Steelers 2017 opponents starting to take shape with one week remaining

The NFL schedule is complex, but if you know the reasoning behind it, it really is rather simple. The equation to a 16-game schedule is as follows:

Every year each division is paired up with both an AFC and NFC division, which represents 8 games on the schedule. Each team plays everyone in their division twice, add another 6 games. So, where do the other two games come from to round out the schedule? Depending on which place the team finishes, they play the other teams who finished with the same ranking in the other two divisions.

So, who will the Pittsburgh Steelers be playing in 2017? Well, in 2016 the AFC North was paired with the AFC and NFC East, but in 2017 they are paired up with the AFC South and the NFC North.

Those 8 opponents will be:

NFC North
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears

AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis Colts
Houston Texans
Tennessee Titans

The Steelers always play the rest of their division (Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns) twice, but what about the other two opponents. They will play the first place team in the AFC East and AFC West divisions. The New England Patriots won the AFC East, which means they will be playing the black and gold next season, but the AFC West division has yet to be decided, so fans won’t know whether Pittsburgh will be matched up with the Kansas City Chiefs or the Oakland Raiders until after Week 17.

According to FB Schedules, below is the location of the known Steelers game next season:

Home
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Jacksonville
Tennessee
Green Bay
Minnesota
New England

Away
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Houston
Indianapolis
Chicago
Detroit
AFC West Champion

It seems early to be thinking about next year’s opponents, especially with Pittsburgh preparing for another playoff berth, but it is always good to know what is on the horizon for what is hopefully a run at an 8th Lombardi trophy.