PITTSBURGH — The Houston Texans earned the first road playoff victory in franchise history with a commanding 30-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round Steelers.
Houston’s defense was dominant throughout the night, limiting Pittsburgh to just 175 total yards, scoring twice, and relentlessly pressuring future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Teams led by Rodgers had been held below 20 points only once in his previous 21 playoff appearances — a 13-10 divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers during the 2021 season, which marked his final postseason game with Green Bay Steelers.
While the Texans’ offense struggled early, particularly with quarterback C.J. Stroud committing three turnovers, Houston still amassed 408 total yards. The running game proved especially productive, as rookie Woody Marks posted his first career 100-yard rushing performance Steelers.
The Texans now advance to face the New England Patriots on Sunday in the divisional round (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC).
Key takeaways from Monday night:
Quarterback analysis:
Stroud appeared unsettled at times and finished with five fumbles, losing two of them. That total tied an NFL playoff record previously set by former Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon. Stroud completed 21 of 32 passes for 250 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception Steelers.
Houston’s rushing attack was a major highlight, totaling 164 yards on the ground. Marks paced the effort with 112 yards on 19 attempts, adding a touchdown. Although the Texans finished the regular season ranked 22nd in rushing offense, averaging 108.9 yards per game, they become far more formidable when they surpass 150 rushing yards, as it complements their already formidable defense Steelers.
Most unexpected performance:
Christian Kirk delivered his first 100-yard receiving outing since joining Houston, finishing with 144 yards and a touchdown Steelers. His previous season high was just 64 yards, and he recorded fewer than 10 yards in seven games — including a -3-yard performance in the regular-season finale against Indianapolis. Kirk hadn’t topped 100 receiving yards since Nov. 12, 2023, and stepped up after Nico Collins exited with a concussion in the third quarter.
Defining moment:
Steelers With Houston clinging to a 10-6 lead midway through the fourth quarter, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins scooped up a Rodgers fumble and returned it for a touchdown. That play sparked a 23-point fourth quarter that put the game out of reach. — D.J. Bien-Aime
Steelers’ playoff frustrations continue
Playing at home in the postseason for the first time since 2018, Pittsburgh’s playoff run ended much like its previous seven appearances — an early exit, albeit with a different storyline.
Unlike last season, the Steelers’ defense held firm for much of the game before breaking down during Houston’s fourth-quarter surge. However, the offense failed to take advantage of the defensive effort, leading to another first-round loss Steelers.
The defeat marked Mike Tomlin’s ninth straight season without a playoff victory, making him the first head coach in franchise history to reach that mark. Late in the fourth quarter, chants of “Fire Tomlin” echoed through the stadium, growing louder as Houston pulled away. The mood shifted to resignation after Rodgers threw a pick-six with 2:39 remaining.
Tomlin remains under contract for at least one more season, with the team required to decide on his 2027 option by March 1.Steelers While parting ways with him would be unprecedented — the Steelers have employed just three head coaches since 1969 — the organization now faces another offseason crossroads, stuck between playoff contention and true championship relevance.
Quarterback analysis:
Despite guiding Pittsburgh into the postseason with clutch play a week earlier, Rodgers was overwhelmed by Houston’s defense. The typical short-passing approach failed against the Texans’ reliable tackling, and Rodgers absorbed four sacks. He went down once in the opening half after losing his footing, even though left tackle Dylan Cook provided strong protection. If you’d like it expanded into a full sentence or connected to the surrounding context, feel free to share the rest of the paragraph. delivered punishing hits, with Rankins’ fumble return touchdown effectively sealing the game. Rodgers finished 17 of 33 for 146 yards with one interception in a rough final showing.Biggest flaw in the game plan:
Pittsburgh’s insistence on running on first down proved ineffective. Jaylen Warren’s 10-yard gain on the opening play was the team’s best first-down run until Kenneth Gainwell’s 14-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Over the first three quarters, the Steelers rushed eight times on first down for just 21 yards (2.6 average), while first-down passes produced 62 yards on seven attempts (8.9 average).
Notable statistic:
After being outscored 73-0 in the first quarter of their previous six playoff losses, the Steelers held a 3-0 lead after the opening quarter. It was their first time leading after one quarter of a playoff game since the 2016 wild-card win over Miami. — Brooke Pryor
Texans lose Nico Collins to concussion
PITTSBURGH — Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins was carted off the field and ruled out with a concussion during Houston’s 30-6 wild-card win.
Collins was injured early in the fourth quarter while running a slant route with Houston ahead 7-6. After falling face-first and dropping the pass from Stroud, Collins immediately grabbed his face in visible discomfort. He was evaluated in the medical tent before being transported to the locker room.
The injury marked Collins’ second concussion of the season. He previously suffered one in Week 7 against Seattle and returned two weeks later versus Denver.
Houston also lost wide receiver Justin Watson to a concussion in the second half. Safety Jaylen Reed, who had been activated from injured reserve earlier in the day, exited in the first quarter due to a knee injury.
Collins finished the game with three catches for 21 yards on seven targets. During the regular season, he led the Texans with 1,117 receiving yards and shared the team lead with six touchdown receptions.
The Texans now prepare for a short week as they head to New England for Sunday’s divisional-round matchup.