Texans Defense Powers 30-6 Playoff Rout of Steelers

The Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh during the AFC wild-card round of the NFL playoffs. Houston's defense forced turnovers from Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and held Pittsburgh to just two field goals, while the Texans pulled away in the fourth quarter for their first road playoff win in team history.

Background

Houston entered the game with a 12-5 record and a 10-game winning streak. The Texans had never won a playoff game on the road in their 24-year history, going 0-6 before this matchup. Pittsburgh hosted the game as the No. 3 seed with an 11-6 record. The Steelers had not won a playoff game since beating the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, losing their last six postseason contests, three at home.

Aaron Rodgers started at quarterback for Pittsburgh after Mason Rudolph's strong regular season. Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer, faced Houston's defense, seen as one of the league's best units all year. The Texans relied on quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back Woody Marks, and wide receiver Christian Kirk on offense. Pittsburgh got wide receiver DK Metcalf back from a two-game suspension.

The game kicked off at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC. It was the final wild-card matchup, following a busy opening weekend of playoffs. Both teams aimed to end long playoff droughts—Houston for a road win, Pittsburgh for any victory under coach Mike Tomlin.

Key Details

Pittsburgh struck first with a 32-yard field goal by Chris Boswell at the 6:02 mark of the first quarter. Rodgers connected with Metcalf for 25 yards on the drive to set up the kick, giving the Steelers a 3-0 lead. Houston went three-and-out on its next possession.

First Half: Close Battle

The Texans answered in the second quarter. Starting from their own 9-yard line, Houston drove 92 yards in 14 plays, eating up over seven minutes. They ran the ball seven times for 55 yards, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Kirk. Houston led 7-3. Pittsburgh added another Boswell field goal before halftime, making it 7-6 Texans.

Kirk finished the half with key catches, including the touchdown. Stroud had some shaky moments, including a fumble, but Pittsburgh only scored three points off Houston turnovers. The Steelers defense kept the game tight, forcing Houston into mistakes.

Second Half: Texans Pull Away

Houston punted early in the third after another turnover. But big plays came late in the quarter. Stroud hit Kirk for 46 yards on third down, setting up first-and-10 at the Pittsburgh 36. A 51-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn pushed the lead to 10-6 early in the fourth.

The game broke open when defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi forced a fumble from Rodgers. A.J. Rankins returned it 33 yards for a touchdown, making it 17-6. Houston then drove 87 yards in 11 plays, nine runs, for a 13-yard touchdown run by rookie Woody Marks. That put the score at 24-6 with 3:38 left.

Less than a minute later, cornerback Calen Bullock intercepted Rodgers' forced throw and returned it 50 yards for another touchdown. The pick-six sealed the 30-6 final. Marks rushed for 112 yards. Kirk had eight catches for 144 yards and a score. Pittsburgh managed 42 yards from Metcalf on two catches but dropped a key pass.

Stroud threw for the touchdown but had three turnovers total—two fumbles and a pick. Pittsburgh's offense scored no touchdowns. Boswell's two field goals were their only points. Steelers fans saw their team lose at home on a Monday night for the first time since 1991.

"We're here for it all," Rankins said. "I won't sugarcoat it. We're here for the whole thing."

"Every time we go out there, we show we are the best," Bullock added.

Houston lost wide receivers Nico Collins and Justin Watson to concussions in the second half. Safety Jaylen Reed left briefly with a knee injury.

What This Means

For Houston, the win sends them to New England for the divisional round as the hottest team in football. Their defense proved it can win on the road against a veteran quarterback like Rodgers. Stroud gets a chance to build on his bounce-back ability after turnovers. The Texans end a 0-6 road playoff skid and extend their streak to 11 games.

Pittsburgh's seven-game playoff losing streak ties coach Mike Tomlin with Marvin Lewis for the longest by an NFL coach. The Steelers head into an offseason searching for answers after another early exit. Rodgers called it a fun year with adversity but expressed disappointment. Tomlin faces questions about the team's direction.

"It's difficult, but that's what we sign up for," Tomlin said.

The victory highlights Houston's defensive strength all season. They held Pittsburgh without a touchdown and turned turnovers into points late. For the Steelers, failing to capitalize on Stroud's mistakes prolonged their drought. Rodgers' final pass attempt ended in the pick-six, a tough close to his night.

Houston now prepares for a tough road test. Their ability to run the ball late and force mistakes gives them momentum. Pittsburgh must regroup, with coach and players looking ahead without emotional decisions. The playoffs move on, with Houston advancing deep into January.