The Texans have not only frustrated Aaron Rodgers, but hit him hard, too.
Their third sack of the Steelers quarterback resulted in a fumble, which was forced by Will Anderson Jr., and defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked it up and ran 33 yards for a touchdown.
That might be the death knell for the Steelers, who have only 149 yards and trail 17-6 with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rodgers is only 16-of-29 for 141 yards.
The Texans have 324 yards, but until Rankins’ touchdown, they had kept hope alive for the Steelers with C.J. Stroud’s three turnovers. Stroud has lost two fumbles and thrown an interception.
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was carted off the sideline with a head injury.
Collins attempted to catch a low throw from C.J. Stroud with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter when his head banged against the hard turf at Acrisure Stadium.
Collins remained on the turf and needed assistance to get off the field. After a brief visit to the sideline medical tent, he was helped onto a cart. Collins had a towel over his head as he departed.
The Texans list him as questionable to return as he gets a concussion check.
Houston got a field goal out of the drive, with Ka’imi Fairbairn kicking a 51-yarder to give the Texans a 10-6 lead. The Texans have outgained the Steelers 324 to 142.
Stroud’s three turnovers have kept the Steelers in the game.
UPDATE 10:53 P.M. ET: The Texans have ruled out Collins with a concussion.
The Texans lead the Steelers 7-6 at halftime of Monday Night Football.
Houston’s No. 1-ranked defense has Aaron Rodgers visibly frustrated. The Steelers have 94 yards, and Rodgers is 9-of-15 for 75 yards. The Texans have sacked him twice.
The Steelers defense forced turnovers that gave the Steelers offense at their own 44 and the Houston 21, and Pittsburgh got only a field goal out of the two takeaways.
Chris Boswell has field goals of 32 and 35 yards as the Steelers are 0-for-2 in the red zone.
DK Metcalf has two catches for 42 yards with one drop.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who didn’t lose a fumble in the regular season, has four fumbles tonight. He lost two, with Keeanu Benton and Jack Sawyer each forcing one. The Texans defense, though, saved him.
He is 13-of-20 for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans scored their points on a 14-play, 92-yard drive, with Stroud hitting Christian Kirk for a 6-yard touchdown. Kirk has five catches for 58 yards and Nico Collins three for 21.
The Texans have 198 total yards, with Woody Marks rushing for 59 yards on 11 carries.
Houston is 7-of-9 on third down.
The Texans have had three drives, starting at their own 10, 26 and 8. It hasn’t mattered.
They had the second-longest drive of the postseason in their history, going 92 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. C.J. Stroud completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian Kirk, giving the visitors a 7-3 lead with 8:28 remaining in the first half.
The Texans had 14 plays and used up 7:01.
Running back Woody Marks was a big part of the drive, but he is questionable to return. Marks hit his head on the ground on a 7-yard run to the Pittsburgh 6. He is undergoing a concussion check.
Marks has nine carries for 51 yards, and Kirk has three catches for 46 yards. Stroud is 9-of-13 for 97 yards.
The Steelers scored on a 32-yard field goal by Chris Boswell with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
The Texans and Steelers are about as healthy as possible heading into Monday Night Football.
The Texans already had ruled out running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle).
The rest of the Texans’ five inactives, and all seven of the Steelers’ inactives are healthy scratches.
Houston’s other inactives are wide receiver Braxton Berrios, quarterback Graham Mertz, linebacker Christian Harris, offensive guard Juice Scruggs and CB Alijah Huzzie. Mertz is the emergency third quarterback.
The Steelers’ inactives were wide receiver Roman Wilson, running back Kaleb Johnson, offensive lineman Jack Driscoll, defensive lineman Logan Lee, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, cornerback Tre Flowers and quarterback Will Howard. Howard is the emergency third quarterback.
