Pittsburgh Steelers schedule analysis April, 19, 2011

[mesaSteeler]

Pittsburgh Steelers schedule analysis
April, 19, 2011
Apr 19 7:36 PM ET
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth
By James Walker

Breakdown: As expected, the reigning AFC champions will get its share of the national spotlight with five prime-time games. The first national game will be on the road in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, which should be a great matchup.

Overall the Steelers caught a break in terms of strength of schedule. Pittsburgh finished first in the AFC North last year but has the 27th-ranked schedule this season. A major reason is the division will face the NFC West, which didn't have a team with a winning record in 2010. The Steelers also will play four games total against the Browns and Bengals, who combined for a 9-23 last season.

Super Bowl runners-up usually struggle the following season. But if Pittsburgh can get through the first month, the 2011 schedule sets up pretty favorably to make a another push for the playoffs.

Complaint department: As we mentioned, the first month could be the toughest stretch of the season for Pittsburgh. The Steelers begin with road games in three of the first four weeks. That includes a huge rivalry game at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 and at Indianapolis in Week 3.

Pittsburgh started 3-1 in the first month without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger last year, and it jump started a Super Bowl run. It will be equally as difficult to get off to a similar start this season. A late bye week also doesn't help. Pittsburgh will have its bye this year in Week 11.

Spacing is key: The Steelers' divisional games against the Ravens are always among the most intense and physical of the year. So the NFL did a good job of spacing out the two meetings to allow both teams time to recover. The Ravens will host the Steelers in Week 1 and the rematch will be in Pittsburgh in Week 9 on "Sunday Night Football." That's two months in between meetings, which is good for both rivals.

Steelers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 11, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 18, Seattle, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 25, at Indianapolis, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, at Arizona, 4:05 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 30, New England, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Baltimore, 8:20 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at Kansas City, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 8, Cleveland, 8:20 PM
Week 15: Monday, Dec. 19, at San Francisco, 8:30 PM
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, St. Louis, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM

[Steelboy84]

Open up at B-more, two weeks later at Indy, we're getting tested early.

[Steeler4life1972]

I can hear it now if we do good..."well ya'll had an easy schedule".....makes me sick....we've done really well we hadf a tough schedule...im thinking this may be our year!!!! Just got a feeling!!! Our young receivers will come of age!!!

[Steeler4life1972]

This year I would love to take down brady and embarrass him!!!!

[vasteeler]

Originally Posted by Steeler4life1972

This year I would love to take down brady and embarrass him!!!!

careful what you wish for.

[Steeler4life1972]

I dont care about about being "careful"...he is due to be taken down by us....lebeau will finally figure out brady....just watch the jets film from last year!

[TRH]

Originally Posted by Steeler4life1972

This year I would love to take down brady and embarrass him!!!!

unless we shape up our secondary and shape it up huuuuge very very quickly....unfortunately, we'll likely get our asses HANDED to us and embarrassed.

[pancake]

I don't mind the late bye. I always think we get ours too early. I didn't mind last years, because it helped Ben.

[TRH]

we don't play the Browns until December 8th ?????? That stands out more than anything else...

[dyce23]

Schedule looks like a winner to me. Again, like every year, our competition is in B-More. As long as we at least split with them then I think we win the division again this year.