Is that the last game of Aaron Rodgers’ 21-year career?

The No. 5-seeded Houston Texans completely locked down the No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers, winning the wild-card matchup 30-6 at Acrisure Stadium on Monday.

It was a slow and sluggish affair for the first three quarters, with Houston leading just 7-6 entering the fourth. But that’s when things broke open, as Houston added 23 points in the final quarter.

Rodgers was strip sacked, which was returned for a touchdown. The 42-year-old was later picked off, which was also taken back to the house.

Pittsburgh, which entered the playoffs at 10-7 over the Baltimore Ravens, is now one and done once again. Houston will travel to the No. 2 New England Patriots to take on Drake Maye and Co.

Let’s analyze the game further with winners and losers:

WINNER: Texans’ defense

Defense wins championships. Houston’s defense is championship quality. Led by head coach and defensive mastermind DeMeco Ryans, the Texans earned their first road playoff win in franchise history off the backs of their robust unit.

With the offense lackluster for most of the game, the defense turned up the scoreboard with a strip-sack returned for a touchdown and a pick six. Veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins took back the scoop and score at a key point in the fourth, with Houston up 10-6.

Then after a Woody Marks touchdown run, defensive back Calen Bullock picked off Rodgers and returned it 50 yards to the house. That’s how to make a statement in the postseason, even if the Steelers weren’t seen as a true contender.

LOSER: Mike Tomlin, Steelers

The Ravens let go of John Harbaugh after 18 years, the second-longest active stint in the league. The most? Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin. But it’s safe to wonder if Tomlin might be next.

This loss meant Pittsburgh has lost its last seven playoff affairs dating back to the 2016 AFC Championship Game. The last five losses all ended in double-digit deficits.

It might be best for all parties to call it curtains, as the Steelers aren’t going to redefine their ceiling with Tomlin in charge.

WINNER: Christian Kirk, Texans

Role-playing wideouts emerging at the right time has become a theme in this year’s wild card round. Jalen Coker broke out for the Carolina Panthers despite their home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, while veteran Demarcus Robinson showed out in the San Francisco 49ers‘ road win in Philadelphia.

Today it was Christian Kirk, the 29-year-old wideout who rapidly declined since his 1,000-yard year with Jacksonville in 2022. Kirk went for 144 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches (nine targets). Three of his receptions went for 30-plus yards.

With C.J. Stroud having an inconsistent night, he needed a consistent receiver to calm things down. Kirk stepped up.

LOSER: C.J. Stroud, Texans

Houston is moving on despite some poor QB play from Stroud throughout. The 2023 No. 2 overall pick hasn’t been the same since his incredible rookie campaign, and his sophomore-season struggles reemerged in this one.

The Ohio State product completed 21 of 32 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown and one pick, but also fumbled five times. He lost two and recovered three.

The margins become even more razor thin in the playoffs, and weaknesses always come to light when it matters most. The Texans can win games thanks to their defense alone, but if Stroud cannot turn things around, he’ll be the reason Houston gets eliminated at some stage. Losing wideout Nico Collins once again is also a blow.

LOSER: Aaron Rodgers, Steelers

If that was the last game of Rodgers’ storied career, it feels like an anticlimactic way to go out. Playing on a Steelers offense with very limited weapons, Rodgers completed just 17 of 33 passes for 146 yards, no touchdowns and the aforementioned pick. His average was 4.4 yards per pass while being sacked four times, resulting in two fumbles (one lost).

If Rodgers doesn’t come back, his last throw would be that pick six. He might take some time to truly think about retirement, but some team will likely take the chance on him as QB1. New quarterbacks aren’t being developed as well, and Philip Rivers’ incredible return proved older QBs have a spot on contending teams.

Rodgers probably doesn’t take a QB2 role on a contender, but he should still have enough quality on a better team to make the playoffs again — and maybe not end his career with a pick six.

Aaron Rodgers’ biographer Ian O’Connor discusses how Rodgers’ time at Cal Berkeley exposed him to diverse perspectives, profoundly shaping his worldview beyond his small-town upbringing.