The Pittsburgh Steelers always seem to have a tough schedule. Part of this is playing in the AFC, which is the better of the two conferences, and part of it is their division. The Ravens and Bengals have been Super Bowl contenders for the past two years, and Cleveland is no slouch either. However, ESPN analyst and former Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark thinks this year’s schedule is ridiculous and called the NFL out over it.
Ryan Clark Calls Out NFL For Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule
yikes https://t.co/IOE4YDrLDw pic.twitter.com/8cNAvL9e0z
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 16, 2024
Once the NFL schedule is released, analysts immediately start to break down who has the easiest schedule and who has the toughest. The Pittsburgh Steelers have the toughest schedule by far. Weeks 11-18 are absolutely brutal. The back third of the season is as follows: vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland, at Cincinnati, vs. Cleveland, at Philadelphia, at Baltimore, vs. Kansas City (short week), vs. Cincinnati. All six divisional games are during this stretch plus going to the Eagles and hosting the Chiefs on a short week. Ryan Clark went on ESPN’s Get Up to express his displeasure.
“Who made this schedule?” Clark asked very bewildered. “What dude from Cleveland all of a sudden got a job in the league office? To think you have to play the Ravens twice, the Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, and then the Eagles and the Chiefs? A team that won the Super Bowl two years in a row. A team that was in the Super Bowl the year before.
You have to play those teams to finish the season when the end of the season is where we’ve seen the Steelers find ways to compete. It’s the beginning of the season when they suck. Coach Tomlin has a saying- ‘I try to make things as uncomfortable as possible.’ Guess what my dog? You ain’t gotta try hard this year. Because the NFL did it for you.”
It is going to be a tough push to the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers have to start the season off well otherwise all of these games might be must win games.
Did The NFL Screw The Pittsburgh Steelers?
Did the NFL screw the Steelers? Intentionally, no. However, the NFL clearly wants divisonal matchups later in the season this year. In the schedule release for all teams, many of the divisional games take place in the back half of the season. Furthermore, the league wants teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers to be in big prime time games agaisnt big opponents. A Christmas Day matchup with the Chiefs is a marketable game.
The schedule definitely stinks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Every year there are always a few teams who get the short end of the stick in terms of scheduling. However, this is the NFL. If the Steelers want to win a Super Bowl, they need to show they can beat the best teams in the AFC. If they can make it through the gauntlet at the end, they will be well-prepared for a playoff run.
For More Great Sports Content
Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. It does not matter what sport he is talking about; he tends to be an expert in it. When he is not glued to following sports, he is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
Follow him on Twitter at @sorcerermatt, and follow us @TotalApexSports. Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things sports and entertainment. Check out Total Apex Bets, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Gaming, and Total Apex Entertainment for full coverage of the sports and entertainment sphere.
