The Pittsburgh Steelers will enjoy a Week 9 bye after beginning the 2024 season with a record of 6-2. It has been an ideal start for the team, despite quarterback controversy, inconsistencies at wide receiver, and injuries across the offensive line. That hasn't stopped the group from fighting through the adversity and putting together a competitive squad. Things will only get tougher for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and co. with a backend of the schedule that features six divisional matchups, along with contests against the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. It could get even more difficult, too.
The league has already been involved with some schedule flexes roughly halfway through the season, and there are expected to be more as the year goes on. Despite a win on Thursday Night Football, the New York Jets taking on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11 isn't the most attractive Sunday Night Football matchup. A huge game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills is protected by CBS, so what could be next up?
There are three intriguing matchups previously noted by Sporting News. The first of which is indeed the massive AFC North game between Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Other possibilities include the Seattle Seahawks playing the San Francisco 49ers and then the Chicago Bears hosting the Green Bay Packers. One of those NFC divisional contests will get Fox's top announcing crew, but the other or Steelers versus Ravens could be flexed into primetime.
While it would be phenomenal for Pittsburgh to host Baltimore under the lights in a crucial showdown at Acrisure Stadium, the reality of the fact is that the NFL would make the organization and players extremely unhappy if that decision were made. The Steelers would have even a shorter window to get ready for a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12.
This leads the average NFL fan to make a simple assumption that the Seahawks and 49ers will be moved into the primetime spot, especially if Christian McCaffrey is expected to be back on the field for San Francisco. After the Jets' win against the Houston Texans, however, the league office may still try to convince itself that New York should remain in the slot.
Games that are due to take place on Thursday Night Football have the opportunity to be flexed, but not until Week 13. In a perfect world, the NFL could move the Steelers and Browns out of the Week 12 spot, and bump Pittsburgh and Baltimore to primetime in Week 11. That unfortunately won't be the case and fans hoping for an extra game under the lights likely won't be getting it.
This is at the fault of the league, especially after constructing the Steelers' schedule the way it did. Most Steelers-Ravens matchups are worth a primetime showing, but it was decided to have Pittsburgh play on a short week after the team's first AFC North showdown of the 2024 campaign.
Fans around the league will knowing either over the weekend, or shortly after, if the NFL has decided to flex any of the Week 11 games, but it shouldn't be expected that the Steelers are involved in the decisions.
Steelers Have Short Weeks After Both Ravens Contests
What's even worse is that towards the end of the season, in Week 16, Pittsburgh will play Baltimore on a Saturday and then immediately have to prepare for a Wednesday game on Christmas Day versus the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champions in the Chiefs.
This is a huge disadvantage to the Steelers given the harsh and brutal nature of matchups against the Ravens. The questionable schedule also has now likely disallowed the NFL from getting the best possible entertainment on Sunday Night Football in Week 11.
