The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road again, this time to face off against the Houston Texans. With a head coach like DeMeco Ryans, most recently of the San Francisco 49ers prior to accepting the head coach position in Houston, the Steelers’ offense can expect to see a similar defensive strategy out of the Texans. The talent level isn’t the same as San Francisco’s, but they will focus on stopping the run and not letting anything behind them. Kenny Pickett and the offense will need to sustain drives, which is something they have struggled to do with so far this season.
The Texans will be without much of their first-team offensive line to various injuries, so there are plenty of juicy matchups for the front seven to try to exploit. One in particular, Kendrick Green up against the likes of Keeanu Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, and Montravius Adams should be enjoyable to watch. The Steelers traded Green prior to the start of the season, and everyone should be plenty familiar from practicing against him. C.J. Stroud has been making the most of his situation with a historic start in his first three games, trailing only Justin Herbert and Cam Newton in all-time passing yardage for rookies. Paired with crafty route-runner Tank Dell, the Steelers will have their hands full in trying to stymie the Texans’ passing offense.
Thank you for joining us for another week of Steelers football. If you have not joined us for a game thread in the past, I will be curating tweets, live updates, and video highlights, so be sure to refresh the page throughout the game. Also, join the discussion in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
Steelers’ Inactive Players:
QB Mason Rudolph (3rd)
G James Daniels
P Pressley Harvin III
WR Gunner Olszewski
RB Godwin Igwebuike
NT Breiden Fehoko
Texans’ Inactive Players:
QB Case Keenum (3rd)
G Josh Jones
LB Denzel Perryman
CB Tavierre Thomas
T Laremy Tunsil
RB Dare Ogunbowale
C/G Michael Deiter
This is a big night for the Watt family with JJ Watt being honored on the field before kickoff. You can bet that TJ Watt wants to do his brother proud, even if it involves beating up on JJ’s former team. All three watt brothers were out on the field for the coin toss. Thats a nice gesture to include Derek.
The Steelers have won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. The defense will be taking the field first.
START OF GAME
Chris Boswell’s opening kickoff was returned to the 31 tackled by Joey Porter Jr.
On 1st and 10, the ball was semi-deflected at the line of scrimmage and Levi Wallace batted it away from Tank Dell across the middle. On 2nd, Dameon Pierce went around the right end for 13 yards and a 1st down.
On 1st and 10, Pierce for two brought down by Demarvin Leal. On 2nd, Stroud kept the ball and ran to the left sideline to pickup another fresh set of downs.
1st and 10, Dameon Pierce up the middle for about 4. On 2nd, a screen pass and Pierce picked up 27. Stroud was nearly sacked, but got the ball off.
Now in scoring position, Devin Singletary picked up one yard off left tackle, brought down by Cole Holcomb. The Texans only had 10 players on the field so they burned a timeout. 2nd and 9 from the 11 yard line, Tank Dell on the end around for a gain of 6. 3rd and 3, Stroud kept it himself and dove for the touchdown. It will have to be reviewed, he may have been a tad short. Regardless, it is enough for the first down.
He was indeed marked a couple inches short. 1st and goal with barely any blades of grass to defend. On 1st, the Texans were penalized for a false start so there is a little more to defend here. The Texans scored on a screen play, but inelligible man downfield. The Texans are moving the wrong direction. 1st and goal from the 11 now, Minkah Fitzpatrick and TJ Watt tackled Pierce for no gain. TJ Watt’s inside swim was very nice there. 2nd down, defensive pass interference on Minkah Fitzpatrick. That was not a great call.
1st and goal, Pierce tackled for no gain by Montravius Adams in the middle. Stroud to Nico Collins for the touchdown. Levi Wallace in coverage. 7-0 Texans.
The Steelers take over from their own 19 after Desmond King’s return. On 1st and 10, Najee Harris picked up 3 up the middle. On 2nd and 7, incomplete pass to Pat Freiermuth. The Texans were ready for the sprint out, this time to the right side of the offense. On 3rd and 7, Kenny Pickett kept the ball and scrambled for the first down. Kenny Pickett’s helmet was ripped off during the tackle as he took a hard hit. Gutsy play by Pickett.
On 1st and 10, Najee Harris picked up 4 off left tackle. On 2nd and 6, Calvin Austin III went around the left end for a gain of 5. 3rd and 1, Pickett sneak up the middle to convert. Both first downs picked up by Kenny Pickett’s legs.
On 1st and 10, Kenny Pickett was sacked by Jerry Hughes untouched. A loss of 8. 2nd and 18, Pickett tossed one deep, but Steven Nelson intercepted the ball. He returned the interception to the Steelers’ 45 yard line.
On 1st and 10, a pitch toss to Dameon Pierce for 8 yards. On 2nd, Pierce went up the middle for 3 yards and a first down.
On 1st and 10, Stroud threw the ball away. Markus Golden coming with some pressure. On 2nd, Tank Dell end around for 7 yards. 3rd and 3, completion to Robert Woods for 5 yards.
1st and 10, incomplete intended for Dell over the middle. Elandon Roberts got the quarterback hit after the play. 2nd and 10, Pierce up the middle for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, in the red zone, incomplete deep left. Alex Highsmith with the pressure. Field goal unit should be coming out. 10-0 Texans.
Broderick Jones checked into the game at left tackle. Dan Moore Jr. out injured with a right knee. He is questionable to return. On 1st and 10, a completion to George Pickens for a g ain of 3. He fumbled at the end of the play, but it rolled out of bounds. On 2nd, Najee Harris tackled for a loss. Pickett was able to get the pass off on 3rd to Jaylen Warren for the checkdown. Nowhere near enough to convert. Brad Wing is about to get his first punt and its an important one with the Steelers deep on their own end.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 10-0 TEXANS
The first quarter has been all Texans. Whats new? Another slow start for this offense which has happened more often than not over the last few seasons.
Brad Wing’s first punt since December of 2017 in the NFL went 41 yards. The catch was botched, but he managed to get back on top of it.
1st and 10, starting from their own 32, Pierce up the middle for 3 yards. On 2nd and 7, Stroud found Dalton Schultz up the seam for a gain of 29.
1st and 10, Pierce for 12 more yards. Patrick Peterson in on the tackle. 1st and 10, Pierce up the middle for 4 yards. On 2nd, the deep pass intended for John Metchie III, but it fell incomplete. 3rd and 6, Robert Woods couldn’t haul in the ball. Stroud was a bit behind him or it would have converted.
The field goal unit is back out and Fairbairn’s kick was good from 38. 13-0 Texans.
Desmond King took the ball out of the end zone and got back to the 21 yard line. On 1st and 10, Pickett to Freiermuth but it was brought down for a loss of 6. Pressure right up the middle. 2nd and 16, Pickett to Allen Robinson II for 8 yards. 3rd and 8, Pickett to Pickens and it was deflected up in the air for what felt like an eternity. Brad Wing’s punt went 44 yards to the Houston 33.
The first two plays of the drive were first downs for the Texans. 19 yard and 11 yards. Suddenly the Texans are right up against field goal range once again. On 1st and 10, Isaiahh Loudermilk made the tackle to limit the Singletary run to just two. 2nd and 8, Schultz gained 7. 3rd and 1, Stroud sneaks, but didn’t get enough. 4th and inches, but the Texans called a timeout. They might roll out the field goal unit after the break. 4th down, play-action and TJ Watt’s pressure busted the play. Pass fell incomplete and turnover on downs.
Najee Harris picked up 12 yards on the first two plays of the drive. On 1st and 10, Kenny Pickett scrambled to buy time, but there was nothing there so he threw it away. 2nd and 10, Jaylen Warren had to fight for just 2 yards. It should have been a facemasking penalty, but no call. 3rd and 8, another Warren checkdown for 7 yards. Just short of the line to gain. The Steelers appear to be punting. Brad Wing sure chose a poor time to boom a 51 yard punt into the end zone.
A false start makes it 1st and 15 from the 15 yard line. Pierce picked up 3 yards on 1st down. 2nd and 12, Stroud connected with Metchie for 22 yards across the middle.
On 1st and 10, Pierce tackled by Keanu Neal and Elandon Roberts for no gain. 2nd and 10, Pierce up the middle for 5 yards. On 3rd and 5, the pass was incomplete intended for Nico Collins along the right sideline. Joey Porter Jr. in great coverage.
The first punt of the game for the Texans was run out of bounds by Calvin Austin III at the 15.
TWO MINUTE WARNING
The Steelers pick up 5 yards on a quick pass to George Pickens. 2nd and 5, incomplete to Calvin Austin III. 3rd and 5, the ball was nearly intercepted, but Pickens was interfered with. A fresh set of downs that was much needed.
1st and 10, Pickett complete to Jaylen Warren for 5 yards in the flat. On 2nd and 5, Pickett was sacked for a loss of 4. Pittsburgh called their first timeout. 3rd and 9, the pass fell incomplete with immediate pressure, but the defense was offsides. The sack yardage was gifted back with some interest. 3rd and 4, Pat Freiermuth was called for offensive pass interference. The penalty makes it 3rd and 14, Pickett evaded pressure and connected with Pat Freiermuth for just 9 yards. Texans called their third and final timeout.
Brad Wing’s punt went 51 yards and Tank Dell took it back to about the 20. That makes 38 net yards on the punt.
1st and 10, Stroud dropped back and connected with Nico Collins for 42 yards. Missed tackles allow the double explosive play and put the Texans in field goal range. Another big play to Nico Collins Minkah Fitzpatrick’s shoestring tackle prevented the touchdown. The field goal is good. 16-0 Texans.
END OF HALF: 16-0 TEXANS.
Join us for the second half here:
