PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 schedule was launched together with the remainder of the NFL slate Wednesday.
Although the season opens Sept. 8, the Steelers will not play in entrance of their house crowd at Acrisure Stadium till the Week 3 matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 22 — the newest house opener since 2001 when the Steelers waited till Week 4 to host the Buffalo Payments on Oct. 7. Contributing to the late house opener is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ schedule. The Pirates, who play down the road from the Steelers, host house collection in opposition to the Washington Nationals and the Kansas Metropolis Royals in the course of the first two weekends of the NFL season.
And whereas the Steelers have a few private grudge matches for brand new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson to begin the season with journeys to Atlanta and Denver, the primary divisional rivalry sport does not come till the Steelers host the Ravens on Nov. 17 in Week 11.
And, ensure that to get your ticket requests into Santa Claus early this 12 months. The Steelers are slated to host the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Christmas Day at 1 p.m. within the first NFL sport ever streamed by Netflix — though it is going to be broadcast on an over-the-air channel in native Pittsburgh and Kansas Metropolis markets. The sport will mark the third time the Steelers have performed on Christmas and first since beating the Houston Texans on the street in 2017.
This is what else is in retailer for the Steelers:
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Week 1: Sept. 8 at Atlanta
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Week 2: Sept. 15 at Denver
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Week 3: Sept. 22 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
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Week 4: Sept. 29 at Indianapolis
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Week 5: Oct. 6 vs. Dallas
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Week 6: Oct. 13 at Las Vegas
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Week 7: Oct. 20 vs. New York Jets (SNF)
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Week 8: Oct. 28 vs. New York Giants (MNF)
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Week 9: BYE
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Week 10: Nov. 10 at Washington
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Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Baltimore
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Week 12: Nov. 21 at Cleveland (TNF)
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Week 13: Dec. 1 at Cincinnati
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Week 14: Dec. 8 vs. Cleveland
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Week 15: Dec. 15 at Philadelphia
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Week 16: Dec. 21 at Baltimore (Saturday)
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Week 17: Dec. 25 vs. Kansas Metropolis (Wednesday)
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Week 18: TBD vs. Cincinnati
Power of schedule: The Steelers have the third-hardest schedule within the league (opponents had a .533 successful share in 2023).
Over/underneath: 8.5 wins
Largest takeaway
Not solely do the Steelers have one of many hardest schedules based mostly purely on opponents’ 2023 win percentages, however the again half of the season is very brutal. The Steelers have all six of their divisional video games after the Week 9 bye — together with a stretch of 4 in a row from Nov. 17-Dec. 8 that features a Thursday evening sport in Cleveland coming off a Week 11 sport in opposition to Baltimore. The truth is, the Steelers have brief weeks after every of the notoriously bodily Ravens video games with the second main right into a four-day turnaround earlier than internet hosting the Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs on Christmas Day.
Revenge sport
There is not any higher actuality present than the NFL, and the league definitely delivers with the Steelers’ first two video games: at Atlanta and at Denver, establishing revenge video games for brand new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and quarterback Russell Wilson, every with a chance to go to their previous stomping grounds and present their previous golf equipment how significantly better issues are with the brand new squad.
Then, late within the season the Steelers will journey to Philadelphia in Week 15. Pittsburgh’s first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett is not prone to be the Eagles’ starter, however he’ll be on the alternative sideline. And the final time the Steelers performed in Philadelphia, they have been drubbed 35-13 in 2022.
Daring prediction
The Steelers begin 4-0. Sure, the Steelers have three of their first 4 video games on the street. And sure, this group final went 4-0 within the 2020 season. The Steelers have struggled out of the gate in latest seasons, going 2-2 final 12 months and 1-3 in 2022 and 2021, however with a brand new offensive coordinator, quarterback and offensive line, this group is about up nicely to get off to a quick begin.
The Falcons had simply 42 sacks final season, whereas the Broncos will likely be of their second sport with rookie quarterback Bo Nix. And although the Chargers will nonetheless be led by rocket-armed quarterback Justin Herbert, his supporting solid is drastically completely different than 2021 when he carved up the Steelers for 382 passing yards, three touchdowns and 90 dashing yards. Indianapolis will likely be a tricky out with a wholesome Anthony Richardson, Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor, however the addition of Patrick Queen ought to go a protracted solution to slowing down the Colts’ floor assault.