The Bad: Steelers defense woefully out of position
The Steelers didn't sack CJ Stroud. The Steelers didn't create a single turnover. The Steelers allowed over 139 yards on the ground. The Steelers allowed Nico Collins to catch seven passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense was ugly. The Steelers cannot stop a nosebleed in the run game. Dameon Pierce had 100 yards coming into the game running behind an incredibly depleted offensive line and still managed to rush for 81 yards. The Texans made no excuses and produced in a grand way. The Steelers have one excuse with the absence of Cam Heyward, which isn't nearly enough to lean on to explain why this team can't be more effective against the run.
CJ Stroud was comfortable for nearly the entire game. The Texans properly double-teamed and moved away from Watt and Highsmith knowing the Steelers struggle to create a pass rush with anyone else. Again, the Texans made no excuses for having a player off the street at left tackle and a third-string center. The Steelers couldn't produce pressure.
The back end continues to be a liability. Levi Wallace was picked on for much of the game. He allowed much of Nico Collins's production, including his first touchdown grab. Stroud threw for 306 yards practically unchallenged.
So much of the Steelers' problems come from playing soft in zone, slow to react in man and miscommunication up the middle. There was no sign of improvement against the Texans in any of these areas.
No play was more emblematic of the Steelers' inability to be in proper position on defense than Devin Singletary's touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz. No feel for the fake as the front seven bolted for Singletary and both Patrick Peterson and Minkah Fitzpatrick were well out of position to challenge Schultz.