So far this season, the Houston Texans have looked like one of the better teams throughout the league. They will be getting back a crucial piece to their offensive attack for their Week 6 game against the New England Patriots.
Running back Joe Mixon will be active for this contest after missing the last two weeks due to injury. His return should help the Houston offense be a little more dynamic and it will be a welcomed addition to the lineup.
Getting Mixon back for this game could drastically improve their chances of getting the win. Without him over the past few games, the Texans rushing attack has sputtered a little bit.
Houston has averaged just 78 yards on the ground without their star running back, forcing them to be a little more one-dimensional on offense. But with Mixon practicing multiple times this week, it was a good sign that he is back to being healthy.
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The team could limit his touches in this game against New England so they ease him back into the flow of the offense. We won’t know until he steps onto the field but the team understands how important he is to their plans.
Backup Cam Akers took over as the starter while Mixon was out and he could see some carries too. If anything, having Akers and Mixon split time this week could allow Mixon to not be forced back in full throttle.
The last thing that Houston wants is for Mixon to get hurt again or aggravate anything. The Texans have Super Bowl aspirations for this season so making sure that Mixon is fully ready for the stretch run of the season will be crucial.
New England will be starting rookie quarterback Drake Maye in this game, potentially causing some issues for the Texans. While the Patriots haven’t been very good this season, especially on offense, Maye gives them a different dynamic.
There is also not a lot of game film, other than his college days, on Maye. This could give New England a slight advantage heading into this matchup.
If the Texans execute their game plan, they should be able to come away with the win. This team has a record of 4-1 on the season and will be looking to bring another victory home against New England on the road.
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