PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will play at least four nationally televised prime-time games during the 2006 NFL season.
The defending Super Bowl champions are at home against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC in the first game of the NFL's regular season. The Steelers' second game is Monday Sept. 18 in Jacksonville at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.
The Steelers other prime-time games are at San Diego on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 8:15 p.m. on NBC and at home Thursday Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. on the NFL Network, one of eight Thursday night games the league's in-house cable channel will televise.
NBC is taking over Sunday night games next season from ESPN.
The Steelers could play in more prime-time games if any of their Sunday afternoon games in later weeks are moved to the Sunday night slot. Under the NFL's new TV deals, the league can move Sunday afternoon games to prime-time if it deems them important enough.
The Steelers other home games are: Cincinnati at 1 p.m. Sept. 24; Kansas City at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 15; Denver at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 5; New Orleans at 1 p.m. Nov. 12; Tampa Bay at 1 p.m. Dec. 3; Baltimore at 1 p.m. game Dec. 24.
Other road games, all on Sundays: Atlanta at 1 p.m. Oct. 22; Oakland at 4:15 p.m. Oct. 29; Cleveland at 1 p.m. Nov. 19; Baltimore at 1 p.m. Nov. 26; Carolina at 1 p.m. Dec. 17; Cincinnati at 1 p.m. Dec. 31.
The Steelers bye week is Oct. 1.
Below is the team's 2006 schedule (home games in caps):
Click here to see all of the 2006 NFL schedules.
| Steelers 2006 preseason schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time (TV) |
| Saturday, Aug. 12 | at Arizona | 4:05 p.m. (KDKA) |
| Saturday, Aug. 19 | MINNESOTA | 8 p.m. (KDKA) |
| Friday, Aug. 25 | at Philadelphia | 8 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Thursday, Aug. 31 | CAROLINA | 7:30 p.m. (KDKA) |
| Steelers 2006 regular season schedule | ||
| Date | Opponent | Time (TV) |
| Thursday, Sept. 7 | MIAMI | 8:30 P.M. (NBC) |
| Monday, Sept. 18 | at Jacksonville | 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) |
| Sunday, Sept. 24 | CINCINNATI | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Oct. 1 | Bye | |
| Sunday, Oct. 8 | at San Diego | 8:15 p.m. (NBC) |
| Sunday, Oct. 15 | KANSAS CITY | 4:15 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Oct. 22 | at Atlanta | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Oct. 29 | at Oakland | 4:15 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Nov. 5 | DENVER | 4:15 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Nov. 12* | NEW ORLEANS | 1 p.m. (FOX) |
| Sunday, Nov. 19* | at Cleveland | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Nov. 26* | at Baltimore | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Dec. 3* | TAMPA BAY | 1 p.m. (FOX) |
| Thursday, Dec. 7* | CLEVELAND | 8 p.m. (NFL Network) |
| Sunday, Dec. 17* | at Carolina | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Dec. 24 | BALTIMORE | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
| Sunday, Dec. 31* | at Cincinnati | 1 p.m. (CBS) |
* Times and TV network may change due to flexible scheduling
