PITTSBURGH – The next stage of the NFL playoffs is set.
The Texans, should they defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night in an AFC wild-card round playoff game, would advance to the divisional round.
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Because the second-seeded New England Patriots beat the Los Angeles Chargers, the fifth-seeded Texans or fourth-seeded Steelers would square off with them next Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
The Texans, who lost to a Patriots squad quarterbacked by Tom Brady in the divisional round in 2017 and 2013, are favored by 3 1/2 points over the Steelers.
Yes, 2013 was the year of the infamous letterman’s jackets. They were blown out 41-28 and widely ridiculed for wearing them.
The Texans won’t and never will do that again.
Winner of #Texans vs. #Steelers advances to AFC divisional round game against #Patriots at Gillette Stadium next week @KPRC2 https://t.co/aAKH6XixO8 pic.twitter.com/hVhEVLpyg5
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 12, 2026
The Texans are headlined by the NFL’s top-ranked defense, led by All-Pro selections Derek Stingley Jr., Will Anderson Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair along with Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and a loaded secondary. Stingley, Jalen Pitre, Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock have intercepted four passes apiece.
The Steelers are led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year outside linebacker T.J. Watt, the younger brother of retired Texans star J.J. Watt.
The Patriots beat the Chargers as they relentlessly pressured quarterback Justin Herbert as MVP candidate quarterback Drake Maye didn’t have a great performance.
If the Chargers had won, the Texans would have hosted the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium for an unprecedented divisional round home game. The Bills, who beat the Jacksonville Jaguars as Trevor Lawrence struggled with ball security and threw a game-ending interception, will face the Denver Broncos on the road next Sunday.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com