The Steelers open a three-game home stretch against the Texans and are set to face the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens in the next coming weeks so starting this home stand off with a win isn’t just important, it’s damned near necessary.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been alternating between trying to put together their first winning streak of the season and trying to prevent their first losing streak.
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Not surprisingly for a team that's finished 8-8 in each of the last two seasons, the Steelers have gone W-L-W-L-W-L so far this season. They haven't followed that pattern through the first six games of a season since 1991. Their third loss that year hatched a four-game losing streak that dropped their record to 3-6, and they finished 7-9 in Chuck Noll's final season.
The Week 7 loss that year, the one that made them 3-3, was the last time the Steelers lost a Monday Night Football game at home. The New York Giants beat them 23-20.
The Steelers have won 15 straight Monday Night Football games at home since then, according to Pro Football Reference. That means Bill Cowher never lost at home on a Monday night, and neither has Mike Tomlin.
Rather than the team they're facing, a single player might be the biggest hurdle between the Steelers and the right side of .500.
Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt is not only the leading candidate to be named AP Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three years, but he's also an MVP contender.
Watt has returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns this season and even caught a touchdown pass. He's also blocked an extra point. He's the kind of disruptive force that Troy Polamalu was in his prime. Unless the Steelers get some blockers on him, they'll get a taste of what opponents have felt watching Polamalu ravage their offense.
Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't figure to strike as much fear in the Steelers as Watt. Then again, neither did Brian Hoyer nor Mike Glennon.
The Steelers couldn't take advantage of a three-game stretch in their schedule that included a home game against Tampa Bay and road games at Jacksonville and Cleveland. Those teams have a combined record of 4-13, but the Steelers went 1-2 against them.
Now the Steelers have a three-game homestand, but it's against more formidable opponents. In Week 8 they face the Colts, and in Week 9 they'll have their rematch against the Ravens. It's their first three-game homestand since December of 2010. They went 2-1 in those games.
But that was a Super Bowl team. Now the Steelers are a .500 ballclub
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