Texans Eliminate Steelers in NFL Playoffs as Fans Question Aaron Rodgers, Mike Tomlin's Future

The Houston Texans are heading to the AFC Divisional Round for the third year in a row.

Houston defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in Monday's AFC Wild Card Round showdown at Acrisure Stadium. C.J. Stroud and Co. will now stay on the road and face the New England Patriots for the right to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

Stroud threw for 250 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Woody Marks ran for 112 yards and one touchdown. Christian Kirk added 144 yards and a score through the air, but the Texans defense was the story.

The unit completely overwhelmed Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense from the opening moments and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a Sheldon Rankins fumble recovery and a Calen Bullock pick-six.

Rankins' touchdown was the biggest play of the game, and it came on one of Houston's four sacks of Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer went 17-of-33 for 146 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception, while the Steelers averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on the ground.

The offensive performance and another early playoff exit for Mike Tomlin's team that hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 campaign drew plenty of reaction on social media:

Getting DK Metcalf back after a two-game suspension figured to provide a boost, but the game unfolded in a predictable manner.

Pittsburgh managed just six points in the first half alone with the 42-year-old Rodgers facing pressure and the Houston defensive front stuffing any meaningful running lanes. One of those two field goals also came on a short field after Stroud lost a fumble deep in Houston territory.

Those turnovers kept the Steelers well within striking distance with a 7-6 halftime deficit, as Jack Sawyer also forced a Stroud fumble on a strip-sack in the first quarter.

It was more of the same after intermission, as Stroud threw an interception to Brandin Echols inside the red zone on Houston's first possession of the third quarter as the visitors missed yet another chance to give themselves breathing room.

With both defenses dialed in and both quarterbacks struggling to generate any momentum, it started to feel like the first touchdown of the second half would be the difference. Things seemed even more dire for Houston's offense when No. 1 receiver Nico Collins left with a head injury, but it was fittingly its defense that provided that much-needed score.

Rankins rumbled 33 yards for the score after recovering the fumble Will Anderson Jr. forced with a strip-sack, and Bullock's score provided salt in the wound.

The plays let the air out of the stadium and summarized the entire contest for a Steelers offense that never had a chance against a dominant defense.