Steelers 2023 Schedule: Pundits Analyze Team's Week-By-Week Matchups

PITTSBURGH, PA — It didn't take long for reaction to pour in on the Steelers' 2023 schedule, which was released on Thursday.

As Patch noted, the Steelers will open the 2023 season at home, the first time that's happened in nine years. The team will be featured twice on Thursday Night Football and once each on Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football.

Here's the entire schedule, followed by what football writers across the country are saying about it and the Steelers playoff chances this season.

Brooke Pryor, ESPN:"The Steelers are also one of several teams to be featured on Thursday Night Football twice in the season, permitted for the first time this season after NFL owners passed a new rule earlier this year. Though they’ll have two short weeks to prepare for the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 and the New England Patriots in Week 14, both games are at home. The Steelers’ second mini-bye also comes before a pivotal four-game stretch to end the season that features three road games and two divisional opponents."

Bill Bender, Sporting News: "The only team that had a record above .500 on the road that visits Pittsburgh this year is CIncinnati. San Francisco is a tough opponent, too, but they were 4-4 on the road last season. The Steelers need to take advantage of that schedule...winning seasons will continue. Look for the Steelers to be on the edge of AFC playoff contention again. Record prediction: 9-8."

Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports: "There are several reasons to believe that the black and gold will be in the AFC playoff mix this season. For starters, the Steelers will play a third-place schedule for the first time since 2012. Opponents aside, the Steelers possess one of the NFL's tougher defenses and a young offense that should be vastly better than it was a year ago, led by second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett."

Jimmy Watkins, Cleveland.Com: "The most rugged stretch of Pittsburgh’s passes through Cleveland on Nov. 11, when the Steelers will play their fourth game in 21 days and their fifth straight after a Week 6 bye. They only get one chance to catch their breath after opening the season at home against San Francisco and Cleveland, at Las Vegas and Houston and at Baltimore."