December 27, 2023 • 30 mins
It will be a playoff atmosphere when two 8-7 teams square off on Sunday as the Seahawks host the Steelers. Michael Bumpus and Nasser Kyobe preview Week 17 at Lumen Field. Today’s show: What’s on Tap (03:21), Know Your History (08:53), What’s the Word in the West (10:48), Man Up (16:00), and Path to Victory (27:38).
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Hawk Talk with former Seahawks wide receiver
Michael Bumpus.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Why fake going to roll right? Dumps it off into
the right flasf to Michael Pumpers, who bounces off a
one tackler cats inside the forty down of the thirty
five yard line.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Powered by Seahawks dot Com.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Matt Pumpfake's looking at the gold line. He throws it
into the m zone.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Touchdown, Say Hawks, it's Michael Bumpas with a diving catching
the end zone. A ten yard touchdown reception for Bumpers,
and the kid out of Washington State has found himself
a place.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
On this team.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Now, here's your host, Nasa Chovie. Welcome in, Welcome into
another edition of Hawk Talk. The Seahawks took down the
Tennessee Titans twenty to seventeen on Christmas Eve, Mary, Christmas.
Everyone out there, Happy holidays. It's been good for Seahawks fans.
Bump the last two weeks, thrilling wins game winning drives,
two twenty to seventeen victories.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
The Seahawks hopes are not only.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Live, Bump, they're live and well because the Seahawks control
of their own destiny moving forward, you win two, you're in.
You still have an opportunity to get the sixth seed
in the NFC playoffs. So right now, as of today,
on December twenty seventh, things are pretty good, Bump. So Bump,
tell me about the Titans game? Man, where are your
main takeaways? Would you leave that day feel like.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
I left feeling like Gino is still the guy and
will be the guy in reminding folks like, look now,
there's no competition between him and Drew, right, it's a
little friendly rivalry, all right. Drew ninety two yard drive
to win the game. That's what sub appreciate you, dog,
held you down. Gino put together ninety six yard drive
won the game winner, but it's set up the next drive,
the longest drive of the season. Gino had two touchdowns,
(01:38):
was in complete control of the game. The first half
didn't look too great for Geno, but then the second
half they settled down.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
The velocity and the football look good.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You got clutch receptions from Tyle Lockett from dk JSN
is doing this thing. He's getting comfortable out there and
our guy boy yay. It's been with four, five, six
weeks since we saw him get after the quarterback he
has two sacks. So I saw a team that once
again enough to win the ball game twenty to seventeen,
the exact same score as the week before, but did
it in a different way to end the game. Sacks
(02:07):
won the game this year, this week, where last week
it was interceptions that won the game. So I'd like
to see a complete game. The run game wasn't where
we wanted it to be. But you take a win.
As Big Race says, a win isn't ugly enough to
ever give it back, so you will take a win
wherever you can. And this was who this team is.
It's no surprise that they're winning close ones like this, No.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And I love it.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
You're right, you know, at this point in the league,
it's not the BCS, it's not the colleor football playoffs.
There's no committee. You just need to win ball games.
And that's where this team is at right now. And
it's really cool to see the resilience of this team.
Two weeks in a row. We got a lot of
young guys on the team, but backs against the wall,
we got to have it right now and they did.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
And even on the defensive side, right they gave.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Up the touchdown the drive before, but when the game
was on the line, Tanneh had plenty of time to
get down the field and get three points. They weren't
able to do that because of the plays made by
you mentioned it, Draymond Jones, Boy Mafe and Treequallen Arical
one excuse me had a really good game too, which
you love to see and I love to see the
second aar they were hitting Boy, Julian Lovequandre Diggs. All
(03:08):
these guys are being physical and breaking up passes and
they've been eliminating the big play, which I love.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
To see recently. So another big win for the Hawks.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
But we got to turn the page because to keep
on going, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What's on tap? What's on tap?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
These Steelers are eight and seven, third place in the
AFC North. They've had an interesting year. They get blown
out by the forty nine Ers to start the season,
but they have impressive wins now over the Browns, the Raiders,
the Baltimore Ravens, which I still scratch my head about,
but they got it done, the LA Rams, the Titans,
the Packers, and the Bengals twice. They have losses to
(03:47):
the Texans, Jags, Browns, Cardinals, Patriots, and Colts as of late.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So they're an interesting team.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
They're they're kind of all over the place at quarterback
right now, but they're not gonna down.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Mike Tomlins a great coach.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
They're a team that showed some resilience last week against
the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Bump.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So what have you seen from these Steelers?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Man?
Speaker 5 (04:08):
The Steelers, Let's focus on what they did last week
against Cincy. Now, we all heard about Jake brown especially
around these parts right the fairy tale. It came to
an end this week for Jake Brownie. He was playing
some good football man. The Steelers beat the Bengals thirty
four to eleven last week. Brownie still threw for three
and thirty five yards, but he had a career high
(04:28):
in interceptions. He had three of them. Things on the
other side, Mason Rudolph got his first start in two
years and he played well. Seventeen and twenty seven to
ninety and two touchdowns. Start of the day has to
be George Pickens. He was criticized all week about him
not blocking for his running back. He says, I'm not
here to block, I'm here to catch the football. Score touchdowns.
That's what he did. Four receptions for one hundred and
ninety five yards and two touchdowns and eighty six yard
(04:50):
touchdown and a sixty six yard touchdown. Man, my man
was everywhere. If you're not gonna block, I guess you
put up numbers like that, then all is well, we'll
forgive you.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
No, he bought out. I mean good on him, man.
A lot of people talking. He's a headline on every
on Sports Center, ESPN, all the things. He comes out
and absolutely balls out, and Mason Rudolph gives them a
spark that they didn't have when.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Trubisky Sorry I forgot his name.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Mitchell Tubisky was starting those two games after Pikett went down,
and they got some good running backs Bump. We're gonna
get into those in the key matchups with Naje Harris
Jalen Warrens.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So they're doing well.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
This game was something that they dominated against the Bengals
who are fighting for a playoff berth at the same time.
So it's definitely a big win as both teams are
on the outside looking in, but Pittsburgh is still trying
to get in the playoffs. They're currently the ninth seed
in the AFC. But now let's take a look at
the head to head comparison between these two teams, Seahawks
and Steelers.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
We'll starting the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Things are decently close, with the Seahawks having an edge
in a couple categories. Seahawks are twenty second in the NFL,
averaging three hundred and nineteen yards per game. They're twenty
ninth in the NFL in rush offense was definitely something
they would love to improve on, middle of the pack
when it comes to pass offense fifteenth in the NFL
averaging two hundred twenty nine yards per game, and then
points per game they are nineteenth averaging twenty one point three.
(06:09):
Flipping me over to the other side, the Steelers. They
are twenty sixth in the NFL in total offense, averaging
two hundred and ninety four yards per game, sixteenth running
the ball one hundred and ten yards per game. Struggle
in the past, only averaging one hundred and eighty four
yards per game, that was good for twenty seventh in
the league. And look at the points per game they're
averaging seventeen that is twenty eighth in the league. So
the Seahawks have a slight advantage. I think this you
(06:31):
would take you know, some of the Seahawks players over them. Granted,
they have some good guys on offense from a matchup standpoint,
but the Seahawks have had a better work of you know,
body of work this season and I hope to see
that again carry over to Sunday. But the Steelers do
have some explosive players in offense, so it will be
a fun matchup to look at.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Yeah, they do got to be on point man. We
talk about George Pickings. Naji Harris got warn over there
as well. But defensively is on on paper where the
Steelers have to as the twenty first overall, the Huks
twenty sixth twentieth against the run, the Hawks are twenty seven,
twenty first. Against the past, the Hawks are nineteenth. This
is the stat that kind of baffled me a little bit.
I had to dig a little deeper. Right, the Steelers
(07:10):
are seventh when it comes to points allowed per game nineteen,
the Hawks are twenty third. You look at their stats
above this right past defense, rush, defense, total offense, and
they're hovering around twenty. So what makes them be able
to shut things down? They're just get in the red zone.
They're getting the resuds their top five when it comes
to red zone defense, so they're allowed to get a
whole bunch of yards in between the twenties. Once it
(07:31):
gets in the red zone, they buckle down just a
little bit. So the Hawks have struggled at times in
the red zone, so this is gonna be another good challenge.
But last week they played with the number two defense
in the red zone and they were able to get
points there. So it's gonna be a battle either way
you put it. The Pittsburgh Steelers have thirty two sacks,
the Hawks have thirty seven. When it comes to interceptions,
(07:51):
the Hawks have eleven the Steelers has sixteen. So again
an evenly match team on paper. This is the one
game in a while. I guess I'll give a week
too to why I say, hey, we got him at quarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
At the quarterback spy.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Gino's always a guy who's gonna hang in air and
throw hands or whatnot. But with this matchup right here,
I'm thinking, all right, Gino's going to be the guy.
He has to be the guy to win this ballgame
for this team. He did last week. Drew did it
the week before, sprinkle on the run. But get Gino going,
especially in the red zone, Yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And I think the cool thing about Gino last week
is not only did you get it done in the
red zone, he did not turn the ball over. He's
only turned the ball over twice in his last five starts,
so he's playing better football at that. From that standpoint,
and as long as the Seahawks protect the ball, I
think this is a game they should win. The Steelers
do a great job of taking the ball away. They're
tied for first and turnover differential at plus ten, So
(08:42):
definitely got to take care of the rock against this team. Now,
for Seahawks fans, we've been out there a long time.
The Seahawks and the Steelers do have a deep rooted history.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
We'll jump into that now.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No your history.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
I'm still one of those people who is not over
two thousand and five, and I don't care what anyone
tells me.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
That's just who I am as a person, and I
haven't let it go anyway. The all time series between
these two teams is tied at ten. Including the playoffs.
The Seahawks are ten and nine in the regular season.
The last meeting, though, the Seahawks took on the Steelers
on Sunday Night Football twenty twenty one. It was Gino's
second start I believe, maybe first start in a Seahawks uniform.
(09:23):
Excuse me, first start after Russell got hurt this in
twenty twenty one, Russell breaks his finger. Seahawks go down
to Pittsburgh and then plan on Sunday Night. The Hawks
were down fourteen to zero in the first half, a
battle back behind some great runs by Alex Collins resting
Pce young Man. He had one hundred yards that day
on twenty carries in one touchdown. But when the game
got really interesting at the end, trailing twenty seventeen hut
(09:45):
or two minutes left in the game, Gino led the
Seahawks in a nine play fifty yard drive, ending with
the Jason Myers field goal that forced overtime. In overtimes,
both teams traded punts on the first possessions. Then on
the seahawks second possession of overtime, Gino Smith was hit
from behind.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
T J.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Watt sack fumble gave the Steelers a good field position.
They would kick a field goal two plays later and
win the game that day. Gino was twenty three to
thirty two for two hundred nine yards in one touchdown,
but with sack five times. Dk metcalf l of the
Seahawks receivers with six receptions for fifty eight yards, and
Bobby Wagner and Jordan Brooks each had fourteen tackles. That
(10:21):
game was frustrating, Bump. I remember the Seahawks lost a
lot of close games during that stretch. It was a
really in between time. Obviously, it was cool to see
Geno Smith kind of give you a precursor of what
he could do at the end of games, leading that
game tying field goal drive and that one. But hopefully
the Seahawks can do a little bit more in this
one and get after the Steelers. But it was an
(10:42):
active week in the NFC West, headlined by a showdown
between the Niners and the Ravens. What's the word the
Seahawks or the NFC West champs?
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Again, what's the word in the West? On HOWK talk.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Man, the NFC West is heating up. You have the
San Francisco forty nine ers at eleven and four at
the top of the division, the Rams in the Hawks
log jam in the middle, there are both eight and seven,
and then the Cardinals are three and Twelve's man, if
the playoffs started today, the nc West would have three
playoff teams. The Niners are holding down the number one spot.
(11:22):
The Rams and the Seahawks had the final two wildcard
spots at eight. With the records at eight and seven,
the Seahawks control their own playoff destiny.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
They win the next two games, they are good to go.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
But let's talk about the game of the week, the
forty nine Ers against the Baltimore Ravens. Man, I was
excited for this one. It was Christmas Day, late night game.
Let's see how this thing was gonna go down. And
it didn't go down the way I thought it was.
It was close for a while, ended up being thirty
three to nineteen, but a lot because it's a rock party.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Man, it's hard to overcome foreignterceptions.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
It was eighteen to thirty two for two fifty five,
no touchdowns in four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
In the four losses this year, Rock perty is completing
seventy percent of his passes passes one thousand and seventeen yards,
three touchdowns to nine interceptions in one fumble. Now I'm
going to give him a little bit of love. Two
of those were on him, the other two aren't get
his head short of gets hit. Maybe he can get
the full ball out of his hands earlier, but I'm
not put all four on party.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
But he does get the stat four interceptions.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
The game was competitive into the second half, man trailing
sixteen to twelve and the forty Niners putting on the
first possession and the Ravens march down the field. Lamar
Jackson fans Nelson Agalore, still in the league, still making plays.
Six Shard touchdown that made the score twenty three to twelve.
So now the pressures back on the Niners. What is
rock Perty going to do? He throws a picked to
Patrick Queen on the next offensive play. Then Lamar he
(12:47):
threw a second touchdown in the span of eighteen seconds,
finding Zay Flowers, who I think is probably the best
rookie wide received in the league this year, and that's
stilled the game he made. Lamar made his case for
the league MVP, who was twenty three thirty five to
fifty two, two touchdowns and the zero interceptions. He also
had forty five yards on seven Harry's for the Niners.
Kittle and I each had over one hundre yards for
(13:08):
Stephen McCaffrey started a game one hundred three yeards rushing
on fourteen carres and one touchdown. Both teams remain in
first place and still control their destiny to lock down
the number one seed. But to me, this was the
matchup but the two best teams in the NFL, and
Purple got the gold.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, the fact that they came in there and they
did that in Santa Clara and the Niners have been
the bullies, right. Everyone talked about how you know, essentially
they're the best seaming the league. The Ravens had to
hear it all week. You had Pro football talk, everyone
talking about them. And they went in there and they
punched the bully in the face. I mean, that's what
happened the one. The crazy thing is like, they're an
(13:46):
amazing football team. The Niners still are. They're still probably
the best team in the NFC has right now, right,
but it's it's very interesting to see when someone of
us punches in back. There was less talking. I didn't
see any laughter on the sideline. I didn't se people
getting pea faces. It's just a it's very interesting there,
but no big ups with the Ravens. Those are two
really good football teams and now the hell of a
football game. So we'll see what happens moving forward the
(14:09):
nine er Silk and control their destiny. Like Bump said,
to win the number one seed elsewhere in the division.
We'll just get through these real quick. Saints at Rams.
Rams took down the Saints last Thursday, winning thirty to
twenty two. They are blowing them out thirty seven. Saints
make it interesting late but can't get enough at the end.
Rams hold on Stafford was twenty four to thirty four,
(14:29):
three twenty eight, two touchdowns. Kyron Williams who continues to
just ball out another one hundred yard game for him
and Pooka Nakua continues his dominance one hundred and sixty
four yards, nine receptions, one touchdown. I would say if
you're probably the Rams, He's like, yeah, we knew he'd
be this good.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
No, you didn't. Good for you?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Good?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
You're holding for six hundred yards and four touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
If that man man, I I good for him. Who
go's killing the game. The other matchup Cardinals at Bears.
I mean this was a rough one for two teams
that are struggling. Bears were beating the Cardinals pretty good.
They end up winning twenty seven to sixteen. And you
know you said it a couple of weeks ago, Bump.
I think you said, you know, big ups to Calamary
(15:15):
because he came back when he didn't need to hustle
back for a team that is not very good. Right
he Ne's won three games last nine in a row,
one point, and believe so big ups to him. And
the crazy thing is, but I won't even say too much.
I don run jinx anything. Because Jessica's are three and
twelve does not mean they're not going to give the
Seahawks everything they have In Week eighteen. The Seahawks will
(15:36):
needed to get into the playoffs all this stuff. So
as bad as the Cardinals are right now, I will
not be surprised if that's the close.
Speaker 5 (15:42):
Kamp, No, not at all. This is the NFC West
and you never know what's going to go down. You
got four competent quarterbacks, got some good coaches out here.
Don't sleep on no body. But let's focus on the Steelers.
So let's get back to Let's go to man up
and see what these.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Matchups look like.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Man up on Hawk Talk.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
All Right, you know you gotta start with the quarterback,
but the Steelers have had several guys play that position.
Man for the third week in a row, there's a
little uncertainty about who the Seahawks will face at quarterback.
Man Mike Tomlin provided some clarity this week. He said, look,
they prepare as if Mason Rudolph will be the quarterback.
We've seen We've seen Kenny Pickett, we've seen Mitch Trubisky.
Now we've seen Mason Rudolph. Man, but let's talk about
(16:35):
Picket for a little bit. Okay, Picket, he's having some
surgery on his ankle. On the year, Picket completed sixty
two percent of his passes for two thousand yards, six
touchdowns and four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
He was sacked twenty three times.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
All Right.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
The other quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, the former number two pick
of the Chicago Bears. You talk about finessing the NFL.
This guy might be the captain of the finest game.
He played in a few games. In the games he
did play, he was thirty eight fifty eight three fifty
nine and two touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked
five times after two bad losses, Tomlin again it made
(17:11):
a change, and it says, all right, we went from
Kenny to Trubisky. Now we're going to Mason Rudolph. When
I think of Mason Rudolph, I just think of him
being concussed with a helmet on, with our face masks
walk into the sideline.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Every time, I just get that image out of my head.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I feel bad for associating him with only that, but
that's all I got from my man.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
He's had. He's played in nineteen games, eleven starts.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
In those games, he's completed sixty one percent of his
passes twenty six hundred and fifty nine yards, eighteen touchdowns,
and eleven interceptions. He started eight games in twenty nineteen.
In one game in twenty twenty twenty one and twenty three, defensively,
the Seahawks hell an opponent to under twenty points for
the second consecutive week.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Let's keep this scene going.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
The Hawks were twenty six in the NFL in total
defensive line three hundred and fifty yards per game, and
their nineteen that gets to pass allowing to twenty nine.
I'm just gonna go out and hope that Mason had
his moments last week. You beat the Cincinnati Bengals, you
throw for a bunch of yards, George Pickens bounce back.
Now it's back to reality. You gotta play a defense
(18:17):
that's playing some good football. As a black you hah,
no question. And you're going on the road. You're not
gonna be at home.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
You're playing a team that is fighting for their playoff
lives and they've been in this fight mode for the
last two weeks. So yeah, I'm hoping, like you said that,
we get after him. We get after the quarterback, we
sack him, and we make things hard for him. He
comes into the lum and it's gonna be loud. It's
going to me New Year's Eve, so people be rearing
ready to go. Jack Dell fired up. So yeah, I'm
hoping Mason Rudolph had his best game of his career
(18:43):
last week. Now, flipping over to our quarterbacks, you know Smith,
our guy. He made his return to the starting lineup
after missing two games with that groin injury. His stat
line didn't necessarily light the world on fire against the
Titans if you're looking at it, but he is efficient.
He's twenty five thirty six two hundred and twenty seven
yards with two touchdowns. He also led his fourth game
winning drive of the season, recording his fourteenth in his
(19:06):
career in just sixty four starts. I don't think this
gets enough love because people keep saying it. But you
gotta think about that. He's leading game winning drives in
twenty one percent of his starts. It's essentially one of
very five games he's leading a game winning drive.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's insane to me. You want to talk about clutch
like he is clutch on that game winning drive in Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
He was three for three on third down. That sounds
pretty damn clutch to me.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I know, Bump, you've been outlining all week how good
the Seahawks have been on these game winning drives and
on third down.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
So it's good as see, Geno. Keep that up you.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
You know, just nineteen attempts away from passing John Kidnap
for sixth place on the Seahawks all times attempts list
at one thy one hundred and twenty nine. On the year,
he's completing sixty four percent of his passes, three one
hundred and forty five yards, seventeen touchdowns, and ninety interceptions
with a ninety quarter back rating.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Now he's taking on the Steeler team.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
We mentioned it earlier and had to head this twenty
one in total defense, twenty first against the pass, twentyeighth
against the run, seventh in points allowed, and thirteenth in sacks. So,
Gino Smith, you know I said earlier, I love that
he's not turning the ball over. I love how he
made three throws bump in that second half, which are
unbelievable because first of all, Seahawks had to score in
(20:16):
every one of those drive to win the game against
the Titans. But he had the one ball the JS
and the one ball the DK and then the one
ball to Kolby. I mean he Gino does not get
enough love for sometimes his precision and his accurate passing
that I think he should.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
So I'm all for. I love where Gino's at.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
It's good to see him healthy because he gives this
team the best opportunity to win, and I'm looking forward
to seeing what he can do against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I'm on, Gino, keep the good times of rolling.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Man talking about rolling, you got two good running backs
over there for the Pittsburgh Steels.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
I'm talking about Naji Harris and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Najie Harris man looking for another one thousand yard seasons.
He's this is his third year. He's got back to
back seasons. He's looking for a back to back thousand
yard seasons. He's looking for one more. His three three
hundred and thirty five rush yards or fourth in the
NFL since the start of the twenty twenty one season.
In twenty twenty one, he was voted to the Pro
(21:11):
Bowl and the NFL's All Rookie Team. Back year, he
had twel hundred yards and seven touchdowns, also seventy four
receptions and forward to sixty seven yards and three touchdowns.
Last season, he had one thousand and thirty four with
seven touchdowns. He also had forty one receptions for two
hundred and twenty nine yards and three touchdowns. This year,
he's got eight hundred yards and five touchdowns. He also
has twenty four receptions four one hundred and forty nine
(21:33):
yards in zero touchdowns. While his rushing numbers are solid,
his impact on the past as a pass catcher is
way down. He's fifty receptions short of where he was
his rookie season, So that's just what do you attribute
to that? Is it is it George Pickens? Is it
the offense? Is it the quarterbacks? What do you think
is going on with that stat? I think it's because
(21:53):
of Warren.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I think it's because of Jalen Warren because first of all,
this guy a great story coming at a JUCO player.
Then he goes to Utah State, doesn't get a ton
of love. I think he was there for cheers. And
then he goes to Oklahoma State. This dude rushes for
one thousand yards eleven touchdowns, doesn't get drafted, and he
just he makes the team coming out and plays really well.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Kind of average stats his rookie year.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
With this last year, he's got one hundred twenty seven carries,
six hundred and seventy six yards, three touchdowns, But he's
the one now has fifty two receptions for three hundred
and thirty yards. So I think that's where the receptions
have kind of gone. But bump, they're fun to watch
and if you if you if you need to see
anything or know anything about Jalen Warren in the Steeler
running game, watch the Cincinnati game, watch him smack Oh
(22:37):
my goodness of Bengals linebacker fifty seven. I'm blanking on
his name, but Mike Goodness, bump. He hit this man
into next week. It's one of those you know those
memes right where you get crossed up, make sure you're
flying into space or something like that.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
That's what he did. Totally smoke. So these guys bring
the lunch pail. They can run it.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Yeah, I saw that. I appreciate that, But none of
that this weekend.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Now, let's talk about the receivers for this still is
George Pickens of the Goon who wore a ski masks
when he got drafted, and Deontay Johnson versus the Seahawks secondary.
George Pickens was all over the headlines leading into last
week's game for the wrong Reeves is not blocking, saying,
look I don't want to get hurt and all that.
Look I'm a receiver. I understand where you're coming from,
(23:19):
but you got a block. A right receivers create the
big plays, man. But last week he just went off.
He fought all the negativity in the press.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
He does his thing.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
One hundred and ninety five yards on four targets in
an eighty six yard touchdown, in a sixty six yard
touchdown Pickings is a sixth receiver in the NFL to
register multiple sixty plus yard TV receptions in the same
game since two thousand and six.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
It does not happen often. That eighty six yard.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
TD reception was the longest reception, TD reception and offensive
play from scrimmage in the NFL this season. On the year,
fifty six receptions of one thousand and nine yards and
five touchdowns. Let's talk about Deonte He's got forty three
receptions for five hundred and fifty two yards and four touchdowns.
After giving up tons of exposed to play to the
forty nine ers the Seahawks, they started to lock it down.
(24:08):
And you go from the Niners and then you got
the Eagles. What are you gonna do against a J.
Brown and Devonte Smith? You lock him down?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Man.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Neither of those guys have more than fifty six yards.
Got a credit reg Willam, Trey browwn and Mike Jackson.
Devin Witherspoon wasn't available, so those guys have to step up.
The seatofs are nineteenth in the NFL, allowing two hundred
and twenty nine yards per game.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Devin Witherspoon missed last week.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
Yeah, He's missed three games this year, but he is
still fourth in the NFL with sixteen passes defended on
the season. He only has one game this season where
he does not have a pass defenditant they keep going
at him.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
He keeps coming big. Hopefully he'll be back this week.
We shall see.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Man. The Hawks is the team. They have seventy one
passes defendant. That's eleventh in the NFL. So I look
at his defense and I go, what's the strength. It
has to be in the secondary, right, think about Reek
and Devin Witherspoon in the safeties. But you know, I
think the defense is working on an identity, and I
(25:05):
think it starts with the back end.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I like what the d linemen are doing.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
I think we'll talk about them in a bit, but
look at that secondary and go, no matter who you
plug in there, they're making plays.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So you get spoom back. You feel good about this week.
You had no question about it. I think d line
obviously in the defensive backs were candid hand. But if
you're taking the ball away and you're locking guys up,
that just helps him. If the quarterback has to pump
one more time, got a hold on out a half
second longer that helps the guys like Boy and those
guys get home. So definitely love what the Seahawks are doing.
From a secondary standpoint. As of now, the last matchup
(25:34):
I want to look at it is t J.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
Watt Man. First of our body.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
TJ is you know, no one would have thought, or
at least I didn't think coming back to you know,
twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, that he would be a better
player than his brother when it's all said and done,
and he's going to be just from the numbers he's
putting up right, JJ Watt's going to be a first
ballot Hall of Famer and his brother should be right
behind him. Because right now this year, for example, he
(25:58):
leaves the NFL sacks with seventeen, fifth in the NFL,
and TFLs were sixteen. He's closing in on his third
career season in the NFL, leading the NFL sacks third time.
He's the first player since nineteen eighty two, when the
individual sack became an official statistic, to lead the league
three times. Watt is one of five players in NFL
history with ninety four sacks one hundred four tackles for loss,
(26:20):
one hundred and ninety five quarterback hits, twenty seven forts fALS,
ten recoveries, twenty strip sacks leads the NFL sacks twenty seventeen,
twenty twenty one, Defensive Player of the Year, five time
Pro Bowler.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
Three time All Pro. I could go on and on
and on and on and on. Do can play some ball.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That's really all you need to know this year on
the season, fifty eight tackles, seventeen sacks, sixteen TFLs, eight
passes defended, one interception. They're saving greats for me. In
the Seahawks offensive line, Charles Cross ab Lucas rust of them.
They're battle tested. They've had to go against Nick Bosa,
Miles Garrett, Aiden Hutchinson, MIKEAEH Parsons to name a few,
(26:58):
and there's the other dude from Cincinnati. They of his
name right now. But they've played all the best guys
in the league upfront. Rushing the passer. Seahawks have allowed
thirty seven sacks on the year, which they've kind of
fell back in the middle of the pack. They're eighteenth now,
so just below the middle there. But I'm confident those
guys you're gonna find ways to slow him down. You know,
as long as he didn't have he might get one
(27:19):
or two month.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
That's is what it is. He's that good of a player.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
As long as he doesn't take over the game, I
feel good about it. So anyway, he's that dude. You're
gonna see him making plays. But lock him down, contain him,
and the Seahawks will have a really good chance of
getting this victory. But we'll tell you how they get
that done. Path to victory.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
After forty five waits for the staff, Michael Dixon puts
it down.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
That kick is away. If that kick is gone, to
stay off.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
When it's gone.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
It's a path to victory. On Hawk Talk, I this
is how they're going to get it. Don Okay, the
playoffs are now. You control your own destiny. You need
to win the next two weeks and you are in
the playoffs, and you got to take care of the football.
You are five and one when not committing a turnover.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Let's do that.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
You are five and zero when they win the turnover battle. Simple,
take care of the football, win the turnover battle. You
should be good to go, Gino, continue to be you.
You are good enough to push this team to the
playoffs and possibly win a game. I'm gonna go ahead
and throw it out there, all right. Continue to get
the running backs involved, as we've been saying all week.
The last couple of weeks, they're six and oh when
they rush for one hundred yards. So ken Walker needs
(28:32):
to be in the game plan early and often feed
the young man.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Oh yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Last week the se yaw still only got fifty eight
yards rushing and believe on twenty carries.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
So definitely want to see more of that.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Want to see the carriers go up there and keep
finding a way to get the ball in the hands
of your young guys. Right, DK Maykalfe making plays. JSN
has really come along strong. I feel like I'm third down.
He's really emerging, you know, as that third threat, as
that guy can really help this offense. I want to
see him spread the love and let's get tired of
back invalld Man. Tyler's always good for a couple of
key clutch catches, So let's keep slinging that thing defensively.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I just talked about it for a long time.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Block DJ watt Man, don't let them take over the game,
and you'll have a chance and then get after Mason Rudolph. Please,
he hasn't been a starter for a reason. He hasn't
been to start us in twenty twenty one, and he's
a guy who's coming off a really good game, but
now he's got to go into a hostile environment.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Get after the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
You know, the Seahawks had a lot of pressure last
week to help win the game against fran Tannehill. I
think they can do the same this week and that
should help you take the ball away. And if you
do those things, it's gonna be a nice, happy New Year,
nice little, nice little Christmas gift, a little New Year's
gift as you go into twenty twenty four, and you know,
(29:45):
hoping to chase the Seahawks down in a fun playoff run.
That's gonna do it for us. Reminder you can hear
so everywhere Seahawks. I come on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Serious XM,
and more. If you're listening on Apple podcast, don't forget
your rate us. We appreciate the five stars and every
one who's already rated. He's Michael Bumpus, I'm Asa Trobe.
You've been listening to Hawk Talk, the Seahawks taking on
(30:06):
the Pittsburgh Seilers this Sunday at Lumenfield at one oh five.
Hoping the Seahawks get it done and we'll be talking
to you next week, really next year, talking about a
Seahawks victory going to the playoffs. I'm that Choby, he's
Michael bumpas's been Hawk talk.
You're listening to Hawk Talk with former Seahawks wide receiver
Michael Bumpus.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Why fake going to roll right? Dumps it off into
the right flasf to Michael Pumpers, who bounces off a
one tackler cats inside the forty down of the thirty
five yard line.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Powered by Seahawks dot Com.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
Matt Pumpfake's looking at the gold line. He throws it
into the m zone.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Touchdown, Say Hawks, it's Michael Bumpas with a diving catching
the end zone. A ten yard touchdown reception for Bumpers,
and the kid out of Washington State has found himself
a place.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
On this team.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Now, here's your host, Nasa Chovie. Welcome in, Welcome into
another edition of Hawk Talk. The Seahawks took down the
Tennessee Titans twenty to seventeen on Christmas Eve, Mary, Christmas.
Everyone out there, Happy holidays. It's been good for Seahawks fans.
Bump the last two weeks, thrilling wins game winning drives,
two twenty to seventeen victories.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
The Seahawks hopes are not only.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Live, Bump, they're live and well because the Seahawks control
of their own destiny moving forward, you win two, you're in.
You still have an opportunity to get the sixth seed
in the NFC playoffs. So right now, as of today,
on December twenty seventh, things are pretty good, Bump. So Bump,
tell me about the Titans game? Man, where are your
main takeaways? Would you leave that day feel like.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
I left feeling like Gino is still the guy and
will be the guy in reminding folks like, look now,
there's no competition between him and Drew, right, it's a
little friendly rivalry, all right. Drew ninety two yard drive
to win the game. That's what sub appreciate you, dog,
held you down. Gino put together ninety six yard drive
won the game winner, but it's set up the next drive,
the longest drive of the season. Gino had two touchdowns,
(01:38):
was in complete control of the game. The first half
didn't look too great for Geno, but then the second
half they settled down.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
The velocity and the football look good.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You got clutch receptions from Tyle Lockett from dk JSN
is doing this thing. He's getting comfortable out there and
our guy boy yay. It's been with four, five, six
weeks since we saw him get after the quarterback he
has two sacks. So I saw a team that once
again enough to win the ball game twenty to seventeen,
the exact same score as the week before, but did
it in a different way to end the game. Sacks
(02:07):
won the game this year, this week, where last week
it was interceptions that won the game. So I'd like
to see a complete game. The run game wasn't where
we wanted it to be. But you take a win.
As Big Race says, a win isn't ugly enough to
ever give it back, so you will take a win
wherever you can. And this was who this team is.
It's no surprise that they're winning close ones like this, No.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
And I love it.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
You're right, you know, at this point in the league,
it's not the BCS, it's not the colleor football playoffs.
There's no committee. You just need to win ball games.
And that's where this team is at right now. And
it's really cool to see the resilience of this team.
Two weeks in a row. We got a lot of
young guys on the team, but backs against the wall,
we got to have it right now and they did.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
And even on the defensive side, right they gave.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Up the touchdown the drive before, but when the game
was on the line, Tanneh had plenty of time to
get down the field and get three points. They weren't
able to do that because of the plays made by
you mentioned it, Draymond Jones, Boy Mafe and Treequallen Arical
one excuse me had a really good game too, which
you love to see and I love to see the
second aar they were hitting Boy, Julian Lovequandre Diggs. All
(03:08):
these guys are being physical and breaking up passes and
they've been eliminating the big play, which I love.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
To see recently. So another big win for the Hawks.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
But we got to turn the page because to keep
on going, the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
What's on tap? What's on tap?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
These Steelers are eight and seven, third place in the
AFC North. They've had an interesting year. They get blown
out by the forty nine Ers to start the season,
but they have impressive wins now over the Browns, the Raiders,
the Baltimore Ravens, which I still scratch my head about,
but they got it done, the LA Rams, the Titans,
the Packers, and the Bengals twice. They have losses to
(03:47):
the Texans, Jags, Browns, Cardinals, Patriots, and Colts as of late.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
So they're an interesting team.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
They're they're kind of all over the place at quarterback
right now, but they're not gonna down.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Mike Tomlins a great coach.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
They're a team that showed some resilience last week against
the Bengals.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Bump.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So what have you seen from these Steelers?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Man?
Speaker 5 (04:08):
The Steelers, Let's focus on what they did last week
against Cincy. Now, we all heard about Jake brown especially
around these parts right the fairy tale. It came to
an end this week for Jake Brownie. He was playing
some good football man. The Steelers beat the Bengals thirty
four to eleven last week. Brownie still threw for three
and thirty five yards, but he had a career high
(04:28):
in interceptions. He had three of them. Things on the
other side, Mason Rudolph got his first start in two
years and he played well. Seventeen and twenty seven to
ninety and two touchdowns. Start of the day has to
be George Pickens. He was criticized all week about him
not blocking for his running back. He says, I'm not
here to block, I'm here to catch the football. Score touchdowns.
That's what he did. Four receptions for one hundred and
ninety five yards and two touchdowns and eighty six yard
(04:50):
touchdown and a sixty six yard touchdown. Man, my man
was everywhere. If you're not gonna block, I guess you
put up numbers like that, then all is well, we'll
forgive you.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
No, he bought out. I mean good on him, man.
A lot of people talking. He's a headline on every
on Sports Center, ESPN, all the things. He comes out
and absolutely balls out, and Mason Rudolph gives them a
spark that they didn't have when.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
Trubisky Sorry I forgot his name.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Mitchell Tubisky was starting those two games after Pikett went down,
and they got some good running backs Bump. We're gonna
get into those in the key matchups with Naje Harris
Jalen Warrens.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
So they're doing well.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
This game was something that they dominated against the Bengals
who are fighting for a playoff berth at the same time.
So it's definitely a big win as both teams are
on the outside looking in, but Pittsburgh is still trying
to get in the playoffs. They're currently the ninth seed
in the AFC. But now let's take a look at
the head to head comparison between these two teams, Seahawks
and Steelers.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
We'll starting the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Things are decently close, with the Seahawks having an edge
in a couple categories. Seahawks are twenty second in the NFL,
averaging three hundred and nineteen yards per game. They're twenty
ninth in the NFL in rush offense was definitely something
they would love to improve on, middle of the pack
when it comes to pass offense fifteenth in the NFL
averaging two hundred twenty nine yards per game, and then
points per game they are nineteenth averaging twenty one point three.
(06:09):
Flipping me over to the other side, the Steelers. They
are twenty sixth in the NFL in total offense, averaging
two hundred and ninety four yards per game, sixteenth running
the ball one hundred and ten yards per game. Struggle
in the past, only averaging one hundred and eighty four
yards per game, that was good for twenty seventh in
the league. And look at the points per game they're
averaging seventeen that is twenty eighth in the league. So
the Seahawks have a slight advantage. I think this you
(06:31):
would take you know, some of the Seahawks players over them. Granted,
they have some good guys on offense from a matchup standpoint,
but the Seahawks have had a better work of you know,
body of work this season and I hope to see
that again carry over to Sunday. But the Steelers do
have some explosive players in offense, so it will be
a fun matchup to look at.
Speaker 5 (06:49):
Yeah, they do got to be on point man. We
talk about George Pickings. Naji Harris got warn over there
as well. But defensively is on on paper where the
Steelers have to as the twenty first overall, the Huks
twenty sixth twentieth against the run, the Hawks are twenty seven,
twenty first. Against the past, the Hawks are nineteenth. This
is the stat that kind of baffled me a little bit.
I had to dig a little deeper. Right, the Steelers
(07:10):
are seventh when it comes to points allowed per game nineteen,
the Hawks are twenty third. You look at their stats
above this right past defense, rush, defense, total offense, and
they're hovering around twenty. So what makes them be able
to shut things down? They're just get in the red zone.
They're getting the resuds their top five when it comes
to red zone defense, so they're allowed to get a
whole bunch of yards in between the twenties. Once it
(07:31):
gets in the red zone, they buckle down just a
little bit. So the Hawks have struggled at times in
the red zone, so this is gonna be another good challenge.
But last week they played with the number two defense
in the red zone and they were able to get
points there. So it's gonna be a battle either way
you put it. The Pittsburgh Steelers have thirty two sacks,
the Hawks have thirty seven. When it comes to interceptions,
(07:51):
the Hawks have eleven the Steelers has sixteen. So again
an evenly match team on paper. This is the one
game in a while. I guess I'll give a week
too to why I say, hey, we got him at quarterback.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
At the quarterback spy.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Gino's always a guy who's gonna hang in air and
throw hands or whatnot. But with this matchup right here,
I'm thinking, all right, Gino's going to be the guy.
He has to be the guy to win this ballgame
for this team. He did last week. Drew did it
the week before, sprinkle on the run. But get Gino going,
especially in the red zone, Yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
And I think the cool thing about Gino last week
is not only did you get it done in the
red zone, he did not turn the ball over. He's
only turned the ball over twice in his last five starts,
so he's playing better football at that. From that standpoint,
and as long as the Seahawks protect the ball, I
think this is a game they should win. The Steelers
do a great job of taking the ball away. They're
tied for first and turnover differential at plus ten, So
(08:42):
definitely got to take care of the rock against this team. Now,
for Seahawks fans, we've been out there a long time.
The Seahawks and the Steelers do have a deep rooted history.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
We'll jump into that now.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
No your history.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
I'm still one of those people who is not over
two thousand and five, and I don't care what anyone
tells me.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Doesn't matter.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
That's just who I am as a person, and I
haven't let it go anyway. The all time series between
these two teams is tied at ten. Including the playoffs.
The Seahawks are ten and nine in the regular season.
The last meeting, though, the Seahawks took on the Steelers
on Sunday Night Football twenty twenty one. It was Gino's
second start I believe, maybe first start in a Seahawks uniform.
(09:23):
Excuse me, first start after Russell got hurt this in
twenty twenty one, Russell breaks his finger. Seahawks go down
to Pittsburgh and then plan on Sunday Night. The Hawks
were down fourteen to zero in the first half, a
battle back behind some great runs by Alex Collins resting
Pce young Man. He had one hundred yards that day
on twenty carries in one touchdown. But when the game
got really interesting at the end, trailing twenty seventeen hut
(09:45):
or two minutes left in the game, Gino led the
Seahawks in a nine play fifty yard drive, ending with
the Jason Myers field goal that forced overtime. In overtimes,
both teams traded punts on the first possessions. Then on
the seahawks second possession of overtime, Gino Smith was hit
from behind.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
T J.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Watt sack fumble gave the Steelers a good field position.
They would kick a field goal two plays later and
win the game that day. Gino was twenty three to
thirty two for two hundred nine yards in one touchdown,
but with sack five times. Dk metcalf l of the
Seahawks receivers with six receptions for fifty eight yards, and
Bobby Wagner and Jordan Brooks each had fourteen tackles. That
(10:21):
game was frustrating, Bump. I remember the Seahawks lost a
lot of close games during that stretch. It was a
really in between time. Obviously, it was cool to see
Geno Smith kind of give you a precursor of what
he could do at the end of games, leading that
game tying field goal drive and that one. But hopefully
the Seahawks can do a little bit more in this
one and get after the Steelers. But it was an
(10:42):
active week in the NFC West, headlined by a showdown
between the Niners and the Ravens. What's the word the
Seahawks or the NFC West champs?
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Again, what's the word in the West? On HOWK talk.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Man, the NFC West is heating up. You have the
San Francisco forty nine ers at eleven and four at
the top of the division, the Rams in the Hawks
log jam in the middle, there are both eight and seven,
and then the Cardinals are three and Twelve's man, if
the playoffs started today, the nc West would have three
playoff teams. The Niners are holding down the number one spot.
(11:22):
The Rams and the Seahawks had the final two wildcard
spots at eight. With the records at eight and seven,
the Seahawks control their own playoff destiny.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
They win the next two games, they are good to go.
Speaker 5 (11:32):
But let's talk about the game of the week, the
forty nine Ers against the Baltimore Ravens. Man, I was
excited for this one. It was Christmas Day, late night game.
Let's see how this thing was gonna go down. And
it didn't go down the way I thought it was.
It was close for a while, ended up being thirty
three to nineteen, but a lot because it's a rock party.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Man, it's hard to overcome foreignterceptions.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
It was eighteen to thirty two for two fifty five,
no touchdowns in four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
In the four losses this year, Rock perty is completing
seventy percent of his passes passes one thousand and seventeen yards,
three touchdowns to nine interceptions in one fumble. Now I'm
going to give him a little bit of love. Two
of those were on him, the other two aren't get
his head short of gets hit. Maybe he can get
the full ball out of his hands earlier, but I'm
not put all four on party.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
But he does get the stat four interceptions.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
The game was competitive into the second half, man trailing
sixteen to twelve and the forty Niners putting on the
first possession and the Ravens march down the field. Lamar
Jackson fans Nelson Agalore, still in the league, still making plays.
Six Shard touchdown that made the score twenty three to twelve.
So now the pressures back on the Niners. What is
rock Perty going to do? He throws a picked to
Patrick Queen on the next offensive play. Then Lamar he
(12:47):
threw a second touchdown in the span of eighteen seconds,
finding Zay Flowers, who I think is probably the best
rookie wide received in the league this year, and that's
stilled the game he made. Lamar made his case for
the league MVP, who was twenty three thirty five to
fifty two, two touchdowns and the zero interceptions. He also
had forty five yards on seven Harry's for the Niners.
Kittle and I each had over one hundre yards for
(13:08):
Stephen McCaffrey started a game one hundred three yeards rushing
on fourteen carres and one touchdown. Both teams remain in
first place and still control their destiny to lock down
the number one seed. But to me, this was the
matchup but the two best teams in the NFL, and
Purple got the gold.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, the fact that they came in there and they
did that in Santa Clara and the Niners have been
the bullies, right. Everyone talked about how you know, essentially
they're the best seaming the league. The Ravens had to
hear it all week. You had Pro football talk, everyone
talking about them. And they went in there and they
punched the bully in the face. I mean, that's what
happened the one. The crazy thing is like, they're an
(13:46):
amazing football team. The Niners still are. They're still probably
the best team in the NFC has right now, right,
but it's it's very interesting to see when someone of
us punches in back. There was less talking. I didn't
see any laughter on the sideline. I didn't se people
getting pea faces. It's just a it's very interesting there,
but no big ups with the Ravens. Those are two
really good football teams and now the hell of a
football game. So we'll see what happens moving forward the
(14:09):
nine er Silk and control their destiny. Like Bump said,
to win the number one seed elsewhere in the division.
We'll just get through these real quick. Saints at Rams.
Rams took down the Saints last Thursday, winning thirty to
twenty two. They are blowing them out thirty seven. Saints
make it interesting late but can't get enough at the end.
Rams hold on Stafford was twenty four to thirty four,
(14:29):
three twenty eight, two touchdowns. Kyron Williams who continues to
just ball out another one hundred yard game for him
and Pooka Nakua continues his dominance one hundred and sixty
four yards, nine receptions, one touchdown. I would say if
you're probably the Rams, He's like, yeah, we knew he'd
be this good.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
No, you didn't. Good for you?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Good?
Speaker 3 (14:49):
You're holding for six hundred yards and four touchdowns.
Speaker 1 (14:53):
If that man man, I I good for him. Who
go's killing the game. The other matchup Cardinals at Bears.
I mean this was a rough one for two teams
that are struggling. Bears were beating the Cardinals pretty good.
They end up winning twenty seven to sixteen. And you
know you said it a couple of weeks ago, Bump.
I think you said, you know, big ups to Calamary
(15:15):
because he came back when he didn't need to hustle
back for a team that is not very good. Right
he Ne's won three games last nine in a row,
one point, and believe so big ups to him. And
the crazy thing is, but I won't even say too much.
I don run jinx anything. Because Jessica's are three and
twelve does not mean they're not going to give the
Seahawks everything they have In Week eighteen. The Seahawks will
(15:36):
needed to get into the playoffs all this stuff. So
as bad as the Cardinals are right now, I will
not be surprised if that's the close.
Speaker 5 (15:42):
Kamp, No, not at all. This is the NFC West
and you never know what's going to go down. You
got four competent quarterbacks, got some good coaches out here.
Don't sleep on no body. But let's focus on the Steelers.
So let's get back to Let's go to man up
and see what these.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
Matchups look like.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Man up on Hawk Talk.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
All Right, you know you gotta start with the quarterback,
but the Steelers have had several guys play that position.
Man for the third week in a row, there's a
little uncertainty about who the Seahawks will face at quarterback.
Man Mike Tomlin provided some clarity this week. He said, look,
they prepare as if Mason Rudolph will be the quarterback.
We've seen We've seen Kenny Pickett, we've seen Mitch Trubisky.
Now we've seen Mason Rudolph. Man, but let's talk about
(16:35):
Picket for a little bit. Okay, Picket, he's having some
surgery on his ankle. On the year, Picket completed sixty
two percent of his passes for two thousand yards, six
touchdowns and four interceptions.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
He was sacked twenty three times.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
All Right.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
The other quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, the former number two pick
of the Chicago Bears. You talk about finessing the NFL.
This guy might be the captain of the finest game.
He played in a few games. In the games he
did play, he was thirty eight fifty eight three fifty
nine and two touchdowns, three interceptions, and he was sacked
five times after two bad losses, Tomlin again it made
(17:11):
a change, and it says, all right, we went from
Kenny to Trubisky. Now we're going to Mason Rudolph. When
I think of Mason Rudolph, I just think of him
being concussed with a helmet on, with our face masks
walk into the sideline.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Every time, I just get that image out of my head.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I feel bad for associating him with only that, but
that's all I got from my man.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
He's had. He's played in nineteen games, eleven starts.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
In those games, he's completed sixty one percent of his
passes twenty six hundred and fifty nine yards, eighteen touchdowns,
and eleven interceptions. He started eight games in twenty nineteen.
In one game in twenty twenty twenty one and twenty three, defensively,
the Seahawks hell an opponent to under twenty points for
the second consecutive week.
Speaker 3 (17:55):
Let's keep this scene going.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
The Hawks were twenty six in the NFL in total
defensive line three hundred and fifty yards per game, and
their nineteen that gets to pass allowing to twenty nine.
I'm just gonna go out and hope that Mason had
his moments last week. You beat the Cincinnati Bengals, you
throw for a bunch of yards, George Pickens bounce back.
Now it's back to reality. You gotta play a defense
(18:17):
that's playing some good football. As a black you hah,
no question. And you're going on the road. You're not
gonna be at home.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
You're playing a team that is fighting for their playoff
lives and they've been in this fight mode for the
last two weeks. So yeah, I'm hoping, like you said that,
we get after him. We get after the quarterback, we
sack him, and we make things hard for him. He
comes into the lum and it's gonna be loud. It's
going to me New Year's Eve, so people be rearing
ready to go. Jack Dell fired up. So yeah, I'm
hoping Mason Rudolph had his best game of his career
(18:43):
last week. Now, flipping over to our quarterbacks, you know Smith,
our guy. He made his return to the starting lineup
after missing two games with that groin injury. His stat
line didn't necessarily light the world on fire against the
Titans if you're looking at it, but he is efficient.
He's twenty five thirty six two hundred and twenty seven
yards with two touchdowns. He also led his fourth game
winning drive of the season, recording his fourteenth in his
(19:06):
career in just sixty four starts. I don't think this
gets enough love because people keep saying it. But you
gotta think about that. He's leading game winning drives in
twenty one percent of his starts. It's essentially one of
very five games he's leading a game winning drive.
Speaker 3 (19:19):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
That's insane to me. You want to talk about clutch
like he is clutch on that game winning drive in Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
He was three for three on third down. That sounds
pretty damn clutch to me.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
I know, Bump, you've been outlining all week how good
the Seahawks have been on these game winning drives and
on third down.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
So it's good as see, Geno. Keep that up you.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
You know, just nineteen attempts away from passing John Kidnap
for sixth place on the Seahawks all times attempts list
at one thy one hundred and twenty nine. On the year,
he's completing sixty four percent of his passes, three one
hundred and forty five yards, seventeen touchdowns, and ninety interceptions
with a ninety quarter back rating.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
Now he's taking on the Steeler team.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
We mentioned it earlier and had to head this twenty
one in total defense, twenty first against the pass, twentyeighth
against the run, seventh in points allowed, and thirteenth in sacks. So,
Gino Smith, you know I said earlier, I love that
he's not turning the ball over. I love how he
made three throws bump in that second half, which are
unbelievable because first of all, Seahawks had to score in
(20:16):
every one of those drive to win the game against
the Titans. But he had the one ball the JS
and the one ball the DK and then the one
ball to Kolby. I mean he Gino does not get
enough love for sometimes his precision and his accurate passing
that I think he should.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
So I'm all for. I love where Gino's at.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
It's good to see him healthy because he gives this
team the best opportunity to win, and I'm looking forward
to seeing what he can do against the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I'm on, Gino, keep the good times of rolling.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Man talking about rolling, you got two good running backs
over there for the Pittsburgh Steels.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
I'm talking about Naji Harris and Jalen Warren.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
Najie Harris man looking for another one thousand yard seasons.
He's this is his third year. He's got back to
back seasons. He's looking for a back to back thousand
yard seasons. He's looking for one more. His three three
hundred and thirty five rush yards or fourth in the
NFL since the start of the twenty twenty one season.
In twenty twenty one, he was voted to the Pro
(21:11):
Bowl and the NFL's All Rookie Team. Back year, he
had twel hundred yards and seven touchdowns, also seventy four
receptions and forward to sixty seven yards and three touchdowns.
Last season, he had one thousand and thirty four with
seven touchdowns. He also had forty one receptions for two
hundred and twenty nine yards and three touchdowns. This year,
he's got eight hundred yards and five touchdowns. He also
has twenty four receptions four one hundred and forty nine
(21:33):
yards in zero touchdowns. While his rushing numbers are solid,
his impact on the past as a pass catcher is
way down. He's fifty receptions short of where he was
his rookie season, So that's just what do you attribute
to that? Is it is it George Pickens? Is it
the offense? Is it the quarterbacks? What do you think
is going on with that stat? I think it's because
(21:53):
of Warren.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
I think it's because of Jalen Warren because first of all,
this guy a great story coming at a JUCO player.
Then he goes to Utah State, doesn't get a ton
of love. I think he was there for cheers. And
then he goes to Oklahoma State. This dude rushes for
one thousand yards eleven touchdowns, doesn't get drafted, and he
just he makes the team coming out and plays really well.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Kind of average stats his rookie year.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
With this last year, he's got one hundred twenty seven carries,
six hundred and seventy six yards, three touchdowns, But he's
the one now has fifty two receptions for three hundred
and thirty yards. So I think that's where the receptions
have kind of gone. But bump, they're fun to watch
and if you if you if you need to see
anything or know anything about Jalen Warren in the Steeler
running game, watch the Cincinnati game, watch him smack Oh
(22:37):
my goodness of Bengals linebacker fifty seven. I'm blanking on
his name, but Mike Goodness, bump. He hit this man
into next week. It's one of those you know those
memes right where you get crossed up, make sure you're
flying into space or something like that.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
That's what he did. Totally smoke. So these guys bring
the lunch pail. They can run it.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Yeah, I saw that. I appreciate that, But none of
that this weekend.
Speaker 5 (22:57):
Now, let's talk about the receivers for this still is
George Pickens of the Goon who wore a ski masks
when he got drafted, and Deontay Johnson versus the Seahawks secondary.
George Pickens was all over the headlines leading into last
week's game for the wrong Reeves is not blocking, saying,
look I don't want to get hurt and all that.
Look I'm a receiver. I understand where you're coming from,
(23:19):
but you got a block. A right receivers create the
big plays, man. But last week he just went off.
He fought all the negativity in the press.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
He does his thing.
Speaker 5 (23:28):
One hundred and ninety five yards on four targets in
an eighty six yard touchdown, in a sixty six yard
touchdown Pickings is a sixth receiver in the NFL to
register multiple sixty plus yard TV receptions in the same
game since two thousand and six.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
It does not happen often. That eighty six yard.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
TD reception was the longest reception, TD reception and offensive
play from scrimmage in the NFL this season. On the year,
fifty six receptions of one thousand and nine yards and
five touchdowns. Let's talk about Deonte He's got forty three
receptions for five hundred and fifty two yards and four touchdowns.
After giving up tons of exposed to play to the
forty nine ers the Seahawks, they started to lock it down.
(24:08):
And you go from the Niners and then you got
the Eagles. What are you gonna do against a J.
Brown and Devonte Smith? You lock him down?
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Man.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Neither of those guys have more than fifty six yards.
Got a credit reg Willam, Trey browwn and Mike Jackson.
Devin Witherspoon wasn't available, so those guys have to step up.
The seatofs are nineteenth in the NFL, allowing two hundred
and twenty nine yards per game.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Devin Witherspoon missed last week.
Speaker 5 (24:30):
Yeah, He's missed three games this year, but he is
still fourth in the NFL with sixteen passes defended on
the season. He only has one game this season where
he does not have a pass defenditant they keep going
at him.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
He keeps coming big. Hopefully he'll be back this week.
We shall see.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Man. The Hawks is the team. They have seventy one
passes defendant. That's eleventh in the NFL. So I look
at his defense and I go, what's the strength. It
has to be in the secondary, right, think about Reek
and Devin Witherspoon in the safeties. But you know, I
think the defense is working on an identity, and I
(25:05):
think it starts with the back end.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
I like what the d linemen are doing.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
I think we'll talk about them in a bit, but
look at that secondary and go, no matter who you
plug in there, they're making plays.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So you get spoom back. You feel good about this week.
You had no question about it. I think d line
obviously in the defensive backs were candid hand. But if
you're taking the ball away and you're locking guys up,
that just helps him. If the quarterback has to pump
one more time, got a hold on out a half
second longer that helps the guys like Boy and those
guys get home. So definitely love what the Seahawks are doing.
From a secondary standpoint. As of now, the last matchup
(25:34):
I want to look at it is t J.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
Watt Man. First of our body.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
TJ is you know, no one would have thought, or
at least I didn't think coming back to you know,
twenty seventeen, twenty eighteen, that he would be a better
player than his brother when it's all said and done,
and he's going to be just from the numbers he's
putting up right, JJ Watt's going to be a first
ballot Hall of Famer and his brother should be right
behind him. Because right now this year, for example, he
(25:58):
leaves the NFL sacks with seventeen, fifth in the NFL,
and TFLs were sixteen. He's closing in on his third
career season in the NFL, leading the NFL sacks third time.
He's the first player since nineteen eighty two, when the
individual sack became an official statistic, to lead the league
three times. Watt is one of five players in NFL
history with ninety four sacks one hundred four tackles for loss,
(26:20):
one hundred and ninety five quarterback hits, twenty seven forts fALS,
ten recoveries, twenty strip sacks leads the NFL sacks twenty seventeen,
twenty twenty one, Defensive Player of the Year, five time
Pro Bowler.
Speaker 4 (26:30):
Three time All Pro. I could go on and on
and on and on and on. Do can play some ball.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
That's really all you need to know this year on
the season, fifty eight tackles, seventeen sacks, sixteen TFLs, eight
passes defended, one interception. They're saving greats for me. In
the Seahawks offensive line, Charles Cross ab Lucas rust of them.
They're battle tested. They've had to go against Nick Bosa,
Miles Garrett, Aiden Hutchinson, MIKEAEH Parsons to name a few,
(26:58):
and there's the other dude from Cincinnati. They of his
name right now. But they've played all the best guys
in the league upfront. Rushing the passer. Seahawks have allowed
thirty seven sacks on the year, which they've kind of
fell back in the middle of the pack. They're eighteenth now,
so just below the middle there. But I'm confident those
guys you're gonna find ways to slow him down. You know,
as long as he didn't have he might get one
(27:19):
or two month.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
That's is what it is. He's that good of a player.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
As long as he doesn't take over the game, I
feel good about it. So anyway, he's that dude. You're
gonna see him making plays. But lock him down, contain him,
and the Seahawks will have a really good chance of
getting this victory. But we'll tell you how they get
that done. Path to victory.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
After forty five waits for the staff, Michael Dixon puts
it down.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
That kick is away. If that kick is gone, to
stay off.
Speaker 1 (27:48):
When it's gone.
Speaker 5 (27:49):
It's a path to victory. On Hawk Talk, I this
is how they're going to get it. Don Okay, the
playoffs are now. You control your own destiny. You need
to win the next two weeks and you are in
the playoffs, and you got to take care of the football.
You are five and one when not committing a turnover.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Let's do that.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
You are five and zero when they win the turnover battle. Simple,
take care of the football, win the turnover battle. You
should be good to go, Gino, continue to be you.
You are good enough to push this team to the
playoffs and possibly win a game. I'm gonna go ahead
and throw it out there, all right. Continue to get
the running backs involved, as we've been saying all week.
The last couple of weeks, they're six and oh when
they rush for one hundred yards. So ken Walker needs
(28:32):
to be in the game plan early and often feed
the young man.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Oh yeah, no question about it.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Last week the se yaw still only got fifty eight
yards rushing and believe on twenty carries.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
So definitely want to see more of that.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Want to see the carriers go up there and keep
finding a way to get the ball in the hands
of your young guys. Right, DK Maykalfe making plays. JSN
has really come along strong. I feel like I'm third down.
He's really emerging, you know, as that third threat, as
that guy can really help this offense. I want to
see him spread the love and let's get tired of
back invalld Man. Tyler's always good for a couple of
key clutch catches, So let's keep slinging that thing defensively.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
I just talked about it for a long time.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Block DJ watt Man, don't let them take over the game,
and you'll have a chance and then get after Mason Rudolph. Please,
he hasn't been a starter for a reason. He hasn't
been to start us in twenty twenty one, and he's
a guy who's coming off a really good game, but
now he's got to go into a hostile environment.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Get after the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
You know, the Seahawks had a lot of pressure last
week to help win the game against fran Tannehill. I
think they can do the same this week and that
should help you take the ball away. And if you
do those things, it's gonna be a nice, happy New Year,
nice little, nice little Christmas gift, a little New Year's
gift as you go into twenty twenty four, and you know,
(29:45):
hoping to chase the Seahawks down in a fun playoff run.
That's gonna do it for us. Reminder you can hear
so everywhere Seahawks. I come on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Serious XM,
and more. If you're listening on Apple podcast, don't forget
your rate us. We appreciate the five stars and every
one who's already rated. He's Michael Bumpus, I'm Asa Trobe.
You've been listening to Hawk Talk, the Seahawks taking on
(30:06):
the Pittsburgh Seilers this Sunday at Lumenfield at one oh five.
Hoping the Seahawks get it done and we'll be talking
to you next week, really next year, talking about a
Seahawks victory going to the playoffs. I'm that Choby, he's
Michael bumpas's been Hawk talk.
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