The Steelers swept their arch rivals. They qualified for the playoffs. They won the AFC North.
Yet they still somehow managed to do it while making us all a little crazy along the way.
As a result, our first “U mad, bro?” of 2026 picks up where 2025 left off.
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We start with “Saurosaur.” He didn’t like the fact that the Steelers (10-7) opened as 3½-point underdogs to the Houston Texans (12-5) for Monday night’s playoff game.
Do the Steelers lose games on MNF?
— ✨Saurosaur✨ (@Nud3ants) January 5, 2026
At home? No. Not since 1991.
Do the Steelers win playoff games anywhere? No. Not for the last eight seasons.
Did the Steelers beat any playoff teams this year? Yes. Once in six tries.
Did the Texans win their last nine games? Yes. Three of them were against AFC playoff teams.
Did the Texans win their last game against the Steelers? Yes, 30-6 in 2023.
See where I’m going with this, Saurosaur?
As I’ve written, there are plenty of reasons for Steelers optimism heading into this game, but let’s not act like Houston being a slight road favorite is somehow inappropriate.
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Brendan asked me if I wanted to soften my hatred of the Steelers’ frequent #ShortOfTheSticks third-down passing game after some success in that regard Sunday night against the Ravens.
Gotta check in with my resident "short of the sticks" expert - seems like throwing short to Gainwell really bailed this team out until they figured out how to play offense with these receivers last night
— Brendan Berkley (@TallBlondeGuy) January 5, 2026
Actually, Brendan, quite the opposite. Think of these plays:
• Calvin Austin’s game-winning touchdown was thrown beyond the sticks on a third-and-10.
• Pat Freiermuth picked up 31 yards on a pass that went beyond the sticks on a third-and-8.
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught a ball on a third-and-10 for a gain of 13 that went at least 11 yards in the air.
They threw the ball more effectively down the field on possession downs in this game. Now do in more often.
Like I’ve often said, when you throw it 7 yards on third-and-8 with potentially more space to roam, it’s one thing. Throwing it behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-3 into traffic is another.
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This well-spoken gentleman named @UDontKnowBallll didn’t like the media’s line of questioning presented to DK Metcalf when he returned from his suspension.
“If you want to win SUPER BOWLS it takes every single person in the (expletive) building to be on board … if they don’t ask the right questions get them the (expletive) out.”
Well, @UDontKnowBallll, you don’t know media.
My goal isn’t to help the Steelers win a Super Bowl. My goal is to cover them en route to one if they ever eventually get there again.
That’s something they haven’t done in 15 years, by the way. And they haven’t won a playoff game in eight years.
And that’s not because of the questions being asked in the locker room by reporters, sweetheart.
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After the videoboard crew played “Renegade” Sunday night, the Ravens immediately jumped on the field and scored. That prompted this post in my mentions, requesting a different Styx song.
Should have played " the grand illusion".
— RB7501 (@RB75012) January 5, 2026
In the words of Dennis DeYoung from that tune:
“So if you think your life is complete confusion
Because you never win the game
Just remember that it’s a grand illusion
‘Cause deep inside we’re all the same.”
Was he singing about the Steelers’ last five playoff games?
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It was a tough week in local journalism with the news of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shuttering in May. This reader tweeted Mark Madden and me. He wanted us to do something the PG does.
Need to start Chats like the PPG….
— michael (@mgratay) January 8, 2026
Michael, you are reaching me on social media. The whole thing is a chat. The chatroom is open 24/7. In fact, we are chatting right now.
If you have red paint,…….
— michael (@mgratay) January 8, 2026
Touché.
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Finally, David isn’t in a bad mood. He just wants to make a bad joke.
“The other day I got Ketchup in my eye! I woke up the next day with Heinz Sight!”
That’s great, David. Maybe you should’ve used your “Heinz Sight” to tell the Steelers to avoid drafting Kenny Pickett.
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