Welcome to the Sports Porch Black & Gold! It is the final game of Wild Card Weekend, and the lights have never been brighter at Acrisure Stadium. Tonight, the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) look to snap a nine-year playoff win drought as they host the hottest team in football, the Houston Texans (12-5), on Monday Night Football.
The Big Storylines
The Metcalf Factor: Huge news for the Black & Gold—DK Metcalf is officially back from suspension. He led the team with 850 receiving yards and 6 TDs, and Aaron Rodgers finally has his #1 target back to face the league’s top-ranked defense.
The Streak vs. The History: Houston is riding a 9-game winning streak, but they are 0-6 all-time in road playoff games. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin is a legendary 22-3 on Monday Night Football, with the Steelers winning 23 straight MNF home games.
The QB Battle: It’s the veteran vs. the phenom. Aaron Rodgers has stabilized this offense with 24 TDs and a +12 turnover margin, while C.J. Stroud has the Texans' "SWARM" defense allowing a league-low 277.2 yards per game.
Key Stats to Watch
Turnover Battle: This game features two of the best: Houston is +17 (2nd in NFL) and Pittsburgh is +12 (4th in NFL).
The Edge: Tomlin’s biggest concern? The duo of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, who combined for 27 sacks this season.
The Score: Keep an eye on the kickers. With an Over/Under of just 38.5, Chris Boswell and Ka'imi Fairbairn could be the MVPs tonight.
We’re breaking down the Porch Picks, the keys to victory, and what it’ll take for the Steelers to punch their ticket to Foxborough for the Divisional Round. Drop your score predictions in the comments right now!
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