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Friday, April 04, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Steelers will play one Monday night game and two Sunday night games in a schedule that features games against four division champions this season.

	More Steelers Coverage: 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule

They open and close their season against division rival Baltimore, playing the Ravens at home Sept. 7 and winding up with a Sunday night game Dec. 28 in Baltimore, the final regular-season game in the NFL.

Their only Monday night game will be Nov. 17 at San Francisco, the NFC West Division champion. It will be their 50th appearance on Monday night and is one of many times the Steelers will have to travel a long distance for a game..

The Steelers also must travel to Kansas City Sept. 14, Denver Oct. 12 and Seattle Nov. 2.

The NFL did the Steelers no favors when it scheduled them at Cleveland for a 1 p.m. game the Sunday after they play a Monday night game at San Francisco.

Normally, the league keeps a team at home after it has played a Monday night game on the road, particularly when that game is played on the other side of the continent.

Those two games come in what may shape up to be a brutal four-week stretch for the Steelers. They play Nov. 2 at Seattle, then return home against Arizona and follow up with their games at San Francisco and at Cleveland.

The Browns earned a wild-card playoff berth last year and held a 33-21 lead at Heinz Field before the Steelers scored two touchdowns in the final 3:06 to pull out a 36-33 playoff victory Jan. 5.

Tennessee, which ousted the Steelers in overtime the following week in a controversial playoff ending, visits Heinz Field Sept. 28.

"This certainly will be a very competitive schedule," said Coach Bill Cowher, whose team won the inaugural AFC North title with a 10-5-1 record. "We are looking forward to the challenge."

The Steelers have an off weekend Oct. 19 after they play six games. It is their latest bye week since 1999. In the past three seasons, the Steelers' open date occurred no later than their third week.

The 1,000th game in franchise history will be Oct. 26 at Heinz Field against the St. Louis Rams. The Steelers have played .500 ball throughout their history with an overall record of 486-486-21, including postseason games.

"We're excited about celebrating the 1,000th Steelers game at home against the Rams," said club President Dan Rooney.

Besides the Browns, Titans and 49ers, the Steelers will play two other playoff teams from last season -- the defending AFC champion Oakland Raiders Dec. 7 and the AFC East champion Jets Dec. 14 in New York.

NOTES -- Safety Sammy Knight, a free agent from New Orleans, will visit the Steelers Tuesday night and Wednesday. Safety Lee Flowers, a free agent with the Steelers, visited the Saints this week to possibly replace Knight. ... The Steelers also are talking with agent Jim Solano about bringing in Arizona free-agent safety Kwamie Lassiter for a visit. ... The Steelers open at home for the first time since 2000.

Preseason

Saturday, Aug. 9 at Detroit Lions 12:30 p.m. KDKA-TV

Saturday, Aug. 16 Philadelphia Eagles 7:30 p.m. KDKA-TV

Thursday, Aug. 21 Dallas Cowboys 8 p.m. FOX (National)

Friday, Aug. 29 at Carolina Panthers 8 p.m. KDKA-TV

Regular Season

Sunday, Sept. 7 BALTIMORE 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Sept. 14 at Kansas City 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Sept. 21 at Cincinnati 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Sept. 28 TENNESSEE 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Oct. 5 CLEVELAND 8:30 p.m. ESPN

Sunday, Oct. 12 at Denver 4:15 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Oct. 19 BYE

Sunday, Oct. 26 ST. LOUIS (1,000th Game) 1 p.m. FOX

Sunday, Nov. 2 at Seattle 4: p.m. CBS

Sunday, Nov. 9 ARIZONA 1 p.m. FOX

Monday, Nov. 17 at San Francisco 9 p.m. ABC (MNF)

Sunday, Nov. 23 at Cleveland 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Nov. 30 CINCINNATI 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Dec. 7 OAKLAND 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Dec. 14 at New York Jets 1 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Dec. 21 SAN DIEGO 4:05 p.m. CBS

Sunday, Dec. 28 at Baltimore 8:30 p.m. ESPN

All Times are Eastern