Steelers projected to have NFL’s most difficult schedule in 2024

Will the Steelers’ schedule be more difficult than originally thought?

The Pittsburgh Steelers surmounted everyone’s expectations in 2023. After an impressive 6-3 start that few saw coming, the Steelers lost four of their next five games before winning their final three contests to finish 10-7 and earn a Wildcard spot in the AFC playoffs.

The Steelers faced a third-place schedule in 2023, and will do the same in 2024 after finishing third in the AFC North. Despite that, Warren Sharp is projecting the Steelers to have the toughest schedule in the NFL based off Vegas win total projections.

The Steelers face the NFC East and AFC West this season. Their schedule outside of the division will include home contests against the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and New York Jets and away games against the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.

We still have the NFL Draft in front of us, obviously. However, as of today, I’d say replicating the 10-win season from 2023 is extremely doable. Truthfully, the only games I have little confidence going into will be both games against the Bengals and the Chiefs.

Pittsburgh has consistently beaten the Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Deshaun Watson has never beaten the Steelers. The Falcons will be very good, but not unbeatable. The Jets are a giant question mark- it’ll depend on Aaron Rodgers. Dallas is a sinking ship that has made no moves of note this offseason. I’m not drinking the Chargers Kool-Aid again. Justin Herbert is terrific, but that organization is wasting him and he is now stuck with Greg Roman as his offensive coordinator. The Commanders will have a rookie quarterback and seem to be in a foundation-laying year. The Giants, Broncos, and Raiders are tire fires. There is nothing about this schedule that says the Steelers can’t, at minimum, replicate their record from a season ago.