The game is at 7:15 p.m. Houston time, with the winner moving on in the playoffs.
PITTSBURGH — There’s one final game of Wild Card weekend and it involves the Houston Texans (12-5) at the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) tonight at 7:15 p.m. And because all other games in the first round were played before Houston and Pittsburgh hit the field, both teams know what’s in store for the winner – a trip to New England to take on the Patriots on Sunday, with a time to be determined.
That’s because the Patriots topped the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night in chilly Foxborough.
The NFL playoffs reseed with the lowest seed remaining after the first round playing the highest seed remaining. Buffalo, which was seeded lower than both Houston and Pittsburgh, beat Jacksonville on Sunday, meaning the Bills are now the lowest seed in the AFC playoffs and will travel to Denver next weekend to take on the highest seed left – the Broncos. That game will be played on Saturday.
AFC seeding and results for Wild card weekend
- Denver (14-3) bye week
- New England (14-3) beat LA Charters
Jacksonville (13-4)lost to Buffalo- Pittsburgh (10-7) vs. Houston tonight
- Houston (12-5) at Pittsburgh tonight
- Buffalo (12-5) beat Jacksonville
LA Chargers (11-6)lost to New England
AFC playoff schedule for next weekend
- Buffalo at Denver, Saturday, time TBD
- Winner of Houston/Pittsburgh at New England, Sunday, time TBD
Texans vs. Steelers tale of the tape
The Texans come in riding a nine-game winning streak fueled by the league’s top-ranked defense. The Steelers come in having won four of five, including a thrilling victory over Baltimore in Week 18 that clinched the AFC North. Pittsburgh has won 23 consecutive “Monday Night Football” games, a streak that goes back to 1991. Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will return after serving a two-game suspension for making physical contact with a fan in Detroit.
- Houston (12-5) at Pittsburgh (10-7)
- Monday, 7:15 p.m. Houston time
- BetMGM NFL odds: Texans by 3 1/2.
- Against the spread: Texans 9-8; Steelers 8-8-1.
- Series record: Steelers lead 8-5.
- Last meeting: Texans beat Steelers 30-6 on Oct. 1, 2023, in Houston.
- Last week: Texans beat Colts 38-30; Steelers beat Ravens 26-24.
- Texans offense: overall (18), rush (14), pass (22), scoring (13).
- Texans defense: overall (1), rush (6), pass (4), scoring (2).
- Steelers offense: overall (25), rush (26), pass (22), scoring (15).
- Steelers defense: overall (26), rush (13), pass (29), scoring (17).
- Turnover differential: Texans plus-17; Steelers plus-12.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud will make his fifth career playoff start Monday and a victory will make him the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win a postseason game in each of his first three seasons, joining Joe Flacco, Hall of Famer Otto Graham and Russell Wilson. The 24-year-old has had at least 200 yards passing in six straight road games and has thrown for 245 yards or more in three of his four playoff games. In the six games since his return after missing three because of a concussion, he has thrown eight touchdown passes with just three interceptions.
Steelers player to watch
WR DK Metcalf. The two-time Pro Bowler returns this week after serving a two-game suspension for initiating physical contact with a fan in Detroit in late December. Pittsburgh’s offense struggled without him in the muck in Cleveland on Dec. 28 but bounced back against Baltimore, with Aaron Rodgers throwing for a season-high 294 yards. Metcalf had been warming up at the time of his suspension. His presence gives the Steelers a legitimate deep-threat option provided the offensive line gives Rodgers enough time to throw while facing one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.
Key matchup
Steelers offensive tackles Dylan Cook and Troy Fautanu against Texans edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson. Cook, who began the season on the practice squad, has filled in capably after taking over for injured starter Broderick Jones, while Fautanu has thrived this season after an injury-marred rookie season in 2024. Anderson and Hunter combined for 27 sacks, and Houston’s best chance at winning the first road playoff game in franchise history will start with Anderson and Hunter making life difficult for Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, who will be making the 22nd playoff start of his 21-year career.
Key injuries
Texans: DE Denico Autry (knee), OL Tytus Howard (ankle), RB Jawhar Jordan (ankle), CB Kamari Lassiter (ankle) did not practice on Thursday. T Trent Brown (ankle/knee), LB Jamal Hill (calf), DT Sheldon Rankins (elbow), S Jaylen Reed (forearm) and CB Derek Stingley Jr. (oblique) were limited on Thursday.
Steelers: Pittsburgh is surprisingly healthy heading into its first home playoff game in five years, though RB Jaylen Warren did sit out practice midweek because of an illness.
Series notes
This is the first playoff meeting between Pittsburgh and Houston. The Steelers have won three of the past four games between the two clubs, though the Texans drilled Pittsburgh 30-6 in Houston two years ago, which proved to be an early sign of what the Texans were building under then first-year coach DeMeco Ryans. … The Steelers hold a 3-1 advantage in games played at Acrisure Stadium. Houston’s lone victory in Pittsburgh came during its first trip on Dec. 8, 2002, when the Texans used three defensive scores to pull off a 24-6 stunner in a game that was played when current Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud was just 14 months old.
After tonight’s Houston-Pittsburgh game, head to KHOU 11+ for live postgame analysis and response from Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and QB C.J. Stroud.
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