HOUSTON — The Dallas Cowboys secured a narrow 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday at Reliant Stadium, overcoming a second-half deficit and late-game pressure to improve their record to 2-2.

Quarterback Dak Prescott played a pivotal role in the comeback, connecting on a crucial 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb late in the fourth quarter to give Dallas a four-point lead. Lamb delivered a standout performance with a career-high 17 receptions for 189 yards, providing a significant boost to the Cowboys’ offense.

Despite Prescott’s effective command during the closing minutes, the game’s outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle. Houston’s rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud launched a last-ditch Hail Mary pass from midfield as the clock expired. The Cowboys’ Malik Hooker was credited with breaking up the contested throw, which fell incomplete amid a scramble of players, preserving Dallas’s win.

The victory marked a rebound for Dallas following a costly loss the previous week to the Baltimore Ravens, where defensive lapses in the closing seconds led to a defeat. Prescott acknowledged the lingering pressure from that setback and praised the Cowboys’ defense for holding firm when it mattered most this time. He emphasized the collective effort required to win and expressed optimism about the team’s growth from one week to the next.

While the defense was often tested during Sunday’s game, including surrendering a late go-ahead touchdown run by Houston’s Woody Marks, the offense’s late surge was decisive. The Cowboys had previously settled for a game-tying field goal after reaching the Texans’ 2-yard line late in the fourth quarter, a decision Prescott suggested had put additional strain on the defense.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer, under scrutiny following last week’s loss for clock management and strategic decisions, received a show of support from key players. Lamb highlighted his commitment to backing Schottenheimer and working together as the team navigates challenges.

Dallas fell behind by 10 points at halftime and again early in the third quarter before rallying to take the lead in the fourth. The Cowboys appeared poised for another collapse after a third-and-14 conversion via a hook-and-lateral play set up Houston’s go-ahead score.

Owner Jerry Jones had publicly criticized the coaching staff after the previous week’s defeat but reaffirmed confidence that lessons would be learned from the experience. Sunday's outcome suggested some progress, with the Cowboys emerging victorious in a tense, back-and-forth encounter that underscored both their resilience and the work still needed on both sides of the ball.