DAL
Dallas Cowboys
76.9PFM Team Score#20 NFL
VS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Houston Texans higher than the Dallas Cowboys overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the stronger defense and the bigger big-play threat.
Current PFM Team Scores
Clear edgeHOU
Houston Texans
79.1PFM Team Score#15 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Houston Texans Higher
The Houston Texans own the stronger defense. More dependable stops give the offense better field position and keep one bad drive from controlling the day. Dallas' strongest counterargument is Offense. The Dallas Cowboys have the more dependable offense. The unit has more ways to create points when a game forces the team away from its preferred approach.
Houston also brings the bigger big-play threat. Houston adds the stronger coaching operation. That is enough to keep the Houston Texans ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Dallas vs. Houston Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
DALDallas Cowboys
HOUHouston Texans
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Dallas Cowboys’ Best Argument
The Cowboys can create offense in more than one way. One bad matchup is less likely to shut down the entire scoring approach. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Houston still answers with the stronger defense and the bigger big-play threat, which keeps the overall judgment in place.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
DAL76.9
Dallas Cowboys 76.9HOU79.1
Houston Texans 79.1Overall NFL Rank
DAL#20
Dallas Cowboys #20HOU#15
Houston Texans #15QB Stability
DAL82.0
Dallas Cowboys 82.0HOU81.6
Houston Texans 81.6Roster Strength
DAL77.8
Dallas Cowboys 77.8HOU78.7
Houston Texans 78.7Coaching Direction
DAL73.5
Dallas Cowboys 73.5HOU80.7
Houston Texans 80.7Recent Performance
DAL74.4
Dallas Cowboys 74.4HOU70.9
Houston Texans 70.9Offense
DAL84.0
Dallas Cowboys 84.0HOU80.7
Houston Texans 80.7Defense
DAL67.3
Dallas Cowboys 67.3HOU81.4
Houston Texans 81.4Franchise Direction
DAL74.1
Dallas Cowboys 74.1HOU80.2
Houston Texans 80.2Explosiveness
DAL73.7
Dallas Cowboys 73.7HOU83.5
Houston Texans 83.5Conference Rank
DAL#10
Dallas Cowboys #10HOU#8
Houston Texans #8Division Rank
DAL#3
Dallas Cowboys #3HOU#2
Houston Texans #2Outlook
DALIn the Playoff MixHOUIn the Playoff Mix
Same outlookSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Dallas Cowboys
Remaining schedule rank: #15
Toughest stretch: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strongest opponents: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams
Next five difficulty: 79.5
View Dallas Cowboys Road AheadHouston Texans
Remaining schedule rank: #25
Toughest stretch: Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
Strongest opponents: Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers
Next five difficulty: 76.4
View Houston Texans Road AheadDallas has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 15. The strongest opponents include San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams. Houston also has the more favorable road, which adds to the stronger defense and the bigger big-play threat.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated October 13, 2026. Schedule data updated October 16, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams