The fact that the NFL even bothered to release a schedule for the year is a sign of optimism. Of course, what were they going to do, post a banner on their website that they wouldn’t release the schedule because the players and the owners couldn’t figure out how to split up $5 billion dollars? Of course they were going to release a schedule.
So let’s have a look at how the Steelers faired for their schedule this season.
We already knew they would be playing the AFC South and the NFC West this season, and that they would be making trips to Arizona, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City and San Francisco.
They will be hosting Jacksonville, New England, Seattle, St. Louis and Tennessee.
The question was how those trips were going to fit into the schedule with their division opponents, when they will be playing prime time games, and where the bye is.
Not really that tough, all things considered
When you look at the Steelers schedule, one thing that stands out is that it is not especially difficult considering the Steelers were within a drive of winning the Super Bowl. Playing against the pitiful NFC is a blessing. The team that won that division, Seattle, was under .500. They also will take on the AFC South, which features the Colts and three teams who are annually playing for second in that division.
If you look at win percentage, the Black and Gold have the fourth easiest schedule in the league. The rest of the top five? The Cardinals have the number one easiest schedule in the league this year. The Ravens somehow whined their way to the second easiest schedule. San Francisco has the third easiest, and the Bengals have the fifth easiest. Notice anything about those teams? That’s right, they will all play each other this year. Give yourself a cookie if you spotted that. I did. I had a delicious Double Stuffed Oreo.
First up, the freaking Rat-birds
Coming off only their second Super Bowl loss, the Steelers will travel to Baltimore to open the season. I think this is a good thing for the Steelers. They will be fresh and healthy going into that game instead of weary and hurt.
Their home opener will be against the Seahawks, who they have not played since 2007. They handled the Sea-hags handily in that meeting, and won their meeting prior to that. You remember that win, don’t you? Just a little game called Super Bowl XL.
Of course, a couple of things have changed in the city known as the birthplace of grunge and cutting. They have a new coach, Pete Carroll, who left the University of Southern California for Seattle. I still can’t believe someone would actually move from the land of beaches and scantily-clad coeds to a city known for rain and coffee. I wonder if Carroll had the option to commute from SoCal; just fly in for practices and games. Whatever he is making to coach Seattle, he should ask for a cost-of-not- killing-yourself raise.
In week three, the Steelers will face their second real test of the season as they travel to Indy to face Peyton Manning and the Colts. This will be first of five prime time games on the Steelers’ schedule. Again, I’m happy about this. Let’s get these heavy match-ups out of the way early in the season, and the Steelers always play well on a national stage.
The Steelers will round out the first quarter of the season by traveling to Houston. If you have read my season preview of the Texans, I think this will be a good game to play at this time of the season.
The tough part of the schedule: The middle
Unlike a delicious Oreo Cookie, the bad part of the Steelers’ schedule will come in the middle, weeks 6 through 10. After hosting the Titans in week 5, the Steelers will see the Jacksonville Jaguars in Heinz Field. The Jaguars are a tough team to predict. It really depends on which Jaguars team shows up, but they just seem to match up well against the Black and Gold.
Week 7 will see the first of two long trips for the Steelers as they travel to the desert to play the Cardinals. You may recall that the Steelers have had success against the Cards recently and the trip is sandwiched between two home games. It is very hard to complain too much about that.
Weeks 8, 9 and 10 will be the biggest test for the Mighty Black and Gold in the season as far as teams they face. They will host the Patriots on a Sunday afternoon in week 8. This is a team the Steelers have a lot of trouble beating, as we all know too well.
The next week is a Sunday night game against the Ravens. I’m sure the Ravens have already filed a grievance with the NFL for having to play in Pittsburgh in prime time.
Then they will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. If they can get out of this stretch 2-1 and without any major injuries, it will be a huge win for the Steelers.