Dak Prescott threw for 284 yards and a touchdown and led a 98-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to pace the host Dallas Cowboys to a 27–23, come-from-behind win over the Houston Texans on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Prescott’s late heroics—he was 6 for 7 on the final touchdown drive—helped the Cowboys overcome three turnovers, including two interceptions.
Ezekiel Elliott ran 2 yards for the game-winning score with 41 seconds remaining. The touchdown put the Cowboys ahead for the first time since the second quarter as Dallas (10–3) won its fourth consecutive game to keep pace with Philadelphia in the NFC East race.
The Eagles (12–1) beat the New York Giants 48–22 Sunday to clinch a playoff berth. Houston (1–11–1), meanwhile, has lost eight consecutive games.
The Texans looked as if they were in control when Tremon Smith picked off Prescott’s pass with less than six minutes remaining to give them the ball inside the Cowboys’ 5.
The interception, Smith’s second of the game, was facilitated by Ogbonnia Okoronkwo deflecting the pass into the air. On the play before, Okoronkwo forced a fumble that pinned the Cowboys near the goal line.
But the Texans couldn’t take advantage, eventually turning the ball over on downs when Jeff Driskel was stopped at the Cowboys’ 2 by Neville Gallimore and Anthony Barr to give Dallas another chance, down 23–20 with 3:20 remaining.
That’s when Prescott took over, leaning heavily on Dalton Schultz, to lead Dallas to victory.
Prescott hit Schultz for gains of 21, 13, and 18 yards to set up Elliott’s winning touchdown. Schultz finished with six catches for 87 yards while Elliott rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries.
The Texans led much of the way thanks to Ka'imi Fairbairn’s field goals of 43, 50, and 54 yards.
Davis Mills started at quarterback for the Texans after being replaced by Kyle Allen for the previous two games. But Houston also used Driskel, whose added mobility hurt the Cowboys at times, throughout much of the game.
