So, you're sitting there on a Saturday night or Sunday morning, getting the snacks ready, and you're asking: who are the Steelers playing on Sunday? It's a fair question. The energy in Pittsburgh is always high this time of year. But honestly, I have some bad news for the Terrible Towel-waving faithful. If you're looking for the Black and Gold on your TV screen this Sunday, January 18, 2026, you’re going to be staring at a lot of empty space on the field.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not playing this Sunday.
Wait. Don’t close the tab yet. There’s a very specific, and somewhat painful, reason why. While the rest of the NFL is gearing up for a massive Divisional Round weekend, the Steelers’ season actually hit a brick wall just a few days ago.
The Wild Card Heartbreak
The Steelers entered the postseason with a lot of momentum after clinching the AFC North. They earned the No. 4 seed and a home game at Acrisure Stadium. Everything looked set for a deep run.
On Monday, January 12, they hosted the No. 5 seed Houston Texans in the final game of Wild Card Weekend. It was supposed to be a classic Pittsburgh winter slugfest. Instead, it turned into a nightmare for Mike Tomlin’s squad. The Texans, led by a relentless pass rush and an offense that just wouldn't quit, absolutely dismantled the Steelers.
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The final score was a lopsided 30-6 in favor of Houston.
Because they lost that Wild Card matchup, the Steelers were eliminated from the 2025-26 NFL playoffs. While it feels weird to have a Sunday in January without a rooting interest, the reality is that the team is currently in "exit interview" mode, not "game prep" mode.
Who is actually playing this Sunday?
Since the Steelers are out, you might be wondering who took their spot in the bracket. The team that beat them—the Houston Texans—is the one actually taking the field today.
If you still want to scratch that football itch, here is what the Sunday, January 18, 2026, schedule looks like:
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- 3:05 p.m. ET: The Houston Texans travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. This is the game the Steelers would have been playing in if they had won on Monday. It’s airing on ESPN and ABC.
- 6:40 p.m. ET: Over in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams are facing the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. You can catch that one on NBC and Peacock.
It’s a bit of a "what could have been" situation for Pittsburgh fans. Watching the Texans face the Patriots at Gillette Stadium is going to be tough for anyone who thought this was the year T.J. Watt and company finally got back to the Super Bowl.
Why the Steelers season ended early
Looking back at that Monday night loss, it’s pretty clear what went wrong. The Steelers became only the fifth team in NFL history to have faced every single team in their conference in the postseason at least once. That's a cool stat, but it doesn't win games.
The offense simply couldn't find the end zone. Managing only 6 points in a playoff game at home is almost always a death sentence. Meanwhile, the Texans' defense, which finished the season ranked No. 1 in total yards allowed, lived up to the hype. They suffocated the Pittsburgh run game and forced the Steelers into uncomfortable passing situations all night long.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season
Since the "who are the Steelers playing on Sunday" answer is "nobody," we might as well look at what’s next. The 2026 regular-season opponents have already been finalized. Even though the dates aren't set, we know who is coming to Acrisure Stadium next year.
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The Steelers will play their usual AFC North rivals (Ravens, Bengals, Browns) twice. Beyond that, they have a tough slate. Because they won the division this year, they’ll play a first-place schedule in 2026.
Home games will include the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Texans (for a rematch), and Colts. On the road, they’ll have to travel to face the Jaguars, Patriots, Saints, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Titans. It’s a 17-game gauntlet that looks even harder than the one they just finished.
Actionable next steps for Steelers fans
Since there’s no game to watch today, here’s how you can actually spend your Sunday:
- Scout the Competition: Watch the Texans vs. Patriots at 3:00 p.m. The winner of this game moves on to the AFC Championship. It’s a good way to see the level of play the Steelers need to reach to compete next year.
- Draft Prep: Start looking at the 2026 NFL Draft big boards. With the season over, the front office is already shifting focus to April. The Steelers will likely be looking for offensive line help and perhaps more depth in the secondary.
- Check the Injury Report: Keep an eye on the final medical updates from the team. Several players were banged up in the Houston game, and their recovery timelines will dictate how the offseason training program looks.
It’s never fun when the season ends before the Super Bowl, but that’s the reality of the NFL. This Sunday might be quiet in Pittsburgh, but the road to 2026 starts now.