Texans’ Defense Dominates Steelers in a 30-6 Wild Card Win, Sends Houston to Divisional Round
Texans Defense Takes Over Pittsburgh
The Houston Texans came into Acrisure Stadium and left no doubt, crushing the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in a Wild Card matchup that flipped from tense to dominant in a matter of minutes. For three quarters, fans anxiously watched the scoreboard, but once the fourth quarter hit, it felt like a full takeover.
Houston’s defense was a true highlight, fully taking over the game. They held Pittsburgh to 175 yards and six points (Pro Football Reference), while scoring two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter, ending the Steelers’ season, and possibly Aaron Rodgers’ career.
Defensive Battle Turns Into a Blowout
For most of the night, both offenses struggled. The Texans led 7-6 late in the third quarter, and C.J. Stroud turned the ball over three times. But what made this Houston team extra special on Monday was that the defense never broke.
Despite the turnovers, Pittsburgh managed just three points off takeaways, a rough inefficiency that hurt them in the long run. According to StatMuse, the Steelers were outscored 23-0 in the fourth quarter. Once Houston started to pull away, there was no path back for Pittsburgh.
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 51-yard field goal early in the fourth finally gave Houston some breathing room. From there, the defense shifted into another gear, turning control into complete devastation for Pittsburgh.
Texans Take Over in the Fourth
Will Anderson Jr. changed the game. The All-Pro edge strip sacked Rodgers, and Sheldon Rankins scooped it up and ran it 33 yards for a touchdown. The very next Steelers possession, Calen Bullock returned a 50-yard pick-six. The Texans’ sideline went into absolute chaos, as a nerve-wracking playoff game turned into a celebration.
Houston’s defense finished the night with four sacks, multiple forced fumbles, and constant pressure. Per PFF, the Texans had pressure on Rodgers on over 40% of his dropbacks, never allowing him to settle in.
Texans Are Built for This
This win was even more impressive considering the offense didn’t play the cleanest game. Stroud threw an interception and lost two fumbles, but eventually he delivered in a crucial moment. A 46-yard throw to Christian Kirk on third-and-15, which flipped the field position, ultimately setting up points.
Kirk finished the night with eight receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, while Woody Marks had quite the night with 112 rushing yards and a late score that sealed it.
This marked Houston’s first road playoff win in franchise history, and it didn’t happen by accident. They played with confidence, composure, and a belief that showed up in the biggest moments. The defense once again looked like the best unit in football, and that kind of poise can travel down this stretch ahead.
While Pittsburgh now heads into another long offseason, the Texans move on, riding a 10-game win streak and a defense capable of winning any matchup.
Next stop is New England. And with this defense, anything is possible.