October 22, 2025 • 51 mins
As always, Jim Wexell, joins the guys for a chat and Max and Rob break down which teams are separating from the pack nearing the halfway point of the season.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
This is in the locker Room with Kingyon 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 Shot at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day it is? Eh? Anybody, Julie, Hey,
guess what day it is? Come on, I know you
can hear me. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike. What day
is it? Mike, Lestlie, guess what today is?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's hump day. Woo woo wood it is. It is
a WEX Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
When you hear Mike the Camel, of course, it is
the power hour move Aside Optimist, Hello, Mike the Camel,
and we are here, of course with steel City Insider
editor in chief uh acclaimed author and also a great
friend of the program.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
It is the one, the only Jim Wexel.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
How are we doing today? Wex It was at a
subdued intro this time around.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
It was really nice. You want to talk about some
dude you missed Kinger last week? Yeah, we got Wexel here,
let's get him out of the way and loog along.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
It was nothing like that, Jim, And.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
You know that, you know, it's hey, hey, wex you know,
before we move ahead, I think we have to look
back because you know, we're trying to put Thursday's game
into some context, you know, and and you know, if
you want it every way you want it, you.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Could say, well, it's Thursday night's road game.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
We know the records against those teams, so that's excusing
the defense. But the offense is here to stay. So
you know, that's what we've come to expect. And so
you know, maybe that's the case. Maybe you can have
it both ways. Maybe you do write it off. I
don't know, as I'm quite in that camp. But what
is your takeaway from what happened on Thursday night in
(02:11):
Cincinnati and and where it sort of leaves the team.
We began the show by talking about, you know, some
some reactions are and are they overreactions? ESPN this morning
saying is this Teelers defense, Uh, you know, the most
disappointing unit in the NFL and that and that's what's
gonna happen when you have a game like Thursday night
wiping out the previous three games when everyone's.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Talking about all the sacks and turnovers.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
So put Thursday night's game into into context for us
from your perspective.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Okay, well, ow a couple of notes I used in
my post game notes column. UH. While I was watching
the game, I thought that Cincinnati looked like Air coriol
And I remember back in the UH and the Steelers
look like Air Corey defense if you remember that. But
I looked back at the nineteen seventy nine the Steelers
(03:06):
played Air Coriell and lost thirty five to seven and
went on to win the Super Bowl. I also was
reminded of when the Steelers went ahead on Friarmooth touchdown late.
I thought, I thought of the two thousand and nine
Packers Steelers game in Heinz Field when the Steelers on
(03:26):
side kicked, because I thought the Steelers should on side
kick here, not give them the ball back. They will lose,
And that's what they did in two thousand and nine,
And what I thought I did. I was not at
Detroit PULLMOLLOPIQ six game, but I thought the thirty seven
thirty six Steelers went over the Packers in two thousand
and nine was the best game I ever saw at
(03:48):
Heinz Field. And you know that Steeler team that was
so poor defensively that they had to onside kick late
in the game with the lead, and the Packers recovered
and scored as we expected, But since they only had
to off the field to drive, it gave the Steelers
enough time to go back and score. And that Steelers
(04:13):
team of two thousand and nine, with that wretched defense,
went on to win play in the Super Bowl the
next year against Aaron Rodgers. So games like that aren't
always as bad as they look. So those are my
takeaways from an optimistic point of view. From a pessimistic
(04:33):
point of view, they have played like that early in
the season defensively. Was this an aberration or a they're
reverting to form. We're going to find out more as
we go on, especially against the Packers and Colts.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Well, I just want to say thank you for that
PTSD there wex about the two thousand and nine Packers
game where I gave up two sacks against Klay Matthews.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Uh, I.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Know you didn't mention it. It flooded my mind. Yeah,
it flooded my mind. I was like Jesus, I remember
that game.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
I was like, oh, that's one of my that's one
of my more worst games in my career.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Was given up two sex play Matthews.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Yeah, Well the Peers have nobody like Clay Matthews now right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
No, not at all. No, no, there's not a guy
you know by the name of Michael Parsons.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
I got traded r at the beginning of the season.
That is just dominating at the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Uh no. But uh but no, I digress because, like
you said at the.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
End, we ended up winning, right, And it's not it's
not about how bad you do individually.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
It's the collective and you're judged on wins and losses.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
And no matter how bad I think of that as
a loss mentally, it was a win in the record book.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
So that's all that matters.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Uh, let me ask you, you could tell the truth. Now,
what was your reaction to the on sites kick.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I was like, I was like, oh, oh my god.
I was like, I was like, what are we doing?
I was nervous yea. I was like, you're really gonna
give Hey.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
I don't know if you noticed this there I have
thirty plus points already before this on side.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Kick, and we're giving them a shorter field.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I was like, Jay Reed, just you know, just just
kick it out the back of the end zone. Jesus
make us start on this twenty at least. But I
get the reasoning now. I look at it and hints
why players play and coaches coach.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Right, you know they took a calculated risk, don't.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
I don't know that tom La planned that. Well, the
Packers will recover this at the fifty, it'll take them
shorter time to score, and we'll get the ball back.
I don't think he plans for that, but that's what happened.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, Well, that that's the fifty to fifty dice roll
right on that one. It's like either we get it
back and we bleed out the clock, or they get
it back and pray that they either stop or score
quickly so that we can at least get the ball
back and do what we planned on doing, which was
trying to end the game with the ball in our hands.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So, I mean, there.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Must have been a lot of injuries on that defense
because nobody had confidence in that defense, and it was
between Super Bowl appearances, so there must have been a
lot of injuries. I don't know what was wrong with
that defense. I mean nobody really, I don't think was
against the on side kick. Everybody feared that defense coming
(07:25):
back on the field. But regardless, I know Kinger is
probably sitting there were you guys, quit talking about the past.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
No, I love it. Are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I had no problem with that at all.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I'm trying to remember because I know that that wasn't
the year that Debo left. It had his one his
one year sore with the No might have been with
the Bengals. He might have been injured that year because
I'm thinking there was something about the production. Yeah, Troy
got injured that year. Was was footgard for a year
(07:58):
then Foot or be Mad Timmins.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Timmins was probably playing by then because he was drafted
in two thousand and seven, so it was probably.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Okay, So yeah, so so Foot was in Detroit by then. Okay,
So I'm thinking I'm thinking like that there's a difference there.
I'm trying to think of the different shakeups that could
have happened. But like you said, Detroit injury, James being injured.
I mean, those are two key factors when you talk
about how good or bad a defense can be in
(08:29):
those two and I mean we still.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Yeah yeah yeah, was probably injured a couple of key seasons. Yeah,
I might think yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right. Yeah, And that was
Ziggy Hood that was playing for him or even or.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Even you guys had to do. All you guys had
to do was play Chris Hoak because weren't you like
thirty four and one with Chris Hoak as a starter.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
Yeah, it was like hokey, but it was like eighteen
or nineteen and oh, at the beginning of his career.
And then I think they I think they did finally
lose one.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Wex well, they know, He'll.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Quick to remind you that the Raiders only gained sixty
seven yards or something in that game that they lost.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Oh jeez, yeah, yeah, thank thank you, thank you, Hoky Bro.
Appreciate it, hockey Bro.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
So once again, so wex as I try to throw
the lass over you guys and and and bring you
back to twenty twenty five, specifically October twenty second of twenty.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Twenty Okay, Martin McFly, let's go then.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Do what do you.
Speaker 7 (09:42):
Know you you talked about, you know that loss in
context on Thursday night, and I think we all have
you know, at the end of the day, we all
have to wait and see, right, we don't know what's
going to happen. If we knew it was going to happen,
then we would just quit our jobs and moved the
Las Vegas, which, by the way, I do I do
(10:03):
not condone. I'm not a gambler myself. My feeling on
all that is, there was a pile of sand and
now there's a city there, So that tells you what
you're we're gambling money is going. That's just my own perspective.
To each his own.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Uh, you know, I'm not trying to tell you how
to live your life.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
That's just they have great shows and buffets, rob and
that's to Vegas.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
That's my Yeah, they do have great shows.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:27):
I got a chance to see Bill Crawford do some
stand up last year. That's the first time I've seen
Bill do hilarious. Of course, first time I've actually seen
them have a chance to. I'd go out to Vegas
to see a Pittsburgh guy do stand up anyway. Uh,
digressions here, digressions, So what do you think WEX Are
you more inclined to think that was a one game hiccup.
(10:49):
I don't you know. I guess I'm putting you on
the spot here a little bit. I like the way
the offense is working. I like the you know, they're
they're trending up in the running game. And now you
can easily, of course, say, well, Cincinnati's not that great
against the run, so you believe what you want to believe.
But I think that you know, if you're I've mentioned
this before on these airwaves, if you are a national
(11:11):
pundit who had doubts as to whether Aaron Rodgers still
had something left in the tank, you know, if you
watch that game, I don't see how you could still
have doubts running games of the offense.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yep. To me, that's moving in the right direction. That
continued a trend.
Speaker 7 (11:27):
Now that's a four game trend of the offense really
moving in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I'd like to think.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
That that game was bad matchup apper, you know, a
bit of a you know, if your Thursday night, all
this other stuff and things, you know, things going wrong,
and that's.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Where i'd like to be. I guess we'll find out
more on Sunday night.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
But I do think it was more aberration than reversion
back to weeks one and two.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Do you have a sense one way or the other.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
No, I agree with you. There's not an injury problem here.
There's I mean there's a question about the age of
some of the corners, but with a guy like Brandon
Echols playing well, you have that option. You know, the
inside linebackers. I was listening to Merrill Hodge this morning.
(12:18):
He doesn't believe they have good instincts in zo coverage.
He also said it's easy to fix. So otherwise, I
don't see a lot of personnel issues on that defense.
So I mean, there was a lack of tackling, there
was a lack of intensity, and you get that on
(12:40):
a Thursday night, So for I mean, it's disappointing. But
and I don't I'm not questioning the effort. I'm just
questioning the intensity. It wasn't what it was the previous
two games, and I think they can get that back. Otherwise,
I mean, the offense is getting better, but it's not.
(13:00):
Eric Coriel, I mean, if you're going to play defense
like those San Diego Chargers did, you got to play
offense like they did too. And I don't know that
this gang with the one wide receiver is up for it.
So yeah, I believe the defense will play, will play
much better. Whether it's enough for a win this week,
(13:21):
that remains to be seen. But I think the defense
will play much better. We need more on Ramsey and
Slay and Porter. I mean, you know, that was the
excitement coming into the year, and they let put the
fans down and the team down I think last week
and the run defense, I mean, my goodness, I mean,
(13:42):
come on, So that's been Yeah, that's been Mike tomlins
primary emphasis at the press conference. You know, what do
you think about the field? What a field would be
better if we could stop the run? To get a
new uniform, Well, we're going to have to stop the
run for those uniforms to be effective, you know, So
(14:04):
I appreciate his emphasis.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Yeah, I think, you know, that's kind of the reality
of the world we live in right now, is that
you know, you have to be effective, you have to.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
You have to do your job.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And like you said, the guys that we have on
this roster were brought in for a very specific purpose,
and that purpose was to win, and it was specifically
against the Cincinnati Bengals that this team was constructed right,
and so now head to head, you know, Bengals won,
(14:43):
Steelers defense. Oh and you got to figure out a
way to regroup, regather next time you see them. Of course,
it will be on a normal day of the week, Sunday,
and it won't be you know, on the heels of
another division game on a short week. We seem to,
we seem to always seem to fall into those you know,
(15:04):
every season where we get back to back, even though
we're the last team to actually have a division matchup.
Of the rest of our division, everybody else has at
least played each other once, maybe even twice, and we
get in and it's like, no, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
What, we're gonna get you. We're gonna get you, guys
caught up. No, we're gonna put you two games in
five days. Let's do you know, let's do three and eleven.
How about that, lett, let's do one of those. You know,
it just you know, it's it's not.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It's it's nice to be wanted and desired from that
perspective to have these prime time and opportune games, But
every once in a while, it's like, come on, guys,
you know, like, let's what.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Are we doing here?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I know, I know the NFL wants to backload the
division games, but you know every year the Steelers are
last to get that first matchup. Is kind of kind
of ridiculous, but you know, it is the hands we're
dealt and you can only play the schedule that that
that's given to you. So you know, we can use
that excuse for right now and right now only, but
now we throw it in the trash can and move
(15:59):
on and say, doesn't matter. The game is the game
wins the game. You knew this game was coming at
the beginning of it. You knew this game was coming
back in May, so don't act surprised. Just figure out
a way to get it fixed.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Well. As for the Packers, you know, Rogers, of course
played for the Packers eighteen years. This is the third
third time a quarterback who played for a team for
fifteen years or more has played his old team, and
the two previous times Tom Brady and Brett Favre they
(16:35):
both won. So you got that going for you if
that means anything. But I think what means more is
Rogers competitiveness, and you know we saw that arm I
think I questioned his deep ball last week on this show,
and you know, he showed us seventy yards in the
(16:58):
air and he's still moving well. So, you know, his
competitiveness and his ability to bring that competitives competitiveness into
his group, into his team and instill it. I think
(17:18):
that's going to pay off this week. I just have
a I have a hunch the Steelers going to find
a way to win this one, and then I think
they're going to beat the Colts. So these these two
games could reinvigorate the town that was just starting to
get a little excited. You know. You you started talking
(17:41):
about hole field advantage throughout Yeah, yeah, I know, but
it was something worth considering because of the division, the
plight of the division, and the apparent status of the
Bengals who were without Hendrickson, without Burrow. So who knew
(18:03):
that Flacco would look that good?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
No, You're absolutely right, it was that.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
That was one that was But you know it shouldn't
surprise us, Wex because guess what. Flacco literally has made
his career on how well he looks against the Steelers,
and he proved it. You know, during his time as
a Baltimore Raven. He proved it as an Indianapolis cult
as well, because remember he beat us as a cult
(18:32):
last year, so you know it's just but yet he'll
he'll be six, he'll be six and twenty one everywhere else.
But yet, for whatever reason, he could pull a rabbit
out of his hat against us, and it is just
needless to say, very frustrating.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Yeah. So but well he wasn't even good enough to
play a pitt so you know that.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Is true, that is true, he was.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
That was a close one. That was a close one.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
And I remember when that decision was made and Walt Harris,
who was the pit coach, said that was a really
really tough decision. And I think a lot of people
just rolled their eyes, like, first of all, you're gonna
play Tyler Palco, local kid, highly decorated coming out of
West Alleghany championship high school quarterback, good quarterback at the
(19:21):
college level, played in the NFL for a little while.
There was no doubt Tyler Palko was gonna be the quarterback.
So everyone and they said, yeah Flacco. Everyone kind of
rolled their eyes and then look at his career, right,
pretty good career.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
Wex Yeah, but you're right, you're right, Palko was a
better college quarterback. Yeah he was SI for that game
at that time.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Ye right, he was.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Wex thank you, my friend, appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (19:49):
Look forward to seeing you and as always talking with you.
Give us an update in the book before we let
you go.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Two weeks two weeks now, the Wolfley Book will be
released and it will be available everywhere, and hopefully we'll
get some signings and we'll get you guys to uh,
you know, do a little marketing for us on this show.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, it's good.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah, pretty that.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
I mean, you know, you don't have to ask, especially
when it comes to especially when it comes to this,
and especially since it's wolf so double as double.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Ams on that one.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Thank you, wex right, Jim Wexel. That is hump Day
Headlines with Wexel, presented by our neighborhood, Ford Stow. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steers and we want to remind you you can gear
up with the latest game day necessities at the official
Students Pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels,
(20:51):
authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only find directly
from the team. Visit one of the official Studis Pro
shops located at Acroturs Adiam Grove City Premium Outlets or
Tangro out Let's Secure up online at shop dot Steelers
dot com. Get it direct from the team at the
Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot Steelers dot com. We
(21:11):
will continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store, in the Students Pro Shop on Steer's Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Apart of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
This is in the locker room with kingon 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 (21:43):
So here in the locker room, we like to go
through the.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
Power rankings of the various outlets. We have mostly gone
with the Athletic last week we added the ESPN and
NFL dot Com. I think we're gonna skip the Athletic
this week, just to just for some variety, you know, Max,
we need some why not?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Why not? Right y?
Speaker 7 (22:05):
Spice of Life and we we uh went through ESPNS yesterday,
so we're not gonna spend a ton of time on
this other than to get a sense of where the
Steelers and other teams are and maybe the Steelers opponent
this week in Green Bay are viewed, how they're viewed
(22:27):
nationally for what that matters, which again isn't a ton
but I think it is interesting. And we talked about
at the beginning of the show a segment on ESPN
in which they said, is the Steelers defense the most
disappointing unit in the NFL? That was that was the subject,
and I understand they have a lot of hours to fill,
so I get that. But we're gonna run through the
(22:48):
power rankings here just again to get this context from
NFL dot com, and then we're gonna start talking about
some of the key matchups in this game as the
Steelers are getting ready to take on Green Bay in
a matchup of leaders AFC North versus NFC North.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
So number one.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
The Detroit Lions. They moved up from number two to
number one. Of course number one had been Tampa Bay. Uh,
no problem with the Lions one Colts two, do you no?
Speaker 4 (23:18):
I mean, it is what it is I mean I
already talked about how the Lions lost to the Chiefs,
and the Chiefs look really good. So I'm struggling with
how they're in front of them.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
But I get it. I get it record because the.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Chiefs are four and three.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
But but but exactly, and and I think you have
to have the Colts up there. And you know what, man,
it it is. It's it's hard not to start to
have some belief in this Colts team. You know who
they play, well, they just beat Denver and they just
you know, they rolled over the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
I mean they rolled over the Chargers. Uh, you know,
So I don't know, man.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
Uh, the Colts move up six from eight to number two.
And I think when you're a one loss team, only
one loss team in the NFL, well the Packers because
they have the Packers have a tie.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Also, you gotta be up there. So culture too. Now
come your Chiefs number three, way higher than they were
in that six, seven, eight range. I believe.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
In the ESPN ranking, I don't have it in front
of me, and I'm not gonna call it up. They
were in that range though, and they are three in
the up six spots from nine to three with the
with the just thrashing of the Raiders thirty one to nothing,
and a couple of you know, back to back wins
(24:42):
for the Chiefs impressively, that make you think the Chiefs
are back. And I have no problem with them being three.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
No, I don't either.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Like I said, I was there at that game and
I watched it. And you know, once again, if you
think the Steelers are a bad unit, you have not
watched the rest of the NFL. There are way worse
teams up there. And yeah, it was, it was. It
was painful. The Raiders ran thirty total offensive plays Kinger.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
That's the unbelievable Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
The Chiefs had thirty first down.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
That is a lopsided thrashing.
Speaker 7 (25:28):
So the Seahawks move down a spot because the Chiefs
moved up and because the Colts moved up, and the
Seahawks took it to the Jaguars.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Look they they had and you.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
Know, just scrolling through some of the things, you know,
they had four four turnovers and twelve penalties.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Oh yeah, Texans, I'm sorry.
Speaker 7 (25:50):
Four turnovers and twelve penalties.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
And it really wasn't a game, really wasn't.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
No.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Now, so the score, the score will let you believe
one thing, but your eyeballs will tell you a completely
different thing.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
If you watch.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
I think one of the biggest questions for Seattle was
what was Sam Darnold gonna do right? Was he going
to be a guy that sort of lifted up the program?
Was he going to be you know, I think there
was fear of regression. You're leaving a great coach with
a great system and unbelievable targets up in Minnesota. You know,
(26:27):
maybe the only team in the league that can rival
the Bengals with their top two Jefferson and Addison versus
Chase and and Higgins. I think, well, we could debate
where those are, but they could rival them for sure.
And anyway, uh, let's let's let's move on from there.
(26:49):
So the Packers are fifth, and they hold steady at
four to one and one.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I mean, like you said, one lost team, So yep,
that's where they're at.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Then let's let's move through some of these quickly, staying
the same. The Eagles at six, the Rams at seven.
The Buccaneers dropped seven spots all the way down to eight.
They're five and two, obviously a lot worse than the
five and two of Philadelphia and the five and two
of the Rams, and the five and two of the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
And on and on and on we go. Uh and
the five and two of the Lions. You know.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Uh, it's when you lose at the timing year loss
and and all those other things.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Injuries you have. Yeah, yeah, they have. They have a
ton of injuries.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Right for the bus right. So I guess the question
is is this a snapshot in time? Is it a
is it where where do we really think they rank?
You know?
Speaker 7 (27:49):
I think if it was where do I really think
they rank? I think I would add the Lions in
chiefs one and two.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Yeah, I mean I was I would say Chiefs for sure, Lions.
I'm a little less kind of bulle Shawn. I would
have probably had the Colts at two. Okay, just you know,
and then I probably have Lions three.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Yeah. I mean the Colts deserve quote unquote deserve it.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
But you know again do I I've got to see it.
I think I want to see it in person. Anyway,
we will in a couple of weeks. I don't have
to wait too long. The Rams are seventh, the Buccaneers eighth,
as we mentioned the Bills are ninth. They moved down
five spots from four to nine. I think didn't they
(28:37):
have a buy? Yeah, they had a buy. Long way
to fall during Hey, one more buy, they might be
out of the top fifteen exactly. The Broncos another five
and two team, up a spot. Incredible comeback victory against
the Giants. You know, if they had them eleventh last week,
they were just about to pencil them into seventeenth, and
(28:59):
then they scored three thirty three on unanswered points and
they move.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Up to tenth.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
I don't have any problem that the Patriots are eleventh,
up five spots from sixteen to eleven.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
No problem there either.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, the forty nine Ers are.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Twelveth Nope, don't have a problem with that one either.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
Okay, they're up three spots and we land on the
Pittsburgh Steelers are number thirteen, down three spots for them again.
You know what happens if they pull a rabbit out
of the hat and win that game, do they move
up in the rankings? I don't know, but they're thirteenth,
and you know, move from tenth to thirteenth, and I
(29:44):
think that that ten to twelve. I think thirteen is
about as low as I would even conceive of having them.
I think that's okay. Now, go beat the Packers and
you're gonna move up, right.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Well, and I mean you are the lowest rank division leader. Yes,
you know as well. That's that's the other thing that
we have to consider as well. But like you said,
I mean, you still need to be in in in
dance card range because that's where you are by league standing.
So I'm okay with it. But like you said, you
(30:16):
got to go and you gotta do the work. And
that's what the Steelers are charged with right now, going
and get and doing the work and moving yourself back
into a place where you say, no, that was an accident.
This is who we really are. And they got a
chance with that on Sunday Night football.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
And this is the beauty of it, man, And we
love talking about it. I love the fact that an
NFL game is played and there's a week of anticipation
and build up to the next game. There's a couple
of days of oh my gosh, what went wrong? Or
holy mackerel, Look, we're at the top of the mountain.
We didn't even need a sherpa and here we are
on top of Everest, and you know, uh and and
(30:52):
then you start to you start to this is why
I kind of like these rankings. You start to think about, Okay,
what's what's up next? Well, you know what's up next
for the Toeers the fifth ranked team on this power
ranking and the second ranked team in this power ranking.
So you're gonna find out. And you got them both
at home, right, You're gonna find out. I mean, that's
your record, is what you are, right, So there you go,
(31:17):
just quickly. The Bears have won four in a row.
We'll see them and they're not too distant future too.
They're fourteenth right now. The Jaguars down a couple spots
to fifteen. The Commanders fell four spots to sixteen. The
Chargers fell three spots to seventeen. They are in a
free fall after their three and oh start. The Falcons
(31:38):
they moved down a spot to eighteen. The Panthers, they're
the quietest four and three team in the NFL. They
are just quietly four and three. I don't know if
they're any good. I have no idea. That's the other thing.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
How good are they really? That's gonna be the question.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
But like you said, making silent progress as they go through.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Now, the only negative.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Is you're in the same division as the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons, who you know, are are
kind of similarly situated. So we'll see how that falls
at any souse always one of those wildcard divisions.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
And and by the way, if you think to yourself, geez,
I think we should be higher ranked. I think we're
better than that. Okay, you're hosting the Bills on Sunday.
Let's see, right, let's see, let's see what you got.
You know, I'm not saying fans in Carolina are clamoring
for that. They're probably pretty happy with the four and
three start. But you want to be you want to
(32:44):
be better perceived than that around the nation. Okay, you
got your shot against the Bills on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
The Cowboys.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I might have to reevaluate the Cowboys. Man, they can
score some points.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
They move up to the spot offense in the league.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yeah, yeah, I was not bullish on the Cowboys, but
I might have to change my tune. The Texans drop
one spot to twenty one. How about the Vikings dropping
three spots to twenty two. They're three and three. They're
three and three. They're the lowest. You know, we talked
about the lowest. The lowest team with the winning record
(33:21):
is Carolina, and the lowest team with a five hundred
record is the Vikings at three and three. Here come
the Ravens at twenty three at one and five, one
spot ahead of the three and four Bengals, who moved
up three spots to twenty four. And again we're gonna
find out right. The first thing, the first sentence under
(33:45):
the Bengals is and I think we both agree with this, Max,
the whole arc of the season has completely changed after
Thursday stunner over the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
The Bengals, the arc of theirs has completely change.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
I gotta agree with that statement, even though I don't
want to, but it is the truth.
Speaker 7 (34:07):
I mean, look, they're playing the Jets this week. The
Jets haven't won a game if the Bengals. Look, that's
one where you quote unquote, Max should take care of business, right,
you should win that game. So if you come out
of that game four and four, you're right there and
you are eagerly watching the game on Sunday night. But
(34:30):
if you dropped US three and five. We're saying, okay, uh,
you know, maybe it's time to think about trade and
Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
They were who we thought they were. We're Denny, We're
Denny greening it.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Oh yeah, if they go with that one, twenty fifth forever.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
No, it's it's so good. Twenty fifth is Arizona. You
pointed statistic out there. They started out the season two
they have lost five straight by a combined max how
many points.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Thirteen thirteen points.
Speaker 7 (35:08):
Five consecutive losses by a total of thirteen points. Oh,
you talk about some hand ringing, Holy mackerel. And then
the team right behind them has got to be doing
some hand ringing too, the team that lost or this
year to the Cowboys in overtime. So that's a tough loss,
up eighteen points with just over five minutes left, and
(35:29):
the Giants instead of being three and four and maybe
with that overtime went over, the Cowboys four and three
are two and five.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
You are what your record says you are.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
It was, and hopefully people in Pittsburgh are also not
wondering why we let Justin Fields and Russell Wilson go yep,
because that's the first of the two and he got benched,
and then we haven't even got to the bottom of
these power rankings and where Justin Fields is right now. Yeah,
So in case you were wondering, oh my gosh, you
stick with just just just keep listening down the power rankings,
(36:04):
you'll see why.
Speaker 7 (36:05):
Yeah, let me let me hit pause on these and
we'll scoot through the last of these.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Max.
Speaker 7 (36:09):
So, I think that what you just said there the
context to that as to what my perceptions were at
the beginning of the season. And again, we'll find out, right,
we're gonna find out. I'm not playing the games. The
games haven't been played yet, right, we don't know. My
words are just words until the team comes out and
(36:31):
and proves it or disproves it on the field. But
I thought, Okay, you were ten and seven a year ago.
You are you've upgraded in most spots around the roster. Okay, Yeah,
you lost Minka, but you've upgraded a corner. Yeah you
lost Nagye, you had gain Well, you had a third
round pick. I think that's you know, maybe we'll at
least call that a wash. I think I think there's
(36:52):
still some arrow up there. Yeah, you lost Dan Moore,
but I thought the offensive line was going to be better.
You had it John who Smith as a target. You
upgraded the defensive line for sure, one of the weaknesses
of the team a year ago. And you upgraded a quarterback.
And I think that last one is really important. And
I think what we're seeing is that the Steelers have
(37:13):
upgraded a quarterback. And that's why I thought they would
be a better team than ten and seven, And even
if the record didn't show that, in better position, even
if you finished ten and seven, in better position to
win a playoff game than they've been in years. And
I think what you just said about Wilson and Fields,
think about that. Guys, they were ten and seven last
year and the two quarterbacks that they ran out there
(37:35):
with have been benched by their respective teams.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
Yeah, exactly, And I think that's just that's just telling
about where they are in the process. They were good
for us last year and the roles that we needed him.
It was a two headed attack. You know, just as
started the season, Russell finished the season. We lived into
the playoffs. We had a crappy schedule as far as
the timing at the end of the year, and you know,
(38:02):
injuries played a role in that. But you know, good,
good for them, they got new life at new teams.
I mean we allowed them to progress their careers one
more year.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
But I mean there was there.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
Was riding on the wall, and there was a lot
of things we saw that let us know that now
this isn't a long term solution based on what we saw,
and I think that's starting to play out. So you
have to say good on Omar Khn and the player
personnel department, Sheldon White, Andy Whidelan company for recognizing that
and going and identifying where we needed to improve.
Speaker 7 (38:32):
The Cleveland Browns broke a streak of eleven straight games
in which they'd scored seventeen points or fewer. Of course,
we saw the Steelers throttle the Browns and hold them
than nine. They scored thirty one against the Dolphins. En't
have to hear about that streak anymore. Threw up three
spots to twenty seven. And then I think the teams
that we can all identify as struggling. And again the
(38:53):
Cleveland at least has that outstanding defensive unit. But the
teams behind them, the Saints, you're twenty eighth, the Raiders
are twenty ninth, the Dolphins are thirtieth. The Titans are
thirty first, the winless Jets are thirty second. So again
we point that out because the Steelers are four and
two and they now have national perceptions the fifth best
(39:18):
team in the NFL and the second best team in
the NFL coming up in back to back weeks. We
are going to in the last few minutes we have
of this show really begin to dive into the Steelers Packers,
which we will continue over the next couple of days.
That is when we continue in the Locker Room presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop
(39:40):
on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
This is in the Locker Room with Kingyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one point fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 7 (40:08):
And we thank you, of course for being with us
in the locker room. And Max, you know, there's so
much to talk about in this game, Steelers and Packers.
You know, I don't want to get caught too much
up in the Aaron Rodgers revenge game thing, I really do.
(40:28):
That stuff has never interested me a whole ton I
like to talk about, you know. I'm eager to you know,
dive into the tight end matchup, which I think is very,
very interesting in this game. You know, Jordan Love really
likes to go to Tucker Craft. The Steelers, I believe,
have the highest percentage of completions to the tight end
(40:49):
position than any team in the NFL. So there's there's
a lot of things and that's just one matchup. You know,
the offensive tackles against those pass rushers, students pass rushers
against their offensive tackles.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
And on and on and on and on.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
How do you prevent Jordan Love from giving up the
big play. He's a guy that likes to throw the
ball down the field and make some big plays. Is
Christian Watson going to be back. There's a lot to
dive into. But you know, in the minutes allotted to us,
I have to say it is. Normally this would be
either be like whatever, I don't care. Maybe because he's
(41:25):
the Steelers quarterback I care more. But it would be
kind of cool to see Aaron Rodgers go not kind
of cool, be very cool to see him go to
and zero against the only other two teams he's played for.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
He beat the Jets already this season.
Speaker 7 (41:39):
And it would be it would be fun, a fun
secondary storyline to see him beat the Packers, the team
for whom you know he's always going to be associated with,
and he's always that, you know, when he's a first
ballot Hall of Famer, he's going to be associated with
the Green Bay Packers. But they didn't want him anymore.
(42:01):
They wanted to go to Jordan Love. And I think
it's a I don't know. Normally I wouldn't care, but
I think it's a fascinating sub story in this game.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
You know, you you you should care, Kinger because it's
the bell lap.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
You got it there, because it's a it is a
bell lap segment here in the show. And you know,
I heard all the possibly you know, once again, I
was just I was just wearing you.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
Say.
Speaker 7 (42:33):
We've only been doing this show for like a several
months max. Eventually I'll get the I.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Mean, what what? But you know what, I love it.
I love the.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Excitement and almost like startling effect it has every time
I do it. It does so it happens every last
segment of our show.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
So very excited. But no, I agree.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
I think when you look at this matchup, like there's
so much on the line and it's fun. As we're
sitting here talking, I'm actually holding my Packers press box
pass from twenty twenty two and I'm sitting there and
I'm just like, oh, man, you know you think you
(43:16):
think about just the Green Bay Packers are at the
front of my mind even when I'm not even thinking
about them.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
It's sitting right here on my deskerbobl press.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Pass because I haven't I haven't logged in and filed
it away yet, and it's just sitting there.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
But you know, this.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Game has a lot of meaning.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
I mean, you have to think that this is something
that not only Aaron has thought about, but the rest
of the the rest of the offense and defense are
thinking about this as well, because you know you wanted
to right the ship against you know, all these revenge
games for new guys on the team, so Jets check
(43:55):
Seahawks unchecked for DK Metcalf. But you know you'll have
this opportunity for Aaron, and then you'll also get the
revenge opportunity for Jalen Ramsey and John new Smith who
got traded from Miami, right, so they'll get to see
their former team. So there's a lot of a lot
of these games and a lot of these ones, but
(44:17):
the revenge games, the get back I got my new
teammates back type of games are on the list, and
so I expect a certain level of attention because I.
Speaker 3 (44:30):
Know how it was when we played. Yeah, we will.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
Hey man, hey, you know we're playing the old team. Man,
I'm gonna give you all the information I got on
everybody scorched earth, burn the bridges. We don't need to
come back, burn the ships at the shore, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
We're not going. We're not retreating.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
We asked for no quarter, We offer no quarter.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
That's the type of mentality that you want to have,
and I think that's the mentality they're going to have
going into this game.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
I agree, And you know it's gonna be it already
is one of the national subplots. And you know, let's
flip that. If you're Jordan Love, you know, you're the
guy that that stepped in for the king, and you've
done a great job.
Speaker 2 (45:15):
I mean, he's a really good player.
Speaker 7 (45:18):
It's it's not the same for him going against Aaron
as it is for Aaron going against the Packers.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 7 (45:25):
I mean, it's you know, I'm sure he loved his show.
Hey listen here, I am, But there's not that deep
level of grit. Uh, that that deep level of you know,
you turned your back on me. Not that you know,
Aaron Rodgers couldn't see when they drafted Love that Love
was eventually going to be the guy, much like that
(45:46):
happened with him, Uh, you know, early in his career. Still,
I gotta I gotta believe that if there's a chip
on the shoulder, if there's an emotional level of I
want to win this game, and if that factors it
all into it, then that is a factor that is
leaning the Steelers direction.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
There's eighteen years of yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
You know, I don't think anybody can compare to that.
Speaker 4 (46:13):
You know, when you're trying to figure out how important
this game might be and how this might mean a
little bit more eighteen years your last Super Bowl appearance
was because of this guy and the multiple NFC championship
games that you went to, the one you lost to
Tom Brady. Of course, sticking out the most when they
(46:35):
didn't trust him to go for it on fourth and
short and they put they tried to kick around the kicker,
missed the field goal. Right, These are those type of things,
Like there's a lot of history we could point to
between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and who
was gonna win out in those moments and eventually, you know,
got a coach fired. And now that coach got fired
(46:56):
again from Dallas, but in Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (46:59):
But there's a lot of the.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
Consternation and for Aaron especially not only being told no
once by the Green Bay Packers, but then being told
Noah second time by the New York Jets. And so
this scorched Earth type of revenge to her means a
lot more to that guy, because talk about being denied
(47:24):
twice and you're leading the NFL and puchdown passes. Just
think about that, Just think about that. So, yeah, yeah,
there's a nod on his crawl this one. He might
not say it. He's gonna say all the right things.
He's gonna be very you know for a post, and
he's gonna be very complementary. Then the game is the game.
(47:45):
Let's focus on the teammates getting better and team but
in the back of his mind, he's like, no, f that,
I don't like any of y'all.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
It's like.
Speaker 4 (47:54):
I am going to step on your neck and when
and when I get the chance, I might even stomp
on it. The referee is not looking, you know what
I'm saying, Like this is the one where you pull
the brass knuckles out the shorts and wrestling and you
cold cock the guy because the referee is laying passed
out on the mat like this is. This is personal
(48:14):
and I just can't even imagine as a teammate because
I know what it is from my position here as
a former player and knowing what that means to my team.
It's a different level of folks. It's a different level
of TANASI. It's a different level of edge going into
this game because I want it because he wants it,
but more so because I know what he went through
(48:34):
and I know what he means to us, Right, That's
really what it comes down to, and that's the support
you get, and that's the beauty of a team sport,
rob versus. It's not like tennis, whereas you can only
get mad at your racket and your tennis bag. You know,
that's it. Golf golfers could only take it out on
their bag and the caddy maybe, I mean, depending on
how many times a caddy's been with him.
Speaker 3 (48:55):
You told me it was a nine iron. It was
supposed to be a seven iron.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
You know what I'm saying, Like, get off the course, know, like,
like it's so, it's only so mad. You could get
an individual sport track. It's like you look at your feet, right,
you know, It's like I didn't run fast enough. Oh
I was missing a spike, Darren. You spike like you.
It's not the same. But when it's a team and
it's an organization and they all say no, and and
(49:19):
you find that one team that says yes, and you
see the success that you have, Yeah, you want to
you want to prove it right at the very start,
because think about this, the New York Jets. Look at
where their trajectory went after that game against US. YEP,
if they win that game, we're not having this conversation.
(49:41):
We're not having this conversation. They're not having this conversation.
Justin Field's probably not benched, but it did happen. He
did run into A and Aaron outdueled Justin Fields one
down the Green Bay Packers sitting at three to one
and one, they take a loss. Guess who jumps into
the number one spot. Oh, that number one team in
the Power A ranking.
Speaker 3 (50:00):
Detroit Lions.
Speaker 4 (50:02):
And now now you're trying to compete with him, and
you've got a half game behind them because you have
a tie. So if you accomplish this goal, you start
to put question marks and doubts in those other organizations
as well. And that would be a heck of a
feather in the cap to put, you know, in your cap.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Heck of a feather to put in a cap.
Speaker 7 (50:24):
Yes, heck of a feather to put in a feather
to put in the cap. Well, on this show, we
are capped out and we cannot wait to dive in.
There's so many big matchups. That's kind of like that's
a storyline, that's not a matchup. We'll talk about the matchups.
Aaron Rodgers going against a very good Packers defense coming
up tomorrow when Jerry Dulac will also join us for
(50:48):
Justin Miller at the Patrols in our Iart studio for
Max Starks, I'm Rob King.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
We thank you for listening to this edition of
Speaker 7 (50:54):
The Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and
the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part
of the steeler Is Audio Network,
This is in the locker Room with Kingyon 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 Shot at shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Oh, guess what day it is? Guess what day it is? Eh? Anybody, Julie, Hey,
guess what day it is? Come on, I know you
can hear me. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike. What day
is it? Mike, Lestlie, guess what today is?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's hump day. Woo woo wood it is. It is
a WEX Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
When you hear Mike the Camel, of course, it is
the power hour move Aside Optimist, Hello, Mike the Camel,
and we are here, of course with steel City Insider
editor in chief uh acclaimed author and also a great
friend of the program.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
It is the one, the only Jim Wexel.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
How are we doing today? Wex It was at a
subdued intro this time around.
Speaker 5 (01:16):
It was really nice. You want to talk about some
dude you missed Kinger last week? Yeah, we got Wexel here,
let's get him out of the way and loog along.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
It was nothing like that, Jim, And.
Speaker 6 (01:30):
You know that, you know, it's hey, hey, wex you know,
before we move ahead, I think we have to look
back because you know, we're trying to put Thursday's game
into some context, you know, and and you know, if
you want it every way you want it, you.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Could say, well, it's Thursday night's road game.
Speaker 7 (01:49):
We know the records against those teams, so that's excusing
the defense. But the offense is here to stay. So
you know, that's what we've come to expect. And so
you know, maybe that's the case. Maybe you can have
it both ways. Maybe you do write it off. I
don't know, as I'm quite in that camp. But what
is your takeaway from what happened on Thursday night in
(02:11):
Cincinnati and and where it sort of leaves the team.
We began the show by talking about, you know, some
some reactions are and are they overreactions? ESPN this morning
saying is this Teelers defense, Uh, you know, the most
disappointing unit in the NFL and that and that's what's
gonna happen when you have a game like Thursday night
wiping out the previous three games when everyone's.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Talking about all the sacks and turnovers.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
So put Thursday night's game into into context for us
from your perspective.
Speaker 5 (02:43):
Okay, well, ow a couple of notes I used in
my post game notes column. UH. While I was watching
the game, I thought that Cincinnati looked like Air coriol
And I remember back in the UH and the Steelers
look like Air Corey defense if you remember that. But
I looked back at the nineteen seventy nine the Steelers
(03:06):
played Air Coriell and lost thirty five to seven and
went on to win the Super Bowl. I also was
reminded of when the Steelers went ahead on Friarmooth touchdown late.
I thought, I thought of the two thousand and nine
Packers Steelers game in Heinz Field when the Steelers on
(03:26):
side kicked, because I thought the Steelers should on side
kick here, not give them the ball back. They will lose,
And that's what they did in two thousand and nine,
And what I thought I did. I was not at
Detroit PULLMOLLOPIQ six game, but I thought the thirty seven
thirty six Steelers went over the Packers in two thousand
and nine was the best game I ever saw at
(03:48):
Heinz Field. And you know that Steeler team that was
so poor defensively that they had to onside kick late
in the game with the lead, and the Packers recovered
and scored as we expected, But since they only had
to off the field to drive, it gave the Steelers
enough time to go back and score. And that Steelers
(04:13):
team of two thousand and nine, with that wretched defense,
went on to win play in the Super Bowl the
next year against Aaron Rodgers. So games like that aren't
always as bad as they look. So those are my
takeaways from an optimistic point of view. From a pessimistic
(04:33):
point of view, they have played like that early in
the season defensively. Was this an aberration or a they're
reverting to form. We're going to find out more as
we go on, especially against the Packers and Colts.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Well, I just want to say thank you for that
PTSD there wex about the two thousand and nine Packers
game where I gave up two sacks against Klay Matthews.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
Uh, I.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Know you didn't mention it. It flooded my mind. Yeah,
it flooded my mind. I was like Jesus, I remember
that game.
Speaker 4 (05:10):
I was like, oh, that's one of my that's one
of my more worst games in my career.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Was given up two sex play Matthews.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Yeah, Well the Peers have nobody like Clay Matthews now right, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
No, not at all. No, no, there's not a guy
you know by the name of Michael Parsons.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
I got traded r at the beginning of the season.
That is just dominating at the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Uh no. But uh but no, I digress because, like
you said at the.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
End, we ended up winning, right, And it's not it's
not about how bad you do individually.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
It's the collective and you're judged on wins and losses.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
And no matter how bad I think of that as
a loss mentally, it was a win in the record book.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
So that's all that matters.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
Uh, let me ask you, you could tell the truth. Now,
what was your reaction to the on sites kick.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
I was like, I was like, oh, oh my god.
I was like, I was like, what are we doing?
I was nervous yea. I was like, you're really gonna
give Hey.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
I don't know if you noticed this there I have
thirty plus points already before this on side.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Kick, and we're giving them a shorter field.
Speaker 4 (06:13):
I was like, Jay Reed, just you know, just just
kick it out the back of the end zone. Jesus
make us start on this twenty at least. But I
get the reasoning now. I look at it and hints
why players play and coaches coach.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Right, you know they took a calculated risk, don't.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
I don't know that tom La planned that. Well, the
Packers will recover this at the fifty, it'll take them
shorter time to score, and we'll get the ball back.
I don't think he plans for that, but that's what happened.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Yeah, Well, that that's the fifty to fifty dice roll
right on that one. It's like either we get it
back and we bleed out the clock, or they get
it back and pray that they either stop or score
quickly so that we can at least get the ball
back and do what we planned on doing, which was
trying to end the game with the ball in our hands.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So, I mean, there.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
Must have been a lot of injuries on that defense
because nobody had confidence in that defense, and it was
between Super Bowl appearances, so there must have been a
lot of injuries. I don't know what was wrong with
that defense. I mean nobody really, I don't think was
against the on side kick. Everybody feared that defense coming
(07:25):
back on the field. But regardless, I know Kinger is
probably sitting there were you guys, quit talking about the past.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
No, I love it. Are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (07:35):
No?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I had no problem with that at all.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
I'm trying to remember because I know that that wasn't
the year that Debo left. It had his one his
one year sore with the No might have been with
the Bengals. He might have been injured that year because
I'm thinking there was something about the production. Yeah, Troy
got injured that year. Was was footgard for a year
(07:58):
then Foot or be Mad Timmins.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
Timmins was probably playing by then because he was drafted
in two thousand and seven, so it was probably.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Okay, So yeah, so so Foot was in Detroit by then. Okay,
So I'm thinking I'm thinking like that there's a difference there.
I'm trying to think of the different shakeups that could
have happened. But like you said, Detroit injury, James being injured.
I mean, those are two key factors when you talk
about how good or bad a defense can be in
(08:29):
those two and I mean we still.
Speaker 5 (08:35):
Yeah yeah yeah, was probably injured a couple of key seasons. Yeah,
I might think yeah.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right. Yeah, And that was
Ziggy Hood that was playing for him or even or.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
Even you guys had to do. All you guys had
to do was play Chris Hoak because weren't you like
thirty four and one with Chris Hoak as a starter.
Speaker 7 (09:01):
Yeah, it was like hokey, but it was like eighteen
or nineteen and oh, at the beginning of his career.
And then I think they I think they did finally
lose one.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Wex well, they know, He'll.
Speaker 5 (09:11):
Quick to remind you that the Raiders only gained sixty
seven yards or something in that game that they lost.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Oh jeez, yeah, yeah, thank thank you, thank you, Hoky Bro.
Appreciate it, hockey Bro.
Speaker 7 (09:25):
So once again, so wex as I try to throw
the lass over you guys and and and bring you
back to twenty twenty five, specifically October twenty second of twenty.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
Twenty Okay, Martin McFly, let's go then.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Do what do you.
Speaker 7 (09:42):
Know you you talked about, you know that loss in
context on Thursday night, and I think we all have
you know, at the end of the day, we all
have to wait and see, right, we don't know what's
going to happen. If we knew it was going to happen,
then we would just quit our jobs and moved the
Las Vegas, which, by the way, I do I do
(10:03):
not condone. I'm not a gambler myself. My feeling on
all that is, there was a pile of sand and
now there's a city there, So that tells you what
you're we're gambling money is going. That's just my own perspective.
To each his own.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Uh, you know, I'm not trying to tell you how
to live your life.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
That's just they have great shows and buffets, rob and
that's to Vegas.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
That's my Yeah, they do have great shows.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:27):
I got a chance to see Bill Crawford do some
stand up last year. That's the first time I've seen
Bill do hilarious. Of course, first time I've actually seen
them have a chance to. I'd go out to Vegas
to see a Pittsburgh guy do stand up anyway. Uh,
digressions here, digressions, So what do you think WEX Are
you more inclined to think that was a one game hiccup.
(10:49):
I don't you know. I guess I'm putting you on
the spot here a little bit. I like the way
the offense is working. I like the you know, they're
they're trending up in the running game. And now you
can easily, of course, say, well, Cincinnati's not that great
against the run, so you believe what you want to believe.
But I think that you know, if you're I've mentioned
this before on these airwaves, if you are a national
(11:11):
pundit who had doubts as to whether Aaron Rodgers still
had something left in the tank, you know, if you
watch that game, I don't see how you could still
have doubts running games of the offense.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yep. To me, that's moving in the right direction. That
continued a trend.
Speaker 7 (11:27):
Now that's a four game trend of the offense really
moving in the right direction.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I'd like to think.
Speaker 7 (11:33):
That that game was bad matchup apper, you know, a
bit of a you know, if your Thursday night, all
this other stuff and things, you know, things going wrong,
and that's.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Where i'd like to be. I guess we'll find out
more on Sunday night.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
But I do think it was more aberration than reversion
back to weeks one and two.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Do you have a sense one way or the other.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
No, I agree with you. There's not an injury problem here.
There's I mean there's a question about the age of
some of the corners, but with a guy like Brandon
Echols playing well, you have that option. You know, the
inside linebackers. I was listening to Merrill Hodge this morning.
(12:18):
He doesn't believe they have good instincts in zo coverage.
He also said it's easy to fix. So otherwise, I
don't see a lot of personnel issues on that defense.
So I mean, there was a lack of tackling, there
was a lack of intensity, and you get that on
(12:40):
a Thursday night, So for I mean, it's disappointing. But
and I don't I'm not questioning the effort. I'm just
questioning the intensity. It wasn't what it was the previous
two games, and I think they can get that back. Otherwise,
I mean, the offense is getting better, but it's not.
(13:00):
Eric Coriel, I mean, if you're going to play defense
like those San Diego Chargers did, you got to play
offense like they did too. And I don't know that
this gang with the one wide receiver is up for it.
So yeah, I believe the defense will play, will play
much better. Whether it's enough for a win this week,
(13:21):
that remains to be seen. But I think the defense
will play much better. We need more on Ramsey and
Slay and Porter. I mean, you know, that was the
excitement coming into the year, and they let put the
fans down and the team down I think last week
and the run defense, I mean, my goodness, I mean,
(13:42):
come on, So that's been Yeah, that's been Mike tomlins
primary emphasis at the press conference. You know, what do
you think about the field? What a field would be
better if we could stop the run? To get a
new uniform, Well, we're going to have to stop the
run for those uniforms to be effective, you know, So
(14:04):
I appreciate his emphasis.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Yeah, I think, you know, that's kind of the reality
of the world we live in right now, is that
you know, you have to be effective, you have to.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
You have to do your job.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And like you said, the guys that we have on
this roster were brought in for a very specific purpose,
and that purpose was to win, and it was specifically
against the Cincinnati Bengals that this team was constructed right,
and so now head to head, you know, Bengals won,
(14:43):
Steelers defense. Oh and you got to figure out a
way to regroup, regather next time you see them. Of course,
it will be on a normal day of the week, Sunday,
and it won't be you know, on the heels of
another division game on a short week. We seem to,
we seem to always seem to fall into those you know,
(15:04):
every season where we get back to back, even though
we're the last team to actually have a division matchup.
Of the rest of our division, everybody else has at
least played each other once, maybe even twice, and we
get in and it's like, no, you know.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
What, we're gonna get you. We're gonna get you, guys
caught up. No, we're gonna put you two games in
five days. Let's do you know, let's do three and eleven.
How about that, lett, let's do one of those. You know,
it just you know, it's it's not.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
It's it's nice to be wanted and desired from that
perspective to have these prime time and opportune games, But
every once in a while, it's like, come on, guys,
you know, like, let's what.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Are we doing here?
Speaker 4 (15:39):
I know, I know the NFL wants to backload the
division games, but you know every year the Steelers are
last to get that first matchup. Is kind of kind
of ridiculous, but you know, it is the hands we're
dealt and you can only play the schedule that that
that's given to you. So you know, we can use
that excuse for right now and right now only, but
now we throw it in the trash can and move
(15:59):
on and say, doesn't matter. The game is the game
wins the game. You knew this game was coming at
the beginning of it. You knew this game was coming
back in May, so don't act surprised. Just figure out
a way to get it fixed.
Speaker 5 (16:13):
Well. As for the Packers, you know, Rogers, of course
played for the Packers eighteen years. This is the third
third time a quarterback who played for a team for
fifteen years or more has played his old team, and
the two previous times Tom Brady and Brett Favre they
(16:35):
both won. So you got that going for you if
that means anything. But I think what means more is
Rogers competitiveness, and you know we saw that arm I
think I questioned his deep ball last week on this show,
and you know, he showed us seventy yards in the
(16:58):
air and he's still moving well. So, you know, his
competitiveness and his ability to bring that competitives competitiveness into
his group, into his team and instill it. I think
(17:18):
that's going to pay off this week. I just have
a I have a hunch the Steelers going to find
a way to win this one, and then I think
they're going to beat the Colts. So these these two
games could reinvigorate the town that was just starting to
get a little excited. You know. You you started talking
(17:41):
about hole field advantage throughout Yeah, yeah, I know, but
it was something worth considering because of the division, the
plight of the division, and the apparent status of the
Bengals who were without Hendrickson, without Burrow. So who knew
(18:03):
that Flacco would look that good?
Speaker 3 (18:08):
No, You're absolutely right, it was that.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
That was one that was But you know it shouldn't
surprise us, Wex because guess what. Flacco literally has made
his career on how well he looks against the Steelers,
and he proved it. You know, during his time as
a Baltimore Raven. He proved it as an Indianapolis cult
as well, because remember he beat us as a cult
(18:32):
last year, so you know it's just but yet he'll
he'll be six, he'll be six and twenty one everywhere else.
But yet, for whatever reason, he could pull a rabbit
out of his hat against us, and it is just
needless to say, very frustrating.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
Yeah. So but well he wasn't even good enough to
play a pitt so you know that.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Is true, that is true, he was.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
That was a close one. That was a close one.
Speaker 7 (18:58):
And I remember when that decision was made and Walt Harris,
who was the pit coach, said that was a really
really tough decision. And I think a lot of people
just rolled their eyes, like, first of all, you're gonna
play Tyler Palco, local kid, highly decorated coming out of
West Alleghany championship high school quarterback, good quarterback at the
(19:21):
college level, played in the NFL for a little while.
There was no doubt Tyler Palko was gonna be the quarterback.
So everyone and they said, yeah Flacco. Everyone kind of
rolled their eyes and then look at his career, right,
pretty good career.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
Wex Yeah, but you're right, you're right, Palko was a
better college quarterback. Yeah he was SI for that game
at that time.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Ye right, he was.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Wex thank you, my friend, appreciate it.
Speaker 7 (19:49):
Look forward to seeing you and as always talking with you.
Give us an update in the book before we let
you go.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
Two weeks two weeks now, the Wolfley Book will be
released and it will be available everywhere, and hopefully we'll
get some signings and we'll get you guys to uh,
you know, do a little marketing for us on this show.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, it's good.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Yeah, pretty that.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
I mean, you know, you don't have to ask, especially
when it comes to especially when it comes to this,
and especially since it's wolf so double as double.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Ams on that one.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Thank you, wex right, Jim Wexel. That is hump Day
Headlines with Wexel, presented by our neighborhood, Ford Stow. The
F one fifty is the official truck of the Pittsburgh
Steers and we want to remind you you can gear
up with the latest game day necessities at the official
Students Pro shops. Get the latest Sideline apparel, jerseys, terrible towels,
(20:51):
authentic memorabilia and custom exclusives you can only find directly
from the team. Visit one of the official Studis Pro
shops located at Acroturs Adiam Grove City Premium Outlets or
Tangro out Let's Secure up online at shop dot Steelers
dot com. Get it direct from the team at the
Steelers Pro Shop at shop dot Steelers dot com. We
(21:11):
will continue in the Locker Room presented by your neighborhood
Ford Store, in the Students Pro Shop on Steer's Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Apart of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
This is in the locker room with kingon 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 (21:43):
So here in the locker room, we like to go
through the.
Speaker 7 (21:48):
Power rankings of the various outlets. We have mostly gone
with the Athletic last week we added the ESPN and
NFL dot Com. I think we're gonna skip the Athletic
this week, just to just for some variety, you know, Max,
we need some why not?
Speaker 3 (22:03):
Why not? Right y?
Speaker 7 (22:05):
Spice of Life and we we uh went through ESPNS yesterday,
so we're not gonna spend a ton of time on
this other than to get a sense of where the
Steelers and other teams are and maybe the Steelers opponent
this week in Green Bay are viewed, how they're viewed
(22:27):
nationally for what that matters, which again isn't a ton
but I think it is interesting. And we talked about
at the beginning of the show a segment on ESPN
in which they said, is the Steelers defense the most
disappointing unit in the NFL? That was that was the subject,
and I understand they have a lot of hours to fill,
so I get that. But we're gonna run through the
(22:48):
power rankings here just again to get this context from
NFL dot com, and then we're gonna start talking about
some of the key matchups in this game as the
Steelers are getting ready to take on Green Bay in
a matchup of leaders AFC North versus NFC North.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
So number one.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
The Detroit Lions. They moved up from number two to
number one. Of course number one had been Tampa Bay. Uh,
no problem with the Lions one Colts two, do you no?
Speaker 4 (23:18):
I mean, it is what it is I mean I
already talked about how the Lions lost to the Chiefs,
and the Chiefs look really good. So I'm struggling with
how they're in front of them.
Speaker 3 (23:29):
But I get it. I get it record because the.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Chiefs are four and three.
Speaker 7 (23:32):
But but but exactly, and and I think you have
to have the Colts up there. And you know what, man,
it it is. It's it's hard not to start to
have some belief in this Colts team. You know who
they play, well, they just beat Denver and they just
you know, they rolled over the Chargers.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
I mean they rolled over the Chargers. Uh, you know,
So I don't know, man.
Speaker 7 (23:57):
Uh, the Colts move up six from eight to number two.
And I think when you're a one loss team, only
one loss team in the NFL, well the Packers because
they have the Packers have a tie.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Also, you gotta be up there. So culture too. Now
come your Chiefs number three, way higher than they were
in that six, seven, eight range. I believe.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
In the ESPN ranking, I don't have it in front
of me, and I'm not gonna call it up. They
were in that range though, and they are three in
the up six spots from nine to three with the
with the just thrashing of the Raiders thirty one to nothing,
and a couple of you know, back to back wins
(24:42):
for the Chiefs impressively, that make you think the Chiefs
are back. And I have no problem with them being three.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
No, I don't either.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
Like I said, I was there at that game and
I watched it. And you know, once again, if you
think the Steelers are a bad unit, you have not
watched the rest of the NFL. There are way worse
teams up there. And yeah, it was, it was. It
was painful. The Raiders ran thirty total offensive plays Kinger.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
That's the unbelievable Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (25:19):
The Chiefs had thirty first down.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
That is a lopsided thrashing.
Speaker 7 (25:28):
So the Seahawks move down a spot because the Chiefs
moved up and because the Colts moved up, and the
Seahawks took it to the Jaguars.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Look they they had and you.
Speaker 7 (25:42):
Know, just scrolling through some of the things, you know,
they had four four turnovers and twelve penalties.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Oh yeah, Texans, I'm sorry.
Speaker 7 (25:50):
Four turnovers and twelve penalties.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
And it really wasn't a game, really wasn't.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
No.
Speaker 4 (26:00):
Now, so the score, the score will let you believe
one thing, but your eyeballs will tell you a completely
different thing.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
If you watch.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
I think one of the biggest questions for Seattle was
what was Sam Darnold gonna do right? Was he going
to be a guy that sort of lifted up the program?
Was he going to be you know, I think there
was fear of regression. You're leaving a great coach with
a great system and unbelievable targets up in Minnesota. You know,
(26:27):
maybe the only team in the league that can rival
the Bengals with their top two Jefferson and Addison versus
Chase and and Higgins. I think, well, we could debate
where those are, but they could rival them for sure.
And anyway, uh, let's let's let's move on from there.
(26:49):
So the Packers are fifth, and they hold steady at
four to one and one.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I mean, like you said, one lost team, So yep,
that's where they're at.
Speaker 2 (27:03):
Yep.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (27:04):
Then let's let's move through some of these quickly, staying
the same. The Eagles at six, the Rams at seven.
The Buccaneers dropped seven spots all the way down to eight.
They're five and two, obviously a lot worse than the
five and two of Philadelphia and the five and two
of the Rams, and the five and two of the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
And on and on and on we go. Uh and
the five and two of the Lions. You know.
Speaker 7 (27:29):
Uh, it's when you lose at the timing year loss
and and all those other things.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
Injuries you have. Yeah, yeah, they have. They have a
ton of injuries.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Right for the bus right. So I guess the question
is is this a snapshot in time? Is it a
is it where where do we really think they rank?
You know?
Speaker 7 (27:49):
I think if it was where do I really think
they rank? I think I would add the Lions in
chiefs one and two.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Yeah, I mean I was I would say Chiefs for sure, Lions.
I'm a little less kind of bulle Shawn. I would
have probably had the Colts at two. Okay, just you know,
and then I probably have Lions three.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
Yeah. I mean the Colts deserve quote unquote deserve it.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
But you know again do I I've got to see it.
I think I want to see it in person. Anyway,
we will in a couple of weeks. I don't have
to wait too long. The Rams are seventh, the Buccaneers eighth,
as we mentioned the Bills are ninth. They moved down
five spots from four to nine. I think didn't they
(28:37):
have a buy? Yeah, they had a buy. Long way
to fall during Hey, one more buy, they might be
out of the top fifteen exactly. The Broncos another five
and two team, up a spot. Incredible comeback victory against
the Giants. You know, if they had them eleventh last week,
they were just about to pencil them into seventeenth, and
(28:59):
then they scored three thirty three on unanswered points and
they move.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Up to tenth.
Speaker 7 (29:04):
I don't have any problem that the Patriots are eleventh,
up five spots from sixteen to eleven.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
No problem there either.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Okay, the forty nine Ers are.
Speaker 3 (29:18):
Twelveth Nope, don't have a problem with that one either.
Speaker 7 (29:22):
Okay, they're up three spots and we land on the
Pittsburgh Steelers are number thirteen, down three spots for them again.
You know what happens if they pull a rabbit out
of the hat and win that game, do they move
up in the rankings? I don't know, but they're thirteenth,
and you know, move from tenth to thirteenth, and I
(29:44):
think that that ten to twelve. I think thirteen is
about as low as I would even conceive of having them.
I think that's okay. Now, go beat the Packers and
you're gonna move up, right.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
Well, and I mean you are the lowest rank division leader. Yes,
you know as well. That's that's the other thing that
we have to consider as well. But like you said,
I mean, you still need to be in in in
dance card range because that's where you are by league standing.
So I'm okay with it. But like you said, you
(30:16):
got to go and you gotta do the work. And
that's what the Steelers are charged with right now, going
and get and doing the work and moving yourself back
into a place where you say, no, that was an accident.
This is who we really are. And they got a
chance with that on Sunday Night football.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
And this is the beauty of it, man, And we
love talking about it. I love the fact that an
NFL game is played and there's a week of anticipation
and build up to the next game. There's a couple
of days of oh my gosh, what went wrong? Or
holy mackerel, Look, we're at the top of the mountain.
We didn't even need a sherpa and here we are
on top of Everest, and you know, uh and and
(30:52):
then you start to you start to this is why
I kind of like these rankings. You start to think about, Okay,
what's what's up next? Well, you know what's up next
for the Toeers the fifth ranked team on this power
ranking and the second ranked team in this power ranking.
So you're gonna find out. And you got them both
at home, right, You're gonna find out. I mean, that's
your record, is what you are, right, So there you go,
(31:17):
just quickly. The Bears have won four in a row.
We'll see them and they're not too distant future too.
They're fourteenth right now. The Jaguars down a couple spots
to fifteen. The Commanders fell four spots to sixteen. The
Chargers fell three spots to seventeen. They are in a
free fall after their three and oh start. The Falcons
(31:38):
they moved down a spot to eighteen. The Panthers, they're
the quietest four and three team in the NFL. They
are just quietly four and three. I don't know if
they're any good. I have no idea. That's the other thing.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
How good are they really? That's gonna be the question.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
But like you said, making silent progress as they go through.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
Now, the only negative.
Speaker 4 (32:08):
Is you're in the same division as the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons, who you know, are are
kind of similarly situated. So we'll see how that falls
at any souse always one of those wildcard divisions.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Yep.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
And and by the way, if you think to yourself, geez,
I think we should be higher ranked. I think we're
better than that. Okay, you're hosting the Bills on Sunday.
Let's see, right, let's see, let's see what you got.
You know, I'm not saying fans in Carolina are clamoring
for that. They're probably pretty happy with the four and
three start. But you want to be you want to
(32:44):
be better perceived than that around the nation. Okay, you
got your shot against the Bills on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
The Cowboys.
Speaker 7 (32:51):
I might have to reevaluate the Cowboys. Man, they can
score some points.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
They move up to the spot offense in the league.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Yeah, yeah, I was not bullish on the Cowboys, but
I might have to change my tune. The Texans drop
one spot to twenty one. How about the Vikings dropping
three spots to twenty two. They're three and three. They're
three and three. They're the lowest. You know, we talked
about the lowest. The lowest team with the winning record
(33:21):
is Carolina, and the lowest team with a five hundred
record is the Vikings at three and three. Here come
the Ravens at twenty three at one and five, one
spot ahead of the three and four Bengals, who moved
up three spots to twenty four. And again we're gonna
find out right. The first thing, the first sentence under
(33:45):
the Bengals is and I think we both agree with this, Max,
the whole arc of the season has completely changed after
Thursday stunner over the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (33:58):
The Bengals, the arc of theirs has completely change.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
I gotta agree with that statement, even though I don't
want to, but it is the truth.
Speaker 7 (34:07):
I mean, look, they're playing the Jets this week. The
Jets haven't won a game if the Bengals. Look, that's
one where you quote unquote, Max should take care of business, right,
you should win that game. So if you come out
of that game four and four, you're right there and
you are eagerly watching the game on Sunday night. But
(34:30):
if you dropped US three and five. We're saying, okay, uh,
you know, maybe it's time to think about trade and
Trey Hendrickson.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
They were who we thought they were. We're Denny, We're
Denny greening it.
Speaker 4 (34:45):
Oh yeah, if they go with that one, twenty fifth forever.
Speaker 7 (34:52):
No, it's it's so good. Twenty fifth is Arizona. You
pointed statistic out there. They started out the season two
they have lost five straight by a combined max how
many points.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Thirteen thirteen points.
Speaker 7 (35:08):
Five consecutive losses by a total of thirteen points. Oh,
you talk about some hand ringing, Holy mackerel. And then
the team right behind them has got to be doing
some hand ringing too, the team that lost or this
year to the Cowboys in overtime. So that's a tough loss,
up eighteen points with just over five minutes left, and
(35:29):
the Giants instead of being three and four and maybe
with that overtime went over, the Cowboys four and three
are two and five.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
You are what your record says you are.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
It was, and hopefully people in Pittsburgh are also not
wondering why we let Justin Fields and Russell Wilson go yep,
because that's the first of the two and he got benched,
and then we haven't even got to the bottom of
these power rankings and where Justin Fields is right now. Yeah,
So in case you were wondering, oh my gosh, you
stick with just just just keep listening down the power rankings,
(36:04):
you'll see why.
Speaker 7 (36:05):
Yeah, let me let me hit pause on these and
we'll scoot through the last of these.
Speaker 5 (36:08):
Max.
Speaker 7 (36:09):
So, I think that what you just said there the
context to that as to what my perceptions were at
the beginning of the season. And again, we'll find out, right,
we're gonna find out. I'm not playing the games. The
games haven't been played yet, right, we don't know. My
words are just words until the team comes out and
(36:31):
and proves it or disproves it on the field. But
I thought, Okay, you were ten and seven a year ago.
You are you've upgraded in most spots around the roster. Okay, Yeah,
you lost Minka, but you've upgraded a corner. Yeah you
lost Nagye, you had gain Well, you had a third
round pick. I think that's you know, maybe we'll at
least call that a wash. I think I think there's
(36:52):
still some arrow up there. Yeah, you lost Dan Moore,
but I thought the offensive line was going to be better.
You had it John who Smith as a target. You
upgraded the defensive line for sure, one of the weaknesses
of the team a year ago. And you upgraded a quarterback.
And I think that last one is really important. And
I think what we're seeing is that the Steelers have
(37:13):
upgraded a quarterback. And that's why I thought they would
be a better team than ten and seven, And even
if the record didn't show that, in better position, even
if you finished ten and seven, in better position to
win a playoff game than they've been in years. And
I think what you just said about Wilson and Fields,
think about that. Guys, they were ten and seven last
year and the two quarterbacks that they ran out there
(37:35):
with have been benched by their respective teams.
Speaker 4 (37:39):
Yeah, exactly, And I think that's just that's just telling
about where they are in the process. They were good
for us last year and the roles that we needed him.
It was a two headed attack. You know, just as
started the season, Russell finished the season. We lived into
the playoffs. We had a crappy schedule as far as
the timing at the end of the year, and you know,
(38:02):
injuries played a role in that. But you know, good,
good for them, they got new life at new teams.
I mean we allowed them to progress their careers one
more year.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
But I mean there was there.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
Was riding on the wall, and there was a lot
of things we saw that let us know that now
this isn't a long term solution based on what we saw,
and I think that's starting to play out. So you
have to say good on Omar Khn and the player
personnel department, Sheldon White, Andy Whidelan company for recognizing that
and going and identifying where we needed to improve.
Speaker 7 (38:32):
The Cleveland Browns broke a streak of eleven straight games
in which they'd scored seventeen points or fewer. Of course,
we saw the Steelers throttle the Browns and hold them
than nine. They scored thirty one against the Dolphins. En't
have to hear about that streak anymore. Threw up three
spots to twenty seven. And then I think the teams
that we can all identify as struggling. And again the
(38:53):
Cleveland at least has that outstanding defensive unit. But the
teams behind them, the Saints, you're twenty eighth, the Raiders
are twenty ninth, the Dolphins are thirtieth. The Titans are
thirty first, the winless Jets are thirty second. So again
we point that out because the Steelers are four and
two and they now have national perceptions the fifth best
(39:18):
team in the NFL and the second best team in
the NFL coming up in back to back weeks. We
are going to in the last few minutes we have
of this show really begin to dive into the Steelers Packers,
which we will continue over the next couple of days.
That is when we continue in the Locker Room presented
by your neighborhood Ford Store and the Steelers Pro Shop
(39:40):
on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (39:46):
This is in the Locker Room with Kingyon Starks on
Steelers Nation Radio presented by your neighborhood Ford Store. The
F one point fifty is the official truck of the
Pittsburgh Steelers and by Steelers Pro. Get it direct from
the team at the Steelers Pro Shop at Shop dot
Steelers dot com.
Speaker 7 (40:08):
And we thank you, of course for being with us
in the locker room. And Max, you know, there's so
much to talk about in this game, Steelers and Packers.
You know, I don't want to get caught too much
up in the Aaron Rodgers revenge game thing, I really do.
(40:28):
That stuff has never interested me a whole ton I
like to talk about, you know. I'm eager to you know,
dive into the tight end matchup, which I think is very,
very interesting in this game. You know, Jordan Love really
likes to go to Tucker Craft. The Steelers, I believe,
have the highest percentage of completions to the tight end
(40:49):
position than any team in the NFL. So there's there's
a lot of things and that's just one matchup. You know,
the offensive tackles against those pass rushers, students pass rushers
against their offensive tackles.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
And on and on and on and on.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
How do you prevent Jordan Love from giving up the
big play. He's a guy that likes to throw the
ball down the field and make some big plays. Is
Christian Watson going to be back. There's a lot to
dive into. But you know, in the minutes allotted to us,
I have to say it is. Normally this would be
either be like whatever, I don't care. Maybe because he's
(41:25):
the Steelers quarterback I care more. But it would be
kind of cool to see Aaron Rodgers go not kind
of cool, be very cool to see him go to
and zero against the only other two teams he's played for.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
He beat the Jets already this season.
Speaker 7 (41:39):
And it would be it would be fun, a fun
secondary storyline to see him beat the Packers, the team
for whom you know he's always going to be associated with,
and he's always that, you know, when he's a first
ballot Hall of Famer, he's going to be associated with
the Green Bay Packers. But they didn't want him anymore.
(42:01):
They wanted to go to Jordan Love. And I think
it's a I don't know. Normally I wouldn't care, but
I think it's a fascinating sub story in this game.
Speaker 3 (42:10):
You know, you you you should care, Kinger because it's
the bell lap.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
You got it there, because it's a it is a
bell lap segment here in the show. And you know,
I heard all the possibly you know, once again, I
was just I was just wearing you.
Speaker 3 (42:32):
Say.
Speaker 7 (42:33):
We've only been doing this show for like a several
months max. Eventually I'll get the I.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Mean, what what? But you know what, I love it.
I love the.
Speaker 4 (42:42):
Excitement and almost like startling effect it has every time
I do it. It does so it happens every last
segment of our show.
Speaker 3 (42:51):
So very excited. But no, I agree.
Speaker 4 (42:54):
I think when you look at this matchup, like there's
so much on the line and it's fun. As we're
sitting here talking, I'm actually holding my Packers press box
pass from twenty twenty two and I'm sitting there and
I'm just like, oh, man, you know you think you
(43:16):
think about just the Green Bay Packers are at the
front of my mind even when I'm not even thinking
about them.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
It's sitting right here on my deskerbobl press.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
Pass because I haven't I haven't logged in and filed
it away yet, and it's just sitting there.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
But you know, this.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
Game has a lot of meaning.
Speaker 4 (43:33):
I mean, you have to think that this is something
that not only Aaron has thought about, but the rest
of the the rest of the offense and defense are
thinking about this as well, because you know you wanted
to right the ship against you know, all these revenge
games for new guys on the team, so Jets check
(43:55):
Seahawks unchecked for DK Metcalf. But you know you'll have
this opportunity for Aaron, and then you'll also get the
revenge opportunity for Jalen Ramsey and John new Smith who
got traded from Miami, right, so they'll get to see
their former team. So there's a lot of a lot
of these games and a lot of these ones, but
(44:17):
the revenge games, the get back I got my new
teammates back type of games are on the list, and
so I expect a certain level of attention because I.
Speaker 3 (44:30):
Know how it was when we played. Yeah, we will.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
Hey man, hey, you know we're playing the old team. Man,
I'm gonna give you all the information I got on
everybody scorched earth, burn the bridges. We don't need to
come back, burn the ships at the shore, you know, because.
Speaker 3 (44:46):
We're not going. We're not retreating.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
Right.
Speaker 3 (44:49):
We asked for no quarter, We offer no quarter.
Speaker 4 (44:51):
That's the type of mentality that you want to have,
and I think that's the mentality they're going to have
going into this game.
Speaker 7 (44:58):
I agree, And you know it's gonna be it already
is one of the national subplots. And you know, let's
flip that. If you're Jordan Love, you know, you're the
guy that that stepped in for the king, and you've
done a great job.
Speaker 2 (45:15):
I mean, he's a really good player.
Speaker 7 (45:18):
It's it's not the same for him going against Aaron
as it is for Aaron going against the Packers.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 7 (45:25):
I mean, it's you know, I'm sure he loved his show.
Hey listen here, I am, But there's not that deep
level of grit. Uh, that that deep level of you know,
you turned your back on me. Not that you know,
Aaron Rodgers couldn't see when they drafted Love that Love
was eventually going to be the guy, much like that
(45:46):
happened with him, Uh, you know, early in his career. Still,
I gotta I gotta believe that if there's a chip
on the shoulder, if there's an emotional level of I
want to win this game, and if that factors it
all into it, then that is a factor that is
leaning the Steelers direction.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (46:06):
There's eighteen years of yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (46:10):
You know, I don't think anybody can compare to that.
Speaker 4 (46:13):
You know, when you're trying to figure out how important
this game might be and how this might mean a
little bit more eighteen years your last Super Bowl appearance
was because of this guy and the multiple NFC championship
games that you went to, the one you lost to
Tom Brady. Of course, sticking out the most when they
(46:35):
didn't trust him to go for it on fourth and
short and they put they tried to kick around the kicker,
missed the field goal. Right, These are those type of things,
Like there's a lot of history we could point to
between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers and who
was gonna win out in those moments and eventually, you know,
got a coach fired. And now that coach got fired
(46:56):
again from Dallas, but in Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (46:59):
But there's a lot of the.
Speaker 4 (47:03):
Consternation and for Aaron especially not only being told no
once by the Green Bay Packers, but then being told
Noah second time by the New York Jets. And so
this scorched Earth type of revenge to her means a
lot more to that guy, because talk about being denied
(47:24):
twice and you're leading the NFL and puchdown passes. Just
think about that, Just think about that. So, yeah, yeah,
there's a nod on his crawl this one. He might
not say it. He's gonna say all the right things.
He's gonna be very you know for a post, and
he's gonna be very complementary. Then the game is the game.
(47:45):
Let's focus on the teammates getting better and team but
in the back of his mind, he's like, no, f that,
I don't like any of y'all.
Speaker 3 (47:51):
It's like.
Speaker 4 (47:54):
I am going to step on your neck and when
and when I get the chance, I might even stomp
on it. The referee is not looking, you know what
I'm saying, Like this is the one where you pull
the brass knuckles out the shorts and wrestling and you
cold cock the guy because the referee is laying passed
out on the mat like this is. This is personal
(48:14):
and I just can't even imagine as a teammate because
I know what it is from my position here as
a former player and knowing what that means to my team.
It's a different level of folks. It's a different level
of TANASI. It's a different level of edge going into
this game because I want it because he wants it,
but more so because I know what he went through
(48:34):
and I know what he means to us, Right, That's
really what it comes down to, and that's the support
you get, and that's the beauty of a team sport,
rob versus. It's not like tennis, whereas you can only
get mad at your racket and your tennis bag. You know,
that's it. Golf golfers could only take it out on
their bag and the caddy maybe, I mean, depending on
how many times a caddy's been with him.
Speaker 3 (48:55):
You told me it was a nine iron. It was
supposed to be a seven iron.
Speaker 4 (48:58):
You know what I'm saying, Like, get off the course, know, like,
like it's so, it's only so mad. You could get
an individual sport track. It's like you look at your feet, right,
you know, It's like I didn't run fast enough. Oh
I was missing a spike, Darren. You spike like you.
It's not the same. But when it's a team and
it's an organization and they all say no, and and
(49:19):
you find that one team that says yes, and you
see the success that you have, Yeah, you want to
you want to prove it right at the very start,
because think about this, the New York Jets. Look at
where their trajectory went after that game against US. YEP,
if they win that game, we're not having this conversation.
(49:41):
We're not having this conversation. They're not having this conversation.
Justin Field's probably not benched, but it did happen. He
did run into A and Aaron outdueled Justin Fields one
down the Green Bay Packers sitting at three to one
and one, they take a loss. Guess who jumps into
the number one spot. Oh, that number one team in
the Power A ranking.
Speaker 3 (50:00):
Detroit Lions.
Speaker 4 (50:02):
And now now you're trying to compete with him, and
you've got a half game behind them because you have
a tie. So if you accomplish this goal, you start
to put question marks and doubts in those other organizations
as well. And that would be a heck of a
feather in the cap to put, you know, in your cap.
Speaker 3 (50:22):
Heck of a feather to put in a cap.
Speaker 7 (50:24):
Yes, heck of a feather to put in a feather
to put in the cap. Well, on this show, we
are capped out and we cannot wait to dive in.
There's so many big matchups. That's kind of like that's
a storyline, that's not a matchup. We'll talk about the matchups.
Aaron Rodgers going against a very good Packers defense coming
up tomorrow when Jerry Dulac will also join us for
(50:48):
Justin Miller at the Patrols in our Iart studio for
Max Starks, I'm Rob King.
Speaker 2 (50:52):
We thank you for listening to this edition of
Speaker 7 (50:54):
The Locker Room presented by your neighborhood Ford Store and
the Steelers Pro Shop on Steelers Nation Radio, a part
of the steeler Is Audio Network,
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.