HOUSTON – In one blur of power and speed, Joe Mixon displayed everything that sets him apart from other running backs and why he has emerged as the most dangerous weapon in the Texans’ offense since Nico Collins injured his hamstring.
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Mixon had the instincts, vision and explosiveness to cut back on a red zone run, busting through a gaping hole and following his blocks.
Besides how fast the Texans’ Pro Bowl running back busted through the line of scrimmage, Mixon showed an element of strength and toughness as he lowered his shoulder and drove through Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones as he bulled his way into the end zone for a touchdown during a 23-20 victory Sunday at NRG Stadium.
RECAP: Five keys to 6-2 Texans’ 23-20 win over Indianapolis Colts
Mixon keeps showing what grown-man football is all about. He rushed for a bruising 102 yards on 25 carries with one score and caught four passes for 32 yards as he finished with 261 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Colts this season as the 6-2 Texans swept the annual series to build a two-game advantage in the AFC South division.
This marked Mixon’s third consecutive 100-yard rushing day since returning from a sprained ankle sustained on an illegal hip drop tackle from Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards that sidelined him for three games.
And Mixon embraces the responsibility of carrying the offense in whatever capacity needed. He’s on pace for 1,069 yards and 11 touchdown runs.
“I feel like I’m in my element, I’m in my zone,” Mixon said. “Honestly, it’s a great feeling to do whatever I can to put the team on my back. I feel like I’ve always been that player physically and mentally and emotionally for my teammates. I’m just glad I was put in a position where I can thrive and be able to uplift my teammates. I do whatever I can to give them their flowers as well. I’m thankful for them.”
Mixon, signed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension after an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals, is a focal point for an offense missing Collins and now dealing with a potentially serious knee injury suffered by Stefon Diggs on Sunday that is still being evaluated.
During the first game against the Colts to launch the season, the Texans’ featured back punished them with 159 yards on a career-high 30 carries with one touchdown run, dancing in their end zone to celebrate a road victory.
Now, Mixon pounded one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL again.
“Joe showed up big-time for us when we needed him most, making plays,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.
And the win, spurred on by Mixon’s efforts, improved the Texans to 3-0 in the AFC South division.
“We control the South,” Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil said. “We’re rolling. It’s a lot of things we can clean up, just play more consistent football. Fix some mistakes, play a little cleaner, we’ll be fine.”
HE'S REALLY LIKE THAT 🔥💰
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 27, 2024
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/cYtzKKZPUm
Since Mixon returned from an ankle injury, he has become even more pivotal to the offense.
He’s indispensable, and the running game sputtered during his absence.
The versatility of Mixon is a huge plus for offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s play-calling.
Mixon has finesse and aggressiveness when called for working in his favor.
“I just try to look at given situations, sometimes you gonna have to be speed,” Mixon said. “Sometimes, you gonna have to be power. Sometimes, you have to be elusive. I’ve been blessed enough and fortunate enough to do it all. At the end of the day, I just try to do whatever I can within the run scheme and being in sync with our linemen and do whatever I can to make their block right. We take a lot of pride in being on the same page and it’s bene taking us a long way.”
#Texans running back Joe Mixon @KPRC2 on win over #Colts his third 100-yard rushing game and concern for teammate Stefon Diggs who injured his knee and will undergo MRI for further testing pic.twitter.com/OgqzLXOnu3
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 27, 2024
It was a hard-fought win over the Colts that nearly got away. Mixon had an uncharacteristic late fumble that was returned 82 yards for a touchdown by defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo. However, a replay review determined that Odeyingbo was down by contract.
“I figured when I didn’t hear no whistles blowing, but luckily he was down,” Mixon said. “At the end of the day, we had an opportunity as an offense to finish it out. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that. Top down, our guys are going to ride for each other. Our defense was able to close it out. Those guys work hard. They work their tails off. We knew it was going to be a four-quarter game. We knew it was going to be a physical game. At the end of the day, we found a way.”
Mixon has rushed for 503 yards and five touchdowns. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per run. He has caught 14 passes for 115 yards and one score.
“Joe is Joe,” Tunsil said. “He’s a dawg.”
The touchdown run was emblematic of Mixon’s style.
“That’s how we play Texans football,” Mixon said. “It was a hell of a blocking scheme. Guys were blocking their ass off. Fortunately, I was able to find a crease and finished it.”
Mixon has shown each of the past three weeks that he’s capable of breakaway runs with a 32-yard run against the Green Bay Packers as he rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in a road loss and 102 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries with a season-long 59-yard run in a road win over the New England Patriots. He had a 21-yard run against the Colts.
“Joe’s been phenomenal for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The way he plays the game and his play style, his demeanor, how he runs with a physical mindset. it’s everything to our run game. When we’ve run the ball well, it’s no secret that Joe has been in there and Joe has been part of the reason why we’ve run it so well. Also, with the blocking up front by the line, the tight ends, receivers, everybody involved. The run game goes as all 11 go. And Joe has been a big part of our success in the run game.”
Mixon provides a physical presence at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds. He’s arguably the most talented runner for the Texans since Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster retired.
Mixon could become the first 1,000-yard rusher for the franchise since Carlos Hyde in 2019.
“Yeah, I have been watching Joe for a long time,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “I think when I was in middle school or high school he was at Oklahoma and he was a really good player there. I have always known him to be a really good player. I played against him last year, he was really good.
“So, now, I am just glad he is on my team. He has been really able to open up a lot of things for our offense. I think we can continue to use him in a lot of different ways and he is even going to make me better. I am just really blessed to have him on the team.”
Mixon is obviously comfortable in this scheme and it shows. He has been breaking tackles and eluding them, reading the holes well in Slowik’s zone-based concepts.
“That’s part of being a running back is being instinctive and you’ve got to read and react to whatever the defense gives you,” Mixon said. “If you’re running into darkness, when there’s daylight over there, hit it. I just try to do whatever I can to be the best player I can be to help this team be successful.”
Like Derrick Henry with the Baltimore Ravens, Saquon Barkley with the Philadelphia Eagles and Josh Jacobs with the Packers and Aaron Jones with the Minnesota Vikings, Mixon is among the running backs who switched teams this offseason and hit the ground running with more success for a new team.
“Obviously the guys that have filled roles with new teams, you can tell the difference between people making an impact, it’s night and day,” Mixon said. “The guys have won in different places and you can’t replace that talent. I’m happy to see Saquon and Derrick Henry and Josh and Aaron Jones putting out numbers and doing everything they can to show their worth.”
Mixon doesn’t do it alone. He credited his offensive line, which includes Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green, center Juice Scruggs, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard in addition to tight ends Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover. Schultz and Stover have thrown several key blocks on Mixon touchdown runs.
“They’ve been doing a hell of a job,” Mixon said. “Obviously, I like the linemen. It starts with them with their attitude and will and want-to. I tell them, ‘Give me a crease and I’ll make the block right. I’ll always make you right. Just trust me.’ I take my hat off to those guys. Without them I’m not sitting at this place where I am right now statistically. I’m just very appreciative.”
Without Collins, the passing game has taken a step back. It hasn’t been as explosive. It’s been a time to pound the football with Mixon.
“Obviously, when a guy like Nico goes down, that’s tough,” Mixon said. “It’s tough to really fill that void. At the end of the day, it’s always next man up. The guys we have in this locker room, the coaches and the players, they’ve got all the confidence in the world in the next man up. Obviously, it’s not going to be how people expect for Nico standards.
“You know what I’m saying? At the end of the day, the guys who come in are going to make a big play when counted on. I think they fill in well. I believe we’ve got a week or two on Nico. We’ve got to figure it out. Got to figure it out and I believe that we will. Obviously, we are looking forward to the challenge.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
