Steelers' Teryl Austin Keeps Panic Button In The Trash Against Texans

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished the regular season at 10-7 and punched their ticket to the playoffs on Sunday with a win over the Baltimore Ravens. Now the Steelers are preparing to host the Houston Texans in the Steel City on Monday night. While the Steelers earned the right to host the playoff game, the Texans enter with momentum, riding a nine-game winning streak. The Steelers, meanwhile, have been playing well at the right time, winning four of their last five games.

If the Steelers want to knock off this Texans team, it starts with their defense. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin has faced heavy criticism throughout the 2025 season, but his unit appears to be finding its footing just in time for the playoffs. The defense has shown signs of improvement, but one recurring issue has been slow starts, which have allowed opponents to build early leads.

Austin addressed the team’s slow starts in a transcript provided by the Steelers, emphasizing the importance of fast, aggressive play from the opening whistle. He highlighted adjustments the defense has been making in recent weeks and expressed confidence that the unit can rise to the occasion against Houston. For the Steelers to advance, the defense must set the tone early and prevent the Texans' offense from seizing momentum.

"Yeah, I mean, we have to. Shoot, the last two games, I think we've given up a touchdown early, maybe the first drive. That's obviously not how we want to start, but the one thing we don't do is we would like to start fast, but if it doesn't happen, we won't panic," Austin said Thursday via a team-provided transcript. 

Austin pointed out that his defense hasn’t started well in the last two games, and he wants to make sure they avoid that trend in the Wild Card Round against the red-hot Texans. 

Houston’s offense is led by quarterback CJ Stroud and star wide receiver Nico Collins, making fast starts even more critical. Austin expressed confidence that his defense can break the pattern of falling behind early in playoff games and set the tone from the opening snap.

"We'll try to do that this week, because it is, it's important," Austin said. "You want to get off, have good momentum, have good vibes to start the game. You don't ever want to fight an uphill battle, so to speak."

Steelers Must Avoid Falling Behind Early

In previous Steelers playoff matchups, the defense has often found itself in trouble early, allowing opponents to seize momentum before the team can recover. Austin has been part of several of those games, serving on the Steelers’ coaching staff since 2019 and as defensive coordinator since 2022. 

The slow starts have drawn criticism throughout his tenure, but Austin has emphasized adjustments and preparedness heading into this Wild Card matchup. 

How the defense performs against the red-hot Texans will carry significant weight, not just for the game itself, but for Austin’s future in Pittsburgh. A strong showing could secure his role as defensive coordinator, while another early-game struggle might lead the Steelers to consider a new direction at the position.

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