Lolley's Talking Point: Fret the schedule? Not the Steelers

So, now we know how the Steelers' schedule will line up in 2021 -- barring some kind of COVID-related issue such as what happened to the team last season.

And despite the team having the "most difficult schedule in the NFL," something you've been sure to read again and again, it's not any different than that of any other team in the league, let alone their own division.

Yes, the Steelers' 2021 opponents had a .574 winning percentage in 2020. Yes, nine of their opponents were playoff teams in 2020 when the Ravens and Browns are counted twice.

But none of that will mean anything in 2021. Things change from year to year in the NFL for most teams.

Hence Cam Heyward's Tweet immediately after the schedule was released.

See, what Heyward understands is that the best every team in the league is going to look is right now. The draft just ended. Everything is shiny and new. Every player is as healthy as he's going to be this season.

And in the NFL, once the games start, so will injuries. Those will be as big a determining factor in who wins and who does not as anything else.

A team that looks tough today might not be as much in November when its starting quarterback or both starting cornerbacks are injured. Such is life in the NFL.

There's also the fact that while Steelers fans are gnashing their teeth over who the Steelers play this season, realize that the Ravens have the league's second-most difficult schedule using the same metric, while the Bengals are sixth and the Browns ninth. Things are tough all over the AFC North.

Such is life in the NFL. There are no Homecoming Games. Any opponent can be a tough one in a given week.

That was Heyward's main point. You already knew the opponents. Now, we know in what order and when those games will be played.

It's time to get to work to prepare to win those games.

Besides, while the finishing stretch of six games looks like it will be difficult to navigate -- two games against the Ravens, along with away games at Minnesota and Kansas City, and home games against the Titans and Browns -- the middle of the schedule sets up well for the team to be rested down the stretch.

The Steelers don't have to get on a plane from Oct. 4 after they play at Green Bay, until they head to Los Angeles to face the Chargers Nov. 21. Their only road game between those two games is a bus trip to Cleveland. And they have home games against the Broncos, Seahawks, Bears and Lions (oh my) in that stretch.

Stay healthy, win the games you're supposed to win and at least split the tough ones and you're in the playoff conversation. At least that is the way it works every other year.

YOUR TURN: Are you upset with the Steelers' schedule?