Analyzing all 17 of the Steelers' 2026 regular-season games

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will open the 2026 NFL regular season on Sept. 13 at home against the Atlanta Falcons as part of a 17-game slate that includes a Black Friday game and four prime-time appearances.

The NFL released its 2026 schedule Thursday night, though the league had already announced the Steelers will play in Paris on Oct. 25 against the New Orleans Saints.

Unlike last season, the Steelers will not have a bye following their international game. They will face the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 1 at Acrisure Stadium, then they’ll get a week off.

The Steelers will host the Denver Broncos on Black Friday. Their four prime-time games are Oct. 1 in Cleveland, Nov. 15 in Cincinnati, Dec. 6 at home against Houston and Dec. 14 in Jacksonville.

As has been the recent scheduling norm, the Steelers will play against the Baltimore Ravens in two of their final four games, including the Week 18 finale in Baltimore.

Here is the Post-Gazette’s analysis of all 17 games on the Steelers’ regular season slate:

Week 1: vs. Falcons

Sunday, Sept. 13 @ 1 p.m.

For the second time in three years, these non-conference foes will kick off the season against each other. Kick-off is an appropriate way to describe the last time these two teams met in Week 1. Chris Boswell booted six field goals in an 18-10 win in Atlanta in 2024. No matter where these teams play, the Steelers almost always come out as winners. They’re 16-2-1 all time against the Falcons.

Week 2: @ Patriots

Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 1 p.m.

Here’s a weird stat from the 2025 season: The Patriots were 8-0 on the road and 5-3 at Gillette Stadium. The Steelers were one of the three teams to go to New England and win, thanks mostly to the defense creating five turnovers against the eventual AFC champions. No one thought the Patriots would be in the Super Bowl after the Steelers sent them to a 1-2 start, but it’s a good reminder that September is all about fine-tuning.

Week 3: vs. Bengals

Sunday, Sept. 27 @ 1 p.m.

The Steelers did not have to face Joe Burrow last season because he missed more than two months with a toe injury. Playing the Bengals in Week 3 increases the odds the Steelers will have to face him this time around, which isn’t very appetizing. Burrow is 3-1 against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, with his lone loss coming during his rookie season.

Week 4: @ Browns

Thursday, Oct. 1 @ 8:15 p.m.

Some things just can’t be explained. Here’s one: Shedeur Sanders beating the Steelers in December in Cleveland, which inexplicably has become a tough place for the Steelers to play. The Steelers haven’t won there since 2021 and are 1-6-1 in their past eight trips to The Land.

Week 5: vs. Colts

Sunday, Oct. 11 @ 1 p.m.

This series is almost as lopsided as the one against the Falcons. The Steelers have won 28 of 36 games against the Colts, including the past five at Acrisure Stadium. They are 18-2 in games played in Pittsburgh. The only two Colts quarterbacks to win in Pittsburgh? Peyton Manning in 2008 and Earl Morrall in 1968.

Week 6: @ Buccaneers

Sunday, Oct. 18 @ 1 p.m.

The Steelers have made themselves at home at Raymond James Stadium in this century with a 5-0 record. That includes four wins over the Buccaneers and a rather big one in February of 2009 — the Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Cardinals. Does the streak end this year? Baker Mayfield and the Bucs are heavy favorites to win the NFC South.

Week 7: @ Saints (Paris)

Sunday, Oct. 25 @ 9:30 a.m.

The Steelers can count their blessings because this game is in Paris rather than the French Quarter, where they’ve stunk it up more than Pepe Le Pew. The Steelers have not won in New Orleans since 1990 when Louisiana native Bubby Brister was their starting quarterback. Speaking of Louisiana-born QBs, maybe the Saints can bring Bobby Hebert out of retirement to add a little extra French flair to this game.

Week 8: vs. Browns

Sunday, Nov. 1 @ 1 p.m.

Nothing says Halloween like a Steelers-Browns game at Acrisure Stadium. Maybe the Browns can even masquerade as an actual NFL team this year? They haven’t beaten the Steelers here since 2003 — back when Ben Roethlisberger was still in college. Rather remarkably, the winning streak stands at 22.

Week 9: Bye week

Week 10: @ Bengals

Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 8:20 p.m.

Joe Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-31 Bengals win last season at Paul Brown Stadium, a venue where the Steelers have struggled against backup quarterbacks. In 2020, Ryan Finley completed only seven passes in a 27-17 Bengals victory. They’ve actually had better luck against Burrow there, beating him the past two times they faced him in Cincinnati.

Week 11: @ Eagles

Sunday, Nov. 22 @ 4:25 p.m.

Whether at Franklin Field, The Vet or Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia stadiums have been houses of horror for the Steelers for six decades. They have lost their last 11 games there, with their most recent victory coming in 1965. That’s 60 years of futility spanning 12 presidential administrations.

Week 12: vs. Broncos

Friday, Nov. 27 @ 3 p.m.

Denver earned the AFC’s top playoff seed last season, but Baltimore, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Houston all have better odds to win the conference in 2026. The Broncos haven’t had much luck in Pittsburgh lately. They are 0-3 in their past three trips here, with their last win coming in 2006.

Week 13: vs. Texans

Sunday, Dec. 6 @ 8:20 p.m.

Aaron Rodgers may still be having nightmares after the 30-6 beating the Texans put on the Steelers in an AFC wild-card game in January. Rodgers was sacked four times and watched the Texans score two defensive touchdowns — one after a strip-sack of Rodgers and the other on a 50-yard pick-six. This may be the best defense the Steelers face all season.

Week 14: @ Jaguars

Monday, Dec. 14 @ 8:15 p.m.

The Jaguars went from worst to first in the AFC South last season before losing in the first round. They are leading the all-time series against the Steelers, 15-13, but it might be a positive that this game is being played in Jacksonville. The road team has won the past six in the series, and the Steelers have won their last four at TIAA Bank Field.

Week 15: vs. Ravens

Sunday, Dec. 20 @ 1 p.m.

The Steelers have won three in a row against the Ravens at home, including a thrilling victory in Week 18 last season that won the Steelers the AFC North crown and a berth in the playoffs. Get ready for the Mike McCarthy and Jesse Minter eras. This game will be the first Steelers-Ravens game without Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh since 2007.

Week 16: vs. Panthers

Dec. 26 or 27 @ TBD

The Panthers won the AFC South with an 8-9 record and a minus-69 point differential last season, but they gave the Los Angeles Rams everything they could handle in the NFC wild-card round. The Steelers never seem to have a problem with the Panthers, especially at home. They are 7-1 all time against Carolina at Acrisure Stadium, outscoring them 139-58.

Week 17: @ Titans

Sunday, Jan. 3 @ 1 p.m.

Once divisional rivals in the old AFC Central, the Steelers and the Titans (formerly the Oilers) used to play two and sometimes even three times per season (when they met in the playoffs). But this is the first meeting between the two clubs since 2023 in a series the Steelers have dominated in recent years. They are 8-2 in the past 10 games against the Titans and have won five in a row.

Week 18: @ Ravens

Jan. 9 or 10 @ TBD

Ravens fans are still crying about a couple of calls that went against them at M&T Bank Stadium last season, including an Isaiah Likely touchdown catch that was reversed by officials in New York. Charm City has been kind to the Steelers over the past decade. They have won seven of their last 10 games there.

Preseason schedule released

The Steelers also announced their preseason schedule, with Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium. In Week 2 of the preseason, the Steelers will host the New York Jets on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers will travel to Buffalo to finish out the preseason against the Bills on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.