Texans defense suffocates Rodgers, achieves franchise-first milestones, and lights up the scoreboard with historic defensive scores.
PITTSBURGH – In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, actor Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a very cynical and sarcastic weatherman in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, who keeps living the same day over and over again.
On Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers must have thought he was auditioning for Groundhog Day 2 as he found himself reliving the same outcome every time he took a snap.
The Houston Texans’ defense constantly harassed Rodgers repeatedly on their way to the 30-6 win over the Steelers in the final AFC WildCard matchup.
With the win, the Texans advance to the divisional round for the third time in as many years, taking on the New England Patriots on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST.
“It was an outstanding defensive performance,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans during his postgame press conference. “One of the best I have ever seen versus a really talented offense, a talented quarterback, who has played at a high level for a long time. I think it is the best performance we have had in our team’s history.”
Ryans was correct in his assessment as the Texans defense achieved some milestones for the franchise on Monday night by allowing the fewest points in a postseason game (6), limiting the Steelers offense to 175 yards, which is the fewest total net yards in a postseason game, not allowing a touchdown in a postseason play for the first time in franchise history, and became the first team in NFL history (since 1950) with two defensive touchdowns and fewer than 200 total net yards allowed in a single postseason game.
With the offense sputtering for most of the night, with only seven points throughout three quarters, the Texans’ defense rose to the occasion when All-Pro edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. caused a strip sack fumble on Rodgers that ended up in the hands of defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins as he ran towards the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown.
“Don’t get ran down,” said Rankins exclusively to Big Sarge Media, jokingly about his fumble recovery for a touchdown. “Don’t get ran down on Monday Night Football, in the playoffs. Just don’t get ran down. Once I saw the ball, I was just thinking, ‘How can I make a play for this team.’”
Rankins’ touchdown seemed to unleash Houston, as the offense began to control the clock and put ten points on the board. The offensive line continued to make running lanes for rookie running back Woody Marks, who finished the day with a career-high 112 rushing yards and a touchdown.
With the game now out of reach, Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense became desperate and tried to do the one thing most teams have been unsuccessful at against the Texans’ defense, which was to pass the ball against a defensive backfield led by first-team All-Pro Derek Stingley.
This time, it was second-year safety Calen Bullock’s turn to showcase his ball-hawking skills as he intercepted a Rodgers pass and took it 50 yards for a “Pick-Six” to seal the game for Houston.
“The ball,” said Bullock when asked by Big Sarge Media what he saw on the interception. “I knew that Aaron Rodgers was trying to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as that defensive line was hunting all day, and he threw the ball right to me.”
The Texans became the sixth team in NFL postseason history, and first since 2007, to record at least one fumble return for a touchdown and at least one interception return for a touchdown in a single game.
They are also the first team since 1940 (Chicago Bears) to score multiple defensive touchdowns and allow zero touchdowns in a postseason game. They became the only franchise to score at least two defensive touchdowns in a single playoff game since the Seattle Seahawks did so in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Houston’s defense will be tested once again when they fly to Massachusetts to take on the New England Patriots, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye, in the divisional round of the playoffs on Sunday. Maye made his debut against the Texans in a Week 6 matchup that Houston won 41-21.
“Last year when we played him, it was Drake’s first game starting, he can, of course, sling the ball very well,” said Ryans. “A really good passer. He can hit all three levels of the field. One thing I’m seeing this year is his athleticism and how he’s able to escape the pocket. That’s really shown to be something unique to him, where he can throw the football wherever he wants it.
“Really great placement, great accuracy, does a great job throwing the deep ball, and they’ll try to hit a ton of explosive shots. They’re very aggressive, I would say, in the passing game of trying to take their shots.
“That’s why they’ve done a great job, and they have a really great high-powered offense this year, because he’s able to hit some of those passes. His ability to escape the pocket is what we have to be aware of this time around.”
Category: General Sports
