Schedule 2014

[fordfixer]

Season Schedule
[url]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Announce-2014-Regular-Season-Schedule/750da914-b250-4448-bd5c-037bf174fb0a[/url]



Team will play five nationally televised primetime games in 2014.


The Steelers will play five nationally televised primetime games, it was announced tonight when the NFL released its 2014 regular season schedule.


The Steelers will play AFC North Division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, in two primetime games, including the first-ever CBS Sports Thursday night game in Week 2 on Sept. 11 at M&T Bank Stadium at 8:25 p.m. Pittsburgh will host the Ravens in Week 9 at Heinz Field on Sunday Night Football (NBC) with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m.


Pittsburgh’s three other nationally televised primetime games include a Week 7 (Oct. 20) matchup versus the Houston Texans at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.). The Steelers play at the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 (Sept. 21) on Sunday Night Football (NBC, 8:30 p.m.) and also travel to Tennessee for a matchup against the Titans on Monday Night Football (ESPN, 8:30 p.m.) in Week 11 (Nov. 17).


“Our 2014 schedule is highlighted by two national televised games against the Ravens as well as another nationally televised game at Heinz Field in Week 7 versus the Houston Texans,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said. “We are excited about playing five primetime games as it will give our fans around the world the opportunity to see us play. This season marks the 40th anniversary of our Super Bowl IX victory and we look forward to celebrating that milestone during our home schedule.”


The Steelers will be playing two Monday Night Football contests for the first time since 2008. For the second consecutive year, Pittsburgh will open its season at Heinz Field, this time with a 1 p.m. game against divisional rival, the Cleveland Browns.


The Steelers’ bye week will be on Nov. 23 (Week 12).


For the first time, flexible scheduling may be applied in Weeks 5-10. During that period, flexible scheduling can be used in no more than two weeks by shifting a Sunday afternoon game into primetime and moving the Sunday night game to an afternoon start time. Also, for the first time, a select number of games are being “cross-flexed,” moving between CBS and FOX to bring potentially under-distributed games to wider audiences.


“Flexible scheduling” will be used in Weeks 11-17 as it has been in recent years. In Weeks 11-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.


A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game. For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 28. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives “surprise” teams a chance to play their way into primetime.


Thursday Night Football games this upcoming season will air on CBS and the NFL Network. CBS will televise eight early season games that will also be simulcast on the NFL Network. The NFL Network will also televise eight late season contests as the postseason approaches. The 16-game slate will include 14 games on Thursday nights and two late-season games on Saturday. All broadcasts will feature CBS Sports announcers along with NFL Network hosts and analysts.


Fans can listen to every Steelers game throughout the preseason and the regular season on the Steelers Radio Network on WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGG-AM (970).




STEELERS 2014 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time** (TV)
Sat., Aug. 9 at New York Giants 7:30 p.m. (KDKA-TV)
Sat., Aug. 16 BUFFALO BILLS 7:30 p.m. (KDKA-TV)
Thu., Aug. 21 at Philadelphia Eagles 7:30 p.m. (KDKA-TV)
Thu., Aug. 28 CAROLINA PANTHERS 7:30 p.m. (KDKA-TV)


STEELERS 2014 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time** (TV)
Sun., Sept. 7 CLEVELAND BROWNS 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Thu., Sept. 11 at Baltimore Ravens 8:25 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Sept. 21 at Carolina Panthers 8:30 p.m. (NBC/WPXI-TV)
Sun., Sept. 28 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1:00 p.m. (FOX/WPGH-TV)
Sun. October 5 at Jacksonville Jaguars * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Oct. 12 at Cleveland Browns * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Mon., Oct. 20 HOUSTON TEXANS 8:30 p.m. (ESPN/WTAE-TV)
Sun., Oct. 26 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS * 4:25 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Nov. 2 BALTIMORE RAVENS * 8:30 p.m. (NBC/WPXI-TV)
Sun., Nov. 9 at New York Jets * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Mon., Nov. 17 at Tennessee Titans 8:30 p.m. (ESPN/WTAE-TV)
BYE --- ---
Sun., Nov. 30 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS * 1:00 p.m.(FOX/WPGH-TV)
Sun., Dec. 7 at Cincinnati Bengals * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Dec. 14 at Atlanta Falcons * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Dec. 21 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
Sun., Dec. 28 CINCINNATI BENGALS * 1:00 p.m. (CBS/KDKA-TV)
* Times and TV network may change due to flexible scheduling
** All Times are Eastern

[Flasteel]

That seems like one of the easiest schedules I can remember seeing in a long time. I realize the competitive balance of the league makes it tough to predict the contenders and pretenders each year, but our schedule looks to be a veritable cupcake festival. Outside of the division, only Indy, KC, New Orleans, and maybe Carolina seem to have the potential to be good...but none of them all that good. Plus we have all of them at home.

That's also easily the latest bye week I can ever remember seeing. Great chance to give the players a rest over the Thanksgiving holiday and ready for the stretch run.

[Oviedo]

That seems like one of the easiest schedules I can remember seeing in a long time. I realize the competitive balance of the league makes it tough to predict the contenders and pretenders each year, but our schedule looks to be a veritable cupcake festival. Outside of the division, only Indy, KC, New Orleans, and maybe Carolina seem to have the potential to be good...but none of them all that good. Plus we have all of them at home.

That's also easily the latest bye week I can ever remember seeing. Great chance to give the players a rest over the Thanksgiving holiday and ready for the stretch run.

I don't see what is easy about that schedule.

[DBR96A]

Based on last season's records, the Steelers play a lot of teams that are either excellent or terrible. There don't appear to be many average teams on the schedule.

[8467thekraken]

It gets interesting after the bye week. But up until then, not too difficult.

Quite happy about the placement of the bye and the 3 game home stretch in late Oct. Also like the fact that we get a couple weeks to prep for New Orleans.

[Slapstick]

Why do we always seem to play three prime time road games?

[papillon]

I wonder why the NFL took an 8-8 team and gave them 5 prime time games? I know the Steelers vs Ravens is the league's favorite, but both teams were mediocre last year. Aren't the prime time games to show off the good teams?

I would rather the Steelers play every game on Sunday at 1:00PM or 4:15PM local time at the game site. I hate the Thursday Night and Monday Night games, Sunday Night is tolerable.

Pappy

[squidkid]

I wonder why the NFL took an 8-8 team and gave them 5 prime time games? I know the Steelers vs Ravens is the league's favorite, but both teams were mediocre last year. Aren't the prime time games to show off the good teams?

I would rather the Steelers play every game on Sunday at 1:00PM or 4:15PM local time at the game site. I hate the Thursday Night and Monday Night games, Sunday Night is tolerable.

Pappy

I was just about to make the same comment. I thought the good teams got rewarded with the nationally televised games. It must be the new trend in the NFL to give all teams some tv time.

[phillyesq]

I would rather the Steelers play every game on Sunday at 1:00PM or 4:15PM local time at the game site. I hate the Thursday Night and Monday Night games, Sunday Night is tolerable.

Pappy

I agree, particularly now that I have Sunday ticket. In the past, I was happy to trade off the late time for the guarantee that the game would be televised. Now, I'd prefer to see everything Sunday at 1:00.

I really hate going from Thursday night to Sunday night. The Steelers already have the extra rest; why wait until the night?

[Slapstick]

It's about ratings. Whether or not the Steelers are good, people will watch them.

[thor75]

10/5 - we get to see our good ole buddy Ziggy Hood

11/17 - Munchak circled that one. O-line should be clicking by then.

[papillon]

It's about ratings. Whether or not the Steelers are good, people will watch them.

Yea, I know that, but I was just making a comment as a fan, the odd day and time football games aren't something I enjoy. I feel like the NFL is saturating the fans with games during the season and that the anticipation I had knowing Sunday was coming is gone. Now, you can watch a game Sunday night, Monday night and then Thursday night and by then it's the weekend again and along comes Sunday afternoon. I liked knowing that I needed to get my fill of football on Sunday and then work up to the next Sunday's games.

Pappy

[Jooser]

I for one, like the late bye week this year. It's a chance to let banged up bodies heal late to start the run to the playoffs. Seems like the past few years have been early bye weeks.

[phillyesq]

Yea, I know that, but I was just making a comment as a fan, the odd day and time football games aren't something I enjoy. I feel like the NFL is saturating the fans with games during the season and that the anticipation I had knowing Sunday was coming is gone. Now, you can watch a game Sunday night, Monday night and then Thursday night and by then it's the weekend again and along comes Sunday afternoon. I liked knowing that I needed to get my fill of football on Sunday and then work up to the next Sunday's games.

Pappy

I agree with you, Pappy. Having all the games on Sunday, with just the MNF game, made Sunday a bit more special. I don't care for all the Thursday night games as I believe that it dilutes things. The quality of those games is never particularly good, either.

[Sugar]

I for one, like the late bye week this year. It's a chance to let banged up bodies heal late to start the run to the playoffs. Seems like the past few years have been early bye weeks.

I was thinking the same thing. It gives the team a breather for the late season push- at least that's the way I look at it now.