2020 Steelers Season Recall: Steelers improve to 3-0 at home against the Houston Texans
Steel City Underground presents our 2020 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
Excitement was brewing in the Steel City come Week 3. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who many critics had pegged to not be “good” in 2020, due to their aging and recovering from a serious injury quarterback, had improved to 2-0 with wins over the New York Giants and Denver Broncos.
Skeptics felt Week 3’s matchup would show who the Steelers really were, as they’d face a more proven commodity under center in the Texans offense: Deshaun Watson.
The previous two games saw second-year passers Daniel Jones and Drew Lock (who then left and was replaced by backup Jeff Driskel) fail to supplant the Steelers.
With back-to-back games at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh was ready to take on their next task – and almost allowed the critics to have their say…
That’s because the Steelers allowed Watson and company to have their say in the first half, heading into the locker room with a 21-17 lead – following a 14-3 advantage that saw a couple of lead changes as the game turned into a shootout.
The Steelers defense allowed over 200 yards of Texans offense in the first half, including two Watson touchdown passes. Watson was also (mostly) elusive, evading all but two sacks as Pittsburgh’s defense looked lost at times…
Then the second half happened.
As is often cliché, it was a tale of two halves: and this game illustrated as best as any.
The Texans offense would only manage 51 yards total in the third and fourth quarters, and despite being ahead 28-21, a Watson interception in the fourth quarter would turn the tide and give the Steelers a lead they wouldn’t look back on.
#Steelers 2nd-half defensive highlights vs. #Texans:
• 0 points allowed
• 2 first downs allowed
• 51 total yards allowed (8 rushing)
• 9:49 T.O.P.
• 3 sacks (Tuitt, Dupree, Watt)
• 1-for-5 on 3rd downs
• 1 interception (Hilton)— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) September 28, 2020
The final two Steelers drive would eat 7:03 and 4:47 of game clock, as Watson’s crucial interception saw the Steelers go up 28-21. Then with 6:24 remaining in the game, the Steelers defense would force a three-and-out: the Texans would punt, probably thinking they could get the ball back, but they never would.
Pittsburgh would improve to 3-0 as T.J. Watt and Derek Watt met their opposition, Texans DE and their brother, J.J. Watt after the game with the bragging rights of a victory.
