The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their three-game preseason slate on Friday at home against the Houston Texans, who are coming off a loss to the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame Game.
Here is everything you need to know surrounding the Steelers vs. Texans Week 1 preseason game, including the channel, start time, live stream options, and more.
How to Watch Texans at Steelers on Friday Night
- Start time: Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, 7 p.m. ET
- Channel: NFL Network
- Live stream options: NFL App, NFL+, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Radio stations: SportsRadio 610, Steelers Audio Network
- Starting QBs: C.J. Stroud, Justin Fields
- Betting lines:
- Spread: PIT -1
- Total: 37.5
- Moneyline: PIT -110, HOU -110
The Texans and Bears couldn’t outlast the rain in Canton and had to call it quits, with Houston falling 21-17 in the third quarter despite Davis Mills and Case Keenum looking sharp in their time on the gridiron. At the same time, second-year WR Xavier Hutchinson made the most of his touches. The 2023 sixth-round pick caught five of six targets for 56 yards and got one carry for eight yards.
On Friday, Fans will finally get to see Stroud hit the field, but there’s no word if his new weapon, WR Stefon Diggs, will also play.
Meanwhile, the Steelers’ offense got a makeover over the offseason. Former offensive coordinator Matt Canada was dismissed after Week 11 last season and replaced in the offseason with Smith. Additionally, after Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson, the franchise traded Kenny Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round pick (RB Jaylen Wright) to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2023 third-round pick (LB Payton Wilson) and two 2025 seventh-round selections.
That wasn’t the only move the Steelers made under center, as they also sent a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears for Fields. That sixth-rounder could upgrade to a fourth-round pick if Fields plays 51% of snaps this season. Unless his performance in the preseason is vastly better than that of the Super Bowl winner and nine-time Pro Bowler, the plan is for Wilson to start.
It will be challenging, as Pittsburgh has doubled down on its WR group despite Diontae Johnson heading to the Carolina Panthers. George Pickens leads the group, with free agent Van Jefferson and third-year WR Calvin Austin III rounding out the top three. While TE Pat Freiermuth and RB Jaylen Warren have proven to boost the passing game, Pittsburgh needs someone to step up in the receiver room.
Pickens may get a couple of snaps, but expect the rest of the WR core to get a lot of action in the preseason as Pittsburgh attempts to figure out who will make the final 53 for the black and gold. The Steelers got stronger on the line in the 2024 NFL Draft while continuing to fine-tune a top-notch defense through free agency.
Texans vs. Steelers Betting Preview
We did not see C.J. Stroud in the Hall of Fame game and it is unlikely we see much of him or the top-tier Houston Texans offensive players in preseason. The best quarterback in this game will likely be Justin Fields, and we could see him get an extended runout. Equally, there are question marks at starting spots in the WR room and competition on the offensive line.
For more betting analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s Week 1 preseason picks and predictions.
Fantasy Players to Watch
RB Dameon Pierce
Last year, Dameon Pierce raised his ADP by over a full round when he appeared to be a three-down back. We later learned that was just the Texans wanting to get him his reps and get him out. With Joe Mixon the clear starter, combined with Pierce’s dreadful performance last season, it will be worth noting if Pierce looks better this year. That will help us determine if Pierce has any value as a Mixon handcuff … or if Pierce would be worth picking up in the event he gets traded to an RB-needy team.
QB Justin Fields
We know who the fantasy-relevant guys on the Steelers are. What we don’t know is how valuable they will be. This team brings a lot of uncertainty between the departure of Diontae Johnson, the arrival of new OC Arthur Smith, and the overhaul of the QB room with all three guys from last year no longer on the team.
Wilson is likely going to start under center in Week 1 of the regular season, but I believe he won’t last more than half the season as the starter. How Wilson and Fields look in the preseason could help us predict if (or when) Fields might take over.
For more fantasy analysis, make sure to check out PFN’s fantasy players to watch during the NFL preseason.