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HOUSTON
PITTSBURGH |
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44
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Final
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| 477 | HOUSTON | 44 | 44 | | 478 | PITTSBURGH | -4 | -3 |
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| All Games | 3-3 | -0.1 | 4-2 | 3-3 | 22.0 | 8.7 | 336.2 | (5.9) | 1.7 | 20.0 | 10.0 | 397.2 | (5.8) | 2.3 | | Road Games | 1-2 | -1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 21.3 | 5.7 | 356.0 | (5.9) | 1.3 | 21.3 | 5.7 | 413.0 | (6.1) | 2.7 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -1 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 22.7 | 7.0 | 321.0 | (5.9) | 2.0 | 23.3 | 13.3 | 409.3 | (5.6) | 2.3 | | Grass Games | 3-1 | +2 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 24.5 | 13.0 | 319.0 | (5.6) | 1.5 | 17.5 | 10.7 | 377.0 | (5.7) | 2.5 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 22.0 | 8.7 | 18.0 | 30:04 | 30-128 | (4.2) | 17-27 | 65.2% | 208 | (7.7) | 57-336 | (5.9) | (15.3) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.9 | 11.6 | 19.4 | 29:19 | 27-110 | (4.1) | 21-33 | 63.9% | 233 | (7.1) | 59-344 | (5.8) | (15) | | Offense Road Games | 21.3 | 5.7 | 18.3 | 32:23 | 34-161 | (4.7) | 17-26 | 64.6% | 195 | (7.4) | 60-356 | (5.9) | (16.7) | | Defense (All Games) | 20.0 | 10.0 | 22.7 | 31:09 | 29-126 | (4.4) | 25-39 | 64.0% | 271 | (6.9) | 68-397 | (5.8) | (19.9) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.8 | 11.1 | 20.9 | 31:59 | 27-111 | (4.1) | 23-36 | 64.8% | 254 | (7.1) | 63-365 | (5.8) | (16) | | Defense Road Games | 21.3 | 5.7 | 24.0 | 30:02 | 31-145 | (4.7) | 25-37 | 68.5% | 268 | (7.3) | 68-413 | (6.1) | (19.4) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 13-5 | 36.8% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 1-26 | (22.4) | 2-16 | (6.3) | 6-60 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 13-5 | 39.5% | 1-0 | 37.4% | 2-38 | (23.1) | 16-2 | (8.2) | 7-60 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 13-5 | 37.5% | 1-1 | 66.7% | 2-29 | (17.6) | 2-14 | (7) | 6-53 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.3 | | 13-5 | 38.0% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 2-65 | (26) | 2-25 | (11.8) | 6-45 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1 | 0.8 | 1.8 | | 13-6 | 42.1% | 1-0 | 46.8% | 2-49 | (23.9) | 15-2 | (7.5) | 7-60 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.7 | | 12-5 | 40.0% | 1-1 | 66.7% | 2-58 | (24.7) | 3-25 | (9.4) | 5-37 |
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| All Games | 3-3 | -1.5 | 2-4 | 3-3 | 20.7 | 11.5 | 394.3 | (6.1) | 1.2 | 23.2 | 8.8 | 337.0 | (5.8) | 1.0 | | Home Games | 1-1 | -1.8 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 27.0 | 22.0 | 440.0 | (6.7) | 1.0 | 27.0 | 6.5 | 369.5 | (6) | 0.5 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -2.8 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 17.0 | 10.0 | 373.7 | (5.4) | 1.0 | 22.3 | 12.3 | 320.3 | (5.7) | 1.3 | | Grass Games | 3-2 | -0.5 | 2-3 | 3-2 | 23.6 | 13.2 | 413.0 | (6.2) | 0.8 | 22.6 | 8.6 | 339.8 | (6) | 1.2 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 20.7 | 11.5 | 22.3 | 32:26 | 28-137 | (4.9) | 24-37 | 65.6% | 257 | (7) | 65-394 | (6.1) | (19.1) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 25.1 | 13.6 | 22.2 | 32:53 | 29-129 | (4.5) | 24-36 | 65.2% | 260 | (7.1) | 65-389 | (6) | (15.5) | | Offense Home Games | 27.0 | 22.0 | 25.5 | 33:21 | 27-106 | (3.9) | 27-38 | 71.1% | 334 | (8.8) | 65-440 | (6.7) | (16.3) | | Defense (All Games) | 23.2 | 8.8 | 20.0 | 27:34 | 25-110 | (4.4) | 20-33 | 60.9% | 227 | (6.9) | 58-337 | (5.8) | (14.5) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22 | 9.2 | 20.3 | 29:38 | 27-110 | (4.1) | 21-35 | 59.9% | 233 | (6.7) | 62-343 | (5.6) | (15.6) | | Defense Home Games | 27.0 | 6.5 | 22.0 | 26:39 | 25-123 | (4.9) | 20-37 | 54.1% | 246 | (6.7) | 62-369 | (6) | (13.7) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | -0.2 | 13-5 | 40.7% | 1-0 | 60.0% | 1-27 | (18.3) | 2-18 | (7.1) | 9-80 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 14-6 | 43.7% | 1-0 | 31.2% | 1-33 | (23.2) | 21-2 | (9.3) | 7-59 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -0.5 | 13-5 | 38.5% | 1-1 | 100.0% | 1-27 | (18) | 1-23 | (15.3) | 12-110 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | | 12-4 | 35.2% | 1-0 | 75.0% | 2-40 | (20.2) | 2-18 | (9.7) | 6-56 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | | 13-5 | 37.7% | 1-0 | 38.0% | 2-52 | (23.6) | 14-2 | (7.4) | 6-53 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | | 12-4 | 37.5% | 0-0 | 0.0% | 3-65 | (21.7) | 1-14 | (9.7) | 8-52 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: HOUSTON 18.2, PITTSBURGH 16.8 |
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| 9/7/2014 | WASHINGTON | 17-6 | W | -3 | W | 43.5 | U | 33-115 | 14-22-201 | 1 | 23-131 | 29-37-241 | 2 | | 9/14/2014 | @ OAKLAND | 30-14 | W | -3 | W | 41 | O | 46-188 | 14-19-139 | 0 | 17-101 | 27-42-263 | 4 | | 9/21/2014 | @ NY GIANTS | 17-30 | L | 1 | L | 41.5 | O | 25-119 | 21-35-292 | 3 | 42-193 | 21-28-226 | 1 | | 9/28/2014 | BUFFALO | 23-17 | W | -2.5 | W | 44 | U | 24-37 | 25-37-264 | 3 | 23-96 | 21-44-220 | 2 | | 10/5/2014 | @ DALLAS | 17-20 | L | 4.5 | W | 48 | U | 31-176 | 16-25-154 | 1 | 33-140 | 28-41-316 | 3 | | 10/9/2014 | INDIANAPOLIS | 28-33 | L | 2.5 | L | 45.5 | O | 24-136 | 15-23-196 | 2 | 35-93 | 25-44-363 | 2 | | 10/20/2014 | @ PITTSBURGH | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | @ TENNESSEE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/2/2014 | PHILADELPHIA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/16/2014 | @ CLEVELAND | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/7/2014 | CLEVELAND | 30-27 | W | -5.5 | L | 41.5 | O | 28-127 | 24-35-363 | 1 | 30-183 | 19-31-206 | 0 | | 9/11/2014 | @ BALTIMORE | 6-26 | L | 2.5 | L | 44 | U | 18-99 | 22-37-202 | 3 | 36-157 | 21-29-166 | 0 | | 9/21/2014 | @ CAROLINA | 37-19 | W | 3 | W | 43 | O | 34-264 | 22-30-190 | 0 | 10-42 | 29-41-307 | 2 | | 9/28/2014 | TAMPA BAY | 24-27 | L | -7 | L | 44.5 | O | 27-85 | 30-41-305 | 1 | 20-63 | 21-43-287 | 1 | | 10/5/2014 | @ JACKSONVILLE | 17-9 | W | -6 | W | 46.5 | U | 28-111 | 26-36-261 | 1 | 15-56 | 22-36-187 | 2 | | 10/12/2014 | @ CLEVELAND | 10-31 | L | 2.5 | L | 46.5 | U | 32-138 | 21-42-221 | 1 | 38-158 | 8-17-210 | 1 | | 10/20/2014 | HOUSTON | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10/26/2014 | INDIANAPOLIS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/2/2014 | BALTIMORE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/9/2014 | @ NY JETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/17/2014 | @ TENNESSEE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | HOUSTON: Bill O'Brien replaces long-time head coach Gary Kubiak, who brought the highly successful zone-blocking scheme to Houston. O'Brien oversaw a primarily gap-blocking system in New England and he brought in former Falcons assistant Paul Dunn to coach the offensive line, which suggests that this will be more of a mixed scheme up front. Arian Foster is still the starter and will be leaned on heavily with the uncertainty under center. He remains a capable red-zone back, and his reliability should lead to a heavy workload near the goal line.
O'Brien's offenses have always been multiple and complex, though the biggest highlight of his career was certainly overseeing New England's dominant two-tight end look. Disgruntled star wideout Andre Johnson will continue to be used as a chess piece, likely playing the slot and working underneath more often, with tight end Garrett Graham complementing him. When they throw inside the 20, Johnson has been the logical target for years, but Kubiak's regime never came up with ways for him to escape attention in the end zone'Graham could end up with the bigger red-zone role. Foster will remain a big part of the passing game as an excellent screen option. DeAndre Hopkins and DeVier Posey are shaping up to be primarily deep threats. Second tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz is primarily a blocker.
The Texans defense was awful in 2013 but has a great chance to improve significantly with new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and top draft pick OLB Jadeveon Clowney to generate more sacks and turnovers in this new 3-4 scheme. DE J.J. Watt is one of the NFL's best on the defensive side of the ball, and rookie NT Louis Nix and a healthy ILB Brian Cushing will clog the middle. | | PITTSBURGH: The Steelers tried to implement a zone-blocking scheme last season under offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr., but they never completely implemented it after center Maurkice Pouncey's season-ending knee injury in Week 1. Ex-Titans head coach Mike Munchak was brought in to finish the job. Le'Veon Bell will be a three-down workhorse in the one-cut system, one that will likely utilize a lot of inside zone plays. LeGarrette Blount will fit the system as a one-cut power runner, though he won't be an option to relieve Bell on passing downs. Rookie Dri Archer will get some grabs on passing downs.
Through his first two seasons with the Steelers, offensive coordinator Todd Haley has emphasized the importance of getting the ball out of Ben Roethlisberger's hands quickly in order to limit the hits he absorbs. They utilize relatively shorter timing routes to set up catch-and-run situations. Antonio Brown is used as a moving chess piece and will continue to be heavily featured. Markus Wheaton gives them a field stretching presence, while tight end Heath Miller and veteran slot man Lance Moore'they use three receivers often'will be traditional possession receivers. Haley continues to go to the air inside the 10 often, though Pittsburgh lost its top two red-zone threats (Jerricho Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders). Look for Miller to see an expanded red-zone role, with Darrius Heyward-Bey possibly working his way into the mix.
The Steelers defense took a step back in 2013, placing tied for 27th in turnovers and tied for 25th in sacks. They helped themselves in the draft with OLB Ryan Shazier and DE Stephon Tuitt, and also signed FS Mike Mitchell, but Dick LeBeau's unit is still lacking playmakers and run-stoppers to return to their Steel Curtain glory days. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (HOUSTON-PITTSBURGH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Texans-Steelers Preview* =========================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't about to panic, while slow starts have the Houston Texans searching for solutions.
The Steelers will likely need a better performance from their star quarterback as they try to send the Texans to a third straight loss in a Monday night matchup of .500 teams.
Pittsburgh (3-3) has alternated wins and losses through its first six games, and surely will be looking to maintain that trend after falling 31-10 at Cleveland last weekend.
Despite failing to string any wins together and occupying the AFC North cellar, the Steelers aren't overly concerned and a three-game homestand could be one reason why.
They've won six of eight games at Heinz Field, but lost 27-24 to Tampa Bay in the most recent in Week 4.
"There's no time to panic," said Roethlisberger, who has been sacked 17 times for the second-highest total in the NFL entering Week 7. "You guys are waiting for us to panic. We're not panicking."
That calm demeanor has defined Roethlisberger's career, and that attitude should help as he tries to bounce back from perhaps his worst performance of the season. He had a season-low 64.4 passer rating, completed half of his 42 passes for 228 yards and his interception led to a Cleveland touchdown.
Roethlisberger had a 112.3 rating and threw for six TDs over the previous three games.
"Ben is always a calm guy in the huddle," said running back Le'Veon Bell, who has no touchdowns in five weeks. "Obviously when guys aren't making plays there's a little bit of frustration about everything. But he's not throwing fits or tantrums about anything. He understands guys are going to make mistakes."
Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense will have to deal with J.J. Watt, Houston's star defensive end who leads the NFL with 20 hits on quarterbacks his season and has four of his team's 10 sacks.
That unit could become a bit more formidable with the potential return of rookie linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who has been out since Week 1 after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. There's a 50-50 chance the No. 1 pick in this year's draft plays Monday, Coach Bill O'Brien said Friday.
Cornerback Kareem Jackson feels having Clowney available could go a long way to aiding the pass defense.
"It (would) help a lot," Jackson said. "Just going in the game knowing we won't have to cover as long. The guys we've had up front, they've been doing a great job thus far and to add (Clowney) is definitely going to make things that much better."
Another slow start proved too much to overcome for the Texans (3-3), who totaled two yards of offense and fell behind Indianapolis 24-0 after one quarter last Thursday en route to a 33-28 loss. That was the fifth time this season Houston has been shut out in the first quarter, including four straight games with the offense averaging 40.5 yards.
That won't be easy to improve against the Steelers, who allow 44.7 yards per game in the first quarter.
"If we start the game with a positive play - first down, gain four, gain five; second-and-5, then gain three (and) then it's a positive or manageable third down," O'Brien said. "We get that first first-down, we're able to get into a good tempo, a good rhythm and we're going."
Ryan Fitzpatrick has been one of the main culprits in those slow starts, ranking last in the AFC with a 58.9 passer rating in the first quarter. That number drops to 21.8 over the past four games after he missed on all four of his pass attempts last week.
"What the film shows us is that everybody on offense has to play better. Everybody," O'Brien said.
Houston's defense certainly isn't without blame, ranking 27th in the league in offensive yards allowed (397.2). The Texans have surrendered 694 total passing yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back losses.
Houston fell behind 21-0 in a 38-17 loss in its most recent visit to Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2008.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 7:22:56 PM EST. |
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