Woody Marks’ 59-yard fourth-down TD caps Texans 23-13 win over Cowboys

Houston, TX - Woody Marks turned a fourth-down gamble into a 59-yard touchdown as time expired, putting the finishing touch on the Houston Texans' 23-13 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Houston already held a four-point lead when it went for fourth-and-1 from its own 41-yard line with three seconds remaining, but Marks broke free to end the game with a touchdown rather than give Dallas another opportunity.

C.J. Stroud helped put Houston in position to win with two touchdown passes, completing 16 of 25 attempts for 208 yards and a 116.7 passer rating. The Texans finished with 330 offensive yards, including 137 on the ground, and overcame a Dallas offense that recorded more first downs and converted third downs at a considerably higher rate.

Houston struck first when Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for a 15-yard touchdown with 7:38 remaining in the opening quarter. Dallas answered with a 27-yard field goal, and the teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter as the Texans carried a 10-6 lead into halftime.

The Cowboys moved ahead on the final scoring play of the third quarter. Dak Prescott found Jake Ferguson for a four-yard touchdown pass with two seconds remaining, giving Dallas a 13-10 advantage heading into the fourth. Ferguson finished as Prescott's leading receiver with nine catches for 77 yards and the Cowboys' only receiving touchdown.

That lead held until the final two minutes, when Stroud connected with Jayden Higgins for a 60-yard touchdown at 1:43. The score put Houston back in front 17-13 and gave Stroud his second touchdown pass of the game. Higgins finished with two receptions for 64 yards, while Schultz caught five passes for 51 yards and Tank Dell added four receptions for 65 yards.

Dallas still had time to respond and moved into Houston territory on its final possession. The drive ended when Prescott's fourth-down pass intended for Ryan Flournoy fell incomplete with 18 seconds remaining, handing the ball back to the Texans. Houston then faced a decision of its own after a third-and-1 run by Marks gained no yardage at the Texans' 41.

Rather than punt on fourth-and-1 with three seconds left, Houston handed the ball to Marks again. A stop could have given Dallas possession at the Houston 41 with a chance for one final play if time remained. Marks eliminated that possibility by breaking through for a 59-yard touchdown, turning Houston's 17-13 lead into the 23-13 final as the clock reached zero.

The run capped an unusually productive afternoon for Marks, who gained 66 yards and scored a touchdown on just five carries. David Montgomery added 72 yards on nine attempts, including a 33-yard run, as Houston found enough production on the ground to complement Stroud's passing performance.

Dallas had success running the football as well. Javonte Williams carried 16 times for 86 yards, while Malik Davis added 52 yards on 11 attempts. The Cowboys finished with 152 rushing yards and 321 offensive yards, just nine fewer than Houston, but were unable to turn their longer possessions into enough points.

The difference between the teams' down-to-down production was particularly striking. Dallas recorded 21 first downs to Houston's 12 and converted 8 of 15 third-down attempts, while the Texans finished just 1-for-8. The Cowboys also reached the red zone four times but came away with one touchdown and two field goals, leaving valuable points on the field in a game they led entering the fourth quarter.

Prescott completed 20 of 33 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and one interception, finishing with a 73.6 passer rating. Houston's defense recorded the game's only interception and two sacks, with Dee Winters and Quinnen Williams each credited with one. Dallas also registered two sacks but did not intercept Stroud.

For Houston, the victory combined Stroud's efficiency, timely touchdown catches by Schultz and Higgins, and an extraordinary finish from Marks. Dallas left with statistical advantages in several areas and a fourth-quarter lead it could not protect, falling to its third loss in four games.

Up Next

The Houston Texans will travel to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 looking to build on the victory, while the Dallas Cowboys return home to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.