The final game of the NFL Wild Card Round is set with the Texans taking on the Steelers.
The Texans started the season 0-3, but rebounded big time with a nine-game winning streak to end the regular season. The Steelers, meanwhile, outlasted the Ravens in a back-and-forth, winner-take-all game for the AFC North on Sunday Night Football.
Continue below for opening Texans vs Steelers odds for the NFL Wild Card Round.
Texans vs Steelers Odds
| Texans Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -105 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
| Steelers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -115 | 39.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
NFL Wild Card odds as of Sunday at 11:43 p.m. ET.
Texans vs Steelers Wild Card Preview
Houston Texans
The Texans started the season buried at 0-3, but rebounded to win their final nine games and enter the playoffs as hot as any team.
Houston’s defense remains its calling card under head coach DeMeco Ryans. The unit is led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter up front, and has a nasty secondary behind them. That defense gives the Texans a shot in any game.
Houston hasn’t lost by multiple scores all season, and the defense forces 3-and-outs 39% of the time (a real outlier), basically turning every opposing offense into the league-worst Raiders.
The question now is if the Texans offense can keep up. The offensive line has improved, but still can’t create anything in the run game.
However, C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins have gotten into a better rhythm down the stretch.
Houston unders have been a thing all season. The Texans' defense will give them a shot in any game, but the offense still needs to find some answers.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are back in the playoffs, and it all feels too familiar.
Mike Tomlin’s .500-or-better streak is live as ever, though his six-game playoff losing streak could be just as live if Pittsburgh isn’t careful. The Steelers were just 1-5 against playoff teams this season, with four losses by double digits.
The defense has seen a significant uptick since moving Jalen Ramsey to safety midseason, and the run defense has taken a huge leap. However, the defense still leaks explosive plays in both the run and pass game.
The offense is, well, about what you’d expect from a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers will be glad to have DK Metcalf back from suspension, but the passing game is quick and short and mostly lacks punch, though Pittsburgh has found a nice one-two running back pairing in Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.
It’s the same old Pittsburgh formula that always sneaks into the playoffs: play hard, defend well, run the ball, and try to catch just enough bounces to pull off a few upsets as a Rah Rah underdog.
Will it work in the playoffs?
