There will be a football game inside NRG Stadium, but much of the excitement surrounding the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers Week 4 tilt involves J.J. Watt.
The former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and face of the franchise is going into the Texans Ring of Honor at halftime. If a burgeoning team with a talented rookie quarterback can’t fill up NRG Stadium, this might at least for one afternoon.
No doubt Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt would love to spoil his big brother’s homecoming. Given the lesser Watt leads the NFL with 6.0 sacks and Houston has Austin Deculus, Geron Christian, and George Fant as tackles, it might not be far fetched.
How to watch
Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans — Sunday, Oct. 1, 12:00 p.m. CT
TV channel: KHOU-TV
Live stream: FuboTV
Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Forecast: Mostly sunny, 85 degrees, 12 mph wind (indoors)
Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @BigSargeSportz, @chrisnallsnfl @JohnHCrumpler)
Pregame
There aren’t too many surprises with the inactives as the Texans had to use five of those spots for injuries.
The brothers Watt were spotted embracing on the field.
First quarter
15:00 — The Texans get the ball first.
11:07 — Houston’s offense is dealing as they have driven 58 yards in seven plays down to the Steelers’ 12-yard line. However, they have to use their first timeout ahead of a second-and-9 from the 11.
10:29 — “I like a quarterback run here, even a draw,” Texans Radio commentator Andre Ware said. Well, that is what happened on third-and-3 from the Steelers’ 5-yard line as QB C.J. Stroud seemingly rushed for a touchdown. However, the play went under further review. Either way, Stroud picked up the first down at the 1-inch line.
10:15 — RG Shaq Mason commits a false start.
10:13 — Stroud hits RB Dameon Pierce for a 5-yard touchdown, but Mason gets dinged for ineligible man downfield to nullify the touchdown.
8:58 — Stroud connects with WR Nico Collins for a 2-yard touchdown. Extra point from K Ka’imi Fairbairn is good. Texans, 7-0
8:16 — QB Kenny Pickett scrambles eight yards on third-and-7 from the Steelers’ 22-yard line.
6:22 — Pickett sneaks for one on third-and-1 from the Steelers’ 39.
5:43 — DE Jerry Hughes sacks Pickett for an 8-yard loss on first-and-10 from the Steelers’ 40.
1:23 — Fairbairn hits a 36-yard field goal. Texans, 10-0
Second quarter
15:00 — Houston can expect a punt as the Steelers will begin the quarter facing a third-and-8 from their own 27-yard line.
14:52 — Although OT Austin Deculus started at left tackle, the Texans substitute OT Geron Christian.
12:13 — The Texans flub again in the red zone, but Fairbairn nails a 38-yard field goal. Texans, 13-0
10:51 — Houston turns the Steelers offense three-and-out again as Pickett throws incomplete on third-and-8 from their own 23.
7:09 — The Texans called their second timeout ahead of a fourth-and-inches from the Pittsburgh 28-yard line. The plan: Stroud throws incomplete for TE Andrew Beck, turnover on downs.
5:13 — On a third-and-8 from the Steelers’ 42, Pickett hits RB Jaylen Warren for seven yards.
4:26 — As an homage to some of the offenses J.J. Watt had to suffer with, TE Brevin Jordan commits a false start on first-and-10 from the Texans’ 20-yard line.
2:10 — Stroud can’t connect with Collins on third-and-5 from the Houston 45.
1:33 — The Texans would have had a big one. CB Shaquill Griffin intercepted Pickett at the Steelers’ 38-yard line. However, Griffin was dinged for defensive pass interference at the Pittsburgh 20-yard line.
1:24 — DE Jonathan Greenard sacks Pickett for a loss of four on second-and-5 from the Pittsburgh 40, compelling the Steelers to use their first timeout.
1:19 — The Texans get the Steelers off the field, but DT Maliek Collins commits defensive offsides on a third-and-9 from the Pittsburgh 36.
1:15 — Now it’s the Steelers’ turn to take a ticket as TE Pat Freiermuth commits offensive pass interference on third-and-4.
1:06 — On third-and-14 from the Steelers’ 31, Pickett dumps off to Freiermuth for nine yards. The Texans call their final timeout of the half.
0:04 — Fairbairn hits a 39-yard field goal, capping off a drive were Stroud led Houston 57 yards in five plays with no timeouts. Texans, 16-0
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Stroud: 10/20, 179 yards, TD; 3 carries, 15 yards
Pierce: 14 carries, 61 yards; 1 catch, 27 yards
Collins: 4 catches, 78 yards, TD
Nelson: 2 tackles, INT, PD
STEELERS
Pickett: 9/14, 35 yards, INT; 2 carries, 9 yards
Najee Harris: 5 carries, 16 yards
Warren: 4 catches, 16 yards
Third quarter
9:35 — The Steelers get off to a better start with the opening possession of the second half. K Chris Boswell hits a 35-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play, 58-yard drive. Texans, 16-3
8:54 — On third-and-6 from the Houston 29, Stroud gets dinged with an intentional grounding. Houston’s first drive of the second half is a three-and-out.
7:17 — On a third-and-4 from the Houston 40, Pickett hits Harris for 32 yards down to the 8-yard line, first-and-goal.
5:54 — On third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, Pickett misses WR Allen Robinson.
5:49 — Boswell hits a 23-yard field goal. Texans, 16-6
4:54 — The Texans were able to pick up at least one first down with WR Tank Dell getting a quick hitter for 16 yards on the first play. However, the drive stalls on third-and-9 from the Texans’ 42 as Stroud’s pass for WR Robert Woods falls incomplete.
2:45 — Circle this one. On first-and-10 from the Houston 42, S Jalen Pitre hits Warren just as he’s about to take the handoff from Pickett, causing a fumble. Pickett falls on the ball at the 50 for an 8-yard loss.
1:58 — After an incomplete second down pass, Pickett hits WR George Pickens for 17 on third-and-18 from the 50. The Steelers call timeout facing a fourth-and-1 from the Houston 33.
1:16 — Greenard sacks Pickett for a 9-yard loss. Pickett is grabbing his left knee.
0:14 — Stroud hits Collins for 24 yards up to the Pittsburgh 35 for the last play of the quarter.
Fourth quarter
13:41 — On third-and-11 from the Pittsburgh 36, Stroud hits Collins for 14 yards.
10:54 — The Texans show a little razzle-dazzle as RB Singletary throws a 6-yard touchdown pass for TE Dalton Schultz. Extra point is good. Texans, 23-6
10:44 — QB Mitch Trubisky is in at quarterback as Pickett has been ruled out.
4:51 — LG Kendrick Green was injured and needed assistance off the field.
3:46 — On third-and-7 from the Houston 48, Stroud finds Collins for a 52-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Texans, 30-6
0:00 — The Texans are now 3-0 when putting one of their own in the Ring of Honor. Coverage all night at Texans Wire.