Look, I’ll give it to you straight because there is no sense in dancing around it. If you’re waking up on this Thursday, January 15, 2026, wondering what time does the Pittsburgh Steelers game start today, I have some tough news for you. There isn't a game.
Actually, for most of the city, the "game" ended three days ago in a way that’s still stinging.
The Steelers’ 2025-26 season officially hit the brick wall on Monday night. While the rest of the league is gearing up for the Divisional Round this weekend, the locker rooms at Acrisure Stadium are being packed into cardboard boxes. It’s that quiet, eerie January silence that every Yinzer dreads.
Why There Is No Start Time For The Steelers Today
Typically, when people ask about the start time on a Thursday in mid-January, they’re hoping for a playoff miracle or perhaps a rescheduled game. But the bracket is set, and the Steelers aren't in it anymore.
On Monday, January 12, the Steelers hosted the Houston Texans for the Wild Card round. It was an 8:15 PM ET kickoff. Most of us expected a gritty, defensive battle. Instead, we got a 30-6 blowout loss that felt even worse than the score suggested.
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So, if you’re looking at your watch or your TV guide today, the only thing you’ll find is the "post-mortem" analysis. There is no kickoff today because the season is over. The Texans are moving on to face the New England Patriots this Sunday, and Pittsburgh is moving on to a very long, very loud offseason of questions.
Breaking Down the Wild Card Disaster
It’s kinda wild how fast things changed. Just two weeks ago, the Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 26-24 to close out the regular season with a 10-7 record. We had momentum. We had the home-field advantage for the first round.
But against Houston, nothing clicked. Honestly, the offense looked stagnant from the first whistle. Six points. You can’t win in the modern NFL with two field goals, especially when C.J. Stroud is on the other side of the ball slicing up the secondary.
The 30-6 loss was a gut punch. It wasn't just a loss; it felt like a ceiling. For those still asking what time does the Pittsburgh Steelers game start today, the answer is basically "not until August."
🔗 Read more: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
Key Stats From the Final Game:
- Final Score: Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6.
- Turnovers: The Steelers coughed it up twice in critical territory.
- Third Down Efficiency: It was abysmal. They couldn't stay on the field.
The Mike Tomlin Situation
The real "game" starting today isn't on the field; it's in the front office. For the first time in nearly two decades, there is serious, non-stop chatter about the coaching staff.
Rumors have been swirling since the clock hit zero on Monday. Is Mike Tomlin staying? Is he taking a break? Some reports from early Wednesday suggest the team is "preparing for life after Tomlin," though nothing is official yet. That’s the conversation dominating the sports bars from the North Shore to the South Side right now.
If you want to track something today, track the flight paths out of Pittsburgh International Airport and the press conference schedules. That’s where the action is.
What To Watch Since The Steelers Aren't Playing
If you still need your football fix even though your team is out, the NFL schedule for the rest of the week is actually pretty stacked. You don’t have to sit in a dark room and watch 1970s Super Bowl highlights (though, honestly, sometimes that helps).
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The Divisional Round kicks off this Saturday, January 17.
Saturday, Jan 17:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: 4:30 PM ET (CBS). This is going to be a cold one.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: 8:00 PM ET (FOX). An old-school NFC West rivalry in the playoffs? Yes, please.
Sunday, Jan 18:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 PM ET (ABC). This is the game that would have been the Steelers if they’d taken care of business.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 PM ET (NBC).
Actionable Steps for Steelers Fans Today
Since you can't spend your evening cheering at the TV, here is how you should actually spend your time to prepare for the 2026-27 season.
- Stop checking the live scores: Seriously. There isn't a game. You're just going to see news about other teams winning, and that's just masochism at this point.
- Monitor the Mock Drafts: The Steelers are officially in "draft mode." With a 10-7 record and a first-round exit, they'll likely be picking in the late teens or early 20s. We need offensive line help and probably another look at the secondary.
- Check the Coaching Staff updates: Keep an eye on the official Steelers Twitter (or X, whatever we're calling it this week) and local beat writers like Gerry Dulac. If there’s a shake-up, it’ll happen fast.
- Process the Gear: If you're superstitious, today is the day you decide if that "lucky" jersey stays in the rotation or gets buried in the back of the closet until August.
The 2025 season had its moments—that win over Baltimore was a classic—but the quest for a seventh ring is officially on ice for another year. It’s a bummer, I know. But hey, at least we aren't the Browns.
Next Steps for You:
Check the NFL's official transaction wire later this afternoon to see if any futures contracts have been signed. You should also look for Mike Tomlin's end-of-season press conference transcript, which usually drops a few days after the final game. It'll give you a lot more insight into why the game didn't start today than any schedule will.