Aaron Rodgers loses what could be his FINAL GAME as his Steelers are bounced from playoffs by sizzling Texans
In what is potentially the final game in the storied career of Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback floundered and fumbled as he bowed out with a humiliating defeat to the red-hot Houston Texans.
Rodgers coughed up a pair of fumbles, was sacked four times for a loss of 36 yards and threw for only 146 yards in a 30-6 defeat.
The final score of the night came from a humiliating pick-six, which ironically may be the last touchdown pass Rodgers may ever throw.
Rodgers, 42, hinted in the preseason that this could be his final season in the NFL – regardless of the level of success he achieved.
After the Steelers limped into the playoffs, Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense was utterly lifeless against the best defense in the league.
The six points scored by Pittsburgh constituted the lowest offensive output in the playoffs for a Rodgers-led team, according to ESPN’s Joe Buck.
Aaron Rodgers bowed out with a humiliating defeat to the Houston Texans
Rodgers tossed a pick-six as what may be the final throw of his storied football career
Rodgers admitted, as reported by ESPN’s Lisa Salters, that his career is ‘probably’ over after this game – further adding that ‘this feels like the end’.
If this is the end of the future Hall-of-Famer’s career, it ended more in the guise of Dan Marino than Peyton Manning.
The only points the Steelers scored on the night came from field goals on offensive drives number two and five.
As for the others? Six ended with punts, one ended with a Rodgers strip-sack and one ended on the aforementioned pick-six before the final drive of the game killed the clock on what was left of an embarrassing evening in the Steel City.
Rodgers wasn’t even given the courtesy of leading the final drive. After the pick-six, he was pulled for Mason Rudolph.
After exchanging handshakes at midfield, a sullen Rodgers walked off the field – hounded by cameras and cheered at by fans before heading down the tunnel and into the locker room.
Cameras caught him sharing a brief, yet meaningful, hug with Marques Valdez-Scantling – a receiver he often favored in Green Bay.
Houston’s offense needed a whole quarter to get going. After punting on their first drive and turning the ball over on their second, the Texans engineered a lengthy 14 play drive ending with a six-yard touchdown pass from CJ Stroud to Christian Kirk.
A dejected Steelers fan looks on after their team lost an NFL Wild Card game on Monday
Rodgers was pulled after his final throw was taken back for a TD by Calen Bullock (2)
The third quarter was a slog – with a Stroud interception and three straight punts serving as the only action.
Stroud did not have the best of evenings, completing 21-of-32 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Additionally, top pass catcher Nico Collins was carted off to the locker room with a reported concussion.
But the Texans stepped up in the fourth quarter – led by their vaunted defense.
After a field goal to open the final frame, pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. strip sacked Rodgers and ran the fumble back for a touchdown to go up 17-6.
Pittsburgh stalled out and punted, leading to a lengthy drive ending in a 13-yard rush for rookie running back Woody Marks.
Then, finally, the pick-six and the end to the night for Rodgers.
Houston now travels to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots in an AFC Divisional round matchup at 3:30pm ET on ESPN.
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