Did the Steelers really have the toughest schedule?

Before the season began much was made of the fact that, based upon the 2007 won-loss record of their scheduled opponents, the Steelers had the league's toughest schedule. Of course one never knows just how things will play out (i.e. would the teams that performed well last season perform well this season), so we were interested to see a press release from the NFL with the updated first round draft order, a document that includes the aggregate won-loss record of each team's opponents. So where did the Steelers' 2008 opponents actually rank? Here's a look:

	Wins	Losses	Ties
Cleveland	145	108	3
Detroit	143	113	0
Cincinnati	141	114	1
Kansas City	137	118	1
Jacksonville	137	118	1
St. Louis	136	119	1
Pittsburgh	133	120	3
Oakland	133	123	0
Baltimore	132	121	3
Houston	132	123	1
San Diego	132	124	0
Philadelphia	131	124	1
Green Bay	129	127	0
Minnesota	129	127	0
N.Y. Giants	127	126	3
Seattle	127	128	1
Indianapolis	127	128	1
New Orleans	127	129	0
Dallas	126	127	3
Carolina	125	131	0
Arizona	124	131	1
Tampa Bay	123	133	0
New England	123	133	0
Washington	121	132	3
Chicago	121	134	1
N.Y. Jets	120	135	1
Miami	118	138	0
Atlanta	117	138	1
Tennessee	117	138	1
Denver	117	139	0
Buffalo	116	140	0
San Francisco	114	141	1

So, as it turns out, the Steelers "only" had the seventh most difficult schedule in the league, but the most difficult of all of the teams that made the playoffs. Here's how those playoff teams rank in strength of regular season schedule:

	Wins	Losses	Ties
Pittsburgh	133	120	3
Baltimore	132	121	3
San Diego	132	124	0
Philadelphia	131	124	1
Minnesota	129	127	0
N.Y. Giants	127	126	3
Indianapolis	127	128	1
Carolina	125	131	0
Arizona	124	131	1
Miami	118	138	0
Atlanta	117	138	1
Tennessee	117	138	1

We find it interesting that there is a (weak) inverse relationship between the strength of each team's regular season schedule and their performance in the playoffs ~ i.e. the easier the path the less successful the playoff run ~ with the notable exception being the Arizona Cardinals.

2008 Schedule: Looking Forward

If anyone doubts that the game versus Cincinnati was of the "must win" variety, they need only look at how the Steelers have fared against their next five opponents (including playoffs):

1. New England:
   • 13-11 all-time
   • 3-3 at New England
   • Most recent road win was December 13, 1997 (24-21 in OT)
   • 1-6 in their last seven meetings overall


2. Dallas:
   • 14-15 all-time
   • 7-6 in Pittsburgh
   • Most recent win in Pittsburgh was September 4, 1988 (24-21)
   • 1-4 in their last five games overall


3. Baltimore:
   • 15-10 all-time
   • 6-6 at Baltimore
   • 0-5 at Baltimore in their last five games


4. Tennessee:
   • Including games versus the Houston Oilers, the Steelers are 41-29 all-time
   • Including games versus the Houston Oilers, the Steelers are 17-19 on the road against this franchise
   • Since the Oilers moved to Tennessee (1997) the Steelers are 1-7 in the last eight games
   • Their most recent road win versus the Titans was November 25, 2001 (34-24).


5. Cleveland:
   • 58-55 all-time
   • 36-21 at Pittsburgh
   • 10 straight wins overall
   • 16 wins in their last 17 meetings
   • Most recent loss was at home, October 5, 2003 (13-33).

To say that it is a tough stretch ~ perhaps the toughest of the entire season ~ is something of an understatement. Making it all the more daunting is the comparative ease of Baltimore's schedule. Given that fact, it would seem that the Steelers have to do no worse than 3-2 in their next five to have any chance of making the playoffs (unless of course teams like Indianapolis implode, in which case the Wild Card becomes a possibility for Pittsburgh).

So let's hope the Steelers' players rest well for the next week, because there will be no rest for the weary the remainder of this season.

Schedule Musings

Looking at the Steelers' 2008 regular season schedule is a fairly straightforward thing -- Houston in week one, go to Cleveland in week two, etc etc. But some context can be added to the whole scheme by looking at the respective schedules Pittsburgh's opponents, including their opponent the week prior to playing against the Black & Gold. Here's what we mean:

Houston: The all-time series is tied, each team having won a single game. In their six previous seasons in the league the Texans have opened on the road twice, and have a record of 1-1 in those games.

@Cleveland: Rivalry game extraordinaire. Previous week's opponent: Dallas

@Philadelphia: The Eagles will be coming off a Monday night game versus Dallas. The Steelers will be playing a second consecutive game on the road. In 2007 the Steelers had consecutive road games twice, and went 1-1 both times. Previous week's opponent: Dallas

Baltimore: After being demolished on a Monday night last season the Ravens, who need very little motivation in order to get up for games versus the Steelers, will have all that they could hope for. Previous week's opponent: Cleveland.

@Jacksonville: A Sunday night battle. The Steelers are 8-11 all-time versus the Jaguars, 3-7 in Jacksonville. Previous week's opponent: Houston.

Bye Week: The Steelers have their bye in week six for the second consecutive season.

@Cincinnati: It is almost inconceivable that the Bengals will play as poorly in 2008 as they did in 2007. Then again, Chad Johnson hasn't been traded yet. And lest we put too much of the blame on Ocho-Cinco the record of head coach Marvin Lewis isn't inspiring much confidence. In his five seasons as the Bengals' head coach Mr. Lewis' records have been 8-8, 8-8, 11-5, 8-8, 7-9. Additionally, in the "bye week era" the Steelers have a record of 10-9 in the week following the bye (note: there were two, non-consecutive bye weeks in 1993; and counted in this total is the game following a two week cancellation in September 2001), and lost last season's game to Denver. Previous week's opponent: N.Y. Jets

N.Y. Giants: The champs -- prepare for New Yorkers to sneek across the border. One weekend not to be in the 'Burgh. Previous week's opponent: San Francisco.

@Washington: Another new coach in Washington tries to build on, what this time round proved to be rather modest success of, a Joe Gibbs tenure. Meanwhile, the Steelers' overall record on Monday night is 35-22; however their road record on Monday night's is 13-17. Previous week's opponent: Detroit.

Indianapolis: The average high temperature on the North Shore on November 9th is 52 degrees fahrenheit, while the record low high temperature is eighteen. Here's hoping for a cold snap. Previous week's opponent: New England.

San Diego: The Steelers lead this all-time series with a 19-6 mark, but lost the last meeting between these two teams (October 8, 2006, 13-23). In 2007 the Steelers played two consecutive home games on three separate occasions and were undefeated in those six games. Previous opponent: Kansas City.

Cincinnati: As previously noted. Previous week's opponent: Philadelphia.

@New England: Though the Steelers lead the all-time series at 12-7, in recent years the Patriots have won the games that mattered most. And while the early part of the Patriots' schedule will seemingly have them undefeated, five of their road games this season are out of the Eastern time zone, and four them are on the west coast (at S.F. and at S.D. in consecutive weeks, then at Seattle and at Oakland in consecutive weeks). Previous week's opponent: Miami.

Dallas: When is a young quarterback's third season as starter "make or break"? When he plays in Dallas. The Steelers were 2-0 at home against the NFC in 2007. Previous week's opponent: Seattle.

@Baltimore: The Steelers have not won a regular season game in Baltimore since October 27, 2002. Previous week's opponent: Washington.

@Tennessee: Since becoming the Tennessee Titans the Steelers have a 3-10 record against this franchise (including playoff games), and are 1-7 playing in Nashville. In 2007 the Steelers were 2-4 on the road versus an AFC opponent. Previous week's opponent: Houston.

Cleveland: The 2007 regular season featured a final game against Baltimore; and about this time last year everyone assumed that that game would go a long way in determining the AFC North champion. Previous week's opponent: Cincinnati.

Make Your Travel Plans Now --2008 Regular Season Schedule Announced

As we told you a few months ago the Steelers have the toughest 2008 regular season schedule in the NFL, and the league made it official on Tuesday with the announcement of the dates and times of those games. Here's a look, along with the 2007 record of each week's opponent:

09/07: Houston (8-8)
09/14: @ Cleveland (10-6)
09/21: @ Philadelphia (8-8)
09/29: Baltimore (5-11)
10/05: @ Jacksonville (11-5)
10/12: BYE
10/19: @ Cincinnati (7-9)
10/26: N.Y. Giants (10-6)
11/03: @ Washington (9-7)
11/09: Indianapolis (13-3)
11/16: San Diego (11-5)
11/20: Cincinnati (7-9)
11/30: @ New England (16-0)
12/07: Dallas (13-3)
12/14: @ Baltimore (5-11)
12/21: @ Tennessee (10-6)
12/28: Cleveland (10-6)

Schedule Fun Fact: The Steelers travel out of the Eastern time zone just once during the 2008 regular season, the lowest total of such trips since 2004.

Schedules Out Tuesday

The National Football League released the following press release:

"NFL Network’s NFL Total Access 2008 Schedule Release Show sponsored by GMC, has been extended to two hours for the announcement of the National Football League’s regular season playing schedule.



The show will air Tuesday, April 15 at 2:00 PM ET and will encore at 6:00 PM ET and 9:30 PM ET. NFL.com will make available the entire league and team-by-team schedules and feature show clips throughout the day.



The NFL Total Access 2008 Schedule Release Show will be hosted by Fran Charles joined by analysts Jamie Dukes, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Solomon Wilcots and reporter Adam Schefter.



The schedule will be announced on a week-by-week basis, highlighting all the compelling games and culminating with a countdown of the 10 most-anticipated match-ups of 2008.



The special also features interviews by Rich Eisen live from the NFL Sponsor Summit with guests commenting on next season’s schedule.



Fan reactions will be highlighted as e-mails are answered live on the air."

Steelers' Preseason Schedule Now Available

The Steelers' preseason schedule has been posted on the team's website, and it features two teams from last season's preseason -- Philadelphia and Carolina -- and two new preseason opponents, the Buffalo Bills (playing in the already-hyped game in Toronto) and Mike Tomlin's former employer, the Minnesota Vikings.

The game against the Vikings, August 23, 208, is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on CBS.

Looking Ahead: 2008 Strength of Schedule -- Correction

Correction: We neglected to factor the Steelers' divisional opponents records in twice. The original winning percentage we calculated was .630, the corrected percentage is .607.

With the 2007 season now concluded it's time to look ahead -- and be afraid, very afraid. Here is the won-loss record (and winning percentage) of each of the Steelers' 2008 opponents:

	W	L	PCT.
New England	16	0	1.000
Dallas	13	3	.813
Indianapolis	13	3	.813
Jacksonville	11	5	.688
San Diego	11	5	.688
N.Y. Giants	10	6	.625
Tennessee	10	6	.625
Cleveland	10	6	.625
Cleveland	10	6	.625
Washington	9	7	.563
Philadelphia	8	8	.500
Cincinnati	7	9	.438
Cincinnati	7	9	.438
Baltimore	5	11	.313
Baltimore	5	11	.313
	145	94	.607

The Steelers won't have the toughest schedule (after all Cincinnati and Baltimore have to play the Steelers), but to provide some context, coming into the 2007 season the Steelers' opponents had a winning percentage of .512, and the Raiders and Bills had the NFL's toughest schedules -- their respective opponents had .539 winning percentages.