No amount of wind, rain, or tackling from the Tennessee Titans was going to stop Dameon Pierce from reaching the end zone and the Houston Texans‘ history books on Sunday.
DeMeco Ryans knew he was set for a career afternoon right after he passed the second level of the Titans’ defense.
“To have over 170 yards rushing and the long run, it was really good to see him be productive and make plays for us in the running game,” Ryans said postgame of Pierce’s performance as the Texans secured a 23-14 win over Tennessee at Nissan Stadium.
DAMEON PIERCE 92 YARDS!
📺: #HOUvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/yUGyPppmBQ— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
Sunday’s performance wasn’t billed to be one where Pierce would see ample action. Throughout the week, Ryans said starters would play and did not give an estimated length.
Joe Mixon, the Texans’ top runner, was seven yards shy of becoming the sixth player in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and the first since 2019.
RB @IRep229‘s 92-yard touchdown run stands as the second-longest run in franchise history and the longest run by any player in the NFL this season. pic.twitter.com/RtyXfTHe3m
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) January 5, 2025
That goal was accomplished on two plays for 11 yards on the opening drive. After that Pierce took over alongside quarterback Davis Mills.
He didn’t waste his opportunity, scoring a 92-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give Houston a 13-point lead.
“If you done had as many whoopings as I had growing up, you know that when they’re on your tail, that’s when you need to run your fastest,” Pierce told reporters. “It doesn’t matter how you cross that goal line as long as you get there, right?”
The run marked the second-longest run in Texans’ history, trailing only Lamar Miller’s 97-yard TD run against the Titans in November 2018. Pierce finished with nine first-down runs and a career-high 176 rushing yards before the clock struck zero.
The highest-graded Texans in Week 18 vs the Titans:
🥇 Derek Barnett – 90.1
🥈 Dameon Pierce – 82.9
🥉 Neville Hewitt – 78.1
🏅 Tommy Togiai – 74.6
🏅 Eric Murray – 72.3(min. 25 snaps) pic.twitter.com/Jif7tGg17m
— PFF HOU Texans (@PFF_Texans) January 6, 2025
No one was happier for Pierce’s performance than Mixon, who sprinted down the sidelines as the third-year runner crossed the goal line for his first score since Week 6.
“That boy was cutting up today,” Mixon said of Pierce. “He’s fought through a lot of adversity, and it was just good for the team to see him thrive. To me, as one of the big brothers in the room, it was great. My boy put on a show.”
For his efforts in Week 18, Pierce is the final recipient of Texans Wire’s Player of the Game.
