December 16, 2025 • 26 mins
Labs and Tom break down the Steelers big Monday NightFootball win, then get to this weeks questions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
If you braved the elements on a Monday night to
see the Steelers kick the Dolphins butt, it was well
worth it. Perhaps the most complete performance by your Pittsburgh
Steelers on the season.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
In Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
That is now two straight wins for Pittsburgh, two straight wins,
looking pretty good in the manner that they achieved those wins.
You want to be playing your best football when the
calendar turns to December, and so far the Steelers are
two for two in that regard.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, let me just start by giving a shout out
to the fans who showed up yes last night and
hung and stayed until you know, the two minute warning
and the game was over. At that point it was
you know, I'm not trying to compare myself to those
(00:58):
hardy souls who set three that and it was just
to be official of seventeen degrees fahrenheit and kickoff went
south from at seven miles an hour the winch In fact,
it was seven degrees. That's according to the NFL's game summary.
But anyway, I walked from my car to the entry
(01:21):
of Acrosure and then from there I just took an
elevator up to the press box which is closed. That
walk from the parking lot, I would say it was
two hundred maybe two hundred and fifty yards was brutal.
It was brutal. So hats off to the fans. They
(01:42):
were engaged, they were into it, and it was a
you know, pretty nice atmosphere. The Hall of Honor class
was there just for everybody just to remember Joey Porter,
Marquise Pouncing, and Ben Roethlisberger. That was a pretty you know,
crowd got into that. But anyway, back to the game,
(02:06):
and that was the other thing that like capped off
the night was the team. The way it played. I
think it was the most complete performance of the season.
It's a it's a good time. You like to see it.
And there had been a lot of things issues that
had had been piling up over the last you know,
(02:30):
from four to one to what were they yes, seven
and six?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
They were at six and now they won two games.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Right, So the issues there were, you know, the other
team was always running a lot more offensive plays. The
other team always had a lot more total net yards.
The other team always had a lot better time possession,
and the other team always was running the ball better
and defending the run than the Steelers were doing. So,
(03:01):
you know, last night against the Dolphins, the Steelers really
took care of all of those things in terms of
the stats, and it was reflected in the outcome. Aaron
Rodgers was spectacular. I thought, just exactly, just exactly the
kind of quarterback play you need from this guy. You know,
(03:23):
I think we talked about this last Tuesday. Twenty five points,
no takeaways, no turnovers. I'll I'll take that from Aaron
Rodgers and the offense every week.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, Oh, go ahead. Sorry, I didn't mean to cut
you out.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
No, no, sorry, that's okay, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I was gonna say, we'll get way more into Aaron
Rodgers in just a minute or two here, But I
wanted to touch on something else that you brought up
briefly there when it comes to analyzing how the Steelers
were successful against the Dolphins, and that is with the
run defense, because heading into this game, my biggest fear
was that Miami rushing attack. They had two hundred plus
yards again the Jets the week prior, in their four
(04:02):
game winning streak, they were averaging one hundred and ninety
two yards on the ground. The Steelers defense had given
up two hundred yards on the ground in two straight games.
So that was the part that I was shakiest on
stopping that Dolphin rushing attack. Well, sixteen carries and sixty
three yards later, I'd say the Steelers did a very
successful job doing so.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, and you know that running back, the Dolphins running back,
the pawn h Chen he is. He has some getaway speed, yes,
he's got a little power, he can bounce outside, and
he's one of those guys who can turn like a
ten yard run into a forty yard run really quick.
(04:45):
And they bottled him up. I mean, they didn't shut
him down totally, but they certainly mitigated his impact on
the game in a major way. And let me say
this too, to all the fans out there that are
clamoring for a high draft pick spent on a quarterback
and then you have to pay that accordingly Miami. Miami's
(05:09):
quarterback is a prime example of what can go wrong
with that whole idea, because you know, Tua is just
not He's not that kind of guy that you're paying
one hundred and fifty million to or whatever ridiculous number
(05:30):
that is. But anyway, so yeah, it was the Dolphins
were desperate. I think too that was a factor because
the Steelers beating them eliminated them from the playoffs. They
come in with a with a four game winning streak,
so you know there was some and it wasn't a
walk a walk in the park kind of game. So
(05:54):
but yeah, I thought Rogers was really good. And hey,
let me let me say this to shout out to
Dylan Cook, the starting left tackle. This guy, you know,
his NFL journey began in twenty twenty two August. He
played his first snaps against the Ravens yes the week
(06:17):
before yesterday's game. So this is a guy who's been
bouncing around and fighting a good fight and all that
stuff for a long time. He had a very representative performance.
I would challenge anyone who was just watching the game,
(06:39):
you'd never even noticed him, and that's exactly what you're
looking for from a rookie left to amen didn't even
know he was there.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
No, it was fantastic effort from Dylan cooking a much
needed one. Rogers twenty three for twenty seven two and
twenty four yards to passing touchdowns in this game, was
just in complete command of the offense from start to finish.
At one point, he was thirteen for fourteen on his
past attempts. On the evening in Labs, we saw some
(07:08):
vintage Rogers, you know, chicanery pre snap, getting the Dolphins
with too many men on the field, getting a key
first down pickup on a third down conversion. That is
just that is vintage Aaron Rodgers right there. And how
about he knew it before the refs even knew it.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's just his whole thing. I mean,
you know, on the pregame show we were doing, Mike
Pursua from the DV Morning Show was talking about when
the DV Morning Show came up to same things in college,
as it always does to tape a show. You know,
(07:49):
they had Rogers on and he was telling them in
between segments or whatever, that you know, he's doing this
because he wants another shot. I mean, he he this
is still in his blood. He's still he's still an
addict in in this in this respect, you know, competition
(08:12):
addict or you know, whatever that's called. He's really into this.
And so I think Aaron Rodgers is starting to see
what the AFC is not because I'll tell you what,
there there is no team in the in the conference
that you're you would be afraid to have to play.
(08:36):
And uh, it's wide open. So not that I'm predicting
anything or but if you know, if the Steelers can
continue to do what they're doing and as I said,
twenty five points no turnovers from the offense from the
(08:57):
scuttle butt down at the at the stadium, uh t J.
Watt will be back, Derek, Derek Harmon is going to
be back direction. Yes, you know, like I said, Dylan
Cook was not an embarrassment or a liability in any way. Uh,
(09:18):
you know, you continue to I think you're going to
have to help them, you know, scheme, scheme things, a
little bit, helping them out. I saw number eighty and
they're a good bit of a good bit of time,
which is a nice wingman to have in that sense.
And you know the thing with Rogers is again I
(09:39):
mean he will find open peep you know, and couple
of fire mouth. You know, people are screaming, why don't
think it's the ball of fire mouth more, why don't
think it's the ball of fire mooth or well, you know.
The thing is when he is open and or the
or when let me put it this way, when coverage
dictate it's the ball to go to him, Rogers makes
(10:03):
the throw. Just catch it. That's that simple. So sorry,
I'm sounding a little too optimistic. Scare maybe of sleep,
but you know, and here here's this too, why not
(10:23):
I'm I'm a little giddy. The Ravens next two games
are against New England, which just lost to Buffalo, and
then they go to green Bay.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Pretty tough, you know, right.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Pretty tough. So if the Steelers win one of their
two games they're next to at Detroit or at Cleveland,
that last game against the Ravens is meaningless.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
From your lips to God's ears. Please you mentioned Patrick.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Because let me tell you this, young Thomas. If that game,
if Steelers Ravens regular season finale is winner makes the
playoffs and the loser goes home, I can bet you
a thousand dollars or what I think anyway that it's Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Night, Sunday or Saturday night. So it's one of those
night spots. Though I guarantee you that I don't.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, I think Saturday is more of a wish. The
Sunday night.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Is the year in and you're in if you win game.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, that's what I think. That's what I think the
NFL will do because Saturday, I don't know. Saturday night
isn't a stay at home and watch TV night a
lot of times.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
One last thing I wanted to get in real quick
before we get to the questions. I love seeing the
commitment to the running game offensively too. Thirty two carries
for the team. Kenneth Gainwell had a big game, thirteen
carries for eighty yards. Warren fighting through illness did Yeoman's
work thirty three yards on twelve carries. But thirty two
carries to twenty seven pass attempts. That's what I'm talking about.
That's cold weather football.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Yeah, and you know, again, it was a nice they
moved the sticks enough, yes on possession downs, to maintain
possession of the balls. He can continue to run it
even though you know it wasn't necessarily yielding a lot
of yards in a consistent kind of basis. Like gain
(12:26):
Well averaged what was it six or something to carry,
but he had a one thirty eight yard run, which
is great, you know. But what I mean is the
running game can be different kinds of successful. I think
the way it was yesterday was you were able to
use it enough to keep using it, or you were
(12:48):
you were doing it well enough to keep using it.
And then you know, you mix in. You know, you
let the quarterback do his thing, give him some time,
he will pick you up part. So yep, I'm a believer.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Our first question today comes from Matthew Johnson from Cashiers,
North Carolina. The Colts signed Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
Could the Colts have signed Skyler Thompson or another practice
squad player?
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Okay, I'll handle the last part first. Yes or no.
Skyler Thompson is on injured reserve, so they can't have him.
They couldn't have had him, But yes, they could have
signed another quarterback off another team's practice squad, but slim
pickens for sure in terms of what was available there.
(13:44):
But anyway, since Matthew's letter or submission, Philip Rivers has
ended up starting for the Colts. That came yesterday. They
lost eighteen to sixteen to in Seattle to the Seahawks.
What I think is significant about that is Philip Rivers
(14:06):
five year o'clock for election of the pro Football Hall
of Fame has to reset now and start over, yep,
because he played. So you know, just three weeks ago,
Rivers was one of twenty six Modern era semifinalists for induction.
That class would be announced on the Thursday before the
Super Bowl. I think that's the date, but a couple
(14:28):
of days before the next Super Bowl, so that's you know, February,
early February. So he was one of twenty six, one
of three quarterbacks Drew Brees, Eli Manning and him. So
now Rivers play, So he moves to the back of
the line, and you know Ben Roethlisberger joins that line
next year, right, So, you know, just pointing it out,
(14:52):
I'm not saying what rivers chances might be when he
might get elected, whatever it is. I'm just saying that
if this experiment falls flat, you know, I mean, he
really kind of messed up a lot of stuff for himself,
I think. But you know, we'll have to see.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Well, the forty four year old did survive against a
really good Seattle defense on Sunday, and man, it just
really shows everything you just laid out delaying this clock
for the Hall of Fame. He must really love the
game of football Labs, or he must really be annoyed
with his family. It's got to be one of these two.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
It has to be.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Well. I mean, I don't know how annoyed a family
might make you, to make you want to run away
from angry two hundred and fifty to three hundred pound
athletes with malice a forethought.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Bob Peger from State College Pennsylvania. Regardless of how the
season ends for the Steelers, has Aaron Rodgers expressed any
desire to return next year? Whatever the final decision, Steelers
fans should relish watching him run the offense that he's
tasted AFC North Football. I hope he stays around until
a permanent replacement is ready.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
You know, Aaron Rodgers has not indicated that he has
any desire to return next year, So I don't know.
If you're asking me to guess right now, my guess
would be that he's not interested. I think this is
the last go round for him. But hey, I hope
(16:30):
I'm wrong. I've been wrong before.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I do hope you're wrong too in this instance, because
I do love watching him run this offense. To Bob's
point in his question, but I will admit to this
isn't a terrible last chapter if he is indeed writing
it now, you know, push to when the AFC North
hosts a playoff game and potentially win one on your
way out.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yes, I mean that would you know when it comes
to the Hall of Fame. Remember Deon Sanders has said
that there should be different levels, yes, in the Hall
of Fame. You know, so if if Aaron Rodgers would
pull off a run in the run in the playoffs
and then you know, right off into the sunset, that
(17:13):
would put him in a you know level of quarterbacks
and within the Hall of Fame, at a level of
Hall of Fame quarterbacks. It's penthouse kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Ce J McMunn from Franklin, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I was surprised to see Adam Thielend not only signed
to the practice squad but also starting and playing ahead
of second year wide out Roman Wilson in the games
against the Ravens and the Dolphins. Steveland had four days
of preparation with the Steelers and they felt he'd be
better or is Wilson hurt? Curious if you have any
perspective on this and if it might be a sign
that Wilson's time and time is coming to a possible
close in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Well, what I can say is Roman Wilson wasn't listed
on the any of the days of the weekly participate
practice participation reports, either before for the Ravens game or
before the Dolphins game. So I'm going to just assume
that that means that he's healthy, he's not hurt, and
(18:10):
so that would let them lead me to believe that
the decision to make him inactive has something to do
with either inexperience or performance or some combination of both.
And maybe it's not so much that he is lacking
in those areas, but the other guys Mark mvs Is
(18:32):
I'm going to start calling him now like everyone else
and Adam Feeling are better than him. So you know, again,
we're in December of a regular season. Now, this is
not the time to try and develop a young guy.
(18:53):
It's just not. So I'm not I don't know that
this is any kind of forecast to Roman Willson's future
with the Steelers. You know, that's that's not for now.
I can I would be very confident in saying the
Steelers are not looking at that now. They don't care
about that now, because if something would happen to feel
(19:17):
in their mvs. You know, Roman Wilson's right back on
the field, count on it, so you know, let's just
see what happens. But he is not hurt. He's just
not playing.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Alan Warner from East Springfield, Pennsylvania. I and a lot
of fans share your dislike of the tush push. Why
do the officials wait so long to blow the whistle?
It seems like the whole controversy could be settled if
the officials simply whistled the play dead sooner.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Well, you know, my opinion on that is the reason
that the officials don't whistle tush push is dead sooner
is it's impossible for them to get to good to
get a good enough view of the play from their
their vantage point at field level in order to make
those kind of judgments. I mean, you know when when
they when you watch the Tush push on TV, the
(20:13):
things that you see false starts off side, whether he
got the gun, got the line to gain or not,
it's always from that camera over over, you know, over
the action. Uh officials on the field they're standing down
their field level. You can't see any of that stuff.
You know, they're trying to look through a massive bodies.
(20:37):
So that's why I think that the play should be banished.
They can't officiate it, so what's you know, Uh, I
just that to that, to me is as much a
reason to ban it as the potential for injury. And
we really haven't seen many injuries, if any injuries during
(21:00):
push pushes, certainly not enough to in my opinion, validate
them banning it for that reason now.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
But I think they need to pivot more towards the
officiating side of things when it comes to that.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
That's that's their argument. Paul Miller from Butler, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
In a case like DK Metcalf's where he stayed in
Baltimore after the game for medical reasons, who pays for
an injured player's return to Pittsburgh and is the player
responsible for making the travel arrangements?
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You know, no, a player would not be responsible for
paying for the return trip nor for scheduling it. And
because Metcalf, DK Metcalf stayed in Baltimore for medical reasons,
I'm very confident that a member of the Steelers medical
team stayed there as well and traveled with him on
his return to Pittsburgh. So yeah, It's not like they
(21:51):
just leave him there and say, you know, find your
way home. Hope you hope you got space on your
on your Gold card.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
I'm sure DK does, but that's beside the point.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Our next question comes from Rob Jones. He writes from
Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Is there any word on when
Deshaun Elliott might return from injury?
Speaker 1 (22:18):
The Shawn Elliott reportedly hyper extended his knee against the
Packers on October twenty sixth. That was week eight. We
just finished Week fifteen, so that's how long he's been out.
There's been no definitive proclamation on Elliott's prognosis. It is
(22:45):
supposedly a hyper extended knee, but it also supposedly has
does not include any damage to the ACL which is huge.
But you know, again, all of this is social media stuff.
At this point, Elliott has weighed in on his social media,
(23:06):
making references that he's going to attack his rehab with
the goal of a full return for the twenty twenty
sixth season, So that would rule him out for the
rest of this one. I don't know. It seems to
be that's the way things are trending, and the Steelers
(23:29):
have added Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Duggar as safeties, so
it's not like they're acting as though his return is imminent.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Bruno Contorchik from York, Pennsylvania. How many officials are on
the field for the game? Are the replay officials at
the game or in a setting somewhere else?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
And how are they assigned?
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Okay, there's seven on field officials, the referee, the umpire,
the down judge, the line judged, back judge, the field
judge in the side judge. That's the seven on field guys.
There's also a replay official upstairs. All of those guys
are on site and all officiating cruis are assigned by
(24:15):
the league office.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
And our final question today comes from Jose Jovez from
Fort Myers, Florida. Is television money split equally among.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
The thirty two teams?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Do teams get any extra money from drawing a larger
TV audience or from being in a quote unquote national
game such as Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
No, all TV revenue is totaled up and divided up
thirty two ways. There's no there's no bonus for the
number that you draw. In terms of viewers, there's no
(24:57):
bonus if you're on one of the you know, primetime games.
Everybody gets the same amount of money, which is considerable.
But the way the contracts and that's the strength of
the league, I think that that means that really helps
(25:18):
all teams have a chance to win.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Steelers look to make it three straight wins Sunday when
they head to Motown take on the Detroit Lions and Labs.
I know the lines are eight and six. They're on
the outside looking into the NFC playoff picture, but this
is a huge test for the Steelers. This is a
leap up in competition and a win against the Detroit
Lions would be a pretty big statement, don't you think.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yes, the Lions are the Lions are real. And let
me say this too. The Lions lost on Sunday and
if they lose another.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Game, they're out backs firmly against the wall.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Right, So they're going to be desperate and a little testing.
I'm sure they at home. Yeah, it should be. It
should be quite the quite the.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Test, and that test will get underway at four twenty
five Sunday in Detroit. Thanks for giving us a listen
on this year podcast. As always, if you have questions
that you want answered, get them into labs now and
then maybe you'll hear them answered on our next edition
of Asked and Answered
This is asked and answered questions with Tom Upferman and
Steelers Digest editor Bob Labriola.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
If you braved the elements on a Monday night to
see the Steelers kick the Dolphins butt, it was well
worth it. Perhaps the most complete performance by your Pittsburgh
Steelers on the season.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
In Labs.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
That is now two straight wins for Pittsburgh, two straight wins,
looking pretty good in the manner that they achieved those wins.
You want to be playing your best football when the
calendar turns to December, and so far the Steelers are
two for two in that regard.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yeah, let me just start by giving a shout out
to the fans who showed up yes last night and
hung and stayed until you know, the two minute warning
and the game was over. At that point it was
you know, I'm not trying to compare myself to those
(00:58):
hardy souls who set three that and it was just
to be official of seventeen degrees fahrenheit and kickoff went
south from at seven miles an hour the winch In fact,
it was seven degrees. That's according to the NFL's game summary.
But anyway, I walked from my car to the entry
(01:21):
of Acrosure and then from there I just took an
elevator up to the press box which is closed. That
walk from the parking lot, I would say it was
two hundred maybe two hundred and fifty yards was brutal.
It was brutal. So hats off to the fans. They
(01:42):
were engaged, they were into it, and it was a
you know, pretty nice atmosphere. The Hall of Honor class
was there just for everybody just to remember Joey Porter,
Marquise Pouncing, and Ben Roethlisberger. That was a pretty you know,
crowd got into that. But anyway, back to the game,
(02:06):
and that was the other thing that like capped off
the night was the team. The way it played. I
think it was the most complete performance of the season.
It's a it's a good time. You like to see it.
And there had been a lot of things issues that
had had been piling up over the last you know,
(02:30):
from four to one to what were they yes, seven
and six?
Speaker 3 (02:35):
They were at six and now they won two games.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Right, So the issues there were, you know, the other
team was always running a lot more offensive plays. The
other team always had a lot more total net yards.
The other team always had a lot better time possession,
and the other team always was running the ball better
and defending the run than the Steelers were doing. So,
(03:01):
you know, last night against the Dolphins, the Steelers really
took care of all of those things in terms of
the stats, and it was reflected in the outcome. Aaron
Rodgers was spectacular. I thought, just exactly, just exactly the
kind of quarterback play you need from this guy. You know,
(03:23):
I think we talked about this last Tuesday. Twenty five points,
no takeaways, no turnovers. I'll I'll take that from Aaron
Rodgers and the offense every week.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, Oh, go ahead. Sorry, I didn't mean to cut
you out.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
No, no, sorry, that's okay, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I was gonna say, we'll get way more into Aaron
Rodgers in just a minute or two here, But I
wanted to touch on something else that you brought up
briefly there when it comes to analyzing how the Steelers
were successful against the Dolphins, and that is with the
run defense, because heading into this game, my biggest fear
was that Miami rushing attack. They had two hundred plus
yards again the Jets the week prior, in their four
(04:02):
game winning streak, they were averaging one hundred and ninety
two yards on the ground. The Steelers defense had given
up two hundred yards on the ground in two straight games.
So that was the part that I was shakiest on
stopping that Dolphin rushing attack. Well, sixteen carries and sixty
three yards later, I'd say the Steelers did a very
successful job doing so.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Yeah, and you know that running back, the Dolphins running back,
the pawn h Chen he is. He has some getaway speed, yes,
he's got a little power, he can bounce outside, and
he's one of those guys who can turn like a
ten yard run into a forty yard run really quick.
(04:45):
And they bottled him up. I mean, they didn't shut
him down totally, but they certainly mitigated his impact on
the game in a major way. And let me say
this too, to all the fans out there that are
clamoring for a high draft pick spent on a quarterback
and then you have to pay that accordingly Miami. Miami's
(05:09):
quarterback is a prime example of what can go wrong
with that whole idea, because you know, Tua is just
not He's not that kind of guy that you're paying
one hundred and fifty million to or whatever ridiculous number
(05:30):
that is. But anyway, so yeah, it was the Dolphins
were desperate. I think too that was a factor because
the Steelers beating them eliminated them from the playoffs. They
come in with a with a four game winning streak,
so you know there was some and it wasn't a
walk a walk in the park kind of game. So
(05:54):
but yeah, I thought Rogers was really good. And hey,
let me let me say this to shout out to
Dylan Cook, the starting left tackle. This guy, you know,
his NFL journey began in twenty twenty two August. He
played his first snaps against the Ravens yes the week
(06:17):
before yesterday's game. So this is a guy who's been
bouncing around and fighting a good fight and all that
stuff for a long time. He had a very representative performance.
I would challenge anyone who was just watching the game,
(06:39):
you'd never even noticed him, and that's exactly what you're
looking for from a rookie left to amen didn't even
know he was there.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
No, it was fantastic effort from Dylan cooking a much
needed one. Rogers twenty three for twenty seven two and
twenty four yards to passing touchdowns in this game, was
just in complete command of the offense from start to finish.
At one point, he was thirteen for fourteen on his
past attempts. On the evening in Labs, we saw some
(07:08):
vintage Rogers, you know, chicanery pre snap, getting the Dolphins
with too many men on the field, getting a key
first down pickup on a third down conversion. That is
just that is vintage Aaron Rodgers right there. And how
about he knew it before the refs even knew it.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's just his whole thing. I mean,
you know, on the pregame show we were doing, Mike
Pursua from the DV Morning Show was talking about when
the DV Morning Show came up to same things in college,
as it always does to tape a show. You know,
(07:49):
they had Rogers on and he was telling them in
between segments or whatever, that you know, he's doing this
because he wants another shot. I mean, he he this
is still in his blood. He's still he's still an
addict in in this in this respect, you know, competition
(08:12):
addict or you know, whatever that's called. He's really into this.
And so I think Aaron Rodgers is starting to see
what the AFC is not because I'll tell you what,
there there is no team in the in the conference
that you're you would be afraid to have to play.
(08:36):
And uh, it's wide open. So not that I'm predicting
anything or but if you know, if the Steelers can
continue to do what they're doing and as I said,
twenty five points no turnovers from the offense from the
(08:57):
scuttle butt down at the at the stadium, uh t J.
Watt will be back, Derek, Derek Harmon is going to
be back direction. Yes, you know, like I said, Dylan
Cook was not an embarrassment or a liability in any way. Uh,
(09:18):
you know, you continue to I think you're going to
have to help them, you know, scheme, scheme things, a
little bit, helping them out. I saw number eighty and
they're a good bit of a good bit of time,
which is a nice wingman to have in that sense.
And you know the thing with Rogers is again I
(09:39):
mean he will find open peep you know, and couple
of fire mouth. You know, people are screaming, why don't
think it's the ball of fire mouth more, why don't
think it's the ball of fire mooth or well, you know.
The thing is when he is open and or the
or when let me put it this way, when coverage
dictate it's the ball to go to him, Rogers makes
(10:03):
the throw. Just catch it. That's that simple. So sorry,
I'm sounding a little too optimistic. Scare maybe of sleep,
but you know, and here here's this too, why not
(10:23):
I'm I'm a little giddy. The Ravens next two games
are against New England, which just lost to Buffalo, and
then they go to green Bay.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Pretty tough, you know, right.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Pretty tough. So if the Steelers win one of their
two games they're next to at Detroit or at Cleveland,
that last game against the Ravens is meaningless.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
From your lips to God's ears. Please you mentioned Patrick.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Because let me tell you this, young Thomas. If that game,
if Steelers Ravens regular season finale is winner makes the
playoffs and the loser goes home, I can bet you
a thousand dollars or what I think anyway that it's Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Night, Sunday or Saturday night. So it's one of those
night spots. Though I guarantee you that I don't.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, I think Saturday is more of a wish. The
Sunday night.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Is the year in and you're in if you win game.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yeah, that's what I think. That's what I think the
NFL will do because Saturday, I don't know. Saturday night
isn't a stay at home and watch TV night a
lot of times.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
One last thing I wanted to get in real quick
before we get to the questions. I love seeing the
commitment to the running game offensively too. Thirty two carries
for the team. Kenneth Gainwell had a big game, thirteen
carries for eighty yards. Warren fighting through illness did Yeoman's
work thirty three yards on twelve carries. But thirty two
carries to twenty seven pass attempts. That's what I'm talking about.
That's cold weather football.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Yeah, and you know, again, it was a nice they
moved the sticks enough, yes on possession downs, to maintain
possession of the balls. He can continue to run it
even though you know it wasn't necessarily yielding a lot
of yards in a consistent kind of basis. Like gain
(12:26):
Well averaged what was it six or something to carry,
but he had a one thirty eight yard run, which
is great, you know. But what I mean is the
running game can be different kinds of successful. I think
the way it was yesterday was you were able to
use it enough to keep using it, or you were
(12:48):
you were doing it well enough to keep using it.
And then you know, you mix in. You know, you
let the quarterback do his thing, give him some time,
he will pick you up part. So yep, I'm a believer.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Our first question today comes from Matthew Johnson from Cashiers,
North Carolina. The Colts signed Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
Could the Colts have signed Skyler Thompson or another practice
squad player?
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Okay, I'll handle the last part first. Yes or no.
Skyler Thompson is on injured reserve, so they can't have him.
They couldn't have had him, But yes, they could have
signed another quarterback off another team's practice squad, but slim
pickens for sure in terms of what was available there.
(13:44):
But anyway, since Matthew's letter or submission, Philip Rivers has
ended up starting for the Colts. That came yesterday. They
lost eighteen to sixteen to in Seattle to the Seahawks.
What I think is significant about that is Philip Rivers
(14:06):
five year o'clock for election of the pro Football Hall
of Fame has to reset now and start over, yep,
because he played. So you know, just three weeks ago,
Rivers was one of twenty six Modern era semifinalists for induction.
That class would be announced on the Thursday before the
Super Bowl. I think that's the date, but a couple
(14:28):
of days before the next Super Bowl, so that's you know, February,
early February. So he was one of twenty six, one
of three quarterbacks Drew Brees, Eli Manning and him. So
now Rivers play, So he moves to the back of
the line, and you know Ben Roethlisberger joins that line
next year, right, So, you know, just pointing it out,
(14:52):
I'm not saying what rivers chances might be when he
might get elected, whatever it is. I'm just saying that
if this experiment falls flat, you know, I mean, he
really kind of messed up a lot of stuff for himself,
I think. But you know, we'll have to see.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Well, the forty four year old did survive against a
really good Seattle defense on Sunday, and man, it just
really shows everything you just laid out delaying this clock
for the Hall of Fame. He must really love the
game of football Labs, or he must really be annoyed
with his family. It's got to be one of these two.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
It has to be.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
Well. I mean, I don't know how annoyed a family
might make you, to make you want to run away
from angry two hundred and fifty to three hundred pound
athletes with malice a forethought.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Bob Peger from State College Pennsylvania. Regardless of how the
season ends for the Steelers, has Aaron Rodgers expressed any
desire to return next year? Whatever the final decision, Steelers
fans should relish watching him run the offense that he's
tasted AFC North Football. I hope he stays around until
a permanent replacement is ready.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
You know, Aaron Rodgers has not indicated that he has
any desire to return next year, So I don't know.
If you're asking me to guess right now, my guess
would be that he's not interested. I think this is
the last go round for him. But hey, I hope
(16:30):
I'm wrong. I've been wrong before.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
I do hope you're wrong too in this instance, because
I do love watching him run this offense. To Bob's
point in his question, but I will admit to this
isn't a terrible last chapter if he is indeed writing
it now, you know, push to when the AFC North
hosts a playoff game and potentially win one on your
way out.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yes, I mean that would you know when it comes
to the Hall of Fame. Remember Deon Sanders has said
that there should be different levels, yes, in the Hall
of Fame. You know, so if if Aaron Rodgers would
pull off a run in the run in the playoffs
and then you know, right off into the sunset, that
(17:13):
would put him in a you know level of quarterbacks
and within the Hall of Fame, at a level of
Hall of Fame quarterbacks. It's penthouse kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Ce J McMunn from Franklin, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
I was surprised to see Adam Thielend not only signed
to the practice squad but also starting and playing ahead
of second year wide out Roman Wilson in the games
against the Ravens and the Dolphins. Steveland had four days
of preparation with the Steelers and they felt he'd be
better or is Wilson hurt? Curious if you have any
perspective on this and if it might be a sign
that Wilson's time and time is coming to a possible
close in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Well, what I can say is Roman Wilson wasn't listed
on the any of the days of the weekly participate
practice participation reports, either before for the Ravens game or
before the Dolphins game. So I'm going to just assume
that that means that he's healthy, he's not hurt, and
(18:10):
so that would let them lead me to believe that
the decision to make him inactive has something to do
with either inexperience or performance or some combination of both.
And maybe it's not so much that he is lacking
in those areas, but the other guys Mark mvs Is
(18:32):
I'm going to start calling him now like everyone else
and Adam Feeling are better than him. So you know, again,
we're in December of a regular season. Now, this is
not the time to try and develop a young guy.
(18:53):
It's just not. So I'm not I don't know that
this is any kind of forecast to Roman Willson's future
with the Steelers. You know, that's that's not for now.
I can I would be very confident in saying the
Steelers are not looking at that now. They don't care
about that now, because if something would happen to feel
(19:17):
in their mvs. You know, Roman Wilson's right back on
the field, count on it, so you know, let's just
see what happens. But he is not hurt. He's just
not playing.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
Alan Warner from East Springfield, Pennsylvania. I and a lot
of fans share your dislike of the tush push. Why
do the officials wait so long to blow the whistle?
It seems like the whole controversy could be settled if
the officials simply whistled the play dead sooner.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Well, you know, my opinion on that is the reason
that the officials don't whistle tush push is dead sooner
is it's impossible for them to get to good to
get a good enough view of the play from their
their vantage point at field level in order to make
those kind of judgments. I mean, you know when when
they when you watch the Tush push on TV, the
(20:13):
things that you see false starts off side, whether he
got the gun, got the line to gain or not,
it's always from that camera over over, you know, over
the action. Uh officials on the field they're standing down
their field level. You can't see any of that stuff.
You know, they're trying to look through a massive bodies.
(20:37):
So that's why I think that the play should be banished.
They can't officiate it, so what's you know, Uh, I
just that to that, to me is as much a
reason to ban it as the potential for injury. And
we really haven't seen many injuries, if any injuries during
(21:00):
push pushes, certainly not enough to in my opinion, validate
them banning it for that reason now.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
But I think they need to pivot more towards the
officiating side of things when it comes to that.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
That's that's their argument. Paul Miller from Butler, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
In a case like DK Metcalf's where he stayed in
Baltimore after the game for medical reasons, who pays for
an injured player's return to Pittsburgh and is the player
responsible for making the travel arrangements?
Speaker 1 (21:29):
You know, no, a player would not be responsible for
paying for the return trip nor for scheduling it. And
because Metcalf, DK Metcalf stayed in Baltimore for medical reasons,
I'm very confident that a member of the Steelers medical
team stayed there as well and traveled with him on
his return to Pittsburgh. So yeah, It's not like they
(21:51):
just leave him there and say, you know, find your
way home. Hope you hope you got space on your
on your Gold card.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
I'm sure DK does, but that's beside the point.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Our next question comes from Rob Jones. He writes from
Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Is there any word on when
Deshaun Elliott might return from injury?
Speaker 1 (22:18):
The Shawn Elliott reportedly hyper extended his knee against the
Packers on October twenty sixth. That was week eight. We
just finished Week fifteen, so that's how long he's been out.
There's been no definitive proclamation on Elliott's prognosis. It is
(22:45):
supposedly a hyper extended knee, but it also supposedly has
does not include any damage to the ACL which is huge.
But you know, again, all of this is social media stuff.
At this point, Elliott has weighed in on his social media,
(23:06):
making references that he's going to attack his rehab with
the goal of a full return for the twenty twenty
sixth season, So that would rule him out for the
rest of this one. I don't know. It seems to
be that's the way things are trending, and the Steelers
(23:29):
have added Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Duggar as safeties, so
it's not like they're acting as though his return is imminent.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Bruno Contorchik from York, Pennsylvania. How many officials are on
the field for the game? Are the replay officials at
the game or in a setting somewhere else?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
And how are they assigned?
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Okay, there's seven on field officials, the referee, the umpire,
the down judge, the line judged, back judge, the field
judge in the side judge. That's the seven on field guys.
There's also a replay official upstairs. All of those guys
are on site and all officiating cruis are assigned by
(24:15):
the league office.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
And our final question today comes from Jose Jovez from
Fort Myers, Florida. Is television money split equally among.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
The thirty two teams?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Do teams get any extra money from drawing a larger
TV audience or from being in a quote unquote national
game such as Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
No, all TV revenue is totaled up and divided up
thirty two ways. There's no there's no bonus for the
number that you draw. In terms of viewers, there's no
(24:57):
bonus if you're on one of the you know, primetime games.
Everybody gets the same amount of money, which is considerable.
But the way the contracts and that's the strength of
the league, I think that that means that really helps
(25:18):
all teams have a chance to win.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Steelers look to make it three straight wins Sunday when
they head to Motown take on the Detroit Lions and Labs.
I know the lines are eight and six. They're on
the outside looking into the NFC playoff picture, but this
is a huge test for the Steelers. This is a
leap up in competition and a win against the Detroit
Lions would be a pretty big statement, don't you think.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Yes, the Lions are the Lions are real. And let
me say this too. The Lions lost on Sunday and
if they lose another.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Game, they're out backs firmly against the wall.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Right, So they're going to be desperate and a little testing.
I'm sure they at home. Yeah, it should be. It
should be quite the quite the.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Test, and that test will get underway at four twenty
five Sunday in Detroit. Thanks for giving us a listen
on this year podcast. As always, if you have questions
that you want answered, get them into labs now and
then maybe you'll hear them answered on our next edition
of Asked and Answered
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics
Two Guys (Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers). Five Rings (you know, from the Olympics logo). One essential podcast for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Bowen Yang (SNL, Wicked) and Matt Rogers (Palm Royale, No Good Deed) of Las Culturistas are back for a second season of Two Guys, Five Rings, a collaboration with NBC Sports and iHeartRadio. In this 15-episode event, Bowen and Matt discuss the top storylines, obsess over Italian culture, and find out what really goes on in the Olympic Village.