I’ve been doing this for many years and I honestly don’t know why. I guess it’s kind of like doing a mock draft… You just want to see how many you actually get right. There are always a few clues that lead to certain teams in certain slots but even those aren’t guarantees. With that said, here’s my prediction for the 2026 schedule of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Week 1 Cleveland Browns
With the Pittsburgh Pirates playing in Chicago on the NFL’s opening weekend, this leads me to believe the Steelers will open at home. With new head coaches in both cities, this one seems like destiny to me.
Week 2 @Tennessee Titans
The Steelers become the first opponent to sit foot in the Titans’ new stadium in Nashville.
Week 3 @Jacksonville Jaguars
Pittsburgh heads further south for their third game of the season to play a Jaguars’ team that won the division last year. The Steelers have won four straight in Northeast Florida.
Week 4 Atlanta Falcons
The Steelers are 16-2-1 all-time against the Falcons and have won the last five games in the series.
Week 5 Cincinnati Bengals (THU)
The Bengals come into the Steel City on a short week as the two division foes lock horns on Thursday Night Football. Pittsburgh has lost three of their last five at home versus the Bengals.
Week 6 @New England Patriots
Pittsburgh heads back to New England for the second straight season looking for a second straight win in the Northeast. They created five turnovers in last season’s 21-14 win over the eventual AFC Champions.
Week 7 @New Orleans Saints
The Black and Gold head to the Crescent City to take on the Black and ‘old’ Gold. The Steelers have dropped four of their last five against the Saints there.
Week 8 BYE WEEK
It’s been quite a while since the Steelers had a late season BYE week and it continues in 2026.
Week 9 Denver Broncos
Denver comes into Pittsburgh having lost three straight in the Steel City. The Broncos were literally a Bo Nix injury away from going to the Super Bowl last season.
Week 10 @Cincinnati Bengals (SNF)
The Steelers wrap up their two-game series with the Bengals early in 2026 with a primetime tilt in Cincy. Pittsburgh has won three of their last five games at Paycor Stadium, home of the “Esca-Loser.”
Week 11 @Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pittsburgh heads to the site of their Super Bowl XLIII victory to take on the Buccaneers. The Steelers lead the all-time series 11-2 and have won four straight at Tampa.
Week 12 Baltimore Ravens
Once again the two rivals don’t hook up until after the midpoint of the season for their first contest. Last we saw the Ravens in Pittsburgh Tyler Loop’s game-winning field goal attempt sailed wide giving the Steelers the division.
Week 13 Carolina Panthers
Pittsburgh rounds out their trip through the NFC South with a visit from the Panthers. The Steelers own a 701 record all-time against the Panthers and have never lost to them at home in four tries.
Week 14 Indianapolis Colts (MNF)
The only Monday night appearance in 2026 for the Steelers will take place at home as the Colts come calling. Pittsburgh has a 28-8 all-time record against Indy and has lost just two of 20 games against them at home.
Week 15 @Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh heads East looking to solve their nightmarish problems in Philly. The Steelers have not won there since 1966 and are losers of 11-straight games in the process.
Week 16 @Cleveland Browns
There are only so many trips left to the Lakeshore now that Cleveland will build it’s new indoor stadium in a suburb of the city. There’s no doubt that this game will start trips down memory lane between the long-time rivals.
Week 17 Houston Texans
The home finale is a return trip by the Texans. The last time they were in Acrisure Stadium they were leaving with a 30-6 Wild-Card win. All-time, the Steelers have beaten Houston in three of five games in Pittsburgh.
Week 18 @Baltimore Ravens
It seems like finishing the season against the Ravens is as classic as Michigan and Ohio State. It just feels right whether we like it or not. In most years postseason berths are usually on the line but this year? It’s hard to tell with two new head coaches.
