My thoughts on the wildcard

1. This is easily the most anemic offensive showing I have ever seen from us in a playoff game

2. Most of the offensive ineptitude is directly on the shoulders of A.A Ron, who held the ball far too long..... missed reads and just didn't have the mobility to keep the defense honest

3. DK Metcalf's head didn't appear to be in the game and Rodgers clearly lost confidence in him

4. The run defense woes picked the worst time to rear its ugly head

5. Why did it take until the 4th quarter to finally target Muth

6. Dylan Cook was our best O-lineman... overall, he was quite impressive

7. Despite the int, Brandon Echols got picked on mercilessly

8. Safeties were mostly out of position most of the game

9. By the 4th quarter the defense had fully given up

10. Mike Tomlin has officially tied Marvin Lewis's record playoff losing streak....

11. Time to move on from most of our coaches

 

No need to analyze the game. 30-6 home playoff game loss, after nine years of no advancement in the playoffs.
It's the end of the Tomlin era. He is not leading the Steelers into a new era.

 

12.) @Formerscribe was absolutely correct they should have held onto Harris on the 5th year option and perhaps GP as well if not at least gotten a legit number 2 instead of rolling with the smurfs.

13.) The Minkah Fitzpatrick trade for Ramsey/Smith was a bad trade.

14.) Tomlin has tainted MNF magic with this turd. Own that Mike and walk off in shame.

 

Fire Mike Tomlin Immediately

 

It is beyond me how this pitiful team even won 10 games. It was more than obvious tonight whatvthe better team was. Younger, more athletic, more physical, more balanced, better coached and every stat and number reflects that. If Cj Stroud does not turn the ball over so silly, they probably win even higher.

 

I do not agree at all with No. 2. Rodgers was part of the problem, but the offensive line was terrible, and the pass rush was on him immediately far too often tonight. Fautanu played horribly, including turning what should have been a touchdown pass to Metcalf into a strip sack on a play that Hunter torched him immediately.

Fautanu's incompetence might be the most troubling thing about the game tonight. He was supposed to be a cornerstone of the offense going forward, but he was completely overwhelmed.

Metcalf was terrible after those first two plays. His first drop was brutal. The offense had some things going early and he destroyed that momentum, costing them at least three points. I wonder how different that fourth quarter would have been had the Steelers entered it with a lead.

I have a hard time complaining about the defense other than Echols. Sure, they gave up late, but the game was over by then. They kept the Steelers in the game for three quarters despite the offense's ineptitude.

 

On number 2, were guys really open? And AR just missing them?

he was under pressure most of the game anyway

id axe Smith, Meyer and Austin. Tomlin’s last year next year per contract

 

This game was also evidence of some very bad decisions in the offseason.

Giving Watt that huge contract was incredibly stupid. He was clearly in decline, and he is nowhere near what he was. They should have traded him.

Trading for Metcalf and getting rid of Pickens was even worse. Pickens catches that ball that Metcalf dropped and possibly even scores on that play. Metcalf nearly killed their season with his stupid, selfish move in Detroit, then he did help kill it with a terrible performance tonight.

I'm not sure the Steelers could have won anyway, but those moves were disastrous.

 

Cook got cooked, as did most of the oline

We need a WR2 that is over 5'10

Good luck to both OCs on their new team next season

DK needs to learn how to block

 

Yup. I don't understand blaming him when the line was that bad.

 

The Texans played great on defense. They squashed our already anemic (I like that word to describe it) offense, which was already running on fumes.

Our DEFENSE performance was admirable. Watt was nonexistent. the punctured lung could have something to do with it.

Overall i'm proud of the defense. The offense needs something else.

The Aurthur Smith experiment is over. Does Rooney have the balls to make the Mike Tomlin experiment over also?

 

I hate to bring up officiating when the Steelers' offense was so clearly outmatched, but missing the pass interference on Lassiter in the third quarter when he grabbed Austin's shoulder was huge. Missing the blow to Rodgers' head on the fumble that was returned for the touchdown was even worse. The Steelers were still a Houston mistake away from having a real chance if the officials didn't blow those calls.

Don't get me wrong. The Texans were the better team. They kicked the Steelers' asses up front, but damn, I hate seeing missed calls affect a game like those did.

 

Yeah I also disagree with 2. rodgers looked like Herbert yesterday and was in the dirt most of the time. No one, absolutely no one plays well under that pressure, not even Mahomes as seen in sb2021 and 2025

 

The Texans defense is elite. The Tomlin defense is average at best. And the highest paid! Got run over once again.

Clean sweep all of them!

This has been a constant thing. Lets give the targets to that waste Jonnu Smith who was a garbage signing.

 

We still need a mobile QB. Keeps D little honest. The days of statue pocket QBs are over

 

And Cam. $100M to 3 guys who contributed almost nothing. That alone will hugely damage next season.

 

Fautanu looked like me out there at times. Pretty concerning. I brought this up during the game.

I don't put this all on A rod. I actually just think they were the better team and showed that tonight.

Sucks to lose. This team just wasn't good enough to go deep in the playoffs and was shown that tonight imo.

 

Not sure if Minkah would been better, but the trade was clearly a wash…in that case should have just held onto Minkah for consistency sake…he could at least probably given you another year or two.

Ramsey is done, and Jonu was a worthless pick up.

 

Uggg.

At one point we were plus three turnovers and had three points to show for it.

The Houston front four crushed our o line all night long.

We couldn't run the ball and we couldn't pass the ball.

Jonnu Smith and Friermouth should have been swapped for the last 10 games. We get so much more production out of Friermuth.

I really don't think there's any chance of AR coming back next year. He took a beating tonight and had nothing to show for it. This puts us in quarterback hell for 2026.

Bad year to be looking for a new head coach. There are an incredible amount of open HC spots this year. On top of that, if the Steelers and Tomlin decide to part ways they will probably do it like they do everything else..... Late. The best choices will have new coaching jobs within weeks. Might they elevate Smith and bring in a new OC? I hope not, but I'm betting that by the time they get around to making a decision there won't be much left besides bones.

 

13 - for both teams. Not sure if you've watched Miami this season, Fitz ain't exactly lighting it up over there, either. Clearly has lost a couple of steps and it shows.

 

I think we need a WR1. DK is a WR2 at best. The foolish Steelers just pay him like he's a 1.

 

what did they talk about at halftime? - the offense got worse in the second half and it was hard to get worse after the first half. 3 turnovers and they got 6 points - the only points.

 

I bet Cam gets an extension

 

Jonnu Smith was always average or below average. The blip from last year was because he had Hill and Waddle to stretch the field. Arthur Smith should be fire to believe that Jonnu was the difference maker and sticking with Jonnu all year.