Barnett provided the biggest highlight for the defense, but it was another great performance from Danielle Hunter that lit the fuse for a defense without Houston’s Will Anderson, who lacked punch in the first half but came out swinging in the second. came.

Hunter had his team’s only two pressures in the first half, but in the second the Texans harassed Rush with 42.4 pressures and sacked him five times.

“We just made some adjustments there with the D-line and D. Hunter. He let it loose in the second half and did a really good job,” Ryans said. “I thought our guys did a better job just doing the stunts and everything we asked of them. We adjusted a few things, but they executed it really well.”

Hunter, a huge offseason acquisition who has made a huge impact, posted three tackles, two sacks and 10 QB pressures, bringing his NFL-high total to 72 pressures through 11 weeks, according to Next Gen Stats. His total is 15 more than the closest player (Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson).

The hard-hitting Pitre (nine tackles) and Derek Stingley (interception), who is still emerging as a top-tier cornerback, were among the others who combined to shut down the Cowboys’ run-heavy offense.

“When we got him last year, he showed his value,” said Texans quarterback CJ Stroud of Barnett, a 2017 first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles who was claimed by the Texans last November. “There are a lot of plays that guys don’t see, but he takes on those guards and sees them back and makes plays so his fans are free. I thought Mario (Edwards) played well. I thought Danielle, Denico (Autry) and the entire D-line have received some wheels, but I certainly respect that.”

Barnett’s touchdown broke the game open as Houston took a 27–10 lead with 12:31 remaining. With just over three minutes left, Texans running back Joe Mixon scored his third touchdown to make it a laughing matter.

Looking to end a two-game skid, Houston defeated Big D in a big way, with a dominant defensive effort that closed out the game, much to the delight of the head coach.

“To shut them out in the second half, that was a bigger deal to me than scoring a touchdown,” Ryans said. “It’s about coming out with the right energy and executing and finishing the right way.”