The Houston Texans are moving on to the divisional round, and they’re feeling pretty good about themselves. So good, in fact, that one of their stars decided to take a shot at Mike Tomlin’s coaching record. Azeez Al-Shaair threw some shade at Tomlin, saying “History says Mike Tomlin doesn’t lose on MNF. In the end, it’s about who you are that day, at the highest level, this is the best of the best.” Ouch.
Al-Shaair’s comment came after the Texans ended the Steelers’ season and a 12,138-day streak at home that began under Bill Cowher on October 19, 1992. That’s a long time, folks. Tomlin had built on Cowher’s legacy, going 12-0 on Monday Night Football in Pittsburgh, including a couple of nail-biting overtime victories. But on Monday, the Texans put an end to all that, beating the Steelers 23-6 in a one-sided Wild Card game.
The Steelers had started strong, taking an early 3-0 lead, but the Texans’ top-ranked defense tightened its grip and didn’t let up. By the end of the game, the Steelers were reeling, having suffered their seventh straight playoff defeat. That ties Tomlin with Marvin Lewis for the most consecutive postseason losses by a head coach – not exactly the record he was hoping for.
But the Texans are writing their own history, becoming only the second team in the Super Bowl era to win a playoff game after starting the season 0-3. They’re feeling confident, and it shows. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was skipping and laughing as he left the field, waving to the fans and saying “See you later. You mad?” Safety Calen Bullock, who made the game’s biggest play with a pick-six, was also feeling cocky, saying “He gotta sign it. He got to. I need that” about the ball from the play.
The Texans’ defense was the real star of the show, dominating Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense. They became only the second team in NFL playoff history to score two defensive touchdowns in a game without allowing a single touchdown to the opponent. That’s impressive, folks. And it’s not like it was a fluke – the Texans have now forced three MVP-caliber quarterbacks into multiple-turnover games.
So, the Texans are heading to Foxborough as the most dangerous underdog in the AFC. They’re feeling good, and they should be. They just made history, and they’re looking to keep it going. As for Tomlin and the Steelers, well… they’ve got some work to do.
