HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are primed for the playoffs and are enjoying the benefits of a rested squad after their starters participated less in a 23-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, which concluded their regular season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Joe Mixon were only active for the initial series, which culminated in a touchdown reception by Nico Collins, assisting the Texans in regaining their offensive rhythm following a disheartening 31-2 loss against the Ravens in their previous outing.
With the victory, the Texans secured their spot in the postseason for the second consecutive year and will face the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round this Saturday.
“Our team has played really good football throughout the year,” commented coach DeMeco Ryans. “We’ve earned the right to play postseason football, which is always our goal, and now we’re excited for whatever opportunity comes next.”
The Texans’ win helped them reach a total of 10 victories, marking the sixth occasion in the franchise’s history to achieve this milestone. After Mixon exited the game, Dameon Pierce stepped up, carrying the ball 19 times for a career-best 176 yards, which included an impressive 92-yard touchdown run—the second longest in the franchise’s history. Pierce’s rushing total ranks as the third highest in franchise records and the fourth best in the NFL this season.
“He maximized the opportunity today with the carries that he had, making some crucial runs for us,” Ryans stated. “I was excited, and I think our entire sideline was thrilled to see him perform so well.” The Texans are hopeful that Pierce can maintain his momentum during the postseason, as he will have limited carries when filling in for Mixon.
On the offensive front, Pierce’s contribution significantly boosted the Texans’ rushing yardage to 207, marking their second-highest total for the season and the highest since they recorded 213 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in their season opener. This achievement is particularly notable considering the Texans had managed only 142 rushing yards combined in their last two games.
However, there’s a need for the Texans to address their kicking game issues before the playoffs. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed his second extra point of the season during the second quarter, following a similar miss in the loss against Kansas City on December 21. While Fairbairn has excelled with long-range kicks, making 13 attempts from 50 yards or more, he has struggled with shorter kicks, with two missed attempts from under 30 yards alongside his two missed extra points.
In terms of individual performances, defensive end Derek Barnett made an impressive move by returning a fumble for a 36-yard touchdown, marking his second touchdown of the season and the third of his career. He became the 12th lineman in NFL history to record two fumble return touchdowns within a single season and joins notable franchise players J.J. Watt and Mario Williams in achieving two tackles for loss, a sack, and a fumble return touchdown during a single game.
On the downside, defensive back Kris Boyd, who predominantly participates in special teams, received a penalty for unnecessary roughness on a punt, marking his fifth infraction this season, which ties him for the second most penalties on the team.
Injury updates reveal that defensive end Will Anderson will make his return after sitting out against the Titans due to a hand injury. Wide receiver John Metchie was evaluated for a concussion after sustaining a hard hit but was able to return for the fourth quarter. Cornerback Jeff Okudah could also return after a previous concussion kept him out of Sunday’s game.
A notable statistic from the season is that Joe Mixon and Nico Collins have joined the ranks of the sixth running back-wide receiver duo in franchise history to surpass 1,000 yards each in rushing and receiving during the same season. Mixon concluded the regular season with 1,016 rushing yards despite missing three games, while Collins, despite sitting out five games, amassed 1,006 receiving yards, achieving his second consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Looking ahead, the Texans will host a playoff game for the second year in a row, following their notable victory against the Browns in the opening round last season, where they won 45-14.
