6 things fans can do on Sunday since the Steelers are on bye

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I wanted to do an article about what Steelers’ fans could do on Sunday since the team was on their bye week. I then recalled I did a similar article in 2019. Upon further review, the list still holds strong today. So rather than try to one-up myself, I decided to roll with the previous list once again. Enjoy!

About seven years ago my family planned a trip to Disney World in the fall. At the time, I was thinking about how I would plan my schedule around getting back to the room to watch the Steelers game. Using my son as an excuse to possibly need a nap, I was ready to make sure I didn’t miss out on the weekly event. But when the schedule was released a month later after we booked the trip, I realized I had timed it perfectly. I managed to hit the bye week.

Ever since then, I’ve attempted to do some sort of family trip on a weekend when the Steelers are on bye. It’s not as much that I want to go on these trips every fall, but if I’m going to do one it works out the best if traveling without missing a game.

This year I had some lofty expectations for traveling this weekend, but due to other circumstances I ended up being in town. So what am I going to do on Sunday with the Steelers being on bye?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who needs to answer this question. And since sometimes content is hard to come by during this week (Who knows if anyone’s even going to take the time to read this article), let’s see what kind of options there are for filling our time when we have to deal with a weekend of NFL football that does not involve the Steelers.

Get close to Mother Nature

In honor of Bryan Anthony Davis who is spending the weekend in the woods, some people who are into these sort of things might find the middle of October to be the perfect weather to go on a hike or even a camping trip. Personally, if mankind were made to sleep out under the stars, why in the world did we invent the house?

Attempt to match Jeff Hartman in the kids department

For those who may not know, BTSC editor Jeff Hartman is the father of five children. No, that is not a typo. Five children. If you are unsure what to do with your spare time on Sunday afternoon, perhaps suggesting some time with your significant other could be in the cards. If you already have Jeff’s total matched or surpassed, you may want to reconsider approaching Phillip Rivers’ total.

Notice this is not the only option of what you can do while the Steelers are not playing. If this is not the correct situation in your life at this time, I ask you to just move on to the next suggestion. But I at least had to mention this option as many Steelers players both past and present have taken advantage of the bye week for such things. Have you ever noticed the unusual amount of Steelers who have to miss time at the beginning of training camp because of the birth of a child? Do the math. It’s usually right around nine months after the bye week.

Binge watch Pittsburgh Dad

“Hey Tom!”

If you are unfamiliar with the YouTube sensation portrayed by Kurt Wootton, where have you been since 2011? If you’re a Steelers’ fan, you have to be a fan of the city. And if you’re a fan of the city, Pittsburgh Dad embodies everything about “yinzer culture” we have come to know and love. If you haven’t watched every episode, take the time on Sunday to do so. And if you have, there’s nothing wrong with watching them again. And again.

Actually spend time with family members you ignore when Steelers games are on

I love my kids. I would do anything for them and they are the light of my life. But during Steelers’ games, it’s zip it or hit the bricks! If they want to sit quietly next to me as I watch the game then they are allowed. But that’s the extent of it. With no game on this Sunday, I guess it’s time to either bust out a board game, puzzle, or whatever other bonding activity the family might feel like doing.

Head to the golf course

This was Jeff Hartman’s answer, and it sounds exactly like him. For those of you who do not know, Jeff is quite the golfer. It’s tough to argue with this one. Golf is fun, even when you’re terrible. And if you’re not a golfer, try the driving range. When you go to the golf course you have to hit every shot great to have a good day. At the driving range, it only takes one shot out of a massive bucket of balls to feel like you did something amazing.

Watch the other inferior teams playing on Sunday

Football is football. I’m sure many of us are just going to tune in Sunday to watch whichever game happens to be on in your area. I’ll watch about any NFL game, I’m just not as emotionally involved if it does not involve the Steelers. While some people despise it (like Jeff Hartman), I myself am a fan of NFL Red Zone. Growing up with my father, he used to flip between a bunch of different games when the Steelers were not playing, many times missing the best action from every game he was attempting to watch. I enjoy a channel which does it for me so I don’t have to worry about if I timed my viewership exactly. So this Sunday I will find a more comfortable spot than usual, possibly even grab a nap in the middle, and enjoy some football even if it doesn’t involve the black and gold.

So what are you going to do with your Sunday without Steelers football? Make sure you let us know by answering the poll or in the comments below.