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          Loaded prime-time slate awaits Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017

          Le'Veon Bell, left, Ben Roethlisberger, center, and Antonio Brown are still in Pittsburgh, which means the Steelers should be good yet again on offense. Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
          • Jeremy Fowler, senior NFL national reporterApr 21, 2017, 01:13 AM
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            • ESPN staff writer
            • Previously a college football reporter for CBSSports.com
            • University of Florida graduate
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          The NFL has released its 2017 regular-season schedule. Here’s a look at what’s in store for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

          Breakdown: The Steelers must adjust their sleep patterns starting in mid-November, when they face a slate of four straight prime-time games from Weeks 11-14, followed by a meeting with the New England Patriots at home in Week 15. This will be a crucial stretch coming off what looks like a manageable schedule for the first two-and-a-half months. In all, the Steelers play five prime-time games -- the maximum allowed for a season -- in a seven-game stretch, including three at Heinz Field.

          Playing down to competition: Before the Week 9 bye, the Steelers will play three teams that had three wins or less last season (Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns). Just two of the season's first nine opponents had winning records in 2016 (Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions). While teams can improve drastically year to year, the stage is set for the Steelers to jump to a winning record.

          Bring it in(side): The Steelers will play three road games in dome settings: at Detroit (Week 8), at Indianapolis (Week 10) and at Houston on Christmas Day (Week 16). Ben Roethlisberger is accurate when playing indoors, completing 61-of-79 passes (77.2 percent) in his last three dome games, including three passes for touchdowns at Lucas Oil Stadium a year ago. The Steelers like their no-huddle package on turf.

          Strength of schedule: T-27th, .453

          Steelers Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, Minnesota, 1 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24, at Chicago, 1 p.m.

          • Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15, at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 22, Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

          • Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29, at Detroit, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 9: BYE

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12, at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 16, Tennessee, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 13: Monday, Dec. 4, at Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

          • Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, New England, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 16: Monday, Dec. 25, at Houston, 4:30 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31, Cleveland, 1 p.m.