Pittsburgh Steelers fans were put through the wringer on Sunday night, with the AFC North title and a spot in the playoffs on the line in the final witching hour of the 2025 regular season against the Baltimore Ravens.
In one moment, after three lead-changing drives by each offense, Pittsburgh executed a nearly perfect 2-minute drive to steal away a late lead. But then, Chris Boswell missed his first point-after try since December 2023.
The Ravens got within striking distance, but a rookie kicker, Tyler Loop, sailed his kick wide right, too.
As befitting an end to a Steelers-Ravens game as it was, head coach Mike Tomlin matched the game’s chaotic finale with equal energy.
Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin had no time for alternate realities
After the game, the final question Tomlin fielded asked him to define the line between Loop’s kick staying true and ending the Steelers’ hopes vs. it sailing right and keeping that hope alive.
"You know how it is. If my aunt had male parts, she'd be my uncle," Tomlin said.
#Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on if Baltimore made the game-winning kick.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 5, 2026
"You know how it is. If my aunt had male parts, she'd be my uncle." 😭😭 https://t.co/CaNkT4LiBI pic.twitter.com/TlSQdijH0U
The goalposts served as the dividing line in reality. In reality, Loop’s kick went wide of the upright, and Tomlin’s aunt is not his uncle, so there’s no need to worry about what reality would be like if the reverse were true. Regardless of the scenario, it just raises more questions, and the answers probably won’t be pretty.
Still, there’s no doubt what the inverse reality of our own would hold. If Loop hits on that 44-yard field goal, those boo birds get back to chirping. The same boo birds who would justifiably chirp if these same Steelers don’t get a win over the Houston Texans next Monday night.
But thankfully, Tomlin’s cleaned-up joke to cap the 2025 NFL regular season rings true. Loop missed the kick, Tomlin's aunt is still his aunt, hope is alive and well, and the Steelers can get to work on winning their first playoff game since the 2016 season.
READ MORE: 3 winners (and 2 losers) from Steelers' tense win over the Ravens
They do so riding a wave of momentum. After all, this was win or go home. The same energy can and should exist for Pittsburgh next week when the Texans come to town.