Sunday’s contest with the Houston Texans has two events of significance: It will be the first time that all three Watt brothers, T.J., J.J. and Derek, will be playing in the same game, and it’ll be the Steelers first time facing quarterback Deshaun Watson.
When the Steelers last faced the Texans in 2017, they were in a similar quarterback carousel situation to the Steelers last season. Tom Savage started the year but was benched at halftime in Week 2 in favor of rookie Deshaun Watson. Unfortunately, after six starts, Watson’s season abruptly ended when he tore his ACL in a Nov. 2 practice. The Texans went back to Savage, but he suffered a grade three concussion that December, so there were no real options at 4-10 than to hand the team over to reserve quarterback T.J. Yates.
The Steelers smothered the Texans in their Christmas Day dust-up and departed the Lone Star State with a 12-3 record. The Texans were unable to get into a groove with Yates in at quarterback and struggled mightily.
Big Ben had a big night as he was 20-for-29 on 226 yards for a 115 quarterback rating. He zipped a 49-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster that set up an 18-yard JuJu score three plays later. Roethlisberger had two touchdowns on the night after he also connected with wide receiver Justin Hunter. Elsewhere on offense, Le’Veon Bell added 97 all-purpose yards, and Martavis Bryant and Vance McDonald pitched in 60 and 52 yards receiving to Smith-Schuster’s 75.
Pittsburgh’s pass defense stood up Houston, holding Yates to 89 yards passing. He was also sacked six times and intercepted once (by Artie Burns, of all players). But the run defense was gashed by backs Alfred Blue and Lamar Miller for 163 yards. The Texans were only able to muster one score to newly-departed DeAndre Hopkins, which came with 12 minutes left.
Though the Texans run game is not what it once was, the same cannot be said through the air. Of course, we know the vast difference between facing Yates in 2017 and Watson in 2020.
[vertical-gallery id=465755]
[lawrence-related id=465856]