HOUSTON – The plan was very simple for the Steelers.
Since the season-ending injury to DeShaun Watson, the Houston Texans offense went from averaging 34.7 points in six games with their rookie quarterback to 14.9 points in the past seven games.
What’s more, his latest replacement, T.J. Yates, was playing behind a makeshift offensive that was starting its sixth different left tackle and had allowed 52 sacks, second most in the NFL.
The Steelers didn’t want to go easy on the Texans, not with an opportunity to clinch a first-round playoff bye.
And they didn’t.