Of course, all this could change if the NFL goes to an 18-game schedule, or if games are missed due to a prolonged lockout. But for the time being, the six-time Super Bowl champion Steelers know which teams await on their 2011 schedule. Specfic dates for the games have of course not yet been released. And to be quite honest, the sequencing of games is more of a determining factor than is just knowing the opponents. By that I mean, let's say the Steelers face the Colts, Patriots, Texans and Ravens in '11. In fact, they do face those four teams. Well, the Texans game might not make Steeler Nation shake in its boots, but beating the up-and-down Texans might be a whole lot tougher if it follows a tough divisional tilt against the Ravens than if it came on the heels of, say, a home game against the Cleveland Browns. So we'll have to wait a few months before we can really analyze the schedule and make our wildly premature prognostications. But since we at least know who's on tap and where the games will be played, let's take a quick look.
↵Steelers 2011 Home Games:
↵- ↵
- Cleveland Browns ↵
- Cincinnati Bengals ↵
- Baltimore Ravens ↵
- Jacksonville Jaguars ↵
- Tennessee Titans ↵
- St. Louis Rams ↵
- Seattle Seahawks ↵
- New England Patriots ↵
Steelers 2011 Road Games:
↵- ↵
- Cleveland Browns ↵
- Cincinnati Bengals ↵
- Baltimore Ravens ↵
- Houston Texans ↵
- Arizona Cardinals ↵
- Kansas City Chiefs ↵
- San Francisco 49ers ↵
- Indianapolis Colts ↵
Though some may disagree, I think that's actually a pretty darn tough schedule. Again, the ordering of the games matters, but road contests against the Texans, Cardinals, Chiefs, 49ers and Colts are all tricky tests away from Heinz Field for one reason or another. The home slate though does look pretty manageable. The Steelers should be substantial favorites against the Seahawks, Rams, Jaguars and Titans. And I don't think too many people are excited to see Tom Brady and the Pats returning to Heinz Field after the beat-down New England handed the AFC Champs last October.