Madden Monday: ‘Not that optimistic’ about Steelers’ chances to upset Houston

Tim Benz TribLive Mon, Jan 12, 2026 • 06:11 AM

Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter shakes hands with defensive end Will Anderson Jr. after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in their Dec. 27 game in Inglewood, Calif. (AP)

I think the Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of reason for hope when it comes to beating the Houston Texans in their first-round playoff game Monday night.

Houston is a 3-point favorite. I’m picking the Texans to win 23-20 in overtime. But I’m not going to be stunned if the Steelers pull off an upset victory.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive joined me to discuss the Steelers’ chances.

“I’m not that optimistic,” Madden said. “I don’t think they’re going to get blown out like they have done in their last six playoff games — trailing badly in the first quarter. I don’t think Houston is that kind of team. I don’t think they have that kind of offense, but I think it’s going to be darn near impossible for the Steelers to score on Houston with that defense, with that pass rush.”

Madden thinks the threat of Houston’s two dominant edge rushers, Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, will make Aaron Rodgers get rid of the ball so quickly that the Steelers’ offense won’t have any downfield threat.

“Rodgers, all year, just gets rid of the ball to avoid being hit. I think we spotted that when it looked like he was trying to not give (Myles) Garrett the record-breaking sack when they lost to Cleveland at Cleveland in week 17,” Madden said. “But, really, he’s been doing that all year. That’s been pointed out. So if he doesn’t hang in there and take a hit to make a play: No risk it, no biscuit.”

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Throughout the year, Rodgers has been his own pass protection. ProFootballReference.com had his average pocket time at 2.2 seconds, the quickest of any full-time NFL starter.

Madden doesn’t necessarily see that as a positive this week.

“The Steelers are going to have trouble scoring any points at all, because I expect Rodgers to be under siege just about all the time,” Madden said. “We’ll see if his guile will save him. We’ll see if his heart will save him. But, I think it’s going to be really tough on that Steelers’ offense.”

Also during the podcast, Madden and I discuss some Steelers’ defensive strategy, the other NFL playoff games, concerns about the Olympic ice surface in Italy and a losing weekend for the Penguins.