Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Wild Card 2025
Houston Texans
AwayWon, advanced
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Home
6
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 30 |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
HOU 30PIT 6 Final
Passing leader
9.0PPR pts
21/32, 250 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Top fantasy scorer
28.4PPR pts
8 REC, 144 YDS, 1 TD
Steelers leader
8.6PPR pts
6 ATT, 20 YDS, 4 REC, 26 REC YDS
Defensive playmaker
Calen Bullock
1 INT, 1 TD, 3 TKL
Texans 30, Steelers 6: Houston pulls away in the 2025 Wild Card
Houston led 7–6 at halftime and outscored Pittsburgh 23–0 after the break to win 30–6. The Texans finished with a 408–175 edge in total offense and averaged 6.2 yards per play.
The Steelers went 2-for-14 on third down and committed two turnovers, while the Texans kept the ball for 32:22.
The Texans' run ended in the Divisional Round, a 28–16 loss to the Patriots.
The two teams meet again in Week 13 of 2026. If you roster anyone from either side, run the start/sit call in Redraft Command and it will weigh your lineup, your opponent and your league scoring, not only the player rankings.
Key advantages
- +3.1 yards/play HOU 6.2 · PIT 3.1
- +233 total yards HOU 408 · PIT 175
- +53% third-down rate HOU 67% · PIT 14%
Game Highlights
Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube
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Why the Texans Won
Houston won the efficiency, third-down, and time of possession battles.
| Texans | Stat | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2 | Yards per play | 3.1 |
| 408 | Total yards | 175 |
| 67% | Third-down conversion | 14% |
| Other team stats | ||
| 66 | Plays | 56 |
| 3 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 32:22 | Time of possession | 27:38 |
Scoring Summary
The Texans scored four touchdowns and one field goal; the Steelers scored two field goals.
| Time | Team | Play | HOU | PIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st quarter | ||||
| 6:02 | PIT | Chris Boswell 32-yard FG Takes lead | 0 | 3 |
| 2nd quarter | ||||
| 8:28 | HOU | C.J. Stroud → Christian Kirk, 6-yard TD Takes leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 7 | 3 |
| 1:57 | PIT | Chris Boswell 35-yard FG | 7 | 6 |
| 3rd quarter | ||||
| No scoring | ||||
| 4th quarter | ||||
| 13:07 | HOU | Ka'imi Fairbairn 51-yard FG Extends lead | 10 | 6 |
| 11:23 | HOU | Sheldon Rankins 33-yard fumble return TD Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 17 | 6 |
| 3:38 | HOU | Woody Marks 13-yard TD run Extends leadKa'imi Fairbairn XP | 24 | 6 |
| 2:39 | HOU | Calen Bullock 50-yard interception return TD Extends leadXP missed | 30 | 6 |
Playoff game: these points don't count in most season-long fantasy leagues.
Fantasy Points vs Expected
Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.
- Biggest overperformer+13.1Christian Kirk28.4 PTS vs 15.3 xFP
- Biggest underperformer−11.9Aaron Rodgers2.8 PTS vs 14.7 xFP
- Highest expected volume15.3 xFPChristian Kirk28.4 PTS scored
| Player | PTS | xFP | vs xFP | Snap% | Usage | Rte% | Pass att | Car | Car% | Tgt | Tgt% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian KirkHOU · WR | 28.4 | 15.3 | +13.1 | — | 28% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 9 | 28% |
| C.J. StroudHOU · QB | 9.0 | 14.9 | −5.9 | — | 32 att | — | 32 | 1 | 3% | 0 | 0% |
| Aaron RodgersPIT · QB | 2.8 | 14.7 | −11.9 | — | 33 att | — | 33 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Kenny GainwellPIT · RB | 8.6 | 14.1 | −5.5 | — | 33% car | — | 0 | 6 | 33% | 6 | 19% |
| Woody MarksHOU · RB | 17.2 | 14.0 | +3.2 | — | 61% car | — | 0 | 19 | 61% | 1 | 3% |
| Nico CollinsHOU · WR | 5.1 | 11.9 | −6.8 | — | 22% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 7 | 22% |
| Calvin Austin IIIPIT · WR | 3.8 | 10.2 | −6.4 | — | 19% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 6 | 19% |
| Jaylen WarrenPIT · RB | 5.7 | 9.5 | −3.8 | — | 67% car | — | 0 | 12 | 67% | 1 | 3% |
| DK MetcalfPIT · WR | 6.2 | 8.5 | −2.3 | — | 16% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 16% |
| Marquez Valdes-ScantlingPIT · WR | 5.6 | 8.5 | −2.9 | — | 16% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 5 | 16% |
| Dalton SchultzHOU · TE | 4.2 | 6.8 | −2.6 | — | 13% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 4 | 13% |
| Jayden HigginsHOU · WR | 6.9 | 6.8 | +0.1 | — | 13% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 4 | 13% |
| Xavier HutchinsonHOU · WR | 4.1 | 6.8 | −2.7 | — | 13% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 4 | 13% |
| Nick ChubbHOU · RB | 4.8 | 6.5 | −1.7 | — | 32% car | — | 0 | 10 | 32% | 0 | 0% |
| Jonnu SmithPIT · TE | 1.9 | 5.1 | −3.2 | — | 10% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 10% |
| Pat FreiermuthPIT · TE | 2.8 | 5.1 | −2.3 | — | 10% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 3 | 10% |
| Cade StoverHOU · TE | 3.7 | 4.1 | −0.4 | — | 6% tgt | — | 0 | 1 | 3% | 2 | 6% |
| Adam ThielenPIT · WR | 4.5 | 3.4 | +1.1 | — | 6% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 2 | 6% |
| Jaylin NoelHOU · WR | 0.0 | 1.7 | −1.7 | — | 3% tgt | — | 0 | 0 | 0% | 1 | 3% |
| Mason RudolphPIT · QB | 0.1 | 0.4 | −0.3 | — | 1 att | — | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
Team totals: Texans 32 targets and 31 carries; Steelers 31 targets and 18 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts aren't available for this game. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2025 season: 1.70 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.65 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.
Fantasy Verdicts
C.J. Stroud Unlucky
21 of 32 passing for 250 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; 1 carry for 0 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.9 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Fewest points since Week 9.
Aaron Rodgers Unlucky
17 of 33 passing for 146 yards, 1 interception.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.7 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Fewest points since Week 13.
Christian Kirk Ran hot
9 targets (28% of the team's), 8 catches for 144 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The opportunities were worth 15.3 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.
Season high in targets (9). Best fantasy game of the season.
Woody Marks Strong role
1 target (3% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 19 carries (61% of the team's) for 112 yards and 1 touchdown.
Verdict: The points matched the role, 14.0 expected.
Best score since Week 4.
Kenny Gainwell Unlucky
6 targets (19% of the team's), 4 catches for 26 yards; 6 carries (33% of the team's) for 20 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 14.1 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Calvin Austin III Unlucky
6 targets (19% of the team's), 3 catches for 8 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 10.2 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Nico Collins Unlucky
7 targets (22% of the team's), 3 catches for 21 yards.
Verdict: The role was there, worth 11.9 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.
Lowest-scoring game of the season.
Fantasy Matchups
Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2025 through Week 18.
| Points allowed to | Texans D | Steelers D |
|---|---|---|
| QBs | 13.5 | 19.4 |
| RBs | 19.3 | 18.1 |
| WRs | 25.1 | 34.7 |
| TEs | 12.3 | 16.6 |
Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.
How the Game Swung
Pittsburgh opened at 41% win probability and fell below 2% in the fourth quarter.
Steelers win probability
Key Swings
- +10Boswell 32-yd FG42% → 51%Q1 6:02
- −25Stroud → Kirk, 6-yd TD54% → 29%Q2 8:28
- +11Boswell 35-yd FG28% → 40%Q2 1:57
- −17Fairbairn 51-yd FG40% → 23%Q4 13:07
- −19Rankins 33-yd TD22% → 2%Q4 11:23
Swing in Steelers win probability, in points
Play Calling and Possessions
| Houston Texans | Measure | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Plays | 56 |
| 53% | Pass rate | 68% |
| 7.0 | Yds / dropback | 2.9 |
| 5.3 | Yds / carry | 3.5 |
| 10/15 | Third downs | 2/14 |
Efficiency edge Houston ran 10 more plays and gained 4.1 more yards per dropback.
- Top targets
- HOU Kirk 28% · Collins 22% · Schultz 13%
- PIT Austin 19% · Gainwell 19% · Metcalf 16%
Possession Results
| Result | HOU | PIT |
|---|---|---|
| Touchdowns | 2 | 0 |
| Field goals | 1 | 2 |
| Punts | 3 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
PIT turnover edge: +1
- The Steelers opened the scoring on their second possession, a 7-play, 58-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
- The Texans drained the clock with two second-half drives of four to six minutes.
All 20 possessions, drive by drive
| Team | Start | Plays | Yards | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIT | Q1 15:00 | 5 | 30 | 3:03 | Punt |
| HOU | Q1 11:57 | 6 | 40 | 3:03 | Punt |
| PIT | Q1 8:54 | 7 | 58 | 2:52 | Field goal |
| HOU | Q1 6:02 | 7 | 30 | 4:00 | Fumble |
| PIT | Q1 2:02 | 3 | 5 | 1:33 | Punt |
| HOU | Q1 0:29 | 14 | 92 | 7:01 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q2 8:28 | 3 | 0 | 1:31 | Punt |
| HOU | Q2 6:57 | 2 | 2 | 0:43 | Fumble |
| PIT | Q2 6:14 | 8 | 4 | 4:17 | Field goal |
| HOU | Q2 1:57 | 9 | 29 | 1:57 | Punt |
| HOU | Q3 15:00 | 8 | 61 | 4:34 | Interception |
| PIT | Q3 10:26 | 8 | 23 | 4:53 | Punt |
| HOU | Q3 5:33 | 3 | 0 | 1:51 | Punt |
| PIT | Q3 3:42 | 4 | 6 | 2:13 | Punt |
| HOU | Q3 1:29 | 7 | 45 | 3:22 | Field goal |
| PIT | Q4 13:07 | 4 | 2 | 1:44 | Fumble |
| PIT | Q4 11:23 | 6 | 19 | 1:54 | Punt |
| HOU | Q4 9:29 | 11 | 87 | 5:51 | Touchdown |
| PIT | Q4 3:38 | 4 | 5 | 0:59 | Interception |
| PIT | Q4 2:39 | 6 | 21 | 2:39 | End of game |
About these numbers
The Texans' fumble touchdown is counted as a Steelers lost fumble, not as a Texans possession. The Texans' interception touchdown is counted as a Steelers interception, not as a Texans possession. Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.
Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.
Texans vs Steelers Head-to-Head
The Texans and Steelers first met in 2002 and have played 9 times since.
- All-time series
- 5–4Steelers lead, 9 meetings since 2002
- Postseason
- 1–0Texans won in 2025
- Largest Texans win
- 30–62025
- Largest Steelers win
- 34–62017
Since 2021
2–0 Texans lead
2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.
Oldest to newest. T = Texans win, S = Steelers win, outlined = this game.
2026 Meetings
- Week 13 Texans at Steelers Upcoming
Recent Meetings
- 2025 Wild Card Texans at Steelers HOU 30 PIT 6 HOU W
- 2023 Wk 4 Steelers at Texans, 2023 Wk 4 recap HOU 30 PIT 6 HOU W
Season to Date (Through Week 18)
The 2025 regular season, from each game's box score.
| Texans | Stat | Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| 12-5 | Record | 10-7 |
| 23.8 | Points per game | 23.4 |
| 327.0 | Yards per game | 305.6 |
| 5.1 | Yards per play | 5.3 |
| 17.4 | Points allowed per game | 22.8 |
| 277.2 | Yards allowed per game | 356.9 |
Texans vs Steelers Odds and Results
How this game finished against the betting lines.
- Spread
- HOU −3Texans covered by 21
- Total
- 38.5Under: 36 points scored (by 2.5)
Expected vs Actual Scoring
| Team | Implied | Actual | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 20.8 | 30 | +9.3 |
| Steelers | 17.8 | 6 | −11.8 |
The Texans beat their implied total and the Steelers fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.
Betting Trends
Each team's 2025 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.
Houston Texans
- Against the spread
- 5–2
- Over/under
- 3–3
- ATS as favorite
- 2–2
- ATS as underdog
- 3–0
- ATS on the road
- 4–0
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Against the spread
- 4–3
- Over/under
- 3–4
- ATS as favorite
- 1–1
- ATS as underdog
- 3–2
- ATS at home
- 2–2
Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.
Texans vs Steelers Fantasy Outlook for 2026
One meeting is left on the 2026 schedule: Week 13 in Pittsburgh. Here's how to decide who to play in your league.
- Start/Sit ToolShould your Texans or Steelers player start in Week 13? Compare the decision against your other options.
- Fantasy Football ProjectionsSee the latest weekly and rest-of-season projections for Texans and Steelers players.
- Fantasy Points Allowed by PositionHow the Texans and Steelers defenses have treated QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs.
- Strength of ScheduleWhere this matchup falls in each team's fantasy playoff run.
- Redraft CommandConnect your league for personalized lineup, trade and roster advice.
Keep Exploring
2025 Game Logs for Players in This Game
Texans vs Steelers Game FAQ
Who won the 2025 Texans vs Steelers Wild Card game?
The Houston Texans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 30–6 in the Wild Card round of the 2025 playoffs. The game was played at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA, on January 12, 2026. See the Texans' 2025 schedule.
What was the final score of Texans vs Steelers?
The final score was Texans 30, Steelers 6. The Texans led 7–6 at halftime, and the second half went Texans 23, Steelers 0.
What happened in the Texans vs Steelers game?
Houston led 7–6 at halftime and outscored Pittsburgh 23–0 after the break to win 30–6. The Texans finished with a 408–175 edge in total offense and averaged 6.2 yards per play. The Texans committed 3 turnovers, the Steelers 2.
How did the Texans beat the Steelers?
The Texans beat the Steelers 30–6 because they averaged 6.2 yards per play to 3.1 and outgained them 408–175.
Which team won the turnover battle in Texans vs Steelers?
The Steelers won the turnover battle 3–2: the Texans gave the ball away 3 times and the Steelers 2 times. The Texans won the game anyway.
What is the all-time Texans vs Steelers record?
The Steelers lead the all-time series 5–4 across 9 meetings since 2002, including a 0–1 record in the postseason.
When did the Texans and Steelers last play before this game?
Before the 2025 Wild Card round, they last met in the 2023 season on October 1, 2023, when the Texans beat the Steelers 30–6.
Have the Texans and Steelers met in the playoffs?
Yes, 1 time, most recently in the 2025 playoffs. The Texans are 1–0 against the Steelers in the postseason.
What is the Texans vs Steelers record since 2021?
The Texans lead 2–0 across 2 meetings since the 2021 season, including this game.
What was the closing spread for Texans vs Steelers?
The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Texans −3, making the Houston Texans 3-point favorites, with a closing total of 38.5. That implied about 20.8 points for the Texans and 17.8 for the Steelers.
Did Texans vs Steelers go over or under the total?
The game went under. The consensus closing total was 38.5, and the teams combined for 36 points, 2.5 under the number.
Who covered the spread in Texans vs Steelers?
The Texans covered by 21 against the closing line of Texans −3. The final margin was 24 points.