On Monday night in Arlington, Joe Mixon added another terrific chapter to his fantastic 2024 regular season.
The Texans running back broke loose for three touchdowns and more than 100 rushing yards in Houston's runaway 34-10 victory over the Cowboys.
Mixon and the Texans never trailed in the contest, as he got the scoring started with a pair of first quarter touchdowns, and then capped the evening with another score in the fourth quarter.
According to quarterback C.J. Stroud, Mixon's heroics in between the white lines have been game-changing, but so too has his leadership.
"Joe has been amazing," Stroud said. "He's been somebody who came in and taught guys how to win more. We won some games last year but he taught guys what it takes to get to that goal. We're not there yet, but we're taking strides. Every team goes through adversity throughout the year."
Mixon was named a team captain prior to the Week 10 contest with the Lions. Against the Cowboys, he ignited the offense early, busting loose for a 45-yard scoring jaunt just over two minutes into the game, and then high-stepping in for another score with 0:49 left in the opening quarter. His heroics staked the Texans to a 14-0 advantage. Mixon found the end zone in the fourth quarter to give Houston a 24-point lead it would take to the end of regulation, and when the game was finished, he'd run 20 times for 109 yards, and also caught a pair of passes for 44 yards.
HIs heroics earned him a game ball from Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, and Mixon explained that the results on Monday were provided by the work on the practice fields earlier in the week at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
"I thought we had a hell of a week of practice and it started with that," Mixon said on ESPN after the win. "We knew we were going to get their best shot."
Ryans was complimentary of what the offensive line did for Mixon, and said they stepped "up to the challenge" in helping the veteran ball-carrier break loose.
"He's a force for us," Ryans said. :Over 100 yards, three touchdowns, I just really liked the way we just kept churning it in the run game."
Mixon, who's now scored 10 times on the ground through just eight games played, has been a vocal leader in his new home after spending the first seven years of his career with the Cincnnati Bengals.
"I know that I bring a lot to this organization," Mixon said. "They do a lot for me and they let me be me. So I think that that's been a hell of a thing for us."
Mixon and the Texans will host the Titans at NRG Stadium on Sunday at noon.
