Squirrel’s Nuts & Bolts Texans - Steelers MNF Showdown Strategy (Wild Card Weekend NFL DFS)

Jan 12, 2026

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

A very entertaining Wild Card Weekend wraps up with another closely lined game as the Texans travel to Pittsburgh to meet the Steelers. Houston finished with the better record between the two teams, closing the season on a nine-game winning streak to finish at 12-5, while the Steelers secured home-field advantage by winning the AFC North at 10-7. Houston enters as a 3.0-point road favorite, with the total set at 38.5 points.

The Texans’ offense is led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, who finished the season with 19 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in 14 games. Nico Collins led the team in receiving yards and tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns, while tight end Dalton Schultz paced Houston’s pass-catchers with 82 receptions. In the backfield, rookie running back Woody Marks took control of the rushing workload after the team’s Week 6 bye and finished with a team-high 703 rushing yards, while Nick Chubb opened the season as the starter and still led the Texans with three rushing touchdowns.

Aaron Rodgers finished his first season in Pittsburgh with 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, throwing primarily to WR DK Metcalf (59 receptions for 850 yards) and then spreading targets among a collection of running backs and tight ends. RB Kenneth Gainwell led the team with 73 receptions and ranked second on the Steelers in rushing yards with 537, trailing only Jaylen Warren (958). The tight end rotation was difficult to pin down on a week-to-week basis, but Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington (now on IR), and Jonnu Smith combined for 110 receptions and 1,072 receiving yards, with Freiermuth leading the trio at 41 catches for 486 yards.

This matchup features two teams with strong defenses fighting to stay alive in the playoffs. Let’s break down this Wild Card showdown, highlight the key plays, and uncover the strategies that could help you climb the leaderboards.