TEXANS TAKEAWAYS
Lessons learned from Texans' convincing victory over Pats and key injuries to watch
Oct 15, 2024, 10:27 am
Joe Mixon was impressive in his return from injury. Composite Getty Image.
In the first game without star receiver Nico Collins, Houston’s offense kept rolling this weekend thanks to the return of running backs Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce.
The Texans had 192 yards rushing in a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday to improve to 5-1 for their best start since 2012.
Collins was out for the first of at least four games after being placed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring injury. But Mixon returned after sitting out three games with an ankle injury and Pierce was back after a four-game absence because of a hamstring injury.
Mixon had 13 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown and added 30 yards receiving with another score as the Texans scored their most points of the season. Pierce added 76 yards rushing and a TD to help Houston to its third straight victory.
“Having Dameon, having Joe back was huge for us, a huge lift for our team,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Very excited to see those guys continue to do more for us, but very pleased with the run game and how they got after it.”
Their performances were an example of everyone pitching in to help make up for the loss of Collins, who remains the NFL’s leading receiver with 567 yards despite not playing Sunday.
“Once everybody took on that challenge, I think we started rolling and we didn’t feel bad for ourselves that Nico wasn’t out there,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “We just tried to pick up the slack and really just be there for one another and I feel like we did that.”
The Texans had struggled to run the ball in the past few weeks with both of their top running backs out and had averaged just under 78 yards rushing in the three games without both Mixon and Pierce.
On Sunday, both players had huge runs to help power the offense. Mixon had a 59-yard gain in the second quarter and Pierce’s touchdown came on a 54-yard scamper in the fourth.
“Those guys bring playmaking ability,” Ryans said. “Not just getting what the run is blocked for. When your backs are special, they get more than what is blocked for and that’s what you saw … with the explosive runs, the two big explosive runs.”
What’s working
The Texans forced a season-high four turnovers Sunday after they hadn’t had any in their previous three games. Houston intercepted Drake Maye twice and recovered two fumbles.
Rookie Calen Bullock starred on Sunday, recovering a fumble and grabbing his second interception of the season. The third-round pick from USC had nine interceptions in a three-year career with the Trojans.
“Calen shows up every week around the football and that’s the reason we drafted Calen,” Ryans said. “He showed that in college and it’s cool to see. That’s who Calen is … the game isn’t too big for him and he made a ton of plays.”
What needs help
The Texans scored touchdowns on their first two possessions Sunday before a lull where they didn’t score on four straight drives. Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 40-yard field goal and Stroud was intercepted on a tipped pass in the end zone before Houston punted on the next two possessions.
The Texans got going again after halftime, but Stroud is focused on running the offense more consistently and avoiding these lulls as the season progresses.
Stock up
Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. did a little bit of everything against the Patriots. Last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year had eight tackles, three sacks and four tackles for losses — all career highs.
Anderson also deflected a pass that was intercepted in the fourth quarter Sunday.
He has 12½ sacks through his first 21 games which ranks second in franchise history in that span behind J.J. Watt, who had 13 in 2011.
“He is getting better every week and this is his best game by far,” Ryans said.
Stock down
CB Eric Murray intercepted the ball that Anderson tipped on Sunday. But before that he was called for pass interference and illegal use of the hands on consecutive plays in the second quarter just before New England scored its first TD.
Injuries
Texans: LB Azeez Al-Shaair injured his knee Sunday. … LT Laremy Tunsil aggravated an ankle injury he has been dealing with for a couple of weeks. … LB Henry To’oTo’o is in the concussion protocol after taking a hit to the head against New England.
Key number
1 — Sunday was Houston’s first win at New England after the Texans had lost their previous seven games there.
“It’s a big one for us,” Ryans said. “As an organization, our first time winning here in New England, so it’s a special game for everyone.”
Next steps
The Texans travel to Green Bay on Sunday where they will try for their first four-game winning streak since reeling off nine straight wins in 2018. Houston has just one victory in the series, coming in a 24-21 win in 2008.
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Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.