The Pittsburgh Steelers were supposed to have the "Monday Night Football" magic on their side. They had won 23 straight home games on Monday night. It’s a streak that felt almost mythical in the NFL. But honestly? Records like that are just waiting to be broken by a team as young and fearless as the Houston Texans.
If you tuned in tonight, you saw a beatdown. The Houston Texans won 30-6, and it wasn't even as close as that score makes it look. While the first three quarters were a defensive slugfest, the fourth quarter was a total meltdown for Pittsburgh. The Texans put up 23 points in the final frame alone.
The Turning Point Nobody Saw Coming
For most of the night, it felt like a classic AFC North scrap. It was 7-6 heading into the fourth. Then, everything changed.
The play that basically ended the Steelers' season happened with about 11 minutes left. Will Anderson Jr. absolutely leveled Aaron Rodgers. The ball popped loose, and Sheldon Rankins scooped it up for a 33-yard touchdown return. You could feel the air leave Acrisure Stadium.
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From there, the wheels fell off. Woody Marks added a 13-yard rushing touchdown. To cap it off, Calen Bullock snagged a late Rodgers pass and took it 50 yards for another defensive score. Two defensive touchdowns in one quarter? That’s unheard of in the playoffs.
Why the Texans Ruled the Day
The Texans defense is legit. They are currently the top-ranked unit in the league, and they played like it. They sacked Rodgers four times and limited him to just 146 yards. Honestly, it might be the last time we see Rodgers on a football field. He looked every bit of 42 years old out there.
On the other side, C.J. Stroud was steady. He didn't have to be a superhero because his defense and run game were so dominant. Christian Kirk was his favorite target, hauling in 8 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown. Kirk was basically uncoverable in the intermediate routes.
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- Final Score: Texans 30, Steelers 6
- Key Stat: Houston’s defense scored more touchdowns (2) than the Steelers' offense scored points (6) in the second half.
- The Streak: Pittsburgh’s 23-game home win streak on Monday night is officially over.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
People are going to blame Mike Tomlin. They always do. This loss ties him with Marvin Lewis for the longest playoff losing streak by a coach (seven games). But look at the roster. The Steelers' offense had 175 total yards. You can’t win playoff games in 2026 with that kind of production.
The Texans, meanwhile, are the hottest team in football. They’ve won 10 straight games. They started the season 0-3 and looked dead in the water. Now? They’re heading to Foxborough to play the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.
Actionable Takeaways for the Divisional Round
If you're looking ahead to next week, here is what this game tells us:
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- Bet on the Texans Defense: They just destroyed a Hall of Fame QB. Drake Maye and the Patriots are a much tougher test, but Houston's pass rush is ferocious.
- Fade the Aging Vets: We saw it with Rodgers tonight. The "old guard" of QBs is struggling against these high-speed, hybrid defenses.
- Watch the Texans Run Game: Woody Marks had 112 yards tonight. If Houston can run like that on the road, they can beat anyone.
The Texans have never won a road playoff game in their franchise history until tonight. That "curse" is gone. Now, they look like a team that could actually crash the Super Bowl party.
The road to the AFC Championship now goes through New England and Denver. If Houston plays defense like they did tonight, those "favorites" should be very, very nervous.