Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble for a touchdown and Caden Bullock recovered an interception for a score to help the Houston Texans earn a 30-6 victory over the host Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Christian Kirk produced a career-high 144 receiving yards and a score on eight catches and Woody Marks had 112 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries for the fifth-seeded Texans. CJ Stroud passed for 250 yards and a touchdown and Will Anderson Jr. had the strip-sack on the play in which Rankins scored the crucial fourth-quarter touchdown.
Houston will visit the second-seeded New England Patriots on Sunday in an AFC Divisional Round game.
Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns and one interception for the fourth-seeded Steelers, who lost their seventh straight playoff game. Pittsburgh’s last playoff victory came against the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on January 15, 2017.
Monday’s contest could have been the final game for Rodgers, 42, a four-time NFL MVP. His last throw was Bullock’s interception.
The Texans allowed just 175 total yards and 13 first downs while controlling Pittsburgh’s offense. Houston led the NFL in total defense and was second in both defense and takeaway margin during the regular season.
Stroud connected on 21 of 32 passes and committed three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles), but the Steelers turned the takeaway into just three points.
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 51-yard field goal to give Houston a 10-6 lead with 13:07 left.
On Pittsburgh’s ensuing possession, Anderson and Rankins converged on Rodgers with Anderson’s hit losing the ball. Rankins reached a group of players near the ball, grabbed it and ran 33 yards to give the Texans a 17-6 advantage with 11:23 to play.
Marks scored on a 13-yard run to increase the margin to 18 with 3:38 remaining. Shortly after, Rodgers was spotted by Bullock, who returned it 50 yards for a blowout with 2:39 left.
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (concussion) left in the third quarter. He had three catches for 21 yards before leaving.
Stroud threw a 6-yard pass to Kirk to help the Texans take a 7-6 halftime lead.
The Steelers struck on Chris Boswell’s 32-yard field goal with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
Houston put together a 14-play, 92-yard drive that saw Kirk score a touchdown with 8:28 left in the half.
Keeanu Benton then sacked Stroud and forced a fumble that teammate TJ Watt recovered at the Houston 21-yard line with 6:14 left in the second half. However, Pittsburgh settled for Boswell’s 35-yard field goal with 1:57 left until the break.
–Field level media
