Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien is hoping his team's game on Christmas Day against the Pittsburgh Steelers won't distract them from what really matters at this time of year.
He's giving players and coaches Christmas Eve off ahead of the second-last game of the season.
"We'll enjoy time with our family, but you have the Pittsburgh Steelers coming in here so, to be honest with you, you got them on your mind," O'Brien said, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "But you have to spend time with your family and have as good a Christmas as you can have. I love Christmas, but it is hard with the game on Christmas."
The Texans will enter their Week 16 game on the heels of a 45-7 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers also suffered a demoralizing loss in Week 15, losing to the New England Patriots after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception at the Patriots' goal line in the final seconds of play.
With the Steelers boasting an 11-3 record and vying for a first-round bye, O'Brien isn't stressing the holiday matchup with the Texans sitting at 4-10 and long out of the playoff race.
"I think it's more about what Christmas is about, if you know what I mean, and being together with your family and the spiritual side of Christmas. I have a lot of great memories of Christmas," O'Brien said.
It's further proof of how O'Brien has endeared himself to his players despite the lost season, following recent praise from injured rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson.
"Coach OB is fun to play for. He's very tough on you. He wants you to be successful. I would love to have coach OB back and I'm ready to have him with me for my whole career," said Watson.
