After a high-scoring first half, the Steelers’ defense shut out the visiting Texans in the second half Sunday for a 28-21 victory. Pittsburgh is 3-0 for the first time since 2010, while Houston will now have to dig itself out of an 0-3 hole.
Pittsburgh, down 14-3 early, took the lead after Ben Roethlisberger threw first half touchdown passes to Eric Ebron and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Texans’ offense, led by Deshuan Watson, gave Houston a 21-17 halftime lead after Watson found Will Fuller for a 14-yard score.
After a rocky first half, the Steelers’ defense clamped down on Watson, sacking him five times while coming up with a big third quarter interception by Mike Hilton. The turnover set up Pittsburgh’s game-winning score, a 12-yard touchdown run by James Conner. The Steelers extended their lead after Smith-Schuster score on Pittsburgh’s two-point conversion. After a sack by T.J. Watt helped force another Texans punt, a third down completion from Roethlisberger rookie Chase Claypool iced the game for the Steelers.
Roethlisberger, who on Sunday surpassed Mike Webster for the most games played in Steelers history, enjoyed another solid outing, going 23-of-36 for 237 yards while improving his season touchdown/interception ratio to 7/1. Conner rushed for over 100 yards for a second straight game, as the Steelers ran for 169 yards on 38 carries against Houston’s 31st ranked run defense. Bud Dupree paced Pittsburgh with 1.5 sacks.
Watson, who went 14-of-18 in the first half, finished with 264 yards on 19-of-27 passing. Cobb led the Texans with 95 yards on four catches, while Houston’s running game was held to just 29 yards on 15 carries.
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