The Steelers’ playoff winless streak reached seven years following a 31-17 loss to the Bills at Highmark Stadium on Monday evening.

By the way, it’s literally been seven years now. Don’t @ me with this eight-years garbage. The last time Pittsburgh won a postseason game was on January 15, 2017, or EXACTLY seven years to the day of Monday’s wildcard game in Buffalo. I know what you might say next: “Look, my guy, that 18-16 win at Arrowhead Stadium on January 15, 2017, was actually for the 2016 campaign. The Steelers’ latest loss was in 2024. Therefore, it’s been eight years, my guy.” Wow, but let me use your logic against you: The loss to the Bills on Monday, which occurred in 2024, was for the 2023 season. Therefore, it’s been seven years, bruh.

Man, I didn’t expect to go on such a rant, but this kind of stuff annoys me. Then again, should I really be surprised? We’re talking about a fan base that, in addition to just knowing that they learned all that they had to learn about Mason Rudolph during his starting cup of coffee back in 2019–despite ample evidence down the stretch of the 2023 season to suggest there is still more left on the onion to peel away–they keep spelling his last name, Rudolf. I mean, the p and h are right there at the end of the word. And don’t give me this autocorrect crap. Why would Rudolph be autocorrected to Rudolf, the less-popular of those names that sound the same but are spelled differently?

Wow, these tangents are a bit annoying. I need to stay focused. The Steelers’ playoff streak has reached seven years. That’s right, seven years without a playoff win, which is the longest drought for the franchise since winning postseason games became something it was known for back in 1972.

I certainly wasn’t surprised by Monday’s loss. The same could be said for most fans. Some were, however, given the predictable uptick in the call for head coach Mike Tomlin’s firing immediately after the game. I understand that it was a desire for the team to break its playoff-winless streak in 2023, but just because you desire something, doesn’t mean you deserve to get it.

Did the Steelers ever really perform during the 2023 regular season like a team that would give you any reason to believe it could end its postseason drought in January of 2024?

No, and that was why Pittsburgh barely snuck into the postseason field with a little help along the way. That was also why the Steelers found themselves at Highmark Stadium, facing the number-two seed in the AFC, a team with a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen.

It was the same thing two years ago when Pittsburgh went to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs on Super Wild Card Weekend. The number-two seed in the AFC. A franchise quarterback named Patrick Mahomes. Blowout.

If the Steelers are ever going to end their playoff winless streak and even begin to dominate in January, they’re first going to have to learn how to dominate in September, October, November and, yes, December.

The Steelers have had one premium playoff seed since their last Super Bowl appearance following the 2010 regular season. For my money, a premium seed is either a one or a two. Yes, it’s a little different now that the number-two seed doesn’t come with a bye, but it still includes a home game in the divisional round if you win on Super Wild Card Weekend.

The Steelers have made the postseason eight times since 2010. They’ve been a number-two seed once (2017). Pittsburgh has clinched the third seed three times (2014, 2016 and 2020). The Steelers have been a wildcard entrant four times (fifth seed in 2011; sixth seed in 2015; seventh seed in 2021; and seventh seed in 2023).

It’s easy to see why the Steelers have only won three playoff games since that 2010 season. Forget making it to the Super Bowl; it’s hard enough even winning a postseason matchup when you’re a straight-up wildcard entrant, which Pittsburgh has been in half of its playoff appearances since 2011.

Winning the division at least gets you a home game. No, it doesn’t guarantee a win, as evidenced by the Steelers’ 1-3 record at home in their other four postseason appearances since 2011.

However, getting some home games is a good place to start if the Steelers want to end this playoff drought, and that requires winning your division. That’s right, the Steelers have to start running the North, something they’ve only done twice since this winless playoff thing started.

Players like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt love to talk about how winning the Super Bowl is the goal. OK, but shouldn’t winning the division be your first goal? I know we love to say, “Just get in the tournament and anything can happen,” but the truth is anything usually doesn’t happen when a team qualifies for the playoffs as a wildcard entrant.

Yes, there was that stretch between 2003-2012 when eight teams either made the Super Bowl or won it after starting their playoff journey on Wild Card Weekend (those teams included wildcard entrants and division winners who didn’t earn byes), but that era was clearly the exception and not the rule.

History shows that the road to the Super Bowl is usually at home. Yes, it’s different now with one less bye in each conference, but it’s still a great advantage to win your division and capture the second seed. Heck, get the third seed. Again, just win your damn division.

I want to date Anna Faris, but I don’t look anything like Chris Pratt. Also, she’s engaged to someone new, now, so there goes my chance. Unrealistic, right? I should probably look for a mate at the local supermarket. Fine. And the Steelers need to stop focusing on such lofty goals as winning a Super Bowl.

They need to start winning playoff games first. That’s probably not going to happen until they win more games during the regular season and don’t need a minor miracle just to qualify.