The Pittsburgh Steelers had yet another flat first half of football against the Houston Texans and now find themselves in a 16-0 hole coming out of halftime. The offense was unable to get anything going outside of some penalties that extended drives and CJ Stroud had the Texans offense firing on all cylinders.
START OF 2ND HALF
Pittsburgh takes over at the 25 after the touchback.
Najee Harris ran up the middle on 1st down breaking multiple tackles to gain 15. On 1st and 10, Najee got the ball again up the middle for 4 yards this time. 2nd and 6, Najee couldn’t get back to the line, a loss of 1. 3rd and 7, Pickett connected with Calvin Austin III for 12 yards.
1st and 10, back to Calvin Austin on the perimeter for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Jaylen Warren found a seam and burst upfield for 18 yards.
Najee Harris up the middle on 1st down for a gain of 4. 2nd and 6, Najee up the middle again for 4 more. 3rd and 2, Jaylen Warren tackled for a loss of 2. Chris Boswell’s field goal was good. 16-3 Texans.
George Pickens appeared frustrated on the sideline after settling for the field goal.
Pierce up the middle on 1st down for a gain of 4. On 2nd and 6, the pass fell incomplete with Patrick Peterson in coverage. On 3rd and 6, TJ Watt nearly in on the sack, but forced the incompletion. Three and out for the Texans. Their first of the game. That was called intentional grounding – nobody was in the area.
Punting from their own end zone, Calvin Austin III fielded the punt and returned it 7 yards to the Houston 46.
Kenny Pickett escaped the sack and connected with Pat Freiermuth for 4 yards. Freiermuth had to run hard to get any yards there. He made the first man miss and then fought through a second tackle. On 2nd and 6, Najee Harris picked up 2 up the middle. 3rd and 4, Pickett escaped pressure again and connected with Najee Harris. Harris got up after the catch and continued to run for 32 yards.
Pat Freiermuth down injured on the play. His right leg being looked at. A possible hamstring? No Diontae Johnson and no Pat Freiermuth is nightmarish for this offense. Freiermuth walked into the lockerroom on his own.
1st and goal from the 8 yard line. The Steelers offense is looking much better this half. Pickett targeted George Pickens in the end zone. He nearly hauled it in, but it was jarred loose. On 2nd, Najee up the middle for 3. On 3rd and goal from the 5, incomplete to Allen Robinson. The field goal is good. 16-6 Texans.
On 1st and 10, Stroud found Tank Dell for 16 yards. On 1st and 10, Pierce gained just one brought down by Larry Ogunjobi and Kwon Alexander. On 2nd, an incompletion with Larry Ogunjobi pressuring the throw. 3rd and 9, Alex Highsmith’s pressure forced the incompletion.
The punt starts the Steelers at the 24 yard line. Najee Harris picked up 23 on 1st down. Another explosive play for Najee.
On 1st and 10, Najee was tripped up behind the line and gained just 1. On 2nd, Darnell Washington picked up 10 yards. He lowered his shoulder to finish the play.
Pat Freiermuth has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
On 1st and 10, Warren fumbled the football, but Kenny Pickett fell on it. A loss of 2. On 2nd, Pickett incomplete to Najee Harris as the play broke down. On 3rd and 18, Pickens picked up 17. 4th and 1, the Steelers going for it, but Tomlin called his first timeout of the half.
The team came out in shotgun and Pickett got sacked. You need one yard and you don’t think you can run for it? Pickett hurt on the play, too. It looks like a left knee and he could barely put weight on it.
On 1st and 10 for the Texans, the Texans were called for holding. 1st and 17, Pierce picked up 6 on the paly. 2nd and 11, Stroud scrambled out of the pocket and connected with Collins for 24.
END OF 3RD QUARTER: 16-6 TEXANS
1st and 10, Pierce up the middle for 4. He bounced off the first tackle. Elandon Roberts and Montravius Adams in on the 2nd down tackle for a loss of 5. 3rd and 11, Stroud connected with Collins for 14.
Singletary up the middle on 1st for 6 yards. On 2nd and 4, Singletary found the crease and rushed for 9 yards. 1st and goal from the 7, Singletary gained just one yard tackled by Ogunjobi and Watt. On 2nd, Stroud pitched to Singletary who passed for a touchdown. 23-6 Texans.
So now, Mitch Trubisky is taking the field. Down 23-6 with only 10:50 remaining this game is now feeling pretty well out of hand.
Pickett was walking on his own to the lockerroom, so maybe he escaped a serious injury.
Desmond King returned the kickoff to the 28. Trubisky, on 1st and 10, connected with Calvin Austin III along the sideline for 8 yards. On 2nd and 2, Trubisky’s pass was nearly picked off, but George Pickens knocked it loose. On 3rd and 2, another target to Pickens, but it was low and the pass fell incomplete. Pickens frustrated again on the sideline.
Brad Wing’s punt went 50 yards, fair caught at the 14.
On 1st and 10, Pierce around the right end for just one yard, tackled by Elandon Roberts and Patrick Peterson. On 2nd and 9, Pierce bulled through multiple tacklers for 10 yards and a first down.
False start backed them up 5. On 1st and 15, Pierce off left tackle for 1 yard. On 2nd and 9, Robert Woods was wide open to gain 13. 3rd and 1, Stroud sneak to convert.
1st and 10, Singletary around the left end for 8 yards. 2nd and 2, Kwon Alexander darted into the backfield for a TFL. A loss of 2. On 3rd and 4, the ball was knocked loose, but recovered by Nico Collins for the first down. Kendrick Green down injured on the play. Keeanu Benton forced the fumble.
TJ Watt did a nice job to force that Pierce run back into the tackle of Keanu Neal for a loss of 6. On 2nd and 16, Stroud connected with Woods for 8 yards. 3rd and 7, Stroud to Collins for a 52 yard touchdown. 30-6 Texans.
CJ Stroud is absolutely cooking this Steelers’ defense. Behind a JV offensive line, at that.
On 1st and 10, Jaylen Warren took the delayed handoff for about 6 yards, but he fumbled. It was returned by Will Anderson for a touchdown, but its being looked at again. The knee appeared to be down, so the touchdown should be overturned. 2nd and 5, Warren fought through some contact for 4 yards. 3rd and 1, Warren rushed for 6.
On 1st and 10, a 6 yard checkdown to Warren.
TWO MINUTE WARNING.
2nd and 4, Warren gained 6. On 1st and 10, Warren up the middle for 4 yards. Mike Tomlin elects to let the clock expire.
FINAL SCORE: 30-6 TEXANS.
