Jan. 10, 2026, 5:06 a.m. ET
In pursuit of their first postseason win since the 2016 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Houston Texans in an exciting wild card matchup — with more than a few key predictions to anticipate.
From Pittsburgh’s run game struggles to a returning wide receiver having a strong performance, here is a look at our bold predictions here at Steelers Wire.
Steelers held under 100-yards rushing
Facing off against a Texans defense that’s top-five against the run, expect the inconsistent Steelers rushing attack to fall short of the century mark this Monday.
Aaron Rodgers outduels CJ Stroud
In the battle between an accomplished veteran and a young star in the making, expect Rodgers to come out on top. Although he’ll face off against a tough Houston defense, Stroud hasn’t exactly put up great numbers in Year 3, with the Steelers likely holding an edge in the passing game.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.DK Metcalf goes over 100 yards receiving
Facing off against Derek Stingley Jr., a First-Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, will be one of Metcalf’s toughest challenges as a Steeler, but he’ll look to bounce back in a major way following his two-game suspension. Expect the athletic wideout to go over 100 yards receiving as the Steelers look to earn their first playoff win in almost nine years.
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