The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering this season with new hope. They have had an interesting turnaround this offseason. With the additions of Jalen Ramsey, DK Metcalf, and Aaron Rodgers, to name a few, Steeler Nation has entered uncharted territories.

We haven’t seen this organization be this involved in the trade market for a very long time. With that being said, and as head coach Mike Tomlin has said for many years, “The standard is the standard.” Fanduel has this team’s win total at 8.5. Will they pass that total for the 6th straight year? Let’s dive into their schedule.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Opening Month

• Week 1: @ New York Jets – W
• Week 2: vs Seattle Seahawks – W
• Week 3: @ New England Patriots – W
• Week4: vs Minnesota Vikings (In Ireland) – W

The season begins in New York as the Steelers take on the Jets. This has all the makings of a mini “revenge game” for both starting quarterbacks. Last season, Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback for the Jets, and Justin Fields, for the beginning of the season, was the starting quarterback for the Steelers. This game should be low-scoring, and the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win this game. TJ Watt will be the game wrecker he has been the majority of his career and dominate the line of scrimmage.

Week 2 is their home opener against the Seahawks. After the addition of Sam Darnold, Seattle should be on an upward trajectory, but not in this game. I expect the interior of their offensive line to struggle to make any forward progress against the Steelers’ defensive line. As many of Pittsburgh’s wins have been over the past three seasons, their defense will carry them to a decisive victory in their home opener.

Week 3 scares me as a Steelers fan. Under the Mike Vrabel regime, New England has the potential to be what the Denver Broncos were last season—a sneaky borderline playoff contender who can and will give most teams trouble. With that being said, I still have Pittsburgh picking up the win. Another close, low-scoring game where defense and special teams will win. The Steelers are the top-to-bottom better roster as well.

In Week 4, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings have the pleasure of playing the first NFL game in Ireland. We saw Minnesota beat the Jets overseas last season. Look to Mike Tomlin’s record against rookie quarterbacks. With a 26-6 record against rookie QBs, I love the Steelers’ chances of getting off to a hot start. Now, JJ McCarthy isn’t “technically” a rookie, but it’s his first season as a starter.

Pittsburgh’s Next Four

• Week 5: BYE Week
• Week 6: vs Cleveland Browns W
• Week 7: @ Cincinnati Bengals (TNF) L
• Week 8: vs Green Bay Packers (SNF) W
• Week 9: vs Indianapolis Colts W

After going international, the Steelers have their bye week. It is unfortunate that Pittsburgh’s week off is so early in the season. Coming off the bye week, they take on the Browns on the road. By this point in the season, Cleveland might be onto their second quarterback. Even if it’s still Joe Flacco under center, the talent discrepancy will be too much for the Browns to overcome. The Steelers move to an impressive 5-0 on the year.

Traveling to Cincinnati to play in their first primetime game in “The Jungle” will not be easy. For as bad as the Bengals’ defense is, they will hand the Steelers their first loss of the season. And the Steelers defense is formidable, but this is a game where Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase take over as the NFL’s best QB-WR duo. This will be a shootout on Thursday Night Football, and I don’t like the Steelers’ chances in any shootout they are involved in.

After a mini-bye week, they are hosting another legendary franchise, the Green Bay Packers. After the Pack traded for Cowboys’ superstar Micah Parsons, this game got a lot more interesting. However, outside of their top four players, I don’t see the hype around Green Bay.

This roster is top-heavy, as you know what, and the jury is still out on Jordan Love for me. Gaining talent on the defensive edge will likely result in losing talent on the defensive interior line. This potentially opens up rushing lanes for the Steelers to take advantage of. Pittsburgh moves to 7-1.

In Week 9, they take on the Indianapolis Colts. This game has “trap game” all over it. The only saving grace for Pittsburgh is that they have the roster and coaching advantage. The game plan will be simple. Contain Jonathan Taylor and make Daniel Jones, or whoever is starting under center, beat you. The Steelers force three turnovers and play ground control as they advance to 8-1.

Pittsburgh Stays Hot

• Week 10: @ Los Angeles Chargers W (SNF)
• Week 11: vs Cincinnati Bengals W
• Week 12: @ Chicago Bears W
• Week 13: vs Buffalo Bills L

Before the Rashawn Slater injury, I would have said this would be a loss for the Steelers. However, without both dominant offensive tackles, I expect Justin Herbert to be under duress all game long, like last season. This past year, Herbert was unable to finish the game due to an ankle injury. Am I saying he will get hurt? No, but he will be under constant pressure in this low-scoring affair. Lastly, we know how good Steeler Nation travels. The last time Pittsburgh played in LA, the crowd was a partial home game for Pittsburgh.

Much like many divisional opponents, you lean towards the home team. After Burrow and the Bengals take the game in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh will take this game at home. Their defense will make adjustments following their loss in Week 7 and seek to avenge it. A victory in Week 11 will extend their win streak to four in a row!

Onward to Chicago. The Windy City will welcome home one of its owners, Aaron Rodgers. In his career, Rodgers has a record of 24-5 against the Bears. Was that when he was closer to his prime? Yes. However, it’ll be interesting to see how Chicago looks in their first season under new head coach Ben Johnson.

The once “greatest QB talent in the NFL,” Rodgers, is up against one of the potential future faces of the NFL, Caleb Williams, which should make for a fun matchup. With all the talent on the defensive side for both teams, don’t be surprised if this is a lower scoring affair. The more veteran team will win this game.

Here is where the rubber meets the road, playing against one of the best teams in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills. This game will be close in the first half, then the Bills will run away with it. To keep it short and sweet, Josh Allen will put on a classic MVP-esque performance. Unless Rodgers can turn back the clock and the defense plays lights out, I don’t see a clear path to victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bills extend their five-gamewin streak as they enter the tough stretch of their schedule.

Steelers’ Tough Stretch

• Week 14: @ Baltimore Ravens L
• Week 15: vs Miami Dolphins (MNF) W
• Week 16: @ Detroit Lions L
• Week 17: @ Cleveland Browns W
• Week 18: vs Baltimore Ravens W

As mentioned in my Baltimore Ravens schedule prediction, the first Ravens vs Steelers game is more than a game. It is a test of physicality, strength, will, skill, and tactics. In round one of this chapter of the rivalry, I have the Ravens coming out victorious. Baltimore is a tough place to play. This game will resemble the second game these two teams played in the regular season last year. Close throughout, then Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry explode.

By this time in the season, the weather outside is frightful. What usually happens when a warm-weather team heads north in December? It’s typically a one-sided affair. That’s what will happen to the Miami Dolphins when they travel north to Pittsburgh. Tua Tagovialoa will suffer the fate as many quarterbacks will this season—a dominant performance by the Steelers’ defensive line. Jalen Ramsey gets revenge on his former team as Pittsburgh punches its ticket to the postseason with a win over the Dolphins.

In Week 16, the Steelers are heading to Detroit to take on the Lions! Playing in one of the most electric atmospheres in the NFL over the last three seasons will be a big challenge. For as much as I would love to say Pittsburgh wins this game, the Lions are too talented for this team. Despite losing both coordinators, Detroit still has one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, which will prove too much in this game. I can see the Lions’ offensive line slowly mauling the Steelers’ defensive line. They will play keep away and exhaust a great defense.

Ending their season with back-to-back divisional games, let’s start with the Browns. By this point in the season, Shedeur Sanders will be the starting QB for Cleveland and will put up one of his worst performances in his short career against the Steelers. Keeping it short and sweet, one of the most respected franchises against arguably the worst-run organization in the NFL. A true mismatch.

As for Week 18, this is where the Steelers end on a high note. Making adjustments from their Week 14 loss will prove to the NFL world that this team can be dangerous in the playoffs. A big-time divisional win against your hated rival the Ravens will give this team significant momentum entering the playoffs. Winning at home in front of Steeler Nation will be the cherry on top of one of the best regular seasons in recent Steeler memory.

Final Thoughts

Many people believe that this team will only win 7-9 games and be eliminated in the Wild Card round. Maybe it’s my fandom talking, but I really believe in this team. I have them going 13-4 and competing for the AFC North title. They will have their best quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired and have a Super Bowl-caliber defense. This team is poised to break through and finally get their first playoff win since 2016, and I can’t wait.