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Week 1 Game Recap: Houston Texans 17, Pittsburgh Steelers 38
What you need to know
| Houston Texans |
QB Matt Schaub struggled from early in the game to handle the pressure from the Pittsburgh pass rush. He threw two interceptions in the first half, but combined with five sacks, a fumble, and a running game that produced just 75 total yards, the early deficit on the road was too much to overcome. WR Andre Johnson led all Texans pass catchers with 14 targets. He was the focal point of the offense early in the game. The lack of sustained offense by his team and the three deep zone pass defense employed by the Steelers took away any big play chances.
Starting RB Ahman Green and backup RB Steve Slaton split the few carries Houston had through the game. The quick start by the Steelers denied the Texans play-callers much of a chance to run the ball. The lone rushing touchdown was a late game scramble by QB Matt Schaub on a pass play.
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
QB Ben Roethlisberger showcased his accuracy and mobility early in the game to make some key third down conversions and keep the chains moving. He benefited from a solid running attack and his defense making big plays. However, a blow to his right knee late in the second quarter produced a noticeable limp and despite the fact he played into the second half, should give fantasy owners a reason to keep an eye on the injury report next week.
Starting RB Willie Parker had a tremendous game and answered many of the often-asked questions during the pre-season about his workload and priority in the offense. Any injury concerns about his late season broken leg seemed like a moot point given the numerous carries and productivity. Backup RB Rashard Mendenhall was not a major factor in the first half and ended up with 10 carries mostly after the game was well decided.
WR Hines Ward was the Steelers' major weapon in the passing game. His ability to get loose in the secondary gave the Pittsburgh offense early momentum. His six receptions might not make an entry in the fantasy record books, but that needs to be measured against the fact that Pittsburgh only attempted fourteen passes.
What you ought to know
| QB Matt Schaub, Pass: 25 - 33 - 202 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 4 - 1 |
Schaub came out throwing short passes early and marched the Texans to midfield but a questionable decision by HC Gary Kubiak to go for it on fourth down energized the Heinz Field crowd and put his team in an early hole. Schaub was sacked twice on their second drive and following another touchdown by the Steelers, his team was now behind 14-0. During the first half Schaub was able to complete many of his short passes, but the speed of the rush and the solid tackling of the Steelers' defenders prevented any major yards after the catch. His first attempt in the second quarter to WR David Anderson on a shallow cross was intercepted on an athletic play by LB Lamar Woodley. Schaub was under heavy pressure from LB James Harrison on the play. Following that drive, his next series had the same result after his second interception of the game. Just before halftime the Houston Offense registered its lone score of the half after a short field was given to it following a Pittsburgh fumble. Even then, after starting in the red zone, three plays yielded a negative four yards and they had to settle for a field goal. The last gasp was a short drive that ended just before the half. Schaub opened the third quarter, now down 28-3, with a quick three and out missing Johnson on a key third down. The subsequent drive started out promisingly, but netted another punt after gaining the midfield stripe. By now the rout was on. The best drive in the game for Houston got started in the fourth quarter after a short punt and Schaub hit WR Kevin Walter and Johnson with intermediate gains. A rare deep ball to Johnson drew a pass interference penalty and put Houston in scoring range. Walter ended the drive with a fourteen yard TD catch. After another three and out, Schaub engineered the games' third and last score taking the team on a 75 yard, eleven play drive against mostly second team defenders. He found the end zone on a short scramble.
| RB Steve Slaton, Rush: 13 - 43 - 0, Rec: 3 - 6 - 0 (4 targets) |
Slaton started the game, perhaps surprising some, and got his first touches on the opening drive, but two carries netted just two yards. The next drive netted his best run of the game, an eight yard off tackle play. The rest of the half Slaton managed just 14 more yards on six carries. Given the one-sided score, running opportunities were limited the rest of the way. He was the recipient of a few short passes late in the game and drew a pass interference call, but was not a major factor. His share of the carries bodes well for his future, but this was not an auspicious beginning for the rookie back.
| RB Ahman Green, Rush: 5 - 28 - 0, Rec: 4 - 3 - 0 (4 targets) |
Green only got four touches in the first half. The Texans weren't able to keep many drives alive and 20 total running plays do not help your time of possession. The Texans tried to get him involved in the passing game late, but he was not able to generate much. Green's yards per rush look impressive, but nearly half his yards came on draw plays following a sack when a pass was expected.
| WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 10 - 112 - 0 (14 targets) |
Johnson took a fourteen yard pass from Schaub on the third play from scrimmage on an out route, but Houston did not go back to him on that drive. He looked completely healthy during the game, but Houston was not able to get the ball to him on any consistent basis in the first half. He caught a short pass on the second possession converting a third down and snagged a 24 yard pass on the next play. This accounted for three of his four targets in the half. In the second half and the score out of hand, Schaub was clearly trying to get the ball to Johnson. They went to him on consecutive first downs, both resulting in catches. However, lack of sustained drives limited opportunities. Seven of Johnson's targets were in the fourth quarter alone. On the two deep balls that came his way in the game, one was a catch and another got a pass interference call. Houston will need to protect Matt Schaub better to allow him the time to get the ball downfield to his big receiver.
| WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 3 - 41 - 1 (4 targets) |
Walter caught his first target at the start of the game, but did not get a second catch until the fourth quarter. His fourteen yard TD reception late in the fourth quarter was his second catch of the drive. All of his targets were fifteen yards or less.
| WR David Anderson, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (4 targets) |
Anderson's lone catch was not significant, but both of Schaub's interceptions came on targets to Anderson. He only saw one target during the second half.
| TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 3 - 33 - 0 (4 targets) |
Daniels saw his lone target midway in the second quarter, a ten yard pass. Daniels saw the rest of his targets during garbage time targets late in the fourth quarter when the outcome was well decided. He did not look to be the primary receiver and got his chances after Schaub was checking down.
| PK Kris Brown 1 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 5 points |
Brown hit a 34 yard field goal on his former home field and connected on both his fourth quarter extra points. He had no other opportunities.
| HOU Rush Defense |
The Steelers posted 183 rushing yards on 39 attempts. Houston was able to limit RB Willie Parker to short gains early in the game, but his yardage piled up as the game went on and he added three rushing touchdowns in the game. Coming out in the third quarter the Texans yielded a 71 yard, ten play drive, where nine were running plays. Pittsburgh was able to mix in play action whenever they wanted.
| HOU Pass Defense |
The Texans' pass rush made its presence felt in the first half, when DE Mario Williams garnered two sacks. They were able to hit QB Ben Roethlisberger on a few of plays, but the effectiveness of the Steelers' running game presented few obvious passing down for Houston to take advantage of.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 13 - 14 - 137 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 17 - 0 |
The Pittsburgh game plan looked to establish the running game early and Ben Roethlisberger supplemented that with short passes and play action to keep the drives alive. The first drive began at midfield and Roethlisberger added a nifty 17 yards scramble when the pocket broke down. Three passes helped move the ball downfield and set up the first touchdown. The second drive was more pass oriented and Roethlisberger was able to work his WR's into the action, hitting Ward for his longest pass play of the game, 29 yards, setting up the second rushing touchdown. The Steelers' offensive line, questioned in the off-season due to some major departures, held up reasonably well, and Roethlisberger had time in the pocket. The first four Steelers' touchdown drives either had a short field following a turnover or were run-oriented so there were few passing yards available for Roethlisberger. His efficiency and accuracy were outstanding, completing 13 or 14 attempts. A blow to his right knee in the first half hobbled him going into the locker room and he did not throw often in the second half, so owners will need to keep a close eye on that issue. Ward was clearly his prime target all game. He did not play in the fourth quarter as he was relieve by Byron Leftwich.
| RB Willie Parker, Rush: 25 - 138 - 3 |
Willie Parker carried a major workload in this game toting the rock 29 times in less than three quarters of work. Questions about him sharing carries with rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall seem to have been answered. Parker showed the burst familiar to Steelers fans in previous years and was able to get to the outside, notably on the first and third touchdown runs, both to the left side on sweeps. His long run of the game was a 32 yard gallop setting up the last score. He showed good patience in the first half taking the three and four yard gains up the middle. The Steelers open up more and larger holes in the second half and his average improved on gains of 12, nine and eight yards on the opening drive. Parker accounted for 36 yards resulting in a four yard toss play. With one exception, a ten yard catch by FB Kerry Davis, no Steelers running back was involved in the passing game.
| RB Rashard Mendenhall, Rush: 10 - 28 - 0 |
Mendenhall only got one carry in the first half, a six yard gain supplemented by a facemask penalty. He spelled Parker after a long run and gained six and nine yards in a third quarter drive. As the Steelers starters gave way to back-ups, Mendenhall was given his other six carries in the fourth quarter to help run out the clock. The Texans keying on the running game late, limited him to mostly short gains at that point. The rookie running back was limited by fumbles during pre-season, but showed good ball security during the game.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 6 - 76 - 2 (6 targets) |
Hines Ward had a very good game and a 76 yard reception called back on a very questionable offensive pass interference call prevented him from having a spectacular game. Houston was not able stay with Ward all day. He caught a short pass on the second drive for six yards in the red zone setting up the first rushing score. His next target on the last play of the first quarter was a nice run after the catch and netted 29 yards. Following QB Matt Schaub's interception, Ward was again a red zone target as Roethlisberger hit him for a 13 yard TD on a seam route. A ten yard reception was right before the end of the first half. In the second half and the score already out of hand, Ward caught his second TD, again targeted in the red zone. Ward looked very healthy and fit early in the season. The passing game should be more diverse as the year goes on so owners should not expect the passing game to focus totally on Ward each week.
| WR Santonio Holmes, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Holmes caught his first target at the start of the game extending a drive with a nine yard catch resulting in a first down. His second target was Roethlisberger's only incomplete pass of the game. His second catch was a ten yarder in the second quarter on an out route that he fumbled out of bounds trying to go up the sideline. His fourth target was late in the game when QB Byron Leftwich took over for Roethlisberger.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 3 - 26 - 0 (3 targets) |
Miller was active in the first quarter where he helped extend two drives with first down catches. As the game went on he was not targeted after the early second quarter.
| TE Matt Spaeth, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
Spaeth caught his only target in the third quarter for a six yard gain.
| PK Jeff Reed 1 - 1 FG, 5 - 5 XP, 8 points |
Reed hit a 44 yard field goal and connected on all five extra points. He had no other opportunities.
| PIT Rush Defense |
The Steelers held the Texans' rushers to under four yards a carry, with a notable stop on fourth down on the opening drive. SS Troy Polamalu was active early as a run stopper. The one-sided score made Houston throw significantly on first down (75% of the time), so running plays were limited.
| PIT Pass Defense |
The Pittsburgh pass rush was in full force recording five sacks and other QB pressures. Outside LB's Lamar Woodley and James Harrison combined for four of them. The unique zone blitz scheme of Pittsburgh is formidable if teams are forced to throw frequently, as was the case today. Also the effectiveness of the Steelers' running game kept the defenders fresh and produced no meaningful injuries.
