November 21, 2025 • 45 mins
Max and Rob are joined by Missi Matthews to discuss the upcoming matchup against the Chicago Bears. The group goes through the conditions, rosters, and possible injuries both teams could be facing. Later this hour, Max and Rob give their keys to the game.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
He's in the locker room with King and Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
All right, last weekday haul for optimists here as we
roll into the power hour hour number two here inside
the locker room. Of course you heard that beat, And
to be full fully transparent, I almost started rapping biggies
hypnotized once I hear it. It always happens to me,
(00:47):
just honest, you know. But I also know we are
hypnotized by the musings and of course the third member
of our dynamic trio on the game day broadcast. It
is our one the only Steelers. What you do it all, Missy?
I mean, you know, we could say sideline reporter extraordinaire.
We could also say anchor for a lot of the
content and programming within the Steelers Weekly Weekly works. But
(01:12):
also you know, she's our team mom. She's also like
team mom to her kids and their hockey teams and
everything else. So she's just everybody's team mom. But our
good friend, Missy Matthews. How are you doing this Friday, Missy?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I'm doing good. Guys. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
This is a big matchup, big game this weekend.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
It is for sure, and you know, one of the things.
And we're gonna get to our injury. Steelers Injury Report
presented by UPMC, the official healthcare provider and health plan
at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Missy, we are waiting with baited breath.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know, Aaron Rodgers was out yesterday in a limited
form in practice. Is it going to be him? Is
it going to be Mason Rudolph? Is high Smith gonna
be able to go? Is Hulko I'm going to be
able to go? There are a lot of you know,
sleigh sounds like he's ready to go. A lot of
injury news for this Yeers, And of course the big
story is whether Aaron Rodgers, who has owned the bearster
(02:07):
at the course of his career, and of course is
the su the starter, is going to be able to
go at quarterback or whether it's going to be Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, I do think, you know, yesterday I was a
little surprised, I guess on Wednesday when Aaron said he
was going to try to do something on practice yesterday
for Thursday, because coach Tonlin kind of laid it out
that Friday would be the big day. But you know,
this is a very fluid thing. It is, you know,
what is everybody comfortable with letting him try to do?
(02:36):
And I also think it's important that if he is
going to play the brace, whatever he is going to
wear on that left wrist, is he comfortable in it?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Is it going to protect him?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Obviously he's forty one years old. You don't want him
to get hurt in any form or fashion, but you
certainly don't need something else happening to his risk.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Even though it's not his throwing hands.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
So I guess Aero pointed up that he was limited yesterday,
will be you know, anxious to see what happens today
at practice. I think regardless, you know, getting Mason Rudolph
and Will Howard those extra practice practice reps, especially for
Mason with the ones on Wednesday, was huge. So today
(03:14):
is kind of not doomsday. But you know, everyone's gonna
be refreshing their Twitter and email to see when that
practice report comes out because the status will probably lean
one way.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Or the other.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And I'm sure at some point today after practice the
media can request coach Tomlin. I can't imagine that that
will not happen. So it'll be interesting to hear what
he has to say, whether it's you know, hey, guys,
here's who our quarterback is, or we still have Saturday.
We're gonna wait till Sunday during warm ups to de side.
So it could go either way and it wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And you know, regardless of whoever's at quarterback, the task
is still gonna be daunting, Missy. You know, we can
get to some of the historical elements. Steelers have not
done well the last oh three decades that they've got
to Chicago Road stretched it a little bit longer, only
(04:12):
one victory in Soldier Field, you know, But like you said,
the firepower that is Aaron Rodgers and his historical context.
Aaron Rodgers has owned Soldier Field as a Green Bay Packer.
Can he do that in the Black and Gold versus
the Green and Gold? Or will a new era emerge
with Mason Rudolph. I think we kind of are waited
for that. What I want to talk about is kind
(04:34):
of that supporting cast right. I mean, you know where
we are with you know the way the game ended
on Sunday. We were down Kenneth gain Well, we were
down Jalen Warren insert Caleb Johnson to kind of end
that game for us. Where are we at on the
health of the running backs going into that game?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, I think the big one obviously is Jalen Warren
because he was cleared to go in, but they didn't,
you know, go that route because Kenny Gainwell was doing well.
But the good thing is that he didn't practice on Wednesday,
was limited yesterday. So I think any times, even for
Alex Highsmith, you know, you start not practicing and it
goes up, that's always a good sign in my eyes.
(05:17):
But I am anxious to see what does happen with Jalen?
Can he be fooled today? How are they going to
divvy things up?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
What's going to happen? So it should be interesting, to
say the least, So.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Missy, you know, the offense obviously that's a big story.
The injuries are obviously big story. You know, I'm sure
guys aren't sitting around talking about it, but we talk
about Aaron Rodgers record in Chicago, the students have won
one game in Chicago one nineteen took him over time
in nineteen ninety five. This would be a nice one
to put kind of at least get a second win
(05:56):
in Chicago. They have their worst record against the Bears,
and they have of any opponent in NFL history, so
I mean any opponent that they've played in NFL history,
So it would be nice to go up there and
kind of reverse that trend. I mean, it's not the
most pressing issue in the game. Just winning the game
is the most pressing issue. But we talked about Aaron
Rodgers at Soldier Field. I think we have to bring
(06:17):
up the Steelers history. It hasn't been good there.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
No, not for the Steelers, and that's why it's like, Okay,
if Aaron can go, maybe he can help rate the ship.
But you know, the first time that they played was
in nineteen thirty four. Now, granted this is not an
AFC nor team an AFC team to begin with either,
but one in twelve all time in the Windy City.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And as you said, that lone win came in nineteen
ninety five.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It took a lot to get there, but it happened.
And I just think, you know, it's something that needs
to be corrected. And the last time the Steelers were
there was the whole National Anthem game in twenty seventeen.
That was just a very bizarre day in and out
of itself. But hopefully it is something that this team
(07:04):
can do, because not only do you want to just
kind of, you know, get that record on the right
side of the history books for the Steelers of not
just having one win in Chicago, I just think it's
so important to keep stacking these wins.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Knowing that the Ravens are on a bit of a winning.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Streak, their schedules a little bit easier, and oh, by
the way, the Bills just lost to the Texans last night.
There's just so much going on and that's why, you know,
the NFL is such an addicting sport because so many
things can happen in these last few weeks. And it's
not like we're you know, three games left at the season,
but we're kind of getting into that part where, you know,
(07:40):
whenever Thanksgiving's coming up, I'm like, oh, man, like we're
almost there.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So that's that's where we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, we are, we are, and you know, for both
of these teams both being tops in the North, but
we're battling for king of the North, you know, with
with this, with this tilt, Rob set us on this path,
so you can blame him, missy with my game.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Max is like, oh for me, And I was like, oh, yeah,
I didn't even think about that, Yeah, exactly, Yeah, I
was a little little uh, as I said, I didn't
see the forest of the trees on that one. We're
glad we have the Starks on our side, right, good guys,
don't we know what those flayed men on our side?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, no flayed man. And uh, you know we have
a couple of dia wolves too, you know, and I
think T J. Watt and Nick Herbert would be great
DIO wolves and lore. Uh but but I digress. You know,
it's it's something that's that that's crazy, you know, to
think both these teams in November are both leading their
respective divisions, and you know, us doing it with a
(08:46):
guy from the North, from the NFC side and Aaron
Rodgers potentially at the helm and has been the leader
this whole season the quarterback position. But Caleb Williams, you know,
he's he's kind of come on in his sophomore season
has not had a sophomore slow.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
This team is.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Kind of going off of his play and when he's accurate,
when he can't make the dynamic plays.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
It has been a good challenge.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So, you know, we're looking at how do you stop
Caleb Williams and how do you stop the Chicago Bears
offense and defensively, I said, I said, the addition of
Malie Harrison gives us an element to stop the run, Missy, because.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
That's something that they're really good at.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
So what are your thoughts about how we're looking at
what Caleb Williams has done this season?
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Well, I think you have to look first and foremost
at the fact that he takes care of the ball,
which you know, is very impressive.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I think for a second.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Year guide to not be baited into bad mistakes, and
even through I think it's twenty seven or twenty eight
career NFL games, he has in nineteen of those he
has not thrown an interception. It has just ten career
interceptions for of them this season. And I think to
his escapability if that is word, you know, whodini is
(10:02):
one phrase that's been thrown out this week. Patrick Queen
called him a magician just in terms of how he
can evade guys if you if you miss.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
On the first time of going after him.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
So it'll be interesting to see in terms of pressure
and blitzing what the Steelers defense goes with to try
to make him less elusive than he has been in
prior weeks. And I also think clearly part of it
is because of the injury to Aaron Rodgers, but the
Steelers bringing in John Rice Plumbly this week to.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Be a Caleb Williams.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
S scout team quarterback. Doesn't have the height, but you know,
one of those athletic guys to try to give the
defense some looks. Clearly the Steelers know about quarterbacks like this.
They face Lamar Jackson twice the year, usually when he's healthy.
They're the only one of the only teams that has
a winning record against Lamar Jackson. So I think it
(10:54):
will be interesting what they do with Caleb because I
think that will dictate a lot of the success have
by keeping him in the pocket and or you know,
scurrying him out into maybe you know somebody else like
at T. J. Watt or Alex Heismith. Can't hate whoever
you want, you know to sack him or get him
(11:14):
or make him make a bad decision. And clearly, I
feel like after last week the defensive touchdowns and the takeaways,
it feels like that spark is back, and hopefully they
continue to happen in bunches.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
So one of the things we're talking to Missy Matthews
here in the locker room, Missy, the Bears offense is,
I think, just progression wise ahead of the defense. When
you're a bad team and you're rebuilding and you're bad
enough to be able to take a guy number one,
it's generally because you've got a bad team that needs
a lot of work, and they've put a lot of
(11:48):
that work in on the offensive side. Now, they've had
some injuries in the secondary. I don't know whether some
of their guys might be able to come back this
week in the secondary. Some guys on I are and
their practice windows open, but their linebacking cores is really
banged up. Their top three linebackers have not practiced yet
(12:09):
this week, and so TJ. Edwards hasn't played cin Cincinnati.
He's missed the last couple of games. They've had other
guys that are dinged up Noahsool is out, Tremaine Edmonds
is out.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
I'm talking about out of practice right now.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
By the way, we have to learn the name Abian
agben Miga who might be playing in this game, along
with Hippolyte who might be playing in this game. Regardless
of whether those guys can go or not, and certainly
would you would think it would aid the Steelers if
they could not, if they have to elevate guys to
the practice squad. We've been saying this again and again
(12:46):
and again and again. Wouldn't it be nice if the
Steelers were able to run the ball, run the ball efficiently.
They've had moments this year, use that as sort of
a building block to be able to control the clock,
keep that Bears offense off the field, and dominate maybe
time of possession, and maybe run more plays for the
first time this year than the opposition. They haven't done
(13:07):
it a single time this season. That would be nice.
And maybe if the Bears linebacking corps a little dinged up,
that might be an opportunity for the Steelers to do this.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Heck yeah, I mean I think we've we talk about
it every week because it is something that we have
not seen happen yet, and time of.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Possession is clearly very important.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
In terms of not letting the defense get as worn
down as we saw in LA during that Sunday night
football game. Even there, the Bear secondary has, you know,
dealt with injuries and some of those guys Jalen Johnson,
I know he was kind of.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Activated in his twenty one day window.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
You know that maybe give him to like next week
to want to come back, because they don't need another spark.
You know that they are an opportunistic defense, regardless of
injuries or whatnot in terms of taking the ball away.
So that is certainly thing that they are good at
no matter who is in their next man up, because
(14:04):
it just feels like every week, it felt like the
Steelers defense in the beginning of the year when you
look at who played and who didn't for the Bears.
So hopefully they can you know, keep that trend going
of not letting.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Them do that.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
In terms of the Steelers offense, but I agree, I
think running the ball will be key regardless of who
the quarterback is, as it is usually every week. But
I think mainly just to get this offense going, we
need to see more DK Metcalf. He has to be
more involved. And even if it's you know, taking three
guys with him and letting Darnell Washington get open, it's
(14:40):
just something needs to click and change a little bit
in terms of this the Steelers offense.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
No, by the way, real quick, I want to sit
Jalen Johnson is a full participant. Doesn't look like Kyle
Gordon's been limited in practice. Who knows, though, Look, every
team is different the way they deal with these injuries.
But Jalen Johnson coming back a groin injury. He's a
Pro Bowl corner, so he's a guy that would make
a big difference. And they've been without those guys for
quite a bit of time, both Gordon and Johnson their
(15:09):
starting corners.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
They did add CJ.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Gardner Johnson, but injuries are a big thing for this
Bears defense right now.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, And I feel like anytime I'm on their website
or looking at some of the Beat reporters that cover
the Bears, Jalen Johnson keeps getting brought up, and I
just get this sneaky suspicion that he might be close
and maybe could come back.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
This geek, So that's do I miss?
Speaker 4 (15:32):
They decide to, you know, play it safe and give
him another week. But I don't know, there's too much
scuttle but about him this week.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
I totally agree, Missy. I'm I'm reading. I'm trying to
read between the lines the same way you are.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Well, And I think, you know, reading between those lines,
you know, you have to think about at least with
that bringing him back into the fold would be a
really nice piece. And I think that's the piece you
probably expect to travel with DK Metcalf to present that challenge.
But the emergence of Darnell Washington and now he's become
(16:09):
almost like a folk hero after his exploits on Sunday, Missy,
as as I called it, he was running with the
bulls of Pamplona.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Right there, he was.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
The bull and all I saw was was guys wearing
white with orange, you know, not neckerchiefs, but helmets getting tossed.
Aside as he barreled down the sidelines for a thirty
seven yard gain, can we just talk about the you know,
the case of the number two's right of the number
two receiving spot, because I think, regardless of whatever happens
with Jalen Johnson, to be or not to be. Let's
(16:41):
just you know, let him be for a second. But
it's it's the secondary support guys that opened up DK
and that opened up the rest of this offense. And
Darnel Washington's really emerged over the last number of weeks.
And I would also say a Roman Wilson, you know,
is poised to strike in this and what do we
think about those opportunities for them and kind of Arthur
(17:03):
Smith thinking about this matchup.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
And those guys.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Yeah, I totally agree with your assessment. Clearly, having Darnell's
Washington involved more in the offense has been creeping up
every week in terms of snaps, whether it is you know,
the jumbo package when Spencer Anderson comes in. Obviously the
past catching we saw a touchdown in Cincinnati. I do
just think that Aaron Rodgers in training camp, going all
(17:30):
the way back there, it feels like forever, but he
was just so intrigued by how large an athletic Darnel
Washington was and I think that has played a role
into implementing him much more. And now when you have guys,
you know, going back to last week again Cincinnati, making
business decisions where you are all over NFL Network and
(17:51):
ESPN of this replay happening where he is just stiff
arming you, pushing you out, just running you over. We've
seen them hurtle people.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
There's just something there because he is so hard to
get down that it makes.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Sense that even the I can't remember what the it
was a home game, it was to the left sideline
that you guys are end on that you guys have
been looking at, and Aaron.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Rodgers went to him like twice, you know, when they
were in the red zone.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
So there's something there. And I think too with Roman Wilson,
there have been rookie mistakes. I know he's not a rookie,
but this is still kind of his first real season.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I would say he still has done.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Some really great things. And you saw that in the
second half too with Mason Rudolph when he came in
for Aaron against the Bengals, And it feels like he's
just tipped the scale just enough where he's more involved.
Slash looked at more often in this offense now than
Calvin Austen, which I.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Don't think is what we thought was going to happen now.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Grenna he dealt with injuries and I think that played
a role into it too, but Roman's kind of showing
like I'm going to keep my head down, I'm going
to keep working, I'm going to try not to make
the same mistakes and push forward and show why the
Steelers drafted me where they did out of Michigan last year.
So I do think for those two guys, especially, to
have somebody to make people not put so many guys
(19:16):
on DK, to shut him down, to get him open again,
to get back to those jacks yards and just the
crazy things he can do. So hopefully it's a mixture
of all of that plus running the ball as we
continue to beat into everyone's head.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
For sure, Missy, thanks very much, can't wait to see it. Hopefully,
knock on wood. The weather, which looks like maybe high forties,
low fifties, very sunny, very little wind, will maintain itself
for you out in the elements on the field. We
want you to know we'll be thinking of you in
the Safe Company post box at Death Soldier Field.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Thanks miss well, thank you guys.
Speaker 6 (19:51):
All right, take care of that is Missy Maths.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Can't wait to get this game, goro, and we still
have the keys of the game to get to which
Max is going to get to when we return in
the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and
the Steelers Pro Shop on Starz Nation Radio, a part
of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your Neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Com, and we are getting you ready for the matchup
of division leaders. Third time in the last four weeks
that the Steelers will take on a division leader. This
time it is the NFC North leading Chicago Bears. The
AFC North leading Steelers. They've been leading all the way
as they've taken on these opponents, and the Chicago Bears.
(20:54):
We've talked a lot about their offense because I think
that's the most intriguing side of the all for the Bears,
because that's where they put the resources, that is where
they've been excelling this year. I believe Max that this defense,
especially considering how banged up they are, and it does
look like Jalen Johnson. I mean, you know, I can't
(21:14):
speak for them. He's the practice window is reopened. He
could be a guy that could be available for the
Bears and ready to go. But I believe it's a
defense that the Steelers can attack and be successful attacking.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
No, I definitely definitely agree that they can be a
challenge and.
Speaker 6 (21:35):
They are not above reproach that.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
That's one of the things I think this season has
kind of shown us is that no matter how good
a team seems like they come into a game, does
not mean that every game is guaranteed to them. You know,
this is probably one of the fastest I've seen the
under the undefeated team streak get kind of toppled in
the NFL. I mean, it happened very early on in
(21:58):
the season. And and like you said, you have all
these teams sitting at two, three and four losses that
are above five hundred, and there's a good number of them.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
And we've seen a lot of those teams.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We've seen a lot of first place teams in these
respective games. But and that's how that's how the season
should be. I'm sure nobody expected the coaches to be
where they were where they are I should say not were,
because they still are handedly in first place.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
For the AFC South Chargers, the.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Way they started the season three and ohero in the
division to start the season was just absolutely nasty work
by the schedule makers, but they overcame it. And then
now we're going to see the uh, you know, the
Chicago Bears, who who? Who've joined that conversation as well
in the NFC North, A team that was strong, a
(22:46):
division that was strong a year ago, and now it's
going to be even even stronger now that you have
the Chicago Bears in that mix and kind of controlling
their own destiny with Detroit and Green Bay hoping for
a slip up.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
I think I think we'll I think we'll.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Gain about easily one hundred thousand fans on Sunday just
because Green bayd and UH and Detroit fans will be
rooting for the Steelers to beat them UH so that
they can get back into this race. But this is
a great challenge. Great teams need great challenges, and this
is this is another pressure cooker test to test is
(23:24):
is this Steelers team for real? Is it not just hyperbole?
Is it not just lip service? But could they actually
go up, go and back up what they're saying by
starting a streak of their own, because that's the one
thing that they haven't done, is.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
Really start a streak.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
We seem to get there and then we kind of
mutter either after the first or the second game, and
then we're back to square one. This is the time
of year where you got to string those those wins together,
and you got to do them against quality opponents exactly.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
I mean, I talked, you know, we talked at the
beginning of the show, and I pointed out that Colt
schedule coming up. It's murderous and it gives the Texans hope.
But you know what, if you're good enough, if you're
the Colts who listen, they've been a five hundred team
in the last couple of years, nine and eight, then
eight and nine under Shane Steichen, if you're good enough,
(24:14):
you'll win enough games to get you into the playoffs.
Nobody expects you to be every single good team out there,
you got to win your share because you know, especially
if we've said this before, I think for the Bears,
if they make the playoffs this year, this season is
a success. Ask the average Steelers fan is getting into
the playoffs enough this season and they'll tell you, no,
(24:36):
we want to see success in the postseason.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
So guess what.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
You're gonna face teams like the Colts and the Chargers
and the Bills. You're gonna face teams of the caliber
of the Bears. So you've got to be able to
win your fair share of these games. Otherwise you wouldn't
have won them when he got to the playoffs anyway.
So you got to find a way to win these games. Now,
I've talked about how I think they can be had.
(25:01):
If I look at the team the way they are
currently constructed, you know, look twenty two turnovers forced. That's
the one thing. They've been a bend but don't break
type of outfit. Defensively, they've given up a lot of yards,
but they've given up more points than they've scored, which
is crazy.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
But they've also they come up with the key turnovers.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
And they've got good players like up front, Montes Sweat,
Jervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Austin Booker. I would say, especially
those first three guys, and they've got some depth pieces
behind him. I think if I was going to point
to the strong suits for the Bears defense right now,
max for me. In addition to being able to take
(25:46):
the ball away and some of that, sometimes you get
a lot of interceptions because people are testing you, like,
for example, right in the right cornerback who again, maybe
he's the guy that's going to be replaced.
Speaker 6 (25:59):
When Jalenson comes back.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
I don't know, but if I was looking to look
at a strength of this team, I think up front
they've got some good players like Sweat and Dexter and
their safeties, UH Briskers the local guy from Gateway and
UH and Kevin Byerd who has UH is leading with interceptions.
I think that that would be the strength of the defense.
That's just what I'm seeing. You're the expert. How do
(26:21):
you see this Bears defense?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Well, I see this Bears defense is tenacus. I think
I think you know. The weak spot's definitely at their
linebackers right now. You know, you kind of detailed it
in the last one. Four guys missing, four guys on
that injury report. Don't know who's going to be available
come game day. But you imagine whoever is their new
hundred They're new hundred percent is still not one hundred percent, right,
(26:45):
you know? They're they're they're coming off with some major injuries.
So I would love to test the interior before I
start tenderizing the outside, right because you don't know the
status of Jalen Johnson, and you know there there's been
some great play by those guys in the support roles
and figuring that. But it really starts with, I think
the middle of that defense. You got to find a
(27:08):
way to get to them. But that front line is
just a good group, and you detailed everybody from Grady
Jarrett to Montes Sweat, Gervon Dexter who's kind of having
an injury that he's dealing with, and of course, uh,
Grevin Dexter, the reason why I know him, Florida Gator.
Speaker 6 (27:26):
That's in that lineup. The Chicago Bears.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Have drafted a lot of Gators over the years, especially
a lot from my teams in the early two thousands.
I mean, at one point, I think I had five
teammates on the Bears at one time. You know, Rex
Grossman was a quarterback of that squad, Alex Brown was
a defensive end, Tronto la Favor was a d tackle,
Ian Scott was ad tackle, Todd Johnson was a safety.
(27:52):
So I had a lot of teammates on that team
and we played them in the early years. It was
crazy looking across and seeing Chicago Gators. But I think,
if I'm going to go after them, I want to
go at the teeth of this and that's where time
of possession.
Speaker 6 (28:05):
That's where running the ball efficiently.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Really comes into play, because I think they don't have
the depth and you can tire them out, but once
you get to that second level, that's where you have
to make them pay. And I think that's where one
of the Steeler keys. If I'm looking at it, it's
going to be in the middle, It's going to be
right behind the D line, and right in front of
that secondary is that sweet spot. So think tight end
passing game along there. Think shallow crossers with like a
(28:29):
Roman Wilson, a Calvin Austin type, the short, speedy yards
after the catch type of guys. Put them in space
and let them work is going to be a really
key early in this game. To get that established with
whoever's throwing the football at quarterback, whether it's Aaron or
whether it's Mason, that's going to be at the QB position.
Speaker 6 (28:48):
That is the area I really.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Want to attack and exploit for them, because I think
it's a noticeable weakness compared to the other two position groups.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
So, by the way Bayard mentioned him, he leads the
NFL in interceptions, right, He's got five. There are five
players that have four more interceptions in the entirety of
the NFL. Five four more interceptions. Three of them are Bears.
That's crazy, I mean absolutely crazy. You have Byered with five.
(29:17):
You have Edmunds at the linebacker position, if he's able
to play, he's got four. You have, right, And Naseean
Wright is a guy that I think people targeted.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
Now.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
We saw last year Jackson Dante Jackson led the Steelers
and interceptions. A lot of the notion was, well, that's
because they're throwing it his way. I think there's probably
some truth with Naseean Wright getting those interceptions because they're
throwing it his way. Byered is just kind of a
ballhawk back there at safety. But they are opportunistic on
(29:47):
the back end, and so you know, I think to myself, boy,
this could be again, especially if Johnson's not playing. Now,
if Jalen Johnson comes in, he's a Pro Bowl corner,
that changes things a little bit. But I feel like
this is a game where DK Metcalf, who's been quiet lately,
could have a big game. But anytime you go against
a team like this, anytime you put the ball in
(30:09):
the air and think you can exploit them, you do
have to keep in mind that three guys have thirteen
interceptions between them, three guys and the team max. They
are a takeaway machine over there on defense.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I mean takeaway machine is easily. I mean, you're talking
about plus sixteen. That's a ridiculous ever. That means there's
only six takeaways given up by the offense in that span,
and they are tremendous. You know, a lot of guys
contribute to that. Kevin Byn, of course, the biggest kind
(30:46):
of Lion's share of that. He has over a third
of their total interceptions as a defense, So he's what
we call a person of interest at that free safety position,
which similar to a Jalen Ramsey, right, you know, a
guy who can do it all, who can cover the field,
but as a knack for getting underneath quarterbacks and in
(31:06):
the deeper passing game. So that's why I think you
it's funny I'm going to talk about that short intermediate
passing game is gonna be key. You know, it's gonna
be anywhere from three yards be on the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
To about seven yards.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
That's that's the that's the patch of real estate I'm
really focused on on any given offensive sequence for the
Steelers is where is that where's that intermediate throw? Where's
the gap in the zone. Where is the opportunity to
exploit them and get a.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Guy and trail.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
That's that's gonna be the key challenge. But I think
that's where it is, and that in that Rubik's cube,
I think unlocks a lot more potential for DK deeper
down the field Roman deeper down the field, Darnel Washington
a great run after the catch guy that's gonna punish people.
I would love to see about two to three of
those where Darnel Washington is literally just plowing guys, like
(32:00):
you know, like the springtime, out and out in some
uh foresty or what not foresty, some grasslandy type of
type of area. I think Oklahoma, Kansas City or Kansas
State of Kansas, Missouri. That's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking
that you've got you've got to graze that patch of
land and and and allow allow for this offense, and
I think that also keeps the time of possession right
(32:23):
because that.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
Key patch of real estate is where.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Your third down conversions come from more often than not, right,
that three to seven yard range is where you get
to move the change and you get to progress. You
get to continue to churn off time off the clock,
because I think another big thing is going to be
keeping that Chicago offense on the sideline as much as possible,
whether that's stealing possessions or whether that's possessing the ball
(32:47):
a really long amount of time on some nice touchdown drives.
I think that's where you have to kind of say, Okay,
this is where the hay is going to be for us,
and what we're gonna be able to put in the
barn is going to be that area right there, because
you know, you don't want to test too early. Now obviously,
single high let it fly right. You know, you get
a single high safety just Kevin Byard back there, and
(33:08):
then you have a walk up from either either Brisker
or you know CJ. Gardner Johnson playing up and around
the box area. That's where you could take your chances
right because you know, more often than not that's going
to be man and you might see a little mild
bracket roll to whoever the deeper receiver is from Kevin Byard.
But that's when you come and get the underneath guy.
You get the number two guy. So you put Buyered
(33:29):
in a quandary not to always go to number four
every time the coverage rolls.
Speaker 6 (33:34):
That's gonna be key keeping the.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Balance and keeping the pace, you know, and being the
pace car for the game versus chasing the pace car
which has been the opposing offenses it has.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
So what are the keys to a Steelers victory? Max
is going to let you know coming up in a moment. First,
want to remind you can gear up with the latest
game day necessities at the official Students Pro shops. Get
the latest sideline apparel of Jersey's Terrible Towels, authentic memorabilia
and customer exclusives you can only find directly from the team.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
Visit one of the Official Students pro.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Shops located at Akroschur Stadium, Grove CD, Premium out Let's
or Tanger out Let's, or gear Up by Mine at
shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from the
team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers
dot com. Back of Max's Keys to the Game in
the Locker Room presented by our neighborhood Ford Store and
the Students Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
(34:24):
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop
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Speaker 2 (34:54):
All right, it is the final one of the this week.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
It's the ball lap.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
That's right, your early Friday lunch warning system has been
fully engaged. And also the last segment of the show
for the week, you know, detailing the preview of the
Chicago Bears and Rob I will pass it back to you.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
Sir, Max, I'm going to come right back at you
because it is time for the Keys to the Game,
presented by our neighborhood Forts Snore. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. By the way,
one thing we should point out is that the Bears
have not been great on special teams.
Speaker 6 (35:43):
Now they have Mads in place, So I don't.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
Want to completely say that this is a team that
can't get anything done on special teams, but by and large,
the Steelers special teams has been a plus. The Bears
has been a little more up and down. Net punting
is not great. Santos had a missed forty seven yard
field goal against the Bengals scrub because of a penalty
(36:08):
missed some time with a thigh injury. I think the
edge there goes to Boswell the return game for the
most part, even though they have Dubernet back there and
they've got some explosive players, that has been an edge
that would be an edge I think for the Steelers
as well. So we should point out that hopefully if
this game comes down to a close game, you know,
the Steelers special teams could give them an edge in
(36:31):
this game. So that having been said, Max, let us
get to our keys to the game, presented by your
neighborhood Forward Store, and let's begin.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
Shelley and the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
What do you think are the keys for the Steelers
to be able to emerge from Soldier Field with a win,
just the second win in Chicago in Steelers' history, remember
arrival that started back in nineteen thirty four. What is
the keys to the Steelers? What are the keys to
the Steers offensively in this game against the Bears?
Speaker 2 (37:03):
All right, So as we look at kind of off
side of the ball, I think we've kind of hit
on it throughout the week. So this is not going
to be a big surprise possession. I need them to
be possessed with possession. Okay, I want time of possession
to go on our side. So what does that mean?
That means running the ball effectively, efficiently and frequently. I
(37:27):
really want to see us be able to do it
because I think if you that's a hidden element if
you've got if you've got it ailing Aaron Rodgers, right,
you know, if he if he's nursing that and he
is able to go, this is going to provide relief
for him.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
Is having a.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Solid run game to balance out, you know, if they're
passing potential in this game. So that's the first thing.
Being possessed with possession has to be kind of the
calling card for this game. And also it eliminates the
opportunities on the opposing offensive side. It shortens the game.
It shrinks the field when you're able to do that. Next,
(38:07):
if I am going to possess it, be possessed with possession.
I need to see third down efficiency go up. We've
had way too many misses and not enough makes on
our third down possessions or quote unquote the money downs.
Right when I think about the Pittsburgh offense, you know,
we are one of those teams that we're in the
(38:30):
lower part of the league as far as our third
down per seas, we're thirty eight point one percent. So
that number I need to see kind of rays and
I get it. We're going up against a team who
only gives gives up thirty three point seven percent of
third downs that convert to first downs. So that's gonna
be my number one challenge is who's third You know,
(38:53):
who's going to be that third down receiver or running
back that gets the first down version? Uh to to
keep those drives in the time of possession on our
side of the ball and then third I need I
need more eighty. I need more eighty. I don't know
how to say that. I need to see the ball.
(39:16):
He's he's come on as such a reliable pass pass
catcher for us over the last several weeks, and Missy
had mentioned it.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
The game was the Colts.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That was that second drive of the game where the
buff punt that allowed us to get into the red
zone and Aaron trying to hit Darnell twice in the
red zone. That was the game we were talking about.
So I didn't get to say that because we had
ended the segment early, but that that was that was
what that was. Darnell has been one of those guys
that's been a game changer. He literally forces guys to
(39:48):
tuck their tails because if you don't, he will knock
your tail off, you know what I'm saying. So you
got to tuck it to keep it. That that's what
I feel like is a missing element.
Speaker 6 (40:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
By the way, there was The Raising Arizona, my favorite
comedy of all time. There's a scene in which Nicholas
Cage hits Rantal text Cob with the board. But he's
on his motorcycle and you can actually clearly see and
I don't even know, I don't know if they left
us in on purpose, you can clearly see that there
is a rope attached to you know, when they shoot
(40:23):
the scene that jerks him backwards off the motorcycle, right,
So he's going and then he hits him with a board,
but he's really being jerked backwards. That's what DJ Turner
looked like when Darnell Washington ran into him. It looked
like somebody had a rope attached to him and was
jerking him backwards because Darnell just sent him sprawling at
(40:44):
the end of that run.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
So that was fun to watch, Okay, So I just
wanted to throw that aside, and it just.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
Made me think of that that scene in Raising Arizona.
So now, Max, the Steelers defense probably a bigger task.
Look the Bears, you know they are very very good
at takeaways. We know that that always gives them a
puncher's chance to turn in a really good defensive performance.
So I don't want to slight the Bears defense. But
(41:11):
I think when we think about the Bears and winning
this game on Sunday, to me, I'm thinking and again,
quarterback situation. I get it, injury to Jail and Warren,
I get all that, But just when you look at
the strength of the Bears, it's that offense and how
do you slow that offense down?
Speaker 6 (41:26):
And what are the keys to doing that.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
So the Keys are going to be getting off the
field on third downs. That that's just what has to
be done. That's what's required, and that's how you know
it needs to be And for this Chicago team, you
know there are forty one conversion team on their third downs,
(41:50):
and so that's one area that the Steelers, let's face it,
not great on the on the on their third down prettages. Right,
you know, we're give an up forty one point seven.
So we're right in the wheelhouse of what the Bears
expect on a game. You know, every four or so
out of ten they're getting the first down. I would
(42:10):
like to keep them closer to that number because it
means they're going to miss a couple of conversions. But
you need to depress that number. Need to get them
off of what they expect and how they operate. So
and that also leads to getting back to the offense.
This is the complimentary football in my assessment of how
this gave these to go right. You know, the progression
(42:32):
or success of one but gets the success of the
other on the opposite side of the ball. And so
third downs you got to get off second, you got
to stop the running attack. Got to stop this rush attack.
Force the game in the air, because that's where more
the inaccuracies are. They're more solid, they're more stable, they're
more consistent when they can run the ball effectively and
get into third and medium's third in Churces. How they
(42:53):
have such a high completion percentage of third downs because
they're in those manageable situations. I need to see them
the third in Lne longer. I need to see shotgun
snaps from Caleb Williams to where he doesn't really know
he starts patting the ball, starts running away backwards instead
of moving towards the line of scrimmage, so that now
puts onus on the pass rush and also puts onus
(43:14):
on the cornerbacks at that are that are playing, press
on the receivers to jam and throw off timing for
Caleb Williams, because if it's not in rhythm, it's not
in time. It's going to lead to happy feet. And
just just like the animated film, you know, a penguin
dancing around in the Arctic, I need I need Caleb
(43:34):
Williams dancing around in the pocket, because if he dances
around in the pocket, he doesn't get a clear lane
to just burst up and go and get that five
point two average. That's going to be a big differentiator
for us. And then the last thing is turnovers are king.
Turnovers are king. They're a premium. So I need you
(43:57):
to be ballhawks because there are going to come up
situation where the balls we throw a little errant, or
say you get a ball tipped at the line of
scrimmage Alla cam Heyward or TJ. Watt or Peyton Wilson
on a blitz, right, because good things happened with Peyton
Wilson blitz and the quarterbacks trying to throw. I mean,
he talks an interception right into Jack Sawyer's hands. So
(44:18):
that's what I'm looking at. Turnovers are king. You've got
to win the turnover battle, and you've got to force
this team to do things that are uncharacteristic like you
did with the Colts. Remember the Colts came in and
they were very good at not turning the ball over
until they met us. So I need that to continue
as well. Turnovers are king. You've got to compress and
(44:41):
depress Caleb Williams, and that's stopping the run and then
of course gigging off the field on third downs.
Speaker 6 (44:47):
Those are my three keys.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Defensively, they look a little bit closer to what you
know the offensive was, but I think that that's what
it is.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
You know, the identity of your team. You kind of
play all their strengths.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
Sounds good, by the way. The Bears are excellent first
quarter team. They have a minus point differential in every
other quarter, but they have they have tied a record
since going back to at least forty two years most
wins when trailing heading into the two minute warning. They
have five wins in the last two minutes of a game,
(45:18):
which is astonishing. Still, overall, they're they and Carolina are
the only teams with winning records you have a minus
point differential. So the Steelers AFC North Leaders will look
to go on the road and defeat the Chicago Bears
NFC North Leaders Sunday at one o'clock. Our coverage begins
on the Audio Network, coming up at eleven o'clock and
here on DVE also coming up at nine am. Our
(45:40):
thanks to Nathan Osler the controls filling in for Justin
Miller today for Max Starks, I'm Rob King. We will
talk to you on Sunday. Bank for being with us
in the locker room, presented by our neighborhood Ford Store
and the Steelers Pro Shop on the Steelers Audio Network,
Steelers Radio
He's in the locker room with King and Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Forward Store. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
All right, last weekday haul for optimists here as we
roll into the power hour hour number two here inside
the locker room. Of course you heard that beat, And
to be full fully transparent, I almost started rapping biggies
hypnotized once I hear it. It always happens to me,
(00:47):
just honest, you know. But I also know we are
hypnotized by the musings and of course the third member
of our dynamic trio on the game day broadcast. It
is our one the only Steelers. What you do it all, Missy?
I mean, you know, we could say sideline reporter extraordinaire.
We could also say anchor for a lot of the
content and programming within the Steelers Weekly Weekly works. But
(01:12):
also you know, she's our team mom. She's also like
team mom to her kids and their hockey teams and
everything else. So she's just everybody's team mom. But our
good friend, Missy Matthews. How are you doing this Friday, Missy?
Speaker 3 (01:24):
I'm doing good. Guys. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
This is a big matchup, big game this weekend.
Speaker 5 (01:30):
It is for sure, and you know, one of the things.
And we're gonna get to our injury. Steelers Injury Report
presented by UPMC, the official healthcare provider and health plan
at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 6 (01:42):
Missy, we are waiting with baited breath.
Speaker 5 (01:45):
You know, Aaron Rodgers was out yesterday in a limited
form in practice. Is it going to be him? Is
it going to be Mason Rudolph? Is high Smith gonna
be able to go? Is Hulko I'm going to be
able to go? There are a lot of you know,
sleigh sounds like he's ready to go. A lot of
injury news for this Yeers, And of course the big
story is whether Aaron Rodgers, who has owned the bearster
(02:07):
at the course of his career, and of course is
the su the starter, is going to be able to
go at quarterback or whether it's going to be Mason Rudolph.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, I do think, you know, yesterday I was a
little surprised, I guess on Wednesday when Aaron said he
was going to try to do something on practice yesterday
for Thursday, because coach Tonlin kind of laid it out
that Friday would be the big day. But you know,
this is a very fluid thing. It is, you know,
what is everybody comfortable with letting him try to do?
(02:36):
And I also think it's important that if he is
going to play the brace, whatever he is going to
wear on that left wrist, is he comfortable in it?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Is it going to protect him?
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Obviously he's forty one years old. You don't want him
to get hurt in any form or fashion, but you
certainly don't need something else happening to his risk.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Even though it's not his throwing hands.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
So I guess Aero pointed up that he was limited yesterday,
will be you know, anxious to see what happens today
at practice. I think regardless, you know, getting Mason Rudolph
and Will Howard those extra practice practice reps, especially for
Mason with the ones on Wednesday, was huge. So today
(03:14):
is kind of not doomsday. But you know, everyone's gonna
be refreshing their Twitter and email to see when that
practice report comes out because the status will probably lean
one way.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Or the other.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And I'm sure at some point today after practice the
media can request coach Tomlin. I can't imagine that that
will not happen. So it'll be interesting to hear what
he has to say, whether it's you know, hey, guys,
here's who our quarterback is, or we still have Saturday.
We're gonna wait till Sunday during warm ups to de side.
So it could go either way and it wouldn't surprise me.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And you know, regardless of whoever's at quarterback, the task
is still gonna be daunting, Missy. You know, we can
get to some of the historical elements. Steelers have not
done well the last oh three decades that they've got
to Chicago Road stretched it a little bit longer, only
(04:12):
one victory in Soldier Field, you know, But like you said,
the firepower that is Aaron Rodgers and his historical context.
Aaron Rodgers has owned Soldier Field as a Green Bay Packer.
Can he do that in the Black and Gold versus
the Green and Gold? Or will a new era emerge
with Mason Rudolph. I think we kind of are waited
for that. What I want to talk about is kind
(04:34):
of that supporting cast right. I mean, you know where
we are with you know the way the game ended
on Sunday. We were down Kenneth gain Well, we were
down Jalen Warren insert Caleb Johnson to kind of end
that game for us. Where are we at on the
health of the running backs going into that game?
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, I think the big one obviously is Jalen Warren
because he was cleared to go in, but they didn't,
you know, go that route because Kenny Gainwell was doing well.
But the good thing is that he didn't practice on Wednesday,
was limited yesterday. So I think any times, even for
Alex Highsmith, you know, you start not practicing and it
goes up, that's always a good sign in my eyes.
(05:17):
But I am anxious to see what does happen with Jalen?
Can he be fooled today? How are they going to
divvy things up?
Speaker 3 (05:25):
What's going to happen? So it should be interesting, to
say the least, So.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Missy, you know, the offense obviously that's a big story.
The injuries are obviously big story. You know, I'm sure
guys aren't sitting around talking about it, but we talk
about Aaron Rodgers record in Chicago, the students have won
one game in Chicago one nineteen took him over time
in nineteen ninety five. This would be a nice one
to put kind of at least get a second win
(05:56):
in Chicago. They have their worst record against the Bears,
and they have of any opponent in NFL history, so
I mean any opponent that they've played in NFL history,
So it would be nice to go up there and
kind of reverse that trend. I mean, it's not the
most pressing issue in the game. Just winning the game
is the most pressing issue. But we talked about Aaron
Rodgers at Soldier Field. I think we have to bring
(06:17):
up the Steelers history. It hasn't been good there.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
No, not for the Steelers, and that's why it's like, Okay,
if Aaron can go, maybe he can help rate the ship.
But you know, the first time that they played was
in nineteen thirty four. Now, granted this is not an
AFC nor team an AFC team to begin with either,
but one in twelve all time in the Windy City.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
And as you said, that lone win came in nineteen
ninety five.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
It took a lot to get there, but it happened.
And I just think, you know, it's something that needs
to be corrected. And the last time the Steelers were
there was the whole National Anthem game in twenty seventeen.
That was just a very bizarre day in and out
of itself. But hopefully it is something that this team
(07:04):
can do, because not only do you want to just
kind of, you know, get that record on the right
side of the history books for the Steelers of not
just having one win in Chicago, I just think it's
so important to keep stacking these wins.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
Knowing that the Ravens are on a bit of a winning.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Streak, their schedules a little bit easier, and oh, by
the way, the Bills just lost to the Texans last night.
There's just so much going on and that's why, you know,
the NFL is such an addicting sport because so many
things can happen in these last few weeks. And it's
not like we're you know, three games left at the season,
but we're kind of getting into that part where, you know,
(07:40):
whenever Thanksgiving's coming up, I'm like, oh, man, like we're
almost there.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So that's that's where we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
No, we are, we are, and you know, for both
of these teams both being tops in the North, but
we're battling for king of the North, you know, with
with this, with this tilt, Rob set us on this path,
so you can blame him, missy with my game.
Speaker 5 (08:04):
Max is like, oh for me, And I was like, oh, yeah,
I didn't even think about that, Yeah, exactly, Yeah, I
was a little little uh, as I said, I didn't
see the forest of the trees on that one. We're
glad we have the Starks on our side, right, good guys,
don't we know what those flayed men on our side?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
No, no flayed man. And uh, you know we have
a couple of dia wolves too, you know, and I
think T J. Watt and Nick Herbert would be great
DIO wolves and lore. Uh but but I digress. You know,
it's it's something that's that that's crazy, you know, to
think both these teams in November are both leading their
respective divisions, and you know, us doing it with a
(08:46):
guy from the North, from the NFC side and Aaron
Rodgers potentially at the helm and has been the leader
this whole season the quarterback position. But Caleb Williams, you know,
he's he's kind of come on in his sophomore season
has not had a sophomore slow.
Speaker 6 (09:00):
This team is.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Kind of going off of his play and when he's accurate,
when he can't make the dynamic plays.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
It has been a good challenge.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
So, you know, we're looking at how do you stop
Caleb Williams and how do you stop the Chicago Bears
offense and defensively, I said, I said, the addition of
Malie Harrison gives us an element to stop the run, Missy, because.
Speaker 6 (09:24):
That's something that they're really good at.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
So what are your thoughts about how we're looking at
what Caleb Williams has done this season?
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Well, I think you have to look first and foremost
at the fact that he takes care of the ball,
which you know, is very impressive.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I think for a second.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Year guide to not be baited into bad mistakes, and
even through I think it's twenty seven or twenty eight
career NFL games, he has in nineteen of those he
has not thrown an interception. It has just ten career
interceptions for of them this season. And I think to
his escapability if that is word, you know, whodini is
(10:02):
one phrase that's been thrown out this week. Patrick Queen
called him a magician just in terms of how he
can evade guys if you if you miss.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
On the first time of going after him.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
So it'll be interesting to see in terms of pressure
and blitzing what the Steelers defense goes with to try
to make him less elusive than he has been in
prior weeks. And I also think clearly part of it
is because of the injury to Aaron Rodgers, but the
Steelers bringing in John Rice Plumbly this week to.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Be a Caleb Williams.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
S scout team quarterback. Doesn't have the height, but you know,
one of those athletic guys to try to give the
defense some looks. Clearly the Steelers know about quarterbacks like this.
They face Lamar Jackson twice the year, usually when he's healthy.
They're the only one of the only teams that has
a winning record against Lamar Jackson. So I think it
(10:54):
will be interesting what they do with Caleb because I
think that will dictate a lot of the success have
by keeping him in the pocket and or you know,
scurrying him out into maybe you know somebody else like
at T. J. Watt or Alex Heismith. Can't hate whoever
you want, you know to sack him or get him
(11:14):
or make him make a bad decision. And clearly, I
feel like after last week the defensive touchdowns and the takeaways,
it feels like that spark is back, and hopefully they
continue to happen in bunches.
Speaker 5 (11:27):
So one of the things we're talking to Missy Matthews
here in the locker room, Missy, the Bears offense is,
I think, just progression wise ahead of the defense. When
you're a bad team and you're rebuilding and you're bad
enough to be able to take a guy number one,
it's generally because you've got a bad team that needs
a lot of work, and they've put a lot of
(11:48):
that work in on the offensive side. Now, they've had
some injuries in the secondary. I don't know whether some
of their guys might be able to come back this
week in the secondary. Some guys on I are and
their practice windows open, but their linebacking cores is really
banged up. Their top three linebackers have not practiced yet
(12:09):
this week, and so TJ. Edwards hasn't played cin Cincinnati.
He's missed the last couple of games. They've had other
guys that are dinged up Noahsool is out, Tremaine Edmonds
is out.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
I'm talking about out of practice right now.
Speaker 5 (12:24):
By the way, we have to learn the name Abian
agben Miga who might be playing in this game, along
with Hippolyte who might be playing in this game. Regardless
of whether those guys can go or not, and certainly
would you would think it would aid the Steelers if
they could not, if they have to elevate guys to
the practice squad. We've been saying this again and again
(12:46):
and again and again. Wouldn't it be nice if the
Steelers were able to run the ball, run the ball efficiently.
They've had moments this year, use that as sort of
a building block to be able to control the clock,
keep that Bears offense off the field, and dominate maybe
time of possession, and maybe run more plays for the
first time this year than the opposition. They haven't done
(13:07):
it a single time this season. That would be nice.
And maybe if the Bears linebacking corps a little dinged up,
that might be an opportunity for the Steelers to do this.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
Heck yeah, I mean I think we've we talk about
it every week because it is something that we have
not seen happen yet, and time of.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Possession is clearly very important.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
In terms of not letting the defense get as worn
down as we saw in LA during that Sunday night
football game. Even there, the Bear secondary has, you know,
dealt with injuries and some of those guys Jalen Johnson,
I know he was kind of.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Activated in his twenty one day window.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
You know that maybe give him to like next week
to want to come back, because they don't need another spark.
You know that they are an opportunistic defense, regardless of
injuries or whatnot in terms of taking the ball away.
So that is certainly thing that they are good at
no matter who is in their next man up, because
(14:04):
it just feels like every week, it felt like the
Steelers defense in the beginning of the year when you
look at who played and who didn't for the Bears.
So hopefully they can you know, keep that trend going
of not letting.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Them do that.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
In terms of the Steelers offense, but I agree, I
think running the ball will be key regardless of who
the quarterback is, as it is usually every week. But
I think mainly just to get this offense going, we
need to see more DK Metcalf. He has to be
more involved. And even if it's you know, taking three
guys with him and letting Darnell Washington get open, it's
(14:40):
just something needs to click and change a little bit
in terms of this the Steelers offense.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
No, by the way, real quick, I want to sit
Jalen Johnson is a full participant. Doesn't look like Kyle
Gordon's been limited in practice. Who knows, though, Look, every
team is different the way they deal with these injuries.
But Jalen Johnson coming back a groin injury. He's a
Pro Bowl corner, so he's a guy that would make
a big difference. And they've been without those guys for
quite a bit of time, both Gordon and Johnson their
(15:09):
starting corners.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
They did add CJ.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Gardner Johnson, but injuries are a big thing for this
Bears defense right now.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Yeah, And I feel like anytime I'm on their website
or looking at some of the Beat reporters that cover
the Bears, Jalen Johnson keeps getting brought up, and I
just get this sneaky suspicion that he might be close
and maybe could come back.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
This geek, So that's do I miss?
Speaker 4 (15:32):
They decide to, you know, play it safe and give
him another week. But I don't know, there's too much
scuttle but about him this week.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
I totally agree, Missy. I'm I'm reading. I'm trying to
read between the lines the same way you are.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Well, And I think, you know, reading between those lines,
you know, you have to think about at least with
that bringing him back into the fold would be a
really nice piece. And I think that's the piece you
probably expect to travel with DK Metcalf to present that challenge.
But the emergence of Darnell Washington and now he's become
(16:09):
almost like a folk hero after his exploits on Sunday, Missy,
as as I called it, he was running with the
bulls of Pamplona.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Right there, he was.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
The bull and all I saw was was guys wearing
white with orange, you know, not neckerchiefs, but helmets getting tossed.
Aside as he barreled down the sidelines for a thirty
seven yard gain, can we just talk about the you know,
the case of the number two's right of the number
two receiving spot, because I think, regardless of whatever happens
with Jalen Johnson, to be or not to be. Let's
(16:41):
just you know, let him be for a second. But
it's it's the secondary support guys that opened up DK
and that opened up the rest of this offense. And
Darnel Washington's really emerged over the last number of weeks.
And I would also say a Roman Wilson, you know,
is poised to strike in this and what do we
think about those opportunities for them and kind of Arthur
(17:03):
Smith thinking about this matchup.
Speaker 6 (17:05):
And those guys.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Yeah, I totally agree with your assessment. Clearly, having Darnell's
Washington involved more in the offense has been creeping up
every week in terms of snaps, whether it is you know,
the jumbo package when Spencer Anderson comes in. Obviously the
past catching we saw a touchdown in Cincinnati. I do
just think that Aaron Rodgers in training camp, going all
(17:30):
the way back there, it feels like forever, but he
was just so intrigued by how large an athletic Darnel
Washington was and I think that has played a role
into implementing him much more. And now when you have guys,
you know, going back to last week again Cincinnati, making
business decisions where you are all over NFL Network and
(17:51):
ESPN of this replay happening where he is just stiff
arming you, pushing you out, just running you over. We've
seen them hurtle people.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
There's just something there because he is so hard to
get down that it makes.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Sense that even the I can't remember what the it
was a home game, it was to the left sideline
that you guys are end on that you guys have
been looking at, and Aaron.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Rodgers went to him like twice, you know, when they
were in the red zone.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
So there's something there. And I think too with Roman Wilson,
there have been rookie mistakes. I know he's not a rookie,
but this is still kind of his first real season.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
I would say he still has done.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Some really great things. And you saw that in the
second half too with Mason Rudolph when he came in
for Aaron against the Bengals, And it feels like he's
just tipped the scale just enough where he's more involved.
Slash looked at more often in this offense now than
Calvin Austen, which I.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Don't think is what we thought was going to happen now.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Grenna he dealt with injuries and I think that played
a role into it too, but Roman's kind of showing
like I'm going to keep my head down, I'm going
to keep working, I'm going to try not to make
the same mistakes and push forward and show why the
Steelers drafted me where they did out of Michigan last year.
So I do think for those two guys, especially, to
have somebody to make people not put so many guys
(19:16):
on DK, to shut him down, to get him open again,
to get back to those jacks yards and just the
crazy things he can do. So hopefully it's a mixture
of all of that plus running the ball as we
continue to beat into everyone's head.
Speaker 5 (19:31):
For sure, Missy, thanks very much, can't wait to see it. Hopefully,
knock on wood. The weather, which looks like maybe high forties,
low fifties, very sunny, very little wind, will maintain itself
for you out in the elements on the field. We
want you to know we'll be thinking of you in
the Safe Company post box at Death Soldier Field.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Thanks miss well, thank you guys.
Speaker 6 (19:51):
All right, take care of that is Missy Maths.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Can't wait to get this game, goro, and we still
have the keys of the game to get to which
Max is going to get to when we return in
the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and
the Steelers Pro Shop on Starz Nation Radio, a part
of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio presented by your Neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at shop
dot Steelers dot.
Speaker 5 (20:31):
Com, and we are getting you ready for the matchup
of division leaders. Third time in the last four weeks
that the Steelers will take on a division leader. This
time it is the NFC North leading Chicago Bears. The
AFC North leading Steelers. They've been leading all the way
as they've taken on these opponents, and the Chicago Bears.
(20:54):
We've talked a lot about their offense because I think
that's the most intriguing side of the all for the Bears,
because that's where they put the resources, that is where
they've been excelling this year. I believe Max that this defense,
especially considering how banged up they are, and it does
look like Jalen Johnson. I mean, you know, I can't
(21:14):
speak for them. He's the practice window is reopened. He
could be a guy that could be available for the
Bears and ready to go. But I believe it's a
defense that the Steelers can attack and be successful attacking.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
No, I definitely definitely agree that they can be a
challenge and.
Speaker 6 (21:35):
They are not above reproach that.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
That's one of the things I think this season has
kind of shown us is that no matter how good
a team seems like they come into a game, does
not mean that every game is guaranteed to them. You know,
this is probably one of the fastest I've seen the
under the undefeated team streak get kind of toppled in
the NFL. I mean, it happened very early on in
(21:58):
the season. And and like you said, you have all
these teams sitting at two, three and four losses that
are above five hundred, and there's a good number of them.
Speaker 6 (22:07):
And we've seen a lot of those teams.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
We've seen a lot of first place teams in these
respective games. But and that's how that's how the season
should be. I'm sure nobody expected the coaches to be
where they were where they are I should say not were,
because they still are handedly in first place.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
For the AFC South Chargers, the.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Way they started the season three and ohero in the
division to start the season was just absolutely nasty work
by the schedule makers, but they overcame it. And then
now we're going to see the uh, you know, the
Chicago Bears, who who? Who've joined that conversation as well
in the NFC North, A team that was strong, a
(22:46):
division that was strong a year ago, and now it's
going to be even even stronger now that you have
the Chicago Bears in that mix and kind of controlling
their own destiny with Detroit and Green Bay hoping for
a slip up.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
I think I think we'll I think we'll.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Gain about easily one hundred thousand fans on Sunday just
because Green bayd and UH and Detroit fans will be
rooting for the Steelers to beat them UH so that
they can get back into this race. But this is
a great challenge. Great teams need great challenges, and this
is this is another pressure cooker test to test is
(23:24):
is this Steelers team for real? Is it not just hyperbole?
Is it not just lip service? But could they actually
go up, go and back up what they're saying by
starting a streak of their own, because that's the one
thing that they haven't done, is.
Speaker 6 (23:39):
Really start a streak.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
We seem to get there and then we kind of
mutter either after the first or the second game, and
then we're back to square one. This is the time
of year where you got to string those those wins together,
and you got to do them against quality opponents exactly.
Speaker 5 (23:54):
I mean, I talked, you know, we talked at the
beginning of the show, and I pointed out that Colt
schedule coming up. It's murderous and it gives the Texans hope.
But you know what, if you're good enough, if you're
the Colts who listen, they've been a five hundred team
in the last couple of years, nine and eight, then
eight and nine under Shane Steichen, if you're good enough,
(24:14):
you'll win enough games to get you into the playoffs.
Nobody expects you to be every single good team out there,
you got to win your share because you know, especially
if we've said this before, I think for the Bears,
if they make the playoffs this year, this season is
a success. Ask the average Steelers fan is getting into
the playoffs enough this season and they'll tell you, no,
(24:36):
we want to see success in the postseason.
Speaker 6 (24:39):
So guess what.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
You're gonna face teams like the Colts and the Chargers
and the Bills. You're gonna face teams of the caliber
of the Bears. So you've got to be able to
win your fair share of these games. Otherwise you wouldn't
have won them when he got to the playoffs anyway.
So you got to find a way to win these games. Now,
I've talked about how I think they can be had.
(25:01):
If I look at the team the way they are
currently constructed, you know, look twenty two turnovers forced. That's
the one thing. They've been a bend but don't break
type of outfit. Defensively, they've given up a lot of yards,
but they've given up more points than they've scored, which
is crazy.
Speaker 6 (25:19):
But they've also they come up with the key turnovers.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
And they've got good players like up front, Montes Sweat,
Jervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, Austin Booker. I would say, especially
those first three guys, and they've got some depth pieces
behind him. I think if I was going to point
to the strong suits for the Bears defense right now,
max for me. In addition to being able to take
(25:46):
the ball away and some of that, sometimes you get
a lot of interceptions because people are testing you, like,
for example, right in the right cornerback who again, maybe
he's the guy that's going to be replaced.
Speaker 6 (25:59):
When Jalenson comes back.
Speaker 5 (26:00):
I don't know, but if I was looking to look
at a strength of this team, I think up front
they've got some good players like Sweat and Dexter and
their safeties, UH Briskers the local guy from Gateway and
UH and Kevin Byerd who has UH is leading with interceptions.
I think that that would be the strength of the defense.
That's just what I'm seeing. You're the expert. How do
(26:21):
you see this Bears defense?
Speaker 2 (26:24):
Well, I see this Bears defense is tenacus. I think
I think you know. The weak spot's definitely at their
linebackers right now. You know, you kind of detailed it
in the last one. Four guys missing, four guys on
that injury report. Don't know who's going to be available
come game day. But you imagine whoever is their new
hundred They're new hundred percent is still not one hundred percent, right,
(26:45):
you know? They're they're they're coming off with some major injuries.
So I would love to test the interior before I
start tenderizing the outside, right because you don't know the
status of Jalen Johnson, and you know there there's been
some great play by those guys in the support roles
and figuring that. But it really starts with, I think
the middle of that defense. You got to find a
(27:08):
way to get to them. But that front line is
just a good group, and you detailed everybody from Grady
Jarrett to Montes Sweat, Gervon Dexter who's kind of having
an injury that he's dealing with, and of course, uh,
Grevin Dexter, the reason why I know him, Florida Gator.
Speaker 6 (27:26):
That's in that lineup. The Chicago Bears.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Have drafted a lot of Gators over the years, especially
a lot from my teams in the early two thousands.
I mean, at one point, I think I had five
teammates on the Bears at one time. You know, Rex
Grossman was a quarterback of that squad, Alex Brown was
a defensive end, Tronto la Favor was a d tackle,
Ian Scott was ad tackle, Todd Johnson was a safety.
(27:52):
So I had a lot of teammates on that team
and we played them in the early years. It was
crazy looking across and seeing Chicago Gators. But I think,
if I'm going to go after them, I want to
go at the teeth of this and that's where time
of possession.
Speaker 6 (28:05):
That's where running the ball efficiently.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
Really comes into play, because I think they don't have
the depth and you can tire them out, but once
you get to that second level, that's where you have
to make them pay. And I think that's where one
of the Steeler keys. If I'm looking at it, it's
going to be in the middle, It's going to be
right behind the D line, and right in front of
that secondary is that sweet spot. So think tight end
passing game along there. Think shallow crossers with like a
(28:29):
Roman Wilson, a Calvin Austin type, the short, speedy yards
after the catch type of guys. Put them in space
and let them work is going to be a really
key early in this game. To get that established with
whoever's throwing the football at quarterback, whether it's Aaron or
whether it's Mason, that's going to be at the QB position.
Speaker 6 (28:48):
That is the area I really.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Want to attack and exploit for them, because I think
it's a noticeable weakness compared to the other two position groups.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
So, by the way Bayard mentioned him, he leads the
NFL in interceptions, right, He's got five. There are five
players that have four more interceptions in the entirety of
the NFL. Five four more interceptions. Three of them are Bears.
That's crazy, I mean absolutely crazy. You have Byered with five.
(29:17):
You have Edmunds at the linebacker position, if he's able
to play, he's got four. You have, right, And Naseean
Wright is a guy that I think people targeted.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
Now.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
We saw last year Jackson Dante Jackson led the Steelers
and interceptions. A lot of the notion was, well, that's
because they're throwing it his way. I think there's probably
some truth with Naseean Wright getting those interceptions because they're
throwing it his way. Byered is just kind of a
ballhawk back there at safety. But they are opportunistic on
(29:47):
the back end, and so you know, I think to myself, boy,
this could be again, especially if Johnson's not playing. Now,
if Jalen Johnson comes in, he's a Pro Bowl corner,
that changes things a little bit. But I feel like
this is a game where DK Metcalf, who's been quiet lately,
could have a big game. But anytime you go against
a team like this, anytime you put the ball in
(30:09):
the air and think you can exploit them, you do
have to keep in mind that three guys have thirteen
interceptions between them, three guys and the team max. They
are a takeaway machine over there on defense.
Speaker 2 (30:24):
I mean takeaway machine is easily. I mean, you're talking
about plus sixteen. That's a ridiculous ever. That means there's
only six takeaways given up by the offense in that span,
and they are tremendous. You know, a lot of guys
contribute to that. Kevin Byn, of course, the biggest kind
(30:46):
of Lion's share of that. He has over a third
of their total interceptions as a defense, So he's what
we call a person of interest at that free safety position,
which similar to a Jalen Ramsey, right, you know, a
guy who can do it all, who can cover the field,
but as a knack for getting underneath quarterbacks and in
(31:06):
the deeper passing game. So that's why I think you
it's funny I'm going to talk about that short intermediate
passing game is gonna be key. You know, it's gonna
be anywhere from three yards be on the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 6 (31:16):
To about seven yards.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
That's that's the that's the patch of real estate I'm
really focused on on any given offensive sequence for the
Steelers is where is that where's that intermediate throw? Where's
the gap in the zone. Where is the opportunity to
exploit them and get a.
Speaker 6 (31:34):
Guy and trail.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
That's that's gonna be the key challenge. But I think
that's where it is, and that in that Rubik's cube,
I think unlocks a lot more potential for DK deeper
down the field Roman deeper down the field, Darnel Washington
a great run after the catch guy that's gonna punish people.
I would love to see about two to three of
those where Darnel Washington is literally just plowing guys, like
(32:00):
you know, like the springtime, out and out in some
uh foresty or what not foresty, some grasslandy type of
type of area. I think Oklahoma, Kansas City or Kansas
State of Kansas, Missouri. That's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking
that you've got you've got to graze that patch of
land and and and allow allow for this offense, and
I think that also keeps the time of possession right
(32:23):
because that.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
Key patch of real estate is where.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Your third down conversions come from more often than not, right,
that three to seven yard range is where you get
to move the change and you get to progress. You
get to continue to churn off time off the clock,
because I think another big thing is going to be
keeping that Chicago offense on the sideline as much as possible,
whether that's stealing possessions or whether that's possessing the ball
(32:47):
a really long amount of time on some nice touchdown drives.
I think that's where you have to kind of say, Okay,
this is where the hay is going to be for us,
and what we're gonna be able to put in the
barn is going to be that area right there, because
you know, you don't want to test too early. Now obviously,
single high let it fly right. You know, you get
a single high safety just Kevin Byard back there, and
(33:08):
then you have a walk up from either either Brisker
or you know CJ. Gardner Johnson playing up and around
the box area. That's where you could take your chances
right because you know, more often than not that's going
to be man and you might see a little mild
bracket roll to whoever the deeper receiver is from Kevin Byard.
But that's when you come and get the underneath guy.
You get the number two guy. So you put Buyered
(33:29):
in a quandary not to always go to number four
every time the coverage rolls.
Speaker 6 (33:34):
That's gonna be key keeping the.
Speaker 2 (33:36):
Balance and keeping the pace, you know, and being the
pace car for the game versus chasing the pace car
which has been the opposing offenses it has.
Speaker 5 (33:45):
So what are the keys to a Steelers victory? Max
is going to let you know coming up in a moment. First,
want to remind you can gear up with the latest
game day necessities at the official Students Pro shops. Get
the latest sideline apparel of Jersey's Terrible Towels, authentic memorabilia
and customer exclusives you can only find directly from the team.
Speaker 6 (34:02):
Visit one of the Official Students pro.
Speaker 5 (34:03):
Shops located at Akroschur Stadium, Grove CD, Premium out Let's
or Tanger out Let's, or gear Up by Mine at
shop dot Steelers dot com. Get it direct from the
team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot Steelers
dot com. Back of Max's Keys to the Game in
the Locker Room presented by our neighborhood Ford Store and
the Students Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
(34:24):
the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (34:32):
This is in the Locker Room with King and Starks
on Steelers Nation Radio, presented by your neighborhood Ford Store.
The F one fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro Shop. Get it direct
from the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop
dot Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
All right, it is the final one of the this week.
Speaker 6 (35:01):
It's the ball lap.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
That's right, your early Friday lunch warning system has been
fully engaged. And also the last segment of the show
for the week, you know, detailing the preview of the
Chicago Bears and Rob I will pass it back to you.
Speaker 5 (35:24):
Sir, Max, I'm going to come right back at you
because it is time for the Keys to the Game,
presented by our neighborhood Forts Snore. The F one fifty
is the official truck of the Pittsburgh Steelers. By the way,
one thing we should point out is that the Bears
have not been great on special teams.
Speaker 6 (35:43):
Now they have Mads in place, So I don't.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
Want to completely say that this is a team that
can't get anything done on special teams, but by and large,
the Steelers special teams has been a plus. The Bears
has been a little more up and down. Net punting
is not great. Santos had a missed forty seven yard
field goal against the Bengals scrub because of a penalty
(36:08):
missed some time with a thigh injury. I think the
edge there goes to Boswell the return game for the
most part, even though they have Dubernet back there and
they've got some explosive players, that has been an edge
that would be an edge I think for the Steelers
as well. So we should point out that hopefully if
this game comes down to a close game, you know,
the Steelers special teams could give them an edge in
(36:31):
this game. So that having been said, Max, let us
get to our keys to the game, presented by your
neighborhood Forward Store, and let's begin.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
Shelley and the offensive side of the ball.
Speaker 5 (36:42):
What do you think are the keys for the Steelers
to be able to emerge from Soldier Field with a win,
just the second win in Chicago in Steelers' history, remember
arrival that started back in nineteen thirty four. What is
the keys to the Steelers? What are the keys to
the Steers offensively in this game against the Bears?
Speaker 2 (37:03):
All right, So as we look at kind of off
side of the ball, I think we've kind of hit
on it throughout the week. So this is not going
to be a big surprise possession. I need them to
be possessed with possession. Okay, I want time of possession
to go on our side. So what does that mean?
That means running the ball effectively, efficiently and frequently. I
(37:27):
really want to see us be able to do it
because I think if you that's a hidden element if
you've got if you've got it ailing Aaron Rodgers, right,
you know, if he if he's nursing that and he
is able to go, this is going to provide relief
for him.
Speaker 6 (37:43):
Is having a.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Solid run game to balance out, you know, if they're
passing potential in this game. So that's the first thing.
Being possessed with possession has to be kind of the
calling card for this game. And also it eliminates the
opportunities on the opposing offensive side. It shortens the game.
It shrinks the field when you're able to do that. Next,
(38:07):
if I am going to possess it, be possessed with possession.
I need to see third down efficiency go up. We've
had way too many misses and not enough makes on
our third down possessions or quote unquote the money downs.
Right when I think about the Pittsburgh offense, you know,
we are one of those teams that we're in the
(38:30):
lower part of the league as far as our third
down per seas, we're thirty eight point one percent. So
that number I need to see kind of rays and
I get it. We're going up against a team who
only gives gives up thirty three point seven percent of
third downs that convert to first downs. So that's gonna
be my number one challenge is who's third You know,
(38:53):
who's going to be that third down receiver or running
back that gets the first down version? Uh to to
keep those drives in the time of possession on our
side of the ball and then third I need I
need more eighty. I need more eighty. I don't know
how to say that. I need to see the ball.
(39:16):
He's he's come on as such a reliable pass pass
catcher for us over the last several weeks, and Missy
had mentioned it.
Speaker 6 (39:24):
The game was the Colts.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That was that second drive of the game where the
buff punt that allowed us to get into the red
zone and Aaron trying to hit Darnell twice in the
red zone. That was the game we were talking about.
So I didn't get to say that because we had
ended the segment early, but that that was that was
what that was. Darnell has been one of those guys
that's been a game changer. He literally forces guys to
(39:48):
tuck their tails because if you don't, he will knock
your tail off, you know what I'm saying. So you
got to tuck it to keep it. That that's what
I feel like is a missing element.
Speaker 6 (40:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (40:00):
By the way, there was The Raising Arizona, my favorite
comedy of all time. There's a scene in which Nicholas
Cage hits Rantal text Cob with the board. But he's
on his motorcycle and you can actually clearly see and
I don't even know, I don't know if they left
us in on purpose, you can clearly see that there
is a rope attached to you know, when they shoot
(40:23):
the scene that jerks him backwards off the motorcycle, right,
So he's going and then he hits him with a board,
but he's really being jerked backwards. That's what DJ Turner
looked like when Darnell Washington ran into him. It looked
like somebody had a rope attached to him and was
jerking him backwards because Darnell just sent him sprawling at
(40:44):
the end of that run.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
So that was fun to watch, Okay, So I just
wanted to throw that aside, and it just.
Speaker 5 (40:49):
Made me think of that that scene in Raising Arizona.
So now, Max, the Steelers defense probably a bigger task.
Look the Bears, you know they are very very good
at takeaways. We know that that always gives them a
puncher's chance to turn in a really good defensive performance.
So I don't want to slight the Bears defense. But
(41:11):
I think when we think about the Bears and winning
this game on Sunday, to me, I'm thinking and again,
quarterback situation. I get it, injury to Jail and Warren,
I get all that, But just when you look at
the strength of the Bears, it's that offense and how
do you slow that offense down?
Speaker 6 (41:26):
And what are the keys to doing that.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
So the Keys are going to be getting off the
field on third downs. That that's just what has to
be done. That's what's required, and that's how you know
it needs to be And for this Chicago team, you
know there are forty one conversion team on their third downs,
(41:50):
and so that's one area that the Steelers, let's face it,
not great on the on the on their third down prettages. Right,
you know, we're give an up forty one point seven.
So we're right in the wheelhouse of what the Bears
expect on a game. You know, every four or so
out of ten they're getting the first down. I would
(42:10):
like to keep them closer to that number because it
means they're going to miss a couple of conversions. But
you need to depress that number. Need to get them
off of what they expect and how they operate. So
and that also leads to getting back to the offense.
This is the complimentary football in my assessment of how
this gave these to go right. You know, the progression
(42:32):
or success of one but gets the success of the
other on the opposite side of the ball. And so
third downs you got to get off second, you got
to stop the running attack. Got to stop this rush attack.
Force the game in the air, because that's where more
the inaccuracies are. They're more solid, they're more stable, they're
more consistent when they can run the ball effectively and
get into third and medium's third in Churces. How they
(42:53):
have such a high completion percentage of third downs because
they're in those manageable situations. I need to see them
the third in Lne longer. I need to see shotgun
snaps from Caleb Williams to where he doesn't really know
he starts patting the ball, starts running away backwards instead
of moving towards the line of scrimmage, so that now
puts onus on the pass rush and also puts onus
(43:14):
on the cornerbacks at that are that are playing, press
on the receivers to jam and throw off timing for
Caleb Williams, because if it's not in rhythm, it's not
in time. It's going to lead to happy feet. And
just just like the animated film, you know, a penguin
dancing around in the Arctic, I need I need Caleb
(43:34):
Williams dancing around in the pocket, because if he dances
around in the pocket, he doesn't get a clear lane
to just burst up and go and get that five
point two average. That's going to be a big differentiator
for us. And then the last thing is turnovers are king.
Turnovers are king. They're a premium. So I need you
(43:57):
to be ballhawks because there are going to come up
situation where the balls we throw a little errant, or
say you get a ball tipped at the line of
scrimmage Alla cam Heyward or TJ. Watt or Peyton Wilson
on a blitz, right, because good things happened with Peyton
Wilson blitz and the quarterbacks trying to throw. I mean,
he talks an interception right into Jack Sawyer's hands. So
(44:18):
that's what I'm looking at. Turnovers are king. You've got
to win the turnover battle, and you've got to force
this team to do things that are uncharacteristic like you
did with the Colts. Remember the Colts came in and
they were very good at not turning the ball over
until they met us. So I need that to continue
as well. Turnovers are king. You've got to compress and
(44:41):
depress Caleb Williams, and that's stopping the run and then
of course gigging off the field on third downs.
Speaker 6 (44:47):
Those are my three keys.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Defensively, they look a little bit closer to what you
know the offensive was, but I think that that's what
it is.
Speaker 6 (44:54):
You know, the identity of your team. You kind of
play all their strengths.
Speaker 5 (44:57):
Sounds good, by the way. The Bears are excellent first
quarter team. They have a minus point differential in every
other quarter, but they have they have tied a record
since going back to at least forty two years most
wins when trailing heading into the two minute warning. They
have five wins in the last two minutes of a game,
(45:18):
which is astonishing. Still, overall, they're they and Carolina are
the only teams with winning records you have a minus
point differential. So the Steelers AFC North Leaders will look
to go on the road and defeat the Chicago Bears
NFC North Leaders Sunday at one o'clock. Our coverage begins
on the Audio Network, coming up at eleven o'clock and
here on DVE also coming up at nine am. Our
(45:40):
thanks to Nathan Osler the controls filling in for Justin
Miller today for Max Starks, I'm Rob King. We will
talk to you on Sunday. Bank for being with us
in the locker room, presented by our neighborhood Ford Store
and the Steelers Pro Shop on the Steelers Audio Network,
Steelers Radio
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