Smother, suffocate, suppress, overwhelm, quash, quell. Pick your synonym. The Houston Texans' swarming defense’s performance in Monday night’s 30-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was worthy of them all.
The Texans held Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, who got back highly paid receiver DK Metcalf from suspension, to a meager 175 total yards and two field goals. DeMeco Ryans' defense generated four sacks, 17 QB pressures, 12 QB hits, two forced fumbles, nine tackles for loss, a fumble returned for a touchdown by Sheldon Rankins, and a pick-six to close out the proceedings by Calen Bullock.
“It was an outstanding defensive performance,” Ryans said following the contest, via ESPN. “One of the best that I've seen versus a really talented offense, talented quarterback who has played at a high level for a long time.”
With C.J. Stroud fumbling and stumbling his way to three turnovers that kept the Steelers in the contest into the fourth quarter, the Texans defense continued to build a brick wall.
Jalen Pitre flew to the ball with punishing force. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter screamed off the edge. Rankins, Tommy Togiai and the rest of the interior slammed the door shut. Derek Stingley Jr. blanketed receivers. Kamari Lassiter smothered Metcalf. Bullock shut down the middle of the field. Azeez Al-Shaair laid the wood. Henry To'oTo'o stuck with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell.
"Shoot, I think everybody knows we are the best defense," Bullock said. "The whole world knows that. Every time we go out there we show it and we went out there and showed it today. I don't even think they scored a touchdown."
They did not, Calen. They did not.
Frankly, the Steelers barely came close to scoring a touchdown. They marched to the red zone on their second drive of the contest and got there again following Stroud’s second fumble of the first half, but settled for two field goals.
Stroud’s struggles could have given the Texans defense every right to wilt early. They were put in bad spots, were on the field more than they should have, and didn’t have a big lead to play with through three quarters. Didn’t matter. Any frustration they felt about the offense’s ineptitude, they took out on the Steelers.
Following Stroud’s second lost fumble of the first half, the Texans allowed an eight-play drive. That drive went a total of four yards and ended in three points. On three Stroud turnovers, the Texans allowed a grand total of 32 net yards and three points. They put up 14 points and 88 yards of their own off two Rodgers turnovers.
“Our guys they were locked in. That's the thing that I could see. Those guys were locked in,” Ryans said. “The way we tackle was really the key, and can't say much about this performance without talking about the third downs. Like that was the game. Like we got off the field on third downs defensively. I think they only converted two and then for us offensively we converted 10 of 16. So that's the game right there. That allowed us to stay on the field offensively, and defense was able to get off on thirds, which was very vital to our success."
The Texans held the Steelers to a 14.3% third-down conversion rate (two on 14 attempts), tied for the rate allowed by the Houston defense in 2025 (also vs. Seattle in Week 7, 2 for 14).
Despite Rodgers’ proclivity to get the ball out quickly to avoid pressures and beatings, the Texans still got home. On the season, Rodgers was pressured on a league-low 21.5% of dropbacks. Monday night, Houston generated a 44.7% QB pressure rate. Anderson and Hunter combined for 15 QBPs.
The six points and 175 yards allowed were both the fewest in postseason franchise history.
“We’re here for it all,” Rankins said after Houston (13-5) won its 10th straight game. “I won’t sugarcoat it, won’t dance around that topic. We’re here for the whole thing.”
If Stroud can put things together, starting with Sunday’s tilt in New England, the Texans have a defense that can carry them to a Super Bowl.
The playoffs are here and you won't want to miss a moment. Now you don't have to! With NFL+ Premium, watch every playoff game live on mobile, get NFL RedZone during the regular season, stream game replays, and more! And for a limited time, get 40% off an NFL+ annual plan. Offer ends 2/16/26. Sign up today!