The Steelers take on the Texans at Heinz Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday and will be looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2010, while the Texans have their backs up against the wall in the early portion of the season with an 0-2 record after losing to arguably the two best teams in the league -- the Chiefs and Ravens.
- The Steelers do not have a long history with the Texans, as their franchise was established in 2002. In the six meetings between the two teams, the Steelers have a 4-2 record against the Texans. Under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are 3-1 against Houston. Ironically, the Steelers have defeated the Texans in both of their Super Bowl-winning seasons in 2005 and 2008, which both came in September and were lopsided wins; a 27-7 victory in 2005 at Houston and a 38-17 win in 2008 at Heinz Field.
One of the weirdest games in Steelers' history came in 2002 when the Steelers faced the Texans on Dec. 8 at Heinz Field. The Steelers outperformed the Texans in offensive yardage 422-47 and first downs 24-3, but the Steelers turned the ball over five times and Houston took three of those turnovers in for touchdowns -- a Kenny Wright 40-yard scoop and score and two pick-sixes by Aaron Gordon off Tommy Maddox for 70 and 65 yards, respectively. The Texans defeated the Steelers, 24-6, and David Carr was 3 of 10 for 33 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and had a quarterback rating of 40.8.
- Sunday’s game will be the first time that J.J., T.J. and Derek Watt have all played in the same game together at any level of their football careers. It will also be just the second time three brothers have played in an NFL game since 1927, per Elias Sports. Last year on Dec. 15, the Edmunds brothers all played in the same game -- Terrell and Trey of the Steelers and Tremaine of the Bills.
- The Steelers are 4-point favorites against the Texans on Sunday and the over/under is 46 points, according to Oddsshark.com. The under is 8-2 in Pittsburgh’s last 10 games and Houston is 0-4 straight up and against the spread in its last four games as an underdog.
Pittsburgh is 1-4 against the spread in its last five September home games.
- The Steelers get right guard David DeCastro back on Sunday after he missed the first two games and most of training camp with a knee injury. JuJu Smith-Schuster, who missed two consecutive practices this week dealing with a knee injury was a full participant at practice on Friday and is good to go for Sunday. The Steelers come into Sunday's game against the Texans as a healthy unit, as they have no one on their injury report status for the game. Wide receiver Kenny Stills (illness), Duke Johnson (ankle) and inside linebacker Peter Kalambayi (hamstring) are listed as questionable for the Texans on Sunday.
- According to Pro Football Focus, the Texans' offensive line has allowed the most pressures through two weeks with 57. Also, Houston's offensive line has allowed eight sacks this year, which is tied for second-most in the league. The Steelers rank second in the league with 10 sacks and are first in quarterback hits with 27. Pittsburgh's defense is pressuring the quarterback on 52.6% of passing plays, which ranks first in the league, per PFF. The Texans' offensive lines ability to block the Steelers' pass rush on Sunday will be the biggest matchup to watch for in the game. If unable to block the likes of T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree, it will be a long afternoon for Deshaun Watson.
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