The Steelers host the Texans on Monday Night Football
Demeco Ryans enters these playoffs 2-2. The Houston Texans enter this game as the fifth seed and are on the road in a hostile environment to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
We have seen C.J. Stroud throw north of 245 yards in three of his four playoff starts. He’s gone two games without throwing a touchdown, but threw three in one game.
The Texans’ offense has been inconsistent all season. Since Week 11, they are 19th in the NFL in EPA per play and 24th in success rate. It’s been a struggle. But there is still that memory of Stroud in college, dicing up great defenses. Can he tap into that superstardom these playoffs?
The Steelers are 16th in EPA and 10th in defensive success rate during that same stretch. It’ll be a challenge for Houston, but this was my pre-playoff pick to win the Super Bowl.
That’s because of the other side of the ball. The Texans’ defense allowed the lowest EPA per play in the NFL this season. Their passing defense was comfortably first. Thanks to Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, paired with Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre, the pass rush and coverage are married, making it a challenge to have success against the Texans.
They match up well against everybody, and that’ll be the case against a Steelers team that is lucky to be here. Aaron Rodgers has had a couple of vintage moments lately. Can he continue that against Houston?
Category: General Sports
