The NFL playoff picture is finally clear, but man, getting there was a total mess. If you were looking for NFL scores yesterday, you probably saw the lopsided number in Pittsburgh and wondered if your app was glitching. It wasn't. The Houston Texans didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6 at Acrisure Stadium.
It was a cold Monday night that felt even colder for the home crowd. Honestly, nobody expected a blowout of this magnitude, especially with the Steelers’ legendary home winning streak on Monday nights. That’s dead now. 23 straight wins gone, just like that.
The Texans Smothered Pittsburgh
C.J. Stroud had a weird night. He fumbled five times. Five! He actually tied an NFL playoff record for fumbles in a single game. But here’s the kicker: it didn't even matter because the Texans' defense was playing like they were possessed.
Houston’s rookie running back Woody Marks was the engine on offense. He put up 112 yards and a touchdown, looking like a seasoned vet instead of a kid in his first playoff start. While Stroud was shaky with the ball security, he still found Christian Kirk for a 6-yard touchdown early on. Kirk ended the night with a massive 144 yards.
📖 Related: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
Pittsburgh's offense? Non-existent. Aaron Rodgers looked every bit his age, getting sacked four times and struggling to move the chains. The final nail in the coffin was a 23-point explosion by Houston in the fourth quarter.
- Final Score: Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
- Key Stat: Houston had 408 total yards compared to Pittsburgh’s 175.
- The Moment: Sheldon Rankins’ 33-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter basically ended the game.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wild Card Weekend
People tend to look at the final scores and think they tell the whole story. They don't. While the Texans game was the only one "yesterday," the results from the rest of the weekend set a wild stage.
The Chicago Bears actually set a streaming record with 31.61 million viewers for their comeback against the Packers. Caleb Williams didn't look like a rookie in the fourth quarter. He threw two late touchdowns to steal a 31-27 win. If you missed that one, you missed the best game of the year so far.
👉 See also: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Then you have the 49ers, who barely squeaked by the Eagles 23-19. Brock Purdy found Christian McCaffrey late, and the Niners' defense held Jalen Hurts on a final fourth-down attempt. It was vintage playoff football—gritty, ugly, and decided by inches.
The Full Wild Card Scoreboard
To get the full context of where we are, you have to look at the bracket as a whole. The parity this year is actually insane.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen had a "tush push" TD with a minute left to win it.
- New England Patriots 16, LA Chargers 3: A defensive masterclass where Drake Maye outplayed Justin Herbert.
- LA Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: Matthew Stafford survived a scare against an 8-9 Panthers team that played way above their weight class.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27: The rivalry lived up to the hype on a record-breaking streaming night.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: The reigning NFC champs are out.
Why the Steelers-Texans Result Matters So Much
The fallout in Pittsburgh is going to be loud. This marks the eighth straight time the Steelers have gone one-and-done in the playoffs. Mike Tomlin is facing a lot of heat, and for the first time in a long time, there are real whispers about his future.
✨ Don't miss: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
On the flip side, Houston looks dangerous. They have won 10 straight games dating back to the regular season. They aren't just "happy to be here" anymore. They are heading to Foxborough next to face the Patriots, and with the way their defense is playing, a trip to the AFC Championship isn't out of the question.
What Happens Next
The Divisional Round is officially set. We've got some heavy-hitting matchups starting this Saturday.
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET)
If you're following the betting lines, keep an eye on the Texans at +3. They’ve been underdogs in almost every big game lately and they keep covering. The 49ers-Seahawks game is also a massive divisional rematch that usually ends in a one-score thriller.
Get your bets in early and make sure your Sunday is clear, because the Divisional Round is usually when the "pretenders" get separated from the actual Super Bowl contenders. The Texans proved they belong; now we see if they can do it again in the cold of New England.