It's human nature to look ahead. The Pittsburgh Steelers have less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs in 2022 in what has been a rollercoaster of a season. After starting 2-5, the team climbed back into the conversation in the AFC North winning three of four until they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
While three of the organization's final four games are against teams under .500, running the table and finishing 9-8 still won't be good enough. It would lead be a 5-7 conference record (at best) and four losses to the members of the AFC East.
Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin gets the defense ready to take on the Browns in Week 3 of the 2022 regular season for a crucial divisional matchup. | Photo Credit: Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers
The team's final contest of the season will be against the Cleveland Browns for the final home game of Pittsburgh's football year. With playoff hopes unlikely to be relevant, some fans may turn their heads and hope for a loss simply for a better draft position. This game could mean even more than that, however. In the NFL, every game matters, and having the advantage in as many as possible throughout the season could help lead a team to the playoffs. The matchup versus the Browns could have a significant impact starting next September.
In 2023, Pittsburgh will play the teams that finish in a like position as them in their divisions this year, as is the case every year in the NFL. Those franchises will come from the AFC East, AFC West and NFC North. The East seems to possibly be shaping up to be a juggernaut, but the Steelers will have to play host to one of them. It's just a matter of who. If the New York Jets slip ahead of the Miami Dolphins and Tomlin's group beats the Browns in Week 18, finishing third in the division, Miami would come to town in 2023.
One could argue any team from the East would be a challenge as Pittsburgh was 0-4 against the division in 2022, but staying away from the Dolphins and their dynamic offense would be ideal. Hosting the Jets or New England Patriots seems much more favorable.
Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular-season action against the New York Jets. | Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
It gets much more interesting when taking a look at the AFC West. Time will tell how the organization fares against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve in a few weeks, but the Denver Broncos have looked horrible, and playing Denver would be a much more favorable matchup. Head Coach, Mike Tomlin would get a team he is 4-3 against all-time, instead of drawing the Raiders, a team that has beaten him five out of seven times.
Perhaps the biggest difference could be with the Steelers' NFC opponent. Aaron Rodgers is expected to return to the Green Bay Packers for another season and while he has not been himself due to an injury to his throwing hand in 2022, fans surely would rather see young Quarterback, Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears' rather than the future Hall of Famer who beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV. Rodgers has 631 passing yards and five touchdowns in two regular season games with Tomlin on the other sideline to boot.
GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 16: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks with Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers prior to a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 16, 2018, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh has had the hardest AFC strength of schedule in terms of winning percentage through 14 weeks in 2022. With the AFC south set to be on the calendar next year, a solid playoff seeding and maybe even a division title could be very attainable. There could be three games on the schedule a year from now that a healthy and matured Steelers team would be the favorite in if they lose to the Browns and come in last in the AFC North.
No one ever wants to root for losses, but with the playoff hopes pretty much out of the realistic fan's mind, it is time to look ahead to 2023. Draft position isn't the only thing at stake the next month. It could be the determining factor regarding the organization having one of the NFL's easiest schedules a year from now.
Would you swallow your pride as a fan and be okay with finishing last in the division if it meant a ridiculously easy schedule the following season? Let us know in the comments below!
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