By WILL GRAVES
PITTSBURGH — Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble by Aaron Rodgers 33 yards for a landing early within the fourth quarter to spotlight a dominant efficiency by the NFL’s top-ranked protection, and the Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on Monday night time for the primary street playoff win in franchise historical past.
The Texans (13-5) play at New England (15-3) within the divisional spherical on Sunday night time.
C.J. Stroud turned it over 3 times but additionally threw a first-half landing go to Christian Kirk, who had eight catches for 144 yards. Woody Marks had 112 yards speeding for Houston, which had been 0-6 on the street within the postseason earlier than shutting down Rodgers and the Steelers (10-8).
Marks’ 13-yard landing run with 3:43 to go sealed it, and Calen Bullock added Houston’s second defensive rating with a 50-yard pick-6 lower than a minute in a while Rodgers’ last throw of the sport — and probably his 21-year profession.
Rodgers handed for simply 146 yards because the Steelers have been held to 175 yards of offense. The four-time MVP will take a while earlier than deciding whether or not to return subsequent fall.
Whereas Rodgers’ play down the stretch was one of many causes the Steelers gained the AFC North, he struggled in a lot the identical means his predecessors Russell Wilson and Mason Rudolph did as Pittsburgh misplaced its seventh straight playoff recreation and dropped a Monday night time residence recreation for the primary time since 1991.
His Corridor of Fame profession could have ended on a pressured downfield throw that Bullock stepped in entrance of. Rodgers tried and didn’t sort out Bullock on the best way to the top zone.
The Steelers’ protection, lengthy the largest drawback throughout a playoff victory drought that’s nearing a decade, pressured Stroud into quite a few errors and saved Pittsburgh within the recreation till late.
The outcome, nevertheless, was the identical because it has been for the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin since they fell to New England within the 2016 AFC championship recreation, with a protracted stroll to the locker room and a longer-than-hoped-for offseason to determine what went unsuitable.
Houston’s tenth straight win was hardly a factor of magnificence, as an exciting opening weekend of the playoffs ended with a rock struggle between golf equipment attempting to shed some ignominious playoff historical past.
The Texans survived the best way they’ve a lot of the season, by letting the league’s finest protection smother their opponent.
The Steelers didn’t capitalize on the miscues from a jittery Stroud, who fumbled twice and threw a decide. Pittsburgh scored simply three factors off these turnovers.
Not even the return of broad receiver DK Metcalf from a two-game suspension for making contact with a fan in Detroit helped. Metcalf completed with two catches for 42 yards and had a important drop that value the Steelers an opportunity to increase a 3-0 lead.
The Texans gathered themselves after an iffy begin and took a 7-6 lead when Stroud completed off a 16-play, 92-yard drive by flipping a go to Kirk for a 4-yard landing.
Stroud let an opportunity to increase the lead get away early within the second half when he was intercepted deep in Pittsburgh territory.
The Steelers’ offense once more did nothing with the chance.
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 51-yard discipline purpose early within the fourth quarter pushed Houston’s result in 10-6. Will Anderson sacked Rodgers on Pittsburgh’s ensuing possession, the ball popped free and Rankins alertly scooped it up and raced to the top zone to place the Texans up by 11.
In contrast to a heart-stopping fourth-quarter rally in opposition to Baltimore that earned them their first AFC North title since 2020, this time there was no late-game magic from Rodgers and the Steelers.
As a substitute, Tomlin’s postseason shedding streak hit seven, tying Marvin Lewis of the Bengals for the longest playoff skid by an NFL coach.
Whereas the NFL’s longest-tenured coach is all however assured of returning for a twentieth season if he needs — even when there have been chants for his firing within the last moments — Pittsburgh heads into yet one more offseason seeking a quarterback and solutions to a playoff drought whose weight appears to develop by the yr.
Houston, in the meantime, heads to New England as the most popular staff within the NFL with a quarterback who shall be anticipating an opportunity at a reprieve and a protection that may preserve a recreation shut in opposition to any opponent.
INJURIES
Texans: WRs Nico Collins and Justin Watson each went into the concussion protocol within the second half. S Jaylen Reed (forearm), who was activated off injured reserve early Monday, left within the first quarter with a knee harm.
UP NEXT
Texans: Face the Patriots for the primary time this season.
Steelers: The NFL draft, which Pittsburgh is internet hosting in late April.
