Honestly, if you turned off the TV at the end of the third quarter, you probably thought you were watching a classic, old-school defensive slugfest. You weren't alone. The scoreboard at Acrisure Stadium was stuck in the 1970s, showing a measly 7-6 lead for the visiting Houston Texans over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But then the fourth quarter happened. It wasn't just a scoring outburst; it was a total collapse of a legendary home streak.
The Numbers That Matter
So, what was the final score in monday night football? The Houston Texans dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6.
That 24-point margin feels like a typo when you consider it was a one-point game with 12 minutes left on the clock. Houston didn't just win their first road playoff game in franchise history; they absolutely pulverized the "Monday Night Football" mystique that has surrounded Pittsburgh for over three decades.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
The Fourth Quarter Meltdown
The game flipped on its head because of a single, chaotic play. On a third-and-11, Will Anderson Jr. got home. He didn't just sack Aaron Rodgers; he practically jarred the ball into another dimension. Sheldon Rankins, the veteran defensive tackle who’s been the heartbeat of that Houston front, scooped it up and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown.
Suddenly, it was 17-6. The air left the stadium.
Pittsburgh’s offense, led by a 42-year-old Rodgers, looked completely spent. They had no answers for DeMeco Ryans’ "SWARM" defense. In fact, the Steelers only managed 175 total yards of offense the entire night. Think about that. A professional playoff team couldn't even break the 200-yard mark at home.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Houston piled it on late:
- Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 51-yarder.
- Woody Marks punched in a 13-yard rushing touchdown.
- Calen Bullock iced the cake with a 50-yard pick-six.
That last interception was the final image of Aaron Rodgers' 2025 season—and maybe his career. He looked expressionless on the bench. It was a somber end to what many hoped would be a storybook run for the veteran in the Steel City.
Why This Score is Historically Weird
The Steelers entered this game with a 23-game home winning streak on Monday Night Football. They hadn't lost a Monday night game at home since 1991. To have that streak snapped in a Wild Card playoff game by a score of 30-6 is nothing short of a franchise-altering disaster.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
Mike Tomlin is now tied with Marvin Lewis for the longest playoff losing streak by a head coach in NFL history at seven games. It’s been nearly a decade since Pittsburgh tasted postseason victory.
On the other side, C.J. Stroud didn't even have his best game. He threw an interception and fumbled twice. Usually, when your young QB turns the ball over three times in a playoff road game, you lose. But the Texans' defense is just that nasty. They held Pittsburgh to 2-of-14 on third downs. You can't win games when you can't stay on the field.
What’s Next for Both Teams
Houston is moving on to face the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round. That’s going to be a massive test for Ryans and Stroud, especially with the way the Patriots' defense has been playing. They’ll need Nico Collins back, as he left this game for a concussion evaluation and didn't return.
For the Steelers, the "Monday Night Football" hangover is going to last all winter. They have to decide if the Aaron Rodgers experiment is worth another year or if it’s finally time to blow the whole thing up.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Keep an eye on the injury report for Nico Collins; his status is the biggest variable for the Texans' matchup against New England.
- Watch the coaching carousels. With Tomlin’s playoff streak reaching historic lows, the rumors in Pittsburgh are going to be deafening this week.
- If you're betting the Divisional Round, look closely at the Texans' defensive points-per-game stats. They are currently the best unit left in the AFC bracket.