LATROBE - The Houston Texans return Saturday night to the scene of one of the most peculiar games in NFL history.

In week 13 of the 2002 season, the Texans went to Heinz Field and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-6, despite being outgained in offensive yardage 422-47. The Texans set an NFL record for fewest yards in a win.

"Our defense played one of the most courageous games I've been around that day," said Texans coach Dom Capers. "The Steelers ran I can't remember how many plays - it was like our defense played at least a game and a half and possibly two games that day."

Cornerback Kenny Wright returned a fumble 40 yards for the first Houston touchdown. Aaron Glenn intercepted two of Tommy Maddox's 57 passes and returned them for touchdowns. The expansion Texans had just three first downs and converted only one third-down attempt.

The 18-point margin of victory remains the largest in the history of the Texans, who are 9-23 in two seasons and have never won back-to-back games.

Texans tight end Mark Bruener remembers the game. He was with the Steelers then.

"It was a strange game, but if you really look at it, the team that had the fewest turnovers and made the most of its opportunities won the game," said Bruener, who was released by the Steelers in February.

Bruener is the Texans' starting tight end. Last week he caught two passes for 28 yards in the Texans' 18-0 win over the Dallas Cowboys. This will be Bruener's first trip back to Heinz Field.

"It's going to be weird," he said. "It's going to be odd on a different sideline, in a different locker room and in a different jersey."

The Steelers are looking to bounce back from a 27-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. Jerome Bettis will replace Duce Staley as the starting tailback Saturday night. The two alternate as the starting tailbacks in practice, but Staley made a strong bid for the starting job last week by rushing for 45 yards on 11 carries. Bettis gained 5 yards on 5 carries. This could be Bettis' final starting assignment.

"He's handled it as he understood his situation to be when he came back, so I don't think that's been an issue at all," said Steelers coach Bill Cowher. "Physically, he came in in great shape and I think he looks fine. I think it's a good situation back there."

Cowher said the starters will play into the second quarter and get between 20 and 35 snaps.

The Steelers will be without right guard Kendall Simmons, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Others ruled out of Saturday's game were inside linebacker Kendrell Bell (shoulder/bicep), reserve nose tackle Kendrick Clancy (calf), linebacker Clark Haggans (fingers) and reserve cornerback Terry Fair (hamstring).

Cowher said he would use the same quarterback rotation he used last week: Tommy Maddox, Ben Roethlisberger and Brian St. Pierre, with the possibility of also playing newly acquired Kurt Kittner.