History indicates Steelers should be playoff bound in 2020

The way the early part of their 2020 schedule is set up has led to success in the past for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Getting off to a good start each season in the NFL is typically vital to a team’s success. This is no different for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have made the playoffs just once since 1990 after losing at least three of their first four games on their schedule.

On the flip side, the Steelers haven’t missed the postseason since 1998 in years that saw them begin their season by winning at least three of their first four matchups.

For 2020, Pittsburgh will begin their quest back to the playoffs by playing four of their first six games inside their home stadium. If the past is any indication, this should result in the Steelers ending their two-year postseason drought.

Early schedule setup could lead to a return to the playoffs for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020.

Since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970, there have been eight instances in which Pittsburgh has begun their schedule with four of their first six matchups at home like it’s set up for them this season.

Of these eight times, seven have resulted in the Steelers making the playoffs and five of them saw the franchise finish first in their division. Since the merger, Pittsburgh has never finished lower than second in their division during seasons where their schedule begins with four of their first six games at home.

During their first six matchups this year, the Steelers will take on the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh’s games against the Giants and Titans are the two contests that will take place on the road. New York hasn’t won more than five matchups in a season since 2016 and the Steelers have come away with a victory in five of their last seven games against Tennessee.

With the way their schedule is set up, Pittsburgh has a great opportunity to get off to a fast start in 2020. And if the past means anything at all, the Steelers should be playing some extra football past Week 17 during the upcoming season.