Honestly, if you had "the Pittsburgh Steelers getting throttled at home" on your Wild Card bingo card, you're either a psychic or a very pessimistic Yinzer. Monday night was supposed to be the coronation of Aaron Rodgers' late-season resurgence in the Steel City. Instead, we watched a defensive masterclass that basically sucked the air out of Acrisure Stadium.
If you’re just waking up and wondering who won the nfl games yesterday, the answer is singular: the Houston Texans.
They didn't just win; they dismantled Pittsburgh 30-6. It was the only game on the Monday slate, serving as the final exclamation point on an absolutely wild opening weekend of the 2026 postseason.
The Houston Texans Make History in Pittsburgh
Monday night was technically a "road" game for Houston, but they played like they owned the place. This 30-6 victory wasn't just a win—it was the first road playoff victory in the history of the Texans franchise. Think about that for a second. Through the Matt Schaub era, the Deshaun Watson years, and the early CJ Stroud days, they could never get it done on the road in January.
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Until now.
The story wasn't really the offense, though. It was the "S.W.A.R.M." defense coached by DeMeco Ryans. They turned 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers into a shell of himself. Rodgers was under fire on nearly 46% of his dropbacks. He got sacked four times. He fumbled twice. By the time he threw a pick-six on his final attempt of the night, the fans were already heading for the exits to find some comfort in a Primanti Bros. sandwich.
The turning point? Sheldon Rankins. Early in the fourth quarter, the game was still technically "close" at 10-6. Rankins split a sack with Will Anderson Jr., stripped the ball from Rodgers, and literally ran it into the end zone. 17-6. The stadium went silent. You could almost feel the "here we go again" energy from a Steelers crowd that hasn't seen a playoff win since 2016.
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Breaking Down the Wild Card Scoreboard
While Monday was the big finale, the rest of the weekend was a blur of high-scoring shootouts and defensive grinds. If you missed the Saturday and Sunday action while looking for who won the nfl games yesterday, here is the quick-and-dirty breakdown of how we got to this point:
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: The defense scored twice in the fourth quarter. Total dominance.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen finally broke the "McDermott road curse." He ran for two scores and was basically a human bulldozer.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: A slugfest at the Linc. Brock Purdy found Christian McCaffrey for two receiving touchdowns, but they lost George Kittle to a playoff-ending injury. Huge blow.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Drake Maye did just enough, but the Pats defense was the real MVP here, sacking Justin Herbert six times.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27: Caleb Williams lived up to the hype in his playoff debut, leading a fourth-quarter comeback against the rival Pack.
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: A high-flying shootout that came down to the final minute.
Mike Tomlin and the Seven-Game Skid
We have to talk about Mike Tomlin. He’s a legend, sure. He’s never had a losing season. But after yesterday’s loss, he has now lost seven straight playoff games. That ties him with Marvin Lewis for the longest postseason losing streak by a head coach in NFL history.
In the post-game presser, Tomlin was visibly frustrated. When asked what his message was to the fans, he basically said "words are cheap." He’s right. At some point, the "regular season excellence" doesn't mask the "January disappearance."
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The Steelers only managed 175 yards of total offense. One hundred and seventy-five. In a playoff game. At home. It’s hard to win in 2026 with those kinds of numbers, especially against a Texans team that is peaking at exactly the right time.
What Happens Next?
The field is officially set for the Divisional Round. The "win or go home" pressure only gets heavier from here.
- The Texans head to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots on Sunday. That’s going to be a battle of two elite defenses.
- The Buffalo Bills have the unenviable task of traveling to Denver to take on the top-seeded Broncos on Saturday afternoon.
- The 49ers take their injury-riddled roster to Seattle to face the rested Seahawks.
- The Rams and Bears will meet in Chicago on Sunday night in what might be the most "fun" game of the weekend from a fantasy perspective.
If you're looking to place bets or just manage your expectations, keep an eye on the injury reports for the 49ers. Losing Kittle is massive for their blocking scheme and red-zone efficiency. Also, keep an eye on the weather in Denver; early forecasts suggest it could be a "frozen tundra" situation for Josh Allen and the Bills.
For now, the Texans are the kings of the AFC Wild Card. They walked into a hostile environment, bullied a Hall of Fame quarterback, and proved that their defense is legitimately the best unit left in the tournament. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, heads into an offseason full of "what-ifs" and very loud questions about the future of the quarterback position and the coaching staff.
Get your snacks ready for Saturday. The real football is just starting.