Steelers Fans Bye Week Guide

The bye week is here for Pittsburgh, which is great for some! The Steelers get extra preparation and relaxation into the midseason and look to improve. But for the fans, it could be boring, but at least they can keep their swear jars lighter this week. So, ladies and gentlemen, let me guide you to five things you can do this week while still maintaining your fandom of the Steelers! 

#1: Check on other Pittsburgh teams!

It turns out to be more Pittsburgh teams than just the Steelers. This is news, considering how many articles I've put out about the Steelers but have yet to talk about the Penguins, Pirates, or Panthers. But considering the MLB season has ended with the Pirates going 76-86, it's best I don't talk about that. But, the NHL season JUST started with the Penguins with a nice 2-1 start after beating the Flames, and the Panthers just got a HUGE upset victory against the Louisville Cardinals. But before the Steelers play their next game against the Rams on the 22nd, the Panthers play in Wake Forest against the 3-3 Demon Deacons on October 21st, and the Penguins play in Detroit against the 2-1 Red Wings on October 18th. So come on, Steeler fans, give another sport a try because hockey is more violent, and fights are more encouraged if you're into more action. If you want to stick to the same sport, that works too because Matt Canada isn't the offensive coordinator, so there is less stress and actual games that are more than just 14 points! 

#2: Pray lightning strikes twice

The bye week could be a blessing in disguise for Pittsburgh. Think about it: the Steelers last season were 2-6 going into the bye week and finished with a 9-8 record. With the Steelers going into their bye week with a much better 3-2 record, could a better rest of the season be in order if they make the same improvements as last year? It would be cool to see; it would almost be worth it to keep Matt Canada around---almost. 

#3: Relive the good times

Sometimes, you need to remember why you fell in love with your favorite team to bring you back in during the dark times. For the Steelers, there are a lot of good times. You can rewatch many things, like highlights from the Steelers dynasty in the '70s, when Ryan Shazier walked during the 2019 NFL Draft, Santonio Holmes's game-winning catch in Super Bowl 43, or the Steelers vs. Broncos game in 2020, because that was the last time the Steelers got over 400 yards of total offense! Okay, that's not as positive to think about, so rewatch Antonio Brown's highlights, but try not to think about what happened after 2019. 

#4: Say hi to your family

Despite people saying football is family, remember that another family probably needs you more. It's hard to believe, but a family that depends on you to put food on the table and a roof over their heads is more important than a football team worth about $4.63 billion. I know it can be hard to accept, but such is life. Make it a priority this week to say hi to your family and spend some time with them before the inevitable football craze creeps back up on October 22nd. So, while you're still here and they're still here, acknowledge your family and tell them you love them!

Whether you decide to do any of the five things listed or other things, remember to stay positive and look forward to not having to worry about your blood pressure getting high this week. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going outside the Steelers facility and blasting "Blame Canada" from the South Park movie through a boombox.