If this is going to be Ben Roethlisberger's final season, he had better come ready to play and not fizzle out at the end.
The NFL released its schedule for the upcoming season Wednesday night. And while earlier in the day the Steelers learned they'd be opening the season in Buffalo against the Bills -- an AFC Championship finalist in 2020 -- things don't get all that easier from there, with the final month of the season looking like an extremely rough patch.
December might not be all that kind. It kicks off with the Ravens at home Dec. 5, with a short week to prepare for a Thursday night game in Minnesota to follow Dec. 9. The Steelers return home to face the Titans Dec. 19, then play at Kansas City Dec. 26.
If they survive that stretch, they finish off the regular season with a home Monday night game against the Browns on Jan. 3, then travel to Baltimore for their regular season finale Jan. 9.
It's an extremely difficult stretch for the Steelers, who have the league's toughest schedule based off last season's results.
The Steelers will need to start quickly and will have to do so against the Bills. It marks the seventh-consecutive regular season opener on the road for Pittsburgh.
The Steelers' home opener will be the following week when they host the Raiders at Heinz Field in a game that is a 1 p.m. start.
The Bengals visit Heinz Field the following week on Sept. 26 for a 1 p.m. game before the Steelers head back out on the road Oct. 3 at Green Bay in a game that starts at 4:25 p.m.
The Steelers return home for back-to-back games at Heinz Field, hosting the Broncos at 1 p.m. Oct. 10, then playing the Seahawks -- their 17th opponent under the NFL's expanded 17-game schedule -- in a Sunday at Heinz Field.
After a Week 7 bye, the Steelers head to Cleveland Oct. 31 for their first meeting with the Browns.
They then return home to play back-to-back NFC North opponents, hosting the Bears Nov. 8 in a Monday night game and then the Lions Nov. 14 in a 1 p.m. start.
The Steelers then embark on their only back-to-back road games on the schedule, traveling to Los Angeles to face the Chargers Nov. 21 in a Sunday night game, then playing at Cincinnati Nov. 28.
The preseason schedule also has been set. With the Steelers playing the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Aug. 6, their preseason will consist of four games this season instead of the three the rest of the league will play.
Aug. 12, the Steelers will travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles, then return to Heinz Field Aug. 21 to host the Lions. They finish off their preseason schedule Aug. 27 at Carolina against the Panthers.
STEELERS SCHEDULE
Preseason
Aug. 6 -- vs. Dallas, in Canton, Ohio
Aug. 12 -- at Philadelphia
Aug. 21 -- Detroit
Aug. 27 -- at Carolina
(Times to be determined)
Regular Season
Sept. 12 -- at Buffalo, 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 -- Las Vegas, 1 p.m.
Sept. 26 -- Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Oct. 3 -- at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.
Oct. 10 -- Denver, 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 -- Seattle, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday night)
BYE
Oct. 31 -- at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 -- Chicago, 8:15 p.m. (Monday night)
Nov. 14 -- Detroit, 1 p.m.
Nov. 21 -- at L.A. Chargers, 8:20 p.m. (Sunday night)
Nov. 28 -- at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 -- Baltimore, 4:25 p.m.
Dec. 9 -- at Minnesota, 8:20 p.m. (Thursday night)
Dec. 19 -- Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Dec. 26 -- at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m.
Jan. 3 -- Cleveland, 8:15 p.m. (Monday night)
Jan. 9 -- at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
