Pros and cons of Steelers' challenging schedule

To make the playoffs again, Pittsburgh must capitalize on the early portion of the season. 

At first glance, the schedule may seem unfavorable, but there are benefits that come with it, too.

The pros

The Steelers have undergone significant changes this offseason. Russell Wilson is expected to start at quarterback, with Justin Fields in place behind him. The top receiver will be George Pickens, who takes over the primary role after the team dealt Diontae Johnson to Carolina.

After years of a questionably run offense under offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the team hired Arthur Smith as OC. He struggled as Atlanta's head coach over the past three seasons, going 21-30, but was successful as an OC in Tennessee, where the offense featured Pro Bowl RB Derrick Henry. He’ll hope to repeat that success in Pittsburgh, where he has a running game that features the 1-2 punch of Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris.

With so many moving pieces, it’s unlikely that everything will come together right away. There will be a learning phase in which the new puzzle pieces learn to work as one. That's why the relatively easy early schedule should be to the Steelers' advantage.

Additionally, the schedule buffer from the season opener until the difficult stretch leaves room for the unknown. With injuries and other unpredictable circumstances, better late-season opponents could be weakened by the time they face Pittsburgh. 

The cons

The potential downsides of this schedule layout are far more apparent. 

Momentum is a major factor in the NFL, so the schedule could be Pittsburgh’s downfall. If the Steelers lose consecutive games during the daunting late-season stretch, they might go cold and fall out of playoff contention.

The easier first half of their schedule also has the potential to work against the Steelers' reinvented offense. If the team stumbles out of the gate due to a failure to connect right away, Pittsburgh may be forced to play catch-up late in the season. With elite teams waiting for them at the end of the schedule, however, there may be no time to do so.

The Steelers under Mike Tomlin are known for playing down to their opponents. During its 2023 playoff push, Pittsburgh lost at home to the New England Patriots, who finished 4-13. 

If the Steelers fail to take advantage of their favorable early matchups, they could be wrecked by the final stretch of difficult games.