If you were looking for a nail-biter to wrap up the Wild Card round, I'm sorry to say you probably turned the TV off by the middle of the fourth quarter. The monday night football tonight score ended up being a lopsided 30-6 victory for the Houston Texans over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Honestly, it wasn't even as close as that score looks on paper.
Pittsburgh came into Acrisure Stadium with a 23-game home winning streak on Monday nights. That’s gone now. Poof. Houston didn’t just break the streak; they dismantled it behind a defense that looked like it was playing a different sport than the Steelers’ offense.
The Bloodbath in the Fourth Quarter
For about three quarters, this was actually a game. Sorta.
It was 7-6 at halftime. Chris Boswell had account for all of Pittsburgh’s points with two field goals, and C.J. Stroud had found Christian Kirk for a short touchdown. It felt like one of those classic, gritty AFC playoff games where the first team to 15 points wins. Then the fourth quarter happened, and the wheels didn't just come off for Pittsburgh—the whole axle snapped.
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Houston put up 23 points in the final frame.
The turning point was probably the strip-sack by Will Anderson Jr. He got to Aaron Rodgers, the ball popped out, and Sheldon Rankins scooped it up for a 33-yard touchdown. That made it 17-6. You could practically hear the air leaving the stadium. A few minutes later, Woody Marks punched in a 13-yard run. By the time Calen Bullock intercepted Rodgers and took it 50 yards to the house for a pick-six, the fans were already streaming toward the parking lots.
Aaron Rodgers and the End of an Era?
Everyone is going to be talking about Aaron Rodgers tomorrow. It’s unavoidable.
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The stat line is ugly: 17-of-33 for 146 yards, no touchdowns, and that back-breaking interception at the end. He looked every bit of his age against a Texans pass rush that finished with four sacks and 12 quarterback hits. Mike Tomlin didn't have many answers in his post-game presser, basically saying "words are cheap" when asked about the future.
Tomlin is now 0-7 in his last seven playoff games. That ties him with Marvin Lewis for the longest postseason losing streak by a head coach in NFL history. It's a staggering stat for a guy who has never had a losing season in the regular market.
Key Performers Who Actually Showed Up
- Christian Kirk (HOU): He was the best player on the field. 8 catches, 144 yards, and a touchdown. He was Stroud’s security blanket all night.
- Woody Marks (HOU): The rookie had a day. 112 rushing yards and a late touchdown. He’s the first rookie to hit the 100-yard mark in a playoff game since 2021.
- Sheldon Rankins (HOU): A defensive tackle scoring a touchdown is always fun, unless you’re a Steelers fan. He also had 1.5 sacks.
- T.J. Watt (PIT): He tried. He really did. But one man can't stop a collapse of this magnitude.
What This Means for the Divisional Round
The Texans are moving on to Foxborough to play the New England Patriots next Sunday. That is going to be a massive test for C.J. Stroud, who, despite the win, wasn't actually "great" tonight. He threw for 250 yards but also had three turnovers (a pick and two fumbles). You cannot do that against a Bill Belichick-coached defense—or whoever is running the show in New England these days—and expect to survive.
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Houston’s defense is the real deal, though. They held Pittsburgh to 175 total yards. That is an insane number for a playoff game in 2026.
For the Steelers, the offseason starts with a lot of uncomfortable questions. Is Rodgers coming back? Does Tomlin want to keep doing this? The "Standard" in Pittsburgh is starting to feel like a first-round exit, and the fans are clearly losing patience.
Actionable Takeaways for Playoff Bettors
If you are looking ahead to the Divisional Round after seeing the monday night football tonight score, keep these things in mind:
- Don't ignore the Texans' defense: They are officially a "no-fly zone." If they can get pressure with four men, they can beat anyone.
- Stroud's ball security: He’s been a bit loose with the football lately. Look at the "under" on his passing yards or "over" on interceptions if the line is high against New England.
- The Home Field Myth: We just saw a 23-game home streak die. In the playoffs, momentum and health matter way more than the logo on the 50-yard line.
The road to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara is getting narrower. Houston looks like a team nobody wants to play right now, while Pittsburgh is left wondering where it all went wrong.