The Houston Texans delivered a decisive victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, winning 30-6 in their wild-card round matchup. In a game where the defense played a starring role, the Texans secured their first-ever postseason road win.
A key moment occurred when Texans’ defensive end Will Anderson Jr. sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, causing a fumble that defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins recovered and ran for a 33-yard touchdown. Later in the game, defensive back Calen Bullock intercepted Rodgers and returned it 50 yards for another touchdown.
Bullock told reporters after the game, “Every time we go out there, we show (we’re the best). We went out there and showed it today. I don’t think they even scored a touchdown.”
The Texans’ defense collectively outscored the Steelers’ offense 13-6.
Offensively, the Texans had a mixed performance. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had a shaky first half, committing three turnovers. However, he connected with Christian Kirk for an 8-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, giving Houston a lead.
Kirk had a standout game, catching eight passes for 144 yards, marking a season-high. Rookie running back Woody Marks also contributed significantly with 112 rushing yards and a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
“I think he’s one of the best in the league,” Stroud said about Kirk’s performance. “We’ve tried to find ways to get him the ball, but it wasn’t really working out.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Christian Kirk received the highest grade among offensive players. Woody Marks also received a high grade.
