The streak is dead. Honestly, if you were looking for the typical black-and-gold dominance at Acrisure Stadium, you probably turned the TV off by the third quarter. People keep asking what is the score on monday night football, and the answer is a grim reality for the Steel City: the Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6.
It wasn’t just a loss. It was a 60-minute dismantling of a legacy.
Heading into this Wild Card matchup on January 12, 2026, Pittsburgh held a staggering 23-game winning streak at home on Monday nights. That’s decades of history evaporated in one evening. C.J. Stroud didn't just play well; he looked like a surgeon operating in a snowstorm, while the Steelers' offense looked like it was stuck in a dial-up era.
The Brutal Reality of the Monday Night Football Score
When you look at what is the score on monday night football, the 30-6 final doesn't even tell the whole story of how lopsided this was. Houston’s defense outscored the Steelers' offense for a good chunk of the game. That’s embarrassing.
The Texans' defense, ranked top-five all season, absolutely bullied Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, Rodgers in a Steelers jersey still feels weird, and after last night, it might feel like a mistake to some fans. He was sacked four times. He looked every bit of his age under the lights. Meanwhile, Houston’s Sheldon Rankins and Calen Bullock both found the end zone on defensive plays.
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- First Quarter: Steelers 3, Texans 0 (The only time Pittsburgh led).
- Second Quarter: Texans 7, Steelers 3.
- Third Quarter: A defensive stalemate, 0-0 in the period.
- Fourth Quarter: The floodgates opened. Houston dropped 23 points in the final frame.
The fourth quarter was a certified disaster. Woody Marks, the Texans' breakout back, punched in a 13-yard touchdown with about three minutes left to put the final nail in the coffin. By the time the clock hit zero, the "Fire Tomlin" chants were loud enough to be heard in the neighboring counties.
Why the Texans’ Performance Matters for the Divisional Round
If you’re checking the score to see who moves on, it’s the Texans headed to Foxborough. They didn't just win; they sent a message to the rest of the AFC. C.J. Stroud finished with 250 passing yards and a touchdown, moving him past Deshaun Watson for the most playoff passing scores in Texans franchise history.
Pittsburgh’s offense was anemic. 175 total yards. That’s it. You can't win in the modern NFL with 175 yards of offense, especially when your defense is on the field for nearly 33 minutes. T.J. Watt looked visibly frustrated in the post-game presser, basically saying he’s tired of the same old story every January.
The fallout was immediate. Mike Tomlin, a guy who has never had a losing season, stepped down less than 24 hours after the game. It’s the end of an era. Nineteen seasons, gone after a 30-6 blowout on national television.
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Understanding the Stakes: What Is The Score On Monday Night Football?
For those catching up, this was the final game of the Wild Card weekend. The win sends Houston into a collision course with the New England Patriots, who are currently sitting as the 2-seed after beating the Chargers.
If you're wondering how the rest of the bracket looks after this Monday night result:
- Denver Broncos beat the Bills 33-30 in an OT thriller.
- Seattle Seahawks crushed the 49ers 41-6.
- New England Patriots handled the Texans (spoiler: they just played their Divisional game on Jan 18 and won 28-16).
The reason people care so much about what is the score on monday night football is because it’s usually the "final word" on the week's narrative. This time, the narrative is that the AFC South is no longer a "weak" division. The Texans are young, they’re fast, and they don't care about your home-field streaks.
Real-Time Impact and Actionable Steps
Watching the score change in real-time is one thing, but understanding the betting and fantasy implications is another. The Texans covered the -3.0 spread with ease. The "under" hit comfortably, as the total was set at 38.5 and the teams combined for only 36.
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If you are following the playoffs for the rest of January 2026, here is what you need to do:
- Track the Injury Report: Nico Collins missed the Monday night game with a concussion. If the Texans want any chance against the elite tier of the AFC, they need their WR1 back.
- Watch the Coaching Carousel: With Tomlin out, Pittsburgh is the #1 destination for every coordinator in the league. Keep an eye on names like Ben Johnson or even a defensive mind like Dan Quinn if he wants another shot.
- Adjust Your Super Bowl Picks: The Broncos and Seahawks look like the heavy hitters right now. Bo Nix has been playing out of his mind, though news just broke that he might be out for the season with an injury sustained in the Bills game.
The 30-6 score wasn't just a result; it was a shift in the NFL power structure. The Steelers are entering a rebuild, and the Texans are officially "arrived." If you’re looking for the score of the next big game, keep an eye on the AFC Championship lineup, as the bracket is narrowing down fast.
Make sure to monitor the status of the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams game, which is the final piece of the Divisional puzzle. As of Sunday night, that game is still in the balance, and it will determine who has to travel to Seattle next week. Keep your sportsbook apps updated and watch the line movements, especially given the injuries to key QBs like Bo Nix.