The Houston Texans are catching whatever their rookie running back has.
The Texans earned their first full win of 2022 with a 13-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon at TIAA Bank Field. Dameon Pierce was instrumental in the Texans’ victory with 26 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. Pierce fired up his teammates with a 20-yard run down to the Jaguars’ 2-yard line with 5:02 to go in the game the saw the fourth-rounder break six tackles. Pierce would punch it in two plays later to give Houston the lead.
According to quarterback Davis Mills, what Pierce has with his playing style and approach to the game is what is becoming part of the Texans’ attitude.
“Just the energy he brings day in and day out, it rubs off on everybody on the team, and we want to rally behind that, and we want to fight for him,” Mills told reporters after the win Sunday. “I know the offensive line does especially, and the defense, they stayed on the sideline, see how hard we’re fighting and playing out there, and they want to do the same and try to get the ball back to us so we can continue driving the ball down the field and get points.”
Pierce averaged 3.8 yards per carry as most of his rushes were dirty yards against a Jacksonville front intent on stopping the run.
Part of Houston’s identity in 2022 has been built around coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, which has an emphasis on harassing opposing quarterbacks and cultivating takeaways. Another blue-collar style element that is burgeoning within the Texans is Pierce’s ferocity as a runner. If Houston is able to use his fresh legs and tenacity to elevate the offense, Houston should be able to improve their 1-3-1 record and continue vying for the top spot in the AFC South.
