The dust has finally settled on one of the most lopsided finishes we've seen in recent postseason memory. If you were looking for pro football scores from yesterday, specifically the fallout from the Monday night clash that wrapped up Wild Card weekend, the number 30-6 is probably burned into your brain by now. Honestly, it wasn't even as close as that score looks.
The Houston Texans didn't just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium; they basically dismantled a legacy.
For the first time in over two decades, the Steelers dropped a Monday night game at home. That 23-game winning streak? Gone. Along with it, any remaining illusions that the "Aaron Rodgers in black and gold" experiment was the magic fix for a team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. It’s been nearly a decade of post-season zeroes for Mike Tomlin, and yesterday’s result felt like a tipping point for a frustrated fan base.
The Brutal Reality of the Texans vs. Steelers
Most people expected a defensive grind. Instead, the Texans' top-ranked defense turned the lights out on Pittsburgh early in the second half.
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It was 7-6 at halftime. Tight. Tension was high. You've probably seen games like this where the Steelers find a way to muddy it up and steal a win late. Not this time. Houston exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter. It wasn't C.J. Stroud doing the heavy lifting either—he actually had a bit of a shaky night with two lost fumbles—it was the defense scoring more than the Steelers' entire roster.
- Will Anderson Jr. triggered the collapse with a strip-sack on Rodgers.
- Sheldon Rankins scooped that ball up for a 33-yard "big man" touchdown.
- Calen Bullock put the nail in the coffin with a 50-yard pick-six.
When you see pro football scores from yesterday like 30-6, you usually assume a quarterback clinic. But the Texans advanced to the Divisional Round by smothering Rodgers, sacking him four times, and limiting the Steelers to a measly 175 yards of total offense.
AFC and NFC Wild Card Round-Up
While the Monday night game was the final exclamation point, the rest of the weekend was a circus of comebacks. Almost every other game came down to the final two minutes.
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The Buffalo Bills managed to escape Jacksonville with a 27-24 win after Josh Allen clawed them back into the lead late in the fourth. It was heartbreak for the Jaguars, especially after a Trevor Lawrence pass was intercepted by Cole Bishop to seal it. Then you had the Chicago Bears, who were down 21-3 at the half against the Packers, only for Caleb Williams to throw two late touchdowns to win 31-27.
In the NFC, the Rams continued their "never say die" tour. Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard score in the final minute to beat the Panthers 34-31. It’s weird seeing the Panthers in a playoff spot, but Bryce Young actually played well enough to win—Stafford just had one more drive in him.
AFC Scores Summary
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3
NFC Scores Summary
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27
Why This Matters for the Divisional Round
So, the bracket is set. The "bye week" teams, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, now know exactly who is coming to town.
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The Texans are headed to Foxborough to face the Patriots. That's going to be a fascinating matchup of two elite defenses. On the other side of the AFC, the Bills have to travel to Denver to take on the top-seeded Broncos. If you think the altitude in Denver won't be a factor for a Bills team that just narrowly avoided an upset, you're kidding yourself.
Over in the NFC, we’re getting a heavy-hitting West Coast battle between the 49ers and the Seahawks. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey just barely squeaked past the Eagles, and now they have to face a Seattle team that has spent the last month perfecting their run game. Kenneth Walker III just cleared the 1,000-yard mark for the season, and Mike Macdonald has that defense playing at an elite level.
What to Do With This Information
If you're following these pro football scores from yesterday to prep for your weekend or update your brackets, keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Houston. Nico Collins went to the locker room for a concussion evaluation during the fourth quarter and didn't return. If the Texans lose their primary deep threat, their trip to New England gets significantly harder.
Also, watch the Rodgers news. When asked if he’d be back in Pittsburgh for 2026, he was pretty tight-lipped. The "words are cheap" comment from Tomlin suggests there might be some massive internal shifts coming this spring.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the status of Nico Collins (HOU) and Christian McCaffrey (SF) before placing any divisional round bets.
- Monitor the weather for Denver and Chicago; mid-January playoff games in those cities are notorious for low-scoring "unders."
- Clear your schedule for Saturday, January 17th—the Bills vs. Broncos kickoff is at 4:30 PM ET, followed by 49ers vs. Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET.