When the NFL released its schedule earlier this year, the Watt family circled this game on the calendar.
Pittsburgh at Houston. Christmas Day. Watt against Watt.
OK, the last part wasn't technically going to take place since J.J. Watt is an All-Pro defensive end for the Texans and his youngest brother, T.J. Watt, is a rookie outside linebacker for the Steelers, but they were going to be on the same field for the first time.
Fate, however, had different plans. J.J. Watt, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, suffered a season-ending leg injury early in the season and was placed on injured reserve. It's afforded him plenty of free time on Sundays, which he has spent watching both T.J. and his middle brother, Derek, a fullback for the Chargers, play this season.
“That is one of the only advantages of the unfortunate situation I am in is that I get to watch both of my brothers every week," J.J. said this week. "I get to sit down and watch their games in depth and really focus on them. That’s been really nice for me. Just a lot of pride. You sit there on the couch, I am so proud of what they have accomplished, you watch them and it’s really a joy.”
Monday, he'll get to see little brother up close. The Christmas Day game is finally here, with the Texans (4-10) playing out the string without their star defensive player, and the Steelers (11-3) trying to secure a first-round bye in the postseason when they meet at NRG Stadium.
The elder Watt, a first-round draft pick of Houston in 2011, has five years on the younger. As such, he hasn't always been available to be around during the football season. But the two will get together Sunday night after the Steelers arrive in Houston to celebrate Christmas.
J.J. is his brother's biggest fan - except this week.
"I cheer for him every week, just not this week," J.J. admitted.
That's what made his brother's play two weeks ago against Baltimore so much fun. T.J. Watt had a game-ending sack and forced fumble in a 39-38 win over the Ravens that clinched the AFC North championship for the Steelers:
“It was awesome," J.J. said. "I was sitting on the couch with my girlfriend watching the game. Before that last drive started I looked over and said 'T.J. with the sack for the win.’ I didn’t get the strip-sack part right, but I got that sack part right. That is special."
It's helped make up for all the time the youngest of the Watt boys got to watch his older brother make plays, including when J.J. intercepted a pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown against Cincinnati in the 2011 AFC Wild Card Playoff game.
T.J., who was just 17 when his older brother made that play, has had a solid rookie season. The Steelers' top draft pick has 42 tackles, six sacks, an interception and six pass breakups.
J.J. admitted to wanting to see his younger brother get a shot at covering New England's Rob Gronkowski in the Steelers' 27-24 loss last week against New England. According to Football Outsiders, T.J. Watt has dropped into coverage more than any other outside linebacker in the NFL this season.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s see what he can do. Toss him out there. Maybe he can, maybe he can’t,' " J.J. said. "He has great coverage skills."
And, like his big brother, tight end skills as well. Both were tight ends early in their college careers at Wisconsin before being moved to the other side of the ball. J.J. has caught three career touchdown passes as a goal-line tight end for the Texans.
"I hate to admit it ... but he does have the best hands out of the three of us," J.J. said. "That kid can catch anything you throw his way."
“That’s a fact,” the soft-spoken rookie said of his hands. “That, I can admit. It’s just kind of something that’s known in the family. We all played offense at one point. If there’s a football in the air I’m going to catch it every time.”
T.J. has often credited his older brothers with helping show him from an early age what it takes to be an NFL player. But he has also -- as J.J. notes -- taken his own path, as well.
The similarities in their play are noticeable.
“Just watching on film, he’s a heck of a player,” Houston quarterback T.J. Yates said. “It’s really strange to see how him and J.J.’s body movements – they’re like almost the same player out there. Obviously, T.J. is a little smaller but he’s very quick and they have a lot of the same traits as far as getting their hands on balls and tipping balls, rushing the passer. He’s a great pass rusher. He’s got a lot of good stuff on film. We definitely have to be aware of where he is at all times.”
THE ESSENTIALS
• When: 4:30 p.m.
• Where: NRG Stadium
• TV: WPXI, NBC, NFLNetwork
• Streaming: Amazon.com
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Satellite: SiriusXM Channel 82 (Internet 826)
• Forecast: 59, mostly sunny
• Lots open: 11:30 a.m.
• Will call open: 2:30 p.m.
• Gates open: 2:30 p.m.
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Odds: MyBookie.AG
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: WR Antonio Brown (calf, out), G Ramon Foster (concussion, questionable), CB Coty Sensabaugh (shoulder, questionable)
Texans: G Jeff Allen (concussion, out), OT Kendall Lamm (concussion, out), OLB LaTroy Lewis (shoulder, out)
WEEK 16 VIEWING GUIDE
With the loss last week, the Steelers have dropped to the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoff race behind New England (11-3). Jacksonville (10-4) also has clinched a playoff spot, even though the Jaguars haven't yet clinched the AFC South title.
Here's a look at this weekend's big games in the AFC playoff race:
Indianapolis at Baltimore: The Ravens improved to 9-6 with their 23-16 win in this game and now only needs to beat Cincinnati at home next week to clinch a playoff spot.
L.A. Rams at Tennessee: The Titans' playoff hopes are on life support after losing the past two weeks at Arizona and San Francisco. At 8-6, the Titans need to win out and have Jacksonville (10-4) lose twice -- they host the Jaguars in Week 17 -- to get in and get a home game. The Titans are currently the fifth seed in the AFC and return home after back-to-back road games. But the Rams (10-4) are still vying for a bye in the NFC.
Miami at Kansas City: Don't count out the Chiefs (8-6), who seem to have righted the ship after a midseason swoon. With its win over the Chargers (7-7) last week, Kansas City is now the odds on favorite to win the AFC West. And if the Jaguars stumble, Kansas City could still get the No. 3 seed.
Buffalo at New England: Steelers fans will obviously be watching this one because the Patriots (11-3) now hold the tiebreaker. New England would need to lose against Buffalo (8-6) or the Jets next week and the Steelers would have to win out for Pittsburgh to get the top seed. The Bills are currently in the No. 6 spot in the AFC and need to keep winning. Don't discount an upset here completely. Despite being an 11 1/2-point underdog and having lost, 23-3, to the Patriots three weeks ago, Buffalo has won two of the past three meetings at Gillette Stadium.
Jacksonville at San Francisco: A few weeks ago, this 4:30 p.m. Sunday game looked like a complete mismatch. But after losing its first nine games, San Francisco has won four of its past five games. Those wins have come against the Giants, Bears, Texans and Titans, so they haven't exactly beaten the NFL's best. Jimmy Garropolo has played well since becoming San Francisco's starter but the Jacksonville defense could give him fits.
THE KEY VARIABLE
With Watt, Whitney Mercilus and 12 other players on injured reserve this season, the Texans have been robbed of much of their star power, particularly on defense.
But they do still have Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1-overall pick in the draft in 2014.
Injuries hurt Clowney's production in his first two seasons, limiting him to just 17 games. But he gave a glimpse of what he could do in 2016, recording 40 tackles and six sacks. He's been even more impactful this season with Watt and Mercilus sidelined, recording nine sacks to lead the Texans, while recording 20 tackles for a loss, the second-best total in the league.
Keeping Clowney from wrecking their game plan will be the goal of the Steelers offense Monday. But figuring out where Clowney will line up from play to play, well, that could be a much more difficult task.
The 6-4, 275-pound Clowney is technically listed as an outside linebacker. But he also lines up at inside linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle.
All Clowney needs is a red-and-white striped shirt and hat and the Steelers could spend Christmas Day playing "Where's Waldo?"
"They’re doing a great job with moving him around," said Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. "You don’t see that a whole bunch. Probably the last time we saw it was with J.J. Watt. But he could be anywhere, so yeah, it makes it a little harder to game plan how you might for some big-time guys where you can plan and get two bodies on them. So really for us, what it comes down to is, when your number is called and it’s your play to handle him, we’ve got to handle him because he’s a great player and he’s very disruptive and if we allow him to disrupt, he’ll cause big problems."
It will be incumbent upon Ben Roethlisberger to not only identify where the Texans are employing Clowney on a given play but for the offensive line to then block him. And because he's somewhere different on every play, double-teaming him isn't much of a possibility.
"When you got Clowney running all over the field, you’re going to have to have eyes and understand where he is all the time because he is a very, very special football player," Roethlisberger said.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
With Brown out this week because of a calf injury suffered in the second quarter last week, the Steelers are down to just two Killer Bs -- at least until the playoffs begin.
They'd like to make sure Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell are healthy heading into the postseason, as well. But they have to balance that with continuing to win to secure at least a first-round bye.
Bell entered Week 16 leading the NFL with 1,222 rushing yards. He also leads in total yards with 1,849. But all of those yards equal plenty of touches, as well. His 307 carries are 48 more than any other player, while his 80 receptions are seven more than any other running back.
He needs 101 yards from scrimmage to reach 8,000 for his career and could become the fastest player in NFL history to that mark. Bell will appear in his 62nd career game Monday. Eric Dickerson reached that mark in 64 games.
With Brown out, Houston figures to focus even more on stopping Bell -- if that's possible.
"(Opponents) can do whatever they need to do. I know each and every week I come in playing," Bell said. "I'm always the focus of trying to be stopped. Regardless, it's not going to change how I prepare myself. I'll go out there and continue to do what I do.
"I want to win a Super Bowl. We win these next two games and we have a 1- or a 2-seed."
Bell hasn't been available to the Steelers for three of their past six playoff games because of injuries. And that doesn't include him leaving last year's AFC Championship early in the first quarter with a groin injury that eventually required surgery.
That and a contract negotiation that ended with him turning down a deal reportedly worth $60 million over five seasons to play for the one-year franchise tag deal worth $12.1 million kept him out of the team's offseason workouts and training camp. But Bell said he also had his health at this point in the season in mind, as well.
"I took a rest to make sure I could fulfill the whole season and take as many carries and as many catches as I need to get, and I feel fresh right now," said Bell. "I feel good."
He'd better. Backup James Conner suffered a knee injury in the loss to the Patriots last week that required season-ending surgery. The Steelers signed former 1,000-yard rusher Stevan Ridley as a replacement, but Ridley hasn't gotten a carry this season despite spending time with Denver and Minnesota.
The Steelers will figure things out with Brown out at the receiver position, with Martavis Bryant, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers taking more prominent roles. But their only two backups behind Bell now are Ridley and holdover Fitzgerald Toussaint, who has just one carry for three yards this season.
But Haley also has been cognizant of Bell's workload as the season has worn on. After he had 118 carries and 13 receptions over a four-game period that included wins over Kansas City, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Detroit, Bell has had more than 20 carries just once. That came last week against the Patriots, when he gained 117 yards on 24 carries.
"It’s a little different than last year. He was building carries as the year went last year," Haley said. "This year he had such a heavy dose there in the middle of the season that I think you’ve got to be smart."
THE QUOTES
"I love being at home with the kids and stuff, but I also understand that it’s the job and it’s what required of us. It's tough. I’m sure a lot of other fans and people at home are excited that we are playing and get to watch it, but having little ones, especially, you want to be there on Christmas morning with them." -- Ben Roethlisberger
"The first week we were there as freshmen, we all came in together in the summer and did these sprints one night together trying to get into condition before we started with the team. AB was leaps and bounds ahead of everybody else. You could tell he was special. You could tell he was fast. Throughout the course of the year, watching him play, you knew he had something special to him. He just had that intangible you can’t teach. You knew he was going places. He definitely turned out to be a great player.” -- J.J. Watt, on Antonio Brown, who was his teammate at Central Michigan University before Watt transferred to Wisconsin
"When I was in Cleveland, I was just putting it on tape. I was not going out there and not trying to put my best foot forward. The film is your resume. Here, we understand there’s a bigger goal. We’re trying to get home field. We’re trying to keep the stuff ahead of us to win these last two games and put ourselves in position to have a bye. You’ve got a Super Bowl you’re fighting for. That makes it a lot more special." -- Joe Haden, on returning to the Steelers in the middle of a playoff run
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• Cameron Heyward has five sacks in his past five games and a team-high 10 this season. He needs one more sack to pass Lawrence Timmons and Kevin Greene for eighth place on the team's all-time list with 36.
• Bell is one of just four running backs in NFL history with 80 or more catches in two different seasons. He needs four receptions to surpass his team record for running backs of 83 set in 2014.
• Roethlisberger has thrown multiple touchdown passes in a team-record six consecutive games.
• Bell needs one rushing touchdown to set a new career high with nine and tie Kordell Stewart for third place on the team's all-time list with 35.
• Chris Boswell needs two field goals to set a new team record, breaking the mark of 34 set by Norm Johnson in 1995.
• Roethlisberger will play in his 200th career regular season game. The Steelers are 134-63 in his starts. He has appeared in two career games as a backup.
• The Steelers lead the AFC in third-down conversion rate at 43.9 percent.
• The Steelers have five receivers with 40 or more receptions this season, including Smith-Schuster (43), Bryant (41) and Jesse James (41). The Steelers have never had more than four receivers reach 50 receptions in a season, getting four in 2014 when Brown, Bell, Heath Miller and Markus Wheaton reached that mark.
• Thirty-one of Smith-Schuster's 43 receptions this season have resulted in a first down. He has converted 13 of 15 third-down catches into a first down.
• Hopkins needs eight receptions for his second 100-catch season, which would match Andre Johnson for the Texans' team record.
THE SNEAKY FANTASY PLAY
With Brown out, Smith-Schuster and Bryant can hardly be considered sneaky plays. But the Texans have allowed 73 receptions for 832 yards and eight touchdowns this season, making them one of the worst teams in the league against the position. Nobody is going to have Vance McDonald in their starting lineup, but he's a downfield threat and the Steelers will want to jump out early. I can see a line of three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
THE MULTIMEDIA
Christopher Carter and I on Morning Java:
Carter and I on our DK Sports Radio Steelers preview show, sponsored by Henne Jewelers:
THE STAFF PICKS
Our football coverage team offers predictions:
Dale Lolley: Could the Steelers have an emotional letdown after last week? Sure. But I don't see that happening, not with what's still at stake. Houston's offense is, well, putrid. The Texans haven't scored more than 16 points in their past four games and have scored 16 or more points just once since losing Deshaun Watson for the season prior to their Nov. 5 game against Indianapolis, a span of seven games. Also, Houston's defense hasn't allowed less than 20 points in a game in that span. The Steelers will want to get a quick lead and get some substitutes in late. Considering opposing quarterbacks have a 99.6 passer rating against the Texans, that should be possible. Steelers, 34-13
Christopher Carter: The Steelers primarily have two concerns with the Texans, DeAndre Hopkins on offense and Jadeveon Clowney on defense. Hopkins will be an interesting test for the Steelers' corners outside the numbers. Clowney will be put at various positions on the field to cause trouble, but the Steelers have enough weapons to neutralize that problem. Look for Le'Veon Bell to have a big day and for the Steelers’ pass rush to give T.J. Yates nightmares in a rout. Steelers, 31-13
Matt Sunday: This game had all the trimmings for a beautiful Christmas despite being snow-free and in Houston. Then the Watt-on-Watt reunion was spoiled with J.J. Watt’s injury. No big deal, right? I still get to photograph surefire rookie of the year Deshaun Watson... You guys get the picture, I think. This should be a tenth the game it could have been, and it should be all Steelers even without the MVP. Steelers, 33-17
Dejan Kovacevic: These next two weeks will be all about intangibles, and I mean that literally. The Steelers won't face the Texans or Browns as much as they will the specter of spectacularly blowing a first-round bye. No need to sugarcoat it: No team they'd face in the first round will be anywhere near as weak as these two. Beat both, and secure the best chance at the Super Bowl. That's got to be the focus, snap after snap, until they get it done. Or until they can get Landry Jones out there. Steelers, 26-15