The NFL schedule will be released this week, but teams already know their upcoming opponents. They just need to know what order their opponents will be in and when their bye weeks will be. The Pittsburgh Steelers will have their regular division games, and they’ll also face the NFC South, the AFC South, the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Much of the attention will focus on who the Steelers face in Week 1. Charlie Batch wants the team to face the defending AFC champion, the Patriots, to open the 2026 season.
“Why not test yourself early?” Batch said Monday on his Snap Count podcast. “If you feel that you’re the best and have a chance to compete, why not start your season on the road in New England?
“You’re measuring yourself right away, not warming up to it. We’re kicking in the front door, and we’re letting people know we belong in this year’s race in the AFC. I would like to see them open up against New England on the road.”
On paper, the Patriots are arguably the Steelers’ toughest opponent. They finished 14-3 last year and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, although they lost the championship game. They have a solid group of young players, too, including quarterback Drake Maye, who finished second in the MVP race last year.
Playing in New England tends to be a tall task, too. Since 2000, the Steelers have won there only twice, including their most recent matchup. The two teams faced off in New England in Week 3 last year, and Pittsburgh won 21-14.
The Steelers forced five turnovers, causing some to claim luck played a big part in their victory. They’ll have a chance to prove that wasn’t the case, though.
However, facing the Patriots to start the season might not be the best idea. The Steelers are still waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers will join them. If he does, then it might take him some time to knock the rust off. The Patriots’ defense might give him issues to start the 2026 season.
Still, if the Steelers begin with a win against the Patriots, that could give them a nice confidence boost. That doesn’t guarantee that they’ll be one of the AFC’s best teams, though. The Las Vegas Raiders opened the 2025 season by beating the Patriots, and they went on to be the worst team in the league. The Steelers will still have to play 16 other regular-season games.