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Steelers Will Face New England Patriots In NFL Opener

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The 2015 NFL schedule is out and the Steelers will be kicking off the regular season against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

The schedules weren't officially released until 8 p.m. EST, but word began to spread earlier in the day that the Steelers will travel to New England to face the Patriots in the NFL opener.

There's a good chance the Steelers will be without running back Le'Veon Bell who is not likely to play due to a suspension.

The game will be played Thursday, Sept. 10 at 8:30 p.m.

The Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers at home this season.

The Steelers will travel to face the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, and Seattle Seahawks in 2015.

Their bye week will fall on Week 11.

MORE DETAILS:

 

The Steelers have the most difficult strength of schedule based on 2014. Their opponents will have a .578 win percentage. The Atlanta Falcons have the easiest at .410.

FULL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:
Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 10 at New England Patriots at 8:30 p.m.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20 an Francisco 49ers at 1 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 at St. Louis Rams at 1 p.m.
Week 4: Thursday, Oct. 1 Baltimore Ravens at 8:25 p.m.
Week 5: Monday, Oct. 12 at San Diego Chargers at 8:30 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 18 Arizona Cardinals at 1 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25 at Kansas City Chiefs at 1 p.m.
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1 Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 Oakland Raiders at 1 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15 Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m.
Week 11: BYE WEEK
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at Seattle Seahawks at 4:25 p.m.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 Indianapolis Colts at 8:30 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27 at Baltimore Ravens at 8:30 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 at Cleveland Browns at 1 p.m.

Steelers insider Ed Bouchette joined "The KDKA Morning News" to talk about the Steelers' schedule.

He says on the difficulty of the schedule, "You knew the opponents; you knew you were going to have to play (three out of the last four) and this is just the arrangement of them."

Bouchette also says the Steelers requested they play Seattle and San Diego in consecutive weeks so they could stay on the West Coast.

He adds the Steelers' request was denied and that, "The (Baltimore) Ravens requested the same thing and they didn't just get it once, they got it twice."

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