From 7-6 after three quarters to a 30-6 final. The last game of the 2025 Wild Card Round was blown open by a resilient Texans team that clobbered Pittsburgh in the fourth quarter to win a playoff game on the road for the first time in team history. Next up: A Divisional Round game for the third straight season. This time in Foxborough.
The Texans overcame three turnovers by leaning on a punishing ground attack and another commanding performance by the NFL's best defense. Two touchdowns from that side of the ball sandwiched a 13-yard TD run by Woody Marks to put the game out of reach.
Marks had his first century-mark game with 112 yards on 13 carries. Nick Chubb added 48 yards on 10 hauls. C.J. Stroud threw for 250 yards including 144 to Christian Kirk on eight completions. Kirk picked a great time for his best game as a Texan.
If you knew going in that you would hold Aaron Rodgers to 146 passing yards and a pick-six, you'd feel really great about your chances. Add to that a ground game defensive performance that kept the Steelers to 63 rushing yards and you've got a potent winning recipe.
The defensive scores were courtesy of Sheldon Rankins, who ran a fumble in for his second touchdown of the year, and Calen Bullock, who took his INT to the house.
The barrage of points pushed Pittsburgh into the offseason and the Texans to New England for their third ever Divisional weekend playoff game in Foxborough.
This time the result has to be different. But to make that happen Houston must continue to be great on the ground and cut mistakes on offense.
View the best photos from the Wild Card matchup between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Stroud overcame the turnovers by throwing a TD and connecting on several clutch third downs, helping the Texans to a stellar 10-for-15 mark in that critical category.
Overall, Houston rolled up 408 yards of offense against a Steelers defense starving for a postseason win. The Texans prevailed because they ultimately got all phases to click in the crunch-time fourth quarter.
They have the best point differential in the final frame in the league and the fact that it continues into the playoffs is great news moving forward.
It's a short week to get ready for the Patriots. And the Texans are ready to take on the challenge to get to where they've never been before – the AFC Championship Game.
Stay tuned.
