Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press The Pittsburgh Steelers organization prides itself on stability: same uniforms, same ownership family, same coaches. Things have changed, though. Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown—the best running back and wide receiver, respectively, in the NFL over the last half-decade—are gone. Ben Roethlisberger is still around but has gone through an offseason in which Bell and Brown both threw public jabs and had to have Steelers management come to his defense, which they did, awkwardly, until back-pedaling. The Steelers team that enters 2019 is in unfamiliar territory. They have a coach on the hot seat, an aging quarterback with his weakest supporting cast in recent memory and drama that seems Brownsian while the actual Cleveland Browns are sleeper Super Bowl contenders. Can they withstand the uncertainty? Let's take a look at their 2019 schedule and find out. Steelers 2019 Schedule Week 1: at New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC) Video Play Button Videos you might like Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. ET (Fox) Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Sept. 30 at 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 6: at Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC) Week 7: BYE WEEK Week 8: vs. Miami Dolphins on Monday, Oct. 28 at 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN) Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox) Week 11: at Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8:20 p.m. ET (Fox, NFL Network, Amazon) Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 16: at New York Jets on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Analysis The Steelers are tied with the Detroit Lions and Ravens for the 19th-hardest schedule in football, based on their opponents' 2018 record. The AFC North plays the AFC East and NFC West in their common games this season. That means three games against the non-New England members of the division—all extremely winnable—and one against the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. Aside from those games, the Steelers' schedule is probably a little more difficult than the numbers indicate. The San Francisco 49ers should be markedly improved after getting half their roster back from injuries. The Steelers get the luck of hosting the Seahawks and Rams, but they have to travel to New York and New England—the two toughest AFC East matchups. They also have to travel to the Super Bowl-contending Los Angeles Chargers and host an Indianapolis Colts team that was among the NFL's best in the second half of the campaign. Add in a vastly improved Browns team, a full season of Lamar Jackson leading the Ravens and the Bengals finally getting some fresh blood in their coaching staff, and the Steelers could be favored in less than half of their games. There's a real chance Pittsburgh is looking at its first losing season since 2003. Pivotal Matchups Unless the Browns reach their full potential and become 13-3 world beaters, the AFC North is probably going to crown another 10-6 or 11-5 winner. So the question is how we get there. The Steelers are the more talented team in road tilts against the Cardinals, Jets and Bengals. If we give them those three wins, getting a fourth against a better or equivalent team will be pivotal. The 49ers are the next "easiest" road opponent, so that Week 3 trip is an under-the-radar huge game. Jimmy Garoppolo is still unproven as an NFL starter, the 49ers are yet to acquire an elite wide receiver and their defense is a work in progress. There's some talent here, and Garoppolo has looked solid in limited action, but it's a winnable game. That leaves the Steelers needing six wins at home to get to 10-6 and...yikes, the Rams are going to be Super Bowl favorites again. The Seahawks have found their post-Legion of Boom identity. The Ravens and Browns badly want to be playoff teams in 2019. And, most importantly, the Steelers are significantly worse than they were a year ago. The safest bet here is an 8-8 finish.<doc-sep>PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) It has been an offseason of controversy for the proud Pittsburgh Steelers. Can this talented team get back to the business of football? It’s been anything but a quiet offseason for an organization known for its consistency. But the reputation and image of the Pittsburgh Steelers took a few hits these last few months due to the franchise’s dirty laundry being made public. All teams have their issues but there have been some ugly moments for a club that a year ago squandered a 7-2-1 start and failed to make the playoffs. So seven-time Pro Bowler Antonio Brown was dealt to the Oakland Raiders. Free-agent running back Le’Veon Bell signed with the New York Jets. And head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger return for a 13th season together. Here are the team’s 2019 opponents, home and away. Here is how the complete schedule, week-by-week, lays out for the Steelers: Week 1: at New England Patriots – 8:20 p.m. – NBC Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks – 1 p.m. – FOX Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers – 4:25 p.m. – CBS Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Mon.) – 8:20 p.m. – ESPN Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens – 1 p.m. – CBS Week 6: at Los Angeles Chargers – 8:20 p.m. – NBC Week 7: BYE Week 8: vs. Miami Dolphins (Mon.) – 8:20 p.m. – ESPN Week 9: vs. Indianapolis Colts – 1 p.m. – CBS Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams – 4:25 p.m. – CBS Week 11: at Cleveland Browns (Thurs.) – 8:20 p.m. – FOX Week 12: at Cincinnati Bengals – 1 p.m. – CBS Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns – 4:25 p.m. – CBS Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals – 4:25 p.m. – CBS Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills – 1 p.m. – CBS Week 16: at New York Jets – 1 p.m. – CBS Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens – 1 p.m. – CBS This is not a club lacking for good players. Along with Roethlisberger, the standouts at the skill position include running back James Conner, wideout Juju Smith-Schuster and tight end Vance McDonald. The offensive line is top notch but the defense has been spotty. General manager Kevin Colbert has 10 draft choices later this month to fortify some areas. In some people’s minds, the Steelers are looking up at both the defending division champion Baltimore Ravens and the surging Cleveland Browns in the AFC South. This could be a challenging year for Tomlin and his team despite the talent remaining on the roster.<doc-sep>The Pittsburgh Steelers received their 2019 regular season schedule on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh, looking to bounce back after a 9-6-1, non-playoff season in 2018, will face several formidable opponents this upcoming season that includes matchups against both Super Bowl LIII participants. Below is Pittsburgh's entire 2019 regular season schedule. Week 1: @ New England Patriots (Sunday Night Football) Week 2: Home vs. Seattle Seahawks Week 3: @ San Francisco 49ers Week 4: Home vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Monday Night Football) Week 5: Home vs. Baltimore Ravens Week 6: @ Los Angels Chargers (Sunday Night Football) Week 7: BYE WEEK Week 8: Home vs. Miami Dolphins (Monday Night Football) Week 9: Home vs. Indianapolis Colts Week 10: Home vs. Los Angeles Rams (4:25 kickoff) Week 11: @ Cleveland Browns (Thursday Night Football) Week 12: @ Cincinnati Bengals Week 13: Home vs. Cleveland Browns (4:25 kickoff) Week 14: @ Arizona Cardinals (4:25 kickoff) Week 15: Home vs. Buffalo Bills Week 16: @ New York Jets Week 17: @ Baltimore Ravens The Steelers have had an eventful offseason. Along with trading Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders for third and fifth round picks, Pittsburgh signed free agents Steven Nelson, Donte Moncrief and Mark Barron. A cornerback, Nelson picked off four passes last season for the Kansas City Chiefs, while Moncrief comes to Pittsburgh with 20 career touchdown receptions. Barron, who converted to inside linebacker after starting his career as a defensive back, helped the Los Angeles Rams win their first NFC title since 2001 in 2018. The Steelers also re-signed veteran linemen Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster to longterm deals. Pittsburgh also saw Le'Veon Bell officially leave the team, signing a four-year contract with the Jets, Pittsburgh's Week 12 opponent. Bell's replacement will continue to be James Conner, who earned Pro Bowl honors after season after scoring 13 total touchdowns in his first season as a starter. Conner's celebrated draft class of 2017 also includes teammates JuJu Smith-Schuster and T.J. Watt. Watt, Pittsburgh's No. 1 pick in that year's draft, led the Steelers with 13.0 sacks last season while earning his first Pro Bowl selection. Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh's second round pick in 2017, earned team MVP honors in 2018 after leading the Steelers with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards. He also caught seven touchdown passes for the second consecutive season while becoming the fastest player in league history to reach 150 receptions. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will return in 2019 for his 16th NFL season. The 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger won his first outright passing title in 2018 while also becoming the eighth player in league history to throw for at least 5,000 yards in a regular season. Big Ben's 34 touchdown passes last season broke his own single season franchise record. Pittsburgh will look to add to their roster in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Steelers currently own 10 picks that includes the 20th overall pick. Expect Pittsburgh to once again focus on the defensive side of the ball with their first picks in the draft.<doc-sep>
Steelers open regular season on road against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots The 2019 regular season schedule for the Pittsburgh Steelers was released Wednesday evening. Scroll down for the complete schedule. The Steelers open the regular season on the road against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Sunday night, Sept. 8. Pitt and Penn Hills star Aaron Donald will play his first pro game in Pittsburgh on Nov. 10.The Steelers will meet former Steelers' running back Le’Veon Bell Dec. 22 when they travel to New York. In Week 11, the team will travel to Cleveland to face the Cleveland Browns with their newly acquired star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The regular season games are as follows: Week 1 @ New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8 @ 8:20 p.m.Week 2 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 15 @ 1 p.m.Week 3 @ San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 22 @ 4:25 p.m.Week 4 Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Sept. 30 @ 8:15 p.m.Week 5 Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 6 @ 1 p.m.Week 6 @ Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 13 @ 8:20 p.m.Week 7 BYE Week 8 Miami Dolphins on Monday, Oct. 28 @ 8:15 p.m.Week 9 Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 03 @ 1 p.m.Week 10 Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Nov. 10 @ 4:25 p.m.Week 11 @ Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Nov. 14 @ 8:20 p.m.Week 12 @ Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 24 @ 1 p.m.Week 13 Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 1 @ 4:25 p.m.Week 14 @ Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Dec. 08 @ 4:25 p.m.Week 15 Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 15 @ 1 p.m.Week 16 @ New York Jets on Sunday, Dec. 22 @ 1 p.m.Week 17 @ Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Dec. 29 @ 1 p.m. The 2019 regular season schedule for the Pittsburgh Steelers was released Wednesday evening. Scroll down for the complete schedule. Advertisement Related Content Steelers announce 2019 preseason schedule The Steelers open the regular season on the road against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Sunday night, Sept. 8. Pitt and Penn Hills star Aaron Donald will play his first pro game in Pittsburgh on Nov. 10. The Steelers will meet former Steelers' running back Le’Veon Bell Dec. 22 when they travel to New York. In Week 11, the team will travel to Cleveland to face the Cleveland Browns with their newly acquired star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The regular season games are as follows: