January 9, 2026 • 31 mins
Mark and Tommy Radio breakdown Steelers and Texans, and talk some Penguins during the pregame show.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Got a big football game Monday. You know, when I
believe the Steelers will win a playoff game when they're
not getting blown out at the end of the first half,
just sort of call them about this for the trip.
And by the way, Pittsburgh still does have a daily newspaper.
Let's put that fricking crap to bed. The Postcausette wasn't
the be all end all. If it was, it would
(00:22):
still exist. So let's go back in time. Last year
Steelers down by twenty one to Baltimore halftime. The year before,
down by twenty one to Buffalo midway through the second quarter,
twenty twenty one playoffs, down by twenty one seven to
(00:42):
Kansas City at halftime, twenty twenty playoffs, down by twenty
eight to Cleveland after the first quarter, to Cleveland at akroshore,
and then the twenty seventeen playoffs, down by twenty one
to Jacksonville early in the second quarter. And a lot
of you don't seem to think CJ. Stroud is a
(01:04):
big worry because he's not that good. Consider this, They
lost to Blake Bortles in twenty seventeen and to Tim
Tebow way back when twenty eleven but Monday Night is
a clean slate and the Steelers are gonna win.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Probably.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Actually, there's a SoundBite later gonna play Chris Sims a CBS.
It's all true, and after you hear it, you're thinking, Wow,
there's just no way the Steelers have a chance. In
a point of discussion that he brings up that I'll
mention now is that Rogers don't want to get hit.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It hasn't all year. And a friend of mine pointed out,
after a.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Week or so of discussing that Rogers didn't want Garrett
to break the sack record in that game against Cleveland
and seventeen, and that's why he was getting rid of
the ball so quick. A friend of mine pointed out, rightly,
Rogers is been getting rid of the ball that quick
all year to avoid being hit, not just to deny
Garrett the sack record. So will Rogers quite frankly, grow
(02:17):
a set and hang onto the ball and risk getting
hit to make plays Monday night, because I think he's
gonna need to with the pressure Uston figures to apply.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
All I ask Aaron.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Is that you don't prove that all Yeller rate no dog, No,
I mean, let's talk truth. That's true, he don't want
to get hit. Hey, if I was forty two, I'm
sixty five. Come to think of it, I never did
want to get hit. But that's big. That's a point
of discussion. And again, if he don't want to get
(02:52):
hit Monday night and they lose because of it, or
if it's a factor, I just wouldn't bring him back
next year. How About there was a tweet I think
from the B team. You know how Rogers and Tomlin
and Cam all walk off the field together after games,
(03:15):
and Cam did a SoundBite about how he wants to
bring Rogers into the Steelers tradition.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I got a better idea, fellas, how about.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
We revisit the old Steeler tradition of walking off the
field after winning a playoff game. You know what, I'm
sick to death of all this absolute horseman or about
Steelers tradition and the logo. Yo, the tradition is to
win playoff games. Do it Monday or immediately after. Shut
(03:44):
the frig up, because this is big to me. I
know all you out there have grown to accept me
theocrity and except well never had a losing season, Well
every game meant something that you go f yourselves win
the friggin playoff game. Not to be critical. This is
(04:07):
the Mark Madden Show. You can follow me on Twitter
at Mark Madden. Next, let's talk now to Tommy Radio.
Tom those last five playoff losses I just talked about
have little bearing on this game. But all of that
is kind of scary, ain't it.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
It is pretty scary.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
But I will say this, most of what you just
laid out there, save from probably Jacksonville and maybe that
Cleveland game too with Baker.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And that was the COVID game, empty stadium.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Those were spaceship level offenses that the Steelers were having
to go up against Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes lamar
as an MVP caliber player last year with Baltimore, Josh
Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Right right, superman, You're not
getting that in this game against the Texans. I think
the offense for the Texans is underrated, but it is not,
you know, that kind of level.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, but you're getting the equivalent of that on the
other side of the ball. But I take that. I
just saw Matt Williamson.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Matt Williamson, our guru, the former pro and college Scott
He thinks this Houston defense is one of the best he's.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Ever ever seen. Wow, that's saying a lot. You are
getting that on that side of the ball. But I
take that because that's more conducive. I think to keep
in the game close. If it's a superstar Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like with the superstar defense, you could at least, you know,
force a rock fighters your teth ball. Yeah, you know,
protect the ball and if your defense keeps it in there,
which is so outdated, but it's the Steeler way and
Tomlin's lucky. It's also yeah to me go ryands his
way with Houston. Of those games I mentioned, which was
the worst, I would say the loss to Cleveland at home.
(05:32):
It was the COVID year empty act for sure, but
Cleveland scored on the first play, that batsnap, that fumbled
that they recovered in the end zone, and it just
kept getting worse.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I mean, if you're gonna let me count twenty seventeen,
that's gotta be the worst one.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
The one against Jacksonville.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
The team could have gone on a legitimate run that year,
the Jesse James year when he fumbled.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Oh, they had been in the AFC Championship game, just Chai.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Last year, Ben still had his superpowers. He was still
one of the best quarterbacks in football. Then, like that
was a total blown opportunity. Then yeah, yeah, no, no
question about that. But in terms of pure depression factor,
the Cleveland one, yeah, that takes the case.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
And again the COVID the empty state and that kind
of added to the depression though, and the snap over
the head from Pouncy right away to set the tone.
I was depressed before the game started because of the pandemic.
That was a ah, a bad time for for everybody.
I suppose. The deceptive one was down twenty one to
seven to Kansas City at halftime because Watt had that
that scoop and score. Uh was that? Was that a
(06:29):
stripping score? I mean, I forget if he made the sack, but.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I don't remember if he knocked the ball loose. He
scored the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
We should remember it's the only freaking big plays made
in the playoff game ever. But the Steelers had a
modicum of hope because it was seven zerl after that play.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, and that didn't happen until the second quarter of
the game. So like the defense was getting off the
field against that Chiefs offense. Then they just woke up
and then.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It was then boom boom, boom boom. I recall you
know where I watched that game? I I didn't.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I don't know. I went to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
There was a concert or something, so I didn't have
a viewing party, so I didn't get paid here and
I lost money because I always do there. I was
watching with mister Friday afternoon, and after what scored the touchdown,
but the kids City got the ball right away and
started to move it. I turned to MFA and said,
I think all we did was piss Mahomes off, and they.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Just like you said, ran up three quick scores before
the half.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I will say this, The sneaky one that they were
kind of in was the Pills one when Mason was
the starting quarterback. They were down twenty one nothing, but
at one point in the fourth quarter it was twenty
four to seventeen. Mason brought him back to within one score.
The defense allowed Josh Allen to go right down the
field on the next position. But like, that's kind of
the sneaky one that they were in, and it's so
funny that Rudolph was the quarterback for it.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
You're never out of a game when you have Mason
Rudolph quarterback.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I just said before might being two hurt on Rogers
about him not wanting to get hit, and he's got
to get over that for this game Sunday and should
be criticized after the season if we look back and
maybe recognize that as a trend we didn't spot for
a long time.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I mean, what would be to gain the hanging in
the pocket, the more usage of the tight ends going
down the seams.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Those something. They just don't have that many weapons. I mean, yeah,
I know that, but that doesn't mean just flip the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Well maybe it does, he does, because gamelan Warren are
your best weapons and you just flip the ball out
to that.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I just think if they lose this game, the Rogers
experiment was a failure and should not be repeated. And
I don't give a frig if he walks off the
field with Tom Win and Cam after the game.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I hate crap like that.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
By the way, Well they really set it up cut
and dry at the beginning of the season that we
got to win a playoff game. That's got to be
the goal here, which is lowering the bar for this franchise.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
For that to be the goal. But that was the goal,
so of course it's a failure.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
The mark's out there think they already did win a
playoff game with the playoffs playoff game against Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Yeah, I mean they absolutely have their out right now,
their spin zone because they have the division title, they
can say, well, you didn't do that last year, so
that's an improvement.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I get really mad you were about to get rid.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I get really mad when I hear about this tradition,
like when Cam sites crap like that, Cam, you have
won second nine playoff game, Shut the freak up and
produce pay your bills. That's what this team needs to do.
And I just don't want to hear about the dritch.
You know why. I'm sixty five. I lived the real
tradition the seventies. Then I sawt revived by Ben Roethlisberger,
(09:12):
Troy Pulamalu, James Ferrier, Real Steelers. They didn't care who
they walked off the field with. They just won freaking games.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
All of that stuff loses its luster and loses its
appeal when you don't win playoff games. When you win
playoff games, then those are cool little stories. It's like Oh,
it's cool that Cam and Tomlin do that and Rogers
is joining in. Yeah, but they've won what one playoff
game between those three in the past eight years, nine years?
Tomlin and Cam, Well, I think it's appropriate to Tom Win,
Cam and Aaron walk off the field together. It's the
three stooges of football con men, at least at this point.
(09:43):
I mean, Rogers you know, evolved to that, and Cam
and Tomlin have always been that. These losses, falling behind
quick and coming on flat, that's got to reflect on Tomlin, right,
no question about it. That's all coaching. Playoff losses, yeah,
I think so, that's all coaching right now. That's all
about having the team with the right mindset and also
having a good schematic game plan against a playoff caliber opponent.
(10:06):
So in every aspect you break that down, that's a
failure on coaching.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Just around the corner, gonna go over the key matchups
of the game Monday night and we will grade them
from A to B and predict their outcome. That's right
cliched formulaic talk radio. Just around the corner here on
one oh five to nine, always a great rock and
roll day on the Doublem show, but to lead off
with Zep.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And now faces don't get no better than that.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's my childhood in a nutshell led Zeppelin Faces and
we got UFO later, h Tom.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Let's go over the matchups in this game.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We talked about them some this week, but let's grade
them A through F in terms of importance in terms
of deciding the game. It's cliche talk radio, but let's
give them a grade, and that predicts how they wind up.
First off, Porter versus Nico Collins. How important who wins?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
That's a pretty important one. I don't know if it's
the most important one.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Well, first off, do you think they will man up
Porter on Nico Collins? Because yes, a lot of people
don't think that's a guarantee. That they might just let
the corners play their sides. Yeah, I think they should
do that.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I don't think they're good enough team to let their
corners play their sides right now, their secondary corner.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I don't either, And Nico Collins torched them a couple
of years ago, so they know how specifically dangerous he
can be against them.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I put that, like Bee, maybe the second most important
matchup for the Steelers in this game. Joey Porter Junior
is a very physical corner of course too, and Nico
Collins is a big physical receiver, so that matchup works
in the Steelers favors that way, like not a lot
of corners can hang with Collins.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Yeah, I gave it a bee as well.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I think Porter wins the matchup if you too, And boy,
that is a faux pas by Tomlin and his lackey
what's his name, Tarol Austin if they don't pursue that.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Matchup, absolutely, I think they're that's.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Like captain obvious level when when Porter hasn't allowed a
touchdown on like almost fifteen hundred consecutive snaps.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I don't want to make the Texans wide receiver room
out to be like the Steelers though, where it's just
like one guy in the Pips like Higgins and Noel.
The two rookies and Kirk are solid options as well,
but Joey Porter Junior needs to be on Collins. He's
the clear number one.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Is that a gladys Knight and the Pips right, you
should have said pimps like like like what he Harrelson
in White Man can't chump? Okay, next matchup Stingley versus
DK Metcalf.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I'm gonna say that's like C or D, but I
don't know if that's gonna be the matchup. The Texans
are good enough to just split the field left right,
and that's how they've done it all years. He's really good. Yeah,
and that's been their mo o all year. Like they
haven't followed. They've just left right in the field with
Stingley and Lassiter, and DK Metcalf's the best option as
(12:42):
far as the receiver for the Steelers mark, but he
does not put the fear in other defense's hearts like
a Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson. I don't think DK
Metcalf comes in and just blows up how the Texans
operate all of a sudden.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So what grade would you give it? Like, I'll go
D on that one. Actually, I'm giving it a C. I.
I don't think regardless of the coverage pursued, whether it's just,
you know, leave guys on their sides, or they do
man up Stingley and I tend to agree with Lassi
or I think they probably do just let the guys
play their side. It's just what they've done that is
their moo, But I don't think Metcalf's going to have
(13:13):
much of.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
A productive game.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I don't either, because either one of them is
a very solid corner and I think is gonna shut
him down well.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And the offense does know how to use DK anyway.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
That's kind of where I put it at d Is
just because like, yeah, he might have one big play,
but both him the.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Receiver sapotage as well. That said, he's been a total
bust this year. Remember was it yesterday? I said he
said six games this year of under fifty yards receiving. Tom,
I'd like to retract that I was wrong.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
It's eight eight.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Games this year of under fifty yards receiving and one
exactly at fifty.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
He's just not a number one, like a true number one,
no matter where you put him in this league. Matt
Williamson's been on that forever. We should listen to him earlier.
He's a good wide receiver, but he needs compliments aroun him.
Matt Williamson, Oh yeah, we should have listened to his compliment.
He needs more compliments around him. He's not just this,
you know, top five receiver that can drag an offense
along his back.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Okay, here's probably the souper de jure the Steelers tackles
versus Houston's pass rushers.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
What's your greade new wins that's gotta be a I
think that's the number one matchup.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
It's the most likely, and those it is the basis
on which we're assigning the grades. I think it's the
most likely of the matchups to determine who wins the game.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
It's hard to not pick that Houston wins that matchup.
It's the best edge rushing duo that you have in
the league. Now, it's not as deep as make me
like the Steelers, who can put four out there, but
those two are all you need in Houston.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well all I've heard for how many weeks now, and
you have as well. This Dylan Cook's a great story.
He might be a starting level left tackle. Let me
tell you how that goes. Boom boom, I'll go the last.
He just ain't good. He's there no matter how you
want to romanticize how he's played. He's done fine during
(14:56):
the stretch and he may be staking out turf as
a legit backup who can survive in the league for
a while.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Absolutely, but he's a four stringer Dylan Cook should be
treated like he is a bomb on the practice squad
in this game. He has not played like that in
recent weeks, but that's what the mindset should be as
far as helping him out is concerned. It's got to
be on Troy Fatanu to be on that island, and
if it's Anderson, if it's Hunter, when they break that
defensive huddle, you got to go one on one on
(15:24):
those guys most of the time in this game.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
You do, bet boy? I bet they don't.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
In fact, I bet they sabotaged and slow down little
offense they have by just you know, chipping with the
running back, you know, doubling all the time with the
tight end, you know, using the extra offensive.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Lineman on both sides.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Yeah, I don't know, but on both sides, but just
doing everything they can to slow the rush down. And
I get that, but it could well be at the
expense of their offense. I think they need to take
some chances here, and you have put Rogers at risk.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
How much of a chance is it, though, to trust
your first round pick from a couple of years ago
go at right tackle, who, by all accounts has been
probably your best offensive lineman this year and looks like
I agree.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I would give Cook the help and I would let
Fatan who sink it or swim against Anderson, and if
he fails, well, you know it's part of his progress
as a second year guy, really a first year guy
because he was hurt all of last year. I think
he is a future all pro. But let's find out
where he's at right now. Only because it's your best bet.
You're not doing anything for God's sakes in a playoff
(16:28):
game for Fatana's development, but but it's your best bet
to free up your offense at least a little bit
and have a better chance to win the game.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
And Hutchinson a couple of weeks ago with Detroit, I
know he had two sacks in the game. I don't
know if those are all on Fatanu, but I felt
like a lot of that game was Fatanu won on
one on him and he was holding his own really well.
And Hutchinson's like and Anderson, the young and up and
coming stud edge rusher, so he's he's done that against
that quality of a pass rusher. I believe in Fatanu
in this game. I'm really high on his likelihood to
(16:59):
hold his own against these two. It's the other side
that I'm worried about.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Say his name and he appears. Uh here, here's another
ringa ding dong dandy. Tom Houston's offensive line against the
Steelers front seven Watt and so forth.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Who do you? How do you grade this matchup? How important?
And who wins?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
I might I wish I could go back and revise
it and make it be, but I'll keep be Joey
Porter on Nico. I'll make this my C matchup here
and the Steelers I think are.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Going he was signing one A, one B, one C,
one D.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
That's what I thought we were doing. Yes, No, I
just I'm all over the place. But yeah, so you're
greatest C. Yeah, sure, I'll give it a C. I
think the Steelers should and will win this matchup and
create a lot of pressure and a lot of chaos
around C. J.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
It's just a matter of if they'll do it as
much or more so than the Texans will to their offense,
and I'm not so sure they'll get to that point.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Well, there's this assumption that the Houston offensive line is terrible,
and I don't think it's that good. It's not good if.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You want to go with trending.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Though, they've not a lot of sack in the last
three games and only allowed one in the game before that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And I saw stat that most of the passing yardage
that the Texans a crew, forty three percent of it
is via yards after the catch. It's a lot of
quick stuff with CJ. Stroud and getting the ball into
the playmaker's hands. So just like you see Rogers do
on the Steeler side of things to avoid strong pass rushes,
the Texans will do that to the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
But I think not having a lot of sack in
three games and only won the game before that will
imbue these guys with confidence, no doubt. And you know
what I'd be saying in that offensive line room for Houston.
These guys are old, they're worn out, they're slow. There's
a couple guys that might be a problem. But the
big names ain't big names no more. They're not big
performers no more.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
They can legitimately say we're getting better, we're rounding into form,
we're playing our best football right now. And you're right,
it's such a confidence thing on those offensive lines in
those trenches that that might just be enough for them
to hold on so that Stroud can hit Collins for
a couple of balls downfield.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
How winnabl is this game? I vacillate. I'm gonna make
my official prediction. I don't have to make it Monday,
do I. Yes, that's correct. Okay, I'll make my semi
official prediction today. But right now, like as we talk,
I'm like fifty to fifty. I go back and forth,
but I got to tell you, the quality of the
Houston defense is swinging me in that direction.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I don't know, it feels like a very winnable game
for the Steelers. You're at home, well.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
You don't forget. You could say sixty forty in favor
of Houston. Heck, you could say ninety ten in favorite Houston,
but that still is win.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Of the winnable game. Right now, I think it's seventeen
thirteen Steelers. That's kind of where I'm at right now.
I think your home, Mark Rodgers is going to make
it just that homer a big home remark. I'm a
huge Steelers Mark.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I mean, look at me.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I got a Steelers hat on a steel City sweatshirt
on Let's go Steelers.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
You do, that's true? I have a penguin's hoodie on,
but I wear the same thing every day. It look
like a freaking unmade bit. This weight I've lost. I
don't want to buy new clothes till I see what
wait I settle into. So I'm really I'm really no,
it's cheap. I'm really like, it's like freaking Ron Cook.
I'm really baggy right now. That's how cheap him and
Chad Johnson New Did you see that story? He says
(20:02):
he lived at the Bengals facility his first two years
to save money.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Nobody ever noticed. I've heard stories, you could do it,
you could do it.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I've heard stories in the past two where he has
told younger athletes this, like I used to buy fake
knockoff jewelry all the time, like all the change.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I respect him for saving money instead of just wasting
it like so many young athletes do. Don't forget you
could watch the Steeler game with me Monday night at
Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Creighton right off through twenty eight.
Biggest big screen TV, and I mean that it's the
biggest effing I mean as big as Circa in Las Vegas.
The Sports Book Biggest big screen TV in Pittsburgh. Certainly
(20:39):
that's the kickoffs at eight o'clock have an icy light.
And I'll be there Sunday for the Penguin game too,
So it's an icy light weekend for the super genius.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Make it that for you as well. Tom.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I hate the game's Monday. I feel like today should
be the go home show, you know what I mean?
Like it just like we're a day behind, and I
get it. I wish the game was I wish it
was last night. I wish it was Sunday for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Yeah, that's what pro football is supposed to be played.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
And how about the NFL bullied college and having their
semifinal games on Thursday and.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Friday and Friday. I hate the Monday night game on
the playoff schedule too. Playoffs got to be in the weekend,
Saturday Sunday, preferably Sunday, when football is supposed to be played.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
That's what I hate about college football. Right now.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
We're at the biggest point of the college football season.
Mark they never play on Saturday. Saturday is the college
football game. They haven't played on Saturdays for like two
or three weeks.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
The formula I think should be adhered to. Is high
school Friday, College Saturday, one and four pm on Sunday,
one game Monday night, and I would honestly eliminate everything else,
but we're not going to put the toothpaste.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Back in that tube. One five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Tomorrow afternoon, the Pens go head to head against the Flames.
Game time is three thirty. Our coverage starts at two thirty.
Listen to every game and the fest Pens coverage on
your home. Pittsburgh Penguins five nine d X The mark
Man one five.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Nine d X.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Matt Williamson tweets all kinds of statsy things that just again,
like like the Chris Sims SoundBite we're gonna play later,
makes me think the Steelers are in trouble against Houston.
He tweeted earlier Rodgers' lasting success rate when under pressure
(22:32):
last in QB success rate went under pressure. Houston got
the third most pressures in the league this year. I corumba,
But on a lighter note, how about them Penguins six
wins in a row. The New Jersey Devils were disheveled
and made it easy. Skinner very good in goal. He
(22:52):
made it easy too. Top of the crease, absorbed the
puck made some difficult saves look routine, so things are
going right for the Penguins even when they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Case in point, they got a five on three, a
pretty long.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
One, like like ninety seconds, and it was the worst
five on three ever. New Jersey got like a couple
shorthanded semi chances playing three on five, and then at
the very end of it, Carlson and sid made a
couple of passes, opened up a shot for Gino and
he buried a one.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Timer a blast three and nil.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Carlson scored on the show one day score in the
next game, and that's how that works, tom uh.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It was a rare, not not.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
An easy win for the Penguins, but the result was
never really in doubt, and the Penguins needed one of those.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
And it just felt good against the Devils because the
Devils just feel like they've been beating the Penguins.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
A lot these past couple of years when they're supposed
to be a legit contender in the East, though they
are certainly betraying that. They looked pedestrian Jack Hughes, who
I said was overrated on yesterday's show, played exactly like overrated,
although his bummy brother. Uh Luke, Yeah, Luke, Luke, I
think in a different language that that's Connor Hayward and
(24:11):
he scored the goal.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yeah, Gino I thought was really good coming back.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Although you pointed something out to me before the show
today that I just thought was really funny and so
true about Gino where he just kept kind of drifting
towards the middle of the ice because he doesn't know
how to play.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Wag well or is it used to it. I think
he can adjust to it. I thought Kendall and Chinnikov
played very well. I don't think their speed suffered because
of Gino's Yeah, So I thought that line did okay,
and it's worth keeping it together for now anyway, until
Novak inevitably turns into Novak Skinner's vanilla in goal.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
But it's a consistent and flavorful vanilla. Tom.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I had a bad start with the Penguins, lost his
first two starts, but why don't recall more than one
bad goal in his tenure here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
He makes the stops he should now.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
He seems like a professional goaltender, not a great one,
but at least an NHL quality goalie, and I just
don't feel the same about she loves. They need to
call Marashov up. They need to have the tandemby Skinner
in Myrshov and have that be their rotation.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
There's some people in the organization think that's how it'll
play out after.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
The Olympic break once they come back from the Olympics.
Not nailed on that that'll happen, but it's at least
the possibility. It gives them their best chance. I feel like, yeah,
I do too.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I mean, I don't think Shilloff sucks like I always say,
but I don't think he's far from sucking.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
But I just don't think he's good enough, not for
where this team is now trying to go and trying
to get.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I can't imagine for a second Archer's Shilloff's starting a
playoff game and me feeling good about it.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
But the good news is Stuart Skinner has started the
past couple of Stanley Cup playoff games, and I'd like
to see the kids start a playoff game too in Mirshov.
So you got to bring that tandem up. That's got
to be your guys. Well, Skinner's played good, he's a professional.
When Connor McDavid shows up, I'll have more faith in Skinner.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Then again, maybe not in game six or seven, but
McDavid is like ninety points in the last ten games,
and if I'm exaggerating, it's it's well, it is by
a lot, but you get the idea that five to
one three just see it.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It was hilarious.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It was like yakkty sacks level and then Gino hits
a can.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And then he bails them out right at the end.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Yeah, I mean it was gonna be a total complete
failure until the absolute end of that. The passes from
sidon Carlson too to set it all up. Carlson is
unbelievable right now. His home point streak, what was it
at the penns PR thing just had it. He's at
nine straight games with a home point. That's the longest
of his career in home games. It's unbelievable. And he's
(26:35):
at thirteen points in those nine games.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
No, he had that little bit of a dip for
about two weeks during the I mean the one game
they blew against Anaheim, I think it was where they
scored with point one second left, that was an own
goal with him gloving the puck into the net. But
he's really straightened out, and again this is his best
season of the three at Pittsburgh. Whether that's motivated by
him getting ready to play in the Olympics for Sweden.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Why squhy Where the pen was that? Not Tom? Because
I'm not sure yet.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
It's a very good team, but I am starting to
conclude that the Eastern Conference and the Metro Division are
not very good.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Yeah, I think the Penguins are actually in a really
good spot right now. It's unbelievable that they're just two
wins away if they sweep the weekend. They've completely erased
their eight game losing streak with an eight game winning streak,
which is remarkable. They got games in hands still on
the Islanders. They're only two points behind the Islanders with
two games in hand. They're in a good spot to
not just get a wild card, they're in a good
spot to finish top three of the Metro right now.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
You know what the Penglins we're at right this second
is true.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Five hundred twenty one twelve and nine twenty one wins
and twenty one losses. True, five hundred almost always gets
you into the playoffs. It's sort of a magic number.
And how about this. I didn't realize this until I
took like a closer.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Look at the standings.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Twelve regulation losses is the fewest in the Eastern Conference,
and like that contract. I mean, the Penguin should have
more losses than that, forty two games in in regulation,
but the numbers are.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
The record is what it is.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Even though I think they're in a good spot right
now and it seems like they're trending towards top three
in the metro, you still can't help but wonder what
could still be if they didn't have that eight game
losing streak, if they didn't blow those games to like
the Sharks and the Mammoth, and they would have been
able to scratch maybe two or three more points out
of this with the games in hand that they have.
I mean, you wouldn't be looking at the Islanders for
second place. You'd be looking at the Canes for first
(28:31):
place in the metro if that was the case.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Like you said, Carlson, that nine game points streak, he
talked about three goals and eleven assists. My god, he's
he's he's kind of being Eric Carlson again. Sid got
assists number one eighty seven. Last night there's the number again,
eighty seven that is the second most assists with one team.
He passed Gretzky, and it doesn't seem like like like
(28:56):
anybody could pass Gretzky anything. Let's not forget after Gretzky
got traded from Edmonton, he bounster on like a two
dollar hooker. And speaking of two dollar hookers, the only
guy head of Sid on the list is Ray Bork,
who betrayed his career in Boston to get a Cup
he didn't deserve in Denver. Bork at one one one,
so SID will definitely catch him, barring cataclysmic circumstances.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
At some point.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Sid's now had multiple points in four straight games, first
time he's done that since October of twenty nineteen. He
is just, I mean, the freaking guy, Like he's not
as fast as ever he had been faster, but at
thirty eight, he's still faster than almost anybody, and his
anticipation has increased to the point where he's picked up
(29:42):
a half a step that way probably right.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I was just gonna say, like, he's so smart now
that he can just position himself, he can make up
for his lack of speed and make you almost seem
like he hasn't lost a step at all, these milestony
type things that he has, like last night, like I
didn't even know that mark until you brought it up
to me just this second. Like they just almost always happen.
You're like to them now, like, yeah, he just passed Gretzky.
As far as assists with a single team is concerned,
it's just like, oh yeah, whatever, ho hum night for
(30:06):
Sidney Crosby.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
I guess it.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Reminds me the Bruins when I was a kid, when
EJ was there. They won the Cup in seventy and
seventy two, but seventy seventy one was the year Dryden
was a rookie and the Canadians upset them in the
first round. But that was when they said all the records,
Like Esposito was seventy six goals and seventy six assists.
They just broke so many records, like I think Ken
(30:28):
Hodge was goals by a right wing. They just guys
did crazy stuff. And I think a guy named Wayne
Cashman said, I read it a book. He said, Hey,
all this record stuff, I can't keep track of it.
So if you do something after the game. Just stick
up your hand and I'll come around and shake it.
And it feels that way with Sid. Sid should be
telling us, you know, But again, of all the guys
(30:50):
I've worked with, he does not baskin that even for
a second.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
And he's got I think it's Brett Hall most goals
at age thirty eight. I think he's got that like
right in his sights.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Maybe it was Sakic. Hall has thirty seven goals at
age thirty eight. That's the most goals for thirty eight
year old.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's gonna blow by that most points, most points hold
I got like that. That's probably his Sakic because he
had a hundred point season when he was old.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Right, Yeah, in a much more wide open league where
points were more accessible. I'm not I'm not dissing Sackic, who,
by the way, is a great GM with the Alps
as well.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Apparently it's Adam Oates with eighty two points. Oh that,
oh Sid, very doable. Adamos hid that weird stick. Do
you ever see it now? He saw it off the
toe of a stick. He had the shortest play I've
ever seen. To give him more touch looking up a
stick right now? That is extremely weird. It almost looks
like Happy Gilmore's putter.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Up next. You know where things are really cooking Tom
in
Speaker 1 (31:47):
The hockey world Ottawa, Oh yes, Ontario, Canada,
Got a big football game Monday. You know, when I
believe the Steelers will win a playoff game when they're
not getting blown out at the end of the first half,
just sort of call them about this for the trip.
And by the way, Pittsburgh still does have a daily newspaper.
Let's put that fricking crap to bed. The Postcausette wasn't
the be all end all. If it was, it would
(00:22):
still exist. So let's go back in time. Last year
Steelers down by twenty one to Baltimore halftime. The year before,
down by twenty one to Buffalo midway through the second quarter,
twenty twenty one playoffs, down by twenty one seven to
(00:42):
Kansas City at halftime, twenty twenty playoffs, down by twenty
eight to Cleveland after the first quarter, to Cleveland at akroshore,
and then the twenty seventeen playoffs, down by twenty one
to Jacksonville early in the second quarter. And a lot
of you don't seem to think CJ. Stroud is a
(01:04):
big worry because he's not that good. Consider this, They
lost to Blake Bortles in twenty seventeen and to Tim
Tebow way back when twenty eleven but Monday Night is
a clean slate and the Steelers are gonna win.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Probably.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Actually, there's a SoundBite later gonna play Chris Sims a CBS.
It's all true, and after you hear it, you're thinking, Wow,
there's just no way the Steelers have a chance. In
a point of discussion that he brings up that I'll
mention now is that Rogers don't want to get hit.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
It hasn't all year. And a friend of mine pointed out,
after a.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Week or so of discussing that Rogers didn't want Garrett
to break the sack record in that game against Cleveland
and seventeen, and that's why he was getting rid of
the ball so quick. A friend of mine pointed out, rightly,
Rogers is been getting rid of the ball that quick
all year to avoid being hit, not just to deny
Garrett the sack record. So will Rogers quite frankly, grow
(02:17):
a set and hang onto the ball and risk getting
hit to make plays Monday night, because I think he's
gonna need to with the pressure Uston figures to apply.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
All I ask Aaron.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Is that you don't prove that all Yeller rate no dog, No,
I mean, let's talk truth. That's true, he don't want
to get hit. Hey, if I was forty two, I'm
sixty five. Come to think of it, I never did
want to get hit. But that's big. That's a point
of discussion. And again, if he don't want to get
(02:52):
hit Monday night and they lose because of it, or
if it's a factor, I just wouldn't bring him back
next year. How About there was a tweet I think
from the B team. You know how Rogers and Tomlin
and Cam all walk off the field together after games,
(03:15):
and Cam did a SoundBite about how he wants to
bring Rogers into the Steelers tradition.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I got a better idea, fellas, how about.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
We revisit the old Steeler tradition of walking off the
field after winning a playoff game. You know what, I'm
sick to death of all this absolute horseman or about
Steelers tradition and the logo. Yo, the tradition is to
win playoff games. Do it Monday or immediately after. Shut
(03:44):
the frig up, because this is big to me. I
know all you out there have grown to accept me
theocrity and except well never had a losing season, Well
every game meant something that you go f yourselves win
the friggin playoff game. Not to be critical. This is
(04:07):
the Mark Madden Show. You can follow me on Twitter
at Mark Madden. Next, let's talk now to Tommy Radio.
Tom those last five playoff losses I just talked about
have little bearing on this game. But all of that
is kind of scary, ain't it.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
It is pretty scary.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
But I will say this, most of what you just
laid out there, save from probably Jacksonville and maybe that
Cleveland game too with Baker.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
And that was the COVID game, empty stadium.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Those were spaceship level offenses that the Steelers were having
to go up against Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes lamar
as an MVP caliber player last year with Baltimore, Josh
Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Right right, superman, You're not
getting that in this game against the Texans. I think
the offense for the Texans is underrated, but it is not,
you know, that kind of level.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Yeah, but you're getting the equivalent of that on the
other side of the ball. But I take that. I
just saw Matt Williamson.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
Matt Williamson, our guru, the former pro and college Scott
He thinks this Houston defense is one of the best he's.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Ever ever seen. Wow, that's saying a lot. You are
getting that on that side of the ball. But I
take that because that's more conducive. I think to keep
in the game close. If it's a superstar Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like with the superstar defense, you could at least, you know,
force a rock fighters your teth ball. Yeah, you know,
protect the ball and if your defense keeps it in there,
which is so outdated, but it's the Steeler way and
Tomlin's lucky. It's also yeah to me go ryands his
way with Houston. Of those games I mentioned, which was
the worst, I would say the loss to Cleveland at home.
(05:32):
It was the COVID year empty act for sure, but
Cleveland scored on the first play, that batsnap, that fumbled
that they recovered in the end zone, and it just
kept getting worse.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
I mean, if you're gonna let me count twenty seventeen,
that's gotta be the worst one.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
The one against Jacksonville.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
The team could have gone on a legitimate run that year,
the Jesse James year when he fumbled.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Oh, they had been in the AFC Championship game, just Chai.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Last year, Ben still had his superpowers. He was still
one of the best quarterbacks in football. Then, like that
was a total blown opportunity. Then yeah, yeah, no, no
question about that. But in terms of pure depression factor,
the Cleveland one, yeah, that takes the case.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
And again the COVID the empty state and that kind
of added to the depression though, and the snap over
the head from Pouncy right away to set the tone.
I was depressed before the game started because of the pandemic.
That was a ah, a bad time for for everybody.
I suppose. The deceptive one was down twenty one to
seven to Kansas City at halftime because Watt had that
that scoop and score. Uh was that? Was that a
(06:29):
stripping score? I mean, I forget if he made the sack, but.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I don't remember if he knocked the ball loose. He
scored the touchdown.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
We should remember it's the only freaking big plays made
in the playoff game ever. But the Steelers had a
modicum of hope because it was seven zerl after that play.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, and that didn't happen until the second quarter of
the game. So like the defense was getting off the
field against that Chiefs offense. Then they just woke up
and then.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
It was then boom boom, boom boom. I recall you
know where I watched that game? I I didn't.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I don't know. I went to Vegas.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
There was a concert or something, so I didn't have
a viewing party, so I didn't get paid here and
I lost money because I always do there. I was
watching with mister Friday afternoon, and after what scored the touchdown,
but the kids City got the ball right away and
started to move it. I turned to MFA and said,
I think all we did was piss Mahomes off, and they.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Just like you said, ran up three quick scores before
the half.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
I will say this, The sneaky one that they were
kind of in was the Pills one when Mason was
the starting quarterback. They were down twenty one nothing, but
at one point in the fourth quarter it was twenty
four to seventeen. Mason brought him back to within one score.
The defense allowed Josh Allen to go right down the
field on the next position. But like, that's kind of
the sneaky one that they were in, and it's so
funny that Rudolph was the quarterback for it.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
You're never out of a game when you have Mason
Rudolph quarterback.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
I just said before might being two hurt on Rogers
about him not wanting to get hit, and he's got
to get over that for this game Sunday and should
be criticized after the season if we look back and
maybe recognize that as a trend we didn't spot for
a long time.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
I mean, what would be to gain the hanging in
the pocket, the more usage of the tight ends going
down the seams.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Those something. They just don't have that many weapons. I mean, yeah,
I know that, but that doesn't mean just flip the ball.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Well maybe it does, he does, because gamelan Warren are
your best weapons and you just flip the ball out
to that.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I don't.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I just think if they lose this game, the Rogers
experiment was a failure and should not be repeated. And
I don't give a frig if he walks off the
field with Tom Win and Cam after the game.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I hate crap like that.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
By the way, Well they really set it up cut
and dry at the beginning of the season that we
got to win a playoff game. That's got to be
the goal here, which is lowering the bar for this franchise.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
For that to be the goal. But that was the goal,
so of course it's a failure.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
The mark's out there think they already did win a
playoff game with the playoffs playoff game against Baltimore.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Yeah, I mean they absolutely have their out right now,
their spin zone because they have the division title, they
can say, well, you didn't do that last year, so
that's an improvement.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I get really mad you were about to get rid.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I get really mad when I hear about this tradition,
like when Cam sites crap like that, Cam, you have
won second nine playoff game, Shut the freak up and
produce pay your bills. That's what this team needs to do.
And I just don't want to hear about the dritch.
You know why. I'm sixty five. I lived the real
tradition the seventies. Then I sawt revived by Ben Roethlisberger,
(09:12):
Troy Pulamalu, James Ferrier, Real Steelers. They didn't care who
they walked off the field with. They just won freaking games.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
All of that stuff loses its luster and loses its
appeal when you don't win playoff games. When you win
playoff games, then those are cool little stories. It's like Oh,
it's cool that Cam and Tomlin do that and Rogers
is joining in. Yeah, but they've won what one playoff
game between those three in the past eight years, nine years?
Tomlin and Cam, Well, I think it's appropriate to Tom Win,
Cam and Aaron walk off the field together. It's the
three stooges of football con men, at least at this point.
(09:43):
I mean, Rogers you know, evolved to that, and Cam
and Tomlin have always been that. These losses, falling behind
quick and coming on flat, that's got to reflect on Tomlin, right,
no question about it. That's all coaching. Playoff losses, yeah,
I think so, that's all coaching right now. That's all
about having the team with the right mindset and also
having a good schematic game plan against a playoff caliber opponent.
(10:06):
So in every aspect you break that down, that's a
failure on coaching.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Just around the corner, gonna go over the key matchups
of the game Monday night and we will grade them
from A to B and predict their outcome. That's right
cliched formulaic talk radio. Just around the corner here on
one oh five to nine, always a great rock and
roll day on the Doublem show, but to lead off
with Zep.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And now faces don't get no better than that.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
That's my childhood in a nutshell led Zeppelin Faces and
we got UFO later, h Tom.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Let's go over the matchups in this game.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
We talked about them some this week, but let's grade
them A through F in terms of importance in terms
of deciding the game. It's cliche talk radio, but let's
give them a grade, and that predicts how they wind up.
First off, Porter versus Nico Collins. How important who wins?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
That's a pretty important one. I don't know if it's
the most important one.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Well, first off, do you think they will man up
Porter on Nico Collins? Because yes, a lot of people
don't think that's a guarantee. That they might just let
the corners play their sides. Yeah, I think they should
do that.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I don't think they're good enough team to let their
corners play their sides right now, their secondary corner.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I don't either, And Nico Collins torched them a couple
of years ago, so they know how specifically dangerous he
can be against them.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I put that, like Bee, maybe the second most important
matchup for the Steelers in this game. Joey Porter Junior
is a very physical corner of course too, and Nico
Collins is a big physical receiver, so that matchup works
in the Steelers favors that way, like not a lot
of corners can hang with Collins.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Yeah, I gave it a bee as well.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I think Porter wins the matchup if you too, And boy,
that is a faux pas by Tomlin and his lackey
what's his name, Tarol Austin if they don't pursue that.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Matchup, absolutely, I think they're that's.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Like captain obvious level when when Porter hasn't allowed a
touchdown on like almost fifteen hundred consecutive snaps.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
I don't want to make the Texans wide receiver room
out to be like the Steelers though, where it's just
like one guy in the Pips like Higgins and Noel.
The two rookies and Kirk are solid options as well,
but Joey Porter Junior needs to be on Collins. He's
the clear number one.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Is that a gladys Knight and the Pips right, you
should have said pimps like like like what he Harrelson
in White Man can't chump? Okay, next matchup Stingley versus
DK Metcalf.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I'm gonna say that's like C or D, but I
don't know if that's gonna be the matchup. The Texans
are good enough to just split the field left right,
and that's how they've done it all years. He's really good. Yeah,
and that's been their mo o all year. Like they
haven't followed. They've just left right in the field with
Stingley and Lassiter, and DK Metcalf's the best option as
(12:42):
far as the receiver for the Steelers mark, but he
does not put the fear in other defense's hearts like
a Jamar Chase or Justin Jefferson. I don't think DK
Metcalf comes in and just blows up how the Texans
operate all of a sudden.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
So what grade would you give it? Like, I'll go
D on that one. Actually, I'm giving it a C. I.
I don't think regardless of the coverage pursued, whether it's just,
you know, leave guys on their sides, or they do
man up Stingley and I tend to agree with Lassi
or I think they probably do just let the guys
play their side. It's just what they've done that is
their moo, But I don't think Metcalf's going to have
(13:13):
much of.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
A productive game.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I don't either, because either one of them is
a very solid corner and I think is gonna shut
him down well.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And the offense does know how to use DK anyway.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
That's kind of where I put it at d Is
just because like, yeah, he might have one big play,
but both him the.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Receiver sapotage as well. That said, he's been a total
bust this year. Remember was it yesterday? I said he
said six games this year of under fifty yards receiving. Tom,
I'd like to retract that I was wrong.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
It's eight eight.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Games this year of under fifty yards receiving and one
exactly at fifty.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
He's just not a number one, like a true number one,
no matter where you put him in this league. Matt
Williamson's been on that forever. We should listen to him earlier.
He's a good wide receiver, but he needs compliments aroun him.
Matt Williamson, Oh yeah, we should have listened to his compliment.
He needs more compliments around him. He's not just this,
you know, top five receiver that can drag an offense
along his back.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Okay, here's probably the souper de jure the Steelers tackles
versus Houston's pass rushers.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
What's your greade new wins that's gotta be a I
think that's the number one matchup.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
It's the most likely, and those it is the basis
on which we're assigning the grades. I think it's the
most likely of the matchups to determine who wins the game.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
It's hard to not pick that Houston wins that matchup.
It's the best edge rushing duo that you have in
the league. Now, it's not as deep as make me
like the Steelers, who can put four out there, but
those two are all you need in Houston.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
Well all I've heard for how many weeks now, and
you have as well. This Dylan Cook's a great story.
He might be a starting level left tackle. Let me
tell you how that goes. Boom boom, I'll go the last.
He just ain't good. He's there no matter how you
want to romanticize how he's played. He's done fine during
(14:56):
the stretch and he may be staking out turf as
a legit backup who can survive in the league for
a while.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Absolutely, but he's a four stringer Dylan Cook should be
treated like he is a bomb on the practice squad
in this game. He has not played like that in
recent weeks, but that's what the mindset should be as
far as helping him out is concerned. It's got to
be on Troy Fatanu to be on that island, and
if it's Anderson, if it's Hunter, when they break that
defensive huddle, you got to go one on one on
(15:24):
those guys most of the time in this game.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
You do, bet boy? I bet they don't.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
In fact, I bet they sabotaged and slow down little
offense they have by just you know, chipping with the
running back, you know, doubling all the time with the
tight end, you know, using the extra offensive.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Lineman on both sides.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Yeah, I don't know, but on both sides, but just
doing everything they can to slow the rush down. And
I get that, but it could well be at the
expense of their offense. I think they need to take
some chances here, and you have put Rogers at risk.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
How much of a chance is it, though, to trust
your first round pick from a couple of years ago
go at right tackle, who, by all accounts has been
probably your best offensive lineman this year and looks like
I agree.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
I would give Cook the help and I would let
Fatan who sink it or swim against Anderson, and if
he fails, well, you know it's part of his progress
as a second year guy, really a first year guy
because he was hurt all of last year. I think
he is a future all pro. But let's find out
where he's at right now. Only because it's your best bet.
You're not doing anything for God's sakes in a playoff
(16:28):
game for Fatana's development, but but it's your best bet
to free up your offense at least a little bit
and have a better chance to win the game.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
And Hutchinson a couple of weeks ago with Detroit, I
know he had two sacks in the game. I don't
know if those are all on Fatanu, but I felt
like a lot of that game was Fatanu won on
one on him and he was holding his own really well.
And Hutchinson's like and Anderson, the young and up and
coming stud edge rusher, so he's he's done that against
that quality of a pass rusher. I believe in Fatanu
in this game. I'm really high on his likelihood to
(16:59):
hold his own against these two. It's the other side
that I'm worried about.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Say his name and he appears. Uh here, here's another
ringa ding dong dandy. Tom Houston's offensive line against the
Steelers front seven Watt and so forth.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Who do you? How do you grade this matchup? How important?
And who wins?
Speaker 3 (17:16):
I might I wish I could go back and revise
it and make it be, but I'll keep be Joey
Porter on Nico. I'll make this my C matchup here
and the Steelers I think are.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Going he was signing one A, one B, one C,
one D.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
That's what I thought we were doing. Yes, No, I
just I'm all over the place. But yeah, so you're
greatest C. Yeah, sure, I'll give it a C. I
think the Steelers should and will win this matchup and
create a lot of pressure and a lot of chaos
around C. J.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
It's just a matter of if they'll do it as
much or more so than the Texans will to their offense,
and I'm not so sure they'll get to that point.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Well, there's this assumption that the Houston offensive line is terrible,
and I don't think it's that good. It's not good if.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
You want to go with trending.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Though, they've not a lot of sack in the last
three games and only allowed one in the game before that.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And I saw stat that most of the passing yardage
that the Texans a crew, forty three percent of it
is via yards after the catch. It's a lot of
quick stuff with CJ. Stroud and getting the ball into
the playmaker's hands. So just like you see Rogers do
on the Steeler side of things to avoid strong pass rushes,
the Texans will do that to the Steelers.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
But I think not having a lot of sack in
three games and only won the game before that will
imbue these guys with confidence, no doubt. And you know
what I'd be saying in that offensive line room for Houston.
These guys are old, they're worn out, they're slow. There's
a couple guys that might be a problem. But the
big names ain't big names no more. They're not big
performers no more.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
They can legitimately say we're getting better, we're rounding into form,
we're playing our best football right now. And you're right,
it's such a confidence thing on those offensive lines in
those trenches that that might just be enough for them
to hold on so that Stroud can hit Collins for
a couple of balls downfield.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
How winnabl is this game? I vacillate. I'm gonna make
my official prediction. I don't have to make it Monday,
do I. Yes, that's correct. Okay, I'll make my semi
official prediction today. But right now, like as we talk,
I'm like fifty to fifty. I go back and forth,
but I got to tell you, the quality of the
Houston defense is swinging me in that direction.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
I don't know, it feels like a very winnable game
for the Steelers. You're at home, well.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
You don't forget. You could say sixty forty in favor
of Houston. Heck, you could say ninety ten in favorite Houston,
but that still is win.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Of the winnable game. Right now, I think it's seventeen
thirteen Steelers. That's kind of where I'm at right now.
I think your home, Mark Rodgers is going to make
it just that homer a big home remark. I'm a
huge Steelers Mark.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
I mean, look at me.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
I got a Steelers hat on a steel City sweatshirt
on Let's go Steelers.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
You do, that's true? I have a penguin's hoodie on,
but I wear the same thing every day. It look
like a freaking unmade bit. This weight I've lost. I
don't want to buy new clothes till I see what
wait I settle into. So I'm really I'm really no,
it's cheap. I'm really like, it's like freaking Ron Cook.
I'm really baggy right now. That's how cheap him and
Chad Johnson New Did you see that story? He says
(20:02):
he lived at the Bengals facility his first two years
to save money.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Nobody ever noticed. I've heard stories, you could do it,
you could do it.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
I've heard stories in the past two where he has
told younger athletes this, like I used to buy fake
knockoff jewelry all the time, like all the change.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
I respect him for saving money instead of just wasting
it like so many young athletes do. Don't forget you
could watch the Steeler game with me Monday night at
Pittsburgh Brewing Company in Creighton right off through twenty eight.
Biggest big screen TV, and I mean that it's the
biggest effing I mean as big as Circa in Las Vegas.
The Sports Book Biggest big screen TV in Pittsburgh. Certainly
(20:39):
that's the kickoffs at eight o'clock have an icy light.
And I'll be there Sunday for the Penguin game too,
So it's an icy light weekend for the super genius.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Make it that for you as well. Tom.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
I hate the game's Monday. I feel like today should
be the go home show, you know what I mean?
Like it just like we're a day behind, and I
get it. I wish the game was I wish it
was last night. I wish it was Sunday for sure.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Yeah, that's what pro football is supposed to be played.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
And how about the NFL bullied college and having their
semifinal games on Thursday and.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Friday and Friday. I hate the Monday night game on
the playoff schedule too. Playoffs got to be in the weekend,
Saturday Sunday, preferably Sunday, when football is supposed to be played.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
That's what I hate about college football. Right now.
Speaker 3 (21:22):
We're at the biggest point of the college football season.
Mark they never play on Saturday. Saturday is the college
football game. They haven't played on Saturdays for like two
or three weeks.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
The formula I think should be adhered to. Is high
school Friday, College Saturday, one and four pm on Sunday,
one game Monday night, and I would honestly eliminate everything else,
but we're not going to put the toothpaste.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Back in that tube. One five ninety X.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
Tomorrow afternoon, the Pens go head to head against the Flames.
Game time is three thirty. Our coverage starts at two thirty.
Listen to every game and the fest Pens coverage on
your home. Pittsburgh Penguins five nine d X The mark
Man one five.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Nine d X.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
Matt Williamson tweets all kinds of statsy things that just again,
like like the Chris Sims SoundBite we're gonna play later,
makes me think the Steelers are in trouble against Houston.
He tweeted earlier Rodgers' lasting success rate when under pressure
(22:32):
last in QB success rate went under pressure. Houston got
the third most pressures in the league this year. I corumba,
But on a lighter note, how about them Penguins six
wins in a row. The New Jersey Devils were disheveled
and made it easy. Skinner very good in goal. He
(22:52):
made it easy too. Top of the crease, absorbed the
puck made some difficult saves look routine, so things are
going right for the Penguins even when they don't.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
Case in point, they got a five on three, a
pretty long.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
One, like like ninety seconds, and it was the worst
five on three ever. New Jersey got like a couple
shorthanded semi chances playing three on five, and then at
the very end of it, Carlson and sid made a
couple of passes, opened up a shot for Gino and
he buried a one.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
Timer a blast three and nil.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Carlson scored on the show one day score in the
next game, and that's how that works, tom uh.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
It was a rare, not not.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
An easy win for the Penguins, but the result was
never really in doubt, and the Penguins needed one of those.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
And it just felt good against the Devils because the
Devils just feel like they've been beating the Penguins.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
A lot these past couple of years when they're supposed
to be a legit contender in the East, though they
are certainly betraying that. They looked pedestrian Jack Hughes, who
I said was overrated on yesterday's show, played exactly like overrated,
although his bummy brother. Uh Luke, Yeah, Luke, Luke, I
think in a different language that that's Connor Hayward and
(24:11):
he scored the goal.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
Yeah, Gino I thought was really good coming back.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Although you pointed something out to me before the show
today that I just thought was really funny and so
true about Gino where he just kept kind of drifting
towards the middle of the ice because he doesn't know
how to play.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Wag well or is it used to it. I think
he can adjust to it. I thought Kendall and Chinnikov
played very well. I don't think their speed suffered because
of Gino's Yeah, So I thought that line did okay,
and it's worth keeping it together for now anyway, until
Novak inevitably turns into Novak Skinner's vanilla in goal.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
But it's a consistent and flavorful vanilla. Tom.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I had a bad start with the Penguins, lost his
first two starts, but why don't recall more than one
bad goal in his tenure here in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
He makes the stops he should now.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
He seems like a professional goaltender, not a great one,
but at least an NHL quality goalie, and I just
don't feel the same about she loves. They need to
call Marashov up. They need to have the tandemby Skinner
in Myrshov and have that be their rotation.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
There's some people in the organization think that's how it'll
play out after.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
The Olympic break once they come back from the Olympics.
Not nailed on that that'll happen, but it's at least
the possibility. It gives them their best chance. I feel like, yeah,
I do too.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I mean, I don't think Shilloff sucks like I always say,
but I don't think he's far from sucking.
Speaker 2 (25:30):
But I just don't think he's good enough, not for
where this team is now trying to go and trying
to get.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
I can't imagine for a second Archer's Shilloff's starting a
playoff game and me feeling good about it.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
But the good news is Stuart Skinner has started the
past couple of Stanley Cup playoff games, and I'd like
to see the kids start a playoff game too in Mirshov.
So you got to bring that tandem up. That's got
to be your guys. Well, Skinner's played good, he's a professional.
When Connor McDavid shows up, I'll have more faith in Skinner.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Then again, maybe not in game six or seven, but
McDavid is like ninety points in the last ten games,
and if I'm exaggerating, it's it's well, it is by
a lot, but you get the idea that five to
one three just see it.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
It was hilarious.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
It was like yakkty sacks level and then Gino hits
a can.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And then he bails them out right at the end.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Yeah, I mean it was gonna be a total complete
failure until the absolute end of that. The passes from
sidon Carlson too to set it all up. Carlson is
unbelievable right now. His home point streak, what was it
at the penns PR thing just had it. He's at
nine straight games with a home point. That's the longest
of his career in home games. It's unbelievable. And he's
(26:35):
at thirteen points in those nine games.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
No, he had that little bit of a dip for
about two weeks during the I mean the one game
they blew against Anaheim, I think it was where they
scored with point one second left, that was an own
goal with him gloving the puck into the net. But
he's really straightened out, and again this is his best
season of the three at Pittsburgh. Whether that's motivated by
him getting ready to play in the Olympics for Sweden.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Why squhy Where the pen was that? Not Tom? Because
I'm not sure yet.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
It's a very good team, but I am starting to
conclude that the Eastern Conference and the Metro Division are
not very good.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
Yeah, I think the Penguins are actually in a really
good spot right now. It's unbelievable that they're just two
wins away if they sweep the weekend. They've completely erased
their eight game losing streak with an eight game winning streak,
which is remarkable. They got games in hands still on
the Islanders. They're only two points behind the Islanders with
two games in hand. They're in a good spot to
not just get a wild card, they're in a good
spot to finish top three of the Metro right now.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
You know what the Penglins we're at right this second
is true.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Five hundred twenty one twelve and nine twenty one wins
and twenty one losses. True, five hundred almost always gets
you into the playoffs. It's sort of a magic number.
And how about this. I didn't realize this until I
took like a closer.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Look at the standings.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Twelve regulation losses is the fewest in the Eastern Conference,
and like that contract. I mean, the Penguin should have
more losses than that, forty two games in in regulation,
but the numbers are.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
The record is what it is.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Even though I think they're in a good spot right
now and it seems like they're trending towards top three
in the metro, you still can't help but wonder what
could still be if they didn't have that eight game
losing streak, if they didn't blow those games to like
the Sharks and the Mammoth, and they would have been
able to scratch maybe two or three more points out
of this with the games in hand that they have.
I mean, you wouldn't be looking at the Islanders for
second place. You'd be looking at the Canes for first
(28:31):
place in the metro if that was the case.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Like you said, Carlson, that nine game points streak, he
talked about three goals and eleven assists. My god, he's
he's he's kind of being Eric Carlson again. Sid got
assists number one eighty seven. Last night there's the number again,
eighty seven that is the second most assists with one team.
He passed Gretzky, and it doesn't seem like like like
(28:56):
anybody could pass Gretzky anything. Let's not forget after Gretzky
got traded from Edmonton, he bounster on like a two
dollar hooker. And speaking of two dollar hookers, the only
guy head of Sid on the list is Ray Bork,
who betrayed his career in Boston to get a Cup
he didn't deserve in Denver. Bork at one one one,
so SID will definitely catch him, barring cataclysmic circumstances.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
At some point.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Sid's now had multiple points in four straight games, first
time he's done that since October of twenty nineteen. He
is just, I mean, the freaking guy, Like he's not
as fast as ever he had been faster, but at
thirty eight, he's still faster than almost anybody, and his
anticipation has increased to the point where he's picked up
(29:42):
a half a step that way probably right.
Speaker 3 (29:44):
I was just gonna say, like, he's so smart now
that he can just position himself, he can make up
for his lack of speed and make you almost seem
like he hasn't lost a step at all, these milestony
type things that he has, like last night, like I
didn't even know that mark until you brought it up
to me just this second. Like they just almost always happen.
You're like to them now, like, yeah, he just passed Gretzky.
As far as assists with a single team is concerned,
it's just like, oh yeah, whatever, ho hum night for
(30:06):
Sidney Crosby.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
I guess it.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Reminds me the Bruins when I was a kid, when
EJ was there. They won the Cup in seventy and
seventy two, but seventy seventy one was the year Dryden
was a rookie and the Canadians upset them in the
first round. But that was when they said all the records,
Like Esposito was seventy six goals and seventy six assists.
They just broke so many records, like I think Ken
(30:28):
Hodge was goals by a right wing. They just guys
did crazy stuff. And I think a guy named Wayne
Cashman said, I read it a book. He said, Hey,
all this record stuff, I can't keep track of it.
So if you do something after the game. Just stick
up your hand and I'll come around and shake it.
And it feels that way with Sid. Sid should be
telling us, you know, But again, of all the guys
(30:50):
I've worked with, he does not baskin that even for
a second.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
And he's got I think it's Brett Hall most goals
at age thirty eight. I think he's got that like
right in his sights.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
Maybe it was Sakic. Hall has thirty seven goals at
age thirty eight. That's the most goals for thirty eight
year old.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's gonna blow by that most points, most points hold
I got like that. That's probably his Sakic because he
had a hundred point season when he was old.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Right, Yeah, in a much more wide open league where
points were more accessible. I'm not I'm not dissing Sackic, who,
by the way, is a great GM with the Alps
as well.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Apparently it's Adam Oates with eighty two points. Oh that,
oh Sid, very doable. Adamos hid that weird stick. Do
you ever see it now? He saw it off the
toe of a stick. He had the shortest play I've
ever seen. To give him more touch looking up a
stick right now? That is extremely weird. It almost looks
like Happy Gilmore's putter.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Up next. You know where things are really cooking Tom
in
Speaker 1 (31:47):
The hockey world Ottawa, Oh yes, Ontario, Canada,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Season 5
Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.