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Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

By Mike Phillips

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 25: Diontae Spencer #82 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs during a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 25: Diontae Spencer #82 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs during a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tennessee. /

3. At Tennessee Titans

The Steelers will face the AFC South this year, so three of those four contests could have wild card implications. Finding a way to win any of them would be fantastic, but the most important one is their road game in Tennessee.

The Titans became a major story towards the end of the season when Derrick Henry helped carry them all the way to the AFC Championship Game. The magic carpet ride came to an end in Kansas City, but Tennessee’s formula is sustainable for another postseason run in 2020.

Pittsburgh is suited well for a matchup with Tennessee thanks to their strong defense, which was the focal point of the team after Ben Roethlisberger got hurt. This unit should be well-positioned to slow down Henry and force Ryan Tannehill to beat them, which would slant the odds in favor of the Steelers.

This game is also the only tough road matchup the Steelers will have to deal with in the AFC South. Pittsburgh’s other trip in that division is to Jacksonville, where the Jaguars are in the midst of a rebuilding project that could end up with Trevor Lawrence playing there in 2021.

Finding a way to score this road win would serve as a massive confidence boost for the Steelers and give them a head-to-head tiebreaker over Tennessee. That could well be the difference between a wild card berth and another January filled with tee times.

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