The Houston Texans are now 0-4 after falling 34-30 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Houston entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations, but its latest loss puts the team in a difficult position historically.

Since 2000, the Texans are the only NFL team to begin a season 0-3 and still reach the playoffs. Houston accomplished that twice, in 2018 and 2025. However, starting 0-4 is an entirely different story.

Only one team in the league history has opened a season 0-4 and eventually made the playoffs: the 1992 San Diego Chargers. They lost their first four games before winning 11 of their final 12 contests. The Chargers finished 11-5, won the AFC West, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round and then fell to the Miami Dolphins in the Divisional Round.

The Texans' current situation does have some differences from that Chargers team. Houston has a 17-game regular season, giving it one additional opportunity to recover compared with the 1992 schedule. The NFL also now has seven playoff teams in each conference, compared with six in 1992. The Texans additionally have five games remaining against AFC South opponents.

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Houston's latest setback came despite solid performances from quarterback CJ Stroud and wide receiver Nico Collins. Stroud threw for 347 yards, while Collins recorded seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in his return after missing two games with a hamstring injury.

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards, while wideout CeeDee Lamb caught a career-high 17 passes for 189 yards. Lamb's 12-yard touchdown reception with 40 seconds remaining completed an 11-play, 74-yard Cowboys drive and gave Dallas the win.

Houston had one final opportunity, but Stroud's desperation pass fell incomplete.

Up next, the Texans will hit the road to face the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.