In what could very well be the final game of Aaron Rodgers’ illustrious career, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback had an unceremonious exit from the postseason, falling to the red-hot Houston Texans in a crushing 30-6 defeat.
Rodgers, who has been one of the NFL’s most dominant quarterbacks for nearly two decades, stumbled badly in what could be the last chapter of his storied career.
Rodgers Struggles in What Might Be His Last Game
Rodgers’ performance on the field was a far cry from the excellence he’s known for.
The 42-year-old veteran threw for only 146 yards, was sacked four times, and coughed up two fumbles.
His night ended with a humiliating pick-six, which may ironically be the last touchdown pass he ever throws.
While Rodgers had hinted during the preseason that this could be his final season regardless of success, few could have imagined such a painful way to go out.
The Steelers, who had limped into the playoffs, were completely outclassed by the Texans, particularly their defense, which has been one of the best in the league this year.
Pittsburgh’s Offense Fails to Get Anything Going
Despite having a future Hall of Famer at the helm, the Pittsburgh offense could muster only a pair of field goals throughout the game.
This marked the lowest offensive output in a playoff game for a Rodgers-led team, a statistic pointed out by ESPN’s Joe Buck.
The Steelers’ offensive drives were a parade of misfortune: six punts, a strip-sack of Rodgers, and, of course, the fateful pick-six.
The final drive of the game did little to salvage the situation, only killing time before the inevitable conclusion of a miserable evening in Pittsburgh.
No Final Drive for Rodgers as Mason Rudolph Takes Over
The misery continued as Rodgers was pulled from the game after the pick-six.
Mason Rudolph took over for the final, meaningless drive.
The camera caught a somber Rodgers exchanging handshakes at midfield, looking defeated as he walked off the field.
Fans offered a mix of cheers and applause, perhaps acknowledging the possibility that this was his final game.
Rodgers made a brief but heartfelt gesture to his former Green Bay teammate, Marques Valdez-Scantling, who had a long connection with Rodgers.
The two embraced, signaling a moment of reflection for the QB before heading down the tunnel to what might be the last locker room of his career.
Texans Get Their Act Together in the Second Half
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Texans, who needed an entire quarter to find their rhythm.
After punting on their opening drive and turning the ball over on their second, they finally managed to put together a 14-play drive that ended with a six-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback CJ Stroud to Christian Kirk.
While Stroud didn’t have his best game, finishing 21-of-32 for 250 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, he did enough to help secure the win.
In addition to Stroud’s struggles, the Texans also had to deal with the loss of top wide receiver Nico Collins, who was carted off after suffering a reported concussion.
Will Anderson Jr. and Texans Defense Seal the Win
The Texans’ defense, however, was a different story.
After a field goal to open the fourth quarter, pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. made a game-changing play by strip-sacking Rodgers and running the fumble back for a touchdown, extending the Texans’ lead to 17-6.
That was just the beginning of Pittsburgh’s collapse.
The Steelers punted again, leading to another long Texans’ drive capped off by a 13-yard rushing touchdown from rookie running back Woody Marks.
Finally, with the game out of reach, Rodgers threw the pick-six that sealed the loss and likely marked the end of his legendary career.
Next Up for Houston: AFC Divisional Matchup Against New England
As for the Texans, they now head to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
The game is set for 3:30 PM ET on ESPN, and Houston will be looking to continue their impressive run in the postseason.
While Rodgers and the Steelers have left their fans heartbroken, the focus now shifts to the next chapter in the AFC playoffs.
For Rodgers, however, this may be the final page in his remarkable career.
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