Think Mike Tomlin is eager for some Steelers football?
"Well, you know, Steve, I've been at it a while, man, [and] I haven't seen a schedule that I didn't like, particularly this time of year," Tomlin told NFL Network's Steve Wyche after the 2020 NFL schedules were released Thursday. "We all are football lovers and we miss competing, so it's an exciting day when the schedule comes out."
Making matters a little sweeter for the Steelers this year where the schedule's concerned, the lineup looks like a favorable slate for the team in black and gold. Per NFL analytics and visual data expert Warren Sharp, the Steelers have the seventh-easiest schedule in the NFL for 2020:
A better way to consider 2020 strength of schedule is by using projected 2020 win totals from the betting market.
Using odds from multiple sportsbooks updated as of today...
2020 Strength of Schedule is pictured & linked here:https://t.co/IDGC24L4Pk pic.twitter.com/pnXX1TmvZO
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 7, 2020
But it's not just that. The Steelers also have four primetime games plus the inaugural preseason game, the Hall of Fame game vs. the Cowboys, giving them plenty of shine on the national stage.
Chief among these high-profile contests is a Thanksgiving showdown against the division-rival and 2019 AFC North champion Ravens Nov. 26, and you better believe Tomlin has that one circled, boldfaced and italicized.
"We just are humbled and honored to entertain our fans on a special day like that," Tomlin said. "We've had an opportunity to be in a number of those games over the years, and we don't take 'em for granted. We'll be excited about this one. Take also into account that it's an AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens. So it's going to be a special day. It's an honor to entertain our fans on a day like that, on a holiday, and we look forward to doing it. But it also presents some special challenges from a preparation [standpoint] and we'll address that appropriately so in preparation for that game."
Of course, the Steelers' season could get to be a lot less fun for fans if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn't 100 percent healthy and ready to roll by Week 1. Roethlisberger went down midway through the Steelers' 2019 Week 2 matchup vs. the Seahawks with an elbow injury which required season-ending surgery. He's now working back from the injury, so all eyes are on the 38-year-old Roethlisberger to see if he make a smooth comeback.
Tomlin has full confidence he will do just that.
"As we sit here today, we are extremely confident in his readiness," Tomlin said. "We're enjoying the process that he's going through right now. Obviously, it's not without his angst. The guy's coming off of a season-ending injury and surgery. But we like where we are. He's throwing on the rehab schedule. It's going well, and we fully anticipate him being ready to go for that opener."
"I hadn't seen a schedule I didn't like." 😂
Mike Tomlin can't wait to take the field in 2020 with the @steelers 👇
📺: 2020 NFL Schedule Release live now on NFL Network
📱: https://t.co/5FJW2HddbF pic.twitter.com/J6xl5m8msO— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) May 8, 2020
Some tension still exists beyond Roethlisberger, too. The Steelers open on the road for the sixth straight year, and Thursday night games always represent a challenge, due to the shortened week. All that said, Tomlin feels prepared to tackle those situations and any complications that may come with them.
"You know, there's going to be some uncomfortable moments in the journey for all of us," Tomlin said. "I don't worry too much about that. As long as I've got eight at home and eight on the road and a bye, I don't read too much into it. Within the weeks, though, there are some logistical things that we do appropriately so as it relates to the game, whether the start time, the amount of travel that we have, the lift of the week — whether we have additional time like [we] do on [the] opening week there, on a Monday Night game or whether you're on a short week like we are on a [Thursday] night there on Thanksgiving. So those are the things that we [focus] on when we receive a schedule and we're looking at the challenges that it presents."
The 2020 season brings one additional challenge: The coronavirus. Teams are currently engaging in virtual OTAs, and schedules and processes have been altered dramatically to adhere to stay-at-home orders and social-distancing protocol, eliminating in-person work. All this, Wyche noted with a chuckle, is teaching teams patience, right?
"We're trying," Tomlin laughed. "I don't know how effective we are at it, but I'll take any opportunity to work with our players and to get this ball rolling for 2020. But I'm not going to kid ya, Steve, I'll be glad when we can get back out there, roll the ball out on some grass and play the game."
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