Yes, that’s right, a mock schedule from the guy who hates mock drafts. What about it?
Genuinely, I enjoy doing a mock schedule, and schedule release week as a whole. It gets us one step closer to football being back on our screens, and it also features my picks for every game on the 2026 slate (tune in Friday at both BTSC and SB Nation for my Steelers and league-wide record predictions). For now, here is my best estimate as to what the Steelers’ 2026 schedule will look like.
Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 EST
The Pirates are on the
road the weekend of Week 1, so that opens the door for the Steelers to have a Week 1 home game for just the second time in the last decade (the last being in 2023 against the San Francisco 49ers). Prior to that, the last time the Steelers opened their season at home? 2014 against the Browns. Pittsburgh won on a last-second field goal by the score of 30-27 after blowing a 27-3 lead.
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 EST
Don’t sleep on the Titans as a potential early-season loss. Cam Ward is on a high trajectory, and Tennessee upgraded its receiving corps tremendously this offseason.
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans, 8:30 EST (Monday Night Football)
The Texans ended the Steelers’ 2025-26 season on a Monday night in the wild card round. The NFL loves to get cheeky and have some connective dots over the course of one season to another, so I could see this game being played on Monday night early in the season – maybe even Week 1, but let’s hope not.
Week 4: vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 EST
There’s a greater than zero chance that Kenny Pickett gets the start in this one should Bryce Young be unable to go (knock on wood that doesn’t happen, obviously not rooting for an injury).
Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:15 EST
The Steelers get the America’s Game of the Week slot on Fox to take on Philadelphia. For the Steelers’ sake, hopefully Makai Lemon doesn’t have a big performance.
Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 EST (Sunday Night Football)
We are certainly getting at least one Steelers-Ravens matchup in primetime, especially with how the last matchup between these two teams ended in Week 18.
Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 EST
A game-sealing interception for former Buccaneer Jamel Dean to seal the win?
Week 8: BYE
If Pittsburgh can get to the bye week at 5-2, that would be a big win. 4-3 would be acceptable.
Week 9: at New Orleans Saints, 1:00 EST
The Saints are one of my pet teams for 2026. I’ve loved their offseason additions, and Tyler Shough looked like he can be a potential franchise quarterback in the last month and a half of the 2025 season. Don’t just chalk this game up as a win.
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 EST
Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will call this one in the national window for CBS. Both teams will likely be vying for playoff position.
Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 EST
The Steelers face the Bengals for the first time on the road in Week 11. If their offense explodes the way it did last season in Cincinnati, I like their odds of winning.
Week 12: vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 EST
The Steelers’ defense forced six turnovers in their win over Indianapolis last season, which led to a big mid-season win. This also marks the fifth consecutive year that the two teams will square off, and they have only gone two seasons since 2014 without playing one another (2018, 2021).
Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 EST (Thursday Night Football)
Prime has seemed to put more emphasis on stronger matchups for their Thursday Night slate, and battle between two AFC teams likely battling for playoff position would fit that need.
Week 14: at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 EST
Ian Eagle and J.J. Watt will absolutely get the call for this game on CBS.
Week 15: vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 EST
My guess is this will be a Fox game, as the Steelers typically get at least two games on Fox per year.
Week 16: at New England Patriots, 8:20 EST (Sunday Night Football)
The last time the Steelers and Patriots faced off on a Sunday night, Pittsburgh lost 33-3 in 2019.
Week 17: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 4:25 EST
Depending on the records for each team, this could end up being for the division.
Week 18: at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 EST
The Steelers closed their season with the Browns in 2025 and the Bengals in 2024. It appears the Browns are up for the regular season finale, meaning the Steelers bookend their campaign with Cleveland.
Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!
