Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats: Wild Card Box Score, Two Defensive Touchdowns & the December 6 Rematch

If you are searching for Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats, the game that matters is the AFC Wild Card meeting on January 12, 2026. Houston won 30-6 at Acrisure Stadium for the franchise’s first road playoff victory. Christian Kirk caught eight passes for 144 yards and a touchdown, Woody Marks ran for 112 yards and a score, and the Texans’ defense added two touchdowns on returns by Sheldon Rankins and Calen Bullock.

The teams meet again on Sunday, December 6, 2026, in Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football. Houston is 2-5 and Pittsburgh is 5-2, so the picture is very different from the one in January. This guide breaks down the playoff stat lines, shows how the two teams look this fall, and explains what to read in the box score before the rematch.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: Who Had the Best Stats in Texans vs Steelers?

Kirk had the best receiving line with 8 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown, and Marks led the ground game with 19 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Rankins recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a 33-yard return for a touchdown on a Rodgers fumble, and Bullock returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown. For Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers threw for 146 yards, and the Steelers finished with only 175 total yards. C.J. Stroud turned the ball over three times for Houston, but the defense covered for those mistakes.

The January 12, 2026 Box Score: Texans 30, Steelers 6

Houston controlled nearly every part of the game. The Texans gained 408 yards to Pittsburgh’s 175, ran 66 plays to 56, and held the ball for 32:22 to 27:38. They also won the rushing battle 164 yards to 63 and the passing battle 244 yards to 112.

Stat	Texans	Steelers
Total yards	408	175
Passing yards	244	112
Rushing yards	164	63
Plays	66	56
Time of possession	32:22	27:38
Turnovers	3	2

Notice the turnover row. Houston turned the ball over three times, one more than Pittsburgh, and still won by 24. That happens when the defense scores. Two of the Texans’ touchdowns came from defensive returns, which meant the offense did not need to be perfect.

Player	Team	Key Numbers
Christian Kirk	Texans	8 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD
Woody Marks	Texans	19 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
Sheldon Rankins	Texans	1.5 sacks, fumble recovery, 33-yard TD return
Calen Bullock	Texans	Interception, 50-yard TD return
C.J. Stroud	Texans	TD pass to Kirk; 3 turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 INT)
Aaron Rodgers	Steelers	146 passing yards; fumble and interception returned for TDs

How the Game Was Decided

Stroud connected with Kirk for a first-half touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Rankins picked up a Rodgers fumble and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. Marks added a 13-yard touchdown run with 3:43 remaining, and less than a minute later, Bullock returned Rodgers’ final pass 50 yards for a pick-six. That gave the Texans two defensive scores in the last quarter.

Houston entered the game with the league’s top-ranked defense, and the box score showed why. The Steelers’ 175 total yards, 112 passing yards, and 63 rushing yards are the type of numbers that come from a defense dictating terms on every down. The Steelers lost their seventh straight playoff game, and it was their first Monday night home game since 1991. Houston had been 0-6 on the road in the postseason before this win, which extended its winning streak to 10 games and left the Texans at 13-5. Pittsburgh finished 10-8.

Player-by-Player Takeaways

Christian Kirk

Kirk turned eight catches into 144 yards, an average of 18 yards per reception, with a touchdown. That is a huge number for a receiver in a game where his quarterback turned the ball over three times. When a pass catcher gains that much on so few targets, he is creating explosive plays, and those are the ones that change field position.

Woody Marks

Marks’ 19 carries for 112 yards averaged 5.9, and he scored the clinching touchdown from 13 yards out. A back who gains nearly six yards per carry makes the offense harder to defend, because the defense cannot sit on the pass. Houston’s 164 rushing yards as a team show the entire line was winning.

Sheldon Rankins and Calen Bullock

Defensive touchdowns are rare, and two in one quarter changed the nature of the game. Rankins’ line, with 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a score, was the best defensive stat line of the night. Bullock’s interception return came when Pittsburgh was already trailing and needed to throw. A pick-six in that situation is the end of a game.

C.J. Stroud and Aaron Rodgers

Stroud’s three turnovers, two fumbles and an interception deep in Steelers territory, would normally sink an offense. Rodgers’ fumble and interception did more damage, because both were returned for touchdowns. Stroud’s line shows the difference between a turnover that costs a drive and a turnover that gives the other side seven points.

What the Box Score Teaches You

The first lesson is about defensive scoring. Two touchdowns by the defense produced 14 points that do not appear in a passing or rushing total. When a team wins by 24 with a modest offensive line, check the defensive and special teams scoring before you judge the offense.

The second lesson is about turnover types. Three Houston turnovers and two Pittsburgh turnovers sound close, but the Steelers’ turnovers were returned for scores. Turnover margin matters, and so does where and when it happens.

The third lesson is about yards per play. Houston gained about 6.2 yards per play, and Pittsburgh gained about 3.1. That kind of gap predicts blowouts better than any single stat.

How Both Teams Look in 2026

The records have flipped. Houston is 2-5 after falling 27-21 to the Giants in overtime on October 25. Stroud went 17 of 28 for 153 yards and two touchdowns, with scoring passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Xavier Hutchinson. Dalton Schultz led the Texans with five catches for 45 yards. The Giants outgained Houston by 183 yards and had the edge in the run game, with Cam Skattebo gaining 124 yards on 17 carries. The Texans play the Chargers next.

Pittsburgh is 5-2 after a 16-10 win over New Orleans in Paris on October 25. Rodgers completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers had already beaten Cincinnati 30-27 in Week 3, and they have a bye on November 8 before visiting Cincinnati on November 15. Records change quickly, so check the standings for the latest numbers.

When Do the Texans Play the Steelers?

The Texans visit Pittsburgh in Week 13 on Sunday, December 6, 2026. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. Central on NBC as part of Sunday Night Football. Flexible scheduling can change dates and times late in the season, so confirm the details on the official NFL schedule before making plans.

Box Score Column Guide for Football Fans

Football box scores use a handful of columns. Completions and attempts show accuracy, and yards per attempt is a better quarterback measure than total yards. Touchdowns and interceptions show scoring and ball security, while fumbles are tracked separately. Carries and yards per carry reveal how well the run game is working. Targets and catches show who the offense relies on, and sacks and quarterback hits show pass rush impact. Turnover margin is one of the strongest predictors of winning. A fast way to evaluate any game is to compare yards per play, turnovers, and sacks before you look at passing totals.

Key Players to Watch on December 6

For Houston, watch Stroud’s turnovers and completion rate, Kirk and Harrison Jr. as targets, and Marks’ carries. On defense, Rankins and Bullock are the playmakers who produced in January. For Pittsburgh, watch Rodgers’ yards per attempt and turnovers, the run game, and the pass rush. The Steelers’ roster includes DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Jaylen Warren, and Derrick Harmon, who made key plays earlier this season. Rosters and injuries change often, so confirm the active list on game day.

How to Pick the Real Top Performer

Start with efficiency, then role, then timing. Kirk’s 144 yards were the best receiving line, but Bullock’s pick-six ended the game as a contest. A running back who gains 5.9 yards per carry changes the offense more than one who gains 3.5 on more attempts. And a defensive touchdown has to be weighed like an offensive one, because it produces seven points with no yardage on the offensive side of the box score.

Common Mistakes When Reading Texans vs Steelers Stats

The first mistake is using January’s blowout as a prediction. Houston is 2-5 and Pittsburgh is 5-2, so the two teams are in different places. The second is ignoring defensive and special teams scoring, because two defensive touchdowns decided the January game. Third, many fans overlook yards per play, which shows efficiency better than total yards. Fourth, check an official source, because individual and team totals can differ slightly between sites.

Why the Gap Looks Different Now

A 24-point playoff win followed by a 2-5 start is a sharp reversal, and the box scores suggest where the difference lies. In January, Houston’s defense produced points and pressure while the offense managed the game. In October, the Giants outgained the Texans by 183 yards and ran for 124 yards with one back. A defense that dominated in January was not able to stop the run in the overtime loss.

Pittsburgh’s story is different. The Steelers were held to 175 yards in January and are now winning with Rodgers at quarterback and a running game that featured Warren’s 127 yards in Week 3. The more important question is whether the Texans’ defense can return to its January form. Watch early-down rushing yards allowed, since that was the weak point in the Giants game.

Conclusion

Reading Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers match player stats well means looking at the January game as a defensive story. Houston won 30-6 because Kirk and Marks produced, Rankins and Bullock scored on returns, and Pittsburgh gained only 175 yards. Stroud’s three turnovers did not matter because the defense created more points than the offense gave away.

When the teams meet on December 6, check yards per play first, then turnovers, then rushing yards. That order will tell you whether the playoff result was a template or an outlier.