The Houston Texans take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday for a Week 3 showdown at Heinz Field.
To preview the matchup, Steelers Wire managing editor Curt Popejoy took time to answer some questions about the class of the AFC North.
Texans Wire: Is the expectation that the Steelers are good enough to knock off the Ravens for the AFC North’s top spot?
Curt Popejoy: Right now I’d say they are not. The offense is still knocking the rust off after a year minus Ben Roethlisberger and the defense is trying adjust to a more a blitz-heavy scheme and watching the secondary adjust.
TW: How many more years does Ben have?
CP: I said on my podcast last week it feels like this is his last year for better or worse. He said he didn’t come back for any individual accolades and just wants to help the team win a championship. The salary cap is going to wreck this roster next year so I won’t be shocked if he walks away.
TW: How dynamic has T.J. Watt been for the defense? His brother has been the face of the franchise for a good half-decade.
Watt has been amazing. He probably should have gotten more consideration for Defensive Player of the Year given how he fills in a box score. This season the Steelers have really been spreading around the opportunities to make plays based on scheme but I look for him to really step up this week with his brother on the other sideline.
TW: The Steelers have had notable offensive coordinators in the 2000s from Mike Mularkey to Ken Whisenhunt to Bruce Arians. Where does Randy Fichtner rank, especially since he’s been there since 2007?
CP: Fichtner has made his name with the team based on his connection with Roethlisberger. He’s not a particularly talented coordinator and this season we’ve seen far more influence from new QB coach Matt Canada on the offense than Fichtner.
TW: What is your prediction with a score?
This will be a serious test for the Steelers defense. They have let some bad quarterbacks perform well in the first two weeks. I look for a different Steelers defense this week and another close win for Pittsburgh 24-17.