For the second straight year the Steelers played a game on Christmas Day. Last year, the AFC North title was on the line against Baltimore in Heinz Field. This year, they took on the struggling Texans but with the opportunity to clinch a first round bye after Jacksonville’s loss to San Francisco.
The Steelers started strong, driving right down the field but stalling out in the red zone. Of course, that meant ample opportunity for Twitter’s favorite joke.
Al Riveron thinks that is not a field goal #Steelers #PITvsHOU
— SimonAChester (@SimonAChester) December 25, 2017
Hold on a sec, Al Riveron wants a review of the Boswell field goal to see if the ball survived the ground after passing through the uprights
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) December 25, 2017
Great drive for Vance McDonald. Two nice catch and runs plus a great block on Bell run. No AB threat in red zone will be struggle for #Steelers.
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) December 25, 2017
Earlier this week, I wrote about Houston’s bad pass protection. It came up in a big way today.
"Okay guys it's okay to throw holding calls today. It's not NE"-Refs ?
— #Shalieve (@JORDAY510) December 25, 2017
Mike Hilton off the edge…Steelers been working that slot corner blitz all year. Hilton has a knack for timing it up.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 25, 2017
The offense kept rolling with a bomb to Martavis on third and short.
That was a CATCH by @ThaBestUNO! #BBSG
— Stiller Gang (@StillerGang) December 25, 2017
Martavis Bryant OH MY GOODNESS
— SteelCityBlitz (@SCBlitz) December 25, 2017
Dilly! Dilly!
— #Shalieve (@aye_taybay) December 25, 2017
No AB. No problem. Or the Texans just suck.
— SuckMeter (@SuckMeter) December 25, 2017
Thought Ben was bad on the road? That’s what Aditi and the Depot told me.
— Derrick (@derrick_daKidD) December 25, 2017
Did you know? The Watt’s are brothers.
Wait. T.J. Watt is related to J.J. Watt?
How has nobody mentioned this until now?
— Shawn Curtis (@shawncurtis430) December 25, 2017
Momma Watt’s shirt is such a mom shirt. And I love it.
— Jingle Mel ? (@Mel629_) December 25, 2017
Ben threw a TD to Justin Hunter.
Mike Tirico says of Justin Hunter: “All-world practice player.”
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) December 25, 2017
Justin Hunter is the 10th different player Ben Roethlisberger has thrown a touchdown to this season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 25, 2017
Another review resulting in something weird happening, but this review got the ruling right.
Back to the Future: Steelers start second quarter by going back to first quarter, after a review overturned a catch #MerryChristmas
— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) December 25, 2017
now if that was a Patriot player catching that ball, they don’t overturn it. Chances are they find a way to say Houston can’t even challenge it
— WWF President Jack Tunney (@AnthraxJones) December 25, 2017
Joe Haden also came to play today.
Good to see Joe Haden back in action. Sean Spence looks overmatched #PITvsHOU
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) December 25, 2017
We're not the Patriots so we won't get the fumble out of the endzone call
— daisy ridley crush haver (@youwannaski) December 25, 2017
The Texans would get down to the goal line but would crap all over themselves.
Those two play calls are by far the dumbest sequence of plays I’ve seen all season.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) December 25, 2017
T.J. Yates gets a Mr. Yuk sticker.
— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) December 25, 2017
BREAKING: Artie Burns Interception in the endzone has been reversed and the Patriots now have a touchdown
— ?? (@HeadassJr) December 25, 2017
The Steelers drove it back down the field and Rosie Nix punched it in.
See that, Houston?
— Bill Riccette (@Bill_Riccette) December 25, 2017
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Nix being TD vulture. #HereWego
— Yinzer in CT (@rlrasmu) December 25, 2017
Dominant drive
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) December 25, 2017
That’s a superb drive. Nice mix of run and pass. #Steelers
— Steel Dad (@SteelDad) December 25, 2017
Forget Patriots hangover. Steelers taking out Week 15 frustrations on Houston.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 25, 2017
The defense made another splash play with Cam Heyward forcing a fumble on a strip sack.
Yates sacked by Heyward and FUMBLES THE BALL! Steelers recover! Bud Dupree!
— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) December 25, 2017
Bud Dupree scooped up that fumble. Meanwhile, Jarvis Jones likely scooping up your favorite ice cream flavor at a local Dairy Queen.
— Chris Nicolaou (@Cnic__) December 25, 2017
Steelers ball!
— Matt Brennan (@MBren21) December 25, 2017
With less than 2 min remaining in first half, T.J. Yates has a Blutarski-esque 0.0 passer rating. Inaccurate, inefficient and horrible no way to go thru the NFL.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 25, 2017
Boswell put points on the board.
With :53 left in the first half, Chris Boswell kicks another FG to make the #Steelers lead 20-0 now.
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) December 25, 2017
#Steelers FG Boswell 35 #Steelers 20-0 and @WizardOfBoz09 passes Norm Johnson with his 35th FG of season, most in #Steelers history #PITvsHOU #WTAE
— Andrew Stockey (@astockeyWTAE) December 25, 2017
AFTER THE STEELERS FINISH KILLING THE HOUSTON TEXANS THEY WILL THEN DESTROY THE ARLEN HIGH SCHOOL ARMADILLOS AND THEN END THE TOM LANDRY MIDDLE SCHOOL LONGHORNS.
— I like the Springsteen Santa Claus song, sorry pal (@psamp) December 25, 2017
The second half didn’t start so well for the defense as Houston seemed focused on running the ball. Hard to blame them after TJ Yates left the game with concussion-like symptoms.
Run defense still pretty bad
— PittsburghSports (@PittsburghSport) December 25, 2017
Steelers run defense stinks. #steelers. Can’t stop it when they know it’s coming
— Lance Williams (@BTSC_Radio) December 25, 2017
Thankfully, Mike Hilton came to the rescue once again.
3 sacks for Mike Hilton. What a game for him. And season. #Steelers
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) December 25, 2017
better keep an eye on that Mike Hilton…he’s stealing everyone’s presents today
— SteelCityBlitz (@SCBlitz) December 25, 2017
PISS TEST MIKE HILTON.
— I like the Springsteen Santa Claus song, sorry pal (@psamp) December 25, 2017
The #Texans haven’t been so great at picking up Slot CB Blitz!
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) December 25, 2017
HIS NAME IS MIKE HILTON
— Jingle Mel ? (@Mel629_) December 25, 2017
The first DB to have three in one game since Troy Polamalu in 2005 per @drinelli.
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) December 25, 2017
This qb is hoping Yates is ok
— Curt Popejoy ? (@CurtPopejoySW) December 25, 2017
Houston is a depleted team, but this is the kind of performance we want to see more often from the Steelers as a heavy road favorite.
— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) December 25, 2017
Things went from bad to worse for Houston when a sack turned into another positive play for the Steelers.
Eve when things go right for the #Texans ( Sack of @_BigBen7 nullified by facemask penalty ) #PITvsHOU
— Andrew Stockey (@astockeyWTAE) December 25, 2017
Ben gets a call wow.
— Chris Taylor #MVPAB (@ChrisTaylor8859) December 25, 2017
I respect Clowney owning up and talking about the facemask with Ben. You saw Ben smile after it. I respect that a lot.
— Beth (@pghgirl15222) December 25, 2017
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 25, 2017
Le’Veon cashed it in to make it 27-0.
JINGLE BELL
JINGLE BELL
JINGLE BELL
JINGLE ALL THE WAY— #Shalieve (@aye_taybay) December 25, 2017
Bell didn't survive the ground, but he doesn't have to because he isn't a receiver, but a runner. #SurviveTheGround
— BTSC Steelers (@btsteelcurtain) December 25, 2017
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?????????????????? pic.twitter.com/skBhRxuGM4— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 25, 2017
If anything, the Steelers won the title for best touchdown celebrations this season.
— Bill Riccette (@Bill_Riccette) December 25, 2017
Haven’t felt this relaxed during a Steelers game in a long time. Texans are awful and the Steelers were pretty focused after all. Fixing the run defense has to be a priority though.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 25, 2017
Steelers fans waving Terrible Towels. Lower level looks like almost all Steelers fans, which means Texans' season-ticket holders sold their tickets. At least my wife gave away her four season tickets.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) December 25, 2017
Houston went down the field and scored on an absolutely ludicrous catch by DeAndre Hopkins. Nothing Joe Haden could do there, Hopkins just made a great play.
That’s an insanely ridiculous catch by Hopkins. #Steelers
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) December 25, 2017
JuJu came back and made it count by hauling in a bomb from Ben then made a nifty move over the middle to get wide open for an easy score.
@TeamJuJu loll JUJU ON THE BEAT!!!
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) December 26, 2017
Juju! #HereWeGo
— Joey Bag Of Donuts ???????? (@joeybagovdonuts) December 26, 2017
— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) December 26, 2017
#Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (@_BigBen7) extends his franchise-record streak of at least two touchdown passes to seven consecutive games, with a 17-yard pass to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu).
— Dom Rinelli (@drinelli) December 26, 2017
Man NBC playing “JuJu on That Beat” after a 19 TD will never get old
— Caitlin (@caitap) December 26, 2017
Just like Christmas morning… ??? pic.twitter.com/bLmvWnle5L
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 26, 2017
From there, it was all routine to just run out the clock.
A #Steelers game which doesn't cause me to have a heart attack was a tremendous Christmas present!
— BTSC Steelers (@btsteelcurtain) December 26, 2017
Looks like #Houston has a problem ??? https://t.co/thslSiJg4u
— Stiller Gang (@StillerGang) December 26, 2017
It was a good day for the defense.
That's 7 sacks for the Steelers tonight. Houston's QBs have 8 completions.
— The Steelers n'at (@thesteelersnat) December 26, 2017
Sack #50 on the season for this defense. Whew
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 26, 2017
#Texans QBs were sacked on 30% of their drop backs. #Steelers
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) December 26, 2017
Most sacks by the Steelers in a single season:
55 – 1994 & 2001
52 – 1974 (unofficial)
51 – 1996 & 2008
50 – 1983, 2002, & 2017— The Steelers n'at (@thesteelersnat) December 26, 2017
12-3. One more to go before the playoffs.
Mike Hilton (3 sacks today at HOU) is the first cornerback with 3 sacks in a game since sacks became official in 1982@steelers @MikeHilton_31
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 26, 2017
Steelers we’re rocking around the Christmas tree as they beat the Texans 34-6 to clinch at least the 2 seed in the AFC playoffs & a 1st Rd bye. #Steelers
— Chase Williams WPXI (@chasepwilliams) December 26, 2017
My boys out the playing like there hair on fire ?!!!! That’s what the world need to see. Using getting ready for the Run
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) December 26, 2017
So, with this #Steelers win they secure a bye in the AFC playoffs. Next week Pittsburgh will need to win vs Browns + a Patriots loss to the Jets to get the 1 seed.
— Steelers Wire (@TheSteelersWire) December 26, 2017
Steelers all day
— Antonio Brown (@AB84) December 26, 2017
The @Steelers dominated Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/mpWro9y7YM
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 26, 2017
