On paper, the Steelers’ sealing a playoff spot was perfect. But for some, there were lingering feelings about the Sunday night schedule. The Steelers took care of business in Week 18, hosting the Baltimore Ravens to clinch the AFC North. But aside from the result, for TJ Watt’s wife, Dani Watt, the frustration was simple: the timing.

“8:20 pm games should be illegal. This mama is tired. Been up since 3:20 am,” Dani joked in her Instagram story.

Ahead of the Steelers-Ravens showdown, Dani took to Instagram to poke fun at the NFL’s love for late kickoffs as she watched the Steelers’ regular-season finale, which also marked her husband’s return after his surgery.

Dani and TJ welcomed their first child, Blakey, back in March 2025. Add that to an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff for a high-stakes division game, and it’s not hard to see why exhaustion was part of the equation. That theme carried through the night. While Dani clearly joked about wanting late games outlawed, her posts also reflected the emotional roller coaster that came with this matchup.

Watt was back on the field against the same Ravens team that was up against last. The 31-year-old linebacker hadn’t played since December 7, when he suffered a partially collapsed lung. After experiencing discomfort at the team facility, he was hospitalized, tested, and eventually underwent surgery to stabilize the lung.

The NFL has been known to routinely schedule late kickoffs, and the 8:20 p.m. ET Steelers vs. Ravens matchup fits right into that pattern. Most Sunday games kick off in three broad windows: early (around 1:00 p.m. ET), late afternoon (about 4:05 p.m. or 4:25 p.m. ET), and the nationally televised Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET. These late evening slots aren’t rare one-offs. They’re intentional, designed to maximize national TV audiences.

The fourth quarter of their latest prime-time game turned into a back-and-forth frenzy. There was a missed field goal by Pittsburgh, and a missed game-winner by Baltimore, before the Steelers escaped with a stunning 26–24 win. That stretch clearly took a toll on Dani.

“My cortisol is at an all time high. I’m not ok. What just happened,” she captioned her Instagram story alongside a photo of her covering her face in pure tension.

In the end, though, the Steelers walked out of Acrisure Stadium with the win. As for Dani Watt, after a long day that started before sunrise and ended well past bedtime, she finally got what every Steelers fan got that night. Relief.

Aaron Rodgers reflects on a turbulent season after sealing a playoff spot

When the Steelers brought in veteran Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal, the expectation was simple: stabilize the offense and see how far it could take them. Rodgers did more than that. With him at the helm, Pittsburgh finished 10–7, won the AFC North, and locked up a wild-card spot. Rodgers’ stat line told part of the story. We’re talking about 31-of-47 for a season-high 294 yards. He finished off with one touchdown and no interceptions. The quarterback’s postgame reaction revealed what the season actually felt like behind the scenes.

“We haven’t made it easy on ourselves, really all season, I guess,” Rodgers said with a chuckle. “But I’m proud of our guys. I’m proud of the way that we responded multiple times after they took a lead. It just takes a little belief at this point in the season.”

Now, Rodgers and the fourth-seeded Steelers turn their attention to the postseason, where they’ll host the Texans on Monday Night Football in the wild-card round. On paper, it’s another marquee moment. For Dani Watt, though, it comes with mixed feelings. She’ll get to watch TJ Watt suit up for a playoff game, but the timing is not ideal for her.

Top Stories

Cowboys Fire Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus: Contract, Salary, NFL Earnings & More

Russell Wilson Announces Retirement Stance as Giants QB Shares Hidden Injury News

Dolphins Reportedly Indecisive About Mike McDaniel as GM Search Kicks Off

Joe Flacco Makes Retirement Decision Clear as Bengals QB’s Final Gesture for Ja’Marr Chase Draws Attention

Brian Schottenheimer Calls Out Controversial Jaxson Dart Incident as Cowboys Star Awaits NFL Punishment

The game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. on ESPN, the very thing Dani had jokingly campaigned against during the regular-season finale. So while the Steelers prepare for another high-stakes night under the lights, Dani could be bracing for another long evening.