Joe Mixon pounds Colts' defense in Texans debut, win

INDIANAPOLIS -- Joe Mixon kept punishing an overmatched defense, pounding them as he churned forward behind his shoulder pads.

Mixon punished a surprisingly overmatched Indianapolis Colts front seven that has a reputation for being stout up front.

A former Pro Bowl running back acquired in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals who has scored 29 touchdowns combined over the past three seasons, Mixon ran like a man with something to prove in his debut with the Texans. His downhill style fits this offense perfectly.

Mixon pounded the Colts during a 29-27 road victory at Lucas Oil Stadium, imposing his will while rushing for a game-high 159 yards and one touchdown on 30 carries as he complemented a passing game headlined by Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud and wide receivers Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

‘He’s hungry, he wants it,” Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil told KPRC 2. “He was talking about it all week, like he’s going to get 150 yards, 100-plus yards and then showed up and did it. He’s hungry, he’s determined’

‘That’s something we preached on all week is just running the football, and that opened up the passing lanes for C.J. That was our mindset all week, get positive yards. For sure, encouraged.”

Mixon nearly broke several long runs, needing to beat one more defender for a touchdown. He averaged 5.3 yards per carry with a long run of 13 yards. Even though the Colts had to have known Mixon was going to keep coming at them, they had no ability to stop him or really slow him down as offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik kept dialing up his patented zone scheme runs.

This marked the third-highest rushing total of Mixon’s career.

“We were just out there being physical,” Mixon said. “We were running downhill, sideways, downhill, doing whatever we need to do to, to crease them and make the most of the runs. But man, shout out to the fullbacks, tight ends, and o-line and receivers that were blocking. Man, without them, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Mixon ran behind an offensive line comprised of Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green, center Juice Scruggs, right guard Shaq Mason and right tackle Tytus Howard.

A physical, rugged running game is an element that’s been lacking in the Texans’ offense for years. Mixon is arguably the top running back the Texans have featured since retired Pro Bowl selection Arian Foster. The last 1,000-yard rusher for the Texans was in 2019 when Carlos Hyde reached that milestone.

“Lot of toughness and grit,” Howard said. “The run game, everything ain’t gonna be pretty. Grown man football, for sure.”

While Diggs excelled at hitting angles for two touchdowns, Mixon was tormenting the Colts’ defense. Mixon missed the majority of the preseason with a quadriceps injury, but didn’t look rusty against the Colts.

‘We put hours of time into this run game,” Howard said. “We just knew once we get it rolling, put a hat on a hat, Joe is gonna make it happen. He showed every day in practice once he see it, he’s gonna go get it. As the game went on and they tried to blitz and as an offensive line, we put our head down and the running game started to open up and, once that happened, they couldn’t do nothing with us.”

Signed to a three-year, $27 million extension after the trade from Cincinnati, Mixon looked like a bargain against the Colts.

“It’s a game-changer,” Diggs said. “With that wide receiver game that we got is special. With that guy in the backfield, it’s special as well. He can crease at any time. He breaks tackles. In my opinion, he got a lot more in the tank. He missed a little bit of camp.

“So, I think he’s getting his legs back, but he’s on board, and I think we’re going to see a heavy dose of Joe Mixon. You crawl up, you know what you are going to get. I’m saying you play too high, you play shell coverage, we’re going to do a little bit of blocking, and he’s going to make plays.”

Mixon looked fresh throughout the game. He busted into the end zone on a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line in the third quarter.

“We got 159 and we just to go keep getting better and keep building,” Mixon said. “Nick Caserio made some ace moves in the offseason, I’m just glad to be on this side.

“Me and Stefon were able to complement each other and all game we were on it. We were in each others’ face like, ‘Bro, let’s do this.’”

As Stroud completed 24 of 32 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, Mixon provided the power. And he promises there’s more to come.

“Oh yeah, man, I definitely do,” Mixon said. “I’m just finally, really getting tapped into the player that I know I am for real. The guys are encouraging and doing everything to make sure this thing is still up and going. I’m just glad that I’m probably one of the forefront people to really set the tone and let people know what it is playing us.

“You’ve got guys like Nico out there making huge plays. C.J. being C.J. Stef coming in and making crazy plays, even Tank (Dell.) Everybody just complemented each other. The run complemented the pass, and the pass complemented the run. We’ve got a hell of a thing that we got going. We just got to keep getting better each and every week.”

From Mixon’s standpoint, there’s a lot more ahead of the Texans. He loves running behind this line. He was an inspired man Sunday.

“Man, that’s really about will and want-to,” Mixon said. “I mean, the o-line all week was just saying, ‘Hey, man, we’ve got to make this thing shake. We’ve got to make it shake.’ And I’m like, ‘Let’s go get 150 and start it off.’ Hey, we got 159 and we’ve just got to keep getting better, keep building. Like Stef said, it’s a lot of yards to go get.

“Even Slow (Slowik) was saying the same thing. We’ve got to pull up out of there. There were two of them where I wish I could have back. More than anything, I’m just proud of how them boys came out here and we fought hard and we fought to the finish. I’m just glad. I was happy to close it out.”

Where did it all start? With the blocking, of course. Including rookie tight end Cade Stover operating as a lead blocker at fullback.

“You got to give the o-line the credit,” DIggs said. “We get all the hoopla and all, but the game is won up front playing on the other line of scrimmage, Our o-line dropped their n--s when they had to. It’s a game-changer. You ain’t got to put in the air.”

Having a physical presence like Mixon provides a boost to the offense.

“Absolutely, you can tell every time he touches the ball,” Collins said. “He is out there making plays every time. You know what type of athlete he is when he gets the ball in his hands, and it displayed today. But for us we have to keep pounding, keep blocking, making the right signs for him so he can go out there and shine.”

Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.