The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round. Aaron Rodgers wins his first playoff game since 2020.

The Houston Texans have reached the divisional round of the NFL playoffs – and may have ended Aaron Rodgers’ career.

Led by a strong defense that scored two touchdowns, head coach DeMeco Ryans’ team defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 (7-6).

The Texans will face the New England Patriots on the road in the next round.

For the Steelers, who have been waiting for a postseason win since 2016, the season is over after ten wins and eight losses.

Texans at Steelers: Stroud and Rodgers under pressure

After punts on both sides to start the game, Pittsburgh scored the first points. Rodgers brought the offense within range with a long pass to D.K. Metcalf, and kicker Chris Boswell converted the field goal from 32 yards out.

Houston tried to counter with a “flea flicker,” but the trick play backfired: Steelers linebacker Jack Sawyer knocked the ball out of C.J. Stroud’s hand and defensive end Yahya Black recovered it for Pittsburgh. It was Stroud’s first fumble and only the Texans’ third of the entire season. However, the Steelers failed to capitalize on it, and the score remained 3-0 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Texans offense finally got going. A Stroud pass to Christian Kirk capped off an impressive 92-yard drive (the second-longest in Houston’s playoff history) – and the visitors took a 7-3 lead.

Stroud’s second turnover just before his own red zone immediately put the Steelers in position, but the Texans defense prevented worse. Pittsburgh had to settle for Boswell’s second field goal – 6-7 at halftime.

The one big difference in the first half: effectiveness on third downs. The Texans kept the ball on seven of their nine third downs, while the Steelers failed to convert any of their six into a new first down.

Texans defense decides game at the Steelers

What Pittsburgh did better: protecting the ball. And taking it away. This was also the case in the first drive after the break: Cornerback Brandin Echols intercepted a Stroud pass in the red zone – the third turnover by the 24-year-old quarterback. But Rodgers also continued to struggle: The 42-year-old had not even managed to throw for 100 yards by the middle of the third quarter. After a fumble by the playmaker, O-liner Mason McCormick even prevented a possible Texans touchdown. And Stroud’s problems continued. The youngster struggled to prevent a third turnover. But on the next play, the quarterback found Kirk for 49 yards – the longest play of the game. Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn converted the good field position into a 51-yard field goal and a 10-6 lead for the Texans. And Houston’s defense followed suit: Will Anderson knocked the ball out of Rodgers’ hands with just under seven minutes remaining, and Sheldon Rankings carried it 33 yards for a touchdown, 17-6.

NFL: Rodgers’ future uncertain after Steelers defeat

Boos echoed through Acrisure Stadium. And they didn’t subside until the end of the game.

Instead of a comeback, fans in Pittsburgh saw another Texans touchdown by running back Woody Marks to make it 24-6 and a Rodgers pick-six to make it 30-6 – the final score.

The Steelers’ future is uncertain after their playoff exit. Rodgers recently flirted publicly with the idea of ending his career. At the post-game press conference, the 42-year-old said he did not want to make “any decisions based on emotion.”

Head coach Mike Tomlin has been under criticism for some time due to the lack of success in the postseason, and his job could also be on the line.