Ed Bouchette: Steelers to Play 4 Night Games

Thursday, April 14, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers went 15-1 without playing a Monday night game last season, so what's the big deal that they play three Monday games in 2005?

"It's a reward and a curse, playing that many Sunday night, Monday night, 4:15 p.m. games," club president Art Rooney said after the NFL released its schedule yesterday for next season. "Most of the coaches would like to have everything at 1 p.m. on Sundays, but it goes with the territory, and you have to be prepared for the challenge."

All those 1 p.m. games last season proved to be good for the Steelers, who became the first AFC team to win 15 games in the regular season. They were on just one prime-time game, a Sunday night. Next season, they will play three Monday night games, the most any team can play, another Sunday night and three more at 4:15 p.m. Sunday.

Their three Monday night games will be Oct. 10 at San Diego, at home Oct. 31 against Baltimore and Nov. 28 at Indianapolis. They also play a Sunday night game against Cleveland Nov. 13 at Heinz Field.

"[It] is always a dreaded trip coming back from a Monday night game on the West Coast," Rooney said. "But we have to be prepared for those challenges. The good teams find a way to be ready."

The Steelers also play on Halloween, Christmas Eve in Cleveland and New Year's Day, when they conclude the 16-game regular-season schedule against Detroit at Heinz Field.
"I guess we're going to be a part of everyone's holidays," Rooney said.

The Steelers will open the season Sept. 11 at home against the Tennessee Titans and play three games before they have they have the weekend of Oct. 2 off. That's earlier than most coaches would prefer.

"I think it's a good schedule," Rooney said. "Opening at home is always a good thing, and then we come right back with New England for our second home game, so we'll be off to an interesting start at the early part of the season. Then we go to a couple of places we haven't been in a long time -- Green Bay and Minnesota. Those will be some interesting road games. There are a lot of interesting pieces to it."

The Steelers and Patriots will stage a rematch of their AFC championship game Sept. 25 at Heinz Field.

The complete schedule:

PRESEASON
Monday, August 15 --Philadelphia, 8:00pm.
Saturday, Aug. 20 -- Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 26 -- at Washington, 8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 1 -- at Carolina, 8 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON
Sept. 11 -- Tennessee, 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 -- at Houston, 1 p.m.
Sept. 25 -- New England, 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 2 -- Off
Oct. 10 -- at San Diego, 9 p.m.
Oct. 16 -- Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23 -- at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 -- Baltimore, 9 p.m.
Nov. 6 -- at Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 13 -- Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 -- at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 28 -- at Indianapolis, 9 p.m.
Dec. 4 -- Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Dec. 11 -- Chicago, 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 -- at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Dec. 24 -- at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Jan. 1 -- Detroit, 1 p.m.

(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.)