Key Highlights:
- ESPN host Mike Greenberg reaffirmed his preseason prediction that the Dallas Cowboys will capture the NFC East title following a 34-30 comeback win against the Houston Texans.
- Dak Prescott orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard game-winning drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown to CeeDee Lamb, who finished with a career-high 17 receptions for 189 yards.
- Dallas improved to 2-2 to stay within one game of the first-place New York Giants (3-1) as they prepare for a short turnaround against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Mike Greenberg Doubles Down on Dallas Cowboys NFC East Forecast
ESPN Get Up! host Mike Greenberg is standing firmly behind his preseason forecast that the Dallas Cowboys will finish atop the NFC East. Dallas endured a turbulent opening month of the NFL season, but the franchise delivered a clutch late-game response on Sunday, rallying from behind to defeat the Houston Texans 34-30. The outcome moved Dallas to 2-2 on the season, positioning them right in the mix of an open divisional race and reinforcing Greenberg’s confidence in the roster’s potential.
Immediately following the comeback victory, Greenberg publicly doubled down on his initial stance. He stated: This time Dak throws the touchdown and the defense gets the stop at the end. What a difference a week makes. #Cowboys are gonna win that division,
he shared. Greenberg’s reaction specifically referenced the Cowboys’ agonizing 30-27 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil the prior week, where Dallas saw a late advantage slip away before failing to close out the contest.
Inside the Dramatic Fourth-Quarter Comeback Against Houston
Unlike their breakdown in Brazil, the Cowboys successfully closed out Sunday’s matchup behind veteran quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott spearheaded an 11-play, 74-yard drive executed in just one minute and 43 seconds, punctuating the sequence by finding wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for the go-ahead 12-yard score. The drive marked Prescott’s 27th career game-winning drive and prevented the team from tumbling below the .500 threshold after four weeks.
Lamb served as the offensive focal point throughout the afternoon, compiling a career-high 17 receptions for 189 yards alongside the decisive touchdown reception. The offense also generated crucial momentum on the ground from running back Javonte Williams, who registered three rushing touchdowns following halftime to erase a 10-point Dallas deficit. Defensively, despite yielding 30 points and giving up multiple explosive plays, Dallas secured the game-ending stop to seal the interconference win.
Team Mindset and Brian Schottenheimer’s Response
Despite the emotional lift, Prescott was quick to temper expectations regarding the broader state of the team. There’s nothing like winning,
Prescott said. I want to say it fixes all the problems, but it doesn’t. It makes you feel good at least for a day or so. But at this point, we got to turn the page and get ready for Thursday. We can’t sit here and have some winning hangover so early in the season.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the resilience of his locker room after overcoming consecutive weeks of grueling travel. Speaks to the type of young men we have in that room,
Schottenheimer said of his team’s effort. These guys are a special group of young men that truly do love each other. The brotherhood is real. There was never finger pointing one way or the other. They just went back to work. We’re going to do it again in however many days… Can’t wait.
Addressing the context of the schedule, Schottenheimer rejected the premise that the matchup was a mandatory win. I wanted this game. I didn’t think we needed this game. Rio doesn’t define us as a football team…
Schottenheimer said. But I wanted this game. Why? Because these guys came back off a ten hour trip, the Ravens I think played at home today, we played on the road. We play Thursday night. We’ll play anybody anywhere. And we’re looking forward to that. But Rio had nothing to do with this game, this game stood by itself.
Why This Matters
The NFC East standings remain tightly contested through four games. The New York Giants currently lead the division with a 3-1 record, while the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles follow closely at 2-2. The Washington Commanders sit in fourth place at 1-3. By overcoming Houston, Dallas avoided a 1-3 start that would have put significant pressure on their postseason aspirations.
The short turnaround offers Dallas an immediate opportunity to establish positive momentum. The Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium on Thursday night to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:15 p.m. ET. While defensive inconsistency remains a concern after allowing 30 points to Houston, proving that the offense can execute under late-game pressure keeps Mike Greenberg’s division-title prediction viable with 13 games left on the schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current record and divisional standing of the Dallas Cowboys?
Following their 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans, the Dallas Cowboys are 2-2. They sit in second place in the NFC East alongside the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2), just one game behind the first-place New York Giants (3-1) and ahead of the Washington Commanders (1-3).
What key individual stats stood out in the Cowboys’ win over the Texans?
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb caught a career-high 17 passes for 189 yards and the game-winning touchdown, quarterback Dak Prescott completed his 27th career game-winning drive, and running back Javonte Williams rushed for three touchdowns in the second half.
When do the Dallas Cowboys play their next game?
The Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
