No holidays. Not even those of the Made-for-TV variety such as "Black Friday." So, that's something. Even the rest of the schedule looks kind of normal, which is rare for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
There are four non-Sunday games, and one international game, but unless "Flex Scheduling" gets its nasty self involved, the Steelers will play nine 1 p.m. Sunday games, one more than last season. Overall, it's a rather sane schedule for a team with a big brand in an insane, brand-driven league.
But let's see how sane or insane this coming season will get as we examine opponents by not only how they've changed this offseason, but from the perspective of the TV-driven insanity that surrounds them as they prepare for the Steelers.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7 - at New York Jets
While most Steelers fans wanted Justin Fields to return as QB, I doubt many of them fear him quarterbacking the Jets in the opener. Not only is he new, so is the Jets' head coach, Aaron Glenn, formerly the defensive coordinator of the Lions. The Jets are still trying to uprgrade their offensive line with a rookie at right tackle.
These are seemingly sound changes for the Jets, but the first week could prove chaotic after a 5-12 2024. Aaron Rodgers, of course, will have this game circled. Win.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 - vs. Seattle Seahawks
Coming off a divisional home opener against the 49ers, the Seahawks fly across the country for a 10 a.m. game (Pacific time) with a new QB, Sam Darnold (or Drew Lock), for a game the Steelers' top newcomer, D.K. Metcalf, will have circled.
Metcalf and Geno Smith are gone, and so is the other part of the Seahawks' passing trifecta, WR Tyler Lockett, from an eighth-ranked passing team that went 10-7. The Steelers' once-proud run defense will be tested by Kenneth Walker, but I expect them to be stout with their bolstered front seven. Win.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 - at New England Patriots
Traveling to New England will no doubt haunt Mike Tomlin, Cam Heyward, me, and anyone else who's traveled to Foxboro in the Bill Belichick era. The Steelers haven't won there since 2008 when Tom Brady was injured, the Steelers' only win there since 1997.
The Patriots, of course, are nothing like the Patriots of that generation. This one's coming off a 4-13 season with a second-year QB. Drake Maye has two new receivers, three new offensive linemen, a new head coach (Mike Vrabel) and a new offensive coordinator (Josh McDaniels). They may be headed in the right direction, but this should be another Steelers win against a team trying to find its sea legs early in 2025. That, plus the haunting, equals ... Win.
* 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 - vs. Minnesota Vikings (Dublin, Ireland)
Venture back to 2013 when the Steelers lost their fourth game of the season, overseas, to the Vikings, and fell to 0-4. When I learned they were playing these same Vikings, on the same continent, in the same week a dozen years later, I figured on the same record. But it's not breaking that way. After a surprising 3-0 start, I'll read that as a positive sign for the Steelers in the land of their founding family.
Dublin's Croke Park is hallowed ground, a place where British tanks opened fire on Gaelic football players and fans on "Bloody Sunday" in 1920. The Steelers played the first and only American football game there against the Bears in the 1997 preseason, and the Irish really disliked our game, ripping the constant stoppages. But I believe Steelers fans show up for this one. And, hey, maybe the Irish will appreciate American football as it's played in the regular season after this one. Win.
BYE
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12 - vs. Cleveland Browns
With such positive buzz encircling the Steelers, the Browns are the perfect tonic for post-bye recovery from the trip overseas. With a brutal start to their schedule, the Browns could be 0-5 as they return from their game in London without a bye. Steelers 5-0; Browns 0-6. Win.
* 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 - at Cincinnati Bengals
This is where it comes crashing down for the Steelers. As strongly as I envision the Esca-loser pumping out its typical sadness, these Thursday night road games are brutal. Big game for Joe Burrow and his receivers. Loss.
* 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 - vs. Green Bay Packers
I'm looking to give the Steelers another loss to counter the fact Rodgers may NOT be their QB this season, but I don't think this is that time and/or place. The Packers are coming to town off a late-afternoon Sunday road game in Phoenix to face a Steelers team on 10 days rest. Figure this one to be a nail-biter with the Steelers' QB pulling out the game at the wire, a la the epic Packers-Steelers game of 2009. Win.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 - vs. Indianapolis Colts
Ya'll gonna call me a homer, but it's just how I see the season breaking. I don't expect much from the Colts, and I've never expected much from Anthony Richardson. Throw in the fact that this will be the second of back-to-back home games for the Steelers, who have revenge in mind from last season, and it's another ... Win.
* 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 - at Los Angeles Chargers
Najee's revenge? Not that I expect Harris to be starting ahead of Chargers' first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton, but I do see the Chargers gathering momentum under QB Justin Herbert and second-year coach Jim Harbaugh. Then again, this is not a bad spot for a Steelers team that's coming off two home games and has a seeming hold on the Chargers' ticket office. It's a toss-up in my mind, so I'll lean to the other side this time. Loss.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 - vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Coming off a loss, and with in-season revenge in mind, against a poor defensive team, this should be a good spot for the Steelers. But they're the team coming off a cross-country night game and the Bengals are coming off two home games against less-than-average competition. Loss.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 - at Chicago Bears
Back-to-back losses with the tough part of the season upcoming, the Steelers will need this game. The Bears have been slowly building what appears to be a quality team. They've added three new starters to the interior of their offensive line this offseason, along with rookie receiving threats Colston Loveland and Luther Burden. But what do we make of second-year QB Caleb Williams? Without much of a running game, I'm going to give him a thumbs down. Win.
* 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30 - vs. Buffalo Bills
It's not as difficult as the finishing kick to last season, but this won't be much easier. It starts with a loss to the Bills. Loss.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 - at Baltimore Ravens
... and continues with a loss at Baltimore. Loss.
* 8:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 - vs. Miami Dolphins
Much needed extra day with a Monday night home game for a weary Steelers team. The Dolphins didn't do much this offseason, and the question marks surrounding Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill aren't helping. Win.
* 4:25 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 - at Detroit Lions
The Curse of Bobby Layne won't hurt the Lions until the playoffs. But they're still one of the NFL's best-built teams. Loss.
* 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28 - at Cleveland Browns
Since I had the Browns opening 0-6, I'll likewise assume their season falls apart. Deion Sanders is named general manager and team vice-president after this one. Win.
* To Be Determined - vs. Baltimore Ravens
Much like the game time, the outcome will be determined by which of these teams needs the game. With the Steelers coming into this game 10-6, I presume much will be on the line for them. Win.
Eyeballing the Steelers season schedule (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)