NEXT STEPS
How Texans plan to build on success and resolve key issues ahead of Titans matchup
Nov 20, 2024, 11:27 am
The Texans host the Titans this Sunday. Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images.
Even with Nico Collins back, Joe Mixon remained the star of Houston’s offense in a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.
Mixon had another big game to lead Houston to the 34-10 victory, running for 109 yards and three touchdowns with 44 yards receiving as the Texans (7-4) ended a two-game skid.
Collins helped the Texans to the win with four receptions for 54 yards in his return after missing five games with a hamstring injury.
It was the sixth straight game with at least one touchdown run for Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, which ties a franchise record. He’s had at least 100 yards rushing in six of his eight games this season and his nine rushing touchdowns in the past six games are a franchise record for a six-game span.
“Joe has been amazing,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “He’s been somebody who came in, taught guys how to win more … he taught guys what it takes to get to that goal. We are not there yet, but we are taking strides.”
Mixon gave Houston an early lead with a 45-yard touchdown run on the first drive and he made it 14-0 with a 1-yard scamper later in the first quarter. His third score on another 1-yard run extended the lead to 34-10 in the fourth.
“Joe, when he’s on, he’s a force for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Over 100 yards, three touchdowns, I just really liked the way we just kept churning it in the run game.”
Mixon's performance helped the Texans solve the second-half woes that had plagued them in the past four games. They scored 17 points after halftime Monday after managing just 15 points combined in the second half of the previous four games.
What's working
Mixon has completely transformed Houston’s running game this season. The Texans surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark as a team just seven times last season. Houston averaged just 96.88 yards rushing a game last season and has averaged 137.75 yards rushing in the eight games Mixon has played in this season.
What needs help
Stroud threw for 257 yards Monday night, but did not have a touchdown pass. He has just one touchdown pass with three interceptions in the past three games combined after throwing four with just one interception in the previous three games.
Collins was open on a long pass in the first quarter Monday night, but Stroud overthrew him and it was intercepted on the Dallas 12.
Stock up
DE Derek Barnett had a strip-sack of Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter Monday night. The ball was recovered by Dallas offensive lineman Tyler Guyton, but Jalen Pitre knocked the ball out of his hands and Barnett picked it up and dashed 28 yards for a touchdown.
“Derek Barnett, the play he made really changed the game for us,” Ryans said. “They flipped the momentum and got everybody juiced up on the sideline. It was just a huge play.”
Barnett is the sixth defensive lineman in franchise history to score on a fumble return and the second in the NFL this season after Travon Walker had one for the Jaguars on Nov. 3.
Stock down
LT Laremy Tunsil negated a 77-yard touchdown reception by Collins on the first play of the game Monday after being flagged for being an ineligible man downfield. It was the 14th penalty of the season for Tunsil, which leads the NFL.
Injuries
DE Will Anderson Jr. missed a second straight game with an ankle injury. … T Blake Fisher could return Sunday after missing Monday’s game with a concussion.
Key number
11 — Derek Stingley had an interception Monday night to give Houston 11 interceptions in its past six games.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans return to division play Sunday with a visit from Tennessee (2-8) before a trip to Jacksonville (2-9) on Dec. 1. Houston needs to take care of business against these struggling teams before its bye with a stretch of three games in 10 days against Miami, Kansas City and Baltimore coming after the off week.
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The Astros welcomed first baseman Christian Walker to the team Monday, in one of two moves that almost certainly marks the end of Alex Bregman’s time in Houston.
Walker signed a $60 million, three-year contract that will pay him $20 million annually just more than a week after the Astros acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from Cubs in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago.
“The way I view it right now is Paredes is going to play third base and Walker is going to play first base,” general manager Dana Brown said Monday. “And Bregman’s still a free agent.”
The Astros had hoped to re-sign Bregman, the team’s third baseman for the last nine seasons, but Brown said the negotiations stalled.
“I thought we made a really competitive offer, showing that we wanted him back,” he said. “But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there. We locked in Paredes early in that trade, knowing that he could play third or first and then when the opportunity to add another bat came up we just jumped on it.”
The addition of a first baseman was a priority this offseason for the Astros after they released struggling first baseman José Abreu less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract.
“We knew we had to get better at first base,” Brown said. “We pursued (Walker) and we’re excited to have him because we know that we’re going to have a really good first baseman that can defend and also hit the ball on the seats from time to time.”
Walked was attracted by the sustained success of the Astros, who won their first two World Series titles in 2017 and '22.
“I’ve been watching this team for a while now, and that edge, the energy, the expectation, you can tell that they’re going out there with a standard,” he said. “And I’m very excited to be a part of it.”
Walker is looking forward playing on an infield with star second baseman Jose Altuve. He’s fascinated by the success and consistency Altuve has had over his 14-year career.
“I get a chance to learn from Jose Altuve,” Walker said. “Nothing really gets better than that.”
Brown was asked what he would tell fans disappointed to see the Astros lose another star after George Springer and Carlos Correa left as free agents in recent years.
“I would just tell the fans that look, we are very focused on remaining competitive,” he said. “We’re very focused on winning division and going back to the World Series, and I think with these additions that we have the ability to do that. So, I feel strongly that we’re going to be picked to win the division first off. And if our pitching holds up, which I feel strongly about, as well, I think we’ll get deep into the postseason.”
The Astros won the AL West for a fourth straight year this season before being swept by the Tigers in an AL Wild Card Series.
Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series.
Walker played in 130 games this year, down from 157 in 2023 and 160 in 2022. He was sidelined between July 29 and Sept. 3 by a strained left oblique.
He spent the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, where he hit 146 homers with 442 RBIs and a .251 batting average.
He didn’t secure a full-time job in the big leagues until 2019. He’s provided consistent power over the past six seasons and has grown into an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons.
Walker played college ball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his big league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but couldn’t stick in the majors and was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona in a five-week span.
Walker’s contract has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block deals to six teams without his consent. He would earn $200,000 for winning an MVP, $175,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth.
Walker also would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $75,000 apiece for making the All-Star Game or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award.
Infielder Grae Kessinger was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.