1. David Johnson Outplays Steelers’ RBs in Loss
David Johnson has been a pleasant surprise since coming to the Texans via trade this offseason, totaling 159 yards and a touchdown this season. His versatility out of the backfield helps the offense when plays break down.
The Texans are certainly hoping for Duke Johnson to return from injury as David was the only rusher to record a carry last week. He may not be the same player that he was in Arizona during his magical 2016 season, but his importance to the team cannot be understated.
On the other hand, Benny Snell was one of the surprise breakouts from Week 1, notching more than 100 yards against the Giants but only 5 against the Broncos in Week 2. The running back by committee features the hot hand, which last week was James Conner as he also rushed for over 100 yards, adding another 15 through the air.
Though the Texans’ rush defense leaves a lot to be desired, the Steelers will likely try to establish the pass first to set the tone for the game. The Steelers feature the #1 rush defense through two weeks, so Johnson will look to do most of his damage through the passing game as well.
Altogether this should be a very intriguing matchup but the Steelers are too well-rounded of a team to lose this game. Even if the Texans make this a shootout, they don’t have the offensive firepower to keep up or the defensive capabilities to stop Pittsburgh.
Final score prediction: Steelers 31, Texans 24.