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This is a free demo of Cipher IQ. Everything you see is real NFL data from Week 4 of the 2026 season, refreshed through the week.

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This is a full game briefing. Use the tabs to move between coaching, quarterbacks, the line, and more. Every number is current and refreshes through the week.

Dallas Cowboys1–2
Houston Texans0–3
34–30
Final
SUN, OCT 4 · 1:00 PM ET · Reliant Stadium
Final, 34–30

This briefing is the snapshot from before kickoff. Every record, split, and read below is as it stood when the game started; the result of this game is not folded into any of them.

The matchup
Where, when, who is favored, and the conditions.
Updated 19 days ago

The Houston Texans (0-3) host the Dallas Cowboys (1-2) at Reliant Stadium in Week 4, with Houston favored by 3.0 points and a total of 48.5. Both teams enter with seven days of rest, but the Cowboys rank 3rd in offensive EPA per play while their defense ranks 29th. The Texans have lost their last four games and failed to cover in that same span, though they hold a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series since 1999.

Dallas Cowboys
Season to date; ranks entering the last game.
Offense rank
#3
Defense rank
#29
Points for
29.3
Points against
27.3
Houston Texans
Season to date; ranks entering the last game.
Offense rank
#24
Defense rank
#25
Points for
18.0
Points against
25.0
EPA gap · last 3
The Cowboys have the better offense over their last 3 games, by this much EPA per play over the Texans.
DAL +0.29
Last 5 meetings
The Cowboys have won more of the last five games between these teams than the Texans.
DAL 3–2
Record
Season record, with points for and against per game.
DAL 3 · HOU 3 games
1–2
DAL
0–3
HOU

DAL averages 29.3 for and 27.3 against; HOU 18.0 and 25.0.

Head coaches
Career records as head coaches, and their record against each other.
Schottenheimer 20 · Ryans 60 games as HC
8–11–1
DAL
35–25
HOU

Brian Schottenheimer and DeMeco Ryans have not met as head coaches.

Quarterbacks
Career passer rating for each starter.
Prescott 148 · Stroud 54 starts
98.2
DAL
91.4
HOU

Career passer rating. Dak Prescott for DAL; C.J. Stroud for HOU.

Conditions
Venue, surface, rest, and the weather at kickoff.
Venue
Reliant Stadium · indoors
Surface
astroturf
DAL rest
7 days
HOU rest
7 days
Weather
Indoors, no weather factor
Context
Regular season
Offensive efficiency
EPA is expected points added per play, measured against an average play from the same spot. Zero is league average.
DAL 3 · HOU 3 games, 2026 season
DAL +0.289

Cowboys lead on expected points added per offensive play across the season, by 0.289 per snap. The three horizons show whether that gap is widening or narrowing.

This week's briefing
Situational flags active for this game, from the record.
1 of 3
15 contexts

Updated 19 days ago

  • DeMarvion Overshown (LB) and Cobie Durant (CB) are listed Out for Dallas due to hamstring injuries.

    analyst read

  • Jadeveon Clowney (DE) and Logan Hall (DE) are Questionable for Houston with knee injuries.

    analyst read

  • C.J. Stroud's passer rating under pressure is 67.4, compared to 101.5 from a clean pocket.

    analyst read

  • C.J. Stroud has had 3+ sacks taken in 5 straight starts.

    stat streak

  • DeMeco Ryans's teams have lost 4 straight games.

    coach streak
Flagged before kickoff
The top takeaways from this briefing, written before the game and not edited since. The final score is below.
Written SAT, OCT 3 · 2:01 PM ET
  • 1DeMarvion Overshown (LB) and Cobie Durant (CB) are listed Out for Dallas due to hamstring injuries.
  • 2Jadeveon Clowney (DE) and Logan Hall (DE) are Questionable for Houston with knee injuries.
  • 3C.J. Stroud's passer rating under pressure is 67.4, compared to 101.5 from a clean pocket.
Final
Cowboys at Texans
34–30