TGIF Steelers’ Fans!
The National Football League released the schedules for all 32 teams last night at 8pm Eastern. Well, that’s not true because there were more leaks than garden hose run over by a lawnmower prior to that… Anyway, the Steelers have what I would call a “favorable” schedule early and then some much tougher games (including lots of travel) over the final half.
As for primetime games, the Steelers will play a total of five with two sets of back-to-back weeks. They will play week three at Tampa Bay on Monday Night and then step back under the lights the following week against Baltimore at Heinz Field on Sunday night. Their Thursday night game will be at home against the Carolina Panthers in week ten and then they travel to Jacksonville for a Sunday night postseason rematch with the Jaguars. They will finish their primetime schedule week 14 at Oakland on Sunday Night Football. You’ll note that the team will essentially have short weeks against rivals Baltimore and New England so take that any way you’d like.
The Steelers only have back-to-back road games once but the stretch is ugly. They play in Jacksonville on Sunday Night then turn around and travel to Denver for a 425pmET kickoff.
By week nine, the Steelers will have played five of their six AFC North games with only the finale against the Bengals remaining. Speaking of the finale… Seems like forever since the Black and Gold didn’t finish against the Browns.
Tweet of the Day… For you fashionistas out there.
#Steelers President Art Rooney II on throwbacks for 2018: 'We’re going to have a new throwback jersey this year, and we’ll have to decide when we’re going to wear that. We’ve already decided on the throwback jersey, but we have a planned day to unveil it … at the end of May.'
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) April 20, 2018
This is the throwback I’m expecting.
Make sure you stay up to date with Ian’s “Position Previews” as the Draft nears. Here is his latest on EDGE rushers.
If you were keeping score at home about my schedule prediction then you already know this… Here’s what I had correct. Week one vs CLE, Week four vs BAL, Week seven BYE and Week 15 vs NE. I correctly picked five primetime games but the only one I had right was Baltimore in terms of opponents.
Lastly, if you want me to predict the Steelers’ 2018 record based on the schedule I’ll be glad to but understand that it means pretty much nothing. The schedule is always fluid because none of us know what teams will be riddled with injuries or have played much better or much worse than expected. Based on what I see and what I know of Mike Tomlin’s coaching history against these opponents and the location, I think 11-5 is very fair.
With the schedule out of the way, we turn our full attention back to the Draft. All of us here at SCB will provide you with a Steelers’ Mock prior to the Draft and again I caution…. We select players that we think the Steelers will take, not ones “we would take.”
Have a great weekend Steeler Nation!
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