I may have gone through every emotion humanly possible during last night’s 26-24 victory by the Steelers over the Ravens, the win that would put Aaron Rodgers and company in the postseason. Agony, elation, frustration, sadness, denial, etc. all presented themselves as I watched the two long-time rivals vie for the fourteenth (and final) playoff spot in game 272 of the NFL regular season. 

I suppose the prevailing emotion at this juncture is relief. Relief that I did not go to bed late just to watch a soul-crushing loss. Relief that Aaron Rodgers did not string together back-to-back atrocities after his dismal showing last weekend in Cleveland. Relief that the DK Metcalf suspension did not end the Steelers’ season. 

And, yet, there is still a sensation of discontent, dissatisfaction, and lack of accomplishment. Does a Steelers loss against the Texans in the wildcard round next Monday suddenly make this season more successful than it would have been had Tyler Loop not missed the division-winning field goal last night? Does prolonging the season by a mere eight days suddenly tell the fans that management, coaching, and personnel are absolved of wrongdoing? 

The answer to both of those questions is, in my opinion, a resounding no. However, a team has to make the playoffs to win a Super Bowl. Now, I am not saying that I think this team can win a Super Bowl—or even beat a very good Houston team on Monday—but losing last night’s game due to a Boswell missed extra point and a last second field goal by Baltimore likely would not have inspired the front office to facilitate changes, either. The team had two choices: win, or lose so badly that a lack of restructuring would be indefensible. A close loss would have been the worst-possible outcome. 

For a while, it looked like the worst-possible outcome would be the most-likely result. In what was a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Steelers scored a touchdown to go up 26-24 with 55 seconds left, as Aaron Rodgers connected with Calvin Austin. Rodgers was incredible in the fourth, going 11-14 for 133 yards and that touchdown, amassing a passer rating of 130.1. The Steelers would lead by a field goal, right?

Wrong. Chris Boswell missed just his second extra point in the last four seasons, keeping the Steelers’ lead at two. This was quite precarious, as a Ravens’ field goal would win the game. On the ensuing kickoff, the Steelers would allow Keaton Mitchell to run the ball all the way out to the Ravens’ 47 yard-line. Two plays, two special teams debacles. With 47 seconds left, Baltimore was not far from rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s range. 

The Ravens would find themselves faced with a 4th-and-7. Lamar Jackson just lobbed the ball up in the air. If it was not caught, the game would be over. However, it found its way into tight end Isaiah Likely’s hands at the Steelers’ 24. That, we all thought, would be the end of the 2025-26 Steelers. 

After a Lamar kneel, Loop came out to attempt a field goal from 44 yards away. There was no way he would miss—he had not missed from inside 50 yards all season. 

As soon as the ball left his foot, it started drifting to the right…and drifting…and drifting…NO GOOD! Heinz Field erupted. Loop was inconsolable. Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Will Howard embraced on the sideline. The Steelers somehow managed to get out-bungled in the special teams department, even with those two horrendous plays less than a minute prior. 

When the difference between winning and losing the division is a priest sprinkling Holy Water in the end zone, it is hard to have much confidence in the team going forward. The Texans have the best defense in the NFL, so it will be extremely hard to move the football against them on Monday. It is highly likely that the playoff victory drought will extend another year, which would not do a whole lot to ingratiate the coaching staff with its growing crowd of doubters. 

At the same time, though, this is the same Houston team that only beat the 3-14 Raiders by two points. Anything can happen, especially in the crisp Pittsburgh weather. Being in the AFC South, the Texans are not the most accustomed to playing games in the cold. Perhaps that can provide some advantage to the Steelers? Or, maybe, I am hopped up on hopium. 

Have a good week. I will see you next Tuesday after the game.