3 games on the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule that will define their 2023 run

1. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville is the first name on our list, and that should not come as much of a surprise to anyone who knows what the Jaguars pulled off last season.

The Jags (who, just like the Steelers, finished their regular season with a 9-8 record) won their division back in January, earning themselves the 4-seed in the AFC playoff bracket. While doing so got them some props, many expected them to do nothing with the placement—expectations that were only fueled by a 27-0 deficit to the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter of their wild card game. That is until Jacksonville brought it back.

The Jaguars went on to outscore the Chargers 31-3 to win by a single point and pull off one of the largest comebacks in NFL playoff history. As if that wasn’t enough to establish the Jags as dangerous, they even managed to keep their divisional road loss to the Lombardi-winning Chiefs somewhat captivating.

That information would leave Jacksonville scaring fans of any team, but its all-time record versus Pittsburgh doesn’t make things any less concerning for yinzers.

Of the 27 meetings shared between the Jaguars and Steelers (postseason included), 14 of them have gone to the former. How much of an influence does that have on either squad’s current circumstances? Realistically none. It still paints the Jags out as a bunch to not be overlooked, though. And while we're on the topic, something worth noting is that historical competitiveness will be a common theme for teams two and one as well.