Steelers set to have fourth easiest travel schedule in 2024
One of the often-forgotten hardships of the NFL season is the travel. Pittsburgh, being an East Coast team, typically has it easier than squads like the Seahawks per se, but short weeks across multiple time zones is the last thing the human body wants after playing a football game. Luckily for Pittsburgh, that won't be […]
One of the often-forgotten hardships of the NFL season is the travel.
Pittsburgh, being an East Coast team, typically has it easier than squads like the Seahawks per se, but short weeks across multiple time zones is the last thing the human body wants after playing a football game.
Luckily for Pittsburgh, that won't be happening much in 2024:
Steelers On the Road Less Traveled
As you can see in the graphic, the Pittsburgh Steelers will fly the fourth least in 2024, at just over 12,000 miles. They also will travel across the second least amount of time zones, at only 10.
That's the kind of break that Pittsburgh desperately needs. Not only do they have the league's hardest schedule, but they also have to play on multiple short weeks, with games against the Browns on Thursday night and the Chiefs on Christmas Day, which happens to be a Wednesday.
A home game against the Chargers was a big help in this travel scenario, as Pittsburgh will avoid the long trip to California entirely in 2024 after taking a trip to Los Angeles to play the Rams last year.
And if you think travel miles are an excuse, think again. Many of you know what its like to feel jet lagged. Multiply that feeling on top of already feeling like you got hit by a bus and that's what NFL players go through for 18 Weeks a year.
The less time a team spends in the air, the more they can focus on recovery. Players often speak about how it takes until Wednesday or Thursday of the following week for them to walk without being sore from Sunday's contest.
And when you look at how difficult the back half of the Steelers' schedule is, it may sound hyperbolic, but every spare minute the team has to recover and gameplan for their division rivals, as well as the Chiefs and Eagles, will be crucial to team success.
The one good thing about the toughest division in the league is that Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland are within proximity, so the Steelers won't have to worry about traveling far, and then Kansas City comes to them while Philly is obviously across the state.
A much-needed break indeed for the Steelers.
