The Pittsburgh Steelers face an uphill battle on Monday against the Houston Texans. Houston boasts one of the best defenses in football and is entering the playoffs on a hot streak, having won nine straight games. On paper, the Texans present a challenging matchup for a Steelers offense that prioritizes the short passing game and yards after the catch. However, the Steelers still have multiple avenues to pull off an upset and secure their first playoff win in nine seasons.
Keys for the Steelers to Win Against Houston
Stop the Run
Fortunately for Pittsburgh, it does have one distinct advantage over Houston. Pittsburgh’s defensive line should be able to dominate against Houston’s running game. The Steelers, with Derrick Harmon on the field, have given up just 91.2 rushing yards per game. Conversely, the Texans are one of the worst rushing teams in the league, finishing 22nd in rushing yards and 29th in yards per carry. The Steelers have the personnel to make Houston’s already limited offense completely one-dimensional. Cameron Heyward has been one of the best run defenders of his generation, and Pittsburgh’s steady rotation of edge rushers makes it hard to run outside the tackles.
If Pittsburgh manages to stop the run, it can play into their hands. Their edge rushers in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig can wreck the game with the amount of pressure they generate. The Texans are one of the bottom ten teams in the league at pass protection, so stopping the run should be the key for Pittsburgh’s defense to make plays.
Containing Houston’s Pass Rushers
The Steelers are used to playing against elite pass rushers this season. They’ve already faced Myles Garrett twice, as well as guys like Trey Hendrickson, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson. However, they haven’t faced a team with two elite pass rushers like the Houston Texans yet. Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson are players who cannot be left one-on-one and can single-handedly destroy offenses. The Steelers are used to getting the ball out fast, however.
Out of qualifying QBs, Rodgers has the fastest time to throw at 2.59 seconds. This is a double-edged sword for the Steelers’ offense. On one hand, it keeps elite pass rushers from hitting and sacking Rodgers. On the other hand, it limits Pittsburgh’s offense in terms of big-play ability. The Steelers rank 27th in explosive plays this year, and most of that has to do with how fast the ball is leaving his right arm. The Texans are also exceptionally good at limiting big plays, which will force Pittsburgh’s already methodical offense to grind its way down the field.
Pittsburgh’s Heavy Offensive Sets
The Texans, at least on defense, have no noticeable weaknesses. They are physical, they hit hard, rarely miss tackles, and generally don’t disguise their defense too often. However, there is one area that Pittsburgh could possibly succeed in, and it’s with their heavier personnel. The Texans run a light box at a top ten rate in the NFL, meaning nickel or dime looks on defense. Meanwhile, the Steelers have thrived in 12 or 13 personnel all season long. All year, they’ve relied on guys like Spencer Anderson, Jonnu Smith, and their offensive line to create lanes in the running game. Even receivers like Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller have helped.
This is where the loss of Darnell Washington really hurts. Without him, the Steelers are significantly worse at running the ball, even in their 12 and 13 personnel looks. Still, even without Washington, this is still a more viable option than slinging it 30-40 times against a fundamentally sound and physically imposing Texans defense. The Steelers had marginal success running against Baltimore last week, and it’s what helped them open up the passing game. If they can’t do the same or something similar to Houston, their chances of winning will be significantly harder.