Steelers Put Texans On Extremely High Alert With DK Metcalf’s Return: "Gives Them Their Full Offense"

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense faces arguably its biggest test of the season when they face the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football in the Wild Card Round of the AFC Playoffs. The Texans are no joke, winners of nine straight games, which has propelled them to an impressive 12-5 record. The Texans' defense is arguably the best in the NFL, with a dominant front-seven and a super aggressive secondary that is always looking to make plays. For the Steelers to advance, they'll have to be at their best. Luckily for them, reinforcements have arrived.

The Steelers' offense is not designed to be flashy. When they are at their best, they are a bruising offense that can beat opponents through the air with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and with their two-headed rushing attack of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. For this offense to reach its full potential, the Steelers need superstar receiver DK Metcalf, and his absence showed in the Steelers' past two games, as Metcalf missed both while serving a two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan in the Steelers' Week 16 victory over the Detroit Lions. 

The Steelers didn't score a touchdown in six straight quarters of the eight quarters Metcalf missed, but now No. 4 has returned to the lineup, and Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans is well aware of the challenge that he brings. Ryans recently spoke to the Houston area media and gave this thoughts on Metcalf via Nick Mantas of KPRC.

"Metcalf gives them their full offense," said Ryans. "He does an outstanding job of being physical."

With Metcalf's big-play ability, teams cannot sell out on the Steelers' rushing attack by stacking the box. In the first half of the Steelers' Week 18 AFC North-clinching victory over the rival Baltimore Ravens, they were held without a touchdown largely because the Ravens stacked the box and played man coverage on the Steelers' receivers. The first time the Steelers played the Ravens this season in Week 14, the Ravens tried this same defense and they were able to stop the Steelers' rushing attack, whom only ran for 34 yards as a result. However, Metcalf was able to take full advantage of the aggressive style of defense and single coverage, torching the Ravens for seven receptions on 148 yards.

While Metcalf's suspension was almost disastrous, the Steelers also learned a lot about themselves over the two games without him. In the Ravens' dramatic Week 18 win for example, Rodgers had one of his best quarters as a Steeler in the fourth quarter, going 11 for 14 and 133 yards with a touchdown. The injury to Ravens superstar safety Kyle Hamilton had much to do with it, but the way the Steelers rallied in the second half should give them confidence ahead of their Wild Card Round showdown. 

Steelers Peaking At The Right Time 

The playoffs are not about who the best team is, but who is playing the best football at the time. The Texans are the hottest team in the NFL, winners of nine straight as mentioned, and you don't go on nine-game winning streaks by accident. The Texans are a well-oiled machine that has dominated its opponents due to its suffocating defense, but the Steelers have some things going for them heading into this matchup. For starters, the Steelers not only have the return of Metcalf, but superstar pass rusher TJ Watt, who has made his return from a lung injury that put his 2025 season in jeopardy. Watt alone is capable of flipping the game on its axis, and despite their current winning streak, the Texans' offensive line is one that can be exploited, and Watt will aim to do just that.

The Steelers are playing with house money. If Ravens rookie kicker Tyler Loop made a 44-yard field goal as time expired, the Steelers would be sent home already. Instead, they get to host a playoff game with nothing to lose. Now, they just have to go and get it. 

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