AFC top four unchanged
The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a frustratingly familiar position. Following their wild card loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the team has now dropped six consecutive playoff games. This losing streak ties head coach Mike Tomlin with the second-longest postseason skid in NFL history. Steelers fans are left wondering: how does this franchise break free from its perpetual playoff mediocrity?
With the Steelers out, the AFC divisional round will feature the same four teams as last year: the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans. The matchups have shifted, but the teams remain unchanged, reflecting the consistent dominance of these franchises.
The Chiefs, the top seed, are set to face the fourth-seeded Texans, while the second-seeded Bills will take on the third-seeded Ravens. If both higher seeds win, the AFC Championship game will repeat last year’s lineup. This mirrors the 2022-23 seasons, where Kansas City hosted Cincinnati for back-to-back title matchups.
Pittsburgh has maintained a remarkable regular-season record under Tomlin, never finishing below .500 in his 18-year tenure. Yet, they haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. This puts the team in a limbo that fans find increasingly intolerable: too good to bottom out but not good enough to advance in January.
The playoffs demand an elite quarterback, and Pittsburgh simply doesn’t have one. Regular-season success often comes from capitalizing on opponents’ errors. In the postseason, though, teams with quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson rarely make those mistakes. Pittsburgh has lacked a top-tier quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger’s prime, and without one, the ceiling remains low.
The Steelers’ consistent performance under Tomlin comes with a drawback: no access to blue-chip QB prospects in the draft. This year, Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward would require a trade package too steep for Pittsburgh. Free agency isn’t a solution either, with limited options like Sam Darnold unlikely to change the team’s trajectory.
The one intriguing possibility? Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old four-time MVP has undeniable talent, but his age, cost, and personality bring risks. Rodgers might be Pittsburgh’s best shot at postseason relevance in 2025, but he’s no guarantee.
With the wild card round nearly complete, the NFL has confirmed the divisional matchups:
The stage is set for another round of intense playoff action. For Steelers fans, however, the offseason looms with more questions than answers. Will Pittsburgh finally prioritize finding a franchise quarterback, or will history repeat yet again?
Read More: NFL Divisional Round Schedule 2025: Divisional Round Games Date, Kick-Off time and Where to watch?
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