Steelers Secondary Will Have Their Hands Full Defending Texans Sensational Rookie Tank Dell In Week 4 Matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves with a record of 2-1 following their Week 3 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. After an embarrassing defeat by way of the San Francisco 49ers in their opening contest of the 2023 season, the team has responded well and has shown improvements on both sides of the football over the course of the past two games. In Week 4, the Steelers will travel to Houston to take on a Texans team that is coming off a 37-17 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If the black and gold hope to hope to continue the trend of "making winning a habitual thing," it will come a lot easier said than done. 

One thing the Steelers' defense has not done particularly well in during the early stages of the 2023 season is preventing opposing team's best wide receivers from having big-time games. In Week 1, it was Brandon Aiyuk who absolutely toasted the team's secondary to the tune of eight receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns. This past week, it was Davante Adams who went off, compiling 13 catches for 172 yards and two scores. 

Needless to say, this is a trend the Steelers will hope to end in Week 4. However, this feat will not come easy. While the Texans have a number of talented pass catchers on their roster such as Robert Woods and Nico Collins, there is no denying who their best receiver has been thus far, Tank Dell. Drafted in the third-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the former University of Houston standout has been extremely impressive in his rookie campaign. 

Steelers' Defense Will Have A Tough Matchup In Week 4

Prior to the beginning of the 2023 season, many considered the Texans as a team that would not legitimately compete for a playoff spot. With a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud and a first-time head coach in DeMeco Ryans, this team was thought to be a work in progress and ultimately a few years away from challenging for the AFC South title. However, the argument can be made that the Texans have a shot to win their division in 2023, especially considering the level of play from their offense thus far. 

Stroud is currently fifth in the league in passing yards with 906 and has yet to throw a single interception. He is completing 64.5% of his passes and is making a serious case to be considered for Offense Rookie Of The Year in 2023. His favorite target, Dell, is not the only promising skill-position player the team has on their roster, as second-year running back, Dameon Pierce is coming off a rookie campaign in 2022 in which he rushed for over 900 yards and averaged 4.3 yards a carry. He has gotten off to a bit of a slow start this season, but is more than capable of having a huge game against the Steelers.

Steelers' Pass Rush May Be Key To Victory Against The Texans

The Texans may have an impressive rookie signal-caller and a plethora of options at pass catcher, but their offensive line may has been decent at best. Furthermore, the unit is dealing with injuries to both Laremy Tunsil and Josh Jones at left tackle. Both players are not expected to play against the Steelers in Week 4. This will obviously work in favor of the Steelers, more specifically Alex Highsmith who is poised for his best game of the 2023 season on Sunday. 

Final Thoughts 

As with nearly every game, if the pass rush duo of Highsmith and T.J. Watt is clicking, the Steelers are an extremely tough team to beat. Assuming the secondary can keep Dell in check, the defense should have a strong showing in Week 4 and put the team in an advantageous position to come out victorious. With three teams in the AFC North, including the Steelers, having a record of 2-1 and a Cincinnati Bengals team that has won the division each of the past two years, the importance of each and every game is paramount. These are the types of games Mike Tomlin and his team need to win. 

What are your thoughts on the Steelers' Week 4 matchup against the Texans? Do you expect the tandem of Dell and Stroud to have a big day? How confident are you that the Steelers can compete for the AFC North crown in 2023? Be sure to let us know in the comments! 

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