The 2023 NFL schedule was officially released on Thursday and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a winning season feels well within reach. The 2023 offseason has felt like a breeze for Steeler Nation compared to the uncertainty of the previous year. With no known first-string quarterback for the first time in 18 years, there were many questions to be answered, starting with the draft. When Kenny Pickett, quarterback out of the neighboring University of Pittsburgh, was drafted by the Steelers with the 20th overall pick, the plot only thickened.
AP Photo/Matt Durisko
Flash forward a year later, and Pickett has rightfully earned his spot at QB1 after nearly single-handedly turning around the 2022 season for the black and gold. The Steelers have had a significantly easier time this offseason than AFC North rival, the Baltimore Ravens, when it comes to quarterbacks.
The Steelers Were Smooth Sailing Compared To The Ravens
For months, news was breaking weekly about quarterback Lamar Jackson's potential whereabouts for the 2023 season. After announcing in March that he had requested a trade, so many options other than the Ravens felt like a potential landing spot for the former MVP. It wasn't until the Ravens made the grand gesture of signing wide-receiver Odell Beckham Jr. that it began to seem likely that the two sides would reach an agreement.
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA Today
After Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback, Jalen Hurts signed a monster five-year, $255 million extension, the Ravens decided to deal their hand. Just hours before the 2023 NFL draft, the two parties came to an agreement on a five-year, $260 million deal making Jackson the highest-paid player in the league.
Turns out, Jackson's hold-out had an impact on more than just the Ravens. Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports revealed that the prolonged contract negotiations took a toll on the timeliness of the entire NFL schedule.
On conference call right now, NFL schedule makers confirm Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson uncertainty complicated decisions. Jets to play 5 primetime games, Ravens 4.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) May 12, 2023
"We were frankly lucky, fortunate...that those planes landed before draft," VP broadcast planning Mike North said.
What complicated the schedule making in particular was the distribution of primetime games. Although it hasn't always been the case, the standard has become that primetime games are given to matchups that people are most invested in. Usually, this means that some of the best teams with the most exciting players land multiple nighttime showdowns. The Ravens with Jackson are significantly more exciting than the Ravens without him. That being said, Jackson and the Ravens will be highlighted in four primetime games and an abroad matchup in London.
It Wasn't Just Jackson's Fault
As much as Steelers fans would love to blame the Ravens, the schedule delay wasn't just on Jackson. Though rumors were circulating for months that Aaron Rodgers might make his move to the New York Jets, it took months to come to fruition. Despite years of speculation, it was finally announced that Rodgers would be leaving the Green Bay Packers after 18 seasons. The Jets will be featured in five primetime games.
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Unsurprisingly, two of the four teams with the maximum of six primetime games are the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers, on the other hand, sit in the middle at four alongside the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. Although Jackson back on the Ravens and Rodgers now an AFC signal-caller can feel intimidating, nothing really changes for the Steelers. The Steelers have proven success against Jackson and if the Jets are able to become a contender and make the road tougher for the Bills, no one's not complaining.
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