CeeDee Lamb Leads Cowboys Winners & Losers in Week 4 Victory

The Dallas Cowboys rebounded from their late loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio by coming back in the second half to beat the Houston Texans, 34-30, on the road Sunday afternoon.

Dallas improves to 2-2 and keeps their in-state rivals winless. 

Dak Prescott found CeeDee Lamb in the end zone for a game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds left in the game.

That is where we begin in our weekly Winners & Losers as this generation's No. 88 had one of the best receiving games in Cowboys history.

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Lamb finished with a career-high 17 receptions for 189 yards and the late touchdown.

The workload was good enough for the second-most catches in a game in franchise history, trailing only tight end Jason Witten's 18-reception performance in 2012 against the New York Giants.

Lamb's complete stat line established the first game of 15+ receptions, 150+ receiving yards, and one or more touchdowns in Cowboys history.

Prescott honed in on Lamb throughout the second half as his co-star receiver George Pickens was held as a non-factor. Running back Javonte Williams also supplied points in Dallas' second-half comeback with three touchdowns on the ground.

Lamb is now at 498 yards receiving through four weeks of the 2026 season, a pace plenty ahead of what could be his sixth straight 1,000-yard season, which would set a Cowboys record and break his tie with Michael Irvin.

It was another awful start for the Cowboys' new-look defense, but the team's end-of-half decision-making could have kept them within a score at halftime.

Dallas was set to get the ball first in the third quarter. One drive after a field goal was blocked, coach Brian Schottenheimer called for another Brandon Aubrey try. From a 65-yard distance that was further than the blocked kick, the attempt was no good.

The Cowboys would've been much better off pinning Houston deep in its own territory, but instead, the Texans were able to set up kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn for a 52-yard field goal that put Houston up by double digits going into the break. Dallas got touchdowns on its first two drives out of halftime and would have taken an earlier lead if Houston didn't extend its edge before half.

This is the second consecutive week with a mental lapse in special teams play-calling for Schottenheimer and the Cowboys. Dallas is lucky its second-half defense stepped up and prevented another late collapse.

The Cowboys had allowed an average of 179 yards rushing through the first three weeks.

On Sunday, Houston managed just 52 yards against a Cowboys front that found its footing late in the game. That included star tackle Quinnen Williams finally getting home for his first sack of the season, taking down C.J. Stroud for Dallas' second sack of the day (Rashan Gary had the other).

The Texans, throughout the game, got in their own way to assist Dallas in creating stops. Houston was flagged 13 times, accumulating 90 penalty yards.

This run defense will be another key emphasis for a Cowboys defense hosting winless Tampa Bay next week, who could again be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Dallas' former All-Pro cornerback was outclassed by Texans receiver Nico Collins, who was returning after missing the last two games.

Collins did not miss a beat in getting Houston on the board with a touchdown catch past Bland on the Texans' first possession. The Pro Bowl receiver totaled seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Much of that production came against Bland.

The Cowboys added to its injury-plagued secondary by trading for disgruntled Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr., who made his season debut but was eased into his first game on a snaps restriction. Even in his debut, Porter was largely avoided when he was in coverage opposite of Bland.

Moving forward, Porter (pending his health) will be shadowing the opposing team's best receiver, because this was a forgetful performance by the Cowboys' high-priced cover man.

Dallas is 2-2. The Cowboys don't particularly look the part of a division winner, but the NFC East continues to produce at a low level this season, and Dallas has injuries to their rivals to thank for that.

Washington saw backup Marcus Mariota leave the game in a loss to Indianapolis Sunday morning in London. The Giants will be without starter Jaxson Dart for the entire regular season, but beat the lowly Cardinals to move into first place after a fine game from Jameis Winston.

In Philadelphia, the Eagles dropped to 2-2 as the Los Angeles Rams scored late to win 24-20. Philly's Jalen Hurts-led offense played without top receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and lost star rusher Saquon Barkley (hamstring) during the Week 4 game after just two carries.

Dallas can make things interesting in the early divisional outlook by taking care of business against the 0-4 Buccaneers next week, though it will be a quick turnaround as Tampa Bay comes to Arlington for Thursday Night Football.