NFL Exec Says Aaron Rodgers, TJ Watt, Heyward 'Are Just About Shot' Entering Playoffs

A veteran-laden group led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the AFC North title and a playoff berth, but at least one NFL insider doesn't see them going much further than that.

Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, an anonymous NFL executive expressed their belief that quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and pass-rusher T.J. Watt don't have much left in the tank entering the postseason.

"You have Rodgers at 42, Cam Heyward is 36 and T.J. Watt hardly makes plays except when the ball lands in his belly like it did Sunday night," the exec said. "Those three guys are just about shot. I think Houston chokes them out."

The Steelers had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, but after falling 13-6, it set up a winner-take-all clash with the Baltimore Ravens in the final regular-season game of the 2025 campaign in Week 18.

In what was a largely back-and-forth affair, the Steelers and Ravens traded the lead four times in the fourth quarter, and it looked like the team that possessed the ball last would be the winner.

Baltimore got the ball last after wide receiver Calvin Austin III caught a 26-yard pass from Rodgers for the go-ahead touchdown with 55 seconds remaining. Since kicker Chris Boswell missed the extra point, Baltimore needed only a field goal to win the game.

The Ravens got into field goal range and left the game on the foot of Tyler Loop, but he shockingly missed a 44-yard field goal to send the Steelers to the playoffs.

▶️ Full Ravens-Steelers Recap

05:05

By virtue of winning the AFC North with a 10-7 record, the Steelers will host the 12-5 Houston Texans, who enter the playoffs having won nine consecutive games.

The Texans led the NFL in total defense and finished second in scoring defense during the regular season, while Pittsburgh ranked just 25th in total offense and 15th in scoring offense.

It looks like a significant mismatch in favor of the Texans on paper, but the Steelers defied the odds many times over the course of the season to reach the playoffs with a 42-year-old quarterback leading the way.

Winning on the road in the playoffs is never easy, so even with the Steelers lacking much of the youth and explosiveness that the Texans have on both sides of the ball, Pittsburgh won't necessarily be an easy out.