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Week 17 in the NFL is officially in the books, and as the majority of teams pack up their bags and head home, the 12 playoff teams continue their journey for a Super Bowl championship. A few things always accompany the end of the regular season. The official draft order, for teams who didn't make the playoffs, and next year's opponents.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, coming off a 10-6 season with the most difficult schedule in the NFL, next season should shape up to be another challenge. In case you didn't know, here is how they come up with the schedule on a yearly basis:
- Each NFL division is paired with another AFC and NFC Division
- Play every division opponent twice
- Play the same team in the other AFC divisions who finished in the same position in their division
Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs.
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts.
Looking at the away opponents, the Steelers have avoided the longest treks of this potential schedule. No trip to Kansas City, Dallas or even New England. Rather, the furthest trip the team will be making will be to Indianapolis to play the Colts and South Beach to play the Dolphins.
The 2016 NFL schedule will not be released until late Spring, but with the opponents for next season already set, let the debate begin as to how the 2016 Steelers might compete.