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

3. Pittsburgh Steelers @ Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have a fair argument for being Pittsburgh's toughest obstacles on this list, as they finished with the same regular-season record as Jacksonville (9-8) while having the privilege of playing at home.

Seattle was one of the biggest surprises last season, making the playoffs despite having the forgotten Geno Smith at quarterback. To make its underdog story even better, being a member of the NFC West means sharing a division with the 49ers and Rams (the latter of which were the defending Super Bowl champs this time last year). So, all things considered, its postseason appearance was far from a minute accomplishment.

One more thing that can make the Seahawks a tricky squad for the Steelers is—surprise, surprise—the history between them. Including Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl XL victory, the two franchises are tied 10-10 against each other, making for yet another intense matchup that Steelers fans will be sitting on the edges of their seats during.

Facing a team that is coming off of a playoff appearance is bad enough, but that same team also having the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year, a deafening home-field advantage, and half of its previous matchups against you sounds like quite the uphill battle. Pittsburgh taking this one would give it a better-quality win than most of the ones it’s gotten in recent memory.

If the Steelers can win these three games, they will have likely confirmed that their ceiling has reached heights that last season could not. If they can’t, it will be hard not to feel that at least some of their potential entering the 2023-24 stretch went to waste.