AFC North

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers' early playoff exit, star pass-rusher T.J. Watt doesn't want to play for any other team.

"I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler," Watt told reporters on Monday. "You guys know that. I don't want to leave this place. I want to be part of the solution."

"I love the people here, and that goes beyond just the coaches," he explained. "It's the fanbase, it's the people, the community. We owe it to them to get it right."

The Steelers sat at 10-3 through 14 weeks, but they lost four straight games heading into the playoffs before they were defeated 28-14 by the Baltimore Ravens in a Wild Card matchup on Saturday.

Watt's individual 2024 season followed a similar trajectory.

After racking up 9.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles during his first 12 appearances, the former Defensive Player of the Year recorded just two sacks and one forced fumble to go along with three tackles for loss in his final five regular-season starts.

He also failed to register a sack, quarterback hit or tackle during the playoff loss to Baltimore despite being on the field for 85 percent of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps (via Pro Football Reference).

Watt's mindset is admirable, considering it isn't difficult to imagine him bouncing back in 2025. He's only one year removed from amassing a league-leading 19 sacks during his 2023 campaign.

The Steelers will enter the 2025 season looking to avenge another early playoff defeat, and Watt expects to continue operating as a key piece in their defensive front.

As veteran quarterback Russell Wilson enters free agency this offseason, one expert suggested that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren't very motivated to re-sign him.

Alber Breer of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that "there was frustration with Wilson down the stretch, so I'm not sure how far the Steelers will be willing to go to keep him."

After missing the first six games of the season, Wilson led Pittsburgh to six wins in his first seven appearances of the year. However, the Steelers stumbled with four straight losses to end the regular season before falling to the Baltimore Ravens in a 28-14 loss in the AFC Wild Card Round on Saturday.

Wilson finished the season with 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding two rushing scores. The 36-year-old should garner some interest on the open market, but it's not clear if teams still view him as a quarterback who could help win a Super Bowl.

As for the Steelers, their quarterback room could look drastically different, as backup quarterback Justin Fields is also headed for free agency. Breer noted that "the team would love to keep working with Fields, but it might not be as a starter," so he could choose to seek an opportunity where he could compete for a starting job.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen reportedly refused to let the flu keep him out of Saturday's AFC Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Queen received four IV bags before Saturday's game so he could be on the field.

Queen, who spent the first four years of his career in Baltimore after being drafted by the Ravens with the 28th overall pick in 2020, finished with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss as the Steelers went on to end their season with a 28-14 loss to their AFC North rivals.

After the game, Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith poked fun at his former teammate, who signed a three-year, $41 million deal with Pittsburgh last offseason.

"I think I remember my guy PQ saying the last time we played them was [for] a hat and T-shirt," Smith said, referring to Queen's comment before their Dec. 21 matchup where Pittsburgh could've won the division title. "But I guess he [got] the T-shirt he got on and he'll be in Cabo or somewhere."

Queen wasn't asked about Smith's comments, but he admitted to being disappointed in how the Steelers ended the year with five straight losses, including the postseason.

"I think we just got too comfortable," Queen said when asked about the Steelers' defensive struggles. "We started chasing too many things. I think we just let off the pedal."

Pittsburgh will focus on trying to shore up its holes on defense this offseason as it gears up to make another run in 2025.

Will either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers next season?

Don't be surprised if it's Fields, and not Wilson, who returns to the Steel City, albeit potentially in a backup role.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, "Wilson and Fields are both free agents. Will either be back in Pittsburgh? There was frustration with Wilson down the stretch, so I'm not sure how far the Steelers will be willing to go to keep him. Meanwhile, the team would love to keep working with Fields, but it might not be as a starter. I'd heard before the playoff game Saturday that the playoffs would likely help set the course. Based on how the offense played.."

Fields, 25, went 4-2 as the starter to open the 2024 season, throwing for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and an interception while completing 65.8 percent of his passes and taking 16 sacks. He also rushed for 289 yards and five scores.

Once Wilson was healthy enough to return from a calf injury that sidelined him to open the season, however, he was returned to starting status and was an upgrade, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.7 percent of his passes and taking 33 sacks.

The Steelers went 6-1 in his first seven starts and life was good. But including Saturday's playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers finished the season with five straight losses. It's hard to completely blame Wilson for that stretch—he threw six touchdowns, two interceptions and took 18 sacks—but he didn't exactly lift an inept offense to greater heights, either.

So the Steelers have some major decisions to make at the quarterback position. And regardless of who they ultimately land on, more weapons are needed as well. An offensive rework is required, and it will likely start at quarterback.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be actively attempting to trade head coach Mike Tomlin, but a deal could be a possibility down the line.

"I don't think the Tomlin trade happens yet, but at some point, it might," an NFL executive from an opposing team told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "Everybody will disappear for a few days, but then somebody is going to ask about staff changes, and if Tomlin bows up, that is when there could be problems. That's what happened with Pete Carroll in Seattle last year."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that another team called Pittsburgh to discuss a deal for Tomlin and was informed that he has a no-trade clause in his contract. The head coach would need to waive the clause for any change of scenery to occur.

A trade doesn't appear to be imminent, though. After the Steelers were eliminated by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round on Saturday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette revealed that Pittsburgh doesn't plan to fire or trade Tomlin during the 2025 offseason.

Trades involving head coaches are uncommon, but they aren't unheard of. The latest occurred in Jan. 2023, as the New Orleans Saints dealt Sean Payton and a third-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a first-round choice and a second-round selection.

The Steelers have maintained a winning record in all 18 years of Tomlin's career, earning a Super Bowl title during his second season in 2008.

A lack of recent postseason success has likely contributed to his uncertain long-term future, though. Saturday's loss to the Ravens marked the Steelers' fifth consecutive playoff defeat, as their last postseason win came during the 2016 season.

Tomlin's stellar track record and no-trade clause have mostly kept him out of trade rumors, but continued playoff struggles could result in more teams inquiring about his availability moving forward.

Despite another early exit from the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly won't be making a head coaching change anytime soon.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers don't plan to fire or trade head coach Mike Tomlin this offseason following Saturday night's AFC Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL and is believed to be earning an annual salary of approximately $15 million, per Dulac. He signed a three-year contract extension with the Steelers before the season that will keep him with the team through the 2027 campaign.

However, after the Steelers' season ended with a 28-14 loss to the Ravens, many started to wonder about Tomlin's future in Pittsburgh. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that at least one other team called the Steelers to inquire about Tomlin being available for a trade, but the no-trade clause in his contract would need to be waived for such a deal to be completed.

"Last week, we said there will be teams that would check into the availability of Mike Tomlin, and one did, and one was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract," Schefter said. "So, anything that would happen in Pittsburgh involving Mike Tomlin would come with his consent and his consent only. A loss like last night's might further teams to look into it."

Pittsburgh had gotten off to a strong start to the year before ending the regular season with four straight losses. Dulac noted that the team allowed an average of 14.8 points and 306 yards in the first eight games and then allowed 25.6 points and 353.6 yards in the last 10, including the postseason.

Dulac added that changes among the coaching staff "are likely to be expected," but the team's defense likely won't change much since Tomlin manages that side of the ball.

It's clear that the Steelers need improvements in multiple areas, and they're still putting their trust in Tomlin to figure out the best path forward.

The Buffalo Bills trounced the Denver Broncos in the wild-card round on Sunday, setting up an exciting matchup between two MVP candidates in Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Ahead of the divisional round game, Bills coach Sean McDermott called the matchup between Allen and Jackson something that "everybody's been waiting for," per GoLongTD.com's Tyler Dunne.

Allen had high praise for Jackson when asked about the contest.

"They got after us earlier this year, so we've got a lot of film to watch," he said. "It's a great team, it's a great quarterback, obviously, with Lamar, what he's able to do. He's one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic quarterback in the league. He's so fun to watch, but I'll be watching their defense this week. That's our focus."

Despite the Bills and Ravens being perennial contenders since Allen and Jackson entered the league in 2018, the two star quarterbacks have only faced off in the playoffs one time. Buffalo beat Baltimore in 2020 in the divisional round before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.

Since that meeting, Allen and Jackson have only improved their respective games.

Allen threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions this year while adding 531 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground to help the Bills finish 13-4. Jackson has had a career season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions to go with his 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

On Saturday, Jackson led the Ravens past the Pittsburgh Steelers behind 175 passing yards, two touchdowns and 81 rushing yards. Allen had 272 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Bills' 31-7 win over Denver on Sunday.

As good as Buffalo was this season, it was no match for Baltimore in September when the Ravens won 35-10. Allen and the Bills will look to learn from their mistakes in the matchup and produce a different outcome this time around.

While Allen and Jackson have both had tremendous success over the course of their careers, both are still chasing their first Super Bowl. One of the MVP favorites will get a step closer to winning a championship next week in the divisional round.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson compared running back Derrick Henry to the main character of the Cars franchise, Lightning McQueen, after his 44-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter of Saturday's 28-14 Wild Card Round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"You know when Lightning McQueen is just flying, flashing past, and it's like whoosh, whoosh?" Jackson told reporters after the win. "That's how Derrick looked. He was running past, and all those guys just, it looked like a movie bro, I'm not going to lie to you. I'd rather be watching it than being on the opposite side of the ball, I know that."

Henry apparently appreciated the reference, posting the following on social media Sunday:

Henry was indeed cruising on Saturday, rushing 26 times for 186 yards and two scores. He and Jackson diced the Steelers to shreds on the ground, as the quarterback rushed for 81 yards to go along with 175 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air.

"My dad's proud. Jack Harbaugh's proud right now. He likes to pound the rock," Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the win. "Derrick was running hard, physical. Lamar started it off. Lamar carried the ball at different times in the first drive or two."

Jackson said Henry's big performance made his life a whole lot easier against a tough Pittsburgh defense.

"I can just hand the ball off—10 yards, 20 yards, 30 yards and I'm just chilling," he said. "When they're attacking him and I go, I'm fresh. Just making my job a lot easier. We just piggy-back off of each other."

When Baltimore is running the ball well, they are tough to beat, and currently are one of the biggest potential threats to the two-time defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Since a Week 14 bye, the Ravens have won five straight games, with three of those victories over playoff teams (the Steelers twice and the Houston Texans).

In Henry and Jackson, the Ravens have one of the most dynamic duos in football. Whether they can drive them all the way to the Caesars Superdome and this year's Super Bowl remains to be seen.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's immediate future appears to be something of a talking point following the team's AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that another NFL team called the Steelers to inquire about trading for Tomlin, although any such move would require the coach's approval given his no-trade clause.

"Last week, we said there will be teams that would check into the availability of Mike Tomlin, and one did, and one was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract," Schefter said. "So, anything that would happen in Pittsburgh involving Mike Tomlin would come with his consent and his consent only.

"A loss like last night's might further teams to look into it. Pittsburgh hasn't given any indication that it wants to move on from Mike Tomlin, and this has been the most patient franchise, not just in football, but maybe sports."

That another team would call the Steelers to ask about Tomlin isn't surprising, as the coach's entire situation with Pittsburgh is one of the most intriguing in the entire NFL.

There is little doubt he is an excellent head coach considering he has started his career with a league-record 18 consecutive non-losing seasons.

Pittsburgh has cycled through various roster constructions and quarterbacks during that span and has still remained among the league's contenders almost every single year under Tomlin's guidance. That type of consistency is a testament to his overall leadership, as is his 183-107-2 record and Super Bowl ring.

However, that Lombardi Trophy came during his second season in 2008.

The new norm for the Steelers is being good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to realistically compete for the sport's biggest prize. In fact, Saturday's defeat to the Baltimore Ravens marked the fourth time in the last five years Pittsburgh lost in the AFC Wild Card Round.

Its last playoff win came during the 2016 campaign, so other teams might be wondering if both the team and head coach are perhaps ready for a change of scenery.

"This dichotomy has created a chasm between those who tout Tomlin as a top coach and those who believe change at the top is the only thing that can end the postseason drought," Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wrote Thursday before the latest playoff loss. "The national media trumpets Tomlin's non-losing seasons, while the local radio shock jocks blast him for postseason failures. It's a dramatic divide."

If that "dramatic divide" and the recent postseason failures are starting to wear on Tomlin, perhaps he will look for an exit strategy this offseason.

There are surely other teams with coaching vacancies who would love to add a leader with such an impressive record and Super Bowl title, and at least one reportedly took the step of calling the Steelers to check on the situation.

The Baltimore Ravens surely envisioned nights like Saturday when they signed Derrick Henry in the offseason.

Henry and Lamar Jackson combined for 267 rushing yards while leading the Ravens to a dominant 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Round. Henry steamrolled his way through the rival defenders with 186 yards and two scores on the ground by himself with one of the touchdowns going for 44 yards to halt Pittsburgh's temporary momentum in the third quarter.

"I thought it was fun watching Lamar run, but watching Derrick Henry run for a touchdown, I think that might take the cake," Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley told reporters in the aftermath. "Maybe because he's like 6-foot-5 running like a gazelle."

ESPN's Jamison Hensley noted Baltimore's 299 rushing yards set a new franchise record and represented the most yards on the ground in a postseason game since the 2012 San Francisco 49ers ran for 323.

It was clear from the start which team was going to control the line of scrimmage, and the Ravens even ran on all 13 plays during an 85-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.

The only hole in Jackson's resume coming into the season was his playoff performance, as he started his postseason career with a 2-4 record as a starter and six touchdown passes to six interceptions.

So Baltimore responded by adding an elite running back and putting defenses in positions where they would have to pick their poison as they attempted to stop the combination.

That offense looked to be in its final form in the most important moment of its season to this point during the win over the Steelers, and the offensive line surely wasn't going to complain about all the run blocking for two of the NFL's best.

Just ask Stanley.