Fast Facts is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.

Odds

The opening line from online betting sites has the Steelers as a 9-point favorite. The over/under is 44 points.

Team Records

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) at Houston Texans (4-10)

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin

• Overall regular-season record: 114-60 (.655)/11th season
• Regular-season record with Pittsburgh: 114-60 (.655)/11th season
• Playoff Record/Years: 8-6 (.571)/seven years

Houston Texans Head Coach Bill O’Brien

• Overall regular-season record: 31-31 (.500)/fourth season
• Regular-season record with Houston: 31-31 (.500)/fourth season
• Playoff Record/Years: 1-2 (.333)/two years

Steelers-Texans History

• Series History: Series began in 2002
• Overall Regular Season: Steelers lead, 3-2
• In Pittsburgh: Steelers lead, 2-1
• At Houston: Even, 1-1
• Neutral Sites: n/a
• Streak: Steelers won previous meeting
• Last Regular-Season Meeting: Oct. 20, 2014, in Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh 30, Houston 23
• Postseason Series: n/a
• (preseason and postseason record not included in overall series record)

This week’s game will mark the sixth regular-season meeting between Pittsburgh and Houston…the Steelers own a one-game advantage in the regular-season series against the Texans (3-2)… Sunday’s game will be the third time the two teams will meet in Houston, each team has won one of the previous two matchips…the two teams have met once in the month of December during the regular season (Dec. 8, 2002 in Pittsburgh, L 24-6).

Gameday Information

• Date: Monday, Dec. 25, 2017
• Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
• Site: NRG Stadium (71,795) • Houston, Texas
• Playing Surface: Artificial Turf
• TV Coverage: NBC (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11)
  Announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play) | Kurt Warner (analyst) | Heather Cox (sideline)
• Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
  Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) | Tunch Ilkin (analyst) | Craig Wolfley (sideline)
• National Radio: Westwood One
  Announcers: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play) | Dan Fouts (analyst) | Laura Okmin (sideline)
• SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 82 (Pit), 83 (Hou) | XM: 88 (WW1), 82 (Pit), 83 (Hou)
• Referee: Bill Vinovich

Game Capsule

• LEADER: Steelers lead all-time series, 3-2
• LAST GAME: 10/20/14: Texans 23 at Steelers 30
• STREAKS: Steelers have won 3 of past 4
• LAST GAME AT SITE: 10/2/11: Texans 17, Steelers 10
• QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 22 of 30 (73.3 pct.) for 281 yards with 2 TDs vs. 1 INT for 110.6 rating last week. Has 99+ rating in 4 of past 5. In 4 career meetings, has 6 TDs vs. 1 INT for 111 rating.
• RB LE’VEON BELL leads NFL with 1,849 scrimmage yards & 1,222 rush yards. Had 165 scrimmage yards (117 rush, 48 rec.) & rush TD last week. Has 655 scrimmage yards (163.8 per game) with 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in past 4. Had 145 scrimmage yards (88 rec., 57 rush) & TD catch in last meeting. Leads NFL RBs with 80 catches & is 1 of 4 RBs in league history with 80+ catches in 2 different seasons.
• WR JU JU SMITH-SCHUSTER (rookie) had 6 catches for 114 yards last week. Has 95+ rec. yards & TD in 2 of past 3 on road. Ties for 3rd among rookies with 5 TD catches & ranks 3rd with 699 rec. yards.
• WR MARTAVIS BRYANT had TD catch last week. Had TD in last meeting.
• WR ELI ROGERS had rec. TD in Week 15.
• LB VINCE WILLIAMS had 1st career INT last week. Aims for 3rd in row on road with sack.
• S SEAN DAVIS aims for 3rd in row with 10+ tackles.
• DE CAMERON HEYWARD had sack in Week 15. Has 5 sacks in past 5. Ties for 6th in AFC with career-high 10 sacks.
• LB BUD DUPREE has sack in 2 of past 3.
• CB ARTIE BURNS has 7 PD in past 6 on road.
• Rookie LB T.J. WATT has 2 sacks in past 4. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 6 sacks.
• DE TYSON ALUALU had FF in last game vs. Hou. (12/18/16 with Jax.).
• QB T.J. YATES has 3 TD passes in past 2. Has won 2 of past 3 starts.
• RB LAMAR MILLER has 631 scrimmage yards (90.1 per game) with 3 TDs (2 rec., 1 rush) in past 7 at home. Is 1 of 3 RBs in franchise history (DOMANICK WILLIAMS & ARIAN FOSTER) with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in consecutive seasons.
• RB ALFRED BLUE had TD catch in last meeting.
• WR DE ANDRE HOPKINS leads NFL with 12 TD catches. Ties for 4th in NFL with 92 catches & can become 2nd player in franchise history (ANDRE JOHNSON) with multiple 100+ catch seasons. Has 15 catches for 229 rec. yards (114.5 per game) with 3 TDs in past 2. Had 108 rec. yards in only career meeting. Since 2015, is 1 of 2 players (ANTONIO BROWN) with 275+ catches (281) & 25+ rec. TDs (27).
• WR WILL FULLER V has 5 TDs in his past 5 at home.
• DE JADEVEON CLOWNEY ranks 2nd in NFL with 20 TFL. Has 6 TFL & 3 sacks in past 3 at home. Leads team with career-high 9 sacks. Since 2016, has 36 TFL, 2nd most in NFL.
• LB BENARDRICK MC KINNEY has 5 TFL in past 6 at home. Is 1 of 4 in AFC with 80+ tackles (83) & 10+ TFL (10).
• Rookie LB ZACH CUNNINGHAM has 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks & PD in past 3.
• CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH is 1 of 2 active players (TERENCE NEWMAN) with 25+ career INTs (28) & 160+ PD (168).
• S MARCUS GILCHRIST had sack in 12/9/12 meeting (with Chargers).

 

Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.