Houston Texans’ Urgent Need for Victory Against Dallas Cowboys

The Houston Texans remain among five NFL teams yet to secure a victory in the 2026 season. Analyst Stephen A. Smith emphasizes the urgency for the Texans to break their losing streak this weekend.

Current Season Challenges

Initially regarded as contenders after a successful playoff run, the Texans are now facing a tough start with a 0-3 record. Head coach DeMeco Ryans and his squad are preparing for a crucial game against the Dallas Cowboys. During Wednesday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith highlighted the critical nature of the upcoming Week 4 match.

Their season is on the line. Houston cannot afford to lose this game.
They can’t afford to fall to 0-4. Not in this AFC South.
If anybody should be desperate, it’s them.

Defensive and Offensive Concerns

The Texans’ defense, once leading the league in total defense last season, is currently ranked 16th in yards allowed. This decline contributes to their struggles.

On offense, the team’s performance has also been lacking. After a narrow 34-31 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, Houston suffered a 20-6 loss at home against the Cincinnati Bengals. Their most recent 19-17 loss to the Colts saw them fail to capitalize on three turnovers, only gaining 223 yards.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud has not thrown an interception this season, yet his average of 6.6 yards per pass attempt is modest. Smith questions if Stroud’s performance is enough to warrant a significant contract extension.

C.J. Stroud is in a contract year. He’s not showing that he’s worthy of the bag that he covets right now.

The Texans will take the field against the Cowboys on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, hoping to secure their first win of the season.