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Steelers got absolutely screwed with NFL’s Week 18 matchup

By Josh Hill

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers yells out from the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 11, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers yells out from the sideline during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 11, 2016 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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The NFL has approved a new schedule of 18 weeks, and the Steelers got absolutely screwed. 

We spent all of last year adjusting to new normals, and the NFL is keeping that streak going.

While extremely far less serious than a global pandemic — and in comparison a small potatoes change — we’re all going to have to get used to digesting football in a way we never have before.

Buckle up for 18 full weeks of football starting this fall.

The league approved the addition of a 17th game to the schedule, which means starting this season your team will have a record its never had before. Rather than going 13-3, a team will instead finish the year either 13-4 or 14-3, which is going to take some time to get used to.

Let’s also take a moment to pour one our for Jeff Fisher, as there will no longer be any 7-9 B.S., rather 7-10 B.S. adjusted for schedule inflation.

Speaking of B.S., Steelers fans might take issue with the new wrinkle to the schedule as it not only adds an extra game to the slate but it’s been revealed to be an extremely tough way to end the season.

NFL: Who do Pittsburgh Steelers play in Week 18?

The Steelers will play at home in Week 18 of the 2021 season, but they’ll be playing the Seattle Seahawks.

Last season saw the NFL screw the Steelers over more than any other team in the league, which could have ultimately led to their downfall in the last stretch of the season. The NFL moving the Steelers bye week around and throwing off the rigid routine the team was expecting to follow during the season eventually caught up with them — among other problems that were masked for most of the year — and it seems the league is at it once again.

Pittsburgh was going to have to play a 17th game no matter what, but the fact that they drew the Seahawks is pretty devastating. Pete Carroll’s teams usually don’t start peaking until the end of the year, and the NFC West is slated to be one of the most competitive divisions in football.

That means the Seahawks will likely be coming to Heinz Field with a lot on the line.

In an ideal world, the Steelers already have things wrapped up by the time Week 18 rolls around and Mike Tomlin can play his backups. But the Ravens and Browns look to challenge for the AFC North title again in 2021, which means this 17th game could be a must-win for the Steelers in terms of playoff seeding, and needing to beat a hungry Seahawks team is never going to be an ideal situation.

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