The Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 schedule has been released. Here are my early game-by-game predictions for the upcoming season.
Every year following the Steelers schedule release, I attempt to make my early game-by-game predictions about which games Pittsburgh will walk away in defeat or emerge victoriously.
While it was somewhat of an unpopular opinion at the time, I predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers would finish 9-8 immediately following the 2021 schedule release. This ended up being dangerously close to their 9-7-1 record last year. (Who in their right mind can predict a tie, honestly).
This season, the Steelers are heavy underdogs to win the AFC North. Is this the year Mike Tomlin’s streak without a losing record is finally broken, or does Pittsburgh defy oddsmakers yet again to be better than anyone expects? Here are my game-by-game predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers following the NFL schedule release:
Week 1: Steelers @ Bengals
This is going to be a tough pill to swallow. The Steelers would love to get revenge on the Cincinnati Bengals after getting swept (and at times humiliated) by them last season. Sadly, this is easier said than done.
Pittsburgh had their number for so many years, but this is certainly a different Bengals team than what we are used to seeing. Led by one of the most promising up-and-coming NFL quarterbacks in Joe Burrow, the Bengals will not be an easy task in Week 1.
Though the first game of the season is typically when you can catch good teams off guard, I am going to predict the Steelers lose their first game of the season as they struggle to keep pace with Cincinnati’s suddenly high-powered offense.
Prediction: Loss (0-1)
Week 2: Patriots @ Steelers
Besting the New England Patriots is never an easy task — even without Tom Brady. Bill Belichick is one of the most brilliant NFL head coaches to ever grace the league, and he has had Mike Tomlin’s number over the years.
Belichick is particularly good when matched up against rookie quarterbacks, and it’s not out of the question that Kenny Pickett could be the starter in Week 2. Even if it’s Mitch Trubisky, the Steelers still have plenty of question marks on offense — primarily with the offensive line.
Meanwhile, New England still has one of the deeper rosters in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. They finished 10-7 on the season in 2021. Like Pittsburgh, they were knocked out early in the playoffs, but Belichick’s team will be hoping for better results this time around.
While Pittsburgh has home-field advantage in Week 2, the Patriots already have a young quarterback who had a very solid rookie season in Mac Jones. The Steelers, on the other hand, have no idea what they are going to be getting in terms of quarterback play. I think this game will be close, but I’m going to give the edge to the Patriots here.
Prediction: Loss (0-2)
Week 3: Steelers @ Browns
For the second time in the first three games to begin the 2022 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the road against a division opponent. Talk about drawing the short straw here. While Mike Tomlin swept Kevin Stefanski and the Cleveland Browns last year, it could be hard to expect a repeat of that happening this year.
It’s unclear how many games Deshaun Watson is going to play in 2022, but this is a huge factor that is hard to account for. I thoroughly believe that Watson is a top-seven quarterback when on the field, and his presence would be a massive upgrade over Baker Mayfield.
The Steelers swept the Browns last season, but adding Watson to the mix could make that more difficult. Cleveland has also had some strong draft classes over the past several years and they have young players on both sides of the ball who appear poised to step into bigger roles.
Regardless, I think Tomlin is going to bring his A-game to this contest as he has done to the Browns so many times in the past. Pittsburgh could very well be labeled as the underdogs here, but I have them besting the Browns on their own turf in Week 3.
Prediction: Win (1-2)
Week 4: Jets @ Steelers
As soon as the Steelers 2022 schedule was released, I wrote about this matchup as a game that Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose. While the Jets are not a divisional opponent, a loss against New York could count against their conference record.
The biggest reason the Steelers need to win this game is that the Jets (on paper, at least) are one of the easiest opponents Tomlin’s team will face all year. If they can’t take care of business against a 4-13 team from the 2021 season, who should we expect them to beat?
This isn’t to say that this is going to be easy. Unless the offense miraculously takes a gigantic leap forward in 2022, we can’t expect them to be blowing their opponents out of the water. Additionally, this Jets team has gotten a lot more talented over the past few years.
Now a promising, young Zach Wilson has a beefed-up offensive line and plenty of weapons in the passing game. The Steelers certainly won’t be able to take them lightly, but given that this is a home game against an unproven football team, I have Pittsburgh taking their second straight win.
Prediction: Win (2-2)
Week 5: Steelers @ Bills
Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills were caught off guard by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 of the 2021 season, and I think they are too good of a football team to let that happen again. Josh Allen was playing some of the best football of his career last season, and there’s no reason to expect that to suddenly stop in the prime of his career.
While the Steelers were able to get to Allen consistently last time around, I think McDermott will have a better plan to keep him protected this time around. With plenty of NFL action before Week 5 to heat up, it’s going to be hard to catch the Bills napping.
In order to have any shot in this contest, the Steelers are probably going to have to create some takeaways on defense in an effort to slow down Josh Allen and company. It’s unreasonable to expect to hold them to just 16 points as they did in Week 1 last year.
With one of the league’s most high-powered offenses, I have very little reason to believe that the Steelers will be favored in this contest — especially considering that it is on the road in Buffalo. Tomlin’s team is pretty good about raising their level of play to match their opponent, but I think the Bills get the best of them this time around.
Prediction: Loss (2-3)
Week 6: Buccaneers @ Steelers
With his short-lived retirement, Tom Brady fooled Steelers fans into thinking that we had seen the last of him. We should have known we can’t get rid of him that easily. While Brady has had Pittsburgh’s number over the past two decades, I still respect the legendary career he has had.
It’s hard to believe that Brady will be 45 years old by the time this game is played. When is Father Time going to catch up to this man? Perhaps it will be this year. After all, there was a reason he was contemplating retirement.
However, even if Brady’s play takes another step back in 2022, it doesn’t mean that the Steelers are going to run away with this game. Tampa Bay still has a very talented roster all around. After all, this is a team that finished 13-4 last season — tied with the Packers for the best record in the NFL.
While I think that the Steelers might be able to hang with the Buccaneers for much of the game, the difference between a seasoned veteran like Tom Brady and whoever the Steelers are playing at quarterback at this point will be too much for them to overcome.
Prediction: Loss (2-4)
Week 7: Steelers @ Dolphins
The Dolphins are usually sneaky good with catching teams off guard in home games early in September to begin the season. This might have something to do with traveling teams playing in the scorching heat in Miami. However, by Week 7, this isn’t a condition Steelers players will need to freat over.
The Dolphins have made some splashy moves this past offseason in an effort to improve their roster. They started by hiring an innovative, offensive-minded head coach, Mike McDaniel — the offensive coordinator and understudy to Sean McVay in Los Angeles.
After doing so, Miami made a blockbuster trade for dynamic Al-Pro receiver, Tyreek Hill. Between him and a very promising Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins perhaps have the fastest pair of wide receivers we have ever seen on one team.
While this could be difficult for Pittsburgh’s cornerbacks to handle at times, I’m not buying the Tua Tagovailoa hype just yet. The Dolphins had some major offensive line issues last season, and I think T.J. Watt and company could exploit them in this department in Week 7.
Prediction: Win (3-4)
Week 8: Steelers @ Eagles
The Eagles are one of three teams the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing based on their record from last season. They will not play the rest of the NFC East this year. This is a really tough game to call for so many reasons.
For starters, the Steelers typically play the Eagles just once per year. The results in these games have been pretty wild in the past. Pittsburgh has stolen some wins and has been humiliated in other games.
Philadelphia’s best trait is their incredibly strong trenches on both sides of the football. They have one of the best all-around offensive lines, and their defensive line is two full rotations deep of very good football players (most recently added was a first-round pick, Jordan Davis).
Jalen Hurts might not be a huge threat to pass all over the Steelers, but this is a Pittsburgh team that struggled in run defense last season. Meanwhile, I think the Eagles are steadily getting better and this could be a really tough matchup for the offensive line.
Prediction: Loss (3-5)
Week 10: Saints @ Steelers
It’s nice that the Pittsburgh Steelers actually have a bye week in the middle of the season after they had one so early last year. Following their Week 9 bye, the Steelers will begin the second half of the year with a home game against the Saints.
Despite not having consistent quarterback play since the retirement of Drew Brees, New Orleans managed to be very competitive this past season — finishing 9-8 and narrowly missing the playoffs. The Saints were in a terrible financial situation to begin the 2022 offseason, but they made some moves to keep their head above water while holding onto most of their talent in the process.
Still, I don’t know if I can buy into the Saints being just as good this year. With a new head coach in town in Dennis Allen, this team is also dealing with being pressed up against the cap ceiling. Offensively, they lack firepower much like the Steelers do and they rely on strong and consistent defensive play to keep them competitive.
With this game being at home for the Steelers following a bye, I have Pittsburgh taking this and keeping themselves somewhat in the playoff hunt.
Prediction: Win (4-5)
Week 11: Bengals @ Steelers
Even with this being a completely different Bengals team than the one we saw in past years, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which the Pittsburgh Steelers lose four straight games to this team in a two-year span.
Being at home this time will help as Pittsburgh will have the crowd on their side and should still be pretty well rested just a week removed from their bye. Still, whoever the quarterback is for the Steelers at this point, it’s hard to expect them to outperform Joe Burrow.
The offense is going to need some assistance from T.J. Watt and company to slow down a Burrow to Ja’Marr Chase that proved to be lethal against them last season. This time around, the Steelers will have a new set of cornerbacks matching up against Chase and Tee Higgins in Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace. Perhaps they will fare better.
Either way, there are only so many games in a row Pittsburgh can lose against the Bengals, right? I think they take this one at home — regardless of what oddsmakers have to say.
Prediction: Win (5-5)
Week 12: Steelers @ Colts
There is so much unknown about this matchup. The Steelers narrowly defeated the Indianapolis Colts late in the season in 2020 after a strong second half, but this Colts team already looks very different from the one we saw just two years ago.
Indianapolis now has Matt Ryan leading the charge at quarterback, while Jonathan Taylor was clearly the best running back in the league last season, for my money. Talent-wise, the Colts are pretty strong across the board and don’t really have any areas of glaring weakness.
In addition, the Colts have a strong offensive line. Based on Pittsburgh’s dismal run defense last year, this has the potential to be a nightmare matchup for the Steelers. However, I’m predicting a big improvement in this department this season.
While I don’t know how much offensive upside Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks will be able to offer this year, I don’t believe that Ryan has a lot left in the tank. If the Steelers can get pressure on him, they should be able to steal this win on the road.
Prediction: Win (6-5)
Week 13: Steelers @ Falcons
The Steelers will be playing their second away game in a row — this time against the Atlanta Falcons. On paper, the Falcons might have one of the worst rosters in the NFL. They were also just a 7-10 football team last year. However, as Steelers fans, we should know not to count the chickens before they hatch.
Historically under Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh has struggled with uncommon opponents on the road — even teams that finished under .500 in the previous season. For some reason or another, we have seen the Steelers fail to show up against bad teams too often.
Regardless of their past, I don’t believe the same will happen here. The Falcons do have a few good players. Kyle Pitts might be one of the most promising up-and-coming offensive weapons in the league. Still, they just don’t have a lot going for them.
Marcus Mariota is the projected starter in Atlanta and there’s no guarantee he’s even holding onto that job this late in the season — especially if things aren’t going well. I think the Steelers continue their win streak here.
Prediction: Win (7-5)
Week 14: Ravens @ Steelers
The Steelers have played Lamar Jackson as well as any team since he came into the league in 2017. Despite T.J. Watt having his number, the Ravens are still 37-12 over that span with Jackson leading the charge. While the Steelers are capable of sweeping Baltimore again in 2021, it’s important to consider the context of last season.
Pittsburgh played against Lamar in just one game (the other Tyler Huntley was forced to start). Additionally, the Ravens were the NFL’s most injured team in 2021, as nearly a dozen starters landed on IR at one point or another during the season.
I believe I counted at one point that the Ravens had 27 injured players at one time last season. Now this team should be much healthier. In addition, Baltimore is clearly one of the deepest all-around teams in the NFL, for my money, and they just killed it again in the NFL Draft –loading up on talent like Tyler Linderbaum and Kyle Hamilton.
This is going to be a very tough game this time around — despite the fact that this Week 14 contest is in Pittsburgh. I have Tomlin’s win streak ending here.
Prediction: Loss (7-6)
Week 15: Steelers @ Panthers
After watching quarterback Sam Darnold implode last year, it’s hard to feel too threatened by a team like the Carolina Panthers. However, it’s worth considering that Darnold crushed any chances for Pittsburgh playoff dreams back in 2019 after the Steelers lost to the Jets in Week 16.
Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if Darnold isn’t a starter by this point in the season — considering how bad he’s been most of his career, but somehow Matt Corral stepping in seems more threatening to Pittsburgh’s chances in this game.
Outside of the QB position, the Panthers aren’t exactly loaded with talent across the board. They have a few quality receivers, and Christian McCaffrey is always capable of having a monster game (assuming he can stay healthy), but this roster is one of the weaker units in football.
The Panthers were just a 5-12 team last year, and I don’t think they made nearly enough changes to turn things around any time soon. The Steelers should be able to get back on track with a win here.
Prediction: Win (8-6)
Week 16: Raiders @ Steelers
I would love to be able to check this game off as a win on the schedule, but for some reason or another, the Raiders just seem to be a really bad matchup for Pittsburgh. The fact that this is a home game seems like it should help, but I’m not convinced.
Derek Carr can be a little inconsistent at times, but he also has the ability to catch fire. After dealing with his own incredibly difficult division all season, playing against the Steelers defense is a challenge he could be up for.
The Raiders made a splash move by trading for All-Pro receiver Davante Adams this offseason. Theoretically, this should give Las Vegas a boost on offense. Defensively, every Pittsburgh fan has a right to be worried about Maxx Crosby potentially destroying Chukwuma Okorafor.
The Raiders can get quick pressure and Derek Carr has the ability to put up points in a hurry. Sadly, I think the Steelers drop this pivotal game late in the season.
Prediction: Loss (8-7)
Week 17: Steelers @ Ravens
I hate to be that person who predicts that the Steelers get swept by the Baltimore Ravens, but I think John Harbaugh has one of the sneakiest rosters in the NFL this year. In fact, I would not be shocked if the Ravens look like a top-five team in the league for most of the season.
In addition to a healthy Lamar Jackson, the Ravens will be getting back left tackle Ronnie Stanley and starting running back J.K. Dobbins among others. While T.J. Watt has been Baltimore’s kryptonite in the past, this team just got their best offensive lineman back and added a premier center in Tyler Linderbaum.
While I would be kind of surprised if Baltimore dropped 30+ points on Pittsburgh’s defense, they have a knack for wearing teams down. Meanwhile, the Ravens have a very strong defense on paper, and I can see the Steelers struggling to put up many points on them.
I think this will be another hard-fought game against a hated division rival, but I have the Ravens taking their second victory again the Steelers this year.
Prediction: Loss (8-8)
Week 18: Browns @ Steelers
Everything in me wants to give this victory to the Steelers in their final game of the season against the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s that easy. Pittsburgh was able to pulverize Baker Mayfield in the past. However, Deshaun Watson gave them a run for their money — even on a bad Houston Texans team.
Now that Watson is on a much more talented Browns roster with a significantly better offensive line and defense, it’s understandable that this could be a struggle. There’s also plenty of reason to believe that Watson could be suiting up for this contest late in the season.
Additionally, the Browns have a terrific rushing attack and the Steelers were the worst team in the league against the run last year. For the first time in forever, Cleveland will have a competent quarterback at the helm, and it could really alter the dynamic of this division.
There could be a lot riding on this game, and Mike Tomlin isn’t going to let his record of a non-losing season go away without a fight, but we are entering a new era and this AFC North is looking really strong. I have the Steeler splitting games with Cleveland this year.
Prediction: Loss (8-9)
With an 8-9 record, I have the Steelers narrowly missing the playoffs in 2022, but we have to expect some growing pains with one of the NFL’s youngest offenses in the post-Ben Roethlsibeger era. Last year, I ended up being just a half-game off on my predicted record for the season following the NFL schedule release. I hope Pittsburgh proves me wrong this year.