ARLINGTON, Texas – Following a remarkable three-touchdown performance by running back Joe Mixon, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans praised him as “a force” in Houston’s 34-10 victory against the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football.”
Mixon was instrumental in the Texans’ offensive success, scoring all of the team’s offensive touchdowns and accumulating 109 rushing yards. This marked the second highest number of rushing touchdowns in a single game for him throughout his career.
In achieving this feat, Mixon tied a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a single game, becoming just the fourth player in Texans history to do so. Both Ryans and Mixon credited the team’s offensive line with creating the openings needed for the former Pro Bowl running back to thrive.
“Joe, when he’s at his best, he’s a dynamic part of our team,” Ryans stated. “The effectiveness of our run game originates with our offensive line. I urged them to play with speed and intensity, and I believe they did an outstanding job. It was gratifying to see our sustained effort in the run game, and I’m proud of everyone for rising to the occasion.”
As highlighted by ESPN Research, an impressive 79 of Mixon’s 109 rushing yards were gained prior to any contact, including a notable 45-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter—the longest of his career. This game marked Mixon’s sixth consecutive match with a rushing touchdown, tying Arian Foster’s Texans record set in 2011.
“I believe everyone focused on the game plan, and we executed it well for four quarters,” Mixon commented. “It was amazing to see the offensive line demonstrate their dominance. There was a moment in the fourth quarter when the offensive line confidently declared, ‘Let’s take it to them.’ I turned to [Texans offensive coordinator] Bobby Slowik and said, ‘They’re really trying to push it.'”
The offensive a line’s effective blocking not only paved the way for Mixon but also allowed quarterback C.J. Stroud to perform efficiently, as he completed 67.6% of his passes for 257 yards with one interception. He notably excelled in play-action passes, completing all eight attempts for 99 yards, according to Next Gen Stats.
“They were exceptional; I found myself relaxed a lot of the time,” Stroud remarked. “We effectively varied our protections. There’s always room for improvement, but overall, we made significant progress. That’s what we aimed for.”
Mixon’s performance also highlighted his status in NFL history, as he became the third player to achieve at least 10 rushing touchdowns in his first eight games with a new team, a feat last accomplished by Eric Dickerson in 1983 with the Rams.
“We combined our efforts in both the passing and running game, which is a solid foundation to build upon,” right tackle Tytus Howard told ESPN. “We can take the momentum from this game and carry it forward. This was our best week of practice all season, and we need to build on that momentum.”
Metal Debris Incident at Cowboys’ Stadium
ARLINGTON, Texas – Before the Texans’ decisive victory, the Dallas Cowboys had intended to open the AT&T Stadium roof, but the plan was halted when a piece of metal fell onto the field during the opening process, occurring over two hours before the game.
“The Cowboys confirm a piece of metal came loose and fell onto the field, alongside some smaller debris, while the roof was being opened,” the team said in a statement. “Thankfully, there were no injuries. We are currently reviewing the situation, and a decision regarding the safe reopening of the roof will be made accordingly.”
The Cowboys cited high winds Monday as a potential cause for the metal falling, resulting in the closure of the roof for the evening’s game.
After the match, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones reassured that the incident wouldn’t affect the roof’s operation during future home games.
“There was absolutely no risk to anyone on the field following our decision to close the roof. The high winds created instability up there. When we attempted to open the roof, the wind intensified that looseness,” Jones explained.
Prior to the game, maintenance workers secured a remaining loose piece of metal to avert any further incidents.
“They wouldn’t have started the game if there was any risk involved,” Jones emphasized. “Not only would the NFL not allow it, but I wouldn’t either. There was zero risk when the game commenced.”
Jones also remarked that the roof was opened early to ensure safety protocols were met before fans arrived.
The roof has not been opened for a Cowboys game in the past two years. Last week, during a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team attempted to open the doors, but they couldn’t be fully opened.
