Tag: Texans Wire

Texans Wire Player of the Game: RB Joe Mixon

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon put up a hat trick during Monday Night Football’s showdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

When the Houston Texans traded for Joe Mixon this offseason, many figured he’d be around for a one-year deal.

When the Texans inked him to a new three-year extension, there were some concerns. Most running backs dwindle with age, leading to regression in carries and explosive runs.

That memo hasn’t reached Mixon entering mid-November down off NRG Drive.

Mixon scored three touchdowns in a 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. He finished 109 rushing yards and averaged 5.5 yards per play.

“Joe, when he’s on, he’s a force for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The run game starts with our offensive line. I challenged them to play fast, play aggressive. I thought they did a really nice job. I really like the way we just kept churning it in the run game, and proud of the guys for stepping up to the challenge.”

After Nico Collins’ 78-yard touchdown reception was called back on the opening play, Houston trusted its ground game. Mixon broke free for a 45-yard score, his second-longest run of the regular season to give the Texans an early 7-0 lead.

He also scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Mixon, who finished 109 rushing yards, tied a Texans single-game record for rushing touchdowns, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

“I think everybody was dialed in on the game plan, and we came out here and executed for four quarters,” Mixon said. “It was a great thing to see the O-line pretty much go out there and impose their will.”

The Texans also showed promise on the offensive line. C.J. Stroud completed 67.7% of his passes for 257 yards and an interception. He also was only sacked once and pressured three times.

But Mixon scored the points, so he’s Week 11’s Player of the Week for Texans Wire. This marks the third time he’s taken home the title after putting up a league-leading 159 yards in Week 1 and 115 yards in Week 7.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Tennessee Titans this Sunday at noon CT.

Packers 24, Texans 22: Game balls, play of the game

Here’s the Texans’ Player of the Game following Week 7’s loss on the road to the Green Bay Packers.

For the first time in 2024, the Houston Texans have been on the opposing side of a game-winning kick. 

Brandon McManus, who signed earlier this week with the Green Bay Packers, drilled a 45-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 24-22 victory at Lambeau Field. 

Houston’s offense barely had life. The defense created two turnovers and the special teams were special, especially M.J. Stewart’s fumble recovery inside Green Bay’s red zone.

Not all is terrible for the Texans as they fall to 5-2 entering Week 8’s matchup at home against the Indianapolis Colts. 

It’s time to hand out game balls and pick the play of the game:

Game balls

Offense: RB Joe Mixon — This is the only correct answer because Mixon was the only consistent player Sunday. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt, capitalized on several third-and-short runs and pushed ahead for two touchdowns in the first half.

When Mixon is healthy, the Texans’ offense could be considered one of the league’s best. Sunday marked the third 100-yard rushing performance for the former Bengals’ star and the third game where he’s averaged over 22 carries and 4.5 yards per attempt. Last season, the Texans were one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.

Entering Week 8, they rank 16th in yards per attempt, 15th in rushing yards per game and 11th in rushing touchdowns.  That’s mainly because of Mixon’s ability to win at the point of attack and explosive runs in space. 

Defense: LB Neville Hewitt — Thrust into a full-time role after Azeez Al-Shaair left last week’s win over New England, Hewitt has been a tackling machine. He also showed off his hands with an early interception after Jordan Love’s pass was broken up by Jalen Pitre to set up a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal in the first quarter. Hewitt finished with eight tackles, two pass breakups and an interception. He also helped force two thrid-down stops that led to a punt from Daniel Whelan. 

Special teams: DB M.J. Stewart — Situational awareness was essential in Sunday’s outing for Houston to put up points. Seventeen of the Texans’ 22 points came off turnovers, with perhaps the game-changer being on a muffed punt recovered by M.J. Stewart. The ball hit Corey Ballentine’s leg and became live. Perfectly, Stewart pounced on the ball to set up a 4-yard touchdown run from Mixon later in the drive. 

Play of the game

After starting off the final drive with a few conservative runs, the Texans were facing a 3rd-and-10 and just were pushed out of field goal range. Stroud barely had time to survey the field before a pair of Packers defenders were in his face. 

On the run, Stroud found an open Xavier Hutchinson near the sideline and delivered a strike. The ball was low, so Hutchinson dove to avoid contact with the defenders and secured the ball. 

A fresh of downs and three plays later, Houston led by two with just under two minutes remaining in the game. If the play-calling was a bit more aggressive, perhaps the Texans would be up by five, thus forcing Jordan Love and the Packers to go for the end zone. 


Still, it was a quality reception for Hutchinson as the de facto No. 3 target. 

Texans Wire’s Player Of The Game: RB Joe Mixon

For the second time in three games, Joe Mixon rushed for over 100 yards en route to a Houston Texans’ win.

Maybe losing Nico Collins wasn’t a death sentence for the Houston Texans’ offense.

Maybe Joe Mixon is just getting warmed up.

Mixon, who missed three games with an ankle injury, seemed to prove that he’s not slowing down after a seven-year run with the Cincinnati Bengals after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 41-21 win over the New England Patriots.

The 2021 Pro Bowler also tacked on 30 receiving yards and scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud in the first quarter.

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“He’s got great vision, hits it as hard as he can, just a great feel for the game, a great feel to set his blocks up,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “When our O-line is blocking the way they did and he’s setting up blocks, it’s a recipe for success.”

While Cincinnati believed Mixon’s best days were behind him, Houston has been reaping the benefits of a newfound spark in the 28-year-old. Sunday marked Mixon’s second 100-yard rushing performance in three games and second outing with at least 130 total yards.

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After what looked like a slow start, Mixon broke free in the second quarter with a 57-yard run to set up Houston inside New England’s 20. He also turned on the jets in the third quarter to go untouched for a 20-yard touchdown.

“I felt a big weight off my shoulders,” Mixon said. “Missing time and going out there with my brothers, going out there competing and obviously trying to do whatever we can to come out with the dub. It’s a hell of a feeling. I know the player that I am and I’m just happy that I’m able to showcase that right now.”

As a unit, the Texans averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. Mixon averaged 7.8 yards and 4.3 yards after contact. He was leading the NFL in rushing yards before suffering an ankle injury in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears and ranked third in yards per attempt.

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Performances like Sunday’s leaves little doubt that the Texans’ offense isn’t among the league’s more explosive units when at complete strength.

“I’m just happy everybody trusted in the scheme and everybody’s technique,” Mixon said.

Since Mixon didn’t miss a beat in his return, he’s Texans Wire’s Player of the Game for Week 6 and joins kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn as the only other multi-recipient of the award.

The Texans travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 7 at noon CT.

Tom Brady still believes Texans are a Super Bowl contender

If the G.O.A.T. thinks you can still win a Super Bowl, you can still find a way to secure a Lombardi Trophy.

Why should fans of the Houston Texans calm down after the team’s 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3?

Well, Tom Brady isn’t worried and he knows a thing about making it to the Super Bowl.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion and often considered G.O.A.T. of the NFL listed the Texans fifth on his power rankings of teams headed into Week 4. The quarterback-turned-broadcaster for Fox labeled Houston as his best team with a loss entering October because of the offensive personnel.

“They’re going to bounce back quickly against the Jags,” Brady said of Houston’s overall persona. “I know their offensive line has a little room for improvement. They’ve given up a lot of sacks over the past couple of games, but I know this Texans team is going to be in contention all season long.”

Brady, who won six titles in New England, knows the value of a stable offensive line. The Texans were hindered by lackluster play Sunday and carless penalties, including five against Laremy Tunsil.

Entering Week 4’s contest against Jacksonville, the Texans have allowed 12  sacks, fifth-most in the NFL.

Texans release RB Duke Johnson

The Texans released RB Duke Johnson on Friday as they continue to trim their roster.
Johnson totaled 1,304 yards from scrimmage in the last two years after the Texans acquired him from Cleveland.
Johnson had no guaranteed money on his contract and was set to cost the Texans $5.025 million

The Texans released RB Duke Johnson on Friday as they continue to trim their roster.
Johnson totaled 1,304 yards from scrimmage in the last two years after the Texans acquired him from Cleveland.
Johnson had no guaranteed money on his contract and was set to cost the Texans $5.025 million

Texans explored option to trade DE J.J. Watt

The Texans released defensive end J.J. Watt on Feb. 12 and Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair told the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that the team did explore every option, but did not elaborate when asked why they didn’t try to trade him.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained that in order to trade Watt, they would have had to find a willing partner that would’ve given up fair compensation and be willing to rework Watt’s contract, which will be in its last year with $17.5 million not guaranteed.
With the way the Texans let Watt go, it allows for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year to pick his destination rather than have to move the heavens in order to make a situation fit around him

The Texans released defensive end J.J. Watt on Feb. 12 and Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair told the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that the team did explore every option, but did not elaborate when asked why they didn’t try to trade him.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained that in order to trade Watt, they would have had to find a willing partner that would’ve given up fair compensation and be willing to rework Watt’s contract, which will be in its last year with $17.5 million not guaranteed.
With the way the Texans let Watt go, it allows for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year to pick his destination rather than have to move the heavens in order to make a situation fit around him

Texans explored option to trade DE J.J. Watt

The Texans released defensive end J.J. Watt on Feb. 12 and Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair told the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that the team did explore every option, but did not elaborate when asked why they didn’t try to trade him.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained that in order to trade Watt, they would have had to find a willing partner that would’ve given up fair compensation and be willing to rework Watt’s contract, which will be in its last year with $17.5 million not guaranteed.
With the way the Texans let Watt go, it allows for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year to pick his destination rather than have to move the heavens in order to make a situation fit around him

The Texans released defensive end J.J. Watt on Feb. 12 and Texans chairman and CEO Cal McNair told the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that the team did explore every option, but did not elaborate when asked why they didn’t try to trade him.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport explained that in order to trade Watt, they would have had to find a willing partner that would’ve given up fair compensation and be willing to rework Watt’s contract, which will be in its last year with $17.5 million not guaranteed.
With the way the Texans let Watt go, it allows for the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year to pick his destination rather than have to move the heavens in order to make a situation fit around him

Texans place RB David Johnson on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Texans have placed RB David Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As a result, Johnson will miss Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago.
The Texans have running back Duke Johnson to provide relief, as well as Buddy Howell and C.J. Prosise

The Texans have placed RB David Johnson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As a result, Johnson will miss Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago.
The Texans have running back Duke Johnson to provide relief, as well as Buddy Howell and C.J. Prosise