The Steelers 2023 schedule looks favorable
It’s a new year, and a new season of the NFL is now officially upon us. The Steelers finished off the 2022 season strong, as they ended up winning more games than most predicted, even finishing above the Cleveland Browns. (For a 33rd season too!)
Looking ahead, some of the Steelers 2022 rookies are expected to become breakout stars in their second season, as they have shown potential to grow. The schedule for this upcoming year looks promising, on paper, and despite the actual dates being announced, we know who their opponents will be thus far, as the AFC North takes on the AFC South and NFC West teams, plus other teams based on common finishes to round out the calendar.
Here’s a look at those games.
The Home Games
Although we don’t know the exact dates and times for the games, we already know who the Steelers will be facing at Acrisure Stadium. There are 17 games scheduled alongside one additional home game. Some of the teams appear to be more dangerous, but hopefully, the Steelers will have more of a home field advantage than they did in 2022.
The home opponents for the 2023 season are:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Arizona Cardinals
- Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New England Patriots
- San Francisco 49ers
- Tennessee Titans
Home Game Thoughts
The final game of the 2022 season was full of surprises, as the Steelers met the Cleveland Browns in a game where many experts had written off Pittsburgh weeks earlier. Cleveland has been an early offseason favorite by various media critics, but no one could deny QB Kenny Pickett‘s two game-winning drives, one against the Browns and another against the Ravens, to close out the year.
However, the Steelers lost to two division opponents at home last season; the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. Facing each team twice within the AFC North, they split evenly 3-3. However, they dropped early games at home against the Patriots and Jets which ultimately determined their fate of missing the postseason. The latter two losses to the Bengals and Ravens were the only two losses following their bye week as well.
Regardless of the different opinions, the Steelers now have a chance of redeeming themselves in 2023. If you are hoping for a Steelers win, check out the NFL playoff odds. Here you can get a better understanding of how bets work and how bookmakers predict these early results.
The Away Games
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have to travel outside of the Eastern time zone in 2022. In fact, their furthest trip all year was a flight down to Miami to face the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football.
This season, things are changing, as the Steelers will travel to the west coast three times. On the road, the Steelers will be facing a number of dome stadium teams like the Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams.
The away opponents for this season are:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
Away Game Thoughts
As of now, the Steelers road games appear to be less of a challenge. The Texans and Colts were among the worst teams in football last season, and each will have new head coaches. The game in Indianapolis last season looked more like a Steelers home game with an estimated 70% of the crowd being Pittsburgh fans.
A similar turnout could be in the cards with the Texans and Raiders both playing in dome stadiums, as weather will be less of a factor, for both fans and the team. The Raiders are another team with question marks as they enter another season with Josh McDaniels as their head coach but are kicking long-time QB Derek Carr to the curb.
Seattle is always a tough place to play in and with the Seahawks having been a playoff team who could be on the rise, might end up the toughest place to play outside of the usual AFC North locations.
Overall, it’s nicer to have the Steelers playing more of their difficult games at home in 2023, rather than on the road.
