Our Cowboys vs Texans preview covers the latest odds, point spread, moneyline, total, kickoff time, TV channel and where to watch for the NFL Week 4 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys (1-2) and the Houston Texans (0-3) on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT), and the game airs on FOX.
Week 4 storyline: Dallas and Houston meet at the renamed Reliant Stadium. The Cowboys are back from Rio de Janeiro after a last-second loss to Baltimore and could debut CB Joey Porter Jr., acquired from Pittsburgh this week. The winless Texans get WR Nico Collins back from a hamstring injury as they try to avoid an 0-4 start.
As of Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 7:01 AM PT (10:01 AM ET), DraftKings via ESPN lists the Texans as 3-point favorites over the Cowboys, with the moneyline at Cowboys +136 / Texans -162 and the over/under at 48.5. Since the open, the spread has moved from HOU -2.5 to HOU -3 and the total has moved from 47.5 to 48.5. Below are the full Cowboys vs Texans odds, both team previews, the official Week 4 injury report and TV details.
Cowboys vs Texans Odds & Preview Info
| Matchup detail | Line / info |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans |
| Records | Cowboys 1-2 (0-1 road) · Texans 0-3 (0-2 home) |
| Spread | Cowboys +3 (-110) · Texans -3 (-110) |
| Moneyline | Cowboys +136 · Texans -162 |
| Total | 48.5 (Over -105 / Under -115) |
| Venue | Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Date/Time | Sunday, October 4, 2026 · 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT) |
| TV | FOX |
| Head Coaches | Cowboys: Brian Schottenheimer · Texans: DeMeco Ryans |
| Quarterbacks | Cowboys: Dak Prescott · Texans: C.J. Stroud |
Odds: DraftKings via ESPN as of Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 7:01 AM PT (10:01 AM ET). Opening line: HOU -2.5, total 47.5, moneyline Cowboys +114 / Texans -135. Line movement: the spread has moved from HOU -2.5 to HOU -3, and the total has moved from 47.5 to 48.5; the moneyline has gone from Cowboys +114 / Texans -135 at the open to Cowboys +136 / Texans -162. The DraftKings line has moved from HOU -2.5 (total 47.5) since this preview first ran on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Lines can move before kickoff.
Dallas Cowboys Preview
Season so far: Dallas lost 28-20 at the Giants, then beat Washington 37-20 as Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and passed Tony Romo for the franchise record. In Week 3 the Cowboys lost 34-31 to Baltimore in Rio when Tyler Loop made a 56-yard field goal on the final play, seven seconds after Brandon Aubrey’s tying kick (AP). Dallas has scored 88 points and allowed 82.
Quarterback and key players: Prescott is 73 of 105 for 730 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception (ESPN). Javonte Williams has 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb has 20 catches for 309 yards and three scores. Jake Ferguson had two touchdowns in Week 2 and one in Week 3. S Caleb Downs leads the team with 21 tackles and has a sack.
This week: Dallas traded a 2027 sixth-round choice and a 2028 second-round choice to Pittsburgh for Porter, who practiced Thursday and Friday and has no designation. Executive VP Stephen Jones said, “We actually think Joey Porter will get snaps” (ESPN). S Malik Hooker, listed as out earlier, was a full participant.
Houston Texans Preview
Season so far: Houston lost 36-31 to Buffalo when the Bills scored with 1:36 left, then lost 20-6 to Cincinnati. In Week 3 the Texans lost 19-17 at Indianapolis on a field goal with 16 seconds left, a game in which they gained only 223 yards (AP). They are 0-2 at home and have scored 54 points while allowing 75.
Quarterback and key players: C.J. Stroud is 72 of 120 for 794 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions (ESPN). David Montgomery has 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Dalton Schultz leads the team with 19 catches for 205 yards. Will Anderson Jr. has four sacks, tied for second in the NFL, and Azeez Al-Shaair has 31 tackles.
This week: Collins practiced Wednesday and Thursday and returns after missing two games. Houston averaged 11.5 points without him in Weeks 2 and 3 and scored 31 with him in the opener (ESPN). The Texans also started 0-3 in 2025 before winning 12 of their last 14; the only team to start 0-4 and reach the postseason was the 1992 Chargers (ESPN).
Cowboys vs Texans Key Injuries
Source: the official final Week 4 injury reports released Friday, Oct. 2, as posted on NFL.com, with injured reserve moves from ESPN’s injury tracker and context from team sites and ESPN. Practice notes refer to Friday’s session. Players not listed below carry no game designation.
Dallas Cowboys — Out: CB Cobie Durant (hamstring); LB DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) · Doubtful: none · Questionable: none · Injured reserve (ESPN): DT Jonathan Bullard (calf); S Jalen Thompson (hamstring); G Tyler Smith (thumb); S P.J. Locke (foot).
Houston Texans — Out: LB Azeez Al-Shaair (groin); S M.J. Stewart (knee) · Doubtful: none · Questionable: DE Jadeveon Clowney (knee, did not practice Friday); DE Logan Hall (knee, limited Friday); LB Jake Hansen (calf, full Friday); G Ed Ingram (groin, full Friday) · Injured reserve (ESPN): RB British Brooks (hamstring); DT Mario Edwards Jr. (knee – ACL).
Context: Al-Shaair (groin) did not practice and is out, along with S M.J. Stewart. DE Jadeveon Clowney and G Ed Ingram, both listed as out earlier in the week, are now questionable, and DT Mario Edwards Jr. (torn ACL) went on IR.
Cowboys vs Texans Key Matchup Notes
- Stroud with Collins vs a patched-up secondary: Houston gets its top receiver back, and Dallas is missing CB Cobie Durant and safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke.
- Porter’s debut: Dallas may use its new cornerback in a defined package, per Schottenheimer (ESPN).
- Anderson vs Prescott: Anderson’s four sacks face a Dallas offense that has scored 31 or more twice.
- Linebacker absences: Both teams are without a key linebacker: Al-Shaair for Houston and DeMarvion Overshown for Dallas.
- Market snapshot: DraftKings opened HOU -2.5 with a 47.5 total and now shows HOU -3 and 48.5 (DraftKings via ESPN, as of 7:01 AM PT Saturday).
Kickoff, Venue & How to Watch Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans
- Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT)
- Venue: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
- TV / Streaming: FOX (regional broadcast; check local listings). Streaming: Fox One and the FOX Sports app (local FOX feed), NFL+ on phones and tablets, and NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube / YouTube TV for out-of-market viewers
Where to watch: the Dallas Cowboys vs Houston Texans game airs on FOX at 1:00 PM ET. Final inactives are released about 90 minutes before kickoff.
This preview is for informational purposes only. It reports odds, injury designations and broadcast details from DraftKings via ESPN, NFL.com, team sites, ESPN and AP, and it does not offer betting advice. Odds, injury statuses and inactives can change before kickoff, so confirm with official sources. If you gamble, do so legally and responsibly; help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER. Information current as of Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, 7:01 AM PT (10:01 AM ET) for the Cowboys vs Texans game on October 4, 2026.