The NFL schedule release is just two days away at the time of writing, with the full slate of games being released on Thursday night. And while we don’t yet know the Pittsburgh Steelers’ schedule, we do know their opponents, and this is how I would rank all 14 of those teams from worst to best.
14. Cleveland Browns
While the Steelers haven’t swept the Browns since the 2021 season, they also haven’t lost a regular season home game to Cleveland since 2003. Plus, it’s likely that they will see Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders in both games, which will be the easiest quarterback matchup they’ll have all season.
13. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta has some tremendous talent on offense, highlighted by running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. That said, their quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, who the Miami Dolphins are paid $99.2 million to not have on their team. Their defense doesn’t have any true game-wreckers, either. Being that this will be a home game for the Steelers, it’s one they will certainly be expected to win.
12. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers won the NFC South at 8-9, and that is as good as they will be with Bryce Young under center. They have no receivers or running backs of note, and they gave Jaelan Phillips the most money of any free agent this offseason ($120 million) despite never having more than 8.5 sacks in a season.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones is coming off an Achilles tear and likely won’t be ready for the beginning of the season. They vastly overpaid Alec Pierce and were without a first-round pick due to the Sauce Gardner trade. There are too many questions at quarterback and a lot of new faces on defense that give me pause on the Colts – they’ll finish last in the the AFC South.
10. Tennessee Titans
I like what the Titans are building. Cam Ward is going to be their franchise answer at quarterback, and they added Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson for him to distribute the ball to, as well as Nick Singleton in the backfield out of Penn State. They have the young pieces to build around and become successful.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers went into a tailspin in the second half of the 2025 season, losing seven of their last nine games after a 6-2 start. They have a ton of holes on defense, and will now be without Mike Evans for Baker Mayfield to throw to.
8. New Orleans Saints
I really like what the Saints are building. The additions of Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson give their offense a very good trio of playmakers alongside second-year quarterback Tyler Shough, who looks poised for a breakout campaign. They are my pick to win the NFC South.
7. Denver Broncos
Denver won 11 one-score games in 2025. Teams who get that lucky almost always take a leap backward the following season. The Chiefs did in 2025 and the Vikings did in 2023. Losing Jim Leonhard isn’t a small loss defensively, and their offense still isn’t one that makes me quiver with Bo Nix at quarterback, even after the addition of Jaylen Waddle. They will regress in 2026, even if their defense is still a top 10 unit.
6. New England Patriots
New England is bound to take a step back in 2026 after going 14-3 and winning the AFC last season. That said, they will still be a very formidable opponent led by MVP candidate Drake Maye and an improved receiving corps that added Romeo Doubs and appears likely to land A.J. Brown.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars’ offense has a real chance to be a top five unit in the NFL. Trevor Lawrence is coming off the best season of his career, and their receiving trio of Brian Thomas, Jakobi Meyers, and Parker Washington very well may be the best in the league. Defensively, they are susceptible to giving up big plays, especially after losing Devin Lloyd and Greg Newsome in free agency. This one could end up being a shootout.
4. Houston Texans
The Texans are the exact opposite of the Jaguars. Their defense is the best in the league while their offense was the anchor that kept them from reaching the AFC Championship Game. If C.J. Stroud can get anywhere near being the quarterback we saw in 2023, the Texans will be dangerous. If he continues to flounder, they will continue to hit their head on a hard ceiling.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Yes, Baltimore still has Lamar Jackson. However, the Steelers have always done a good job of keeping him in check – he’s 3-6 as a starter against Pittsburgh. Additionally, Derrick Henry took a step back, and their receiving corps does not match up well with the Steeler’s secondary. Defensively, their top players are all in advanced stages of their respective careers, excluding Kyle Hamilton. A new coaching staff also leaves a lot in the air for what the Ravens’ true ceiling is. It’s still the Ravens so they need to be taken seriously, but I wouldn’t put them in the Super Bowl bubble.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ season could go one of two ways – they could overcome all the drama of the last year and win the NFC East or everything hits the fan, they go 7-10, and end up moving on from both Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts in 2027. The talent is still vast, even with A.J. Brown likely being gone by Week 1, and the Steelers have been dreadful against Philadelphia in recent memory, losing three of the last four games by at least two scores.
1. Cincinnati Bengals
If Joe Burrow stays healthy – which I know is becoming a bigger “if” by the year – the Bengals are the most dangerous team in the AFC North and will be threats to make it to the Super Bowl. The offense is as explosive as any in the NFL, and their defense added several proven pieces to try and improve on what was a very bad 2025. As long as No. 9 is on the field, though, this is my pick to win the division, and perhaps represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
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