The 2022 NFL schedule has been released. The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the hardest schedules last season and still finished with a 9-7-1 record. Unfortunately for them, their schedule didn’t get much easier this year. With a wave of changes, both in players and personnel, the Steelers could have a tough time navigating their rough schedule.
READ MORE: Steelers Easiest Games
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Hardest Games of 2022 for the Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Week 5: @ Buffalo Bills
The most difficult game of the Steelers season will be their Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. Led by Josh Allen, the Bills have had successful runs in the playoffs for several years in a row now. In fact, Buffalo is a likely Super Bowl contender for this upcoming season. Plus, with the game being in Orchard Park, the Steelers won’t have it any easier. But, it is worth noting that the Steelers, who were heavy underdogs, marched into Buffalo and took the two teams’ Week 1 matchup last season.
2. Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One week after the Steelers face the Bills, they travel back home to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs, who have been empowered by the return of several key free agents and Tom Brady, will look to trounce Pittsburgh. They, like Buffalo, are also going to be Super Bowl contenders and will be tough matches for the Steelers. Many of these games against the best teams will come down to if the Steelers offense can perform. With tons of rookies and new free agents, it seems they may struggle for some time.
3. Week 1: @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Steelers start off their season on the road against divisional rival Cincinnati. Pittsburgh struggled a ton against the Bengals, who made it to the Super Bowl. Their multiple beatdowns, when the Bengals simply overpowered them, could happen yet again. Cincinnati is rallying support after a very successful season last year and will prove to be a tough competitor in the first game.
4. Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday Night Football)
Following up on the paragraph above, the Steelers will face the same issues in Week 11. Only this time, the Steelers will be at home and they usually gather tons of support for prime-time games. It will still be a tough game for the Steelers, but it could be a little more winnable with their fans behind them.
5. Week 17: @ Baltimore Ravens
In this late-season matchup, the Steelers take on their divisional rival in Baltimore. The Ravens could be a lot better than last season because their extensive amount of injuries will not be around. The Ravens will be one of the better teams in football next year, and the Steelers can only hope for a late-season break after a tough schedule
6. Week 16: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Saturday Night Football on Christmas Eve)
On the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception,” the Steelers will take on the Raiders on Christmas Eve. Expect the stands to be packed and electric despite it being a holiday. However, the Steelers will still have to go up against a formidable opponent in the Raiders. The Raiders could be a dark horse to make the playoffs once again, led by Derek Carr and some young defensive stars. They will be a tough matchup for Pittsburgh, but the atmosphere and the cold Pittsburgh weather will definitely have an impact on the outcome.
7. Week 18: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns will likely be much better than they were last year. After acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans, the Browns once again look like promising playoff candidates. This game, although in Pittsburgh, will be much harder for the Steelers. Watson will likely be suspended for a few games which put him out for the Browns first game against Pittsburgh in Week 3. With Watson back, the Browns could erase years of embarrassment against the Steelers and pick up a much-needed win at the end of the season.
8. Week 3: @ Cleveland Browns (Thursday Night Football)
As stated above, Deshaun Watson will likely be suspended for a few games at the beginning of the season. If that’s the case, Jacoby Brissett will start for Cleveland with Baker Mayfield likely to be gone or unwilling to play. The Steelers would probably be able to win over the Brissett-led Browns, but they’ll still have to face off against Nick Chubb and the Browns star-studded defense in an away, prime-time matchup.
9. Week 7: @ Miami Dolphins (Sunday Night Football)
The final game on the ‘most difficult’ list is the team’s Week 7 journey to Miami. There, they will take on the Dolphins who sport one of the best receiving duos in the league. This game marks coach Brian Flores’ and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick’s return to Florida. The Dolphins are a rising team who have finished with a .500+ record in the past two seasons. This could turn into a somewhat competitive matchup for the Steelers if their secondary don’t Tyreek Hill and Jay.
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