The Pittsburgh Steelers will have one of the tougher schedules in the NFL throughout 2025. They'll enter Week 1 with the 10th hardest schedule in football, making a hot start all the more necessary to the team's success this year. The Steelers made significant moves on both sides of the ball during the offseason and will look to take full advantage of the first few weeks on the schedule.
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The 2025 season is going to be an absolute grind. The Steelers' schedule is not promising, and the team will have to stress the importance of playing clean football, while leaving mistakes to a minimum. ESPN analyst Ryan Clark recently shared his thoughts on Pittsburgh's schedule, where the analyst claimed he is 10/10 concerned with the initial matchups of the season.
Clark spoke about the Steelers declining towards the end of the season in recent years as well, as the analyst made it clear just how crucial a hot start will be.
"My level of concern is 10/10," Clark stated. "And it's not necessarily that I'm expecting them to get off to a slow start. It's the fact that this team can't get off to a slow start."
Clark then continued to go more in depth on why a hot start will be so important, with some of the easier games of the season scheduled for early in the year.
"If you've watched Mike Tomlin teams throughout the last few years, they normally start fast. It is that they tail off toward the end of the season. You have some very winnable games early on in this season, and there's gonna be a different level of attention paid to the Pittsburgh Steelers."
Pittsburgh's schedule will be a true test for the team all season long. The Steelers had a very busy offseason, as new additions like Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf will play crucial roles in the team's 2025 success. Rodgers and Metcalf have continued to train together throughout the offseason and many feel that the veteran duo can emerge as a top deep ball threat in all of football.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (left) smile as they talk during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The team added other veterans in Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey as well. Smith had a career year with the Miami Dolphins last season and was rewarded with his first ever Pro Bowl appearance. Ramsey has remained as an elite cornerback for years, and the former Dolphin will look to pick up right where he left off in Miami.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Will Face His Former Team On The Road During Week 1
The 2025 NFL offseason has been a dramatic couple of months to say the least. The drama will more than likely continue throughout the season, as Rodgers and the Steelers will face off against the New York Jets in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium. Rodgers spent the past two seasons in New York and his time with the Jets was a failed experiment for all involved.
Pittsburgh will face an old friend in Week 1 as well, because the Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields earlier in the offseason following Rodgers' departure. Fields was the Steelers' quarterback last season and split time with Russell Wilson throughout his lone season with the team. A Week 1 matchup between Fields and Rodgers is a perfect way to bring in the new season, as both fan bases have continued to share their excitement surrounding the matchup.
Matt Freed / ap photo
Former Steelers quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields warming up before a game.
The Steelers' 2025 schedule is concerning. The team will have to play at their absolute best in order to be a true contender, but many believe that Pittsburgh has a great chance to compete despite the unfavorable matchups. The Steelers will lean on their mix of veteran and younger players to lead the way all season long and the team may very well find themselves right in the mix of things if they can play at a high level.
What do you think of Clark's concerns about the Steelers' schedule? Click to comment below!
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