Carney: 4 Most Intriguing Non-Division Video games On Steelers’ 2025 Schedule
After a lot anticipation, the 2025 schedule for the Pittsburgh Steelers is out. It incorporates a Week 5 bye week after the Dublin recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. There’s a brutal stretch of video games to shut the season, too, with the likes of the Baltimore Ravens twice, and the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Payments and Miami Dolphins late within the season, too.
A Week 5 bye week is killer, particularly with 13 weeks to go after that within the season, which is a stretch that incorporates a Thursday Night time Soccer matchup as a part of back-to-back AFC North video games, and various primetime matchups, too.
It’s a tricky schedule on paper, which isn’t a shock. It ought to make for an attention-grabbing 18-week stretch.
Whereas the Steelers’ opponents have been identified for the reason that finish of the 2024 common season, we now have a transparent image as to the way it all shakes out weekly following the official schedule launch by the NFL Wednesday evening. Outdoors of the six standard divisional video games with house and street matchups in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals, which video games stand out as essentially the most intriguing as a result of general matchup, spot on the calendar and extra?
Under, I break down my 4 most intriguing non-AFC North video games on the 2025 schedule for the Steelers, going No. 4-1.
NO. 4 — WEEK 16 AT DETROIT LIONS
Taking over a powerhouse within the NFC within the Detroit Lions late within the season will probably be a significant problem for the Steelers, because the Lions are one of the crucial bodily groups within the league, and ought to be patrons on the commerce deadline, doubtlessly loading up for a potential Tremendous Bowl run.
Matching up with the Lions at Ford Subject late within the season will probably be a large problem, too, as Lions followers have created fairly an environment in recent times with the resurgence of the staff.
What makes it all of the more difficult for the Steelers is that it is going to be late within the season and on a brief week after enjoying the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 on Monday Night time Soccer, giving the Steelers simply 5 days between video games. Thankfully, this recreation in opposition to the Lions is a 4:30 p.m. kickoff, however a brief week after a primetime recreation, and coping with a bodily punishing staff might make for an extended, lengthy day in opposition to Detroit.
NO. 3 — WEEK 13 VS. BUFFALO BILLS
The final time the Steelers performed the Buffalo Payments, it got here within the AFC Wild Card Spherical through the 2023 season, which was delayed a couple of days after a major snowstorm. This time although, the Steelers will host the Payments, which can are available Week 13 across the Thanksgiving vacation, creating a significant AFC showdown that includes Mike Tomlin in opposition to Sean McDermott as soon as once more.
Payments’ QB Josh Allen stays a large problem, one which the Steelers haven’t fairly found out. Late within the season, too, in doubtlessly poor situations? It makes for fairly a problem.
Add in the truth that the matchup with the Payments will are available a stretch the place the Steelers have to move to the West Coast for a Sunday Night time Soccer matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10, earlier than then coming house on a brief week for a matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, after which hitting the street in Week 12 for a street recreation in opposition to the Chicago Bears makes issues tough.
Thankfully, kickoff is at 4:25 for the matchup with the Payments. However after that, it’s a Week 14 1 p.m. kickoff in Baltimore in opposition to the Ravens. Robust stretch.
NO. 2 — WEEK 8 VS. GREEN BAY PACKERS, SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
A potential Aaron Rodgers-Inexperienced Bay Packers matchup is fairly juicy. The truth that it’s scheduled for Sunday Night time Soccer with Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth on the decision solely provides to the intrigue.
However that’s not all. That is additionally the sport the Steelers are going to be carrying new throwback jerseys and helmets, in line with staff president and proprietor Artwork Rooney II. Signal me up for that!
Matching up two historic franchises in primetime with a number of the storylines obtainable ought to make for excellent theater, and when these two groups meet in primetime, nice issues are likely to occur, particularly on the North Shore.
The Steelers could have a pleasant mini-bye week forward of the Packers’ recreation, too, coming off of the Thursday Night time Soccer matchup in Week 7 in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on the street. Just a few further days of relaxation and restoration and time to plan for Matt LaFleur, Jordan Love and Co. might do wonders for the Steelers.
NO. 1 — WEEK 4 VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
Come on, did you actually suppose every other recreation on the schedule could be right here at No. 1?
For the primary time for the reason that 2013 season, the Steelers will probably be enjoying a world recreation, and it is going to be at Croke Park in Dublin, Eire, the place the Steelers would be the house staff and host the Minnesota Vikings, which is sarcastically a rematch of the 2013 matchup in London.
There ought to be some added storylines to this one, because it’s the primary NFL common season recreation being performed in Dublin, exterior of the 1997 preseason recreation between the Steelers and Chicago Bears, sarcastically one other NFC North staff.
There’s additionally the storyline of Aaron Rodgers and the Vikings from the offseason, the friendship with Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell, and the reference to Vikings’ defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who coached with the Steelers for one season in 2022.
The Vikings even have former Steelers defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, so there’s some further intrigue there, and the Vikings personal the head-to-head mark at 10-9. On high of that, O’Connell said the Vikings avoiding a hostile surroundings to play the Steelers was a bonus for Minnesota, however he’s underestimating the Steelers’ trustworthy in Dublin, and people keen to journey to the Emerald Isle for the matchup.
Kickoff will probably be at 9:30 a.m. EST on Sept. 28 in Week 4, with the eyes of the world on it. It’s early within the season sufficient the place the Steelers ought to have their legs beneath them within the common season and well being is hopefully in a great spot to tackle a staff that many consider can contend for a spot within the Tremendous Bowl within the NFC. It’s an enormous measuring stick for Pittsburgh, and will probably be a particular recreation for the franchise general.
Hopefully they present up and discover a approach to win the sport.
