If you turned off the TV at halftime, I don't blame you. It was 7-6. It was ugly. It was exactly the kind of gritty, "three yards and a cloud of dust" football that the Steel City usually loves. But then the fourth quarter happened. If you’re looking for what's score Monday night football, the final number is a staggering 30-6 in favor of the Houston Texans.
Honestly, the score doesn't even tell the whole story. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn't just lose; they essentially unraveled in front of 67,297 fans at Acrisure Stadium. This wasn't just a Wild Card exit. It was a 23-point explosion by Houston in the final fifteen minutes that felt like a changing of the guard in the AFC.
The Brutal Reality of the Texans vs. Steelers Score
Let’s be real for a second. Nobody expected a blowout. The Steelers entered the night with a 23-game home winning streak on Monday Night Football. They had Aaron Rodgers under center, a guy who was supposed to be the missing piece for Mike Tomlin’s postseason drought. Instead, the Texans’ "S.W.A.R.M." defense turned him into a spectator in his own backfield.
The scoring started slow. Chris Boswell knocked through a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter, and for a while, it looked like Pittsburgh might grind out a win. But C.J. Stroud stayed cool. He found Christian Kirk for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter to make it 7-3. Boswell added another kick before the half, and we went into the locker rooms with a 7-6 nail-biter.
Then the wheels came off.
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That Nightmare Fourth Quarter
If you're a Steelers fan, look away. The Texans outscored Pittsburgh 23-0 in the final frame.
- Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yarder to make it 10-6.
- Sheldon Rankins scooped up an Aaron Rodgers fumble and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown.
- Woody Marks gashed the defense for a 13-yard rushing score.
- Calen Bullock capped it off with a 50-yard pick-six.
Total dominance. Houston’s defense actually scored more points in the fourth quarter (12) than the entire Steelers offense did all night.
Why This Monday Night Football Result Matters
This wasn't just a regular loss. This was a "clean out your locker and think about your life choices" kind of loss. For the Steelers, it’s their seventh straight playoff defeat. Mike Tomlin is now tied with Marvin Lewis for the longest postseason losing streak by an NFL head coach. That’s not a list you want to be on.
People are going to talk about Rodgers. At 42, he looked every bit his age under the lights. He was pressured on nearly 46% of his dropbacks. When you're getting hit that much, it doesn't matter how many MVPs you have at home. He finished with just 146 passing yards and a miserable 50.8 passer rating.
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On the flip side, Houston is for real. This was their first road playoff win in franchise history. Think about that. Twenty-four years of existence, and they finally broke the curse in one of the most hostile environments in the league. C.J. Stroud wasn't perfect, but he didn't have to be. He managed the game, leaned on Woody Marks (who had 112 rushing yards), and let his defense do the heavy lifting.
The Nico Collins Concern
There is a bit of a cloud over the Texans' victory, though. Star receiver Nico Collins left the game in the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. The team already confirmed he won't be back for the immediate celebration, and his status for the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots is a massive question mark. If he's out, guys like Jayden Higgins and Christian Kirk are going to have to play the games of their lives.
What's Next for the AFC Playoffs?
Now that we know the score, the bracket is set. The Texans are heading to Foxborough to face the No. 2 seed Patriots on Sunday, January 18th.
It's going to be a fascinating matchup. You have the league’s top-ranked defense in Houston going up against a New England team that just smothered the Chargers 16-3. If you like high-scoring shootouts, stay away from that one. It’s going to be a defensive masterclass.
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For Pittsburgh, the questions are much louder. Does Rodgers come back for another year? Does Tomlin stay? The fan base is restless, and losing by 24 points at home in the playoffs is usually the catalyst for big changes.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans
- Watch the Injury Reports: If you're betting or playing DFS for the Divisional Round, Nico Collins' status is the only thing that matters right now for Houston.
- Respect the Texans' Defense: They aren't just "good." They are opportunistic. Any team that scores two defensive touchdowns in ten minutes is a threat to win the Super Bowl.
- The Era of the Young QB: Stroud, Love, and Purdy all looked better this weekend than the old guard. The transition we've been talking about for years is finally over. It's their league now.
The Texans proved that regular-season streaks don't mean a thing when the lights get bright in January. They came into Pittsburgh, broke a 23-game Monday night home streak, and sent a legend potentially into retirement.
Keep an eye on the Texans at Patriots kickoff at 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN this Sunday. If Houston's defense plays like they did in the fourth quarter tonight, New England is in for a long afternoon.