It was a game ... until it wasn't. After the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the fourth quarter, down 7-6, in an ugly Wild Card matchup with the Houston Texans, a nightmare broke out. The Texans, of course, would go on to win by a score of 30-6 after a 23-point fourth quarter.
And just like that, the Steelers' season is over. Aaron Rodgers' first (and maybe only) season with the Steelers is in the books. After the game, frustration levels were indeed high.
Rodgers was asked what he learned about head coach Mike Tomlin after being with him this past season. And, before standing up and abruptly ending his time with the press, Rodgers had this to say:
"I've answered that a number of times. I've talked extensively about how I feel about Mike, and I just did in that f***ing answer. Thanks."
Well, that sums it up for the man himself. But, the frustration is only the beginning for this fan base.
Aaron Rodgers' postgame frustration is just the tip of the iceberg for Steelers fans
Rodgers might be tired of answering similar questions over and over again, and justifiably so. But, this Steelers fan base has been frustrated for years.
Speaking of the same old, same old, we're not even just talking about some silly questions from the media. The "same old Steelers" have become as predictable as ever, and, whether you want to pin that on Mike Tomlin is up to you.
The point is, this fan base is tired of mediocrity. This fan base is frustrated with being good enough for the postseason, but nothing more. The last time this franchise won a playoff game was back in January of 2017.
That didn't sound too bad a couple of years ago, but now that we're in the year 2026?
Goodness gracious, that's nearly a decade -- and that's not good enough in Pittsburgh.
Rodgers' frustration is obvious, but to Steelers fans who have had a realistic viewpoint of this team from the beginning, it is not surprising. It isn't.
This is not a surprise to see the Steelers fall flat the way they did. What else would you have expected? Rodgers is far past his prime and cannot do the things he once could. The defense has underachieved. The offense doesn't have the necessary playmakers, whether fans are willing to admit it or not.
This could be a much longer-winded rant, but I'll leave it at that.
Steelers fans are frustrated. Rodgers might be too, but this frustration runs a whole lot deeper than just one miserable ending to one very long season.