After posting a 10-7 record for the third season in a row, and making history by finishing .500 and above for a 22nd consecutive season, the Steelers’ new era will feature a simple mandate for Mike McCarthy: Turn a good team into a very good one.
Change is in the air from the Tomlin era, as the team prepares a new coaching staff and beings to shape its roster in the coming months. September will roll around quickly, and McCarthy’s task will be to take the Steelers to the next level, i.e., being more than a Wild Card level team.
The early playoff exits – five in six seasons – have all been fairly decisive; all losses by double digits. McCarthy will want to hit the ground running in the regular season. In that regard, the Steelers are somewhat in the middle ground for 2026 strength of schedule (0.495), with some tough road trips dotting their calendar. With a “championship” caliber schedule, after winning the AFC North last season, we wanted to take a look at the Steelers’ away opponents for next season.
Here are those we feel are the five toughest road games.
Baltimore Ravens
The two wins over the Ravens in the 2025 season defined a division championship versus missing the postseason. The Ravens started the season as favorites in the Super Bowl LX odds, but things fell apart quickly. By the time they met the Steelers in December and January, they looked wounded. Their talent pool, however, ensures that they will remain the Steelers’ biggest rival in the AFC North.
Expect a renewed rivalry with two new head coaches leading the charge on each side.
New England Patriots
Ask yourself this: When the Steelers comfortably beat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in September, did you think New England was a Super Bowl team? Most didn’t, but the job that Mike Vrabel has done as head coach in New England has been remarkable.
They have the scope to improve even further, and while the Patriots were better on the road than at home last season, a trip to Foxboro looks more difficult now than it did six months ago. (Also consider this is a place the Steelers have always struggled to win at, previous to last season.)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jags fans can make a solid argument that their team was second only to the Patriots in the most-improved category last season. Indeed, Liam Coen should be credited just as much as Vrabel for turning a team’s fortunes around in his first season. The Jags were very good at home last season, going 7-1 at Everbank Stadium, and the only home loss came at the hands of the Super Bowl-bound Seahawks.
They are a rising force in the NFL again, with their best team since the late 1990s.
The Steelers seem to always struggle with road trips to Florida. Depending on when this game is played will be a major factor with heat and humidity — which gives Jacksonville a home-field advantage.
Philadelphia Eagles
There’s a sense of reflection in Philadelphia in early 2026, as the Super Bowl LIX winners just couldn’t quite get the momentum going to repeat as World Champions. Philly retained faith in head coach Nick Sirianni, though. Sean Mannion is in as the new offensive coordinator, with fans hoping that he get players like Saquon Barkley back to elite status.
Overall, the Eagles aren’t broken, just in need of some minor surgery, and they will likely be contenders again.
On the other hand, facing a good team in a venue the Steelers never win at, is never a good thing. You have to go back to October 24, 1965, for the last time Pittsburgh won the “Battle of Pennsylvania” on the road. That’s eleven consecutive losses, show no love lost for the Steelers in the City of Brotherly Love.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers had a brilliant start to 2025, going 6-2 before their bye week. That run included a win over the Seahawks. Somehow, the Bucs nosedived, losing seven of their remaining nine games. It was a tale of two halves, mostly told through injuries and poor performances.
The Steelers have an excellent all-time record (10-2) over the Buccaneers, but we think they have room to improve over the offseason, and a trip to the Raymond James Stadium may prove difficult. (See Florida trips and warm weather above!)