The Steelers Keys To Victory On Wildcard Weekend

Monday night will be the Steelers’ first home playoff game with fans in attendance since 2017, when the Jacksonville Jaguars opened a can of whoop ass on them. In 2020, the Cleveland Browns came to town in the playoffs, but it was an odd COVID season with no fans. Pittsburgh better have Acrisure Stadium jumping on Monday night. The Texans have never won a road playoff game. DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud are 0-2 on the road in the postseason. Don’t let them get one. Those towels better be twirling all night. 

4. Nico Collins Takes A Trip To Porter Island

Nico Collins had a down year by some standards, but he is the difference-maker on the Texans’ offense. In 15 games this season, Collins caught 71 passes for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. Joey Porter Jr should be following him all day. He hasn’t allowed a touchdown all season. Stick Collins on Porter Island and worry about the other receivers. Big players make big plays in big games. Porter Jr is ready for the moment. 

3. Keep Pounding The Rock

Houston doesn’t give up much to running backs, but Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell will have to buck that trend on Monday night. They are the only running back duo to each have over 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season. The one-two punch has been on a tear lately. They tore up the Baltimore Ravens last week, combining for 173 total yards in the division-clinching win. Arthur Smith has to lean on the run game this week. 

2. Welcome Back D.K. Metcalf

The Steelers will finally get their missing piece on offense back in this game. They somehow survived the last two games and slipped into the playoffs without him, and now DK Metcalf is well rested for this one. Even if he isn’t hauling in 100 receiving yards, he is valuable in the fact that he is pulling eyes away from the other weapons. Pittsburgh is going to have to throw everything at the Texans to move on to the next round. It has to be a group effort on both sides of the ball, but Metcalf’s return is massive. 

1. Quick Offense

Aaron Rodgers is going to need to do what he does best on Monday night and get the ball out quickly. Houston’s pass rush is ferocious. Danielle Hunter finished the season with 15 sacks, and Will Anderson had 12. Derek Barnett added five more. That is 32 sacks between three players. Don’t let their beasts control the game. Make smart, quick decisions with the football and move down the field. If the Steelers’ defense can hold up, they shouldn’t need a ton of points to win this game. 

End Of My Pittsburgh Steelers Rant

Monday night will be the ultimate test of the streaks for the Steelers. They have won 23 straight games on Monday night, but they have lost six straight playoff games. Something has to give. Tomlin has been fighting off the hot seat, and a couple of playoff wins could calm that fire down. The Texans haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 2002. C.J. Stroud was one year old. Don’t let them get another one on this stage. Get out of this round with a win and move on to Denver. Survive and advance.