PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The meltdown at Cincinnati might have seemed that it counted as a double loss, but the Steelers are 4-2, and in first place in the AFC North. With 11 games left, here is a look at the schedule the remainder of the season
Sunday, October 26, Green Bay
Without bringing it up, Aaron Rodgers mentioned facing his former team minutes after the loss to the Bengals. It will be the first time playing the team he won 147 games for throwing for 59,055 yards and 475 touchdowns. Green Bay only has one loss on the season and even when not playing its best, were able to get a road win in Arizona along with three sacks and four tackles for loss from Micah Parsons. Head-to-head history is good, Steelers have won six of the last eight and the Packers haven’t won in Pittsburgh since the first season of Three Rivers Stadium.
Sunday, November 2, Indianapolis
The surprise of the NFL this year, the Colts are 6-1 having just won at the Chargers with the quarterback reclamation of 2025, Daniel Jones. He’s thrown for a touchdown in every game with 10 on the season, 1,790 yards and only three interceptions. They also have running back Jonathan Taylor, he had 94 yards and three touchdowns against the Chargers and 697 yards and 10 scores through seven games. In three games against the Steelers, Taylor has rushed for 248 yards and 4 TD. Colts have feasted on a lot of bad teams, but did beat LA and Denver. After losing eight straight to the Steelers, Colts have won the last two including 27-24 with Joe Flacco getting the victory in relief.
Sunday, November 9 at LA Chargers
Jim Harbaugh teams want to run the football and until Sunday against the Colts they had run it at five years a carry even with the injuries including Najee Harris being lost for the year. Justin Herbert threw for 420 yards and three scores against Indy and he has a number of different receiving options. On defense, without Joey Bosa, the Chargers are still top five in the AFC in sacks. Since 2009 the teams have alternated wins in the last seven matchups, Steelers won last year, the clincher in the fourth quarter on a 55-yard Calvin Austin touchdown reception. Justin Herbert has completed 71% of his passes, for 507 yards, four touchdowns and an interception and 90 rushing yards in two career games against the Steelers.
Sunday, November 16, Cincinnati
Joe Burrow is not expected back, but Joe Flacco had a revival against the Steelers defense on Thursday and the Bengals rushed for a season-high 142 yards. What could the Steelers defense do this time to lessen the impact of receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Bengals have won the last two against the Steelers and three of the last four at Acrisure Stadium.
Sunday, November 23 at Chicago
Bears appear to be a team on the rise, in the last six years they haven’t had a winning record, but have what they hope is a franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. D’Andre Swift had 124 yards and a TD against the Saints, that makes back-to-back 100-yard games. Bears lead the league with 11 interceptions, but are 25th in points allowed (25.8). Some interesting games for the Steelers in Chicago, there was the taking a knee controversy in a loss in 2017. The missed field goals and giving up 10 points in the fourth in a three-point loss in 2009. The Steelers haven’t won in Chicago since 1995.
Sunday, November 30, Buffalo
Bills opened with a historic comeback against Baltimore, then losses to the Patriots and Falcons. Buffalo allows 156.3 yards per game on the ground, third worst in the NFL, but also have Josh Allen. The NFL MVP is 11th in QB rating this year, 12th in completion percentage, 6th in touchdowns, but they have a running game that is best in the AFC with 906 yards led by James Cook with 537 yards and 5 touchdowns. Bills have won four of the last five outscoring the Steelers 128-68.
Sunday, December 7 at Baltimore
Lamar Jackson is expected back and likely will have a couple of games under his belt. When you look at the 1-5 record, it was a one-point loss and a blown lead at Buffalo, a one-score loss to the Lions, then the last three really got away from the Ravens, 37-20 at KC, 44-10 at home to Houston and 17-3 at home to the Rams. After hosting Chicago when they return from the bye next week, the Baltimore schedule lightens with games against Miami, Cleveland, the Jets and Bengals twice.
Monday, December 15, Miami
Who knows what we will see from the Dolphins by mid-December, they were clobbered by the Browns on Sunday 31-6. Tua Tagovailoa is struggling, his 10 interceptions lead the NFL and he only has 11 touchdowns. Leading rusher De’Von Achane (472 yards) is also the leading receiver (32-211 yards, only 6.6 per reception) and Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill have been limited. Minkah Fitzpatrick is third on the Dolphins with 42 tackles and has one interception. The teams haven’t bet since 2022, when the Dolphins won 16-10 when Kenny Pickett was the Steelers QB.
Sunday, December 21 at Detroit
A few years ago, it’s a matchup you welcomed on your schedule, not now. The Lions bottomed out winning 11 games in three seasons, but used those high draft picks and a head coach who brought a toughness and attitude. Over the last three years, Detroit has won 36 games, 25 more over the following three seasons. They can do it with Jared Goff through the air 75.9% completion, 1390 yards, 14 TD, two interceptions, or had a 224-yard rushing game against the Ravens. Defensively, Aidan Hutchinson is back and leads the NFL with four forced fumbles to go with six sacks and 12 QB hits.
Safety Kerby Joseph has three picks and linebacker Jack Campbell is averaging over nine tackles a game. The last matchup was a tie in 2021.
Sunday, December 28 at Cleveland
Who knows who will be the Browns quarterback, they may have traded Dillon Gabriel to the Ravens. Steelers were able to shut the Browns offense down in the first game and limit Myles Garrett to a couple of assisted tackles. Weather will likely be a factor, we’ll see how the Steelers are running the ball by the end of December.
TBA, hosting Baltimore