Steelers Could Take Ravens' Advice On Managing Schedule After Early Overseas Game In Ireland Revealed

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially announced that they will play a regular season game in Dublin, Ireland for the first time ever in the regular season. Many reports project the game to take place in September. Steeler Nation seems to be worried about that, as a bye week typically follows the overseas game. That would mean that Pittsburgh would have a bye week very early on in the season if that is the case yet again. After a brutal end to their 2024 gauntlet, the last thing they want is another season where their own schedule works against them. 

While making an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Mark Kaboly was talking with radio hosts about the timing of everything, and they concluded that the game would most likely take place in Week 3. The question came up about the bye week, and Kaboly brought up the fact that there are options other than an immediate period of time off.

"Baltimore didn't do that [in 2023]," explained Kaboly. "They went out there [to England] and came back and played the next week. I always thought they did that too, but I remember Baltimore did not do that."

In 2023, the Baltimore Ravens went to London, England to play against the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. Instead of having a bye week to recover from the jet lag. They defeated the Titans 24-16, then had to go back home to face a Detroit Lions team that was finally starting to become a true threat in the NFL. 

The Ravens had no trouble taking down the Lions and exposing their flaws after coming back home in Week 7. They won 38-6 without that bye week. They didn't even get their rest until Week 13. Despite all those complications in their schedule, they managed to secure the top seed in the AFC with a 13-4 record. Two of those losses came before the long plane ride across the Atlantic Ocean and back. 

When it comes to rivalries, one song lyric usually epitomizes the relationship: "Anything you can do, I can do better." If the Ravens can go across the pond, bring home a win, and continue with their schedule like nothing ever happened, why can't the Steelers do it? Why should they have to settle for a Week 4 or Week 5 bye?

If the Steelers don't have a bye week after their contest in Ireland, they will likely play a home game in Acrisure Stadium that very next week, similar to the Ravens. While jet lag is still hard to overcome, it's easier to do so when you don't have to hop on another flight immediately after you touched down. 

Steelers Can Decide If They Want Their Bye Week After Ireland Or Not

Previously, NFL Vice President of Broadcast Planning Mike North brought up the fact that teams would typically come home from an international game earlier than they would for a long road trip, like to Seattle or Los Angeles if they're from the east coast. With that in mind, many NFL franchises decided to delay the bye week and use it later on. 

Some teams will still opt to take that rest right after their game overseas, but the main difference is the timing of everything. Some of the teams that take the next week off do so because it's already the middle of the season. If you travel around Weeks 6 or 7, there is not much of an issue with that next week.

For the Steelers, however, their scheduling makes this an easy decision. Taking Week 4 or 5 off is something that no team wants to normally do. Most players on every team are banged up by the end of the season, but it would be even worse if the break comes beforehand. If the Ravens could succeed without an immediate bye, why can't the Steelers?

What do you think about the Steelers playing another match immediately after coming back from Ireland? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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