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

[Keith]

Driskel opens the second half at QB. During the FOX halftime show, Jimmy Johnson said Mills was out at times because he was hurt, but methinks Jimmy is getting a bit too much sun these days. Mills is in for a 3rd down conversion to Rodgers.

Next play, Pierce loses the ball, forced out by Donovan Wilson, recovered by Trevon Diggs and returned 15 yards to the Houston 28. Pollard converts a 3rd and short to the 8-yd line.

Steele out for the game with a knee injury, and now New Texan Taylor Stallworth is down. Starting to pile up some injuries today.

On 3rd and goal, Elliott is stopped inside the 1. Cowboys go for it on 4th down, and Elliott is stuffed for a loss! Desmond King came crashing.

Texans 20-17
8:19 left in the 3rd quarter

[Keith]

Driskel scrambles from out his own end zone for a first and some breathing room. Pierce then goes angry mode and demolishes Malik Hooker for a 24-yard run to the Houston 40. Hoo boy.

Mills back in for the 3rd and 6, completes to Rodgers for 14 as Diggs tried unsuccessfully to jump the route for a pick. Eno Benjamin gets the ensuring carry and is dropped for a loss of 4, thanks to... you guessed it, Green's missed block. Mills and Driskel keep swapping in and out. Mills in for the 3rd and 9, his completion to Moore at the sideline is short.

54-yard field goal attempt by Fairbairn is good. Wow.

Texans 23-17
3:03 left in the 3rd

[Keith]

Dak scrambles on third down, but slides just short of the marker in spite of holding the ball out reaching for the first. He then converts for the first, calling his own number. Next he finds a wide open Michael Gallup for 25 yards across midfield.

Fourth quarter begins with a 3rd & 8 at the Texans' 35. Another game with the team going into the final quarter with a lead or tie. Prescott's pass is defelcted incomplete by Kirksey. TV crew just said this 6-point lead is the franchise's largest against the Cowboys since the 10-0 lead to start the first-ever game against them in 2002.

Doesn't last long as Maher kicks the 53-yard field goals.

Texans 23-20
14:50 left in the game

[Keith]

Oh no, Pierce is down following a 1-yard carry before limping off the field, maybe an ankle problem.

In other AFC South news, the Jaguars are lighting up the Titans, 33-14 late in the 3rd quarter. Titans owner Amy Strunk in the news this week after a midseason firing of their GM. Somewhere six feet under, Bud Adams is smiling.

3rd down pass is incomplete to Moore, covered by Kelvin Joseph. Texans punt by Cam Johnston takes a favorable bounce for 60 yards, out of bounds at the Dallas 12.

Texans 23-20
13:31 remaining

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Keith

Green's missed block.

How do you whiff on a pick like that?

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

How do you whiff on a pick like that?

bUt hE's a hOmeToWn gUy frOm aTAScoCiTa aND an aGGiE!!1!

[Keith]

3rd and 4 from their own 18, and Dak is incomplete. Holding on the play anyway, declined. Cowboys punt is deep and returned by King across their 40, but called for holding on Tremon Smith.

Eno Benjamin is in at RB with Pierce injured. Eno was dropped for a 4-yd loss on his only carry of this game. Dare Ogunbowale was dropped for a 3-yard loss for his lone carry. Driskel (5-30) is maybe the most effective runner still standing.

Benjamin gets the 1st down carry, gets positive yards, four of them in fact. Pierce re-enters though, and Driskel is with him. The re-converted TE fakes it to Pierce and keeps it for 5. Pierce keeps the 3rd-and-short to convert at the Dallas 36.

Mills comes back in and finds his buddy Moore for 18 across midfield. Pierces goes back out and is clearly struggling with his ankle. Driskel is back for 3rd and 5, and his pass is swatted incomplete by DL Neville Gallimore. Johnston punt is downed by Moore at the Dallas 1.

Texans 23-20
8:01 remaining

[Keith]

Prescott gets the Cowboys out of trouble with a completion to CeeDee Lamb to the 10, but Pitre puts a pretty hard hit on him.

FUMBLE! Recovered by Dallas, but a loss of 10 as Prescott loses the ball going back to pass. Okoronkwo with the deflection.

INTERCEPTION! Prescott throws from his own end zone to Tremon Smith! Pressured by Okoronkwo. What a couple of plays from him.

Texans take over at the Dallas 4. Driskel throws to Moore on 2nd down, and Moore does some wiggling to get to the 1-yd line. Burkhead is dropped behind the LOS by DeMarcus Lawrence. UGH missing Pierce big time. He is out for the rest of the game. Texans go for it on 4th down, but call a timeout. Driskel takes the snap, goes one way, spins around to the other and is stopped short. Seems like either he or Burkhead went the wrong way on the read option.

Turnover on downs,
Texans 23-20
3:20 remaining

[Keith]

Prescott throws 21 yards to Schultz to get out of trouble, then scrambles for 9. Pass to Zeke gets them across midfield to the 49 at the two minute warning and nearing field goal range for a potential game-tying kick. Sets up a 2nd & 4.

Texans win percentage is currently 58.3%, but that seems a tad optimistic.

Pass complete to Lamb for 5. 3rd & 1. Dak sneaks it for the 1st.

Prescott complete to Brown. Pitre smacks a good hit on him, but the completion puts the Cowboys at the Houston 22, deep within field goal range, with 1:14 left. Prescott then completes 18 yards over the middle to Schultz to the 4.

Timeout Texans, their second. 0:55 to play.

1st down carry by Elliott goes for 2 yards, and the Texans take their final timeout. 0:51 to play.

Texans 23-20.