John McClain, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, is in his 48th year of covering the NFL in Houston, including 45 seasons at the Houston Chronicle.
Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs, the starting running backs in Sunday's game between the Texans and Packers at Lambeau Field, were allowed to leave by their previous teams, and both the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders are paying a stiff price for those decisions.
In the two games in which he's started and finished, Mixon has averaged 130.5 yards rushing, and 6.1 a carry. He generated 159 yards in the season-opening victory at Indianapolis and 102 yards in Sunday's victory at New England.
Mixon plays with passion, and his style seems to be contagious.
"Joe's mentality definitely rubs off on our entire team," Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans said this week. "He wants the ball as many times as (you'll) give it to him. He likes doing the hard work. He likes to do grimy work (because) he's a physical runner.
"He plays the game with the passion that's just unmatched. That rubs off on the offensive line. It rubs off on the quarterback (and) on the defense. When you see him running people over (and) playing physical, it uplifts our entire team."
With Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) returning from injuries, the Texans rushed for 192 yards in their 41-21 conquest of the Patriots. That output helped them improve from 23rd to 14th in the NFL in rushing – 104.2 to 118.8 yards a game – going into the Green Bay game.
Ryans was quick to credit the offensive line for helping the running game pulverize the Patriots.
"Started with the offensive line," he said. "They did exactly what we asked them to do. They got on their guys (and) they were finishing at the second level. Guys (were) physical. (I) just loved the energy and playstyle from the offensive line.
"That success really (creates) more success. They've seen themselves do it the right way and how we were able to be successful in the run game because of their style of play. It'll always start up front, and the more we play with the right demeanor, we'll continue to be successful on the offensive side."
The Texans are eager to see what Mixon and Pierce can do if they stay healthy. The Packers know what Jacobs can do because he's avoided injury issues through six games.
Jacobs' 464 yards has helped the Packers rank second in rushing with 167.2 a game. DeMeco Ryans' defense should get a heavy dose of Jacobs and Head Coach Matt LaFleur's offense that features quarterback Jordan Love.
When Executive Vice President/General Manager Nick Caserio told Ryans in the offseason the Texans had a chance to acquire Mixon from the Bengals, the head coach was all for it. Caserio got Mixon for a seventh-round draft choice and quickly gave him a new contract for three years and $27 million.
When the Packers had a chance to sign Jacobs as a free agent, they didn't hesitate, giving him for $48 million over four years.
The Texans (5-1) and Packers (4-2) have a combined record of 9-3. The Bengals and Raiders have a combined record of 4-8. Cincinnati is 26th in rushing. Las Vegas is 31st.
For the first time since the first game against the Colts, the Texans went to New England with a healthy Mixon and Pierce. They combined for 178 of the 213 yards against the Colts and 175 of the 192 against the Patriots. That's a difference of 202.5 yards a game and 77.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik utilized some different blocking schemes to benefit the running game against and the Patriots, and it paid off in a big way. Mixon had a career-best 59-yard run. Pierce had a 54-yard touchdown run, the second-longest run of his career.
"What an exciting day for Dameon," Ryans said. "I think everybody was fired up to see him get the big run and how physical that run was for him to break through the line, break two tackles and (have) the speed to finish the run. I'm happy for Dameon and proud of him for the work he's put in."
The Texans are convinced they're in good shape with Mixon, Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale.
Even though the Texans were missing Mixon for almost three complete games and Pierce for four, they've still managed an average time of possession of 32:47 – second to the 49ers' 34:05 in the NFL. If Mixon and Pierce can stay healthy, the Texans' time of possession should be even more impressive.
"The healthier the running back room, the better," Pierce said. "It's not an easy job. It's a crazy job. This sport is just brutal on everyone's body, but the healthier the running back room, the more consistent we can be."
The idea is for a consistently productive running game to provide balance and relieve some pressure on C.J. Stroud and his weapons at wide receiver and tight end.
Stroud threw three touchdown passes at Gillette Stadium without injured wide receiver Nico Collins. The Texans are 3-0 – all road victories – without Collins over the last two seasons. He's got to miss three more games before he can return from injured reserve.
If the Texans continue to run the ball like they did against the Patriots, it'll take pressure off Stroud and the passing game by giving the offense more balance.
Mixon has picked up where he left off in 2023 when he had 1,034 yards rushing and nine touchdowns for the Bengals. He has 376 yards receiving and three touchdowns this season.
The Texans have been impressed with Mixon since he reported for the offseason program. He turned 28 in July. He missed only four games in his last three seasons at Cincinnati.
"He's got great vision (and) hits it as hard as he can," Stroud said. "(He has) a great feel for the game, a great feel to set up his blocks. When our O-line is blocking, and he's setting up blocks, it's a recipe for success."
Like fame, success can be fleeting. The Texans have to measure up every week against one of the NFL's most difficult schedules, and Sunday won't be any different. How much success Mixon, Pierce and the linemen have in the running game will have a huge impact on the Texans' opportunity to escape Lambeau Field with their sixth victory.
