Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — It will be almost nine years to the day. When the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the Houston Texans on Monday night, they’ll aim to crumple up their playoff win drought and dispose of it.
Since beating the Kansas City Chiefs 18-16 in the divisional round of the 2016 playoffs, Mike Tomlin’s team has tripped up in six straight postseason outings. Chris Boswell, one of two Steelers players remaining from that season, scored all 18 of his side’s points in that win via field goals.
Tomlin was asked about the dry spell on Tuesday, ahead of the Steelers’ first playoff game in front of a capacity crowd since 2017.
“It’s not about the organization or myself,” Tomlin said. “It’s about this collective, and quite frankly, most of these men don’t care about the last whatever years that you mentioned. Most of them are new to us, and so that’s where my focus is. I’m certainly not going to unpack my bags on the collective’s bed, if you will. I’m excited about doing it and doing it this week with this collective.”
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined the Steelers before this season. He discussed the assumed cloud hanging over the team on Thursday, waving away such a notion.
“I care about winning. That’s why I’m here,” Rodgers said Thursday. “That’s why I love the Monday-to-Saturday grind. Stats are what they are. Trends are what they are, and any trend is always meant to be broken at some point — so hopefully we can do that.”
Inside linebacker Patrick Queen holds the same sentiment.
“Nah, we could honestly care less. Half of the team wasn’t even here for all that time,” Queen said Friday. “This is my second year, so it’s my second playoff game here. I’m just worried about trying to beat the Houston Texans. I could care less about a playoff record. Obviously it sucks that it’s been a drought, but we’re looking to change that.”
Do the #Steelers get caught up worrying about the franchise’s playoff win drought?
Really honest answer here from ILB Patrick Queen: pic.twitter.com/DlT4sYzXQx
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) January 9, 2026
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Stars Say Playoff Drought Isn’t Playing vs. Texans
