If you’re a Steelers fan, you probably spent last Tuesday morning staring at a cold cup of coffee and wondering what on earth just happened. It was supposed to be a classic January night at Acrisure Stadium. Instead, it was a nightmare. So, who did the Pittsburgh Steelers play last week? They faced off against the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round on Monday, January 12, 2026.
It didn't go well. Not even a little bit.
Honestly, the 30-6 final score feels a lot worse when you realize Pittsburgh actually led this game early on. They were the AFC North champions. They had the home-field advantage. They had Aaron Rodgers under center. And yet, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the wheels hadn't just come off—they had basically vaporized.
The Night Everything Changed at Acrisure
The game started with so much promise. Chris Boswell knocked through a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the Steelers a 3-0 lead. The defense was swarming C.J. Stroud. Jack Sawyer forced a fumble. Yahya Black recovered it. For a second, you could almost feel that old-school Pittsburgh playoff magic in the air.
But the Texans' defense is ranked number one in the league for a reason. They stayed patient. They waited for the Steelers to make a mistake, and eventually, the dam broke.
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Houston’s Christian Kirk caught a short touchdown pass in the second quarter to make it 7-3. From there, it was a slow, painful grind. The Steelers’ offense, which had looked so revived during their late-season run to clinch the division over Baltimore, just went completely stagnant. They finished the night with a measly 175 yards of total offense. You can't win in January like that.
That Brutal Fourth Quarter Collapse
If you turned the game off at the end of the third quarter, you might have thought the Steelers still had a chance. It was 7-6. A one-point game! Then the fourth quarter happened.
Houston hung 23 points on the board in the final frame. 23! It started with Sheldon Rankins picking up an Aaron Rodgers fumble and rumbling 33 yards for a touchdown. That play basically sucked the air out of the stadium. Then came a Woody Marks touchdown run, followed by a back-breaking pick-six by Calen Bullock on what might honestly be the last pass of Aaron Rodgers’ career.
Watching Rodgers try to tackle Bullock on that return was... well, it was tough to watch.
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Why the Texans Matchup Was a Nightmare
- The Possession Gap: Houston converted 10 of 15 third downs. Pittsburgh? A pathetic 2 for 14.
- Turnover Troubles: The Steelers turned it over three times, and Houston turned those into 14 points.
- The Red Zone Wall: Every time Rodgers tried to push the ball downfield to DK Metcalf, the Texans had an answer.
The End of the Mike Tomlin Era?
The biggest shocker didn't even happen on the field. It happened in the locker room and the press room afterward. After 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin addressed the media with that stone-cold look he always has and basically said "words are cheap."
On January 13, the day after the loss, the news broke: Tomlin is stepping down.
It’s the end of an era. 19 seasons. No losing seasons until recently. A Super Bowl ring. But that seven-game playoff losing streak finally became too much to ignore. The loss to Houston wasn't just another early exit; it felt like a definitive "this isn't working anymore" moment for the front office and the coaching staff.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Loss
A lot of folks are blaming Aaron Rodgers for the 30-6 blowout. Look, he wasn't great. 146 yards and an interception isn't exactly MVP behavior. But the offensive line was a sieve. T.J. Watt, who was playing through a brutal lung injury recovery, looked human for the first time in years.
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The reality is that Houston was just the better team. DeMeco Ryans has that squad playing like the 2000 Ravens. They didn't just beat the Steelers; they physically overwhelmed them.
What Happens Now?
The Steelers are heading into an offseason unlike any they've seen in two decades. No head coach. A 42-year-old quarterback who might retire. A roster that won the AFC North but got embarrassed at home in the first round.
If you're looking for what to do next as a fan, keep a close eye on the head coaching search. Names like Arthur Smith (already on staff) or big-name external hires will start floating around immediately. Also, watch the cap space. With the 2026 opponents already set—including tough road games against the Eagles and Jaguars—the new regime has zero time to waste.
Next Steps for Steelers Fans:
- Monitor the Coaching Search: The Rooney family usually moves fast, but this is the biggest hire since 2007.
- Wait for the Rodgers Decision: If Aaron retires, the Steelers are officially in "bridge quarterback" territory or looking at a massive trade.
- Check the 2026 Opponents List: We already know they'll face the AFC South and NFC South next year. It’s a long road back to the top.
The answer to who did the Pittsburgh Steelers play last week is the Houston Texans, but the real answer for the future is much more complicated. The era of stability is over. Welcome to the rebuild.