Week 13 @ Cincinnati

Mike Prisuta and Charlie Batch recap the Steelers win over the Bengals.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It
Right roofing, siding and remodeling home of the Lifetime Workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
They played the game they had to play at Pey
Course Stadium, and they won the game they had to
win against the Bengals. They came out throwing, with more
of an intent to score than to establish the run.
They were ready for a shootout this time, not a
rock fight. Russ cooked and almost everybody ate.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
They remembered the.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Screen as an option and that Pat Frearmouth is an
inviting target. They overcame injury and adversity, and they sprinkled
in just enough big play defense as was needed. Who
Day the team we'd been waiting on, the team they
have aspired to become. All along, That's who. The exclamation
point was the Justin Fields package. Bye bye Cincinnati, on

(00:53):
to Cleveland. Good afternoon, and welcome to the postgame show
on the Steelers Audio Network. I'm Mike Persuda along with
Charlie Batch summing up Steelers forty four Bengals thirty eight. Charlie,
I think a lot of us expected that they were
going to have to win a higher scoring game, but
I also think a lot of us weren't sure they
actually had that club in their bag. Are you surprised

(01:16):
at all that they were able to pull this off
in the fashion in which they pulled it off?

Speaker 4 (01:21):
I was, And I think when you look at just
a total yard age over five hundred and twenty yards
of offense, that was something that really shocked me because
I didn't think they had it in them, but in
a manner that they did. I love the evolution of
the screen passes that are in it. That's that one
hundred yards that you can get of hitting yards if
you become a good screen team, and they've been able
to add that to their arsenal here today, and it
was a beautiful thing to watch.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
It's time now for Max's takeaways. That's what Sideline reporter
Max Starks and brought to you by S and T Bank.
For every takeaway from the Defense this season, S and
T Bank will donate three hundred dollars to PA Wounded
Warriors who have helped over eighteen thousand veterans and counting Max.
Now that they did what they had to do, do

(02:04):
you think there will be a residual effect with the
people who make the game plans and will this team
put the pedal down a little more often or just
as required offensively?

Speaker 5 (02:17):
No, I think now that you've shown it, you know
you play accordingly. Right now, you know that you can
you can go and be a big play offense, that
you can play the game within the game. And I
think having Russell Wilson and this is his second biggest
passing game in his entire career, right the previous was
when he was with the Seahawks for four fifty two.

(02:39):
Today four hundred and fourteen yards. Spread the ball around
that one one hundred yard receiver. But a lot of
people touch the ball in making that possibility. And I
think it's just understanding what's given to you. You don't
have to you don't have to take every big play.
You don't have to hold onto the ball. You saw
earlier in that game outside of the screens. But you know, Charlie,

(02:59):
you saw it in that up with two covers. They
were trying to run drops early. The check down work
just as well. I mean, it looked like a middle
screen when it was all said and done, and then
finally when they over engaged, then they go over the
top and throw the deep over to Cordero Patterson because
they felt those linebackers now coming back up and playing
a fake drop. So that's what you have to do.
You can't make stuff happen out of nothing.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
Free it up.

Speaker 5 (03:21):
And then of course when it's one on one coverage
or three on one as George Pickens made it seem
like a couple of times, then then you take your
shots when necessary. The run game can be a supplement
in certain situations, and they took fully full advantage of
that secondary That was you know, they got some injuries
and of course some he departures from a previous year,
but same result we had. We had a similar type

(03:43):
of throwing affair after after after we fired Matt Canada
and Sullivan and Faulkner were in charge when we came
here a year ago.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
So I think Max they got sixteen year ago it
was nothing similar to this.

Speaker 5 (03:56):
But what I'm saying is.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
The production in the field.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
Yes, I know, I know, I get you, but this
was the intent was there?

Speaker 6 (04:03):
Wow?

Speaker 4 (04:03):
And I think you know, sticking to that point on
Russell Wilson, he did throw four touchdowns here today. I
mean obviously one went to the other team, some being
a little facetious there, but I think obviously we learned
a little bit about him. You knew Russell's resume coming
to the steel to the Steelers, but he hasn't done
it in a Steelers uniform today. When that interception happened,
everybody was all focused on how Russell was going to

(04:24):
respond and for him to be able to deliver in
that way. What was your takeaway as the offense was
going through that learning process there early in the game.

Speaker 5 (04:33):
Well, I think the biggest thing was that none of
them blink.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
Charlie.

Speaker 5 (04:36):
You know, nobody got down. You didn't see the sideline
like a rugh. I mean, obviously George Pickens was a
little upset because he felt like he was helped down
by cam Taylor Britten when when he slipped on on
that on that little on that little stop route. But
at the same time, you didn't see anybody blink. And
for Russ, I mean Russ actually even into the fourth
quarter was like, hey, let's go gas, Let's go Gass.

(04:57):
And in fact Isaac Siamala had to say, hey, let's
take some clock off too, don't hick clock off. You know,
I know you want to score.

Speaker 7 (05:04):
I know you feel like you got to beat on.

Speaker 5 (05:05):
His defense, but let's take some time off and then
then ensuing job. They took four to forty six off
the clock and then drive the ended in a field goal.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
At the end of it.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
It proved to be just enough. But that's what I
felt like was a maturity. You didn't see any panic,
you didn't see any worry. It was like, hey, we
got to go get it back, and the defense was
inspired to play the way they did. They wouldn't got
the ball back a lot of times and turned it
over to the offense. Allowed them to play with the
ball a lot more.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
Max Evan Washburn on the television broadcast interviewed Mike Tomlin
at halftime, and Mike Tomlin expressed dissatisfaction with the ability
to contain Burrow in the pocket. He said, they had
to do a better job than they did in the
first two courts. It looked like they did a much
better job in the last two quarters. Any kind of
adjustment that you may have noticed or did Cam Hayward

(05:53):
and the company just play better.

Speaker 8 (05:55):
I think they just.

Speaker 5 (05:56):
Played better because you know, we all knew that if
you let Joe Burrow roll out of the pocket to
his right, he's a lot more deadly, So force him
to the left. And if you are going to, you know,
force him to climb the pocket, make sure you have
retracers on the inside. That's why I think you saw
a lot more twist on the inside.

Speaker 7 (06:13):
TJ.

Speaker 5 (06:14):
Watt was coming into the interior a lot more. Even
went over to the left side a couple of times,
the offensive left, I should say, because he plays the
defensive left, went to the offensive left just to change
some of the things, just because he knew where the
ISOs were and they were trying to do a better
job of giving him less anticipatory throws. And I think
that threw Joe off just enough, but it was an

(06:34):
intent to play better and get the job done.

Speaker 4 (06:38):
And I think you know on that defensive side of
the ball, Cam Hayward, I mean that guy, especially on
that goal line stand. When he made that four yard
tackle for lost there seemed like it energized the defense there.
I mean, talk about his play and where he's at,
because if I thought coming into this season, if he
was healthy, man, they were able to do some good
things on that defensive side. Just talk a little bit
about Cam and what he brings to that defense.

Speaker 5 (06:59):
Oh, he's immeasurable, I mean, ultimate leader. And like you said,
when you see a guy that's been in the league
as long as he has making the explosive plays, because
you think about that play on the goal lines and
knock them back and hit Jase Brown in the backfield
for a TfL, the sack on Joe Burrow where he
just absolutely dummied Cody Ford, and then the other multiple

(07:20):
plays chasing down a screen out to the left side
and making a minimal gain. Those are the things that
when he's asking you to do something you don't think
twice about. You're just like, yes, sir, yes, sir. That's
all he could say. There's no argument, there's no comment.
And I think one of the good things you know
when you watch the leadership of Cam, like at the
end of that game, he went and he pulled Joey

(07:42):
Ford Junior aside and have a conversation with him, I'd
imagine is to probably say, hey, listen, you're a marked man,
so you're gonna have to play even cleaner and even
better than you think you can because they're now out
for you. I mean, it was almost ridiculous the way
they were looking at Joey and expecting something bad to happen.

Speaker 3 (08:03):
PA.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
It's like George Dickens. George Pickens has to understand. So
fourteen and twenty four, both of them understand. You're targeted.
Now you you created this type of persona, You've created
this you know, this quote unquote stigma about yourself. So
now you have to be you have to be a
clean citizen on the field because they're looking for any
little detraction from that to throw a flag on you.

Speaker 3 (08:24):
Max, great stuff.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
Imagine it was a little chilly out there, so go
get warm, maybe stopping O'Malley's and have a beverage before
you get out of town.

Speaker 3 (08:32):
We'll talk to you next week.

Speaker 5 (08:33):
Yeah, I appreciate I appreciate that, guys. Yeah, I'm I'm
gonna stop freezing myself a little bit and once I
get to my hotel real all right, I'll talk to
you guys next week.

Speaker 3 (08:41):
I appreciate you.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
Max Starks uh four one two three, three, three nine
to three eight three is our number. Thanks to doing
it right roofing, siding and remodeling home with a lifetime
workmanship warranty seven two four New roof for bringing us
this hour the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Post Game Show.
The show continues and your calls are next right here
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 9 (09:03):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show.

Speaker 1 (09:05):
It's presented by Doing It Right Roofing, Sighting and Remodeling.
Home of the lifetime workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 2 (09:13):
Welcome back, Mike the Suder and Charlie Batch with you
after Steelers forty four Bengals thirty eight.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
That was a wealth time how do you like me now?

Speaker 2 (09:22):
Effort by Mike Tomlin's team as the Steelers improve to
nine and three. Let's go to the telephones now and
welcome Jeff in Ohio. You're hitting leadoff tonight, Jeff.

Speaker 10 (09:36):
How you doing gentlemen? That first of all, great performance
by Russ and Arthur Smith. I thought the game plan
was tremendous and a couple of plays and Charlie kind
of touched on some of this, the professionalism decision making
by Russell Wilson, the hot red to Van Jefferson on
the blitz, and then there was one where he audibled

(09:56):
out and they changed the play and went with a
run on the left to Donte Harris, which was a
big run and I think that's the best quarterback play
that we've seen since pre Ben elbow injury in terms
of a performance. So I thought that was outstanding. Our
running game, guys are fighting hard, digging, scrapping, you know
with the line. A couple of questions for you guys

(10:17):
real quick. The one you kind of touched us and
Max touched on this with Joey Porter and Pickens. I mean,
Pickens obviously has the issues and they've been dealing with it,
trying to get through this, but I mean, how do
you how do you manage that? I mean, it's just
such a tough scenario. I mean they managed ab for years.
Coach Tomlin did and you know, got great, great results

(10:38):
out of him before he went nuclear. I mean, but
it's just it's like a time bomb out there. And
the other one I had was the officiating with the
tackles moving. If Charles Davis has to call it out
on the broadcast, it was an issue every play people
are moving. So my question was does the league address
that and say, hey, we're going to give that cheats

(11:00):
step to the tackles. Is that something that they're addressed
in preseason officiating, because it just seems like across the league,
not just our game, that so many tackles are getting
away with moving early.

Speaker 2 (11:09):
Yeah, you make a lot of good points there, Jeff.
I'll just try to respond here and kind of rapid fire.
Mike Tomlin was asked about pickings after the game. He
said he's got to grow up. He's got to grow
up in a hurry. Yes, that sums it up entirely.
The tackle thing I see in every game. They call
it once in a while, A lot of times they
do not if there's any kind of emphasis on calling it,

(11:32):
I have not seen it.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
And what was the third duck question you had?

Speaker 10 (11:38):
It was about Joey and the same thing with Max
addressed with trying to get him through. Oh yeah, the
passer inference calls.

Speaker 2 (11:46):
Tomlin did say he wanted him being physical on t
Higgins because he said, quote, Tea is a goon, And
if you know Mike Tomlin, that's a term of endearment, right,
a term of respect.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
So hey, you know I'm gonna make an outal. You
gotta break some eggs.

Speaker 2 (11:59):
You get some penalties of commission as opposed to losing
your mind. I could live with the former, not the latter.

Speaker 4 (12:06):
Yeah, and I think a lot of tension obviously is
going to go to Jamar Chase. So it's easy for
you to turn around and say, hey, we're going to
sing you up Joey on T Higgins and we're gonna
roll rotation to Jamar Chase. And unfortunately the penalties came
along with it. But this team has confidence in it.
Mike Tomlin will continue to use him in that particular manner.
Now it's a matter of how they use him in
practice and how they address it moving forward, because that

(12:27):
can't continue once you put it on film.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
Teams are going to target you.

Speaker 4 (12:31):
But I think when you look back at the tackles,
and here's what typically happens. The penalties that they try
to winforce coming into the year, they enforce them early
and then if the season moves on, it tis to
go away from it and players take advantage of maybe
that half a step. That's what you're seeing there, and
that's why those tackles are able to get away with it. Now,
opposing teams are going to start singing into the league

(12:51):
to remind the referees to continue to call that penalty.

Speaker 6 (12:53):
That's how that works.

Speaker 4 (12:55):
But the George Pickins situation, I don't you know, it's
one thing in the taming, but when it happens in game,
there's not much Mike can do.

Speaker 6 (13:02):
He either benches him or hey, you can't do. You
can't do.

Speaker 4 (13:06):
But you're taking it out of your check. You're telling him, listen,
I don't want money coming out of your check. You
continue to do this, this is what's going to happen.
Right when you look at just the penalties that happened today,
he had an unsportsman life penalty.

Speaker 6 (13:19):
That's fourteen thousand. You tunt, that's eleven thousand.

Speaker 4 (13:22):
You're kicking football in the stands, that's seven thousand dollars.

Speaker 6 (13:28):
I don't know if you're if money.

Speaker 4 (13:29):
Doesn't mean much to you when you're losing it in
that manner of a game by playing that game for free,
I don't know what's going to resonate to you.

Speaker 6 (13:37):
I really don't.

Speaker 4 (13:37):
Because that second penalty, that personal foul penalty, and we
actually pointed and shot the gun in the stands, I'm
thinking that's possibly ejection, and the referee had to clear
to say that is not equivalent to an ejection. But
I think a lot of players learn something today because
they were always told two personal foul penalties is an
automatic ejection, so these players are learning it moving forward,

(13:58):
and Mike tom is going to have to con you
to address it because the only person right now does
trying to calming down on the field is this former teammate,
Broderick Jones. And if that isn't happening right now, that
might not.

Speaker 3 (14:09):
Be the guy I'd want. It might don't get penalties.

Speaker 6 (14:11):
It might not be right.

Speaker 4 (14:12):
But it is also one of the ones where he
knows him the longest and he tries to calming down.
So at some point those conversations are going to try
to get through to him because you can't have no
penalty moving into the meat of your schedule in December,
where you're jockeying for a position you need as much
yardage as possible at which turns out to turn into
points and George Pickens is a big part of that.

Speaker 6 (14:34):
Hopefully he doesn't do this moving forward.

Speaker 2 (14:36):
Thanks for the call, Jeff, we're up against the break
and thanks to doing it right. Roofing, Siding and Remodeling
Home in a lifetime Workmanship Warranty Roofingcontractor Pittsburgh dot Com
for bringing us this hour. The Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network
Postgame Show. The show continues right here on the Steelers
Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (14:53):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It Right, Roofing,
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Speaker 2 (15:03):
Welcome Back, Let's keep the phone calls rolling along, and
welcome Bishop in Greensboro.

Speaker 3 (15:09):
Bishop, you're on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 11 (15:12):
Hey, guys, you know I want to say happy believe
it Thanksgiving. I'm actually celebrating families Thanksgiving today.

Speaker 3 (15:19):
Sis.

Speaker 11 (15:20):
I was at the firehouse for the last couple of days,
so we decided to use Sunday to celebrate our hour's
Turkey Day and still a win, a.

Speaker 3 (15:28):
Lot to celebrate to that.

Speaker 11 (15:31):
It actually was. So I'm just glad I'm not throwing
food out in the trash can right now. So uh, Anyway,
it's something that's got me some about the number four
that our team wears, going back to eighty four, Antonio
Brown going going so now we got twenty four acting
of food. I mean, well me not acting food. But
he's out there getting getting into a lot of trouble

(15:53):
out there on the field, getting flashed. But on their
fourteen is acting of food. So maybe when you start
looking at changing some numbers and your with the number four,
I don't know. But one of the things that there's
no way in the world I would have thought forty
four point before that came out of the stills, I
would have talked would have been the game. Maybe the
game told of maybe US winning twenty four to twenty.

(16:15):
So it was absolutely fantastic to see that. But one
thing that Charlie is a football player, I want you
to I would like you to talk to me and
maybe some other players who have other fans who have
the same question, is ound the world? Do come out
and stink up the joint like we did the last
couple of games, and then come out and do what

(16:36):
we do and on this game. And I understand what
they say, it's a fine line between a starter and
a practice squad player. But to see this type of
performance today, based on what we have seen the last
couple of weeks, is just mind boggling. So hang up,
thank you for everything you do. If I don't talk

(16:56):
to y'all, Marry Christmas, Happy New Year, or maybe I.

Speaker 12 (17:00):
See in Baltimore.

Speaker 11 (17:01):
We hit to Baltimore.

Speaker 13 (17:02):
So yeah, have a good evening.

Speaker 4 (17:04):
You bishops, same to you, and I think when you
look at just I think a lot of people were
going to scratch your head because what you saw in
Cleveland is completely opposite of what you saw here today.
But did weather condition play a factor in that? I
don't know, But we're in the AFC North, We're gonna
have to see that, and I'm sure we're going to
see that at some point again moving forward. But again,
that could have been a tired team coming off three
games in eleven days. You use that many bye week

(17:26):
in a manner that Tomlin did. He gave him Monday off,
came in on Tuesday, and used that to prepare for
this particular game. Did that help him moving forward?

Speaker 8 (17:33):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (17:33):
Possibly, only because you know what's going to happen here
at the in about two weeks when you play three
games in ten days essentially, so it's.

Speaker 6 (17:41):
A tough stretch. But I like what I saw.

Speaker 4 (17:43):
I wish I had the answer four years relates to
what happened the previous game versus this game. I didn't
expect them to score forty four points essentially, what thirty
seven because the defense scored seven as well. But either way,
it's another thirty point performance for this offense, and they
put up over five hundred and twenty fave and twenty
yards of total offense. That, right, there is something we
haven't seen in a long time. And if they continued,

(18:05):
I'll be completely fine with that now.

Speaker 2 (18:07):
Charles Davis on the TV broadcast was I think he
was half joking when he said, you know, not too
long ago, that was two or three weeks worth of
offense and.

Speaker 6 (18:15):
That was serious.

Speaker 3 (18:16):
Today, you've got it.

Speaker 6 (18:17):
Everybody laughing except Steelers fans.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
Don't remind me.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
Right, Let's go back to the telephones, Linda and Myrtle Beach.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
You're on with Mike and Chuck.

Speaker 14 (18:27):
Hi, guys, you would think scoring forty four points would
be no stress game to watch, but unfortunately my heart
rate was going up again this game. But the defense
played better in the second half. The big the big
interception and the big big fumble recovery was awesome. I'm

(18:47):
thrilled with how the offense played. I mean, Russell Wilson
was definitely cooking today and it was great to see that.
And I just was wondering.

Speaker 11 (18:58):
If you think the I know.

Speaker 14 (19:00):
I the rest rest, but I mean I thought that
Pickens was like dragged down by his face mask on
the interception pick six.

Speaker 3 (19:09):
Yeah, I mean they missed some.

Speaker 2 (19:10):
They did get a real break when they called a
false start on the Bengals on fourth and one, and
I thought a Landon Roberts was in the neutral zone
and he's the guy that should have been encroachment on
the defense first noun Cincinnati, So who knows. I think
the Steelers got a field goal off of that possession.
The Bengals might have gone down and scored a touchdown
that might have been a ten point swing. I wish

(19:31):
the officiating was more consistent, Linda. It is a tough job,
and it just these things happened every week, right, so.

Speaker 3 (19:38):
They have every week play around it, do something about.

Speaker 4 (19:41):
It, right, and we can talk about it, you know, fans, media.
But the one the people who won't talk about it
is the players and coaches because they are subject to
fines and as a hefty fine and there.

Speaker 6 (19:51):
They're going to avoid it completely.

Speaker 4 (19:52):
The only thing that they could possibly do is put
a reel together and then submit it to the NFL
on Monday to say, hey, here's what we deem penalties
or maybe not penalties, and then you hope for an answer,
and then by that time Mike Tomlin gets the answer
and he addresses in the press conference as well. Doesn't
help us today, however, unfolds as it relates to what
those decisions are. It's just that's just what we have
to deal with. And a lot of that is because

(20:13):
the officials are subjective when it comes to colin penalties
one way or another.

Speaker 15 (20:18):
Yep.

Speaker 14 (20:19):
I just hope we keep it going next week.

Speaker 6 (20:22):
Absolutely, yeah. We better.

Speaker 2 (20:25):
Appreciate that, and we appreciate doing it right. Roofing, siding
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Speaker 1 (20:43):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by doing it
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Speaker 6 (20:51):
Burl gets a snap here come to tunis.

Speaker 2 (20:53):
Pressure head amerving the strip sack it has picked up
by Wilson, and Wilson's gonna go in for the score
else a touchdown.

Speaker 6 (21:01):
Pittsburgh Steelers on this trip sick.

Speaker 3 (21:04):
Today's Electrified play.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
The game is powered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local Union number five ib E W lighting up
Pittsburgh since eighteen ninety seven. Charlie, we could have picked
one of thirty offensive plays, but particularly after the early
pick six for the Bengals, it was that kind of
offensive game where the defense needed a response and maybe

(21:27):
a scoreboard changing play, and man.

Speaker 3 (21:29):
Did they come up with it at a critical time there?

Speaker 6 (21:31):
Yes they did.

Speaker 4 (21:31):
And that was one of the ones that you think
about who's going to step up and make it play
outside of TJ. And when you see Herbert coming around
being able to I think that was Herbert on that play, right,
And then this was and Peyton He's able to pick
it up and all of a sudden he's running in
for that touchdown, and everybody is super excited knowing they
just took control of that game, knowing also having to
go back out there and defend the field. Up until

(21:52):
that point, Joe Burrow only had two hundred yards passing. Yes,
when you look at his numbers, he finished with over
three hundred yards passing, but that didn't come that game.
Essentially garbage time whenever they're playing prevent defense versus having
to go out there and make those plays. Do you
have to credit to that defense man? They stepped up
when they needed the most.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
Eagles have just closed to within nine to seven in
Baltimore midway through the second quarter. Of course, Steelers Nation
keeping an eye on that one. Let's go back to
the phones now, Dave in Florida, you're up next with
Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 3 (22:21):
How are you, Dave?

Speaker 16 (22:23):
Good guys, Happy holidays, see you you too. Hey, what
a game? Forty four points? You know, I knew I
knew we were gonna need to score points today. I
knew it was gonna be this type of game because
Burrow is having his best just statistic wise this year.

(22:43):
So it was good to see. You know that we
came over with some adversities penalties. We gotta clean them up, goods,
just gotta You've got to contain those personal foul penalties.
Hopefully this was a good game to learn because you
know why we won, right, jo didn't cost hopefully right,
Hopefully they learned something from this. And boy Calvin Austin

(23:07):
got lit up today twice.

Speaker 6 (23:09):
Huh, yes, he did.

Speaker 2 (23:11):
Didn't finish but uh man is he uh finding ways
to impact games when he's healthy enough to play.

Speaker 4 (23:17):
He is, and I think the second hit was a
direct reflection of the first hit because it was two
hits had to happen in the first half, and I
think that's why they were removed them from that game.
Hopefully he is able to get back. We didn't get
much of an update from Taland after the post game,
but now he's into Cocutsia protocol. He's going to have
to go through all testing to see if he's cleared
to be able to play for Cleveland. And if he is,

(23:38):
you know, we'll see what happens from there, but we're
wishing him a speedy recovery.

Speaker 17 (23:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 16 (23:42):
Did he have two touchdowns today? That one over the
middle of the post, over the middle of the end zone.
That was beautiful. Did he have two today? You can't remember?

Speaker 6 (23:50):
No, it was just one.

Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, Calvin Austin had two catches for twenty nine yards,
including that twenty three yard touchdown.

Speaker 16 (23:58):
So nothing clings today. Maybe next week we clean something.

Speaker 2 (24:02):
Oh, you know, unless you're talking about a Vegas over
under for the season, win total is nothing. Nothing's gonna
get clinched anytime soon, but it's getting interesting.

Speaker 16 (24:11):
Isn't it, Dave, it is it is No I'm miging
what I'm seeing. We were tough out and hopefully, hopefully
we could go deep this year. Hopefully.

Speaker 3 (24:20):
I like the guys.

Speaker 16 (24:21):
You guys have a good holiday.

Speaker 2 (24:22):
I like that tough out, Absolutely tough Outlet to use
that tomorrow, Dad, And I.

Speaker 4 (24:27):
Think the one thing that will be cleansed before anything
will just be a playoff spot based off the way
that these two teams are playing. I think this is
going to at least go to week fifteen, week sixteen
before we well what week sixteen or seventeen before you
actually see any movement with the AFC North.

Speaker 3 (24:41):
Thanks for to call, Dave.

Speaker 2 (24:42):
Let's move on to fire Chief in Stupenville, Ohio. Welcome Chief,
get there, Hello, fire Chief.

Speaker 18 (24:54):
I'm here.

Speaker 19 (24:55):
Sorry, I had my earbuds in.

Speaker 3 (24:57):
It's okay, what's on your mind?

Speaker 18 (24:59):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (25:00):
Take him out?

Speaker 15 (25:00):
All right.

Speaker 19 (25:01):
So let's hear this. I'm not taking anything away from
this game today because everybody, as far as this one goes,
got a lot to go around. You know, there was
a lot of great players, Herbert Wilson, Boswall, Briar Mus,
Calvin Austin and even Justin Field's got in on this.
And I don't want to be negative because it was

(25:22):
a great win, but at this point with George Pickens,
nobody wants to say it. But with the things that
he's done after the plays and even missing plays and
what he's putting on a space mask, We've seen this before,
and why is nobody saying it? Can we not? I

(25:45):
don't want to see him in Pittsburgh next year, and
I know that nobody DVE is going to agree with me,
and nobody in Pittsburgh's gonna agree with it. And this
was a great win, but I've had enough of this.
We have all seen this before with Martevis Bryant, Bell,
Antonio Brown. You know this. This should have been a
blowout and this guy hurt the team today. And it's

(26:07):
not the first game. If you go back to the
early games, trying to you know, shuffle out of bounds
with three seconds one o'clock going into the half. Like enough,
that's enough of this, And I just want to know
what your opinion is on it.

Speaker 2 (26:18):
My opinion is pretty simple that they need him this year.
If they're going anywhere this year, it's going to be
because they throw him the ball a lot, and we'll
see where it is at the end of the season,
whenever that is, and then I'll have an opinion for
you moving forward.

Speaker 3 (26:33):
But I certainly don't.

Speaker 2 (26:34):
I agree with what you said about his impact on
the games, positively and negatively, but I certainly don't want
to bench him. He's the guy, and let's see how
far they go and then figure it out after that.

Speaker 4 (26:46):
Yeah, I definitely agree with you, Mike Dear. I mean,
he is the number one receiver on his team. If
you watch him, he as a Freakers athlete. It's just
taming down all of those other things. But obviously to
your point is saying you want to move on from him,
but who are you going to replace him? You can't
replace him this year, and just look what happened when
you let Deontay Johnson walk out. The door is still
taking you up until this point to figure out who

(27:07):
your wide receiver number two is at this point, so
you have to just tread lightly at this particular point,
I'm willing to give him a pass and let's just
see how he responds moving forward and see if Tomalind
is able to kind of reel him back in and
say this can't happen anymore because right now the penalty
yardage is there to the point where you're saying, this
is very impactful because when you look at the penalties,

(27:29):
they had nine penalties for one hundred and three yards,
and it seems like the majority of them was either
George Pickens or Joey Porter.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
And Porter was at least those were aggressive football place,
you know, penalties, but it wasn't after the fact, totally
avoidable personal fousand things of that nature. Chief The only
thing I would add, Mike Tomin got a lot of
good football out of Antonio Brown for a long time.
He said after the game that Pickens needs to grow
up and grow up in a hurry. How he handles

(27:56):
that behind closed doors were not privy too, but flee
Mike Toma can figure something out in terms of how
to get George Pickens pointed in the right direction because Charlie's,
as you just said, freakish.

Speaker 6 (28:07):
Tell absolutely.

Speaker 4 (28:07):
And there was one scene and it was one clip
mayor you may or may not have seen it. At
the end of the ball game, Cam Hayward was having
a conversation with George Pickens. To me, it seemed like
George was apologizing to cam Cam were probably like, oh, hey,
I accept it, but the other fifty two guys need
to hear this as well. So we don't know what's
going to happen as far as whether George spoke in
the postgame locker room, and if he did, at some

(28:30):
point addressing the team and apologizing, that's how you start.

Speaker 6 (28:33):
Now. The actions allow you to rectify that.

Speaker 2 (28:36):
Thanks for the call, Chief, and thanks to doing it
Right Roofing, Siding and Remodeling home of the Lifetime Workmanship
Warranty Roofing Contractor Pittsburgh dot Com for bringing us this
hour the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Postgame Show. The show
continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (28:54):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Doing It Right, Roofing,
Siding and Remodeling up a lifetime workmanship Warranty.

Speaker 20 (29:02):
I thought the big best thing we did today was
respond to the midst of adversity, you know, you know, I
thought that we did a great job of scoring touchdowns,
making plays. We felt like there was more plays out
there too that we could have had. You know, but
you know, what it really is is a testament to
our coaching staff as a testament to our players, you know,
and our work ethic and the discipline that we put

(29:23):
into the to the week. And we knew that this
was gonna be, like I said, a heavyweight fight, and
we had to respond and and you know, keep swinging.

Speaker 2 (29:31):
That was Russell Wilson after Steelers forty four Bengals thirty eight.
I don't think that was hyperbole, Charlie. I think there
were some more plays to be made, that they could
have scored more.

Speaker 4 (29:42):
Points they were, and there was you know, looking at
themselves and say there's some steal, some meat on the
bone out a little bit, a little.

Speaker 2 (29:48):
Bit left on that wig. Don't throw it out just yet.
Let's go back to the phones. Larry in North Carolina,
thanks for hanging in there.

Speaker 21 (29:55):
You're up next, Hey, guys, thanks so much. First quick
shout out to Craig Wolfley Man. That guy he makes
the game so entertaining to listen to. I just I
love the wolf Man. But but here's a question for y'all.
When you think about TJ. Watt this week, he's just
great to see him attact the game, but then last
week a Clevelands where he just seems somewhat invisible what's

(30:20):
y'all's take on the difference of what can we expect
next week as Cleveland comes to town.

Speaker 4 (30:26):
Well, I think for me, when I look at I mean,
we know how great TJ he is. He came into
this game with seven and a half sacks. As you know,
he struggled. There were a few games where he essentially
had a goose egg with no sacks. But to me,
it's because there was nobody on the other side complimenting
him at this particular point. Your second and third pass rusher,
Alex Haig Smith, he's missed five games, maybe six, and

(30:47):
you had Nick Herbert he's missed five or six games.
So when you don't have that complimentary pass rusher on
the other side, all the attention is going to go
to you. And when he's double team, in some cases
triple team, somebody else has to stay up and make
a play. And when you have somebody like a Nick
Herbig that is stepping up in this particular game that's
able to make plays. Now, as an offensive coordinator, you
got to figure out which one are you going to

(31:09):
pick the double team, and if you get singled up,
TJ is going to make those plays. That's why he
was able to have those two sacks here today and
be more impactful in this game than what he was
last week.

Speaker 2 (31:19):
I also liked Larry that they moved him to the
other side. I think it was about maybe four or
five snaps. It wasn't a ton, but just enough so
the offense is uncertain. It got at least check and
find him. You know, they did that against the New
York Football Giants, and the Giants ended up not getting
the protection shifted to the right side of the critical moment.
There was a strack sack strip fumble. I think you

(31:42):
know TJ. Watt has a lot to overcome every week
because of who he is, but it was good to
see him making a tangible impact today. And I think,
you know, if they move around a little bit, that'll
help ease his burden.

Speaker 4 (31:54):
And I promise you last week's game and the comments
that came out of the locker room with Miles Garrett
that fueled him this and guess what he plays next week.
He plays the Ryan Brown, so he's gonna be fired
up for that. If you get how Alex Hasmith back
he was close to participating this week. If you get
him back next week, then that's going to open up
some of.

Speaker 6 (32:11):
Those doors as well.

Speaker 4 (32:12):
But again, you add the element of the fans at
act Sure Stadium, it's gonna make it tough for that
Brown's offense to get going. And that's the advantage TJ
is able to take advantage of anything else.

Speaker 8 (32:21):
Larry, Yeah, guys, great comment.

Speaker 5 (32:24):
Arry.

Speaker 21 (32:25):
I just say, is there's some way we can get
Charlie on the pregame show, maybe buff to lack off
or something. I love hearing Charlie talk.

Speaker 3 (32:33):
We can't afford Charlie on the pregame.

Speaker 4 (32:35):
Well, I appreciate that, but you have the A team here.
Those guys do a fantastic job. I got a chance
to listen to them a few times, you know, for
a few moments on my way into the stadium, and
they do a phenomenal job. And I wouldn't change that
particular team. It's easy when it's the truth.

Speaker 3 (32:50):
Mike, thanks for the call.

Speaker 2 (32:51):
Let's get one more in before the break one in Charleston.
You're up with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 3 (32:58):
Good easy, guys, guy, Happy holidays to you. What's on
your mind tonight?

Speaker 12 (33:03):
And that's gonna say Charlie, you took the words out
of my mouth. I was gonna mention that with Cam
talking to George, so hope he gets it right. And
then also with the game guys, so with the knowledge
he touchdown that should have been a touchdown because that
reminded me of fully when you do the touch push
or whatever they call it. If we didn't hitting you

(33:24):
wish so, so I think they keep us how to
touchdown right there. And then also with h with Pzjr.
He he was killing us today that that's the only
way Cincinnati was getting points because because the ps so
he needs to work on that. And then also it
just was a great game. Nobody expected us to put
up all those points. Both of us could bind for
the most points total for the season and the game

(33:47):
so far. They want to give a shout out to
every boy start stealing. They shout out to my guy.
See all the brush out guys, go ahead and handle
that for me.

Speaker 2 (33:55):
I appreciate it. One I want to say this about
joe Porter. I took what Mike Tomins said heart about
the need to respond with physicality against a physical receiver
such as t Higgins. And I know Joey Porter Junior
came into the league with reputations being grabby at Penn
Stake and they've.

Speaker 3 (34:11):
Worked on that.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
I hope he works on that more, but does not
lose his aggressiveness and his physicality because I think that's
part of his game.

Speaker 6 (34:19):
Oh and they believe he is the number one corner
on here.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
Right.

Speaker 4 (34:21):
You have a bad game, Now, how do you respond
moving forward? Because he hasn't had back to back bad game,
So as he moves forward with this, the team is
going to continue to do it. But once you put
that type of film out there, coordinators are now going
to target you.

Speaker 6 (34:34):
So he has to respond accordingly.

Speaker 4 (34:35):
It doesn't get any easier because you just face the
Browns two weeks ago, you're facing him again, and let's
see how it trans transpires. That's why I'm not, you know,
you know, down on him as much as maybe with
somebody else's.

Speaker 6 (34:48):
But I did mention.

Speaker 4 (34:48):
I did think I thought he was going to actually
talk about Najee Harris's touchdown run, not the Toush push one.
But they'll play prior to Did you see Ben Scarannik
on the backside?

Speaker 6 (34:58):
Watch that play?

Speaker 4 (34:59):
He he's in the slot, he blies and clings the
safety's clock and nage walks in. That is a play
right there that may not get highlighted because of the
Nagi herd, but that is a play. I promise you
people are watching and say that's the type of block
and that we want and if we have it, that's
the difference between eight yard plays and fifteen yard plays.

(35:21):
If you're able to get the backside block and that
is a play right there. You have to give credit
to bisc Rant because that was a huge block on
that on that side.

Speaker 2 (35:28):
That's a great point, Thomas. You you know, here's how
far he's come this year. I think it was in
Denver Mike Tomlin.

Speaker 6 (35:34):
Reference to the first game of the year.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
Whoever hell that all the gunner was did a really
good jump. Now we know his name. Thanks to doing
it right. Roofing, Signing and Remodeling Home a lifetime workmanship
warranty seven two four new roof for bringing us this
hour of the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network Post Game Show.
The show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 9 (35:54):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show.

Speaker 1 (35:56):
It was presented by Calciente Pizza and Draftouse Pizza.

Speaker 8 (36:00):
I'm champions quick snapping to throw out the pick into
the twenty yard line, makes the crap, heads up the sideline,
alludes a tackler.

Speaker 22 (36:07):
And Waltz is it for the score and boots the
ball UPPERTI of a crowd.

Speaker 20 (36:12):
Of Well, I talked to him throughout the game, you know,
just making sure that you know, he kept his head
clear and all that, and I thought he did a
good job of responding.

Speaker 6 (36:19):
I think, you know, the thing.

Speaker 20 (36:21):
Is is that he's such a competitive player, he's such
a great talent, and and he's such a great work ethic,
and you know, we trust him in that way. And
I think also too, you know, the passion of the
game is you know, it's AFC North and it's it's it's,
it's it's I remember watching these games back when I
was younger, which is a while ago, but I remember
watching these games back back when I was younger, and
the excitement and the playmaking and the and the talent

(36:43):
and and uh, you know, it's it's it's a physical game,
it's energy, it's passion, and so sometimes that takes over.

Speaker 2 (36:51):
That was Russell Wilson talking about George Pickens, and I
think that subject is gonna come up a lot this
coming week and Steelers get ready for the rematch against Cleveland.

Speaker 6 (37:00):
Definitely is.

Speaker 4 (37:00):
And it's the one thing that you know, you hear
George and you know he's not he's he's not as
comfortable in front of the media, you know. But when
you see it and then he's there at the end
of the week and he's like, I'm here so I
don't get fined, but yet you get fined during the game.

Speaker 6 (37:14):
He's like, come on, you can't have it both ways.
Let's tame it down.

Speaker 4 (37:16):
Let's put keep your money in your pocket and keep
it go out there and hopefully get what everybody is
hoping for this particular season.

Speaker 6 (37:23):
That's the horse.

Speaker 4 (37:23):
Another Lombardi Trophy has been a while. This team wants it,
they talk about it, and they truly believe that they
can go out there and get it done.

Speaker 2 (37:29):
Today's look a Headlines are brought to you by Bette
Rivers Online Casino and sportsbook. It's a whole new game
gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler. San Francisco had
Buffalo tonight. I'd you like to be up there, Charlie.
What kind of were last year?

Speaker 6 (37:43):
Mike?

Speaker 4 (37:44):
In fairness, I wish I was because I could use
my snowblower.

Speaker 6 (37:48):
Yeah, that would be my only point.

Speaker 2 (37:49):
Ont ass. Buffalo's a six and a half point favorite.
The total is forty four and a half. No under
on how many people succumb to hyperthermia or some other
cold related crazy uh malady. Back to the phones parks
formerly of Conway. His next parks? Have you moved since
we spoke last?

Speaker 13 (38:11):
Consider me a nomad? Okay, kind of travel around at
this point.

Speaker 3 (38:16):
Well, what's on your mind wherever you're calling from?

Speaker 13 (38:19):
All right, Hey, I've heard a lot on the calls here.
Dickens is obviously at number one. He's a stud athlete.
I mean, he's a rare specimen. But do you rely
on the leadership of the team or do you rely
on the coaches to keep him in line? Because he
is costing us. You know, if it comes down to

(38:40):
a big playoff game where it comes to a you know,
winning the division game, how do you try to keep
that stuff intact because that could cost us. Secondly, I
know Jerry Jerry Porter Junion is getting a lot of flak,
but I mean I think this is part of the
development process. He's going against Higgins, He's going against Chase
top End, receivers with a top quarterback. That's a tough job.

(39:05):
I love how Tom and kept him the game, kept
him straight, everything looked good. And one more thing and
then I just got a comment after to shout out
to friends. You guys ever have Skyline Chili and I
like your opinion on that.

Speaker 3 (39:19):
I've had it. I love it.

Speaker 2 (39:24):
You know what get those guys calm down is when
they get the ball. And I know Antonio Brown he
had a picture of himself and Ben Roethlisberger in his
locker throughout his Steelers' tenure. Sometimes he listened to coaches,
sometimes he wouldn't. But the guy who's throwing him the football, Charlie,
I think has a little power.

Speaker 3 (39:43):
They do.

Speaker 4 (39:44):
And I think when you look back, and if you
heard me over the years on this show, I've always
said I said, on good teams, coaches whole players accountable.
But on great teams, players whole players accountable. And right
now you're starting to see those guys step up. You
have the majority of the leadership is on the defensive side. Offensively,
they've been looking for that leader. Right now that leader
is Russell Wilson. These guys are going to gravitate to him.

(40:06):
You can see just by the way Russell was addressing
this in his post game on how he's going to
try to take on the challenge. Trust me, it's not
a game day decision. This is something that happens daily
and he's able to pick that up. And I truly
believe that Russell's going to be able to tame George
to get him where he needs to get to. Why
to your point, Mike, giving the ball, He'll be completely happy.

Speaker 3 (40:28):
Anything else, Parks.

Speaker 13 (40:31):
Just shout out to my boys, Kevin, Lee, Brad, Joe
and their gracious host Swedish Freddie and my best friend
Zachary David Morton on his thirty first birthday. I love
you guys. Keep up the good work. Charlie Batch Foundation,
keep that ruling. Mike, Charlie, you guys have a good one.
I appreciate you you too.

Speaker 3 (40:50):
He's sound a little surprised when I said I love Skyline, Charlie.

Speaker 6 (40:52):
He did, and man, maybe it just kind of I haven't,
but I'm glad you have. So that's a good.

Speaker 2 (40:58):
Certain times of the evening after certain other activities. Hey,
that good stuff there, you really good stuff. Thanks to Kelly.
It's making a great stuff. Thanks to Kelly Inta Pizza
and Draft House for bringing us this hour of the
Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network postgame Show. Kelly Inta Pizza and
Draft House The Pizza of Champions. The show continues right

(41:20):
here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (41:23):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show was presented by Calliente Pizza
and Drafthouse The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 13 (41:30):
Burrow gets a snap, turns get Oh, Cam Hayward with
a penetration, pounds brown back in the four yard line
for a loss of three.

Speaker 23 (41:39):
I mean, he's an old dude that's playing some really
good football, very stout. I know he wants to be
out there every snap, but he's making every single snap
that he's in there count A guy that's just a
true leader, true Steeler, one home and guy. He and
he he preaches in Stolen kick Ass all week, him
and Dunbar, and he goes out to each and every
week and shows why he's one of the best in

(42:00):
the law. T. J.

Speaker 2 (42:02):
Watt on Cam Hayward, they quote old dude who's played
some really good football.

Speaker 4 (42:08):
That's one of those ones where you got to rag
him a little bit. You know, at some point you
hope that that's who you are at the end of
your career, being still being able to produce all of
these years later.

Speaker 2 (42:17):
Mike Tomas been on him about that for three years.

Speaker 6 (42:20):
I've tried that's it.

Speaker 2 (42:21):
That's calling them old and inferences of that nature just.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
Kind of poking the bear a little, no doubt about it.

Speaker 2 (42:30):
Steelers with a forty four thirty eight when in the
wake of Thanksgiving, this was something to be truly thankful for.
But Charlie, the best of the Batch Foundation, you've already
pivoted from Thanksgiving.

Speaker 6 (42:43):
To Christmas already. We are here.

Speaker 4 (42:45):
This is unbelievable, and we are actually having our annual
holiday drive where we actually collect unwrapped toys, we wrap them,
and then deliver them on Christmas Eve. So this is
going to be something that we're doing this year again
as we are adopting four hundred families again this year,
and we're actually that will be able to impact over
sixteen hundred kids this holiday season. So I just wanted
to really thank everybody for believing the best of the

(43:07):
Batch Foundation. If you want to be a part of it,
you actually can go to batsfoundation dot org. You'll be
able to see all of the drop off locations around
the city of Pittsburgh, and if you aren't in the city,
there's actually a clicking ship option that you can actually
choose from that you select the toys and then will
actually be sent directly to our foundation office. So again,
just wanted to just thank everybody who was a part
of it in years past, and we'll be a part

(43:28):
of it this year. So we are truly grateful that
you believe in the mission vision of the best of
the Batch Foundation.

Speaker 2 (43:32):
So thank you keep doing that great work. Back to
the telephone lines, we go. Jim in California, Thanks for
hanging in there. You're on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 24 (43:41):
Hey guys, how you doing doing well about yourself?

Speaker 18 (43:44):
Much?

Speaker 7 (43:46):
Good? Good?

Speaker 8 (43:46):
Thanks?

Speaker 24 (43:47):
Uh what a great win and even greater knowing it's
a division rival, who you know, a team that some
pundits were saying it watch out for them. They you know,
Joe Burrow, don't look past them. They might have just
put the final nail on their coffin. Cleveland was kind

(44:08):
of in the coffin from game one and now it's
just Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and you know, you know, and
also this is such a great win because it came
off of the heels of a devastating, heartbreaking loss last
week in Cleveland. And they must have had a great

(44:29):
week in practice because they really just just shine in
every way, and you have to give credit. It had
to have been a lot of influence.

Speaker 11 (44:39):
From Russell Wilson. You played some audio clips and you
could just hear the professionalism, the calming presence, and like
was mentioned earlier, just it just seems reminiscent of Ben
the days of Ben kind of a little past his peak,
but there's just that that feeling that you just knew

(45:00):
they were never out of the game and you trusted him.
And also you talked about, well, one thing is also
wide receiver Mike Williams. He's been seeing les than Waldo.
I don't know why they even bothered to acquire him.

Speaker 15 (45:18):
That would be a.

Speaker 8 (45:19):
Good question for the coach or GM if Mike, if
you ever get to talk to them to see what
why they got him. But he was supposed to be
that authorsite receiver of Pickens, and you talked about the
immaturity of Dickens Antonio Brown when he came in the league.

(45:40):
They had Hines Wards, Keith Miller, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders.
They had and they were they were a little bit young,
but veteran receivers, and Charlie always talks about the value
of leadership and helmets passed down and to have Hine
Ward leading Antonio Brown that bought him at least five

(46:00):
years of maturity. After that he was on his own.
But George Dickens is coming in with his second year
as the ELSA and the only receiver, So I really
wish they could have gotten receiver like a veteran like
a DeAndre Hawkins who can city somehow stole with somebody
who was kind of grass like him but seems as

(46:22):
to be a lot more professional now. Somebody that could
maybe help came him a little bit, and they just
don't have that right now. Unfortunately. Do you guys think
that's going to be an on the weekly issue from
now in the playoffs, because if they're hadn't been in

(46:44):
the right direction.

Speaker 2 (46:45):
They are stay tuned on the weekly thing. Jim, he did,
I thought, and Russell Wilson spoke to this on the
show here, but he had that issue with not getting
the penalty on the pick six that was very early
in the game, and he was able to kind of
keep playing right and play through it. But one thing
I didn't like about that was he's down on the

(47:07):
ground and looking up and extending his arms at.

Speaker 3 (47:10):
The referee or the official, whoever it was over there,
and the.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Play's going on right, like cry about it afterward, Like
play the play.

Speaker 3 (47:17):
That would be a starting point for me to see
some problem.

Speaker 4 (47:20):
Yeah, he's trying to, you know, sell the flag and
those type of things, but like to your point, the
play is still going on. But you know, to your
point of veteran leadership, yes you would like that to
be there, but obviously it didn't happen. He was learning
from Deontay Johnson. The organization didn't feel like he was
the guy moving forward. They shipped him on and now
he's on to a second team. So George's gonna have
to learn this and I think he will get to
that point adding Russell Wilson to the equation. So these

(47:43):
are the things that you just look forward to. But
I think when you look at what Russell did today,
we've learned things about him and he's learned things about
this team. One about him is the fact that we
see how you respond turn the ball over, you get
down seven to nothing, and then you're able to lead
the team to a scoring drive as you continue to
as a game moves forward. Then on the other side,
Russell learns about this team to say, I don't have

(48:04):
to do it on myself. This is a pretty good
football team. I don't as long as I don't put
them in positions by you know, throwing pick sixes without
our defense being on the field or turning the ball
over in that manner. That's different because they're going to
get you the ball back. And right now they're all
learning things about each other. That's why the excitement is there,
and that's why you can see these good things are
happening because right now they truly feel we don't have

(48:27):
to We don't have to scoreboard watch, we handle our business,
and we'll just allow things to happen in the manner
that they're going to happen when you start playing December football.

Speaker 3 (48:36):
Appreciate the call, Jim, we are up against the break.

Speaker 2 (48:38):
Thanks to Calliente Pizza and Draft House for bringing us
this hour. The Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network postgame show, Callyente
Pizza and draft House, the Pizza of Champions The postgame
show continues right here on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (48:54):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show, which presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse Peace.

Speaker 6 (49:00):
So I'm champions, Thanks Thanksgiving.

Speaker 25 (49:05):
The Pat's girlfriend Jill, she uh, she made this fire
ass a little banana thing and I had too much,
So I guess that. Uh. I didn't know it affected
me until that first drive, So I blame her.

Speaker 6 (49:20):
Yeah, I got some oranges.

Speaker 17 (49:21):
And those.

Speaker 2 (49:23):
That was now She Harris talking about why he looked
a little bit worse for the wear there early in
the game. Too much of Pat Fryarmuth's girlfriends dessert.

Speaker 4 (49:32):
Oh did he have something? Did he take something to go?
Because we're talking things Thursday the Saturday, so.

Speaker 2 (49:38):
You never know what nag she's gonna say in these situations.
But uh, he toughed it out. He was great on
the receiving end, and uh, Charlie, I was surprised. U
he ended up with seventy five rushing yards. Mentioned that
tea before we went on the.

Speaker 4 (49:51):
Area, and I think the one thing for me in
addition to that, to check down. He was more involved
in the in the passing game than he's ever been
through wild and I I love seeing that.

Speaker 3 (50:01):
Not just the checkdowns.

Speaker 2 (50:02):
Well you know this better than me, but it looked
to me the Bengals didn't have one of their best defenders.

Speaker 3 (50:07):
They don't have many.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
They got Hendrickson and they got Logan Wilson linebacker, and
Logan Wilson couldn't play. It looked to me like those
back over the middle, those short passes, those I think
those were first options, not checkdowns. They wanted to attack
the middle there because the Bengals didn't have a coverage linebacker.

Speaker 4 (50:23):
They didn't have it, and sometimes when they're playing cover too,
they're trying to take away the deep options and sometimes
that's the only option that's available for you is that checkdown.
And once you're able to now show that defense, I'm
gonna be patient By taking the checkdown and turning a
three yard game into that big fifteen eighteen yard game
that he was able to do on one of his
early checkdowns, that changed the whole dynamics of what they

(50:44):
were going to do on the defensive side.

Speaker 2 (50:46):
That was today's key to game. That's brought to you
by South Hills JEEP, Pittsburgh's home for all things JEEP
as Mike Tomlin put it, they were playing chess, not checkers,
attacking because they knew how the Bengals were going to
play them, and they where the weak spots were. Let's
go back to the phones now and welcome to the program.
Tony in Rhode Island. How are you, Tony?

Speaker 15 (51:09):
Hey?

Speaker 17 (51:09):
I hope you guys are an out skinning holiday Thanksgiving.
You guys are a great job engine every week. Charlie
and Mike. I'm happy that was a rival game, as
I call it, the visional game, and I thought you
played him well and you said it. I think it
was Mike. When Charlie the short passes, I mean, what
a game playing Charlie. I want you to be like

(51:30):
a offensive coach. But he called a good game today.

Speaker 6 (51:34):
He really did.

Speaker 4 (51:35):
And sometime when you're a defender, you're like, oh, I
would have made that tackle. Yeah, if you're playing seven
on seven. But when you actually have a defender that
you have to tackle as big as Nagy is, it's
hard to bring him down. And when you're able to
turn those quick checkdowns into bigger gains, screen passes into
that bigger game, that changes the whole dynamics of what
you're doing offensively and.

Speaker 17 (51:56):
Then then there was a key in the game. And
I agree with another quote that he has to tone
it down. Pickens will get us in trouble. But yes,
Russell will be good mentor to him. But you can't
be doing in those kind of games. You can't lose
your composure. Charlie, you know what I mean, because it's
gonna hurt us down the road, and the game's gonna
get tight. The person's gonna be on to get our schedule.

(52:18):
It doesn't get any easier. I mean, you got Cleaving
around two, and then you got Philly and obviously the Ravens,
and it's gonna be tough. It's gonna be very crucial,
you know, to have everyone on board, but very happy
with the king play. And I hope Baltimore loses tonight.
We could be in good ship. Two games up, my
Charlie and Mike good be.

Speaker 3 (52:38):
You're getting it so far.

Speaker 2 (52:39):
Tony fourteen twelve Eagles, early third quarter in Baltimore.

Speaker 3 (52:43):
Thank you for the phone call.

Speaker 2 (52:44):
Let's move on now to russ In Hershey, you're up
next with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 7 (52:50):
Ry guys, thanks for taking my call. First of all,
when we're lost Stan. I was devastated. I thought, who's
gonna replace somewhat to throw those shoes and Mike, you've
done a hell of a job.

Speaker 2 (53:03):
You do too well, appreciate it. Thank you to a
lot of people were devastated when we lost Stan.

Speaker 7 (53:09):
Absolutely, yes, yes, I thought Russ had his best game.

Speaker 17 (53:14):
Uh.

Speaker 7 (53:15):
They said that Smith was writing him change plays finally
and you do what he wanted to do. The other thing,
I noticed Rodrick Jones had his best game of the year, finally,
and everyone's getting on the defense. Well, their offense is

(53:38):
number one in the league.

Speaker 3 (53:39):
You know their offenses are really good. Yeah. I thought
the defense gave a.

Speaker 2 (53:43):
Very credible winning performance, especially when you factor into the
fumble return to scoop and score. I wasn't expecting them
to hold the Bengals to ten points.

Speaker 7 (53:54):
No, no, no, I wasn't expecting us to score forty
three points.

Speaker 3 (53:58):
Year.

Speaker 6 (54:00):
I mean, interesting stat there.

Speaker 4 (54:02):
I think they were over whenever Burrow threw for over
three hundred yards and here here he is again throwing
for three hundred yards and they lose again. So that's
just one of those ones. Obviously, that's their problems, and
we'll let them worry about what they have to deal with.

Speaker 7 (54:13):
I said it from the start of the season. The
team's going to the Super Bowl. No winning it for
cam like they did for Badest.

Speaker 3 (54:22):
Glad we got that cleared up, yeap.

Speaker 7 (54:26):
And did you hear it that Smith turned down the
coaching job at North Carolina He loves Pittsburgh. Yes, I
did good.

Speaker 6 (54:34):
Yeah, I did hear that. So yeah, obviously good for him.

Speaker 4 (54:36):
And with better performers to go in here, say you
want to, I'm at de clomb one and give you
five hundred and twenty yards a total offense.

Speaker 3 (54:42):
It's gonna be some NFL jobs open after this year.

Speaker 2 (54:44):
That doesn't necessarily mean Arthur's going to be back, correct,
but we shall see. Thanks for the call, Russ, appreciate it,
and thanks to Kelly, Ata Pizza and Draft House for
bringing us this hour of the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio Network
Post game Show Kelly and Ta Pizza and Draft House,
The Pizza of Champions. The Postgame Show continues right here
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (55:05):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame Show was presented by Caliente Pizza
and Drafthouse The Pizza of Champions.

Speaker 3 (55:14):
Welcome back back to the telephones.

Speaker 2 (55:17):
We go time to welcome Hut in Ohio to the show.

Speaker 3 (55:20):
Hut, you're on with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 15 (55:23):
Hey, Marge, Cholly, haven't done Chevy little the waited, but
OH appreciate it, Hiji. By the game tonight, I.

Speaker 2 (55:34):
Feel as if you should look at the Steelers in
a different light now that they have approached the game
where I don't think people are expecting them to score
forty four points. But you knew this wasn't going to
be thirteen to ten if you're going to beat the Bengals,
it was going to be thirty one, twenty eight, thirty five,
thirty one, something of that nature. They showed everybody, Hut
that they have that club in their bag if they

(55:56):
have to go against I don't know Josh Allen or
Patrick Mahomes and it becomes a high scoring shootout, that
they have a shot to win that game. And that's
not something anybody could say with any certainty before today.
So I feel very good about it.

Speaker 3 (56:09):
How about you?

Speaker 15 (56:11):
I do? Also, I appreciate that by that was seven
the morning show conversation Now, yeah, a little bit really
thirteen this week this week?

Speaker 4 (56:22):
No, And I think when you look at to me,
I look at how you start the game. You hear
tom will always talk about, Hey, you have to start fast, right,
they won the toss, You put your defense on the field.
They they get out there, they give you they're four
and out. They punt the ball and give your offense
ball back, and all of a sudden the pick six
happens and you're down seven to nothing. But how do
you respond? And this was the first time that I
had I thought thought that this team was fate faced

(56:45):
with some adversity that they had to figure out. Okay,
now what are you going to do with your back
against the wall on the road. And you didn't get
the start that you wanted. They were able to calm
themselves down and get back into the ball game and
ultimately take the lead at halftime. That is a winning formula.
Uh so you're talking about learning something about your football team.
Mike Tomland definitely did that here today.

Speaker 15 (57:06):
And that was perfect, was it not? You see the meaning?
But we came right back.

Speaker 6 (57:14):
I appreciate that.

Speaker 4 (57:15):
Not a problem, and that's that's going to be. That's
a beautiful thing to watch. And when you're watching this
team unfold and you're like Okay, what if this happens?
How do you respond? And you're starting to see a
lot of those things happen. And that's a big, big
testament to Mike Tollin making sure that he's able to
keep things calm on the sideline, saying, hey, there's plenty
of football left. Go out there and do your job
and we'll let everything else take care of itself.

Speaker 3 (57:35):
As he likes to say, they don't blink, correct, and.

Speaker 6 (57:37):
If you do, he's cutting your eyelids off.

Speaker 3 (57:40):
Anything else?

Speaker 2 (57:41):
Son, Okay, appreciate the phone call. Let's keep the calls
rolling along. Martin in Baltimore, you're up next with Mike
and Charlie.

Speaker 18 (57:53):
Hello Martin, Oh hi, guys, Sorry, sorry, I'll I'll be
seeing you in Solstice Day, Aaron Baltimore. I'll be wearing
Cam Hayward Jersey Tom Cruise look alike. I'll be looking
for you, guys. Hello, Okay, we're here.

Speaker 6 (58:14):
Yeah, we're here. I mean, oh yeah, cool.

Speaker 18 (58:17):
I just want to ask you where the heck has
Menca been?

Speaker 16 (58:20):
Man?

Speaker 18 (58:21):
Hey, what's going on? What are we doing with him
this year? We're paying him a lot of dough and
I'm not seeing any splash plays.

Speaker 2 (58:29):
You are not, but you're not seeing anybody throw it
to the deep post for a sixty yard touchdown either. Now,
he did spend I thought Charlie more time down in
the box area today KZ Demante Case was more the
center fielder. But this has come up periodically, Martin. And
the other thing I'll say is, I think they went
into today third or fourth in points against Defensively. The

(58:53):
job is getting done defensively, and he is playing every snap,
so he's doing something right.

Speaker 6 (58:58):
Yeah, he's doing something right.

Speaker 4 (59:00):
I mean, in one of the plays that won't come
up when you look at the I think it was
Chase Brown when he broke off that forty yard run.
Minka was the guy who actually made the tackle and
tackled him at the one yard line. But ultimately they
didn't have a defensive stand. They scored on that next play.
But it's still those type of plays that you're like, Okay,
he's doing his job. But again, we're used to seeing
those impactful plays, different making plays, and we just haven't

(59:21):
seen it. Am I worried about it, not necessarily because
I know that's in his DNA. We just needed to
be done at the right time. Hopefully, it happens here
sooner rather than later.

Speaker 18 (59:30):
Okay, anything you guys in a few weeks.

Speaker 2 (59:32):
Okay, see it, Pickles, Let's get one more in before
the break.

Speaker 3 (59:37):
DC and Hartford. You're up with Mike and Charlie.

Speaker 26 (59:42):
All right, guys, let's go.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
How are we doing doing well? How you doing? DC?

Speaker 26 (59:47):
I cannot complain after watching Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson
dice up that defense today of Cincinnati. So I was
just very impressed with they attacked Cincy today. And I'm
looking forward to not too much more run run pass

(01:00:08):
pattern that the defenses are ready for, and just a
little bit more mixing it up, throwing on first down
underneath crossers, that kind of stuff. I've been begging for it,
and I got exactly what I asked for, and look
what happened, put up forty some my points. So I
love it, and I just wanted to continue.

Speaker 2 (01:00:24):
Yeah, well, the coaches ought to have more confidence in
that kind of stuff, now, don't you think, Charlee?

Speaker 4 (01:00:28):
I mean absolutely, And that's one area where I thought,
you know, as the season is coming to an end,
the regular season, they have to get better on first
down because there's too many times that you're getting too
third down. It's okay to score, to make a first
down on first down, yeah, or second.

Speaker 6 (01:00:42):
Or second down.

Speaker 4 (01:00:43):
So these are things that you if they can continue
to add And I like it because they did it
on the road.

Speaker 6 (01:00:48):
It's a little easier to do it at home.

Speaker 4 (01:00:49):
But when you're able to do that on the road
and putting yourself in those manageable situations, it makes things
a lot easier. And that's a reflection of what you're
seeing in the stats here today. Russell Wilson over four
h and fourteen yards total offense five hundred and twenty.
That means they were successful on first down.

Speaker 26 (01:01:05):
And I'm sincerely flowing at the mouth at this next
Cleveland game, So you guys suit up because that's gonna
be a gonna be a physical one. But I hope
you get it on. It's gonna be good. I appreciate you, guys.

Speaker 2 (01:01:18):
Thanks DC, and thanks to Calliente Pizza and Draft House
for bringing us this hour of the Pittsburgh Steelers Audio
Network postgame show. Callyente Pizza and Draft House the Pizza
of Champions. The show continues right here on the Steelers
Audio Network.

Speaker 9 (01:01:32):
The Pittsburgh Steelers Postgame show.

Speaker 1 (01:01:34):
It is presented by Caliente Pizza and Drafthouse, The Pizza
of Champions.

Speaker 2 (01:01:41):
Welcome back, forty four thirty eight Steelers over the Bengals today,
Philadelphia maintaining a slim fourteen to twelve lead over Baltimore
in the third quarter.

Speaker 3 (01:01:52):
Down in Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
Back to the phones, we go, Andy in State College.
You're up next with Mike Pursuda and Charlie Batch.

Speaker 22 (01:02:01):
Hey Fellows, I wanted to talk a little bit about
how quickly the defense gave up those two touchdowns at
the end of the game, because that we were very fortunate.
I thought that it was a little precarious because when
we had the holding penalty there on second down, there
was a minute and forty five left on the clock,
and then they trot out justin fields and if that

(01:02:22):
play doesn't get converted, they're stuck with the situation with.

Speaker 5 (01:02:25):
About a minute left.

Speaker 22 (01:02:25):
Whether they probably have to try like a fifty seven
fifty eight yard field goal to go up by nine
or punt and pinted beat. So I just thought, man,
they gave up those two touchdowns way too easily. And
then I just thought it was kind of strange to
me that they pulled Russell Wilson, who threw for over
four hundred yards, that they had to put Justin Fields
in that situation. So I wanted to see what you
guys thought about just the timing of that play when

(01:02:48):
Russell was having such an impeccable game. And then lastly,
if they didn't convert on third down, put you on
the hot seat. Would you try a fifty seven yard
field goal with Boswell to go up by nine and
ice it or you touch you punting it and pinning
him deep and letting Joe Burrow have about a minute
left to maybe win by one.

Speaker 2 (01:03:05):
I don't know what Mike Tomlin would have done. I
would have punted. I know they have great faith in
Chris Boswell. If they were going to try, if Mike
Tomin thought, hey, he's gonna make this and it's a
two score game and it's over, he might have kicked it.
The Justin Fields thing. I am all in favor of
the Justin Fields package. I've been drooling about this since
watching them in OTAs and watching him at Saint Vincent College.

(01:03:27):
They got to figure out the best way to do it,
when to apply it, and that kind of thing. But
he is too good an athlete. You saw him convert
that first down today and help put the game away.
He should not be standing watching. He should be participating occasionally.
And then the defensive thing, the one that is bothersome
was the touchdown drive in a minute, in fourteen seconds.

(01:03:49):
They finally got a big play to Jamar Chase. They
do have that capability. I mean, that's not ideal, but
I thought the defense, given the circumstances, Bengals.

Speaker 3 (01:03:58):
Are really good offense.

Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
League Burrows fantastic, those receivers are fantastic.

Speaker 3 (01:04:03):
I thought the defense did just find today.

Speaker 6 (01:04:05):
Yeah, I thought so too.

Speaker 4 (01:04:06):
And I think to your point on what Tomlin would
have done at the end of the ball game. As
we're sitting here, me and Mike is looking saying, may
if you kind of run the clock out because they
didn't have any timeouts, it took you under twenty seconds,
and the whole thing changed when that penalty occurred. Screw
Now you stop the clock, you don't go to you
go wing from forty seconds to twenty five seconds, and
the clock didn't move at that particular point. So bringing

(01:04:28):
justin in I was okay with that, But I'm not
a big fan of that particular package only because you
don't know when you're gonna use it. And I put
myself not to say I have the leg Justin Fields.
I'm nowhere near with Justin Fields. All I know is
sitting near in twenty degree weather and you have to
wait fifty eight minutes before your number is called.

Speaker 6 (01:04:45):
That's a touch on.

Speaker 3 (01:04:46):
The sidelines to stay loose, kid. You never know what
we're gonna need.

Speaker 6 (01:04:50):
You never know. But I get it.

Speaker 5 (01:04:52):
I think they got I think also there too.

Speaker 22 (01:04:55):
It's just tough because in that circumstances, if you're the
Bengals defense, you're think in ninety nine out of one hundred,
they're going to run the ball because they've got to
keep the clock going. So that that just to me,
I thought, Oh, I don't know.

Speaker 13 (01:05:05):
I didn't, I didn't.

Speaker 26 (01:05:06):
I didn't love it.

Speaker 22 (01:05:07):
I mean, I'm glad it worked out, obviously as a
Steelers fan, but I would have rather had you know,
Russ In there when when he had his second highest
career passing yardage ever and let him let him dictate.
But you know, the Justin's legs were successful, But I
still think, I don't know, I would have rather had
Russ under there.

Speaker 3 (01:05:23):
Yeah, tune, man, you're gonna love it another month, I'll
tell you.

Speaker 6 (01:05:26):
But I understand it.

Speaker 4 (01:05:27):
But to your point, when you said ninety nine out
of one hundred, I would have said a hundred out
of one hundred. They're running it only because of what
happened last week. They threw a pass late in the
ball game. It wasn't completed, but it's still the fact
that you think about that particular moment, you say we're
selling out on the run.

Speaker 6 (01:05:41):
They did in the rookie corner.

Speaker 4 (01:05:43):
Made a mistake by giving up the outside, allowing Justin
to do the icy game essentially. So yes, yes, I
get it, but I'm just not a huge fan of it.

Speaker 6 (01:05:51):
That's just me.

Speaker 22 (01:05:52):
I dropped a bunch of explantives last week on that,
on that Justin Fields passes sitting in my man cave.
So I was conflicted then as well.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
And he calls back in about a month, you can
say you were so right on that Justin Field stuff.

Speaker 3 (01:06:06):
Mike.

Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
There you go, alrighty fellas, appreciate it, man, Thanks for listening.
This is the Steelers Audio Network postgame show on Mike Pursuda.
Our next broadcast is eleven AM. This coming Sunday, December
the eighth, before the Steelers host the Cleveland Browns. The
postgame show continues locally on Your Home of the Steelers
one on two point five DVE and Steelers Nation Radio

(01:06:31):
with Charlie Batch on, Mike Pursuda and the Postgame Show.
Excuse me, This is the postgame show on the Pittsburgh
Steelers Audio Network