It’s the Kielbasa Kid…

…is it me or does it seems the start of the NFL regular season is later than normal this season. Did I miss something? The last pre-season game would usually be a few days before Labor Day weekend then a week later kickoff the regular season The Steelers last pre season game would generally be a Thursday before Labor Day and against the Carolina Panthers. Well, their still playing Carolina in their final pre season game but on Friday Aug 27tth which is 10 days before Labor Day. So instead of kicking off the season about a week after their final pre-season game this year it will be 16 days from their final pre-season game to their first game of the season against the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday Sept 12th. Last year there was no pre-season due to the pandemic but if you go back to 2019 there was 10 days from the last pre-season game to the start of the regular season. This season 16 days will pass. Of course the Steelers do have an earlier start and one more pre-season game than anyone else except for Dallas who the Steelers play in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug 5th.  But 16 days from the games that don’t count to the ones that do. Good or bad? Guess well know shortly after 4 pm on Sunday September 12th when the final whistle blows. Of course Buffalo will be in the same boat but will have 15 days to prepare since their pre season ends a day after Pittsburgh’s. Still that just seems like an extraordinary amount of time before the start of the regular season.