Steelers-Texans: 3 Keys to Victory

By: Joe Smeltzer

Merry Christmas! The Steelers are playing today. Here is what they can do to get a win. Let's get into it.

Key #1: Get over it 

Photo creds to Larry Bown Sports

Last Sunday sucked. Everybody understands that. But that's over with now. The Steelers most likely blew their chance at the AFC's number one seed, but that's in the past. All Pittsburgh can do is move forward, and the depleted Houston Texans are a nice setup to do just that.

If the Steelers play well and avoid that classic Mike Tomlin letdown, they will be fine. Hopefully, the players and coaches have done a much better job of coaching than "Steeler Nation" has.


Key #2: Throw to Martavis 

Photo creds to SI.Com

Last week, Martavis Bryant grew a pair. The disappointing wideout didn't have a great game against New England statistic wise, but anybody who watched knows what type of impact he had. Bryant looked like a man ready to prove that he, not JuJu, is poised to be the Steelers number one wideout in Antiono Brown's absence.

The corner covering Bryant Sunday will most likely be Jonathan Joseph, who hasn't played his best football this year. If Martavis can catch Joseph on a bad day, there's a good chance big plays are coming.

Key #3: Play like it means something 

Photo creds to Zimbio

In the grand scheme of things, this game probably doesn't mean anything. Thanks to Jimmy Garoppolo, the Steelers are virtually assured a first-round bye, and since New England ain't losing to the Jets in Foxborough Week 17, and Pittsburgh ain't losing to Cleveland at Heinz Field, the number-two seed is almost a formality.

If the Steelers lose to Houston, it would likely prove to be meaningless in the end. But that's not the mindset Pittsburgh should have. Play this game like it matters, get the W, and go into Week 17 holding out hope that Bryce Petty can pull a miracle while knowing that a first-round bye is the worst case scenario.

Prediction 
The Texans are a mess. Without its most important players on each side of the ball in J.J. Watt and DeShaun Watson, Houston is nothing. The Steelers have done a good job at beating teams that they are supposed to in 2017, and there's no reason to expect that to change today. It might not be as lopsided as it should be; few Steelers "mismatches" are, but I'll take a win any way I can get it. Here we go.

Steelers 27, Texans 17.