Pittsburgh Steelers tight finish Darnell Washington (80) catches a cross in entrance of Cleveland Browns security Grant Delpit (9) throughout the first half of an NFL soccer sport, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
PITTSBURGH — It was all the time going to find yourself like this for the Pittsburgh Steelers, wasn’t it?
Week 18. At residence. Their largest rival on the different sideline. A playoff spot on the line.
It’s a proposition the perpetually erratic Steelers fortunately would have taken 4 months in the past after they started the season with the NFL’s oldest participant at quarterback and loads of query marks surrounding him.
Funny, it doesn’t fairly really feel that way now.
Not after an opportunity to clinch the AFC North disappeared into the muck in Cleveland on Sunday, when Aaron Rodgers and an offense that positive performed prefer it missed suspended huge receiver DK Metcalf spent three hours working scared from Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett.
The loss — Pittsburgh’s fourth straight on the shores of Lake Erie — arrange a winner-take-all showdown with Baltimore subsequent week for the division title and the postseason berth that comes with it.
And whereas everybody from Rodgers to coach Mike Tomlin to longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward tried to spin it ahead, the actuality is that when the Steelers step onto the Acrisure Stadium turf subsequent Sunday evening in the ultimate sport of the NFL’s common season, they are going to be the ones carrying all the stress.
Tomlin mentioned famously a 12 months in the past that Pittsburgh’s stretch of postseason failures — the membership hasn’t gained a playoff sport since the ultimate days of former President Barack Obama’s administration — is his burden alone to carry.
Maybe, however the onus is on the franchise as an entire to generate official ahead momentum.
While the Steelers made strikes in the offseason designed to set the membership up for the longer haul, like buying Metcalf and defensive again Jalen Ramsey and giving them new offers, additionally they signed Rodgers with the concept that the now-42-year-old may need sufficient left in the tank to win a sport or two in mid-to-late January.
Rodgers has been positive. Some days, he’ll present flashes of his former MVP kind. Others, he appears to be like very very like the solely participant on the subject born when Ronald Reagan was president. At the very least, he’ll escape this season along with his legacy intact.
Tomlin, nevertheless, has much more at stake. While his resume is such that he’s nearing a lock for the Hall of Fame at some point, he finds himself and his staff in the identical spot it’s been in for many of the final 15 seasons: on the fringe of rivalry.
The NFL guidelines stipulate that the winner Sunday evening will obtain the residence playoff sport that serves as the reward for incomes a division title. If the Steelers survive, they’ll enter a wide-open AFC with the fewest victories (10) of any membership in the seven-team subject.
Just like they did as a wild card in 2023. And 2021. They have been the sixth seed a 12 months in the past, thanks to a tiebreaker over Denver. All three of these appearances ended with double-digit losses and a fast exit.
Tomlin insisted after watching his staff get bullied in Baltimore in the first spherical final January that the franchise was not caught. Asked why, the longest-tenured head coach in main North American skilled sports activities mentioned as a result of caught implies hopelessness, and he was assured the Steelers weren’t hopeless as a result of they’d a plan.
Over the final 12 months, that plan has led the franchise again to an all-too acquainted spot: mediocrity.
An opportunity for Tomlin to reset the narrative and Rodgers to take pleasure in one ultimate playoff push awaits with a victory on Sunday evening.
What’s working
Unleashing Alex Highsmith. Often thought of the “Robin” to T.J. Watt’s “Batman,” Highsmith had certainly one of the greatest video games of his profession in Cleveland, sacking Shedeur Sanders twice, drawing a holding penalty and usually being a menace practically each time he lined up.
What wants assist
Game plans that don’t get tight finish Pat Freiermuth the ball. While Freiermuth did play practically 70% of the snaps and caught three passes for 63 yards, two of these receptions got here throughout a determined last-minute drive. That’s not practically sufficient on a day the Steelers have been lacking Metcalf.
Stock up
Rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer is blossoming in actual time. The third-round choose from Ohio State caught the consideration of Pittsburgh’s teaching employees forward of the draft due to his capacity to produce performs in essential moments. It occurred once more on Sunday when he collected his second interception of the season and returned it 27 yards.
Stock down
There’s a motive Marquez Valdes-Scantling was accessible at midseason after being launched by San Francisco in an damage settlement. While Valdes-Scantling nonetheless has elite straight-line pace, his route working and fingers are common at greatest. Rodgers went simply 3 for 9 when focusing on Valdes-Scantling on Sunday, and the misses weren’t significantly shut.
Injuries
There’s an opportunity Watt is obtainable after lacking the final three video games whereas recovering from surgical procedure to restore {a partially} collapsed lung. … Veteran LG Isaac Seumalo’s triceps damage has pressured him to sit out consecutive weeks. … TE Darnell Washington, who has excelled as each a blocker and a cross catcher this season, is coping with a damaged arm. … WR Calvin Austin III’s hamstring could also be healed in time to face Baltimore.
Key quantity
5-2 — Pittsburgh’s all-time document (playoffs included) towards Baltimore in video games performed in January.
Next steps
Hope the potential return of Watt is sufficient of a spark to keep away from a late collapse.