The Houston Texans are back in the NFL Playoffs and looking to advance past the AFC Wild Card round for the third-straight year. Standing in their way are the No. 4 seed Pittsburgh Steelers who continue to extend their unlikely season behind veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The stage is set as both teams will meet at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh for a memorable battle.
The Houston Texans finished Week 18 on a positive note, beating the Indianapolis Colts 38-30 and ending the season with nine consecutive wins, one of the hottest streaks in the NFL. They've completely shaken the rust off the beginning of the season and our playing their best football at the perfect time.
With young quarterback CJ Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans looking to prove their winning formula in the playoffs once again, we'll make some bold predictions as the Texans host the Steelers for the No. 5 vs. No 4 AFC Wild Card showdown.
Houston Texans AFC Wild Card – Bold Predictions
Texans' HC DeMeco Ryans coaches the better game opposite Steelers' Mike Tomlin.
Both head coaches have been in the media recently singing each other's praises ahead of this matchup as Mike Tomlin will coach his 20th playoff game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ryans has only appeared in the playoffs four times as a head coach, but his 2-2 record over the last two years indicates he's seasoned for this game in particular.
Last year, the Texans took down the Los Angeles Chargers 32-14 in the Wild Card round, upsetting as significant underdogs. The year prior, they torched the Cleveland Browns 45-10. It was the Chiefs and Ravens knocking Houston out of the playoffs in the divisional round the last two years, but with Kansas City and Baltimore staying home, the Texans could have their best path to the Super Bowl they've had under Ryans.
While Mike Tomlin is a legendary head coach in his own right, I expect DeMeco Ryans to coach the better game at home during this tilt, earning his team a win. Both coaches will be focused on a physical style of football and I expect the Texans to be the more solid team on that front through four quarters.
Texans' CJ Stroud adds to his Wild Card success, plays lights-out.
Much like his head coach, Texans' QB CJ Stroud has been able to lock-in this time of year and deliver some of his best performance. During the 2023 Wild Card round, Stroud posted 274 passing yards and three touchdowns from 16-21 on his attempts. In 2024, Stroud went 22-33 for 282 yards, a touchdown, and an interception that didn't seem to matter too much given the score. He's been able to remain relatively mistake-free while keeping his offense disciplined in tight situations.
While opposing Steelers' QB Aaron Rodgers has all the more playoff experience throughout his career, expect Stroud to be the more poised and calm quarterback throughout this game playing in front of his home crowd. The moment never seems too big for him and with nine-straight wins under his belt, Stroud should be confident in his team coming out on top during this battle.
The Texans lean heavily on RB Woody Marks.
With all the drama surrounding Joe Mixon and the running back position for the Texans at the start of the year, the emergence of rookie ball carrier Woody Marks has been the highlight of the season. Since stepping into the starting role, he's averaging 3.6 yards per carry with 703 total yards on the season. He's also a willing receiver out of the backfield and with just one fumble, he's sure-handed in the game's most crucial moments.
With the physicality of the Steelers' defense and their talented secondary, points could be at a premium throughout this game. NFL defenses become extremely stingy this time of year and the Texans could be forced to run the ball more than they're used to, especially if they're hoping to preserve a lead. Expect them to lean heavily on Woody Marks to pick up key first downs on second and third downs. His success between the tackles will directly correlate to the success of his team during this game.
