The air in Pittsburgh was biting. It was that classic, brutal January chill that usually favors the home team, especially when that team is the Steelers playing under the bright lights of a Monday night. But by the time the final whistle blew at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026, the atmosphere wasn't electric. It was funereal.
If you came here looking for the score on the monday night football game, here is the grim reality for the Terrible Towel-waving faithful: Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a systematic dismantling. The Texans didn't just win their first road playoff game in franchise history; they ended a legendary 23-game home winning streak for the Steelers on Monday Night Football that had stretched back to 1991. For the Steelers, this wasn't just a bad night. It was a historical collapse.
The Brutal Reality of the Score on the Monday Night Football Game
Honestly, the halftime score was deceptive. At 7-6 in favor of Houston, you’d have thought we were in for a classic defensive struggle. A real "three yards and a cloud of dust" kind of affair. Aaron Rodgers, at 42 years old, was moving the ball just enough to keep hope alive. Chris Boswell knocked through two field goals. It felt like Pittsburgh was doing exactly what they always do—grinding out an ugly win in the cold.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
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Houston’s defense didn't just show up; they took over the stadium. The turning point was a nightmare sequence for Rodgers. On a third-and-11, Will Anderson Jr. didn't just sack the future Hall of Famer—illegally or not, depending on who you ask in the North Shore—he jarred the ball loose. Sheldon Rankins scooped that fumble up and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown. 17-6. The air completely left the building.
How the Texans Smothered Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers looked every bit his age in the second half. He was under fire on nearly 46% of his dropbacks. That’s not a recipe for success for any quarterback, let alone one whose mobility is basically a memory at this point.
The Texans' defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, called it the best performance in the team’s 24-year history. It’s hard to argue with him. Consider these stats from the second half:
- Pittsburgh total yards: 81
- Sacks on Rodgers: 4
- Defensive touchdowns: 2
- Turnovers forced: 3
Basically, the Steelers' offense became a ghost. Calen Bullock put the final nail in the coffin with a 50-yard pick-six on what many insiders are whispering might be the final pass of Aaron Rodgers' career. Seeing him sit on the bench afterward, expressionless and staring into the middle distance, felt like the end of an era.
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Mike Tomlin and the Weight of Seven Straight Playoff Losses
We have to talk about Mike Tomlin. He’s a legend in Pittsburgh, and for good reason. He has never had a losing season. But there is a growing, localized storm of frustration among the fanbase because the postseason has become a house of horrors.
With the score on the monday night football game ending in such a lopsided fashion, Tomlin has now tied former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis for the longest playoff losing streak in NFL history at seven games. Seven.
"Words are cheap," Tomlin said in the post-game presser. He’s right. But in Pittsburgh, the "Standard is the Standard" mantra is starting to feel a bit hollow when the standard involves getting "throttled"—to use the local media’s word—on your own turf.
The C.J. Stroud Factor
Ironically, C.J. Stroud didn't even have his best game. For long stretches, he looked skittish. The Steelers' pass rush, led by a frustrated T.J. Watt, actually gave him fits early on. But the Texans are built differently now. They don't need Stroud to be a superhero every single play because their defense is a legitimate "beast," as NFL writers have been calling it all week.
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Woody Marks, the rookie running back, put the game out of reach with a 13-yard touchdown run late in the fourth. That 11-play drive sucked six minutes off the clock and effectively ended any hope of a "Rodgers Magic" comeback.
What This Score Means for the Divisional Round
The Texans aren't going home. They are heading to New England to face the 15-3 Patriots. If they play defense like they did on Monday night, the Patriots are in for a long afternoon.
As for the Steelers, the off-season is going to be loud. Between the Rodgers retirement rumors and the pressure on Tomlin, the 30-6 score is going to be scrutinized for months.
Next Steps for Following the Postseason:
- Track the Texans at Patriots: This divisional matchup kicks off Sunday, and the Texans' defensive line vs. New England's veteran front is the matchup to watch.
- Watch the Rodgers Announcement: Keep an eye on the official Steelers channels; if that pick-six was his last throw, the quarterback carousel in Pittsburgh starts spinning immediately.
- Review the Defensive Tape: If you’re a football nerd, go back and watch Will Anderson Jr.’s film from the fourth quarter. It’s a masterclass in edge rushing.