Joe Mixon avoided one defender and dragged a defensive back into the end zone on a 14-yard touchdown run, showcasing yet another strong performance that helped the Houston Texans defeat the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
When asked to describe the play, Mixon smiled and said, “That’s how we play Texans football.”
He rushed for 102 yards with that touchdown in the 23-20 win. Mixon, now in his first season with Houston after being traded from Cincinnati, became the first player in NFL history to have at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown run in four of his first five games with a team.
The only time he didn’t reach 100 yards and score this season was in Week 2 when he missed nearly the entire second half due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for the next three games.
“I’m in my element. I’m in my zone honestly,” he said. “It’s a great thing where I can be able to try to do whatever I can to put the team on my back.”
C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards and a touchdown, bouncing back after a career-low 86 yards passing in a loss to the Packers last week. This performance helped the Texans (6-2) maintain their lead in the AFC South.
“He made great decisions with the football all day,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “Kept us out of some bad plays. Can’t say enough about what C.J. is doing and how he is leading this offense. So very proud of him.”
Houston’s defense intercepted Anthony Richardson once and pressured him throughout the game as the Texans swept their season series with Indianapolis (4-4) for only the second time in franchise history.
The Colts seemed to have taken the lead with about three minutes left when Mixon fumbled, and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo recovered it.
He jumped up after recovering the fumble and ran 84 yards for what was initially called a touchdown that would have made it 27-23. However, the play was reviewed, and the score was taken away when it was determined he was down by contact.
The Colts struggled to move the ball afterward and had to punt after Danielle Hunter sacked Richardson on third down.
Indianapolis got the ball again late, but Richardson was sacked by Hunter once more and fumbled on the last play, ending the game before he could throw a desperate pass.
Richardson completed 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown in his second game back after missing almost three full games due to a right hip injury. He was sacked five times and hit another eight times.
“We’ve just got to keep working through it,” said coach Shane Steichen. “He’s got a good work effort. He grinds through these things, it’s a process, and we’ll do it together. This ain’t about one guy — it’s about the team. It’s always about the team.”
There was some worry that he got hurt after leaving the game for a play before a field goal in the third quarter, but he was fine.
“I was tired, I ain’t gonna lie,” he said. “That was a lot of running right there. I didn’t think I’d be able to do that next play, so I told them I needed a break right there.”
Jonathan Taylor had 20 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown for the Colts in his return after missing the last three games with a sprained ankle.
The Texans led 17-10 at halftime, and Ka’imi Fairbairn’s second field goal of the half increased Houston’s lead to 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Richardson connected with Josh Downs for a 25-yard gain that was first called a touchdown, but after review, it was determined he was down at the 1-yard line. Taylor scored two plays later, bringing the Colts within 23-20 with about 8½ minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Texans, already missing Nico Collins, lost Stefon Diggs to a non-contact knee injury in the third quarter. Diggs was running a route when he suddenly stopped, grabbed his right knee, and fell to the ground.
He walked to the locker room on his own and did not return. Diggs, who is in his first season with the Texans after being traded from Buffalo, had five catches for 81 yards before getting hurt.
Coach Ryans said after the game that Diggs was still being evaluated and that more information about his injury would come in the next few days.
The game was tied at 3 when Richardson found Downs for a 69-yard touchdown that made it 10-3 late in the first quarter. The Texans equalized again with Mixon’s touchdown run.
Jalen Pitre intercepted Richardson and returned the ball to the Indianapolis 7-yard line near the end of the second quarter. Stroud then found Tank Dell in the back of the end zone on the next play, putting Houston ahead 17-10.
