The playoffs change everything. One minute you're Aaron Rodgers, a legend trying to squeeze one last drop of magic out of a storied career in Pittsburgh, and the next, you're watching Sheldon Rankins gallop 33 yards with your fumble into the end zone.
Honestly, the all football scores today nfl search results tell a story of a changing guard. If you were looking for a high-flying shootout at Acrisure Stadium on Monday night, you probably left disappointed. Unless, of course, you're a Houston fan. The Texans didn't just win; they essentially took the Steelers' lunch money and threw it in the river.
30–6. That was the final damage.
It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exactly what DeMeco Ryans wants his team to be.
The Monday Night Mauling: Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
Most people expected a tight one. The Steelers were at home, and Rodgers usually has a trick or two up his sleeve when the postseason lights get bright. But the Texans' defense is currently a woodchipper. They sacked Rodgers four times and held the entire Pittsburgh offense to a measly 175 total yards.
You read that right. 175 yards in a playoff game.
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The fourth quarter was where the wheels completely fell off for the Black and Gold. First, there was the Sheldon Rankins fumble return for a touchdown. Then, with just over two minutes left, Calen Bullock snagged a pass and took it 50 yards the other way for a pick-six. Two defensive touchdowns in one quarter? That’s basically a cheat code.
Houston moves on to face the New England Patriots next Sunday. For the Steelers, this marks their seventh straight playoff loss under Mike Tomlin. T.J. Watt looked absolutely gung-ho frustrated in the locker room afterwards. "Don't ask me," was about all he had for the press regarding the future. It's a tough pill to swallow for a city that lives and breathes playoff success.
Super Wild Card Weekend Recap: What Most People Missed
While the Texans game was the final act, the rest of the weekend was a rollercoaster. We saw massive comebacks and some of the coldest-blooded quarterback play in recent memory.
The Caleb Williams Coming Out Party
In Chicago, things looked bleak. The Bears were down 18 points to the Packers. 21–3 at halftime. You could feel the "here we go again" energy radiating from the Soldier Field crowd. But Caleb Williams stayed weirdly calm. He threw for 361 yards, and while he had two picks, his 25-yard dime to DJ Moore with 1:43 left was the dagger.
Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27. It was the first playoff win for the Bears in 15 years. Ben Johnson’s offense finally clicked when it mattered most.
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The Close Calls and Heartbreaks
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen did Josh Allen things. It wasn't perfect, but he made the plays late to eliminate Trevor Lawrence and the Jags.
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: This one was a shootout in Charlotte. Bryce Young actually played great, running for a score and throwing another, but Matthew Stafford’s veteran poise (304 yards, 3 TDs) was too much for the young Panthers to overcome.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: A defensive slugfest at the Linc. The 49ers move on, but at a cost—George Kittle is reportedly out for the rest of the playoffs.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Drake Maye’s playoff debut wasn't flashy, but it was effective. The Patriots' defense completely erased Justin Herbert.
Why These Scores Flip the Divisional Round Script
If you’re looking at the bracket now, the AFC is looking like a gauntlet. The Denver Broncos have been sitting at home resting, waiting to host the Bills. That’s a massive matchup. Sean Payton versus Josh Allen in the altitude? Sign me up.
But the real intrigue might be Houston heading to Foxborough. The Patriots' defense is legendary, but can they handle a Texans unit that is scoring more than their own offense right now? It’s a matchup of two elite defensive minds in Jerod Mayo and DeMeco Ryans.
Over in the NFC, we’ve got the 49ers traveling to Seattle. The Seahawks have been the most consistent team in the conference all year, and with Kittle out for San Francisco, the math changes significantly for Brock Purdy.
Then you have the Rams heading to Chicago. Matthew Stafford versus Caleb Williams. The old lion against the new cub. It’s the kind of narrative the NFL scripts in its dreams.
What Really Happened with the NFL Draft Order
The fallout of these games isn't just about who's moving toward the Super Bowl. For the teams that lost, the focus immediately shifts to April. Since the Texans-Steelers game finished, we now know the first 24 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The Las Vegas Raiders officially hold the No. 1 overall pick. They finished 3–14, and everyone expects them to go after a quarterback—specifically Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. The Jets, Cardinals, and Titans follow them in the top four.
Interestingly, the Cowboys are sitting pretty. Thanks to the Micah Parsons trade, they own the Packers' first-round pick, which is now locked in at No. 20 after Green Bay's collapse in Chicago. The Browns also have a late first-rounder from the Jaguars after Jacksonville’s loss to Buffalo.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Now that the Wild Card dust has settled, the focus shifts to the Divisional Round. Here is how you should prep for the upcoming weekend:
- Check the Injury Reports Early: Monitor the status of George Kittle (SF) and Matthew Stafford’s finger (LAR). These two injuries could swing the betting lines significantly by Thursday.
- Adjust Your Bracket: If you had the Steelers or Eagles going deep, it's time to pivot. The Texans' defense is the "X-factor" that most pundits ignored.
- Watch the Weather in Denver: Bills at Broncos is an outdoor game in mid-January. If the wind picks up, the passing games for both Allen and Nix could be neutralized, favoring the team that can run the ball better—which lately, has been Buffalo.
- Set Your DVR for Saturday: The double-header starts with Bills-Broncos at 4:30 PM ET, followed by 49ers-Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting shorter, and based on what we saw today, the favorites aren't nearly as safe as we thought.