The NFL might be the only sport that truly never has an offseason. It seems like every month there is some exciting news or events that get football fans geared up for the regular season. The NFL announced on Friday that the official schedule will be released sometime this week, so let’s take a look at some of the Steelers’ matchups that jump off the page.
The Steelers number one match up should come as no surprise to “Steeler Nation,” and that is the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers-Ravens rivalry is among the best in NFL history. Since 2000, the Steelers have a slight advantage in the match up by going 18-16 against the Ravens including the playoffs. This rivalry has produced four overtime finishes and four postseason matchups. Of course, this includes last year’s loss to the Ravens in the first round, so there is definitely no love lost here.
The next most intriguing match up would be against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The Steelers will be on the road for this match up, where the Patriots play very well (they went 7-1 at home last season). The Patriots have been the thorn in the Steelers side during the Brady-Belichek Era. The Patriots are 3-1 against the Steelers in the postseason during this time period, with all three losses coming in the AFC Championship game. So the Steelers could give the defending champs the gift of a rare home loss in 2015.
The match up against the Denver Broncos involves another figure from the past in Peyton Manning. In his career, Manning is 3-2 against the Steelers. The most famous game in this match up is when the Steelers beat the Colts in a nail biter during the 2005 playoff run that ended with the Steelers holding the Lombardy Trophy. Manning may be older and may not have the arm strength that he had before his surgery that cost him the 2011 season. That being said, he has plenty of weapons in Denver and won an MVP award in 2013, so even though the game is in Pittsburgh don’t count him out just yet.
The final big match up is against the Seattle Seahawks and their “Legion of Boom” defense. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the game will be played in Seattle where the Seahawks are 22-2 over the past three regular seasons. In order to beat the Seahawks, the Steelers defense will have to make a stand against Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and the newly-acquired weapon Jimmy Graham. The offense led by Ben Roethlisberger will also have to make plays especially early to take the crowd out of the game. Maybe the Steelers will be able to relive Super Bowl XL and remind the Seahawks what it feels like to lose to the “Black and Yellow.”
All and all, the Steelers have the toughest opponents in the NFL in 2015. When you add that to a team that is rebuilding a defense and is without their All-Pro running back for the first four games of the season, the “Men of Steel” definitely have their work cut out for them. Just a reminder, though, the last time the Steelers had the toughest schedule was 2008 and that season ended with a Super Bowl championship.
The NFL has not stated what day this week they will release the official schedule but when they do, be sure to check in with Pittsburgh Sporting News for any updates.
