FRISCO, TX – The Cowboys found themselves in a close game again in the third quarter, but let it slip away in the second half.

The Texans dominated the final score, but the Cowboys had their chances. Here are some plays that may have been forgotten, but could have changed the outcome.

Mazi Smith holds call – From the start, the Cowboys looked like they were on a break when the Texans were flagged for an illegal man downfield to negate a long touchdown catch by Nico Collins. Then on first-and-15, the Cowboys stopped Joe Mixon on a run and looked for second-and-long, but a defensive holding call on Mazi Smith gave Houston a first down. From there, the Texans never looked back, driving into the end zone for a 7-0 lead after a long score from Mixon.

Mixon for 9 after the TD – Not only did the Cowboys cut Houston’s lead in half with a long touchdown from KaVontae Turpin, but a fumbled kickoff by the Texans pushed them back onto their own 8-yard line to start their next possession. But on the first down, Mixon picked up 30 feet to give the Texans some breathing room. Even a false start on the next play didn’t bring them back because of the first-down run. The Texans were able to get the first down and three more, setting up a field goal and cutting the lead to 10.

Dowdle’s drop before half-time, missed FG – Just before halftime, the Cowboys were in position to get points, as they trailed 17-7. On second-and-9 at the Texans’ 24-yard line, Cooper Rush threw flat right to Rico Dowdle, who dropped the pass for an incompletion with 1:06 left. On third down, Rush only scrambled two yards. On the next play, Brandon Aubrey uncharacteristically missed a 40-yard field goal. Go back to the pass to Dowdle, who will probably get 4-5 yards. That might have been the difference in Aubrey’s kick, which grazed the right upright.

Rush was sacked to start the third – The reason the Cowboys delayed the decision after the coin toss was to get the ball to start the second half. And trailing by 10, they had a chance to make a difference. But on second-and-9, after a 1-yard run, Rush was sacked for a 4-yard loss, putting them behind the chains again. And even though CeeDee Lamb caught an eight-yard pass on the next play, it wasn’t enough to move the sticks because of the sack. The Cowboys got the ball to start the third and again couldn’t score, setting the tone for a downhill second half.

Cut to Lamb at third – An odd sequence occurred late in the third quarter when the Texans were flagged for a personal foul on Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal, which would have cut the lead to 20-13. But the Cowboys opted to take the points off the board and keep the drive going. However, on a third-and-15 from the 21-yard line and Rush hit Lamb for 13 yards. That made it close enough for Mike McCarthy to go for it on fourth down, and the Cowboys fell short with an incomplete pass. The pass to Lamb was a nice throw and catch, but without it the Cowboys would likely make a field goal and tie the game to 7. Let’s also not forget Rush’s fumble on first down that cost them five yards.