There is no Monday Night Football on January 5, 2026, as the NFL’s regular season just wrapped up with all games finishing on Saturday and Sunday in Week 18. But football fans won’t have to wait long—the highly anticipated Texans-Steelers playoff game kicks off on January 12 to cap off Wild Card Weekend.
🔥 Quick Facts
- No Monday Night Football on January 5 as the NFL regular season ends entirely
- Houston Texans finished the season with 9 consecutive wins and a 12-5 record
- Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North title by defeating Baltimore 26-24 on Sunday night
- Texans vs. Steelers airs Monday, January 12 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC as Wild Card’s final game
Why No Monday Night Football on January 5?
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The NFL wrapped up its entire Week 18 regular season with games played only on Saturday, January 3 and Sunday, January 4, 2026. This schedule compressed the final week to just those two days, eliminating the traditional Monday Night Football slot.
For the first time in the 2025-2026 season, Monday night remained dark while playoffs prepare to begin. The Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 on Sunday Night Football to claim the AFC North crown and lock in their playoff seeding.
Wild Card Weekend Matchups Announced
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The NFL playoff push kicks off with Wild Card Weekend beginning Saturday, January 10, 2026. Games span from Saturday through Monday, with six teams competing across both conferences.
The Texans-Steelers game serves as the final matchup of the round, giving fans an exciting Monday Night Football playoff game after a week of regular season football. The game matches the No. 5 seed Texans against the No. 4 seed Steelers in a critical AFC showdown.
Houston Texans Finish Strong With 9-Game Win Streak
| Team | Record | Notable Info |
| Houston Texans | 12-5 | Nine consecutive wins to end season |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 11-6 | AFC North champions |
| Playoff Date | Jan 12 | Monday Night Football, 8 p.m. ET |
| Broadcast | ESPN/ABC | Final Wild Card game of weekend |
The Texans enter the playoffs riding momentum from their exceptional nine-game winning streak down the stretch. Their 12-5 regular season record secured them the No. 5 playoff seed, setting them up for a road test in Pittsburgh against a Steelers team that just won their division.
Houston’s consistent performance throughout the second half of the season demonstrated resilience and depth. Finishing with five wins in their final six games overall, they’ve shown the kind of playoff-ready form teams need when the games matter most.
Steelers Win AFC North Crown on Super Late Sunday Night Drama
The Pittsburgh Steelers captured the AFC North title in spectacular fashion on Sunday, January 4, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 in a thrilling Sunday Night Football matchup. This victory locked them as playoff hosts and sealed their No. 4 seed entering the postseason.
Head coach Mike Tomlin’s squad clinched the division with an 11-6 regular season record, earning them home-field advantage in the first round. Now they’ll face a Texans team that comes to Pittsburgh with nine consecutive wins and playoff momentum on January 12.
What Does This Mean for AFC Playoff Picture and the Road to Super Bowl LX?
Monday’s matchup marks the final first-round game of Wild Card Weekend, with both teams vying for a spot in the Divisional Round on January 17-18. Wild Card Weekend runs from January 10-12, featuring games across both the AFC and NFC.
The winner advances in the AFC playoff bracket with hopes of reaching Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. For the Texans, this represents a chance to make a deep playoff run despite being the lower seed. For the Steelers, defending their division title on the biggest stage becomes the immediate challenge.
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