Houston, Texas – January 8, 2026
The Houston Texans received the NFL’s official word — and wasted no time making their stance clear.
Following a thrilling 26–24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18, the Texans secured the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs under head coach DeMeco Ryans. However, the team’s exact Wild Card matchup remained uncertain until the conclusion of Sunday Night Football between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now, the wait is over. Houston will travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round on Monday, January 12 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with national coverage on ABC and ESPN. The announcement places the Texans in a high-stakes, win-or-go-home contest, setting the stage for a dramatic start to the postseason.
The Texans had hoped to clinch the AFC South with a Week 18 win, but the Jacksonville Jaguars’ decisive victory over the Titans forced Houston into the road seed scenario. Despite pulling quarterback C.J. Stroud and key starters late in the final game, Houston managed to hold on, with a critical field goal and a fumble return touchdown by Tommy Togiai securing the win.
Texans fans can take solace in the team’s momentum: Houston enters the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak and with the NFL’s No. 1 overall defense and scoring defense. Stroud and the offense have shown the ability to generate chunk plays and string together drives, though consistency will remain a focus heading into the postseason.
The Steelers, meanwhile, enter the matchup at 10–7, bolstered by the return of wide receiver DK Metcalf from a two-game suspension. The Texans will also welcome back key contributors Kamari Lassiter, Nick Chubb, and Nico Collins, helping balance the offense against a battle-tested Pittsburgh squad.
As the Texans prepare for Monday’s showdown, the message is clear: the NFL has made its schedule, and the Texans are ready to prove they belong in the playoffs. The stage is set — for survival, redemption, and a chance to continue a remarkable winning streak into the postseason.
