The road to the playoffs is full of challenges as the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealt a tough schedule for 2024.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a challenging schedule in the 2024 season. After opening with three of their first four games on the road, Pittsburgh has a pair of challenging Sunday Night Football matchups. The first taking on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, then later hosting Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets in Week 7.
After the Week 9 bye, the intensity cranks up. From Week 11 until the end of the 2024 season, the Steelers don’t play a team with a losing record on their schedule.
Plenty of daunting matchups are in store for Pittsburgh in the upcoming season. Still, these three matchups could prove to be the toughest on the Steelers’ schedule based on conference games, divisional games, and teams that could be their most significant competition for a playoff spot in 2024.
Cleveland Browns – Week 14
We like to hate on the Browns, but Cleveland had an elite defense in 2023 as it cruised to an 11-6 record. This is with spotty quarterback play and an assortment of signal-callers filling in.
Deshaun Watson could have been better in Cleveland last season, but it’s not hard to imagine that this team will be hard to beat if he takes a step forward. The Steelers split their head-to-head contest with the Browns last year. And given the history between these two teams, it’s very likely this game comes down to the wire.
Baltimore Ravens – Week 16
The Steelers’ pivotal Week 16 battle with the Baltimore Ravens should be one of the tougher games on the team’s schedule in 2024. John Harbaugh’s team went 13-4 and won the AFC North in 2023, so it’s reasonable that it will be a playoff team again after the 2024 season. With reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson shedding weight to become more versatile, the Steelers’ defense will have their hands full.
Depending on how things play out in the first 15 weeks of the season, the Ravens may have a chance to bury Pittsburgh with a win at Baltimore in Week 16. Steelers fans will be hoping their season doesn’t come down to the results of this game.
Cincinnati Bengals – Week 18
The most important game on the Steelers’ schedule this season has to be their Week 18 finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. We have seen often in recent years how much the final game of the season has meant for Pittsburgh, and the AFC is expected to be very tightly contested again in 2024.
The Bengals and Steelers could finish with similar records, and both teams may be fighting for entry into the tournament when the 2024 season ends. This could be the equivalent of a playoff game for these AFC North rivals in Week 18.
Honorable mention: Kansas City Chiefs – Week 17
There isn’t much rivalry between the Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs these days. Kansas City has owned Pittsburgh since Patrick Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback. The Chiefs have a 3-0 record against the Steelers since 2018, averaging 40 points per game.
The Steelers aren’t going to get humiliated on this Christmas Day matchup with all eyes watching, but taking down the Chiefs would be their most impressive win of the season. However, Kansas City could run away from Pittsburgh in the AFC standings, so this doesn’t crack the top three challenging games for the Steelers in 2024.
