Joe Mixon showed what grown man football was all about during the first game of the season, running roughshod over and around the Indianapolis Colts’ overmatched defense.
The Texans Pro Bowl running back punished them with a bruising 159 yards on a career-high 30 carries with one touchdown run, dancing in their end zone to celebrate a road victory.
As the 5-2 Texans host the 4-3 Colts in a key AFC South showdown that may go a long way toward determining the division title, Mixon is the focal point of a Colts defense that struggles mightily to stop the run. They’re allowing the second-most rushing yards in the league, yielding 1,119 yards and six touchdowns through seven games, 159.9 yards on the ground per contest and a 4.6 average per carry.
Since Mixon returned from an ankle injury, he has emerged as the most dangerous player on the Texans offense during the absence of star wide receiver Nico Collins due to a hamstring injury that will sideline him for two more games on injured reserve before he can be designated for return.
Yes, Mixon will be a marked man against the Colts’ defense that gets back DeForest Buckner on Sunday at NRG Stadium. Can they stop him, though? That remains to be seen, if they can even slow down the former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowl runner.
“It don’t mean nothing, honestly, I did what I did,” Mixon said. “When it comes down to it, I’m sure their game plan is obviously going to game plan around me to stop the run. So, you got to go out there and prove it each and every snap. I look forward to the challenge.”
Over the past two games, Mixon has carried the Texans’ up-and-down offense. He has combined for 217 rushing yards and three touchdown runs since returning from an ankle injury suffered on an illegal hip drop tackle from Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards that sidelined him for three games. Mixon has rushed for 401 yards and four scores and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He’s on a season-long pace of 974 yards and 10 touchdowns and has caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a score.
“Joe is Joe,” Texans Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil told KPRC 2. “He’s a dawg.”
Mixon averaged 5.3 yards per carry in the first meeting with the Colts. His longest run was 13 yard as he repeatedly pounded into the line of scrimmage for gains.
“I think the guys have bought into the game plan and guys are going out there and executing,” Mixon said. “I do my best to stick on my reads and be disciplined and create when I have to and help the linemen out. Some guys just be dancing around. I think what it comes down to for me, I just try to my best."
Mixon has shown each of the past two 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.
“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.”
Signed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension after an offseason trade from Cincinnati, 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.
Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
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 offensive coordinator Bobby 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.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.