The Texans can wrap up the AFC South on Sunday afternoon when they host the Miami Dolphins fresh from a bye.
As has been the case all year, question marks remain around DeMeco Ryans’ offensive line now that starting left guard Juice Scruggs has officially been ruled out with a foot injury.
Houston’s protection (or lack thereof) has made life difficult for C.J. Stroud in the pocket, but it hasn’t stopped Joe Mixon from rushing for close to 900 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Traded from the Bengals in March, Mixon is quietly on pace to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, sitting only two touchdowns shy of tying a career-high, despite having played only 10 games.
As it turns out, Mixon’s season is also on par with a Hall of Fame running back who happened to spend most of his career in the great state of Texas.
Mixon’s seven games of 100+ rushing yards and at least one rushing touchdown rank second-most among players to achieve such a feat in their first 10 games of a season, second to the one and only, Emmitt Smith.
🏈Joe Mixon has logged 7 games with 100+ rushing yards & 1+ rushing touchdown so far this season.
🏈That is tied for the 2nd-most such games by any player through his first 10 games of a season since 1950, trailing only Emmitt Smith (8 in 1995).
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) December 13, 2024
The Texans’ offense has come under siege all season as they struggle to string together consistent periods of scoring.
As a result, Mixon’s breakout has somewhat fallen by the wayside, but it could prove the difference between Houston making it past the Divisional round in the playoffs further down the track.
As for this week, Mixon is set to meet his match against a tough Dolphins defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards all season. Miami is giving up only 4.3 yards per carry, holding Jets running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis to under 100 combined yards in last week’s overtime win.
