The Pittsburgh Steelers have taken a bold approach this offseason, implementing several unconventional moves that have stirred considerable interest. Among these, the hiring of former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith as the new offensive coordinator stands out.
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Former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith stands on the sideline during a professional football game.
Additionally, the Steelers secured veteran quarterback Russell Wilson on a one-year deal at the veteran minimum, signaling strategic financial management. The team also reshaped their quarterback roster by trading for Justin Fields and moving Kenny Pickett to another team. Another significant acquisition was signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen to a three-year contract valued at $41 million.
The official 2024 schedule for the Steelers was unveiled on Wednesday, revealing that they face one of the toughest schedules in the league for the upcoming season, as gauged by the outcomes of 2023. Despite the challenging games ahead, the influx of new talent has injected a wave of optimism across Pittsburgh. Fans and analysts alike are hopeful that these strategic additions will significantly enhance the Steelers' performance and overall prospects for the season.
Steelers Official 2024 Schedule
Week 1 - Sept 8 - At Atlanta
Week 2 - Sept 15 - At Denver
Week 3 - Sept 22 - vs Chargers
Week 4 - Sept 29 - At Indianapolis
Week 5 - Oct 6 - vs Dallas
Week 6 - Oct 13 - At Vegas
Week 7 - Oct 20 - vs Jets (SNF)
Week 8 - Oct 28 - vs Giants ( MNF)
Week 9 - Nov 3 - Bye Week
Week 10 - Nov 10 - At Washington
Week 11 - Nov 17 - vs Ravens
Week 12 - Nov 21 - At Cleveland (TNF)
Week 13 - Dec 1 - At Cincinnati
Week 14 - Dec 8 - vs Browns
Week 15 - Dec 15 - At Philadelphia
Week 16 - Dec 21 - At Baltimore (Saturday)
Week 17 - Dec 25 - vs Kansas City (Christmas)
Week 18 - Jan 5 - vs Bengals
The Steelers will open their season on the road against the Falcons, who are now helmed by their new, costly veteran quarterback, Kirk Cousins. This matchup is particularly significant for the Steelers' new offensive coordinator, Smith, who previously coached the Falcons for three seasons. Under his leadership, the Falcons experienced consistent challenges, recording three consecutive 7-10 seasons. Now, as he faces his former team right out of the gate, Smith has a prime opportunity to settle scores with the organization that dismissed him after the 2023 season.
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Former Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (#3) scrambles out of the pocket during a professional football game.
Another compelling revenge game for the Steelers will occur when they travel to Denver to take on the Denver Broncos. In a twist of financial and emotional stakes, the Broncos are covering the majority of Wilson's salary for 2024, despite benching him towards the end of the 2023 season over contract disputes. This decision evidently left Wilson with a bitter feeling, and he is keenly motivated to return to his former home stadium and deliver a resounding defeat to the team that made him a scapegoat. This high-drama game is set to add an intense, personal layer to the Steelers' Week 2 game.
They will start at home against the Los Angeles Chargers, followed by a road game against the Indianapolis Colts. Returning to Pittsburgh, they'll face a significant challenge in a home game against the Dallas Cowboys. In Week 6, the team heads back on the road to play the Las Vegas Raiders. The following two weeks see the Steelers hosting the two New York teams consecutively, providing a tough stretch before they head into their first bye week in Week 9.
Among the highlights of the Steelers' schedule, two particular games stand out and have captured widespread attention. The team will face intense back-to-back challenges as they play against the Ravens and then the Kansas City Chiefs on a shortened week. The climax of this challenging sequence is the highly anticipated home game on Christmas Day against the Chiefs, led by Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Just before this, they will travel to Baltimore to take on the reigning league MVP, Lamar Jackson. These games not only promise high stakes, but also feature marquee matchups against some of the NFL’s most celebrated talents, setting the stage for memorable football late in the season.
Steelers Will Hope To End Their Playoff Win Drought In 2024
The Steelers' schedule for the upcoming season is challenging, as is often the case in the highly competitive NFL. Mike Tomlin, who has impressively never recorded a losing season in his 17 years with Pittsburgh, is determined not only to maintain this record, but also to achieve greater ambitions in 2024.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin stands on the sideline during a game.
One of the Steelers' primary goals is to break their playoff victory drought, having not won a postseason game since the 2016 season. The hope for 2024 is to end this dry spell and propel the Steelers back into contention for Super Bowl titles. This season presents an opportunity for the team to make significant strides towards reclaiming their status as serious contenders in the league.
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