Storylines for Every 2023-24 Steelers Game

Story by Yinzer Crazy Contributor Jayson Erwin. Follow him on Twitter @JaysonErwin2002

And another season begins. The Steelers and the rest of the NFL have gotten their schedules released, and games are set. The Steelers will take on the usual doubleheaders vs. the other teams in the AFC North, face the entirety of the NFC West and AFC South, and the Raiders and Packers, in what's sure to be an action-packed 2023-24 season to kick off the new era in Pittsburgh. But for every new week comes a story that might attract extra eyes to the gridiron—games like the AFC Championship rematch with the Bengals and Chiefs, the NFC Championship rematch with the Eagles and 49ers, or the Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs and Eagles! But what are the stories for Pittsburgh this year? From battles of positions, new stars, old friends, and MULTIPLE Super Bowl rematches, every game has a story, and we're about to list 'em!

Week 1: 

Steelers vs. 49ers: Welcome Home!

2014 was a historic season for the Steelers for some good and sad reasons. The rise of the Killer B's with Ben, Bell, and Brown as they both made the Pro Bowl that year, and legendary safety Troy Polamalu would retire after this season. Oh, and it was the last time the Steelers would open the season at home for nearly A DECADE! But that all changes this season! After much fan backlash, the Steelers got their wish and will open in Acrisure Stadium for the 2023 season. But it will take a lot of work to leave with a W. The Steelers face one of the two teams that made the NFC Championship last year, the 49ers. An elite defense, the slick and quick Christian McCaffrey, and the talent of Deebo Samuel. What's the one thing holding the 49ers back? QB controversy! The unproven Trey Lance, the underperforming Sam Darnold, and Brock Purdy, who may be injured when the season starts. When the Steelers are in Acrisure Stadium, there is always a chance for a win, and with the early start on home turf, will the Steelers get a head start in the race?

Week 2 & 18:

Steelers vs. Browns: Settle the Score

The first AFC North matchup this season for the Steelers is against the uprising and always controversial Cleveland Browns. Last year was a game of two halves, or should I say two games? The first game had Mitch Trubisky vs. Jacoby Brissett, and the second had Kenny Pickett vs. DeShaun Watson. A new QB every game! With the Steelers and Browns being split last year, both teams hope to sweep the other this year. And with there often being a debate over who is the better QB between Watson and Pickett, this game could settle the arguments once and for all! 

Week 3:

Steelers @ Raiders: Never Bet Against Tomlin

Last year, it was a feel-good moment when the Steelers beat the Raiders on the anniversary of the Immaculate Reception just days after Franco Harris passed away. The crowd in Acrisure was electric! But this time, the Steelers will travel to Vegas in enemy territory. Overall, the Steelers are the better team, but there's a scar on the legendary career of Mikey T. He has never been able to beat the Raiders on the road. He's only been able to beat the Raiders three times out of the eight times they've faced off. Can Tomlin finally win against the Silver and Black on the road? Refrain from betting against Tomlin, especially since it's in Las Vegas.

Week 4:

Steelers @ Texans: Next Generation of Great

Two young QBs are looking to prove they belong. Both are said to be the best at the position come draft day—the Panther to Steeler, Kenny Pickett, vs. the Buckeye to Texan, CJ Stroud. Both are young and trying to be their teams' next franchise QB. While on the defensive side of things, there are two new linebackers with the addition of Will Anderson to Houston and Nick Herbig to Pittsburgh. New players on teams are trying to prove legitimacy. But who will be the most legit at the end of this matchup? 

Week 5 & 18:

Steelers vs. Ravens: New Contract, Same Jackson?

The entirety of the NFL world was shocked when the Ravens got Jackson to sign the dotted line and give him a new contract. Now a lot of fans are worried, besides the Steeler fans. Despite Jackson being one of the most athletically gifted players in the league, he hasn't played well when the Steelers come to town. Jackson has not only missed more games than played when facing Pittsburgh, but when he plays, the Steelers defense seems to have his number. Jackson has thrown four touchdowns but also has thrown six interceptions, been sacked 16 times, and has only won once. However, what might concern Steeler fans is that Jackson has weapons like OBJ to throw to, a prime #1 receiver the Ravens have lacked for years. But will it be the same Jackson, or will the Ravens and Jackson be due for a tear? 

Week 7: 

Steelers @ Rams: SB Rematch I

The great 70's Steelers dynasty went 12-4 and went on to play in Super Bowl XIV, facing the Rams team with players like Jack Youngblood, Wendell Tyler, and Rich Saul. The Rams were looked at as underdogs in this game, but despite this, the Rams kept the game competitive, having the lead going into halftime and the start of the 4th quarter. But the Steel Curtain held the Rams to zero points in the 4th quarter, and the Terry Bradshaw-led offense outscored them 14-0 in the fourth and would win the Bowl with a 31-19 score. The Steelers would become the first team to win four Super Bowls but wouldn't see another trophy until 2006. In 2023, the Steelers and Rams have one of the best defenders in the league, with T.J. Watt and Aaron Donald leading the charge. Will the Rams avenge the loss, or will the Steelers do the Steel Curtain proud? 

Week 8:

Steelers vs. Jaguars: The Nightmare Returns?

The Jaguars have proven to be the real deal again. The Jags started 3-7 but won 6 of the next seven games and made the playoffs, coming back from a 27-0 deficit in the wild-card game vs. the Chargers and winning the game, and came close to knocking off the Chiefs. The last time the Jaguars were this good? It was 2017-2018. The Steeler players got a little cocky after a great season, overlooked the Jaguars, and talked about getting revenge on New England for last year's playoff elimination when they hadn't beaten the Jags yet. The Jaguars proceeded to outplay and outclass the Steelers team and defeat them 45-42. After this year, though, the Jags would fall off after the players themselves got too cocky and be brought back down to the bottom. The Jaguars now seem to be back in the loop of playoff hopefuls. Can the Steelers learn from their mistakes from 6 years ago, or do the Jags have their number again? 

Week 9:

Steelers vs. Titans: Battle of the Bruiser-Backs

Derrick Henry is still trucking defenders into their next game despite getting older. King Henry is still dangerous, but is another back coming for the crown and the throne? The league has few primary power-backs, as the shifty and speedy attributes are taking over with the likes of CMC, Nick Chubb, and Saquan Barkley. Henry has been carrying the rock for a while, but is it time for another power back to step up to the throne? Yes, it is, and his name is Najee freakin' Harris! Even if Harris doesn't have a better season than Henry, Harris still possesses much power when his hands are up. It'll be interesting to see how the two do on opposite sides in a true battle of positions. 

Week 10:

Steelers vs. Packers: SB Rematch II

Do I have to talk about that Super Bowl? I'm not a masochist, but it would be unfair to speak the SB wins to death but give barely a glance over the losses. Everyone knows what happened; Rodgers torched the defense, Nick Collins pick 6, and Rashard Mendenhall's relationship with Steeler fans is in ruins. Great stuff, scriptwriters! Next time if you really want to amplify the pain, have Jesse James catch the game-winning touchdown like he did against New England---oh wait. But while we're on the subject of Aaron Rodgers, let's talk about how his departure might affect the game, too. But it's funny because Rodgers hasn't faced the Steelers much in his career. They've only faced off twice in the regular season and once in the postseason, but let's not think about that. But no matter what team Rodgers faces, the defense will have a tough time stopping him. But the Packers made a deal with the Jets to ship away Rodgers, and a new beginning is here for the Packers. Their starting QB is 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love. Love has barely played, so it's tough to tell if he will be good. We should find out how good he is around this time in the season. Will Love be the next franchise QB in Green Bay, or has he been in the Aaron Rodgers-sized shadow for too long? 

Week 12 & 16: 

Steelers vs. Bengals: Pure North Football

Along with the Bills and Chiefs, the Bengals are the team to beat in the AFC. The Bengals have been favorites to win, not just the AFC North or the AFC Championship; they're favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history. However, the Steelers have shown to have the Bengals number possibly. The Steelers and Bengals had close games last year, with both games being decided by 7 points or less. The cluster that was the Week 1 win for the Steelers in Cincinnati and the high-scoring affair in the Week 11 win for the Bengals in Pittsburgh had every fan at the end of their seat. It just goes to show no matter how good or bad a team is in the AFC North; the game will always be a must-watch. And that is definitely the case this season! And preventing any hijinks, I'll be there in Cincy to witness the Week 12 matchup! 

Week 13:

Steelers vs. Cardinals: SB Rematch III

Few Super Bowl games were better than the showdown in Tampa, Florida, in 2009. It was a fight until the end with the near-heroics of legendary Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald with a 64-yard touchdown late in the game. Still, the late-drive score of Big Ben Roethlisberger's picture-perfect bullet to the right corner of the endzone and Holmes's toe-tap decided the game! A massive atmosphere, with either one team getting their first trophy in franchise history, or one team was going to get the most Lombardi's in league history. Now, in 2023, both teams are in very different stages. Steelers have shown to be one of the better teams in the league, while the Cardinals struggle to find their identity and build around QB Kyler Murray. There's also another factor, former Steeler running back James Conner will be facing the team that drafted him for the first time in his career. The respect is mutual for both sides, but it still should be an exciting clash!

Week 14:

Steelers vs. Patriots: Juju Returns Home

Juju Smith-Schuster is a name that resonates a lot of emotions with Steeler fans. While most of it is positive, the fans definitely felt a sting when he joined the Patriots. Fans are still happy for him, though! He just won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs and got a good deal from New England and gets to be coached by one of the greatest of all time, Bill Belichick. That doesn't mean the Steelers will let him off easy, though. It should be interesting to see how Tomlin and company prep for the former 2nd round pick out of USC. Just keep him far away from the midfield logo, or the fans will make what happened to Heinz Field in The Dark Knight Rises look like child's play. 

Week 15:

Steelers @ Colts: Unlucky Horseshoe

Imagine this; you just scored a touchdown, got the kick afterward, and now have seven on the board. You now have more points than the Colts have wins over the Steelers in the 33 times they've met. In fact, the Steelers have beaten the Colts 8 times in a row, and it's been just unlucky instances for the Colts repeatedly when facing Pittsburgh. But can the Colts finally get the ringer with a new QB at the helm in Anthony Richardson? All the Steelers have to do is bring back Ben Roethlisberger and put him at safety so he can shoe-string tackle everyone!

Week 17:

Steelers @ Seahawks: SB Rematch IV

As controversial as the game is said to be, it had its iconic moments. The first Super Bowl for the Steelers in 26 years, the first Super Bowl title for Ben Roethlisberger, and the first ever 6th seed team to win it all. The most iconic moment was the final touchdown of the game. The play was a toss to running back Willie Parker, who handed it over to Antwann Randle El, who ran in the opposite direction and threw it 43 yards to a wide-open Hines Ward for the touchdown with 9 minutes in the 4th quarter. Good defense for the Steelers and questionable decisions with timeouts late in the game on the Seahawks side of things led to the 6th-seed Steelers knocking off the 1st-seed Seahawks. In 2023, the Seahawks are revamping the offense with a talented trio of receivers led by Geno Smith. The Steelers are trying to get all the right pieces for a playoff run with many talented young players. It should be a great game!