The Pittsburgh Steelers have persevered through injuries and several tight games to reach their bye week leading one of the most competitive divisions in football.

First-year coach Mike McCarthy’s team can’t rest fully at 6-2. Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are only a half-game behind at 5-2. The Cleveland Brows are one full game back at 5-3 after losing at Acrisure Stadium in Week 8. And even amid multiple quarterback injuries, the Ravens are still alive at 4-4. 

Still, you’d probably rather be the Steelers than any other team in the group at this stage of the season. 

McCarthy’s offense has started to find its groove behind running back Jaylen Warren, whom teammate T.J. Watt has described as a “bowling ball with teeth” this season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the passing game have had tepid downfield success, but the short-and-quick attack he and McCarthy have deployed amid injuries to receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson has worked well enough. 

The defense, meanwhile, seems to be loving first-year coordinator Patrick Graham’s adjustments to predominantly zone coverage schemes. The unit has limited big plays, and started to disrupt opposing passers like Steel Curtain defenses of old. Watt and Co. had eight sacks against the Browns in Week 8. 

Now comes an idle week that the Steelers can use to get healthy and come out blasting in Week 10 with a key rematch against the Bengals. Here’s USA TODAY’s look at what lies ahead in 2026. 

Are the Steelers playing today?

The Steelers are not hitting the field in Week 9. Their bye week falls at the exact midpoint of the season. They’re joined by the Tennessee Titans in taking the week off. 

Pittsburgh will return to action with that Week 10 matchup with the Bengals, then a road trip to face the cross-state rival Eagles, whom they’ve not beaten in Philadelphia since 1965. 

• Week 10 – at Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m.

• Week 11 – at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m.

• Week 12 – Denver Broncos, 3 p.m. 

Pittsburgh Steelers schedule 2026

Week 1 – Sept. 13: Pittsburgh Steelers 20, Atlanta Falcons 13

Week 2 – Sept. 20: New England Patriots 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 3

Week 3 – Sept. 27: Pittsburgh Steelers 30, Cincinnati Bengals 27

Week 4 – Oct. 1: Cleveland Browns 27, Pittsburgh Steelers 24

Week 5 – Oct. 11: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Indianapolis Colts 22

Week 6 – Oct. 18: Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19

Week 7 – Oct. 25: Pittsburgh Steelers 16, New Orleans Saints 10

Week 8 – Nov. 1: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Cleveland Browns 6

Week 10 – Nov. 15: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 8:20 p.m., NBC (“Sunday Night Football”)

Week 11 – Nov. 22: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 4:25 p.m., CBS

Week 12 – Nov. 27: Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 3:00 p.m., Prime Video

Week 13 – Dec. 6: Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m., NBC

Week 14 – Dec. 14: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:15 p.m., ESPN

Week 15 – Dec. 20: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS

Week 16 – TBD: Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, TBD, TBD

Week 17 – Jan. 3: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., CBS

Week 18 – TBD: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens, TBD, TBD

AFC North standings

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

2. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

3. Cleveland Browns (5-3)

4. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)

NFL Week 9 schedule

Here’s a look at the Week 9 schedule (all times Eastern)

Thursday, Nov. 5

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m, Prime Video

Sunday, Nov. 8

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons (Madrid, Spain), 9:30 a.m., NFL Network

Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m., CBS

Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m., FOX

New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS

Detroit Lions at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., CBS

Cleveland Browns at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., CBS

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m., FOX

Los Angeles Rams at Washington Commanders, 1 p.m., FOX

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m., CBS

Las Vegas Raiders at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m., FOX

Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m, FOX

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m., FOX

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m., NBC (“Sunday Night Football”)

Monday, Nov. 9

Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m., ESPN (“Monday Night Football”)