'MNF' wild-card takeaways: Texans defense best remaining unit in playoffs

Wild-card weekend wrapped on "Monday Night Football" with the biggest statement of the long playoff weekend.

Here are our initial takeaways from the Houston Texans' 30-6 blowout win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Texans have the best unit in football

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens. The 2013 Seattle Seahawks. The 2015 Denver Broncos. With three more wins, the 2025 Texans can join those vaunted teams in the class of greatest defenses of the 21st century.

The unit looked the part in a masterclass wild-card performance, scoring two defensive touchdowns and holding the Steelers to 175 yards, their fewest in the playoffs during the Super Bowl era and second-fewest all-time in the postseason, ahead of only a 154-yard performance in the 1947 divisional round. (h/t Stathead)

Per Sumer Sports data, the Texans generated a 33.3 percent pressure rate despite only blitzing on 5.6 percent of Pittsburgh's dropbacks, thanks to an elite performance by All-Pros Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. Sheldon Rankins, who scored a 33-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery, and Denico Autry supplied extra pressure to give the Steelers no room to operate all game.

According to Pro Football Focus, corners Derek Stingley Jr., a 2025 first-team All-Pro, and Kamari Lassiter combined to allow one reception for negative-2 yards on five targets. How are teams supposed to beat that?

Houston had the league's top defense during the regular season, allowing 277.2 yards per game, and it was even better in a resounding wild-card win. Among the remaining eight teams, none has a unit as good as this one.

C.J. Stroud's struggles

For three quarters, the story of the game was also Stroud, who did everything possible to keep it close. He lost two fumbles (while recovering three others) and threw a ghastly red-zone interception, but settled in down the stretch as the Texans leaned on their defense and rushing attack.

As the second-most experienced playoff quarterback left in the AFC bracket, Stroud's shaky performance was a huge surprise. The Texans travel to the New England Patriots (14-3) next, and as sensational as Houston's defense is, Stroud can't have nearly as many miscues if they want to advance to their first AFC title game.

Christian Kirk's big game comes at perfect time

Star wideout Nico Collins' status for Sunday is in doubt after he left early in the fourth with a head injury.