Honestly, if you missed the game this past Monday, you missed a funeral. Not a literal one, obviously, but a figurative burial of a legendary career and a home winning streak that felt like it would never end. We’re talking about the Monday Night Football scores from this week’s AFC Wild Card finale, where the Houston Texans didn’t just beat the Pittsburgh Steelers; they basically dismantled them 30-6.
It was ugly.
If you’re a Steelers fan, it was the kind of game that makes you want to burn your Terrible Towel and take up a quiet hobby like competitive knitting. For everyone else, it was a masterclass in how a top-ranked defense can turn a Hall of Fame quarterback into a spectator in his own backfield.
The Monday Night Football Scores That Broke a 23-Game Streak
Before we get into the "how," you’ve got to understand the "where we were." Going into Monday, January 12, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers had won 23 consecutive home games on Monday night. That is a run of dominance dating back to 1991. Think about that. Most of the players on the field weren't even born the last time Pittsburgh lost a home MNF game.
Then the Houston Texans showed up with C.J. Stroud and a defense that plays like they’re trying to physically manifest a headache.
The final tally: 30-6.
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It wasn't a shootout. It wasn't a back-and-forth thriller like the Chicago Bears’ 31-27 comeback over Green Bay on Saturday. It was a "rock fight" that turned into a blowout in the fourth quarter.
A Tale of Two Halves (and One Huge Meltdown)
The first half was actually tight. Sorta. It was 7-6 at halftime. Houston had a lead, but C.J. Stroud was shaky, losing two fumbles. T.J. Watt was doing T.J. Watt things, and the Steelers’ kicker, Chris Boswell, was the only person scoring points for Pittsburgh.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
The Texans scored 23 points in the final frame. 23! That’s more than some teams score in a month. Sheldon Rankins scooped up an Aaron Rodgers fumble and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown. That made it 17-6. Then Woody Marks, the rookie back who put up 112 yards on the night, punched in a 13-yarder.
By the time Calen Bullock snagged a 50-yard pick-six off Rodgers with two minutes left, the stadium was basically empty.
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The Aaron Rodgers Question
You can’t talk about these Monday Night Football scores without talking about #12. Aaron Rodgers is a legend. He’s a four-time MVP. But on Monday night, he looked every bit of his 42 years.
He finished 17-of-33 for 146 yards. No touchdowns. One interception (the pick-six).
There’s a real feeling around the league that we just watched his last game. Mike Tomlin, who just tied the record for the longest playoff losing streak by a coach (seven games), didn't have many answers afterward. He basically said words are cheap when you don't get the job done. Hard to argue with that.
Why Houston is the Real Deal
While everyone is eulogizing the Steelers, we should probably mention that the Texans are moving on to face the New England Patriots.
- Christian Kirk was a monster. He had eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
- The Defense is terrifying. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter were in the backfield more often than the Steelers' running backs.
- Historical Context: This was Houston’s first-ever road playoff win. Ever. In 24 years of franchise history.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Scores
A lot of casual fans look at a 30-6 score and think the winning quarterback must have had a perfect night. He didn't. C.J. Stroud had three turnovers. Normally, you turn the ball over three times in the playoffs, you’re packing your bags on Tuesday morning.
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But this is why the Monday Night Football scores are so fascinating this year. The Texans proved that if your defense is elite enough, you can survive a young quarterback’s mistakes. They limited Pittsburgh to 175 total yards. That’s practically impossible in the modern NFL.
It wasn't about offensive fireworks; it was about defensive suffocation.
Key Stats from the Texans vs. Steelers Wild Card Game
| Category | Houston Texans | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 30 | 6 |
| Total Yards | 408 | 175 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 32:22 | 27:38 |
| Sacks | 4 | 3 |
Looking Ahead to the Divisional Round
So, the Wild Card round is officially in the books. The Texans are heading to Foxborough to play the #2 seed Patriots next Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. If you're betting on that one, keep an eye on Nico Collins’ health. He left the Monday game for a concussion evaluation and didn't return. Houston needs him if they’re going to survive the chilly weather in New England.
The other matchups are set too. We’ve got the Bills at the Broncos on Saturday, followed by the 49ers at the Seahawks. Then on Sunday, it’s Texans-Patriots and Rams-Bears.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop just looking at the final digits. Start looking at the turnover margins and the yards per play. Houston won despite the turnovers because they averaged 6.2 yards per play compared to Pittsburgh’s abysmal 3.1. That’s the real story behind the scoreboard.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for the Divisional Round, especially regarding Houston's receiving corps and the Bears' secondary. Watching how these teams recover from a short week after a Monday night game is usually the best indicator of who will cover the spread in the next round. Check the official NFL team sites for the most granular updates on practice participation as the week progresses.