Steelers Release 2008 Regular Season Schedule

The Steelers will play five nationally televised primetime games, and will open the season at home on Sunday, Sept. 7 against the Houston Texans, it was announced today when the National Football League released its 2008 regular season schedule.

The Steelers will host two nationally televised primetime games against division rivals,  including a Monday Night game on Sept. 29 against the Baltimore Ravens (8:30 p.m.) and a Thursday Night game Nov. 20 against the Cincinnati Bengals (8:15 p.m.). Pittsburgh’s three primetime road games will be on Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Cleveland Browns (8:15 p.m.), Sunday, Oct. 5 at the Jacksonville Jaguars (8:15 p.m.) and a Monday Night game on Nov. 3 at the Washington Redskins.

“We are excited to have five nationally televised primetime games included among what should be one of our most exciting regular season schedules in recent years,” said Steelers president Art Rooney II. “We have a tremendous home schedule that our fans are really going to enjoy as we defend our AFC North title.”

The Steelers also announced that the team will honor the memory of former broadcaster Myron Cope who passed away in February, prior to the club’s Sept. 7 home opener. Cope was the Steelers’ radio color analyst for 35 years (1970-’04) and also invented the Terrible Towel™.  

“Myron was a big part of the Steelers game day experience for so many years and we want to give our fans the opportunity to show their appreciation for all that he meant to so many people,” said Rooney.

The Steelers will host the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants on Sunday, Oct. 26 (4:15 p.m.). Pittsburgh will have a three-game home stand in November when they host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 9 (4:15 p.m.), the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 16 (4:15 p.m.) and the Thursday Night game against Cincinnati. The Steelers’ remaining home schedule includes a 4:15 p.m. game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Dec. 7 and a 1 p.m. game against the Cleveland Browns in the regular season finale on Dec. 28.

The Steelers’ remaining road schedule includes trips to play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 21 (4:15 p.m. kickoff) and the Bengals on Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. The Steelers will also visit the New England Patriots on Nov. 30 (4:15 p.m.), Baltimore on Dec. 14 (1 p.m.) and the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 21 (1 p.m.).

All Sunday afternoon games beginning in Week 11 are subject to flexible scheduling and could be moved into the Sunday night time slot (8:15 p.m.). The NFL will provide at least 12 days notice of time changes due to the “flex” scheduling. Week 17 start time changes could be decided on six days notice to ensure a game with playoff implications. Flexible scheduling will not impact Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.

The Steelers open their four-game preseason schedule Friday, Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Heinz Field against the Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh will play a preseason game in Toronto for the first time since 1960 when they travel to the Rogers Centre to play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. One nationally televised game is on the Steelers’ preseason schedule, slated for Saturday, Aug. 23 at 8 p.m. (CBS) against the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Pittsburgh’s final preseason home game will take place on Thursday, Aug. 28 against the Carolina Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.