I Need This Win - Texans @ Steelers Wild Card Matchup - Pregame Thoughts
Screenshot via Steelers Youtube.
If I told yinz at the beginning of the season that we would be in this position today, we all would’ve taken that, correct? I know I sure would’ve. This is the best tournament in the whole entire world, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the thick of it.
This one feels weightier than the last few playoff appearances, doesn’t it? We already saw John Harbaugh’s head roll because of a missed 44-yard field goal, and while I don’t think Mike Tomlin’s seat is quite that hot, there’s no question in my mind that that everyone, from the fans to the front office, will view this year as a massive failure if we don’t produce something in these playoffs. Not just Coach Tomlin, though - the speculation is already pouring in about Aaron Rodgers’ potential future with the league and with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think it’s fair to assume that what happens tonight at Acrisure Stadium will play a significant role in that discussion for all sides. Also, for what it’s worth, the result of tonight’s game will probably impact the way the Steelers attack the 2026 draft, which takes place in Pittsburgh, so yeah…it feels like a lot is on the line here.
Our wild card opponent is the Houston Texans, who the Steelers have never faced in the playoffs, interestingly enough. They’re coming to Pittsburgh as winners of NINE (9) straight games, 12 wins on the season, boasting a defense that is number one in a lot of categories. They’re number one in total defense despite having the 2nd-hardest strength of schedule in the 2025 season. Also, I know the Steelers defense has lived and died by turnovers, at times, this season, so it’s worth noting that the Texans finished the season 2nd in turnover differential at +17. The Steelers finished 4th at +12 (NGS/NFL Pro). This is a monumental task that we have before us.
On the injury front, it’s pretty clean for both sides, with basically every starter on each roster not carrying an injury designation coming into this game. The Texans are also activating their rookie S Jaylen Reed from IR, and I know their fans are high on him as well. It’s worth noting that their star corner Derek Stingley Jr. has been dealing with an oblique, and their starting OL Tytus Howard has been dealing with an ankle. Just something to watch.
I haven’t followed the Texans at all this season, so maybe I’m reaching, but I feel like their fans are probably equally as frustrated (if not moreso) as ours about the frequent lack of production from their offense. Like us, they have a receiver room with some talent, but it hasn’t amounted to much on the box score outside of Nico Collins. Also, Dalton Schultz is one of the best tight ends in the league in my opinion - slowing him down will be paramount on possession downs, but they don’t have a whole lot outside of those two that has me shakin’ in my boots. Our defense should be built for this.
C.J. Stroud is an interesting player, man. Somebody that I find myself silently rooting for at times. I know this season isn’t what he envisioned with first-year-OC Nick Caley, formerly the pass-game coordinator for the Rams. Still, with a ballhawk defense and amassing 12 wins, it hasn’t hurt this team too much. And Stroud is still a special talent. Just because it hasn’t looked the part this year doesn’t mean these guys can’t make plays. Ask the Kansas City Chiefs how they felt going up against C.J. Stroud and the Texans back in December (see clip above).
We are just a week removed from a heart-pounding game against the Ravens where we saw Lamar Jackson stepping through and around pressure and killing us with dagger after dagger. Go ahead and watch that clip from the Chiefs game one more time…Now hopefully we’re all on the same page here. We’re not going to survive dagger after dagger against this Texans defense, so when plays break down, it’s going to be absolutely critical that the Steelers put C.J. Stroud on the grass. A matchup that we can and should win often: Alex Highsmith/Nick Herbig vs. Texans LT Aireontae Ersery.
On the other side of the ball, keeping this game close seems like an obvious goal, but it couldn’t be more important than it will be tonight. This Texans defense prides itself on getting a lot of helmets to the ball, their SWARM philosophy - or whatever you want to call it. It’s visually demoralizing. And, it’s tough, because the Steelers offense has really lived off of YAC all season long, but that’s going to be very hard tonight. Jaylen Warren is among the league’s best at forcing missed tackles - I’d love to see him play a bigger role in the pass game tonight, although I’m comfortable with Kenneth Gainwell in that role.
Like last week against the Ravens, I think there will be opportunities to throw the ball over the middle; whether Aaron Rodgers elects to take them or not remains to be seen. I’m looking right at you Pat Freiermuth. I’d love to see him go out there and be great tonight. - DK Metcalf will also be available to us after missing two games due to suspension. We were able to stay afloat in his absence, and his return couldn’t have come at a better time. They have a CB duo in Houston, Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, that’s as good as any CB duo in the NFL. The attention that DK Metcalf will draw from this secondary should open up the field for other guys.
I said last week that these 2025 Steelers are my favorite group in a LONG time, and I stand by that. Consider the end of that game against the Jets. Or the Kenneth Gainwell catch in Denver. Or the missed FG last week against the Ravens. Perhaps there are forces at play that are beyond our comprehension that wanted the Pittsburgh Steelers to be in this position. I refuse to believe that all of that happened for us to get bounced in the first round yet again. Like I’ve said A LOT this year, this group is different.
It feels really good to be preparing for a playoff game and actually have a little bit of hope that we can win. The Steelers have won 23-straight games at home on Monday Night Football, but they haven’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade. Tonight…a streak comes to an end. Which one will it be?
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