defensive performance was mixed.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. played 24 defensive snaps in his Dallas debut. The team reported that he was targeted once and allowed no reception. Nico Collins was not targeted on the five snaps when Porter covered him.

Those individual results offer something for Dallas to build on, but they do not erase Houston’s production. The Cowboys next host Tampa Bay at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 8.

Sources: Cowboys game report; Cowboys news and notes; Prescott postgame report.