The 4-10 Houston Texans host the 11-3 Pittsburgh Steelers this Monday afternoon (Xmas day) in a game on NBC and NFLN. The Texans are coming off a 45-7 road drubbing by Jacksonville Jaguars and the Steelers had their 8 game win streak stopped last Sunday night with a 27-24 controversial home loss to the New England Patriots. The Steelers lost standout WR Antonio Brown in that game and he is expected to miss this game with a leg contusion - but they are still quite loaded. On paper, this one looks like a slaughter. However, Pittsburgh is noted for doing just enough to win in their road games and it's not too early to start resting starters for the playoffs. Then again, injuries have depleted the Texans so one wonders how much fight they have left...
TV = NBC/NFLN, Monday, 3:30 pm CST, December 25, 2017
Announcers = Mike Tirico, Kurt Warner
The line = Steelers by 8½ to 10
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Saturday games:
NFLN (late) = Indianapolis @ Baltimore 3:30 CST, Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
NBC (night) = Minnesota @ Green Bay 7:30 CST
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Sunday viewing in the Houston area:
CBS (early) = Buffalo @ New England, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX (early) = Atlanta @ New Orleans, Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX (late) = Seattle @ Dallas, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
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Prime time:
TNF = no game
SNF = no game
MNF = Oakland @ Philadelphia (ESPN)