Analysis: Steelers' 2019 schedule already looks daunting

While other teams are looking forward to the second round of the playoffs, Steelers fans are resigned to previewing next year's schedule.

I probably should've done that already. Amid a sea of coach firings, AWOL wide receivers, exaggerated injuries and locker room leaks, I'm late to the party.

Come to think of it, I'm glad I'm late because it ain't pretty.

Free agency hasn't happened, let alone the draft, so it's way too early to do the "win-loss, win-loss" thing. However, it's never too early to look at some trends.

Especially if you are a Steelers fan trying to surf through 16 weeks of land mines.

Truthfully, you should NEVER do the "win-loss, win-loss" thing. It's pointless. The NFL is too unpredictable.

Unless you are rooting for the Steelers, then you know they'll gag away at least a game or two (or, *clears throat*, two-and-a-half) that they shouldn't against bad teams.

You also know there are certain teams they never beat and destinations they never survive.

That's why I was so paranoid about the team's schedule coming into 2018. Regardless of what the strength of schedule was from the previous year, the Steelers had to visit Jacksonville, Denver and Oakland. The club entered 2018 a combined 15-29-1 away from Pittsburgh against those three franchises. They were lucky to go 1-2 in those three games, with a narrow win against the Jaguars and losses involving blown fourth-quarter leads against the other two.

None of those teams was above .500 this year, and it was still a struggle.

Now we look ahead and see the following landscape.

• The Steelers have to go to New England. They are 0-5 in Foxborough against the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick combo.

• They travel to the west coast three times. The Steelers visit the Chargers, Cardinals and 49ers.

I don't care if those last two teams stink. The Steelers are 26-48-1 (including Super Bowls in 1980 and 1996) in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.

Welcome to 2019 Steelers fans! You're already 0-4.

• Speaking of west coast teams, the good news is the Steelers get the Seahawks and Rams in Pittsburgh. The bad news is both of those teams made the playoffs this year.

• So did the Colts. They come to Heinz Field next year, too.

Of the 16 games the Steelers play next season, seven will be against 2018 playoff teams (Baltimore twice, plus the Colts, Chargers, Patriots, Seahawks, and Rams). The Black and Gold had six such matchups this season and lost four of them, beating the Patriots while losing to Kansas City, the Chargers and the Saints. They split with Baltimore.

They went just 9-6-1 and missed the postseason.

Let's also keep in mind the Steelers didn't get Lamar Jackson in either game against the Ravens, and they faced Baker Mayfield just once against Cleveland. Plus, they barely beat the Bengals without Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tyler Eifert and Vontaze Burfict.

So, aside from that, next year should be a breeze.