Pittsburgh seems to have an easier schedule when you look at the names on the paper sheet that lay ahead. Last season saw a handful of teams that opposed larger threats of defeat when compared to this upcoming campaign. The Steelers are a better team right now than they were before the offseason kicked off.
Rebuilding the trenches has been harder at work than most construction crews around the city in recent years. It has become a stronger group both at starting spots and depth roles as well. There are a lot of things that could alter this prediction for the upcoming season as we still have the entire pre-season to get through before games count.
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: 49ers 21, Steelers 17
Week one always has a couple of upsets by the time the first week of competition concludes. The San Francisco 49ers are still going to have a dangerous defense that will carry their football team again this year. Kenny Pickett will be forced into a few mistakes, but the black and gold's defense will keep it close. Expect the 49ers quarterbacks to play a safer brand of football which will be the difference maker in this one.
Week 2: Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday at 8:15 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Browns 24
Could be as much of a "must win" game in week two as humanly possible if they drop the first game to the 49ers. Dropping back-to-back contests at home to kick off your season could potentially sink the Steelers chances early in the campaign. This should be another close game as Pittsburgh tries to gel their new talents in this club. A late interception by Deshaun Watson sets up Chris Boswell for the game winning field goal.
Week 3: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday at 8:20 P.M.
Prediction: Raiders 23, Steelers 20
Coming off a shorter week and traveling almost completely across the country for a prime-time game is a tough task to overcome. The Steelers will be coming off a tough win at home against the Browns, and that might soften them up. Las Vegas is a good running offense and that will allow for Jimmy Garoppolo plenty of chances to run their offense effectively.
Week 4: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Houston Texans, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 30, Texans 21
Welcome to the NFL C.J. Stroud, and he should still be struggling with the NFL learning curve at this point. It is possible that he might not even be starting in this matchup if the Texans decide to go with a veteran to begin the season. The Steelers defense should be able to take advantage either way and should coast to a win.
Week 5: Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 22, Ravens 20
Finally, back home for the black and gold as they host another rival in Pittsburgh. The Ravens are going to be a tough club to beat as long as Lamar Jackson can stay healthy. He should still be the starter in week five, which will mean another tight contest. It is going to come down to one possession and expect Jackson's struggles against the Steelers to continue here.
Week 6: Bye Week
Current predicted record: 3-2
It has been a bumpy road to this point in the season for the black and gold, so they need a little break. Having a bye week in the sixth week of the season is a little early, but it could be a nice spot to rejuvenate a team. The Steelers are a winning group at the bye week and should be able to make a run during the second half of the schedule in front of them.
Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs LA Rams, Sunday at 4:05 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Rams 17
Jumping back across the country again and the Steelers finally find a way to get a win out there. Mike Tomlin has not seen great success on the west coast throughout his coaching career, but he finds a way to beat the Rams. LA is an odd crew this year as they still have some solid pieces, but they are also missing a lot of caliber players from their championship days too.
Week 8: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Jaguars 28, Steelers 17
Another upset at home for the black and gold just like what happened in the playoffs many years ago. This would be a tough loss to swallow after beating the Rams on the road, but the Jaguars are an up-and-coming team. They will likely win their division again, but Pittsburgh should be a tough task for them to handle.
Week 9: Tennessee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday at 8:15 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Titans 20
Tennessee looks like a club that should be on the decline this year. They have some good players still, but there are a ton of question marks that litter the team. The Steelers should be able to handle business without causing an ulcer, but that is not their way of doing things. This will stay close until the very end, but the Titans miss an extra point that keeps their comeback hopes out of sight.
Week 10: Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Packers 14
Aaron Rodgers is gone from Green Bay and Jordan Love will be running the show. Things do not be pointing in the best direction for the Packers as a franchise and they might need to start fresh. Pittsburgh takes advantage of Love and the stale offense that the Packers produce. Pickett has one of his best days as a young quarterback in the NFL.
Week 11: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 17, Browns 13
The black and gold enter week 11 with a 6-3 record to their name. That is a solid number and this is where things could get a little hairy for this group. Pickett has seen concussion issues in his young career and having a rookie block Myles Garrett one on one is a tough challenge. Expect Mitch Trubisky to come and play meaningful snaps this year and he get the Steelers a win.
Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Bengals 35, Steelers 23
Expectations come crashing back down to earth after the Steelers hot start to the second half of their campaign. Cincinnati is still going to rule the kingdom of the AFC North, which will kill many hopes for the fanbase. The Bengals offense torches the defense all day as they cannot find answers for their bountiful offensive weapons.
Week 13: Arizona Cardinals vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday at 1 P.M.
Prediction: Steelers 28. Cardinals 24
Just like Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, there is no place like home and that could be said for this club. They can rebound quickly from their beat down just a week prior. Arizona is another team just like the Titans where it seems like they do not know where they are going just yet. Kyler Murray is talented enough to keep them in this game, but it's a contest Pittsburgh should always lead in.
Week 14: New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday at 8:15 P.M.
Prediction: Patriots 26, Steelers 20
Another short week for the black and gold as they finish their double Thursday night football games of the season. It is tough to heal up that quickly and overcome another team that has not played in a Thursday night contest earlier in the year. New England is always going to be a well-coached group and that turns out to be too much for the Steelers to handle.
Week 15: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts, Sunday at TBD
Prediction: Steelers 25, Colts 21
Most people know the great record that Tomlin has against the Colts throughout his career as a coach. That trend continues here as Anthony Richardson will likely be the starter for the Colts at this point in the season. He has a lot of growing up to do at the NFL level and that will be the ultimate cause for the black and gold to overcome Indianapolis.
Week 16: Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday at 4:30 P.M.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Steelers 19
If these predictions become reality, then this game will be for all the marbles in terms of who wins the AFC North division. Pittsburgh will be entering this contest with a 9-5 record, which will likely be trailing the Bengals by a game or two. Either way, this should either put Cincinnati out of reach or become a reasonable goal to reach for the black and gold.
Week 17: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Seattle Seahawks, Sunday at 4:05 P.M.
Prediction: Seahawks 21, Steelers 14
It will seem like doomsday if the black and gold drop these two games this late into the year. They will fall to a 9-7 record and barely be hanging onto any playoff hopes that they have left. Again, that west coast effect is real, and they normally do not perform well out there. They struggle in Seattle and lose a clunker on the road.
Week 18: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens, Sunday at TBD
Prediction: Steelers 26, Ravens 22
The NFL would love the theatre of these two teams facing off and the Steelers fighting for their playoff spot. This would immediately become the top contender for Sunday night football, and they would likely get the broadcast. It is another win for Pittsburgh in the hostile environment of Baltimore. They squeak out this win and find a way to get one of the last wild card spots available.
Steelers 2023 schedule record prediction finishes with 10-7 record
Heading into the 2023 season, the Steelers should be expected to take a step forward. They have a better roster overall and Pickett should be able to progress in year two. Those two things alone for be enough for the black and gold to get over the hump and back into the playoffs. There are going to be plenty of challenges, but there should not be as many as last year.
Unless there are catastrophic injuries that litter this roster, there should be consistent contributors on defense and offense. The Steelers were not a great team last year, but they did show the ability to improve and play well in different circumstances. Pickett will have to show that he truly is the guy of the future in this upcoming campaign.
Even though this club is a better roster overall, there are still plenty of question marks that riddle this group. Middle linebacker is the main concern for this defense, and the offensive line is going to take a minute to congeal. Some of those issues could iron themselves out during the pre-season, or it could rear its ugly head.
It's very early to have a cemented record prediction, but 10-7 seems to be a fair estimate at this point. They have all the tools to be a playoff team, but there are different circumstances that they will have to thrive in. Expect a lot of close games that require the Steelers to battle to the bitter end for their success to become reality.