HOUSTON — Joe Mixon took center stage Sunday, juking past one defender and dragging another into the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run, a key moment that helped the Houston Texans edge out a hard-fought 23-20 victory against the Indianapolis Colts.
Reflecting on the play, Mixon grinned. “That’s Texans football right there,” he said.
Mixon, who was traded from Cincinnati this offseason, had a standout performance with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. This marks his fourth game out of five with 100+ rushing yards and a score, setting a new NFL record for a player's first five games with a team. The only exception was Week 2, when he was sidelined by an ankle injury in the second half.
“I feel like I’m in my element here,” Mixon said. “Whatever it takes, I’ll do to help this team win.”
Quarterback C.J. Stroud also found his groove, throwing for 285 yards and a touchdown, rebounding from a rough outing last week to help lift the Texans to 6-2 and secure their lead in the AFC South.
“C.J. was sharp today,” said head coach DeMeco Ryans. “He kept us in the right plays and made smart decisions. Couldn’t be prouder of him.”
The Texans’ defense delivered as well, intercepting Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson once and putting pressure on him throughout the game. Houston now leads the season series against Indianapolis (4-4), sweeping them for only the second time in franchise history.
A tense moment unfolded with three minutes left when Mixon lost a fumble that Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo returned 84 yards for what initially seemed like a go-ahead touchdown. But after review, Odeyingbo was ruled down by contact, erasing the score.
Danielle Hunter then came through in the clutch, sacking Richardson twice in the closing minutes to seal the Texans' victory.
Richardson, still recovering from a recent hip injury, struggled, completing only 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown while taking five sacks. Colts head coach Shane Steichen emphasized patience, saying, “This isn’t on any one player. It’s a process, and we’re working through it together.”
Jonathan Taylor provided a bright spot for Indianapolis, rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown in his return after a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain.
The Texans held a 17-10 lead at halftime, with Ka’imi Fairbairn’s field goals padding the lead to 23-13 in the fourth quarter. The Colts responded with a short touchdown run from Taylor, pulling them within three, but the Texans’ defense held strong.
However, Houston faced their own setback as Stefon Diggs, another key offseason acquisition, went down with a knee injury late in the third quarter. Diggs, who has been instrumental in Houston’s offense, walked off under his own power but did not return. Coach Ryans stated that they’d assess the injury further.
The Texans also suffered other injuries: LT Jarrett Patterson left in the second quarter with a concussion, and S Calen Bullock injured his shoulder in the third.
The game was a fitting backdrop for the halftime celebration honoring former Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, who received his Hall of Fame ring in front of the Houston crowd.
“This was a journey with the entire city,” Johnson told fans.
Next Up
The Colts head to Minnesota next Sunday, while the Texans face the Jets in a Thursday night showdown.
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