The Houston Texans defense made a significant statement in the AFC Wild Card playoffs at Acrisure Stadium as they defeated the hometown Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday night. The win gave the franchise’s first playoff road win and looking for a date with the New England Patriots this Sunday in Foxborough.
Sheldon Rankins came up big in the game on a 33 yards fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game, and the Texans gets a late interception return touchdown from Caden Bullock.
Pittsburgh (10-8) would come into the game with so much momentum with quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm. However, the Steelers could not move the ball into the end zone throughout the entire night as the Texans defense would make sure that they could not give up the big plays. All night the Texans (13-5) defense would terrorize Rodgers as they sacked him three times.
The Steelers would first get on the board on a 7 play 58 yards drive which capped on a Chris Boswell 32 yards field goal with 2:52 left in the first quarter.
Houston would move the ball down the field, but quarterback CJ Stroud would try to do a flee flicker from rookie Woody Marks. Instead, it was rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer stripping the ball and giving it to the Steelers. It would be recorded as a sacked fumble recovered by the Steelers.
The Steelers offense could not do anything to convert the turnover which they went three and out forcing a punt.
At the end of the first quarter, Pittsburgh lead 3-0 and it would be the only time throughout the night that they would lead in the game. The Texans would convert on a touchdown from Stroud to Christian Kirk. Kirk would score on a 6 yards touchdown pass play on the wheel route, capping off a 14 plays 92 yards to make it 7-3. Kirk would have a big game with 8 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown.
The difference in the game for the Texans offense is the run game with both Marks and Nick Chubb converting on key third downplays and extending the drives.
The Steelers would manage to get another field goal by Boswell in a playoff home loss which is the first time since 1991. Pittsburgh and head coach Mike Tomlin have now dropped seven straight playoff games, with Tomlin tying former Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for the longest postseason losing skid in NFL history.
Stroud turned it over three times but also threw a first half touchdown pass to Kirk to make things up. Texans would lead at the half 7-6 and was never going to let the momentum go.
The Texans offense was inside the Pittsburgh 14-yard line, but Stroud’s pass was intercepted, giving the Steelers new life and a chance to respond. Importunely the resilience of the Texans defense would be the difference maker in the game with the combination of Will Anderson and Danyelle Hunter making sure that Rodgers and the offense didn’t make anything happen.
The Texans would put in an impressive drive for 7 plays 45 yards for Ka’imi Fairbairn to nail a 51 yards field goal down the middle to make it 10-6.
Pittsburgh offense could never get things going where Rodgers would get stripped from the 33 and Rankins rumbling down the field for the defense first touchdown of the night to make the game 17-6.
The Texans run game would seal the night as Marks would go for 112 yards on 19 carries and the touchdown run of 13-yards to put the dagger in the Steelers fans hearts. This is Marks first 100 yards game of his career and it would come in at a fine time.
Texans would cap off the night on a 50 yards interception return from Bullock which Rodgers tried to force the pass and Bullock read the coverage. This could be Rodgers final game in the NFL after passing for only 146 yards in the final game of his 21st season. The four-time MVP would take some time before deciding whether to return next fall.
The Texans will get themselves ready for a date this Sunday against Drake Maye and the second seeded Patriots, who got a win over the Chargers 16-3 in Foxborough this past Sunday night. Injury concerns include wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion), Justin Watson, who exited in the second half, and safety Jaylen Reed (knee).
