Steelers' Alex Highsmith Challenges Texans' Defense In Dangerous Way Just Days Prior To Wild Card Matchup

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been dealt easy Wild Card opponents dating back to the 2021 season. The organization has lost to Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson one time each. All three contests have led to frustration from the fan base and while CJ Stroud is a respectable quarterback, all eyes on Monday evening will be on the two franchises' defenses. The Houston Texans have arguably the best unit in the league, and it's not going to be easy for Aaron Rodgers and co. to get into the red zone often. It's going to be a heck of a battle.

The Steelers will have the advantage of being at home, which should allow the Acrisure Stadium crowd to disrupt the Texans' offense, led by Stroud. Unfortunately, it won't matter on the other side of the ball. DeMeco Ryans' group on defense is ruthless. All 11 guys on the field are capable of making a play at any time, and that is going to present one of the toughest challenges that Rodgers has experienced all season long.

One of the scarier duos in all of the NFL includes edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., both of whom had over 12 sacks in the regular season. At 42 years old, it's not going to feel great for Rodgers if he is hit consistently. Pittsburgh's offensive line has a brutal task ahead, one that could end up determining the outcome of the matchup.

The Steelers have their own weapons when it comes to rushing the passer as well, however. Alex Highsmith is part of a group that seems to be pretty much at full health entering the postseason. While speaking to the media on Friday, he made sure to give a subtle but significant challenge to Houston's dominant defenders. Highsmith wants Pittsburgh's unit to be the star of the show on Monday night.

"I think — that's been the [emphasis] all week," Highsmith said. "We gotta be the best edge group in the stadium this weekend. That's what you gotta be."

The words from Highsmith have an underlying sense of respect to them. It has clearly been talked about in the Steelers' locker room about how Hunter, Anderson and co. can be, which is why Pittsburgh knows that it has to be better in that area. The contest could come down to which edge rusher gets that strip sack that completely flips the momentum of the game.

Highsmith has had a good season in his own right. He dealt with injury a little bit, but finished with 9.5 sacks in 13 games. That was good enough to lead the team, and he definitely had some big moments while TJ Watt was absent due to a partially collapsed lung. The Steelers will need both playmakers, as well as Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer to step up with the Texans coming to town.

Both teams will come into the game with an edge, but there's no doubt that Houston's defense has been talked up much more than Pittsburgh's. Highsmith and his fellow pass rushers know what they have been tasked with, and plan to out-play one of the more dominant groups in the entire league on the other sideline.

Steelers May Need A Big Defensive Play To Beat Texans

Houston has been fairly dominant all season along. That isn't expected to change just because the moment is bigger and playoffs have arrived. Pittsburgh's defensive unit may need to come up with, at some point, a massive, momentum-shifting play to change the outcome of the matchup. There will be star power all over the field at Acrisure Stadium, and Highsmith is ready to show up and show out.

Do you think that the Steelers' edge rushers can outperform the Texans' on Monday? Let us know in the comments below!

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