The 2026 NFL season will characteristic the eighth ever version of The Governor’s Cup, which is the assembly between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. With the final two all-Texas professional soccer conferences coming in Arlington in 2022 and 2024, it’s time for the Cowboys to go to the Texans in Houston for the primary time since 2018.
With our preview collection shifting in direction of among the perceived hardest video games on the Cowboys schedule, the Texans would be the first non-divisional opponent the Cowboys play within the continental United States this season. Previous to this week 4 battle, the Cowboys will play on the Giants, versus the Commanders, and in Brazil in opposition to the Ravens, earlier than week 4 on the Texans in one in all 5 scheduled early kickoff window video games.
The Texans are 18-8 at dwelling below head coach DeMeco Ryans since 2023, going 7-2 final yr whereas holding six of their 9 dwelling opponents to twenty factors or much less. It was this protection that led the Texans to a 3rd straight look within the Divisional playoffs, however but once more that is the place they exited after the offense was shut down by the eventual AFC champion Patriots.
The Texans have additional dedicated to bolstering the protection this offseason, one that’s anticipated to be among the many league’s finest but once more, however completely couldn’t come away from the offseason with out some sort of splash on offense too. They did so by buying and selling for Lions operating again David Montgomery, pairing him with Woody Marks out of the backfield and Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Tank Dell at extensive receiver.
The Cowboys personal offense has sky excessive expectations coming into this season, and one of many issues they need to be out to reply early is how they play in opposition to premier defensive minds. Beginning the season in opposition to John Harbaugh, Dan Quinn, Jesse Minter, after which this Texans protection will give some early solutions right here.
Curiously sufficient, the three coaches listed above together with Ryans for Houston should not simply defensive coordinators for his or her groups, they’re head coaches with a uncommon deal with protection in right this moment’s recreation. How Brian Schottenheimer because the Cowboys’ offensive-minded head coach offers will with this early season strain and assaults the Texans protection is a query nonetheless with some ready to be carried out earlier than answering, however till then we will take a better take a look at the totality of what the Texans have carried out this offseason.
Texans Key Free Agent Signings/Departures
The Texans will convey again their high 4 go catchers from a yr in the past in Schultz, Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Xavier Hutchinson, making offensive line the subsequent precedence to have a sustainable offense round C.J. Stroud that may go deeper within the playoffs.
Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith undertaking as new starters at guard and deal with, however include high quality expertise and the kind of imply streak this Houston group values virtually throughout the board in any respect positions to present them a bodily and difficult id. The Texans are apparently constructed to embrace the heavy formation development anticipated to take the NFL by storm this season, with Schultz and FA addition Foster Moreau at tight finish, a retooled offensive line, and receivers like Collins and Higgins that may win out of the slot or from condensed formations.
Shedding Kirk and Berrios in free company does skinny the depth chart at extensive receiver for gamers that match this mildew for Houston, however the internet positives this group achieved on offense whereas bringing in sturdy reinforcements on protection ought to have them very enthusiastic about their positioning within the AFC South. Essentially the most notable defensive addition right here is Reed Blankenship coming over from the Eagles, giving the Texans a troublesome security group of Blankenship, Jalen Pitre, and Calen Bullock.
The Texans did transfer on from former Cowboys linebacker Damone Clark in free company, who was most not too long ago with the Lions in 2025. They not too long ago added final yr’s sack chief for the Cowboys although, a reunion with veteran Jadeveon Clowney, bringing his profession again to Houston after being their first total decide in 2014. The Cowboys returning expertise alongside the offensive line ought to know a lot about the best way to take care of Clowney, but when he nonetheless has as a lot juice left within the tank as he confirmed in Dallas on an in any other case horrible protection, the matchup won’t be straightforward.
The Texans additionally misplaced Tim Settle in free company, however now the Cowboys will doubtlessly nonetheless play in opposition to him twice this season too, as he signed with the Washington Commanders.
The Texans dedication to being a drive within the trenches was simply getting began in free company. Beginning their draft with among the best run blockers, Keylan Rutledge out of Georgia Tech, within the first spherical, and Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald as a people-mover at defensive deal with, additional embraced the id they’re on the lookout for.
The remainder of this draft class additionally exhibits off sensible drafting by the Texans, as they went for prospects that can slide onto depth charts the place established expertise is already in place and expectations might be tempered. We’ve already talked about each Schultz and Moreau at tight finish, which leaves room for rookie Marlin Klein because the group’s second of two second-round picks to develop. The identical goes for Nwaiwu at guard, Woodaz at linebacker, and Ramsey at security.
The Texans fanbase, clearly one of many newer ones within the NFL at giant, has totally embraced the final three seasons below Ryans the place the group’s id has been on hard-nosed protection. In yr two of coach Schotty’s deal with trench play, physicality, and tradition, Dallas will go toe-to-toe with a Texans group valuing lots of the similar issues.
Texans 2026 Teaching Adjustments
*New to employees this season:
The Texans may have the identical defensive, offensive, and particular groups coordinator below Ryans in 2026, with ST coordinator Frank Ross being the longest-tenured of the bunch as a employees member since 2021. Even two of the positions we’ve highlighted as pivotal for Houston this yr, security and operating again, have returning coaches with expertise in Danny Barrett as assistant HC and RB coach and Stephen Adegoke who’s been teaching safeties since 2023. To date for our preview collection, the Texans have far and away essentially the most teaching continuity, with solely tight ends coach James Ferentz making the record of latest hires.
The Texans let the division slip away for the primary time since 2023 final yr regardless of profitable two extra video games than their earlier South-winning seasons below Ryans, by means of the upstart Jaguars with first yr HC Liam Coen going 13-4. They are going to put their protection to the check firstly of the season in opposition to Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, the Colts in week three, then Dak Prescott and the Cowboys adopted by their remaining division opponents the Titans and Jags again to again in weeks 5 and 6. Will probably be revealing early for the Texans, and frames the Cowboys recreation as one with heightened significance even past the state bragging rights.
