The NFL playoffs have a way of making you feel like you've seen it all before, until a night like last night happens. If you're looking for the monday night football game today, you actually missed a bit of a defensive masterclass. Technically, the Wild Card round wrapped up late Monday night, January 12, 2026, leaving us on this Tuesday morning with a whole lot of questions about the future of a few legends.
It was Houston and Pittsburgh. The Texans. The Steelers.
People were calling for a shootout between the young phenom C.J. Stroud and the grizzled veteran Aaron Rodgers. What we got instead was a 30-6 beatdown by the Texans that honestly felt even more lopsided than the scoreboard showed. It's wild how quickly the narrative shifts in this league. One minute Rodgers is the story of the year for leading Pittsburgh to an AFC North title at 42 years old, and the next, he's sitting on a cold bench in Acrisure Stadium looking every bit his age.
The Monday Night Game Today: Breaking Down the Texans’ Dominance
Most people expected the Steelers’ "Steel Curtain" to be the story. Wrong.
Houston’s "S.W.A.R.M." defense basically turned the lights out on Pittsburgh’s season. They didn't just win; they suffocated one of the most storied franchises in sports. Sheldon Rankins and Will Anderson Jr. were lived in the backfield. At one point, Rankins literally snatched a fumble and rumbled into the end zone like he was a tight end. That play changed the energy in the stadium instantly.
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You could almost feel the air leave the city.
The Steelers were just 2-of-14 on third downs. That’s a death sentence in the postseason. Rodgers was under pressure on nearly 46% of his dropbacks, which is a nightmare scenario for a quarterback who relies on timing. He finished with a pick-six on his very last throw. If that ends up being the final pass of his career, it’s a heartbreaking way to go out.
Why Nobody is Talking About the Texans’ Secondary
While everyone focuses on the pass rush, the real reason the Texans are moving on to New England is their secondary. Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. are playing like they’ve been in the league for a decade.
They held the Steelers to two field goals.
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That’s it.
No touchdowns at home in a playoff game. It’s the kind of performance that makes you realize Houston isn't just "happy to be here." They’re legitimate contenders.
What Happens Now?
Since there is no monday night football game today—as the Wild Card round is officially in the books—we look toward the Divisional Round. The bracket is set, and the matchups are spicy.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: This is the big one. The Texans travel to face the No. 2 seed.
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: A rematch of a regular-season thriller.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: The Bears are coming off a massive win over the Packers and get to stay home at Soldier Field.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: A classic NFC West rivalry with everything on the line.
What Fans Get Wrong About the Postseason Schedule
There’s always a bit of confusion when the playoffs roll around because the NFL loves to flex games. For years, we didn't have a Monday night game in the first round. Now, it's the grand finale of "Super Wild Card Weekend."
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If you were searching for the monday night football game today hoping for more live action, you're actually in the "lull" before the Divisional Round kicks off this Saturday, January 17.
It’s basically a recovery day for fans.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from last night isn't just that Houston won. It's that the gap between the "old guard" and the new generation of quarterbacks has finally closed—or maybe it's just been leapt over entirely. Stroud didn't have to be a superhero because his defense was so elite. That’s a dangerous recipe for the Patriots to deal with next week.
If you’re planning your week around the next set of games, here is the move:
- Check the injury reports: Keep an eye on the Texans' offensive line; they took a few knocks late in the game.
- Watch the lines: The Bills are actually opening as favorites in Denver despite being the lower seed. That tells you a lot about how Vegas sees the Broncos right now.
- Clear your Saturday: The Divisional Round is usually the best weekend of football in the entire year.
The Monday night game today might be over, but the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is just getting started. If the Texans play like they did last night, don't be surprised if they're the ones representing the AFC in February.