Wild Card weekend just wrapped up, and honestly, if you went to bed early during that Monday night finale, you missed the final nail in the coffin for one of the league's most storied franchises. The Houston Texans didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 at Acrisure Stadium. It was a defensive masterclass that officially ended the Wild Card round and sent Mike Tomlin to the podium for what would be his final time as the Steelers' head coach.
The playoffs are a different beast. You've got veterans like Aaron Rodgers trying to find one last spark of magic, and then you have the new guard, like C.J. Stroud, who can turn the ball over five times and still walk away with a blowout victory because his defense is essentially a brick wall.
Who Won the Football Games Today in the NFL: The Monday Night Finale
Technically, the "today" in question is the morning after the Monday night dust has settled. The Houston Texans secured the final spot in the Divisional Round by stomping the Steelers.
It was ugly. Really ugly.
Houston’s defense, which DeMeco Ryans has dubbed the "S.W.A.R.M.," lived up to every bit of that acronym. They pressured Aaron Rodgers on nearly 45% of his dropbacks. Imagine being 42 years old and having Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter chasing you for three hours. Rodgers looked every bit his age by the fourth quarter.
The Turning Point
The game was actually tight for a while. At halftime, it was 7-6. People were thinking we were in for a classic defensive slog. But then the fourth quarter happened.
- Sheldon Rankins scooped up a fumble after a Will Anderson sack and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown.
- Woody Marks, the rookie back, put the game away with a 13-yard TD run late in the fourth.
- Calen Bullock capped the night with a 50-yard pick-six on Rodgers' final pass of the game.
Twenty-three unanswered points in the fourth quarter. That’s how you close a game.
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A Weekend of Comebacks and Heartbreak
While the Monday game was a blowout, the rest of the weekend was pure chaos. If you're looking at who won the football games today in the nfl across the entire Wild Card slate, the theme was "heroics."
Matthew Stafford reminded everyone why the Rams traded for him years ago. He threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns to lead a late-game comeback against the Carolina Panthers, winning 34-31. It was Stafford’s fourth career playoff game-winning drive, tying him with Russell Wilson for the most among active QBs.
Then there was the Chicago Bears.
Caleb Williams is the real deal. The Bears were down by 18 at halftime against the Green Bay Packers. Most fans were probably checking mock drafts by the third quarter. But Williams stayed cool, eventually finding DJ Moore for a 25-yard game-winning score with less than two minutes left. Final: 31-27, Bears.
Saturday and Sunday Scoreboard Recap
The results were a mix of high-octane offense and "win by any means" grit:
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen did Josh Allen things, including a late scramble that basically broke the Jags' spirit.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: This one was physical. The Niners lost George Kittle to an injury early, but Christian McCaffrey carried the load with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Drake Maye won his first playoff start in a game that felt like it was played in 1994. Very few points, lots of punting.
Why the Steelers-Texans Game Still Matters
The 30-6 scoreline tells you the Texans are good. But the real story is what happened afterward. Mike Tomlin stepped down after 19 seasons. That’s nearly two decades of stability gone in one night.
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Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since 2016. That’s a seven-game postseason losing streak, which ties Marvin Lewis for the longest in NFL history. For a franchise that prides itself on "The Standard," that standard has been slipping for a while.
On the flip side, Houston is scary. They won their 10th straight game on Monday. C.J. Stroud didn't even play well—he fumbled five times—and they still won by 24 points. When your defense outscores the opposing offense, you’re going to be a tough out in the next round.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Texans
Most people think the Texans are just C.J. Stroud. That’s a mistake.
Honestly, their defense is the best unit in the AFC right now. They held Pittsburgh to 175 total yards. They forced the Steelers into 2-of-14 on third downs. That’s a 14.3% conversion rate. You can’t win at the grocery store with those numbers, let alone in the NFL playoffs.
Christian Kirk was the unsung hero on the offensive side, hauling in 144 yards and a touchdown. He’s become the safety net that Stroud needs when the pocket collapses.
The Road Ahead: Divisional Round Schedule
Now that we know who won the football games today in the nfl, the bracket is officially set for the Divisional Round. No more guessing.
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Saturday, January 17
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET): The Bills are road warriors, but playing in the thin air of Denver against the #1 seed is a different animal.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET): An NFC West rematch with the highest stakes possible. Seattle is rested; San Francisco is bruised.
Sunday, January 18
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET): This is the game everyone is circling. Can the Texans' defense rattle the rookie Drake Maye?
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET): Stafford vs. Williams. The old vet vs. the new face of the league.
What Really Happened With the Favorites?
The "favorites" didn't have an easy time. The Eagles were expected to give the Niners a much harder run, but Philly’s offense just looked stagnant. It’s sort of wild to think that a team that started so strong ended up being a "one-and-done" in the Wild Card.
And the Packers? Man. To lead by 18 points on the road and let it slip away... that’s going to haunt Green Bay all through the spring.
Actionable Insights for the Next Round
If you're looking at these results to figure out where to put your attention (or your money) next week, keep these three things in mind:
- Defense Wins Rounds: Houston’s defense is currently playing at a historic level. They generated -33.4 EPA (Expected Points Added) against Pittsburgh. That’s the best mark for any playoff defense in a decade.
- The Home Field Myth: We saw multiple road teams (Texans, Bills, 49ers) exert total control this weekend. Don't assume Denver or Seattle will have an easy time just because they had a week off.
- Injuries are Mounting: Watch the injury reports for George Kittle (SF) and Woody Marks (HOU). Marks got "dinged up" but finished the game; Kittle’s Achilles is a much larger concern for the Niners' offense.
The Wild Card round usually provides one "statement" game, and this year, that statement was made in Pittsburgh. The Texans are legit, the Steelers are entering a total rebuild, and the Divisional Round is shaping up to be a bloodbath.
Check the injury reports on Wednesday morning to see if Kittle or the Texans' receiving corps (which is also banged up) are trending toward playing. The odds for the Denver vs. Buffalo game are already moving, so if you're looking at the lines, now is the time to jump before the "public money" shifts them even further.