The regular season is a memory, and we’ve officially crossed into that frantic, high-stakes territory where every snap feels like a heart attack. If you’ve been asking who's playing in the nfl monday night football, you likely caught the aftermath of a massive AFC showdown. We just watched the Houston Texans go into Acrisure Stadium and absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. It wasn’t just a game. It was a statement.
Honestly, the atmosphere in Pittsburgh was electric until it wasn't. The Steelers had this insane 23-game home winning streak on Monday nights. Gone. Just like that. C.J. Stroud and that relentless Houston defense didn’t just break a streak; they might have ended an era for the Black and Gold.
The Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Aftermath
Monday night was the final curtain for the Wild Card round. Most people expected Mike Tomlin to work some of that January magic, especially with the home crowd at his back. Instead, we saw the Texans defense score as many touchdowns as the Steelers offense managed points. Total.
Sheldon Rankins scooped up a fumble for a 33-yard score in the fourth quarter, and then Calen Bullock put the nail in the coffin with a 50-yard pick-six. It was ugly. For a guy like Aaron Rodgers, who came to Pittsburgh to chase one more ring, it was a nightmare. He got sacked four times and looked every bit of 42 years old under those bright lights.
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- Final Score: Texans 30, Steelers 6
- The MVP: The entire Houston defensive front, led by Will Anderson Jr.
- The Shocker: Pittsburgh had won 23 straight MNF home games before this collapse.
Why this Monday Night Football game mattered so much
The Texans hadn't won a road playoff game in their entire 24-year history. Think about that. Zero for six. They chose the biggest stage—Monday Night Football—to finally kick that door down. Now, they aren’t just a "scrappy young team." They are a problem for the rest of the AFC.
Meanwhile, the talk in Pittsburgh is getting loud. Mike Tomlin has now lost seven straight playoff games. That ties the record held by Marvin Lewis. You can already hear the sports talk radio hosts in Western PA losing their minds over that stat. It's a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that defines itself by postseason success.
Looking Ahead: Is there a game this Monday?
Here’s the thing about the NFL schedule: once the Wild Card round ends on that Monday night, the league shifts gears. We are currently in the gap between the Wild Card finale and the Divisional Round.
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If you are looking for a game this coming Monday, January 19, 2026, you’re going to be disappointed. The NFL usually stacks the Divisional Round on Saturday and Sunday. They want those prime afternoon and evening slots for the heavy hitters.
The Divisional Round Schedule (Saturday & Sunday)
Since the Monday night game wrapped up the first round, here is how the bracket looks for the upcoming weekend. No Monday night game means you've got to clear your schedule for Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18.
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (Saturday, Jan 17 - 4:30 PM ET)
The Broncos are coming off a bye and get to host Josh Allen in the thin air. This is going to be a shootout. - San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, Jan 17 - 8:00 PM ET)
An all-NFC West battle. The Seahawks secured the #1 seed and the 49ers just barely escaped the Eagles. - Houston Texans at New England Patriots (Sunday, Jan 18 - 3:00 PM ET)
After that dominant Monday night performance, the Texans travel to Foxborough. The Patriots defense vs. Stroud is the matchup of the week. - Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (Sunday, Jan 18 - 6:30 PM ET)
Caleb Williams gets his biggest test yet against a Rams team that seems to be peaking at the exact right time.
What happened to the Monday Night "ManningCast"?
The ManningCast on ESPN2 was actually one of the highlights of the Texans-Steelers game. Peyton and Eli were basically eulogizing the Steelers' offense by the third quarter. It’s sort of become the definitive way to watch who's playing in the nfl monday night football because the analysis is so much more "real" than the standard broadcast.
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They spent a good ten minutes analyzing Aaron Rodgers' footwork, or lack thereof, during the second half. It was insightful but also kind of brutal. If this was indeed Rodgers' last game, having the Mannings narrate his exit felt strangely appropriate.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you’re planning your viewing for the rest of the playoffs, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Weather: The Bills-Broncos game is in Denver, and the forecast is looking chilly. Points might be harder to come by than the Vegas lines suggest.
- Watch the Injury Reports: The Texans' Nico Collins is in concussion protocol. If he can't go against the Patriots, that Houston offense loses its vertical threat.
- The "Home Field" Myth: As we saw on Monday night, home-field advantage doesn't mean much if your quarterback is getting harassed every other play. Don't bet the house just because a team is at home.
The 2026 playoffs are moving fast. The Texans proved that being a Wild Card team doesn't mean you're just a speed bump for the division winners. They played like the best team in the building on Monday night, and now the New England Patriots have to figure out how to stop that momentum.
For those of you still hunting for a Monday night fix, you’ll have to wait until next season for the regular schedule to return. But for now, the Divisional Round is where the real legends are made. Keep an eye on the injury updates for Collins and the weather in Denver—those two factors will likely decide who makes it to the Conference Championships.