NFL GAME DAY DISCUSSION Wild Card Monday: Texans at Steelers

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I am still torn as to whether I want Houston or Pittsburgh to win tonight.

On one hand it seems wrong to even consider wanting a postseason victory for Aaron Rodgers or for the Steelers franchise. Houston fans are far less obnoxious. Go Houston.

But then that Houston D looks way scarier to match up with. They hurt people. So... go Steelers. Plus the Steelers winning may mean that they keep Tomlin as head coach and they keep being a poorly coached overrated team that is a playoff pushover.

I can see either way. Anyone else feel torn?

 

[mgteich]

I am still torn as to whether I want Houston or Pittsburgh to win tonight.

On one hand it seems wrong to even consider wanting a postseason victory for Aaron Rodgers or for the Steelers franchise. Houston fans are far less obnoxious. Go Houston.

But then that Houston D looks way scarier to match up with. They hurt people. So... go Steelers. Plus the Steelers winning may mean that they keep Tomlin as head coach and they keep being a poorly coached overrated team that is a playoff pushover.

I can see either way. Anyone else feel torn?

nope
It is all about which team we are more likely to be beat.

Folks who hate Rodgers should be happy to give him a loss in Foxboro.

 

[Uptown]

 

[VrabelJr]

I am still torn as to whether I want Houston or Pittsburgh to win tonight.

On one hand it seems wrong to even consider wanting a postseason victory for Aaron Rodgers or for the Steelers franchise. Houston fans are far less obnoxious. Go Houston.

But then that Houston D looks way scarier to match up with. They hurt people. So... go Steelers. Plus the Steelers winning may mean that they keep Tomlin as head coach and they keep being a poorly coached overrated team that is a playoff pushover.

I can see either way. Anyone else feel torn?

Pittsburgh all the way. I always wanted a chance to knock Rodgers out of the playoffs but he never made it far enough for that to happen.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I typically don’t root for opponents,i just let it happen. Theoretically the team that wins the majority of the time is the tougher game despite what we think. You could argue better matchup i guess. But in this case, if cj stroud ****s the bed again outdoors in January and cant beat the Steelers, he definitely wasn’t coming into foxboro and beating ne. So Houston might’ve been preferable in that scenario.

Now if Pittsburgh were to win on some bs thats a different story. Say a punt returner muffs it multiple times, or whatever amount of fluke **** , deflections, etc goes one teams way and they win despite being outplayed most of the game, thats something i could probably root for. But most of the time youre drawing someone for a reason.

 

[jmt57]

Texans are three-point road favorites, after opening as 3½-point favorites.

 

[BobDigital]

I am surprised it tightened. If anything i expected it to grow. I think the Texan's eat the Steelers lunch. It be the tougher game for the Pats, but i just don't believe in the Steelers at all... they are lucky to even be in. It took our epic collapse when still figuring things out and a Ravens collapse for them to be in.

I have Texans 23 Steelers 10.

 

[farn]

Someone in the know : make a list of WRs playing tonight who could be a nightmare if Gonzo can’t go next Sunday.

 

[jmt57]

Interesting stat that I was not aware of:

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season.

Pittsburgh has lost six consecutive postseason games:
2016 AFCCG: lost 36-17 at Patriots
2017 AFCDG: lost 45-42 at home to Jaguars
2020 Wild Card: lost 48-37 at home to Browns
2021 Wild Card: lost 42-21 at Chiefs
2023 Wild Card: lost 31-17 at Bills
2024 Wild Card: lost 28-14 at Ravens



The Texans have made the playoffs nine times in their existence, and have never had a bye.
This is the first time they have played on the road in the first round.

Six times they won in the wild card round, then lost the following week - including each of the last three times they have been in the playoffs.

2024: won vs Chargers, lost at KC
2023: won vs Browns, lost at Ravens
2019: won vs Bills in OT, lost at Chiefs
2018: lost vs Colts
2016: won vs Raiders, lost at Patriots
2015: lost vs Chiefs
2012: won vs Bengals, lost at Patriots
2011: won vs Bengals, lost at Ravens

 

[Pape]

don't care - we won yesterday. that is the only thing that matters.

bring em on!

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Interesting stat that I was not aware of:

The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season.

Pittsburgh has lost six consecutive postseason games:
2016 AFCCG: lost 36-17 at Patriots
2017 AFCDG: lost 45-42 at home to Jaguars
2020 Wild Card: lost 48-37 at home to Browns
2021 Wild Card: lost 42-21 at Chiefs
2023 Wild Card: lost 31-17 at Bills
2024 Wild Card: lost 28-14 at Ravens



The Texans have made the playoffs nine times in their existence, and have never had a bye.
This is the first time they have played on the road in the first round.

Six times they won in the wild card round, then lost the following week - including each of the last three times they have been in the playoffs.

2024: won vs Chargers, lost at KC
2023: won vs Browns, lost at Ravens
2019: won vs Bills in OT, lost at Chiefs
2018: lost vs Colts
2016: won vs Raiders, lost at Patriots
2015: lost vs Chiefs
2012: won vs Bengals, lost at Patriots
2011: won vs Bengals, lost at Ravens

Another stat on Pittsburgh, in each of those 6 consecutive losses they have trailed by at least 21 points. Which is pretty nuts. I think that streak finally ends tonight but they do lose a 7th straight

 

[KCSVEN]

I want Pitt because there defense is below average. Also, Nico is better than Metcalf and if Gonzo is out rather have that.

I think Texans should beat Pitt easily unless they turn it over.

 

[Uptown]

Obviously, that Houston defense will give Rodgers issues, but Pittsburgh could definitely make Stroud uncomfortable as well. While their defense isn’t ranked particularly high statistically, they still have a bunch of playmakers/ solid players that aren’t anything to snooze at. They’re also very good at turnovers (5th) & in the RZ (3rd)…


-Watt (Self explanatory…returning from collapsed lung)
-Heyward (Older but still 2nd team All-Pro)
-Harmon (excellent young player who’d I love here)
-Benton (same)
-Queen (solid LB with speed)
-Wilson (PIT’s best LB this year)
-Herbig (7.5 sacks..solid vet)
-Highsmth (self explanatory)
-Porter Jr (very good CB if he eliminates flags)
-Ramsey (self explanatory if he can get his head out of his ass & deflect the ball instead of always going for the INT; which has cost his teams in the past)

Then you have depth guys like Peppers & Dugger who are solid, if not spectacular veterans. Pittsburgh should give Houston a run for their money.

 

[farn]

After two 4-13 seasons, it’s still hard to believe NE is final 8…

(Also, Laura > CJ)

 

[upstater1]

After tonight, Steelers will look more formidable than the Texans.

BUT Josh McDaniels knows how to attack Mike Tomlin's defense, and especially their DBs.

 

[BobDigital]

Rodgers is cooked. He didn't look good at all there.

Really bad over throw. I don't believe this Rodgers stands a chance vs this Texans D.

 

[bormio]

I could see the Steelers collapsing and getting crushed, but it is close - Steelers win

 

[Keyser Söze]

Rodgers yelling at his WR already

 

[GreenCow]

Steelers aren’t scoring on this defense.

 

[denverpatsfan]

He had time. Rushed the throw