PITTSBURGH STEELERS
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh
Steelers' opponents for next season finished below .500 collectively
last season, but the franchise won't be fooled into thinking that's a major
advantage this time around. The team's 2018 schedule is well-stocked with heavy
hitters and travel-heavy stretches that will make earning a spot atop the AFC
most challenging. Pittsburgh has proved equipped to handle those challenges
with four straight seasons of double-digit wins. Earning a fifth will require
the offense to win a few shootouts and the defense to improve.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Cleveland
Browns, 1 p.m. ET.
The Steelers open in Cleveland for the second straight year,
and the Browns played them tight in two games last season. New receiver
tandem Landry and Josh Gordon should
test the Steelers' secondary. But Pittsburgh has won nine of their past 10 over
Cleveland, and it's not stopping that trend against a roster in
transition. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, vs. Kansas City
Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
This is a fascinating matchup because the Chiefs offense
under Smith struggled to beat the Steelers' zone coverages, but new
quarterback Patrick
Mahomes will try to challenge that scheme vertically. The
Steelers will likely sell out on stopping Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce,
leaving Artie Burns or Haden
in one-on-ones against Sammy Watkins.
Steelers will do just enough to contain him. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Monday, Sept. 24, at Tampa Bay Bucs, 8:15
p.m. ET
The Bucs enter a pivotal year for Dirk Koetter's staff,
and Jameis
Winston's play improved late last season. Tampa is capable of
beating anyone, and the Steelers are 2-5 against Florida teams (Jaguars, Bucs,
Dolphins) since 2013. Pittsburgh will cave under the September heat. Record:
2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. Baltimore
Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET
Baltimore is averaging 28.8 points per game in its last four
Heinz Field games, and the Ravens will be salty after losing three straight to the
Steelers. Desperate to break a three-year playoff skid, Baltimore will bring
the intensity to Pittsburgh, which starts slow for the second consecutive
year. Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Atlanta
Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
Shootout! Matt Ryan vs. Ben
Roethlisberger is a delicious passing matchup. But this is
about the time Le'Veon Bell finds
his peak performance after missing training camp, shredding a good front seven
for 100-plus yards. And Antonio Brown will
be eager to perform in a matchup against Julio Jones,
two kings in the receiver pantheon. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Cincinnati
Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
The Steelers simply know how to win in Cincinnati. They've
won eight of nine games in Paul Brown Stadium since 2010. Nearly everyone is
close, and this one will be no different. Vontaze
Burfict will be back from suspension, but the Bengals won't
have the speed to keep up with the Steelers' offense. Record: 4-2
Week 7: Bye week
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1
p.m.
The Browns have acquired enough talent to start winning
games, but the Steelers will be energized coming off the bye and haven't lost
to Cleveland at Heinz Field since 2003. Record: 5-2
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Baltimore Ravens, 1
p.m.
Record: Not seeing these two battle it out in
the December cold seems unnatural. But the Ravens still don't have a legitimate
No. 1 receiver, which helps Pittsburgh contain Alex Collins and
the running game on the way to a series sweep. Record: 6-2
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 8, vs. Carolina
Panthers, 8:20 p.m.
The Panthers are trying to preserve Cam Newton by
running him less, but his dual-threat ability could give the Steelers problems
in this matchup. The Panthers have the linebacker speed to combat Pittsburgh's
quick passing game, which can help them overcome a 1-5 all-time record against
the Steelers. Record: 7-2
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Jacksonville
Jaguars, 8:20 p.m.
Roethlisberger's home-road splits are well-documented
(nearly three-to-one TD-INT ratio since 2015), but the Steelers will need his
best in a matchup with playoff implications, and he'll deliver. The Steelers'
defense was embarrassed twice by Jacksonville last year and will stop the
bleeding. Record: 8-3
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Denver
Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Denver still owns a top-10 defense and has won four of its past
five at home over Pittsburgh. Cue one of the Steelers' curious rushing defense
performances, which in this case will prove costly for playoff seeding. Record:
8-4
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Los Angeles
Chargers, 1 p.m. ET
Record: The Chargers have one of the league's
most underrated rosters as far as talent, but the Steelers sense the playoffs
slipping and decide to turn up the heat. Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers battle
it out like it's the 2004 draft, putting up a combined 60-plus points. Record:
9-4
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Oakland
Raiders, 8:20 p.m. ET
This seems like a good time for a reminder that the Steelers
have won seven straight prime-time games. Roethlisberger is at his best under
the lights, which will be needed against Khalil Mack &
Co. Record: 10-4
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. New England
Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Steelers have a healthy Antonio Brown this
time, which will be the difference in a second straight Week 15 matchup with
New England. Brady will figure out the Steelers' defensive plan
eventually, but the Steelers offense always likes its chances at home in
December. And Jesse James gets
the touchdown he's waited a year to catch. Record: 11-4
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at New Orleans
Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Saints' magma-hot offense overpowers the Steelers as
they come off the Patriots high. Drew Brees'
quick passing game gives a much-improved secondary problems. Both teams will
probably be vying for a top-two playoff seed in their respective conferences.
Brees likes his chances at home. Record: 12-4
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Cincinnati Bengals,
1 p.m. ET
Record: The Steelers will likely need this game
to clinch a playoff bye and home game, and though the Bengals are always up for
disrupting Pittsburgh's plans, Bell outplays Joe Mixon in
a run-heavy matchup. Record: 13-3
BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Baltimore
Ravens must overcome a heavy road schedule in the first two
months of the season if they want to end their three-year playoff drought. The
Ravens then stay at home for the entire month of November and finish the
regular season by playing two of their last three games at M&T Bank
Stadium.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. Buffalo Bills,
1 p.m. ET
The Ravens typically start off strong under Coach John
Harbaugh at home. Since 2008, Baltimore is 5-1 in season openers played at
M&T Bank Stadium. It was only two years ago when the Ravens opened up at
home with a 13-7 victory against the Bills. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 13, at Cincinnati
Bengals, 8:20 p.m. ET
Paul Brown Stadium is Joe Flacco’s
house of horrors. In nine games there, Flacco has thrown six touchdowns and 13
interceptions for a woeful 61.8 passer rating. He’s thrown for over 200 yards
in Cincinnati only once in his career. Record: 1-1
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. Denver
Broncos, 1 p.m. ET
Denver has become one of the worst road teams in the NFL.
The Broncos have lost nine of their past 10 games away from Mile High. Quarterback Case Keenum could
change that, although there are doubts whether he can come close to repeating
his career year with the Vikings last season. Plus, the Ravens get extra rest coming
off a Thursday night game. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Pittsburgh
Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET
If the Ravens have learned anything in Pittsburgh, it's that
they have to figure out how to finish out games. Stopping Ben
Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter has been a major problem.
In his past two games against Baltimore at Heinz Field, Roethlisberger has
completed 30 of 43 passes (69.8 percent), throwing for 392 yards, three
touchdowns and no interceptions in the fourth quarter (121.5 passer
rating). Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Cleveland
Browns, 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens relocated from Cleveland in 1996, but they still
make their home in Northern Ohio judging by how often they win there. No
quarterback has won more games in Cleveland than Flacco since 2008. He is 8-1
with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Tennessee
Titans, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Titans have been extremely tough to beat at home.
Tennessee has won 10 of its past 12 games at Nissan Stadium, including a 23-20
win over the Ravens last season. Marcus
Mariota has thrown for 14 touchdowns with four interceptions
during that stretch. Record: 3-3
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. New Orleans
Saints, 4:05 p.m. ET
An amazing bit of trivia: The Ravens are the only team
that Drew Brees hasn’t
beaten in what likely will be a Hall of Fame career. Brees is 0-4 against
Baltimore, throwing nine touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Brees is
well aware of this fact, which means it will be difficult for this streak to
continue. Record: 3-4
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Carolina
Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
No quarterback has won more home games over the past three
seasons than Cam Newton.
He is 18-5 (.783), scoring a total of 50 touchdowns (38 passing and 12
rushing). This is a bigger challenge than the last time Baltimore played in
Charlotte in 2010, when Brian St. Pierre started for the Panthers. Record:
3-5
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1
p.m. ET
The Ravens haven’t lost home games to their biggest rival in
consecutive seasons since 2001-02. How long ago was that? Tommy Maddox was
quarterbacking the Steelers. Unlike last year, Baltimore isn’t playing host to
Pittsburgh days after flying across the Atlantic from London. Record:
4-5
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1
p.m. ET
Under Coach Marvin Lewis, the Bengals are 7-8 in Baltimore,
notching three more wins than any other team since 2003. But the Ravens will be
motivated by getting knocked out of the playoffs by Cincinnati on their home
turf. Mention “fourth-and-12” to any Ravens player and see what reaction you
get. Record: 5-5
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. Oakland
Raiders, 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens won in Oakland last season, but that win came
against EJ Manuel.
It’s a different story with Derek Carr,
who is 2-0 against the Ravens. He has thrown for seven touchdowns with one interception
for a 110.6 passer rating versus Baltimore. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Atlanta
Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
Matt Ryan has
recorded the sixth-best passer rating at home (102.4) over the past two
seasons, throwing for 27 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. The last time
Ryan played Baltimore in Atlanta was 2010, when he passed for 316 yards and
three touchdowns. Record: 5-7
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Kansas City
Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
Patrick
Mahomes takes over for Alex Smith as
Kansas City’s starting quarterback, which works in Baltimore’s favor. Under
Coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 20-8 against rookie or second-year
quarterbacks, forcing 27 interceptions. Record: 6-7
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay was the worst defense in the NFL last season, and
the Buccaneers were even more horrendous away from home. The Buccaneers allowed
a league-worst 29.2 points per game on the road. Flacco and the offense have to
take advantage of this to gain momentum for the home stretch. Record:
7-7
Week 16: Saturday/Sunday, Dec. 22 or 23, at Los Angeles
Chargers, TBD
This is the time of year when the Chargers begin their
late-season fade. The Chargers are 5-8 in December since 2015, and only five
teams have been worse during this month. This is Baltimore's first NFL game in
Los Angeles since October 1975, when the Colts lost to the Rams 24-13 at Los
Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The expectation is lots of Ravens fans will pack the
StubHub Center and make it feel like a home game for Baltimore. Record:
8-7
Note: The NFL will decide no later than after Week 8
whether the Ravens-Chargers will be played on Saturday (Dec. 22) or Sunday
(Dec. 23). If the game is played on Saturday, it will be at either 4:30 p.m. ET
or 8:20 p.m. ET on the NFL Network; if the game is selected for Sunday, it will
be 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1
p.m. ET
The Ravens have defeated the Browns in nine of the past 10
meetings at M&T Bank Stadium. That dominance has meant beating seven
different Cleveland quarterbacks: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn, Seneca Wallace (twice), Brandon
Weeden (twice), Connor Shaw, Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer.
Next up, former Ravens backup Tyrod Taylor or
a rookie first-round pick. Record: 9-7
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Cincinnati
Bengals won't have any time to waste this season. They'll need
a quick start more than ever after an 0-3 beginning doomed them to a 7-9 finish
last season.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Indianapolis
Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck hasn’t
taken a snap since the 2016 season, and there’s no guarantee he will be back by
Week 1. So much uncertainty doesn’t bode well for the Colts, who had the
second-worst offense in the league last season, just ahead of the Bengals. It
also doesn’t bode well for Indy's chances to get off to a quick start after a
4-12 season in 2017. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 13, vs. Baltimore
Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Bengals' offense was blindsided by the Ravens’ defense
in Week 1 last year, but a fresh start under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor
should give Cincinnati a new look. The Bengals fared much better in their
second matchup against the Ravens last season, with Lazor at the helm after
offensive coordinator Ken Zampese was fired. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Carolina
Panthers, 1 p.m. ET
The Panthers' only losses at home last season were to the
playoff-bound Saints and the eventual Super Bowl-winning Eagles. Although it's
doubtful the NFC South will be as good as it was in 2017, the Panthers should
still be a good enough team to make it difficult for the Bengals to steal a
road victory. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Atlanta
Falcons, 1 p.m. ET
The Falcons might have let the NFC divisional playoff game
slip out of their hands against the Eagles, but they have been a very good team
the past two seasons. Back-to-back road trips against teams with double-digit
wins in 2017 won’t be easy for Cincinnati. Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Miami
Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
The Bengals easily handled a 10-6 Dolphins team in 2016, and
Miami has gone the wrong way since then, winning only six games in 2017 and
shipping Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry to
the Browns this offseason. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Pittsburgh
Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
The Bengals haven’t beaten the Steelers since Nov. 1, 2015,
and Pittsburgh hasn’t had a drop-off since that point. Until the Bengals can
prove they can get the Steelers monkey off their shoulders, it’s hard to
predict a victory with any confidence. Record: 3-3
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, at Kansas City
Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
The second matchup against the Steelers took so much out of
the Bengals last season that a depleted defense allowed 33 points in a loss to
the hapless Bears. It’s fair to expect there could be another post-Steelers
letdown on the road against a playoff-caliber team like the Chiefs. Record: 3-4
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET
The Buccaneers are going to have a tough time improving in
2018, with three playoff-caliber teams in their division. They had the worst
defense in the league last season, and even the trade for Jason
Pierre-Paul might not measurably improve their struggling pass rush.
The Bengals can take advantage of this spot at home. Record: 4-4
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. New Orleans
Saints, 1 p.m. ET
The Saints were one play away from going to the NFC
Championship Game last season. With quarterback Drew Brees back
and a good crop of young players, they could have the best offense the Bengals
face all of 2018. Record: 4-5
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Baltimore Ravens, 1
p.m. ET
The Bengals had a nice run against the Ravens, with five
consecutive wins from 2013 to 2015, but the two teams split the series the past
two seasons. Both organizations have been middle of the pack the past two
years, and if 2018 turns out anything like that, they’re likely headed for a
split again. Record: 4-6
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. Cleveland
Browns, 1 p.m. ET
The Browns have made a number of moves in the offseason that
have generated buzz and have gotten people talking about their potential as
contenders. But with one win in two years, it seems doubtful they’ll be ready
to turn things around quite yet. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Denver
Broncos, 1 p.m. ET
The Broncos have tried to fix their quarterback situation by
signing Case Keenum after
finishing 20th in passing offense last season. But will that be enough to turn
their fortunes around? The Broncos have had late collapses the past two
seasons, and the Bengals get them at home late this year, which could work in
Cincinnati’s favor. Record: 6-6
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, at Los Angeles
Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Bengals haven’t had to make a trip to the West Coast
since 2015, but they’ve fared surprisingly well there lately, winning their
past five games in the Pacific Time zone. The Chargers' offensive line has been
inconsistent for the past few years, and if the Bengals' defense can stay
healthy, that could be a spot for their pass rush to attack. The Chargers ended
last season on a hot streak, and this one could really go either way. Record: 7-6
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, vs. Oakland
Raiders 1 p.m. ET
It will be a chess match when the Raiders and former
defensive coordinator Paul Guenther come to town. Guenther spent more than a
decade in the Bengals' organization and knows them as well as anybody. While
it's hard to predict what the team will be like now that Jon Gruden is back, the
Raiders certainly could be better than their 6-10 record last season. Record: 7-7
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Cleveland Browns, 1
p.m. ET
Eventually, the Bengals' winning streak against the Browns,
which dates to the 2014 season, will be snapped, but it won’t be this season.
While the Browns might close the margin, they still won’t improve enough to win
either matchup against the Bengals in 2018. Record: 8-7
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Pittsburgh
Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
This is a difficult opponent to close out the regular season
for the Bengals, especially on the road. The Steelers have lost only two of 12
games at home in December since the 2013 season. With both teams likely to be
beaten up at this point, the Steelers should still have the edge. Record: 8-8
CLEVELAND BROWNS
A winless team has nowhere to go but up, so the Cleveland
Browns have no choice but to be a better team in 2018. In Tyrod Taylor they
have a professional quarterback with experience and will clearly be an improved
team with the draft and other offseason additions. But the Browns also have a
new offensive coordinator, new quarterback, new running back and new receiver,
all of whom must mesh by September. As the Browns have shown in the past,
that's a tall order. This will be an improved team, but it won't be a .500
team. Five wins will be a measure of improvement though.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. Pittsburgh
Steelers, 1:00 p.m. ET
This is a very tough opener, given the Steelers' overall
edge in talent and the way they play the Browns. But if a team is going to
dream, it has to dream big. Why not start here? The Browns played the Steelers
well twice in 2017 (though one game was against backups), and they will pull
out every stop in the universe to win this opener. Cleveland is overdue for an
upset win. Win. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at New Orleans
Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET
It's foolish to pick against Drew Brees in
a game his team should win. The Saints have been together a long time and know
how to win this kind of game. Record: 1-1
Week 3: Thursday, Sept. 20, vs. New York Jets,
8:20 p.m. ET
This game is as good as any to measure how much the Browns
have improved. The Jets game was one of the games the Browns easily could have
won in 2017. They should be able to pull it out this season. How does a fast
start sound? Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, at Oakland
Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET
Derek Carr had
an off season in 2017. He should bounce back. He's just one of many really good
quarterbacks the Browns have to overcome, and can't. Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Baltimore
Ravens, 1:00 p.m. ET
For whatever reason, the Ravens seem to figure out ways to
beat the Browns. They've won six in a row and seven of eight over the Browns
going back to 2014. At some point, though, that trend has to end. How does a
winning record after five games sound? Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Los Angeles
Chargers, 1:00 p.m. ET
Philip Rivers continues
the gauntlet of quarterbacks the Browns must run, but the Chargers are beatable
even with Rivers. The Browns beat them in Cleveland two years ago, and with
better quarterback play could have won on the West Coast last season. The fast
start continues. Record: 4-2
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, at Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, 1:00 p.m. ET
It's tempting to go with the Browns here, but the fast-start
bubble has to burst at some point. Jameis
Winston on the road will be too much. Record: 4-3
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, at Pittsburgh Steelers,
1:00 p.m. ET
The only good thing about this game's location on the
schedule is that the league saved the Browns the annual end-of-the-season
embarrassment in Pittsburgh. It's too much to expect the Browns to sweep the
Steelers, especially in Pittsburgh. Record: 4-4
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, vs. Kansas City
Chiefs, 1:00 p.m. ET
This will be an interesting game because the Browns will not
have to face an experienced top quarterback. Patrick
Mahomes gets the chance to take over in Kansas City. What gives
the Chiefs the edge is their overall team speed. Record: 4-5
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Atlanta
Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET
If Matt Ryan and Julio Jones are
healthy, they are too much. The Browns simply do not have a cornerback to cover
Jones. Record: 4-6
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18. Bye week.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Cincinnati
Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
Cincinnati has won the last seven games between the two
teams entering the 2017 season. The trend continues. Record: 4-7
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Houston
Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET
Deshaun
Watson put a hurting on the Browns last season. If he's healthy
as he comes back from knee surgery, he'll do the same this season. If Watson
does not play, however, the door is open for a win. For this exercise, assume
Watson plays. Record: 4-8
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Carolina
Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Panthers are coming off an 11-win season and have Cam Newton.
The Browns are reeling. Advantage, Carolina. Record: 4-9
Week 15: Saturday, Dec. 15, at Denver
Broncos, time to be determined.
The Broncos fell to five wins a year ago for a reason. They
are depending on Case Keenum at
quarterback. In this matchup, the Browns have the quarterback edge. Record: 5-9
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, vs. Cincinnati
Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Bengals have had the Browns' number lately for some
reason, and until the Browns change things, it's tough to pick against that
trend. Record: 5-10
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Baltimore Ravens,
1:00 p.m. ET
It took a record-setting day from Josh McCown for
the Browns to beat the Ravens in Baltimore in 2015. That's the only win for
Cleveland in the last eight games between the teams heading into 2018. Record: 5-11
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