What's the score to the monday night football game: Houston’s Wild Wild Ride

What's the score to the monday night football game: Houston’s Wild Wild Ride

If you’re refreshing your feed and asking what's the score to the monday night football game, you might be a little confused by the calendar. We are currently in the thick of the 2026 NFL Divisional Round, and while the "Monday Night" branding usually sticks to our brains like glue, the most recent Monday night thriller actually happened just a few days ago during Wild Card weekend.

The Houston Texans didn't just win; they absolutely dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Final score: Texans 30, Steelers 6.

It was a total beatdown. Honestly, seeing Aaron Rodgers in a Steelers jersey struggling against that DeMeco Ryans defense felt like watching a glitch in the Matrix. Pittsburgh had won 23 straight home Monday night games before this disaster. That streak is dead. Buried.

The Monday Night Score That Changed Everything

People keep looking for a game tonight, but the NFL actually moved the schedule around for the Divisional Round. We just wrapped up a Sunday double-header where the New England Patriots took down those same Texans 28-16. It's a bummer if you were hoping for a game tonight, January 19, but the reality is that the Monday night magic happened last week at Acrisure Stadium.

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Why does the what's the score to the monday night football game query stay so popular?

Probably because that 30-6 blowout was the talk of the sports world for six days straight. Houston’s defense scored twice. Sheldon Rankins scooped up an Aaron Rodgers fumble and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown. Then Calen Bullock put the nail in the coffin with a 50-yard pick-six.

Steelers fans were heading for the exits before the fourth quarter even really got going.

Breaking Down the Texans vs. Steelers Stats

  • Houston Texans: 30 points
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: 6 points
  • Turnovers: Pittsburgh gave it away 3 times.
  • Sacks: Houston’s front four got to Rodgers 4 times.

Mike Tomlin was visibly frustrated after the game. He tied Marvin Lewis for the longest playoff losing streak by a coach, which is a stat nobody wants to be associated with. The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Think about that. Ten years is a lifetime in the NFL.

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Why There Isn't a Game Tonight

Usually, we expect football on Mondays. It’s a ritual. But once you hit the Divisional Round of the 2026 playoffs, the league condenses things to Saturday and Sunday to ensure the teams moving on to the Conference Championships get enough rest.

The Broncos beat the Bills in an overtime thriller on Saturday (33-30). The Seahawks made the 49ers look like a JV team with a 41-6 win. Then yesterday, the Patriots ended the Texans' "Cinderella" run, and the Bears and Rams fought a close one at Soldier Field.

So, if you’re looking for a live score right now, the scoreboard is dark.

What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule

A lot of fans assume "Monday Night Football" runs every single week until the Super Bowl. It doesn't. The Wild Card round is the last time you'll see a Monday game in this 2025-2026 season. From here on out, it’s all about those high-stakes weekend slots.

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The Texans were the last team to play on a Monday this year. They rode that momentum into Foxborough but just ran out of gas against Drake Maye and the Patriots. It’s wild how fast things move in January. One week you're the giant-killer putting up 30 on the road, the next you're packing your lockers.

What to Watch Next

Since you can't watch a game tonight, you should probably start looking at the AFC and NFC Championship matchups for next Sunday, January 25.

The Denver Broncos are hosting the New England Patriots. That’s going to be a chess match. On the NFC side, the Seattle Seahawks are waiting for the winner of the Rams-Bears game to see who visits Lumen Field.

If you need to catch up on what you missed during that Monday night blowout or the Divisional games:

  1. Check the injury report for the Broncos; Bo Nix went down in the Bills game and his status is shaky.
  2. Watch the highlights of the Texans' defensive scores from last Monday—they’re basically a clinic on "house calls."
  3. Clear your schedule for next Sunday afternoon. The AFC Championship kicks off at 3:00 PM ET on CBS.

The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. No more Monday games to save us. It’s all or nothing on the weekends now.