HOUSTON – The rivalry between Houston and Dallas goes beyond sports realms, but with a regular-season matchup between the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys on tap this weekend at NRG Stadium, we figured we would break down the franchises in each city and see who has the upper hand.
We analyzed each team while looking at the history and current climate of each franchise.
Houston - Astros, Texans, Rockets, Dynamo, Dash
Dallas - Rangers, Cowboys, Mavericks, FC Dallas, Stars
NFL
The Texans and Cowboys are two very different franchises. Dallas has been around since 1960 and has won five Super Bowls in eight appearances. The Cowboys won three titles between 1992 and 1995. Dallas has had nine playoff appearances since 1996, never making it past the division round. The Texans' first season was in 2002 and the team has an all-time record of 111-149. Houston has made it to the playoffs four times, winning three games and never advancing past the division round. The Texans have won the AFC South division four times since 2011. The Cowboys have won the NFC East division three times since 2009. Even though Houston beat Dallas in the first game in the Texans' history, the Cowboys hold the edge over Houston when it comes to the NFL.
MLB
Seems pretty easy to say the Astros take the baseball cake by a landslide over the Rangers. Houston won its first World Series championship in 2017 and the Rangers haven't made it past the American League Division Series since they lost the World Series in back-to-back seasons in 2010 and 2011. Before those AL championships, Texas hadn't been in the playoffs in 10 years. Houston has been in the World Series twice since 2005. After losing 106, 107 and 111 games in consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2013, the Astros have made it to the playoffs three times in five seasons and have won the AL West division in back-to-back seasons. Astros hold edge on Rangers.
NBA
Basketball is a similar story. The Rockets won back-to-back titles in the mid-'90s and have been in the playoffs in six straight seasons. They've been bounced in the first round three times, conference semifinals once and have lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals twice. James Harden, Chris Paul and Co. are in the middle of a productive run while the Mavs are in a decline. Dallas has seen its win total decrease in each of the past four seasons. The team won the NBA championship in 2010-11, but has lost in the first round of the playoffs in the four trips back to the postseason since. The Mavericks haven't won more than 50 games since their championship season. Rockets hold edge on Mavs.
MLS
The Texas Derby has a storied history in Texas. The Dallas Burn was one of the first teams in MLS. The team identity lasted from 1996 to 2004. In 2005, the team was rebranded as FC Dallas and opened a soccer-specific stadium in Frisco. The Dynamo came to Houston in 2006 when the San Jose Earthquakes relocated. Houston won the MLS title in the franchise's inaugural season and repeated in 2007, the following year. The Dynamo and FC Dallas compete for El Capitan, a working replica Civil War cannon that goes to the regular season victor. The Houston Dash are in the middle of the pack of the fairly new NWSL. Dallas doesn't have a team in the league. Houston wins the soccer matchup.
HOCKEY
The Dallas Stars are Texas' only NHL franchise, but have won only one Stanley Cup championship (1998-99) since the team moved to Texas in the 1993-94 season. The Stars have been to the playoffs only twice since losing in the conference finals in the 2007-08 season. The Houston Aeros played six seasons in the World Hockey Association in the 70s. They won two titles. The Aeros of the AHL left town in 2013. Dallas takes hockey.