Steelers release 2019 schedule

The Steelers and primetime football go hand in hand, so it's no surprise that once again the team will be playing numerous games under the lights. The 2019 schedule was released and it includes five nationally televised primetime games, tied for the most with any team in the league, and includes the season opener.

The team kicks off the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Sunday, Sept. 8 in a primetime matchup on NBC's Sunday Night Football, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m.

Things get rolling at Heinz Field on Sept. 15, when the team hosts the Seattle Seahawks at 1 p.m. on FOX, one of six 2018 playoff teams they will face.

It's back on the road for a Week 3 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 22, with kickoff at 4:25 p.m. on CBS.

The Steelers will be back in the primetime spotlight in Week 4 of the season when they host the Cincinnati Bengals and new head coach Zac Taylor on Monday Night Football on Sept. 30 at Heinz Field in a classic AFC North rivalry. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on ESPN.

The focus will remain on the AFC North the following week with the Baltimore Ravens visiting Heinz Field for a 1 p.m. showdown on Oct. 6 on CBS.

The team's third primetime game will be on the road when the Steelers take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 13, returning to NBC's Sunday Night Football for an 8:20 p.m. game. The game will feature some brotherly love with T.J. Watt facing his brother, Chargers fullback Derek Watt, and Maurkice Pouncey playing against his twin brother, Chargers center Mike Pouncey.

The bye week comes a little early in the season, falling on Week 7, but gives the team a break before they hit a stretch of 10 straight games.

Heinz Field will be home to three-straight games coming off the bye, including another Monday Night Football contest against Miami Dolphins on Oct. 28, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN. It will be the first time facing new Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.

Home sweet home will continue to be the theme in Weeks 9-10. The Indianapolis Colts visit the Steelers on Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. (CBS) and the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams come to Heinz Field on Nov. 10 for a 4:25 p.m. game (FOX).

Say hello to some AFC North football in the next few weeks with three straight games against divisional foes.

The Steelers will be at the Cleveland Browns in Week 11 for a Thursday Night Football matchup on Nov. 14. Kickoff will be at 8:20 on FOX/NFLN/Amazon. It's then off to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals in Week 12 on Nov. 24 for a 1 p.m. game (CBS).

The trifecta of AFC North games has the Steelers facing the Browns just a little over two weeks after their first meeting, hosting them at Heinz Field on Dec. 1 with a 4:25 p.m. kickoff on CBS.

It's back on the road in Week 14 to face the Arizona Cardinals and new coach Kliff Kingsbury on Dec. 8. Kickoff will be at 4:25 on CBS.

The final home game of the regular season will be against the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 at Heinz Field, with a 1 p.m. kickoff on Dec. 15. It will be the first opportunity for Terrell and Trey Edmunds to face their brother, Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

The regular season will end with back-to-back road games, the first time since 2015 the team's final two games have been on the road and only the third time under Coach Mike Tomlin the team has closed out the regular season with two road games.

In Week 16 the Steelers will be on the road against the New York Jets and new coach Adam Gase for a 1 p.m. game on CBS on Dec. 22.

The regular season will close out on Dec. 29 with a Week 17 matchup against the Ravens, the 10th straight year the team will face an AFC North rival in the final game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on CBS.

In addition to the regular season schedule announcement, the team also announced that the kickoff time for the Steelers preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Bank of America Stadium has been changed to a 7 p.m. kickoff. It was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

All Steelers preseason and regular season games can be heard on the Steelers Radio Network on WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGG-AM (970) as well on Steelers.com.

* * *

"Flexible scheduling" will be used in Weeks 11-17. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-16, the schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game in Weeks 11-16 and at least six days notice for Week 17. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.