Fan came from Illinois to the North Shore to root for the Steelers with family, Pittsburghers

Susan Young wore a T.J. Watt jersey with a big Steelers logo hanging from a thick gold chain as she watched Pittsburgh play without the star linebacker in Monday’s wild-card game against Buffalo.

Young, of Effingham, Ill., is the Pittsburgh fan in her family, and her husband, who goes by “H,” surprised her with a trip to Pittsburgh that included a tour of Acrisure Stadium before they rooted on the Steelers at Tom’s Watch Bar on the North Shore.

Considering the injuries they overcame, the Steelers had a good season, Young said.

She was surprised the Steelers stayed as close to the Bills as they did without Watt and with third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph taking the snaps.

They lost 31-17.

Related:

• Steelers go cold in Buffalo, lose 5th consecutive playoff game

• Mike Tomlin's future among many pressing questions as Steelers enter offseason

• Steelers notes: Joey Porter Jr., Allen Robinson in protocol; 13 set for unrestricted free agency

“My reaction to the season is we started out OK,” Susan Young said. “We lost our (starting) quarterback (Kenny Pickett), which is never a good thing for any team. Backup quarterback (Mitch Trubisky) just couldn’t do it for us. Rudolph came in and saved the day.”

Her husband and their daughter and son-in-law, Mikayla Nash and her husband, Luke, both of Zanesville, Ohio, enjoyed their time in Pittsburgh, they said.

Luke is a big Chicago Bears fan, while Mikayla said she just likes to have fun with friends and family and cheers for whomever they are cheering for.

H. Young is an Indianapolis Colts fan.

“This game, I had low expectations,” Susan Young said. “We did better than what I thought we were gonna do. I’m pretty happy about it, and plus I got to watch it here (with the family),” she said.

Her husband said he believes the Steelers are a better team than how they played Monday.

Luke Nash’s Bears hat and hoodie stood out at the bar. The Bears finished 7-10 and placed fourth in the NFC North.

He said it was fun watching the game with the family and in support of his mother-in-law.

“We came in tonight with real high hopes, and so it goes,” Nash said.

He had a message for Pittsburgh fans:

“If anybody wants to fire Mike Tomlin, they are an idiot. He is not the problem.”

Others at the bar were also rooting on the Steelers.

Aaron Kelly of Pittsburgh also sported a Watt jersey, while his friend, Alexsis Porter, had on a Hines Ward jersey.

Both said the season could have been a lot better.

“It started off slow, but we made a great push,” Kelley said. “Mason really proved himself at the time when they gave him a chance. I’d say maybe give him a chance starting Week 1 next year, but it really depends on how the quarterback situation goes going into the beginning of the year.”

Porter said she was excited to see the team finish strong and have a chance to keep playing in January.

“I do feel as though it would have been nice to have a better overall record for the year, but I’m glad we, in the end, made it to the playoffs,” she said. “We did struggle at the beginning, but we pulled through towards the end.”

Porter and Kelly agreed with Nash that the Steelers should keep coach Mike Tomlin for at least one more year.