For the first time in five seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to host a playoff game on the North Shore.

The red-hot Houston Texans roll into town winners of nine straight games and boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL. It seems like a bit of a lopsided matchup based on stats and the overall performance of the two teams. But the Steelers are no slouches in this one.

Pittsburgh has won four of its last five games and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. Staying home for the playoff game is a big boost, too, and the weather could be a factor for the Black and Gold as well. But like always, the game will come down to talent making plays.

There will be games within the game to watch. Make sure to keep an eye on key individual matchups in all three phases in the Steelers-Texans playoff matchup. That’s the biggest thing.

Below are my four matchups to watch between the Steelers and Texans in the AFC Wild Card matchup at Acrisure Stadium on Monday Night Football.

STEELERS RT TROY FAUTANU VS. TEXANS DE WILL ANDERSON JR.

All the talk leading up to the matchup between the Steelers and the Texans centers on the play in the trenches on both sides of the football. There’s a lot of buzz about Houston’s pass rush tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, and rightfully so. The two have combined for 27.5 sacks this season and 176 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. 

They are game wreckers, and if not for Myles Garrett’s record-breaking year in Cleveland, Anderson could theoretically win the Defensive Player of the Year award. It will be a tough assignment for Steelers right tackle Troy Fautanu on Monday night. But Fautanu has been quite good in his own right.

While the Texans will move Anderson around, bouncing from side to side, he primarily plays on the left side, with 526 of his 694 snaps coming on the left side of the defense against right tackles. Fautanu has allowed just 25 pressures and two sacks on the season. Since pitching a shutout in pressures in Week 12 against Chicago, Fautanu has allowed one pressure or less in five of the last seven games. 

The Steelers will get the ball out quickly, but when they need Aaron Rodgers to hold it and make a play, a guy like Fautanu must win his matchups against Anderson to give Pittsburgh’s offense a chance.

STEELERS WR DK METCALF VS. TEXANS CB DEREK STINGLEY JR.

After missing the last two games of the regular season due to suspension, Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf returns to the lineup for the Black and Gold and gives the offense a significant boost in the passing game.

However, he finds himself set to match up against one of the best corners in football in Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. The LSU product should once again be an All-Pro, and his play has been steady this season. Stingley has allowed just 34 receptions on 65 targets this season (52.3% completion) for 499 yards and three touchdowns. He has another four interceptions and nine pass breakups, according to PFF’s data. 

Metcalf was coming on strong down the stretch before being suspended. The Steelers were starting to work the ball down the field a bit more, and he was being heavily targeted by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully, there’s not too much rust after two weeks away.

Stingley and Metcalf have never matched up against each other, so it’s going to be a true test for both. Metcalf will need to win in big situations for the Steelers to have a shot offensively.

TEXANS TE DALTON SCHULTZ VS. STEELERS SAFETIES

Following a rough start to the season in coverage against tight ends, the Steelers have been pretty stout in the second half of the season against the position in the passing game. They’ll face a tough test in the Wild Card matchup against the Texans, with Dalton Schultz proving to be a big-time playmaker for Houston outside of the spotlight that Nico Collins generates (more on him later).

The 29-year-old tight end hauled in 82 passes for 777 yards and three touchdowns this season, taking a significant leap one year after having just 53 catches for Houston. With the injuries the Texans dealt with at receiver this season, Schultz emerged as a bona fide weapon for quarterback CJ Stroud.

The young quarterback trusts him, and Schultz is at his best against man coverage from linebackers and safeties. He has the speed and the wiggle as a route runner to create separation in those situations. Pittsburgh plays a lot of man coverage — nearly 70% of snaps — so Schultz should have plenty of opportunities.

Pittsburgh had some issues in recent weeks against Cleveland’s Harold Fannin Jr. and Baltimore’s Isaiah Likely in big spots at the position. They can’t let Schultz get going in this one. It starts with Jalen Ramsey and Kyle Dugger, both of whom need bounce-back performances. 

TEXANS WR NICO COLLINS VS. STEELERS CB JOEY PORTER JR.

Quietly, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been a borderline star this season at the cornerback position. Porter has allowed just 29 receptions on 60 targets (48.3% completion) for 299 yards. He hasn’t given up a touchdown and has one interception and 11 pass breakups. Four times this season, he’s completed a game without allowing a reception.

He should find himself matched up time and time again with Houston’s Nico Collins, who is a Pro Bowler this season and is a serious weapon in the passing game, both down the field and after the catch. Collins has 71 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns this season.

He’s been a bit inconsistent, though. He has just three games over 100 yards, and has gone five of his last six games without finding the end zone. His average depth of target is 13.3 yards, per PFF, and he’s good in contested-catch situations with 17 receptions on 30 tries. He should find himself in some serious battles with Porter.

Porter has to be careful of the penalties in this one, even though it’s a physical matchup both ways. And he needs to find ways to make plays in those situations. It’s a massive test for him, but one he’s proven himself ready for all season long. Time for him to shine on the playoff stage.