A week earlier Pittsburgh was euphoric after winning the AFC North division. But the 2025 season ended sooner than Steelers fans wanted.
The Steelers hosted their first playoff game since the 2020 season. A win would have the Black and Gold traveling to New England where they beat the Patriots earlier in the season. Fans speculated about the possibility of hosting the AFC Championship Game if Buffalo managed to upset Denver. But first, the Steelers had to break their six-game playoff losing streak that stretched back to the 2016 season.
Houston had a streak of its own.