Loss soursWatt Bowl
PITTSBURGH — J. J. Watt wore a look of frustration and a dark jacket that matched his mood late Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.
As significant as it was for the ultra-competitive Watt family to have three brothers play in the game for the second time since 1927, joining the Edmonds siblings, hanging out together before kickoff and J. J. Watt and T. J. Watt being game captains, this was a particularly hard setback for the Texans’ veteran defensive end to absorb.
Following a 28-21 loss in which a shaky run defense collapsed again in the fourth quarter, Watt is more concerned about the state of his winless team.
It isn’t about bragging rights, which now belong squarely with his younger brothers: Steelers outside linebacker T. J. Watt and Steelers fullback DerekWatt.
“Some day, we’ll look back and it’ll be pretty cool, but, right now, sitting at 0-3, it doesn’t feel that great,” J. J. Watt said. “It’s a special thing for our family, but right now, it’s about the Houston Texans and figuring out what we need to do to win a football game.”
T. J. Watt recorded a key sack of Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson for an 11-yard loss in the fourth quarter, finishing with four tackles, two for losses and four quarterback hits.
“T. J. Watt is just like his brother, he’s a competitor,” Watson said. “He’s going to compete each and every play. I respect his game and the way he challenges our offense and he’s a great player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Derek Watt’s day ended early because of a hamstring injury.
And J. J. Watt, 31, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, had four tackles and no sacks, quarterback hits or pressures.
The game followed a week of conversations about the Watt bowl.
“There was a lot of buildup that went into this week, so much media,” T. J. Watt said. “I just tried to soak it up as much as possible. It wasn’t a normal week. I just tried to, especially toward the end of the game, take a moment to be able to see the guy I looked up to my whole life playing football, my brother J. J., just to see him go to work on the football field with my own eyes, it’s something I’ll never forget. And I’m truly grateful that I was able to share the field with my brothers.”
Defensive miscues lead to touchdown
In a glaring example of a busted coverage, confusion reigned for the Texans’ defense during a touchdown catch from Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster ran a crossing route with middle linebacker Zach Cunningham playing zone coverage and shifting over to cover tight end Eric Ebron and safety A. J. Moore evidently expecting someone else to cover the Steelers’ top downfield target
However, cornerback Vernon Hargreaves and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. both ran with James Washington away from that side of the field, leaving a gaping hole in the Texans’ secondary.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stepped up in the pocket to avoid the rush and lobbed the football to a wideopen Smith-Schuster for a 26yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
“I definitely have to see it on tape, but it looked like you’re right,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said when asked about the zoneman coverage scheme. “Cut a guy loose there, JuJu, and either got picked off or we had a miscommunication there. I saw it from the field, and it looked like a couple guys got picked off there in man coverage.”
Athletic tight ends keep wreaking havoc
The Texans’ defense continues to have issues with athletic tight ends.
It’s a mounting problem that has been on display each of the first three games, whether it’s Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Ravens tight end Mark Andrews or Steelers tight end Eric Ebron.
Ebron caught five passes for 52 yards with one touchdown on seven targets as fellow tight end and former Rice standout Vance McDonald caught all three passes thrown to him for 35 yards.
“What a huge play, big day for him,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of Ebron’s 10-yard touchdown catch. “His touchdown was an amazing play. Stats are one thing, but what both him and Vance did in the run game was spectacular.”
Safety Moore suffers a hamstring injury
Texans safety A. J. Moore injured his hamstring and didn’t return. Moore immediately grabbed the back of his left leg in the end zone after giving chase on an overthrown pass.
Moore’s role on defense increased this season. He previously was a special-teams standout.
Duke Johnson sits out but making progress
Running back Duke Johnson missed his second game in a row because of a sprained left ankle suffered in the opening game. Johnson has made progress, and is moving better in practice, but it was considered best to have him sit out another week.
Running back C. J Prosise was elevated to the Texans’ active roster from the practice squad. He had one carry for one yard.
Fullback Cullen Gillaspia (Katy Taylor, Texas A&M) had his first offensive touch of the season, catching one pass for 6 yards.