December 15, 2025 • 28 mins
Colin talks about the most likely NFL playoff picture
With the injuries to Packers; are the Lions the better team?
More thoughts on the Broncos clinching a playoff spot under Sean Payton
Guest: Mike DeFabo
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Here's the seeding right now in the NFC, the playoff picture,
and I think the only question and I'll keep our
radio listeners in formats, Let's show the NFC playoff picture.
Rams have clinched a playoff berth one seed, Chicago two,
Philadelphia three Bears beat them in Philly, Tampa's reeling four,
(00:52):
Seattle's the best fifth wildcard seed in a long time,
San Francisco maybe second best, and the Green Bay at seven.
The only question I have is can Green Bay now
with Micah Christian Watson, Tucker Kraft out, this is going
to be a real test for Matt Lafleur and Jordan Love.
(01:13):
This is a real test. Now can Detroit, which, by
the way, for three quarters of that game looked like
they had the number of the Rams in LA. Can
Detroit now with a better roster than green Bay due
to the Craft Watson, Michael Parsons injury. Can Detroit come
roaring back? I don't know what Detroit schedules not in
front of me and beat green Bay. I would rather
(01:34):
face green Bay today. I didn't feel like this a
week ago without the injuries. I'd rather face green Bay
today than Detroit with all that firepower Gibbs the O
line armor on Saint Brown, Hutchison off the edge. So
Detroit with green Bay's injuries, to me, would be the
tougher matchup for anybody in the NFC playoff picture. Here's
(01:57):
the AFC playoff picture, which doesn't feel nearly as good
at the top. I like Denver, they have clinched a playoff.
Berth New England. I still feel they're kind of in
to rebuild it too. Jacksonville, I know, I know. I
can't that division. I can't trust them. Pittsburgh. I mean,
do anybody like Pittsburgh Chargers. I love them. If they
(02:21):
had both their offensive tackles, I think they could win
the Super Bowl. Buffalo don't trust their defense. I tell you.
After Denver, Houston at the seventh seed is the one
I trust because I know that defense and CJ. Stroud
with time can beat anybody in the sport, including the Rams,
the Colts. Fun story, forget it. Baltimore have to go,
(02:43):
have to sweep win rest of the games. They feel
a bit broken. Here's Sean Payton on clinching a playoff spot.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It's nice to clinch a playoff berth. You know, gold
one is trying to go win your division. Goal to
is try to get the best seed, and then goal
three is, you know, try to win a world championship.
And so we still haven't really accomplished won two or three.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So remember one is when the division. So we're still
going for the record to show you the job. Sean
Payton is done. Russell Wilson is still on Denver's cap sheet.
I mean, this seems inconceivable. How do they have a
(03:32):
roster this good on both sides? How are they the
number one seed in the mahomes Borough Josh Allen.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Side? That is all time coaching. Sean Payton can be
a little gruff, a little outspoken. Guy's great first ballot.
Guy Guy is great.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 1 (04:02):
Hey is Covino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio Now.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
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Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yep, that's right.
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Speaker 7 (04:32):
News, No, no, turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
All right, Colin, Let's start with the game of yesterday.
Speaker 8 (04:42):
Oh it was a classic Bill's thirty five Patriots thirty one.
I was watching this and it was twenty one dozing Patriots,
and I remember I mentioned I love the Bills here
and I'm like, oh my gosh, what's going on?
Speaker 6 (04:55):
And what a comeback on? They made a key adjustment
in the second half. You know what they did. They
just said, screw it, We're gonna blitz the hell out
of Drake May.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
They turned up their blitz percentage. May was a little
rattled and they did some interesting stuff. They would drop
Bosa from his rushing into coverage and it confused May.
I think McDermot was a stroke of genius in the
second half. After the game, Stefan Diggs talked about hell listen,
this was a needed result for the Patriots.
Speaker 7 (05:21):
Interesting, So are you playing a team like that?
Speaker 8 (05:24):
They played from behind, they used to play it from
and fight you back and Klawn.
Speaker 7 (05:28):
They've been the gup for some years and they led
his division for a while.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
So in order to get over that home you know,
I play sixty minute football and executed out of hot level.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah. I think he's right. It's almost like before March madness,
Like you know, if you're undefeated, you're like you know what,
or you're a really great team. It's like we need
some close games. I do feel like New England had
a bit of a charm life, you know you and I.
One of the reasons I picked them as a shocking
team is that the easiest schedule. The niners in them
had an easy schedule, and I think it's helped both teams.
(05:59):
Walter good at help both teams. I also think they're
using backups on the left side of the offensive line,
so that blitzing stuff was doubly effective. And you know,
let's give McDermott and Buffalo credit. Go on the road
you want to shoot out those aren't easy. And I
just can't wait to see Buffalo in the playoffs because
this is the year. It's wide open.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
So after it was twenty one nothing, the Bills scored
touchdowns on five straight drives com yeap By in a row.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
And there are some numbers I did not realize.
Speaker 8 (06:29):
The Patriots are dead lasting red zone stoppage defensively, you
get in the red zone, it's like touchdown after touchdown.
That's not going to bode well for the playoffs. Final note, Colin,
buy some advanced metrics. The Bills are the best second
half team in the NFL. They just steamroll folks. They
put her around.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
I don't know if it's bad game.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Plans for McDermott or Josh Allen just turning it up
a notch, But in the second half they are steamrolling folks.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I know that.
Speaker 8 (06:53):
You know, they don't have any game breakers outside of Allen.
I think this is the most dangerous team in the AFC.
I would put Houston second. Can you ride with that
or not?
Speaker 9 (07:02):
Really?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
You like bo Nicks, Well, I think Denver's got a
much much better roster and the game's gonna be in
Denver and I get the better head coach. I'm telling you,
Sean Payton, you watched that game against Green Bay yesterday.
Denver was deceptive and clever. I mean they Denver does
not have a hole.
Speaker 8 (07:22):
They were down twenty three to fourteen, like the Packers
rolled them to any injuries.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
At to an excellent team.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Yeah, I mean Packer, Oh, the Packers. He gets me
so sad.
Speaker 8 (07:31):
So just hypothetically, I'm curious where are you.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Standing on this?
Speaker 8 (07:34):
Texans go to the Patriots in the first round, seven
verses two? Who you have favored in that game? That
might be like close to a pickup.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I'll take the under and Houston would probably get a
point or two. I'd probably take Houston.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yeah, that's just that's a tough matchup for the young quarterback.
Speaker 8 (07:49):
All right, let's move on to Jackson Dart. I think
you had the joke earlier this season. The guy's paying rent.
He spent so much time in the blue tent. Colin
unbelievable stat He was in the Blue tent again yesterday,
the fifth time in ten games this season including the preseason,
so fifty percent of his appearances he's going.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
To the Blue tench for concussions.
Speaker 8 (08:10):
After the game, Dart was surprised he had to get
checked out.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
This definitely wasn't the first time that I've been surprised
that I've had to come on, but I was definitely surprised.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Just I feel like it was that big of a
hit at all.
Speaker 9 (08:27):
I mean, you don't just see people getting taken out
of the game like that, So I definitely feel like
there's a there's a sensitivity for some reason.
Speaker 8 (08:37):
I mean, listen, I like this guy. I think he's cool, right,
he seems like a cool guy. Are you getting any
Manzell vibes from.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Him at the podium?
Speaker 8 (08:45):
No? No, no, no, okay, no, he's not much better. I mean,
he's just he's swagged out. He's got the Louis Vuitton hat,
the thick necklaces.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I'm sure you've seen.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
He's dating all these ig batties.
Speaker 8 (08:54):
I'm talking like really really attractive women, and you're like, oh, he's.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Enjoying life as a celebrity.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Now, I thought Johnny Manzel let his concern about being
cool get in the way of his football. I don't
think Jackson Dart does. I don't care that he's cool
and loves football. I think Jackson Dart plays for the record.
Let me defend Jackson dark and I remember, I didn't
think he was a first round quarterback. I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
The thing I like about Jackson Dart is young quarterbacks
(09:23):
make mistakes. There are certain things I will accept. One
of them is you're gonna have a hard time reading
defenses your first two years. The like it's hard, You're
gonna throw some picks. I'm okay with young quarterbacks throwing
picks here three to four. You got to bring those down.
The second thing is I like young quarterbacks to use
their feet while they're learning defenses. A lot of the times,
(09:46):
Jackson Dart is saying this is the only way I'm
gonna move chains. On this team, they don't have a
great receiving corp. So I don't love that he's in
a tent more than an ARII manager. I don't love that,
but I will say he's doing it for the right reasons,
which is we're missing our number one guy. We're missing Scataboo.
(10:07):
I'm trying to move the chain. I defended Lamar on this.
I've defended Herbert on this. Your first couple of years
in the leagues, dude, you got to move the chains
by any means possible. Young body, heals better than a
thirty year old body. I think he's a franchise quarterback.
He's better than I thought. I gotta give up. I
gotta give it up to him.
Speaker 8 (10:25):
Damn, you're handing now franchise quarterback tags like Santa hands.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Out Christmas presents. Are you sure?
Speaker 8 (10:31):
I mean, there's a debate in New York Giants world
right now. It's the Giants get the number one pick.
Do you take Mendoza?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I think absolutely, I take Mendoes Okay, six?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Five?
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, I mean Mendoza is an a plus prospect.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
But how do you take him? If you think Deck
Dart is a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
If she ever watched the NBA, it's called upgrader. You
a better star. I mean, I like Jackson Dart. Somebody
would absolutely give you either a one or two or
a three and a four for Jackson Dart. Mendoza is
a every three or four year prospect size, arm, grateful, humble,
great family, like Mendoza as a whole. Last year me
(11:15):
a lot of people didn't like Shadouer. Only one team
moved up for Jackson Dart That would Last year was
a very mid year for college quarterback and that.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Dovetails into our final story, which is mister Mendoza wins
the Heisman Trophy Saturday night in a bit of a
landslide Colin.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
It wasn't even close.
Speaker 8 (11:32):
The guy's had an unbelievable college football story. He was
at Cal, He's out Indiana. He wins the Heisman. They're
the number one seed. He rolled over Diego Pavia of Vandy,
who was not thrilled and put some silly stuff on
social media.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Here's Mendoza after the victory.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
To my lineman who protected me, every receiver and tight
end that bailed me out and made me look good,
to every running back who fought for more yards, and
to our defense they gave us the heart, swagger and
more second chances than we definitely deserved. This trophy might
have my name on it, but it belongs to all
of you.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
It belongs the.
Speaker 10 (12:09):
First time in Bloomington, playing in front of who's your
nation is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I every general manager in the league is on the
phone now, anybody want my good quarterback? That kid is
app I've said this most great quarterbacks. One of the
things I loved about Andrew Locke a little bit of
a nerd. I am, okay, my quarterback not being cool. Now,
(12:37):
by the time you're worth three hundred million, you know
you could be a little cool then. But I've seen
this kid twice against Ohio State and Penn State and
those Ohio State's defense and their secondary is the best
I've seen in years. You and Indiana's got good players,
but this is a plus plus prospect.
Speaker 8 (13:00):
Anything about in my love You don't see the happy
feet in the pocket getting nervous. He sees and I
know this sounds silly. He's very smart, like incredibly, he's
on his second business school. That's the kind of guy
who he's not nervous. Nothing rattles him. You see him
in the pocket.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (13:14):
I'm very curious to see what he does in the playoff.
I don't see why they can't win the national championship call.
I know that defensive loss they have all they can.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
They can.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I mean one of the things that hurts them. They
lost a great edge, yeah to injury, and they may
face Ohio State again, and Ohio State won't be coming
off a Michigan win. So I would take Ohio State
in a rematch. But somebody asked me this weekend, who
do you like in the Natty? And I said, all
(13:43):
I know is I think Ohio State in Indiana the
two best teams I've seen, and George's third. After that,
you guys can argue, and by.
Speaker 6 (13:49):
A mile, Indiana has the best quarterback of those three.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Sorry, no disrespect to stock Gunner or saying, but me
knows is way better.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Than this Guy's incredibly easy, got to root for God,
what a story the Vanderbilt guy. You can have Jmack
with the news.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the lie.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
You don't have the judgment to be respectful after losing
the Heisman. What do I think I'm getting in the
fourth quarter of an NFL game that's tied and you
have the ball like you're people tell you what they
are and who they are, And that was not good.
He came back and apologized not good. Uh, We're going
(14:33):
to Pittsburgh Steelers tonight hosting Miami. What are we to
make of Mike Tomlin's future? What are we to make
of the Steelers who look like the weakest division leading team?
We are live It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Well, Mike the Fabo covers the Pittsburgh Steelers at the
Athletic formerly at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and I love
when we bring people on who have their feet on
the ground covering the team. And let's bring him on live,
Mike de Fabo. So you know, there's a lot of
times I'll hear stuff and it's like, well, I mean,
it's it's conjecture, a conjecture, it's it's it's Internet. It's
(15:19):
not terribly accurate. Mike Tomlin. My question has always been,
if you're gonna have the most expensive defense, then it
has to be good. And can you solve the running
game once in the next seven years? How is how
is he viewing? And they just don't fire coaches, so
I would guess Mike his job is one hundred percent safe.
(15:44):
Or is that overstating it.
Speaker 9 (15:47):
Yeah, I mean with Mike Tomlin, the conversation is there's
a very big difference between his approval rating and his
job security. His approval rating right now in Pittsburgh has
never been lower. You look at what happened two weeks
ago at Akrocer Stadium. I believe that fans came to
the stadium and to that game to boom Mike Tomlin
and to chant fire Tomlin. That's where this fan base
(16:07):
is at after not winning a playoff game since January
of twenty twenty seven of twenty seventeen, and if they
don't win a playoff game this year, it'll be nine
consecutive years without a playoff win. But like I mentioned,
there's a big difference between approval rating and job security.
Mike Tomlin is signed through the twenty twenty seven season.
Now there's an option year with all of that, so
(16:28):
twenty twenty six could be his last year. But the
Steelers do not fire coaches, especially a guy like Mike Tomlin,
who's one of the highest pid coaches in all of
professional sports with the reported salary of sixteen million dollars
per year. So if there is going to be any
kind of breakup. I strongly believe that Mike Tomlin himself
is going to be the one that has a very
(16:52):
significant say in this, because he would either have to
waive a no trade clause or decide after hearing fire
Tomlin chanin and listening to criticism from the media, maybe
he will decide at some point that he doesn't want
to continue to coach in a city that doesn't appreciate
him any longer. But given the way the Steelers do
business and the way the Rooney family does business, I
(17:12):
wouldn't expect them to pay a coach like Mike Tomlin
not to coach Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
How is it viewed? It feels pretty successful he and
the DK metcalf pairing meh. But Aaron feels like all
things considered, no run game O line remains okay. How's
it viewed in Pittsburgh? Yeah, I would agree with you.
Speaker 9 (17:34):
I think that if the Steelers had to do it
over again, I think that they would wait out Aaron
Rodgers and ultimately sign him. I mean, when he was signed,
the formula was supposed to be that people said, well,
Aaron Rodgers might not be what he once was, but
he won't need to be because he'll be supported by
the NFL's highest aid defense and an offense that has
(17:55):
a coordinated Arthur Smith who wants to run the football
and made repeated investments into their offensive line, and none
of those things have been true. This defense that was
billed as the highest paid defense. You know, if you
pay the most, you should get the best, and they
have been average at best. I mean, they've allowed thirty
points or more five times this season, and at one
(18:16):
point they were on pace to be the highest scoring
defense in the Mike Tomlin era.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
So not good results there.
Speaker 9 (18:22):
And then running the ball has just been a completely
inconsistent endeavor. So in a lot of cases they've leaned
on Aaron Rodgers and his right arm.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
He hasn't been perfect.
Speaker 9 (18:31):
It's been an up and down season, but considering he's
forty two years old and playing behind, you know, an
offense with a lot of question marks, I think that
he's been about as good as they could have expected.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Listen, it feels like Tomlin is very reluctant to part
with a TJ. Watt Heyward. It's just those are his guys,
like he likes the older player. TJ. Watch is not
going to play to night. What is his future in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 9 (19:00):
You know, TJ just signed that big contract, and I
think that internally there is certainly a feeling that they
would like him to retire as Steeler.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
They often talked about the one helmet guys.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Guys who were drafted by the Steelers play their whole
careers there and ultimately go into the Hall of Fame
as a Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 7 (19:17):
So I think that that's the vision for TJ. Watt.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
But right now, the concern is that he could end
up having a career where he has all kinds of
incredible individual achievements but does nothing in the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
You know, tonight the Steelers are going to be hosting
Manka Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
During his six seasons, he did incredible things here in Pittsburgh.
Collectively or cumulatively over those six years. The Steelers had
one of the best defenses in the league over that span,
but they did nothing in the playoffs. And that's really
the concern with the TJ. Watt, who's now thirty one
years old, and he is, I hate to say it,
he's had a bit of a down year and you
could wonder if he's showing some small signs of regression.
(19:58):
I mean, he is you're comparing him to what he
want his peak, and his peak is one of the
most dominant players over the last decade. But you look
at his sack totals, you look at his next gen
stats in terms of how he's getting off the line
of scrimmage, and he doesn't look like he's quite the
same dominant player as he was in his mid twenties.
(20:18):
And time is running out for him and for a
guy like Cam Hayward who has just one more year
left on his contract.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
I saw a story about Tomlin about two weeks ago
and somebody said Tomlin's people leaked it to let everybody
know he may be available. That doesn't feel like Tomlin
to me, but I understand these powerful agents. Where are
the Rooneyes in Tomlin? I know we addressed it earlier,
but I mean the Roonies are pretty conservative. Mike's an
(20:45):
old school guy. I've heard there there's some not discomfort,
but disappointment. I mean, you don't win a playoff game
for eight years, that is a stretch. Are the Roonies
on the Tomlins forever defending privately each other? Or are
there fissures?
Speaker 9 (21:07):
You know, I think that they're pretty united, and I
think that Art Rooney really has respect for Mike Tomlin
and appreciates.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
What Mike Tomlin has done.
Speaker 9 (21:15):
So after each season, Art Rooney meets with a small
group of reporters, and you know, most recently there's been
a lot of heat and a lot of questions about
Mike Tomlin's job status and some of the things that
Art Roney talks about.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
He says, like, look, Mike Tomlin wouldn't have won all
these games if he's not a good coach.
Speaker 9 (21:33):
And to that point, Mike Tomlin is three wins away
from matching Chuck Knowles's regular season mark, and Tomlin will
have done so in significantly fewer games.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (21:44):
Also, Art Rooney always points out that Mike Tomlin gets
players to buy in and play till the end of seasons,
and that's important to Art and that certainly is true.
Just last week in the locker room, I was talking
to Calvin Austin, one of their young wide receivers, and
he said, the whole world can be saying fire Tomlin,
but in this locker room, we still believe in Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
And I think that that's an important thing.
Speaker 9 (22:07):
Here for this team and for Art Rouney, because Art
Rooney takes the pulse of the locker room, and I
think that if he feels like Mike Tomlin still has
the heartbeat of that locker room, if guys are still
fighting to play for him, then I think that Art
Rooney's going to keep Mike Tomlin for the future. And so,
you know, as much as I think there is a
bit of impatience on the part of Art Rooney and
(22:30):
they've been doing things in an uncharacteristic Steelers way, you
look at their aggressive offseason to try to shake things up,
I still think he's willing to give Mike Tomlin the
benefit of the doubt, especially when you consider their history
with coaches and how long of leashes they've given other
coaches in the past.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Yeah, I think tonight Miami is running the ball. I
think tonight's actually interesting. You think of Miami cold weather
and your roll your eyes. What do you expect tonight?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Yeah, I think that that's really going to be the
key to the game.
Speaker 9 (22:59):
Canvas Deelers stop the run, which has been a challenge
for them this year. You know, last time they were
in Akrascher Stadium, the Buffalo Bill said, a new record
for an opponent with two hundred and forty nine rushing yards. Okay,
So now they turn around a couple weeks later and
what would be different?
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (23:17):
And so the real the thing to keep your eye
on would be Derek Harmon. He's their rookie first round
pick at defensive tackle, and when he's been in the game,
they've been decent at stopping the run. They've allowed about
ninety four rushing yards per game. When he's not played
in games, they've allowed one hundred yards more per game.
And so you look at Miami Dolphins, they're averaging one
(23:39):
hundred and ninety two rushing yards per game since week ten.
Since Week ten, the Steelers have allowed the most rushing
yards in the league. So that's really where it starts.
It ends. It's going to be cold, both teams are
going to be running the ball. It's going to be
kind of probably an ugly type of game, and really
it all comes down to can the Steelers win the
live scrimmage on defense.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Mike to Fabo good stuff, the Athletic Steelers beat writer
formerly Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Enjoy yourself tonight, Dress warmly and
we'll see you. I'll bring you back on soon. Thanks Bud.
Speaker 9 (24:11):
Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You bet he does a great job. It's interesting game tonight.
The Dolphins' current strength is the Steelers' weakness. And you
know it's funny, like Green Bay's a small market, but
they have been leaning offense forever. Pittsburgh's a small market.
They are just loyal the defense, and like, who's had
more postseason success, Who's had more success at quarterback? So
(24:35):
I mean there are certain times in the culture of sports.
I remember the Lakers for a while were a little
apprehensive a little bit on the three point shot, and
it's like, no, guys, it's here. Those European guys come over,
even the bigs, they can shoot it. Like you got
to embrace certain things in baseball. They're certain analytics. Similarly,
(24:56):
Steels feel a little outdated, not quite current to the market.
Get placed, but they've got a lot of stability, which
the New York football teams do not have. The other story,
I mean, I think over the weekend, if I wrapped
a bowl around the weekend, it's that two teams Denver
and Chicago with really good young quarterbacks rookie deal allowing
(25:19):
their franchises to stack them. Chicago's roster is really good.
Denver's play a little better. I think bo Nix solidified
his rep yesterday. And I think Caleb Williams, it's hard
to be a doubter with his horsepower durability doesn't throw picks.
I mean, he was on full display yesterday. Here's Albert
(25:40):
Breer on the growth of the former USC Trojan.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
They teach him how to play quarterback, Like that's really
what it was, you know, and like they felt like
we got to figure out, like how much we.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Can throw onto this kid, how much this kid can handle,
because they.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
Felt like he was smart and he had the aptitude
to do it. But they got to play who they felt.
Speaker 8 (26:00):
Like was really raw that didn't really care if it
didn't look good in the summer.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
It was we're going to overload.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Him with information now and then we'll scale it back
as we build the offense and we'll lean into what
he's good at, and then we'll build him back up
from there. Yeah, it's I mean everything. I really believe this.
There's never been a warm Weather dynasty in football. Marino
Shula should have been. It wasn't, And a big part
of it is the heart of the NFL is December
(26:29):
fifteenth to early February, Chicago, not just because they play
in Chicago. They are built for cold weather. They are
a power run team with a quarterback who doesn't have
to throw deep, can strong arm. That could handle the win.
But we'll also just take off. So they've got a
really good old line. They love to run the football.
(26:50):
They've got a power thrower and a power runner at quarterback.
They're good on third down. They win the takeaway battle,
the turnover battle. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh thirtieth and rushing on offense
since week ten. So Chicago in crappy weather, guys, it's windy,
it's off the lake. We're running the football. Pittsburgh can't.
(27:13):
Pittsburgh's not built to win going forward. They're just not.
You got an old quarterback that mostly if he's not
feeling it in the pocket, you're done. And they can't run.
Chicago's the opposite. If Caleb's like struggling, it's windy, I'm
going to keep the ball myself. Great old line and
they can run. So it's interesting. I watched Chicago built
(27:37):
for the postseason. I watched Pittsburgh and I'm like, not
at all, So we'll see. All I know is this
those playoff matchups. They're getting close.
Speaker 8 (27:48):
J Mack, Well, wait, hold on, this week Bears host
the Packers. Things broke amazingly for Chicago this past weekend.
That Green Bay situation's bleak.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
What's the line?
Speaker 6 (27:58):
I think the Bears get him? I haven't seen a
line yet, but I also.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
Say this, the Bears probably get the two seed and
then would host the seven, which would be likely Green
Bay or Detroit. Detroit's only got a forty percent chance,
so it'd be round three who killed the Bears in
the last meeting Christian Watson. He doesn't look like he's
gonna be back this week. I think that your Bears
looking I mean, they're sitting pretty right now, Colin.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
First things first, is around the corner. Tough weekend for
Nick right
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
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dot com, or stream us live every day on the
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Here's the seeding right now in the NFC, the playoff picture,
and I think the only question and I'll keep our
radio listeners in formats, Let's show the NFC playoff picture.
Rams have clinched a playoff berth one seed, Chicago two,
Philadelphia three Bears beat them in Philly, Tampa's reeling four,
(00:52):
Seattle's the best fifth wildcard seed in a long time,
San Francisco maybe second best, and the Green Bay at seven.
The only question I have is can Green Bay now
with Micah Christian Watson, Tucker Kraft out, this is going
to be a real test for Matt Lafleur and Jordan Love.
(01:13):
This is a real test. Now can Detroit, which, by
the way, for three quarters of that game looked like
they had the number of the Rams in LA. Can
Detroit now with a better roster than green Bay due
to the Craft Watson, Michael Parsons injury. Can Detroit come
roaring back? I don't know what Detroit schedules not in
front of me and beat green Bay. I would rather
(01:34):
face green Bay today. I didn't feel like this a
week ago without the injuries. I'd rather face green Bay
today than Detroit with all that firepower Gibbs the O
line armor on Saint Brown, Hutchison off the edge. So
Detroit with green Bay's injuries, to me, would be the
tougher matchup for anybody in the NFC playoff picture. Here's
(01:57):
the AFC playoff picture, which doesn't feel nearly as good
at the top. I like Denver, they have clinched a playoff.
Berth New England. I still feel they're kind of in
to rebuild it too. Jacksonville, I know, I know. I
can't that division. I can't trust them. Pittsburgh. I mean,
do anybody like Pittsburgh Chargers. I love them. If they
(02:21):
had both their offensive tackles, I think they could win
the Super Bowl. Buffalo don't trust their defense. I tell you.
After Denver, Houston at the seventh seed is the one
I trust because I know that defense and CJ. Stroud
with time can beat anybody in the sport, including the Rams,
the Colts. Fun story, forget it. Baltimore have to go,
(02:43):
have to sweep win rest of the games. They feel
a bit broken. Here's Sean Payton on clinching a playoff spot.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
It's nice to clinch a playoff berth. You know, gold
one is trying to go win your division. Goal to
is try to get the best seed, and then goal
three is, you know, try to win a world championship.
And so we still haven't really accomplished won two or three.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So remember one is when the division. So we're still
going for the record to show you the job. Sean
Payton is done. Russell Wilson is still on Denver's cap sheet.
I mean, this seems inconceivable. How do they have a
(03:32):
roster this good on both sides? How are they the
number one seed in the mahomes Borough Josh Allen.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Side? That is all time coaching. Sean Payton can be
a little gruff, a little outspoken. Guy's great first ballot.
Guy Guy is great.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Easter not a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio
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Speaker 1 (04:02):
Hey is Covino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio Now.
Speaker 5 (04:05):
In addition to hearing us live weekdays from five to
seven pm Eastern two to fourth Pacific on Fox Sports Radio,
We're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for
the show.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yep, that's right.
Speaker 5 (04:16):
You can now watch Covino and Rich live on YouTube
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Speaker 6 (04:19):
All you gotta do.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
Search Covino and Rich FSR on YouTube again, go to
YouTube search Covino and Rich FSR. Check us out on YouTube, Subscribe,
hit that thumbs up icon, comment away, j Mickle the.
Speaker 7 (04:32):
News, No, no, turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
All right, Colin, Let's start with the game of yesterday.
Speaker 8 (04:42):
Oh it was a classic Bill's thirty five Patriots thirty one.
I was watching this and it was twenty one dozing Patriots,
and I remember I mentioned I love the Bills here
and I'm like, oh my gosh, what's going on?
Speaker 6 (04:55):
And what a comeback on? They made a key adjustment
in the second half. You know what they did. They
just said, screw it, We're gonna blitz the hell out
of Drake May.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
They turned up their blitz percentage. May was a little
rattled and they did some interesting stuff. They would drop
Bosa from his rushing into coverage and it confused May.
I think McDermot was a stroke of genius in the
second half. After the game, Stefan Diggs talked about hell listen,
this was a needed result for the Patriots.
Speaker 7 (05:21):
Interesting, So are you playing a team like that?
Speaker 8 (05:24):
They played from behind, they used to play it from
and fight you back and Klawn.
Speaker 7 (05:28):
They've been the gup for some years and they led
his division for a while.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
So in order to get over that home you know,
I play sixty minute football and executed out of hot level.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Yeah. I think he's right. It's almost like before March madness,
Like you know, if you're undefeated, you're like you know what,
or you're a really great team. It's like we need
some close games. I do feel like New England had
a bit of a charm life, you know you and I.
One of the reasons I picked them as a shocking
team is that the easiest schedule. The niners in them
had an easy schedule, and I think it's helped both teams.
(05:59):
Walter good at help both teams. I also think they're
using backups on the left side of the offensive line,
so that blitzing stuff was doubly effective. And you know,
let's give McDermott and Buffalo credit. Go on the road
you want to shoot out those aren't easy. And I
just can't wait to see Buffalo in the playoffs because
this is the year. It's wide open.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
So after it was twenty one nothing, the Bills scored
touchdowns on five straight drives com yeap By in a row.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
And there are some numbers I did not realize.
Speaker 8 (06:29):
The Patriots are dead lasting red zone stoppage defensively, you
get in the red zone, it's like touchdown after touchdown.
That's not going to bode well for the playoffs. Final note, Colin,
buy some advanced metrics. The Bills are the best second
half team in the NFL. They just steamroll folks. They
put her around.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Now.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
I don't know if it's bad game.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
Plans for McDermott or Josh Allen just turning it up
a notch, But in the second half they are steamrolling folks.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I know that.
Speaker 8 (06:53):
You know, they don't have any game breakers outside of Allen.
I think this is the most dangerous team in the AFC.
I would put Houston second. Can you ride with that
or not?
Speaker 9 (07:02):
Really?
Speaker 1 (07:03):
You like bo Nicks, Well, I think Denver's got a
much much better roster and the game's gonna be in
Denver and I get the better head coach. I'm telling you,
Sean Payton, you watched that game against Green Bay yesterday.
Denver was deceptive and clever. I mean they Denver does
not have a hole.
Speaker 8 (07:22):
They were down twenty three to fourteen, like the Packers
rolled them to any injuries.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
At to an excellent team.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Yeah, I mean Packer, Oh, the Packers. He gets me
so sad.
Speaker 8 (07:31):
So just hypothetically, I'm curious where are you.
Speaker 6 (07:33):
Standing on this?
Speaker 8 (07:34):
Texans go to the Patriots in the first round, seven
verses two? Who you have favored in that game? That
might be like close to a pickup.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
I'll take the under and Houston would probably get a
point or two. I'd probably take Houston.
Speaker 6 (07:47):
Yeah, that's just that's a tough matchup for the young quarterback.
Speaker 8 (07:49):
All right, let's move on to Jackson Dart. I think
you had the joke earlier this season. The guy's paying rent.
He spent so much time in the blue tent. Colin
unbelievable stat He was in the Blue tent again yesterday,
the fifth time in ten games this season including the preseason,
so fifty percent of his appearances he's going.
Speaker 6 (08:08):
To the Blue tench for concussions.
Speaker 8 (08:10):
After the game, Dart was surprised he had to get
checked out.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
This definitely wasn't the first time that I've been surprised
that I've had to come on, but I was definitely surprised.
Speaker 7 (08:22):
Just I feel like it was that big of a
hit at all.
Speaker 9 (08:27):
I mean, you don't just see people getting taken out
of the game like that, So I definitely feel like
there's a there's a sensitivity for some reason.
Speaker 8 (08:37):
I mean, listen, I like this guy. I think he's cool, right,
he seems like a cool guy. Are you getting any
Manzell vibes from.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Him at the podium?
Speaker 8 (08:45):
No? No, no, no, okay, no, he's not much better. I mean,
he's just he's swagged out. He's got the Louis Vuitton hat,
the thick necklaces.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
I'm sure you've seen.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
He's dating all these ig batties.
Speaker 8 (08:54):
I'm talking like really really attractive women, and you're like, oh, he's.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Enjoying life as a celebrity.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Now, I thought Johnny Manzel let his concern about being
cool get in the way of his football. I don't
think Jackson Dart does. I don't care that he's cool
and loves football. I think Jackson Dart plays for the record.
Let me defend Jackson dark and I remember, I didn't
think he was a first round quarterback. I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
The thing I like about Jackson Dart is young quarterbacks
(09:23):
make mistakes. There are certain things I will accept. One
of them is you're gonna have a hard time reading
defenses your first two years. The like it's hard, You're
gonna throw some picks. I'm okay with young quarterbacks throwing
picks here three to four. You got to bring those down.
The second thing is I like young quarterbacks to use
their feet while they're learning defenses. A lot of the times,
(09:46):
Jackson Dart is saying this is the only way I'm
gonna move chains. On this team, they don't have a
great receiving corp. So I don't love that he's in
a tent more than an ARII manager. I don't love that,
but I will say he's doing it for the right reasons,
which is we're missing our number one guy. We're missing Scataboo.
(10:07):
I'm trying to move the chain. I defended Lamar on this.
I've defended Herbert on this. Your first couple of years
in the leagues, dude, you got to move the chains
by any means possible. Young body, heals better than a
thirty year old body. I think he's a franchise quarterback.
He's better than I thought. I gotta give up. I
gotta give it up to him.
Speaker 8 (10:25):
Damn, you're handing now franchise quarterback tags like Santa hands.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Out Christmas presents. Are you sure?
Speaker 8 (10:31):
I mean, there's a debate in New York Giants world
right now. It's the Giants get the number one pick.
Do you take Mendoza?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
I think absolutely, I take Mendoes Okay, six?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Five?
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah, I mean Mendoza is an a plus prospect.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
But how do you take him? If you think Deck
Dart is a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
If she ever watched the NBA, it's called upgrader. You
a better star. I mean, I like Jackson Dart. Somebody
would absolutely give you either a one or two or
a three and a four for Jackson Dart. Mendoza is
a every three or four year prospect size, arm, grateful, humble,
great family, like Mendoza as a whole. Last year me
(11:15):
a lot of people didn't like Shadouer. Only one team
moved up for Jackson Dart That would Last year was
a very mid year for college quarterback and that.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Dovetails into our final story, which is mister Mendoza wins
the Heisman Trophy Saturday night in a bit of a
landslide Colin.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
It wasn't even close.
Speaker 8 (11:32):
The guy's had an unbelievable college football story. He was
at Cal, He's out Indiana. He wins the Heisman. They're
the number one seed. He rolled over Diego Pavia of Vandy,
who was not thrilled and put some silly stuff on
social media.
Speaker 6 (11:48):
Here's Mendoza after the victory.
Speaker 10 (11:51):
To my lineman who protected me, every receiver and tight
end that bailed me out and made me look good,
to every running back who fought for more yards, and
to our defense they gave us the heart, swagger and
more second chances than we definitely deserved. This trophy might
have my name on it, but it belongs to all
of you.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
It belongs the.
Speaker 10 (12:09):
First time in Bloomington, playing in front of who's your
nation is one of the greatest privileges of my life.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I every general manager in the league is on the
phone now, anybody want my good quarterback? That kid is
app I've said this most great quarterbacks. One of the
things I loved about Andrew Locke a little bit of
a nerd. I am, okay, my quarterback not being cool. Now,
(12:37):
by the time you're worth three hundred million, you know
you could be a little cool then. But I've seen
this kid twice against Ohio State and Penn State and
those Ohio State's defense and their secondary is the best
I've seen in years. You and Indiana's got good players,
but this is a plus plus prospect.
Speaker 8 (13:00):
Anything about in my love You don't see the happy
feet in the pocket getting nervous. He sees and I
know this sounds silly. He's very smart, like incredibly, he's
on his second business school. That's the kind of guy
who he's not nervous. Nothing rattles him. You see him
in the pocket.
Speaker 6 (13:13):
I don't know.
Speaker 8 (13:14):
I'm very curious to see what he does in the playoff.
I don't see why they can't win the national championship call.
I know that defensive loss they have all they can.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
They can.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I mean one of the things that hurts them. They
lost a great edge, yeah to injury, and they may
face Ohio State again, and Ohio State won't be coming
off a Michigan win. So I would take Ohio State
in a rematch. But somebody asked me this weekend, who
do you like in the Natty? And I said, all
(13:43):
I know is I think Ohio State in Indiana the
two best teams I've seen, and George's third. After that,
you guys can argue, and by.
Speaker 6 (13:49):
A mile, Indiana has the best quarterback of those three.
Speaker 8 (13:51):
Sorry, no disrespect to stock Gunner or saying, but me
knows is way better.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
Than this Guy's incredibly easy, got to root for God,
what a story the Vanderbilt guy. You can have Jmack
with the news.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the lie.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
You don't have the judgment to be respectful after losing
the Heisman. What do I think I'm getting in the
fourth quarter of an NFL game that's tied and you
have the ball like you're people tell you what they
are and who they are, And that was not good.
He came back and apologized not good. Uh, We're going
(14:33):
to Pittsburgh Steelers tonight hosting Miami. What are we to
make of Mike Tomlin's future? What are we to make
of the Steelers who look like the weakest division leading team?
We are live It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
Well, Mike the Fabo covers the Pittsburgh Steelers at the
Athletic formerly at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and I love
when we bring people on who have their feet on
the ground covering the team. And let's bring him on live,
Mike de Fabo. So you know, there's a lot of
times I'll hear stuff and it's like, well, I mean,
it's it's conjecture, a conjecture, it's it's it's Internet. It's
(15:19):
not terribly accurate. Mike Tomlin. My question has always been,
if you're gonna have the most expensive defense, then it
has to be good. And can you solve the running
game once in the next seven years? How is how
is he viewing? And they just don't fire coaches, so
I would guess Mike his job is one hundred percent safe.
(15:44):
Or is that overstating it.
Speaker 9 (15:47):
Yeah, I mean with Mike Tomlin, the conversation is there's
a very big difference between his approval rating and his
job security. His approval rating right now in Pittsburgh has
never been lower. You look at what happened two weeks
ago at Akrocer Stadium. I believe that fans came to
the stadium and to that game to boom Mike Tomlin
and to chant fire Tomlin. That's where this fan base
(16:07):
is at after not winning a playoff game since January
of twenty twenty seven of twenty seventeen, and if they
don't win a playoff game this year, it'll be nine
consecutive years without a playoff win. But like I mentioned,
there's a big difference between approval rating and job security.
Mike Tomlin is signed through the twenty twenty seven season.
Now there's an option year with all of that, so
(16:28):
twenty twenty six could be his last year. But the
Steelers do not fire coaches, especially a guy like Mike Tomlin,
who's one of the highest pid coaches in all of
professional sports with the reported salary of sixteen million dollars
per year. So if there is going to be any
kind of breakup. I strongly believe that Mike Tomlin himself
is going to be the one that has a very
(16:52):
significant say in this, because he would either have to
waive a no trade clause or decide after hearing fire
Tomlin chanin and listening to criticism from the media, maybe
he will decide at some point that he doesn't want
to continue to coach in a city that doesn't appreciate
him any longer. But given the way the Steelers do
business and the way the Rooney family does business, I
(17:12):
wouldn't expect them to pay a coach like Mike Tomlin
not to coach Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
How is it viewed? It feels pretty successful he and
the DK metcalf pairing meh. But Aaron feels like all
things considered, no run game O line remains okay. How's
it viewed in Pittsburgh? Yeah, I would agree with you.
Speaker 9 (17:34):
I think that if the Steelers had to do it
over again, I think that they would wait out Aaron
Rodgers and ultimately sign him. I mean, when he was signed,
the formula was supposed to be that people said, well,
Aaron Rodgers might not be what he once was, but
he won't need to be because he'll be supported by
the NFL's highest aid defense and an offense that has
(17:55):
a coordinated Arthur Smith who wants to run the football
and made repeated investments into their offensive line, and none
of those things have been true. This defense that was
billed as the highest paid defense. You know, if you
pay the most, you should get the best, and they
have been average at best. I mean, they've allowed thirty
points or more five times this season, and at one
(18:16):
point they were on pace to be the highest scoring
defense in the Mike Tomlin era.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
So not good results there.
Speaker 9 (18:22):
And then running the ball has just been a completely
inconsistent endeavor. So in a lot of cases they've leaned
on Aaron Rodgers and his right arm.
Speaker 7 (18:30):
He hasn't been perfect.
Speaker 9 (18:31):
It's been an up and down season, but considering he's
forty two years old and playing behind, you know, an
offense with a lot of question marks, I think that
he's been about as good as they could have expected.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Listen, it feels like Tomlin is very reluctant to part
with a TJ. Watt Heyward. It's just those are his guys,
like he likes the older player. TJ. Watch is not
going to play to night. What is his future in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 9 (19:00):
You know, TJ just signed that big contract, and I
think that internally there is certainly a feeling that they
would like him to retire as Steeler.
Speaker 7 (19:08):
They often talked about the one helmet guys.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Guys who were drafted by the Steelers play their whole
careers there and ultimately go into the Hall of Fame
as a Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 7 (19:17):
So I think that that's the vision for TJ. Watt.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
But right now, the concern is that he could end
up having a career where he has all kinds of
incredible individual achievements but does nothing in the playoffs.
Speaker 7 (19:30):
You know, tonight the Steelers are going to be hosting
Manka Fitzpatrick.
Speaker 9 (19:33):
During his six seasons, he did incredible things here in Pittsburgh.
Collectively or cumulatively over those six years. The Steelers had
one of the best defenses in the league over that span,
but they did nothing in the playoffs. And that's really
the concern with the TJ. Watt, who's now thirty one
years old, and he is, I hate to say it,
he's had a bit of a down year and you
could wonder if he's showing some small signs of regression.
(19:58):
I mean, he is you're comparing him to what he
want his peak, and his peak is one of the
most dominant players over the last decade. But you look
at his sack totals, you look at his next gen
stats in terms of how he's getting off the line
of scrimmage, and he doesn't look like he's quite the
same dominant player as he was in his mid twenties.
(20:18):
And time is running out for him and for a
guy like Cam Hayward who has just one more year
left on his contract.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
I saw a story about Tomlin about two weeks ago
and somebody said Tomlin's people leaked it to let everybody
know he may be available. That doesn't feel like Tomlin
to me, but I understand these powerful agents. Where are
the Rooneyes in Tomlin? I know we addressed it earlier,
but I mean the Roonies are pretty conservative. Mike's an
(20:45):
old school guy. I've heard there there's some not discomfort,
but disappointment. I mean, you don't win a playoff game
for eight years, that is a stretch. Are the Roonies
on the Tomlins forever defending privately each other? Or are
there fissures?
Speaker 9 (21:07):
You know, I think that they're pretty united, and I
think that Art Rooney really has respect for Mike Tomlin
and appreciates.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
What Mike Tomlin has done.
Speaker 9 (21:15):
So after each season, Art Rooney meets with a small
group of reporters, and you know, most recently there's been
a lot of heat and a lot of questions about
Mike Tomlin's job status and some of the things that
Art Roney talks about.
Speaker 7 (21:28):
He says, like, look, Mike Tomlin wouldn't have won all
these games if he's not a good coach.
Speaker 9 (21:33):
And to that point, Mike Tomlin is three wins away
from matching Chuck Knowles's regular season mark, and Tomlin will
have done so in significantly fewer games.
Speaker 7 (21:43):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (21:44):
Also, Art Rooney always points out that Mike Tomlin gets
players to buy in and play till the end of seasons,
and that's important to Art and that certainly is true.
Just last week in the locker room, I was talking
to Calvin Austin, one of their young wide receivers, and
he said, the whole world can be saying fire Tomlin,
but in this locker room, we still believe in Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 7 (22:05):
And I think that that's an important thing.
Speaker 9 (22:07):
Here for this team and for Art Rouney, because Art
Rooney takes the pulse of the locker room, and I
think that if he feels like Mike Tomlin still has
the heartbeat of that locker room, if guys are still
fighting to play for him, then I think that Art
Rooney's going to keep Mike Tomlin for the future. And so,
you know, as much as I think there is a
bit of impatience on the part of Art Rooney and
(22:30):
they've been doing things in an uncharacteristic Steelers way, you
look at their aggressive offseason to try to shake things up,
I still think he's willing to give Mike Tomlin the
benefit of the doubt, especially when you consider their history
with coaches and how long of leashes they've given other
coaches in the past.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Yeah, I think tonight Miami is running the ball. I
think tonight's actually interesting. You think of Miami cold weather
and your roll your eyes. What do you expect tonight?
Speaker 7 (22:57):
Yeah, I think that that's really going to be the
key to the game.
Speaker 9 (22:59):
Canvas Deelers stop the run, which has been a challenge
for them this year. You know, last time they were
in Akrascher Stadium, the Buffalo Bill said, a new record
for an opponent with two hundred and forty nine rushing yards. Okay,
So now they turn around a couple weeks later and
what would be different?
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Okay?
Speaker 9 (23:17):
And so the real the thing to keep your eye
on would be Derek Harmon. He's their rookie first round
pick at defensive tackle, and when he's been in the game,
they've been decent at stopping the run. They've allowed about
ninety four rushing yards per game. When he's not played
in games, they've allowed one hundred yards more per game.
And so you look at Miami Dolphins, they're averaging one
(23:39):
hundred and ninety two rushing yards per game since week ten.
Since Week ten, the Steelers have allowed the most rushing
yards in the league. So that's really where it starts.
It ends. It's going to be cold, both teams are
going to be running the ball. It's going to be
kind of probably an ugly type of game, and really
it all comes down to can the Steelers win the
live scrimmage on defense.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
Mike to Fabo good stuff, the Athletic Steelers beat writer
formerly Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Enjoy yourself tonight, Dress warmly and
we'll see you. I'll bring you back on soon. Thanks Bud.
Speaker 9 (24:11):
Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you so much for having me.
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
You bet he does a great job. It's interesting game tonight.
The Dolphins' current strength is the Steelers' weakness. And you
know it's funny, like Green Bay's a small market, but
they have been leaning offense forever. Pittsburgh's a small market.
They are just loyal the defense, and like, who's had
more postseason success, Who's had more success at quarterback? So
(24:35):
I mean there are certain times in the culture of sports.
I remember the Lakers for a while were a little
apprehensive a little bit on the three point shot, and
it's like, no, guys, it's here. Those European guys come over,
even the bigs, they can shoot it. Like you got
to embrace certain things in baseball. They're certain analytics. Similarly,
(24:56):
Steels feel a little outdated, not quite current to the market.
Get placed, but they've got a lot of stability, which
the New York football teams do not have. The other story,
I mean, I think over the weekend, if I wrapped
a bowl around the weekend, it's that two teams Denver
and Chicago with really good young quarterbacks rookie deal allowing
(25:19):
their franchises to stack them. Chicago's roster is really good.
Denver's play a little better. I think bo Nix solidified
his rep yesterday. And I think Caleb Williams, it's hard
to be a doubter with his horsepower durability doesn't throw picks.
I mean, he was on full display yesterday. Here's Albert
(25:40):
Breer on the growth of the former USC Trojan.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
They teach him how to play quarterback, Like that's really
what it was, you know, and like they felt like
we got to figure out, like how much we.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Can throw onto this kid, how much this kid can handle,
because they.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
Felt like he was smart and he had the aptitude
to do it. But they got to play who they felt.
Speaker 8 (26:00):
Like was really raw that didn't really care if it
didn't look good in the summer.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
It was we're going to overload.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
Him with information now and then we'll scale it back
as we build the offense and we'll lean into what
he's good at, and then we'll build him back up
from there. Yeah, it's I mean everything. I really believe this.
There's never been a warm Weather dynasty in football. Marino
Shula should have been. It wasn't, And a big part
of it is the heart of the NFL is December
(26:29):
fifteenth to early February, Chicago, not just because they play
in Chicago. They are built for cold weather. They are
a power run team with a quarterback who doesn't have
to throw deep, can strong arm. That could handle the win.
But we'll also just take off. So they've got a
really good old line. They love to run the football.
(26:50):
They've got a power thrower and a power runner at quarterback.
They're good on third down. They win the takeaway battle,
the turnover battle. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh thirtieth and rushing on offense
since week ten. So Chicago in crappy weather, guys, it's windy,
it's off the lake. We're running the football. Pittsburgh can't.
(27:13):
Pittsburgh's not built to win going forward. They're just not.
You got an old quarterback that mostly if he's not
feeling it in the pocket, you're done. And they can't run.
Chicago's the opposite. If Caleb's like struggling, it's windy, I'm
going to keep the ball myself. Great old line and
they can run. So it's interesting. I watched Chicago built
(27:37):
for the postseason. I watched Pittsburgh and I'm like, not
at all, So we'll see. All I know is this
those playoff matchups. They're getting close.
Speaker 8 (27:48):
J Mack, Well, wait, hold on, this week Bears host
the Packers. Things broke amazingly for Chicago this past weekend.
That Green Bay situation's bleak.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
What's the line?
Speaker 6 (27:58):
I think the Bears get him? I haven't seen a
line yet, but I also.
Speaker 8 (28:01):
Say this, the Bears probably get the two seed and
then would host the seven, which would be likely Green
Bay or Detroit. Detroit's only got a forty percent chance,
so it'd be round three who killed the Bears in
the last meeting Christian Watson. He doesn't look like he's
gonna be back this week. I think that your Bears
looking I mean, they're sitting pretty right now, Colin.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
First things first, is around the corner. Tough weekend for
Nick right
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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