All eyes are on the NFL's schedule release this week, and fans from all across the league are eager to see when their favorite team will play each of their opponents. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, they have several opponents that have built-in storylines due to moves they have made this offseason.
One of those opponents is a familiar one: The Cincinnati Bengals. We already know the two teams will face each other twice as division opponents, but things could be very different this year. The Bengals have doubled down on their offense, choosing to pay both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The Steelers, meanwhile, let most of their offensive leaders from a season ago walk, choosing to bring in new starters at receiver, running back, and quarterback. Which strategy will prevail? According to a recent leak, fans will get to find out in primetime early in the season.
Schedule leak has Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals facing off Week 7 on TNF
Love it or hate it, Thursday Night Football has become a staple of the NFL's primetime schedule. The play on the field can be, well, lackluster at times. Players often hate it due to a lack of full rest time, even if they almost always have a longer rest than normal following a TNF game.
That doesn't change the fact that it is a chance for teams to show what they are made of in front of the whole country. The Steelers and Bengals will play Week 7 in the time slot, an early opportunity to set the tone for the season.
The AFC North looks to be a bloodbath yet again, with the Browns adding tons of premium talent in the draft and the Ravens looking to get over the hump in the playoffs. Barring something unexpected, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will be fighting for second place.
The winner of this primetime matchup will have a leg up on the loser as the season progresses, and could even be the difference between a playoff berth. Hopefully, the Steelers have sorted things out offensively by the time this game kicks off.