Joe Mixon needs to continue his success behind the Houston Texans offensive line, but he looks like he’s worth every penny of his three-year, $27 million contract extension.
Mixon, who joined the Texans after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals and later traded, was the backbone of Houston’s offense in its 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Running backs are often overlooked in today’s game because of their longevity as strong runners.
On Sunday, it seemed like Mixon was just hitting his stride as he begins his 8th year in the pros.
“When you can run the ball, everything opens up,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said after the game. “When it comes to the passing game, the guys have to put eight in the box. So now there’s a lot of one-on-one coverage on the outside, and that’s where Nico (Collins), Tank (Dell) and (Stefon) Diggs can make their plays.”
In two games against the Colts last season, Houston rushed for 112 yards on 54 attempts. In his first appearance as the Texans’ lead back, Mixon rushed for 159 yards on 30 attempts against the Colts on Sunday.
He also had a rushing touchdown and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
“He was great,” quarterback CJ Stroud said of Mixon’s day. “When you can impose your will, when you run the ball, it opens up a whole lot of plays that Bobby (Slowik) can call. Honestly, we just kept going, and I think it worked.”
It wasn’t just the power. It was the workload. Mixon accounted for only 75 percent of the Texans’ total yardage. His 5.3 average would have been a season high last year, compared to the disappointing statistics of Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary.
When the Texans needed a play, Mixon delivered. Of his 159 yards, he rushed for 102 in the second half. Of Houston’s 11 first-down runs, nine came from No. 28.
While Indianapolis won the battles with explosive aerial play, Houston won with an emphasis on controlling the pace. Houston’s offense had the ball for 40 minutes, including 24 minutes in the second half.
Late in the fourth quarter, Richardson scored a touchdown and Houston had to hold on to the ball. On the final drive, Mixon ran five times, all for positive gains.
His final run – a 9-yard sprint – decided the game in less than a minute.
For these reasons, the 2021 Pro Bowl runner is Week 1’s Player of the Game, according to Texans Wire.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Wire Week 1 Player of the Game: RB Joe Mixon
