Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, making these five games must-wins in 2020.

There are few teams in the NFL with a more storied tradition than the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it has been a down few years for the franchise. Pittsburgh missed the postseason on the final day of 2018 before Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury knocked him out for most of 2019.

The Steelers nearly made the playoffs anyway thanks to a tremendous defense, but poor play at quarterback sank Pittsburgh down the stretch. The healthy return of Roethlisberger should help the Steelers’ chances, but Pittsburgh needs to take advantage of its current schedule to get back to the playoffs.

Let’s take a look at five games that the Steelers absolutely have to win in 2020, beginning with their matchups against the Cleveland Browns.

5. At Cleveland Browns

One of the biggest reasons the Steelers have been successful for the past two decades is their ability to absolutely pummel the Browns. That trend has changed over the past few years, with Cleveland forcing a tie against Pittsburgh in 2018 and splitting the season series in 2019.

There is still a lot of talent on Cleveland’s roster, so finding a way to stay ahead of the Browns is imperative for Pittsburgh’s playoff chances. The Steelers haven’t lost a home game to Cleveland since 2003, so topping the Browns in Cleveland would assure a much-needed season sweep.