Steeler’s 2021 schedule: dates and occasions for all 17 video games, schedule energy, last document prediction

The Pittsburgh Steelers won AFC North in 2020, but two of their division rivals won playoff games.

A 48:37 loss to Cleveland in the AFC wildcard round offered a brutal reality check for the franchise – and the future with two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. Baltimore also won a playoff game. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, but the near-term outlook is the same. Mike Tomlin signed a three-year extension in the off-season, and Roethlisberger will be the starting quarterback in 2021.

It’s going to be a pivotal year against a first-place finish that includes games against AFC West and NFC North, not to mention AFC North’s rivals.

What is this schedule now? Here is a full breakdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ schedule for 2021, including dates and start times for all 17 games and our early prediction.

NFL OFFSEASON 2021:
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Pittsburgh Steelers schedule 2021

The Steelers open the season on Sunday, September 12th, against the Bills, a 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS. The rest of the schedule will be released tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

• At home: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Broncos, Raiders, Bears, Lions, Titans, Seahawks
• Road: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Chiefs, Chargers, Packers, Vikings, Bills

The Steelers will play 10 games against teams that made it through the postseason last year, including all AFC teams except the Indianapolis Colts. The 17th game is against Seattle, who defeated the Steelers in a 28:26 thriller in 2019.

Pittsburgh was 7-1 at Heinz Field in the 2020 regular season, and it helps bring the Titans home this year. The Bears, Lions, Robbers and Broncos all had a road record of 18-14 last season, so it’s by no means easy.

MORE: Strength of the schedule for all 32 teams in 2021

Steeler’s strength of the schedule

Pittsburgh’s opponents had a 0.574 percent gain last season, making the Steelers their toughest schedule ever. The Ravens, Browns and Bengals have tough schedules too, but Pittsburgh’s schedule for first place is nasty.

The Steelers have business to attend to at home, especially given this tough schedule. Pittsburgh have been at home between the ages of 30 and 13 for the last five seasons and they are among the top 5 teams when it comes to looking after their home turf at this track. That has to be a focus, especially after the playoff loss to the Browns.

Toughest tests: Kansas City, Green Bay and Buffalo all scored a 25-5 record at home (including playoffs) in 2020. These are three of the toughest venues, and the Steelers lost without fans in Buffalo last season. Street games against the Vikings and chargers won’t be easy either.

It’s a statistical oddity, but the Steelers are 0-3 against the Bears under Tomlin. It’s a home game but it could be difficult.

Biggest breaks: The good news is that the Steelers are 8-1 against the Vikings, Lions and Packers under Tomlin in the regular season. In addition, the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers could ease the matchup at Lambeau Field.

For what it’s worth, Pittsburgh doesn’t have to play New England in the regular season for the first time since 2014. That’s a different challenge, of course, now that Tom Brady is in Tampa Bay, but Pittsburgh was 1-4 in those games.

If Pittsburgh can do business against the Lions, Raiders, and Broncos at home, they should be in the mix for an AFC North crown.

Bottom line: Is this Big Ben’s last stand in the division? The Steelers no longer have that aura of invincibility against their Ohio rivals. Cleveland split up regular season meetings, and the playoff win puts pressure on Pittsburgh to respond. The Steelers gave Roethlisberger help by adding rookies Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth, but the Browns have a talented roster.

Cincinnati, who beat the Steelers in Week 15, also offers a more interesting challenge with Joe Burrow at the quarterback. Burrow should be healthy, and that rivalry should warm up again.

Pittsburgh won the division last year, but Baltimore and Cleveland are likely to be picked to win the AFC North in most preseason publications. Pittsburgh must go at least 4-2 in their division games knowing the rest of the schedule is brutal.

Record prediction: 10-7