The Pittsburgh Steelers were a team that had a lot of issues with the schedule when it was initially released ahead of the 2024 season. The team didn't make any noise about it, but the fan base was infuriated as Pittsburgh was forced to take on three of the best teams in the league in a 10-day span at the end of the season. The Steelers ultimately went on a five-game losing streak to finish the year, which had fans on the edge of their seat when it came to the schedule release for the 2025 season. There are no near impossible stretches like there were in 2024, but there are still some challenges.
AP photo
Steelers' Mike Tomlin confused about a call against the Commanders during the 2024 season.
The Steelers' schedule for the 2025 season also includes an interesting twist in that the team will have to travel to Ireland to play an international game. The game will take place in Dublin, and the time change will take a toll on the team. Thankfully, the schedule makers gave Pittsburgh a bye week right after the game. The bad news is that the bye week takes place in Week 5, which means the Steelers will have to go the final three quarters of the season without taking a week off.
Long time backup quarterback Charlie Batch joined former defender Arthur Moats on The Arthur Moats Experience, and he expressed his concern with the early bye.
"But what does the bye week look like?" Batch asked. "I think ultimately when you have that coming off of that Ireland game, how will that look moving forward? I think ultimately, you saw last year, the team got tired out. How will that now affect them? Do they train a little bit accordingly? Do they adjust the schedule? That's ultimately what Coach Tomlin is going to have to do with that strength and conditioning department to make sure that his guys are ready for a brutal three quarters of the season, that second half of the season."
The NFL typically gives teams that play internationally the choice of whether or not they want to have a bye week the following week. In this case, the Steelers had no choice. Team President Art Rooney II spoke after the schedule release and said that the team was not asked, nor did it request to have a bye week after playing in Ireland.
Keith Srakocic / AP photo
Steelers' Art Rooney II looks on while roaming the field in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's bye week came in Week 9 during the 2024 season, and the team still looked beat by the time the end of the season came around. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is going to have to find a way to avoid a similar slump in 2025.
The Steelers franchise as a whole has been extremely consistent this century when it comes to being successful, but this season is looking like it could get rough for Pittsburgh. The current quarterback situation, the strength of the rest of the AFC North, the tough games outside of the division, and the early bye week are all signs that might point to the first losing season for the Steelers in 21 years.
Steelers Will Face Another Gauntlet At The End Of The 2025 Regular Season
Pittsburgh's 2025 schedule does not include a stretch like the 2024 schedule did, but the stretch to end the year is not going to be easy. The tough stretch begins in Week 13, which will be the eighth week since Pittsburgh had their bye. The Steelers will host the Buffalo Bills and then play the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. Then it is a game on the road to face the Detroit Lions before the team finishes the regular season with two games within the division against the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) and Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh (left) talk during warmups before the game at then-Heinz Field on September 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The difficulty of that final stretch paired with the fact that the Steelers will be playing football for 13 straight weeks is not a good sign, but it could be helpful when it comes to landing a franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What do you think about the Steelers having the early bye week? Let us know in the comments below!
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