The No. 1 story from Sunday night’s playoff to make the playoffs was undoubtedly Aaron Rodgers’ impeccable play late in the game.
Rodgers drove the Steelers to touchdowns on their last two possessions, including a six-play, 65-yard march in 85 seconds during what could have been the final moments of his career.
The kickers figured in. Chris Boswell’s extra-point attempt was wide right. Baltimore rookie Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal at the buzzer that would have won the game. Loop had been 28 for 28 this season on field-goal attempts inside of 50 yards. But things are different in the swirl of Acrisure Stadium.
It was typical of a compelling game that was far from a masterpiece. Lots of oddities.
But Rodgers was the man. Grandpa game-manager ducked into a phone booth and came out a superhero one more time.
It helped that a Baltimore defensive back slipped on what turned out to be Rodgers’ game-winning 26-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III. For all his genius, even Lex Luthor made mistakes.
Rodgers didn’t, not in the fourth quarter. An otherwise mediocre performance by him was turned legendary at the death. And without DK Metcalf.
But be careful what you wish for.
By losing at bottom-feeding Cleveland the Sunday prior, the Steelers artificially lowered the bar, then jumped over it seven days later.
In the minds of the citizens and usual suspects, the Steelers already won a playoff game. They run the North. THIS TEAM COULD BEAT ANYBODY IN A PLAYOFF GAME!
You got what you wanted.
But be careful what you wish for.
Mike Tomlin will definitely be back. Not that he was ever likely to leave. But now he has a triumphant moment on national TV to hang his hat on, and a division title.
Rodgers will definitely be back, if he wants.
The Steelers have an old team that’s nowhere close to a legit Super Bowl contender, and won’t get any younger by next season.
But they don’t think past the next game.
Daddy and grandaddy never fired the coach.
You’ve got to win now for Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt, etc.
The win over Baltimore and winning the AFC North satisfies the optics.
So, nothing changes.
You (and they) settle for T-shirts and hats instead of striving for Lombardi trophies.
You bask in the win over Baltimore, undoubtedly an instant classic.
The Steelers have established a weird culture, and it includes their fan base. It might not be a bad culture. Just a weird one.
Houston is beatable. They play in a warm-weather climate, and in a stadium with a retractable roof. Today’s high in Houston will be 78 degrees. It will be colder than that at Acrisure Stadium next Monday night.
The Texans have the NFL’s No. 1 defense in yardage, No. 2 in scoring. It ranks ninth in sacks. It’s physical and punishing.
The Texans won a playoff game in each of the last two seasons. The Steelers haven’t done that in eight years.
Like the Steelers, Houston has a defensive-minded coach in DeMeco Ryans. (That’s not necessarily good for the Texans. Houston scored exactly seven more points than the Steelers this season. Ryans could easily be lured into a rock fight.)
It all adds up to lots of primetime drama, the kind of night that will keep you satisfied even if the Steelers lose.
Because in your minds, the Steelers already won a playoff game.
They probably weren’t going to make major changes anyway.
But now they can run it back with your approval.