Of course, Kubiak is cautiously optimistic after a preseason that continued to raise a number of questions about the team's biggest weaknesses.

"We're just trying to get better," Kubiak said. "There's no choice. You either get better in this business or you're in trouble. It's just the way it works. Our team is getting better, our core group of guys that we've had in place here for a period of time are all better. But now we get to go out and find out just how far we've come. But we understand what we're facing and like I said, we'll have to be as good as we've been, especially with this opening day."

Kubiak understands that the Texans were given no favors by those setting the schedules. Opening at Heinz Field on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers isn't the ideal place to ease a new rookie left tackle into the mix or the ideal place to have a game in which you need your running backs to gain some confidence and remain healthy.

But the Texans aren't backing down. They know the significance of the game. They know the challenge ahead of them.

"They have a (defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau) who is a legend in this league," Kubiak said. "He does a lot. If you look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and you study them over a month, they do so many things there's not enough time in the week to try to prepare for all the things they do. So, what you try to do is make sure your guys are doing what they do best and what they know. You're going to get some looks that you haven't seen.

"They're no different than anyone else in the league. They've been saving some things. This guy has a lot in his arsenal. We'll see a bunch of things, but we'll just try to settle our guys down and hopefully keep them confident in what they are doing."

The Texans have all three of their running backs -- Ahman Green, Chris Taylor and Steve Slaton -- healthy for the game. Ideally, Kubiak wants to split the carries between all three.

All eyes on offense will be on left tackle Duane Brown, who said he is already starting to feel nervous as his first NFL game approaches. But he is preparing as much as he can to face one of the league's toughest defenses. Brown has watched film and picked the brain of any veteran who has advice to offer.

He understands against Pittsburgh one of the biggest tasks falls in his hands -- protecting quarterback Matt Schaub's blind side. And he's not taking it lightly.

"It's a huge job," Brown said. "He's our starting quarterback; the guy's leading our offense. I've got to keep those guys off his back any way I can, no matter who it is or what team it is. It's a great responsibility, but I'm up for the challenge."

SERIES HISTORY: 3rd meeting. Series tied, 1-1, The Texans lost to the Steelers at home, but upset the Steelers, 24-6, in their only trip to Heinz Field in 2002. The offense mustered just 47 net yards, but the defense scored three touchdowns to win the game.