The Houston Texans are the NFL’s youngest franchise, so it’s no surprise there is little history between them and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There will be an important chapter written in the history books this week, though, when the teams meet in the AFC Wild-Card round Monday night at Acrisure Stadium.
The teams have met just eight times, with the Steelers holding a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series.
The Texans were founded in 1999 and began play in the NFL as an expansion team in 2002. They have won seven AFC South championships since 2011 but have stalled in the playoffs.
Houston is the only NFL franchise that has not won a road playoff game and never reached a conference championship game.
In the teams’ most recent meeting during the 2023 season, Chris Boswell booted field goals from 35 and 23 yards, but that was the extent of the Steelers’ scoring in a 30-6 loss in front of 71,399 fans at NRG Stadium.
Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. They also lost tight end Pat Freiermuth, left tackle Dan Moore and defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal to injuries.
The Steelers defense allowed 451 yards, including 139 on the ground, and didn’t have a sack.
Houston rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns to receiver Nico Collins, who had seven catches for 168 yards.
After the game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin promised changes.
“Hell yeah, we’ve got to make some changes, man,” Tomlin said. “That was an ugly product we put out there today. We’re not going to do the same things and hope for a different outcome.”
TribLive columnist Tim Benz wrote after that it was “one of the worst losses of the Mike Tomlin era. Not only in terms of the score but the circumstances.” The Texans hadn’t had back-to-back wins — or even a single home win — since 2021.
That snapped the Steelers’ three-game winning streak over the Texans that dated to the 2014 season.
While the Texans and Steelers haven’t had many clashes, Pittsburghers are quite familiar with another NFL franchise from “Space City.”
The Steelers had several notable battles with a previous franchise based in Houston. The Oilers played in Houston from 1960-96 before moving to Nashville, where they were renamed the Tennessee Titans.
The Steelers and Houston Oilers met 56 times between 1970-96. The Steelers led that series 37-19.
One of the most memorable encounters was the AFC Wild-Card game in 1989, when Gary Anderson’s overtime field goal gave the Steelers a 26-23 victory over the Oilers.
The Steelers defense held Houston to just three Tony Zendejas field goals through three quarters, but QB Warren Moon connected with Ernest Givins for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Oilers took a 23-16 lead.
Merril Hoge’s 2-yard TD run with 46 seconds left sent the game overtime.
After the Steelers punted, the Oilers were driving, but Rod Woodson forced and recovered a Lorenzo White fumble. The Steelers moved the ball to the 33-yard line, where Anderson drilled a 50-yard field goal for the win.
Head to head
Here’s a look at the all-time series between the Steelers and Texans. The Steelers lead 5-3.
Date, result
Oct. 1, 2023: Texans 30, Steelers 6
Sept. 27, 2020: Steelers 28, Houston 21*
Dec. 25, 2017: Steelers 34, Texans 6
Oct. 20, 2014: Steelers 30, Texans 23*
Oct. 2, 2011: Texans 17, Steelers 10
Sept. 7, 2008: Steelers 38, Texans 17*
Sept. 18, 2005: Steelers 27, Texans 7
Dec. 8, 2002: Texans 24, Steelers 6*
*At Acrisure Stadium/Heinz Field