Lamar Miller wanted a workload and he got it.
In his Texans debut, the starting running back rushed for 106 yards on 28 carries.
"It's a lot of fun watching that guy run from the field level," Brock Osweiler said after the game. "He does some special things. He runs hard and finds little creases that maybe other backs wouldn't. So it was a lot of fun to watch him play so I thought that Lamar did a tremendous job today."
When asked when was the last time he had 28 carries in a game, Miller paused for a beat.
"Sometime in high school," he said, laughing.
Miller set a career high in rushing attempts in his first game as a Texan, breaking his previous record when he was with the Miami Dolphins (22 on 12/1/13 vs. New York Jets).
"The offensive line, they gave me holes to run through and just to get those tough yardages," Miller said. "I think (Brock) Osweiler did a great job. He was getting the ball to the playmakers and just letting them make plays."
It's a philosophy that head coach Bill O'Brien believes in, establishing the run to keep the line of scrimmage moving forward.
"I learned that lesson a long time ago calling plays in this league, that if you stick with it, in the end that really helps your balance, that helps your play-action game, that helps you stay on schedule," O'Brien said. "You're in more third-and-5s, third-and-4s, instead of being third-and-10s because you're incomplete or whatever it is."
Miller's 15 carries in the first half also marked the most he's ever had in a half of a game in his career, surpassing his previous high of 14 carries in the first half against Houston when he was with the Dolphins on Oct. 25, 2015.
The Texans defeated the Chicago Bears 23-14 in their regular season opening game and will host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.
Check out the best photos throughout the Texans first regular season game vs. the Bears.
