December 5, 2025 • 44 mins
Only two words matter - Ravens Week. Matt and Wes set the stage for a massive AFC North showdown.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Networks. Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here for
the next two hours on a Friday. Matt as that
road is narrow, partner. It's December. Yeah, it's cold outside
Ravens You know what. I'm glad you said it that way.
That's really all that needs to be said.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's all you've said.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's Ravens Week. It's Friday of Ravens Week, which means
we've got plenty to get into, to discuss, to get
ready for what is Always it doesn't matter if these
teams were twelve and oh six and six oh and twelve,
Always one that you circle, always one that you highlight,
Always one that rightfully so in not only Pittsburgh and Baltimore,
but across the NFL, demands a ton of attention.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, and I mean given us some thought late in
the week here that maybe it's a good time for
Ravens Week, you know, like this is going to imply
that other games aren't as important or they don't try
as hard and that's not what I mean at all,
But it's a different feel in that building for Ravens Week.
I mean, the cam Haywards of the world that have
gone through many battles of these teams is going to
trickle down to the new guys and all that. And frankly,
(01:36):
I don't think any of us are thrilled with all
the Steelers have played lately, you know, And you could
even say that in probably Baltimore's building, you know that
they're not thrilled with certainly their last game totally, and
some things have not gone to schedule. So maybe you
get back to a barroom brawl and see where it
goes from there, you know, like maybe it's good for you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I think that's a great way to put it. I
was talking to our buddy Chad Tyson, who does after
noons on DVE and similar kind of thing like this
feels like, I like the barroom ball moniker that you bought,
ball room brawl moniker that you just used there, but
like we like this seems like in kind of an
old school the proverbial like throw out the record books
(02:16):
that everybody likes to say. And I know that this
has been the case as long as football has been played,
as much as the game has changed and evolved and
offenses have changed and evolved, so often football comes down
to your big guys being better over the course of
sixty minutes than the other team's big guys. And again
we can all argue that in twenty twenty five, maybe
(02:36):
that means less than it did in nineteen ninety five.
Probably true, But I think for I think, for this one,
for both teams, dealing with some injuries, dealing with some struggles,
it is a let's get buttoned up, let's be let's
be on our fund like, on our fundamentals, almost to
back to basics. We're going to out physical these guys
over the course of sixty minutes, you know, over three
(02:56):
hours on Sunday, and that's going to be the difference,
as it's so often is between these two teams.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I mean, maybe a lot less cuteness of we're
gonna do this, We're gonna do that. I mean, the
coaches know each other so.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, second most between any two coaches in NFL history.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, And I can't stress that enough. I mean that
there's I think these both these coaches would probably even
admit after they retire. I coached it different against Harbaugh
than I did against most other games. I coached different
against Tomlin than I did other games. You did it
so many times totally, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I think that makes a ton of sense. If you're
a legendary pitcher and a legendary batter and you, yeah,
right right, stepped into the batter's boxing on the mound
against each other one hundred times, that's different than someone
that you're seeing for the third or fourth time.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
It just he's bringing that curveball.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah right right' It's it's a lot less I feel
like smoking mirrors and a lot more we I know, you,
you know me. We're lining up, let's do this thing,
and let's see who blinks first.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah yeah, And there'll be new wrinkles as every game
and then they're certainly not going to game plan differently.
But I think it might do the Steelers some good
to get back to your grassroots and okay, we just
need to be the most physical team out there. We
need to block better than them. We need to hit
on the rise. We got to get people on you
know a lot of bodies the football, you know, fundamental stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I think that is is job number one for both
of these teams here on Sunday one o'clock in Baltimore
at M and T Banks Stadium. Matt We're going to
talk to Missy Matthews in a few minutes, but we've
got some news of the day to get to here.
As we get rolling, I think we will have Steelers
injury updates here shortly. But we do have some pertinent
(04:37):
ones for Baltimore. This happened after you and I were
off the air yesterday. But Lamar Jackson, after being a
full participant on Wednesday, was had a issue Thursday with
an ankle injury.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I saw that because I do a Thursday night show
with Pursuda and that came up then. But I'm like,
that must have just happened.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So but though according to Lamar Jackson, according to Lamar Jackson,
part of me. According to John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson returned
to practice today Friday after missing Thursday with that ankle
injury that popped up on Wednesday. Okay, so he's already
not just.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
A hamstring, He's got like four different lower body injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
He's got the hockey thing, like, yeah, lower body, upper
body injury, lower body injury, those are the only two designations.
He's got a lot of lower body injury stuff going
on right now, does Lamar but return to practice today,
but he's dealing with some more potentially nagging bumps and
bruises associated with play Lamar. Lamar will start according like
(05:41):
it's good to play and you know and all that,
according to to Jim Harbaughs. So that's not the greatest
news from from the you know, from the Black and Purple,
No right point of your quarterback who's already clearly been
compromised with injury this year, having something new pop up,
you know, Steelers week.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So I have great respect for the betting world in
Vegas and their knowledge and all those things.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
As we always say, right, there's a reason they have
all those big beautiful buildings out Yeah, and it's not
because they're losing money.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
One thousand percent. And as usual on a lot of
my outlets on Friday, we pick games and especially the
big ones, and this is one of the big ones,
of course, and I hadn't realized until my co host
kind of laid it out. He's like, the line on
this game has been changing. It's been rapidly all week,
which I assume most of our listeners know that just
(06:32):
means money's coming in on one side rather than the other.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Their whole goal isn't to get the line right. Their
whole goals get fifty percent betting on both teams. You know,
they don't care if their lines are right, but they
are remarkably accurate. And I just wonder, do they know
more about this injury? Well, I know they know more
about injury than I, but I know that much. But
that's the only thing I could see changing the lines
that much. Is is he playing? Is he not? What
(06:58):
version of Lamar are you're getting? I assume play, but
you know.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, I think they've been pretty clear that he is playing.
But you're right, the big question is what version of
him are you getting? That's been an issue for them
all season, but I think particularly in the last few
weeks when again, if you if you watch the games,
he missed a lot of missing throws, not pulling it
down and taking off nearly as often as he does
not the design.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The design really telling me they're almost none one or two.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Game, and so that that's also though one of those
things that while you'll take it also gives me like
the scaries a little bit of oh a lot. It's
it's early fourth quarter, it's cold, it's been physical, you're
worn down. Lamar has it run it all game, and
then in a crucial situation a third and long or
(07:45):
a fourth and short, here comes a what Lamar designed
run rocketship that it takes fifty five sixty yards or just.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Breaks your back on third and eight on the biggest
play of the game. It comes down to this play,
you know, and then they kneel.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It out, you know, yes, no doubt and so again.
And I don't mean to be like, yeah, everyone gets
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, Lamar's hurt, great, right, but you will clearly how
that works. You'll clearly take one of the best. I mean,
they're saying the same thing about Aaron Rodgers. His left
wrist is messed up. Maybe he'll bumble a snap and
a key moment. The cost of the Steelers. That's just football.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Do whatever. I mean, they're they're happy Harmon's not playing
or Roger Jones, right right, I mean you could go
on on every game there or something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Kyle Hamilton got ruled out with the flu today. You know,
we wouldn't be playing the sympathy card.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
For no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So as much as a compromised Lamar is a benefit
to the Steelers, I think you still have to be
You got to be cautious about that.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Still sleeping giant.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You got to be cautious about pressed. You know, you
gotta be. Yeah, that's a good point. Ten days rest.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Is harball playing games like may how about you don't
how about you don't play? Just take Thursday off, you
know what I mean? Like again the harball Tom and
I know that you know, and I coach Austin even
said yesterday we are preparing as if Lamar is one thousand,
and that's the only way you can I mean, you're
crazy If you don't, we're to pretend like you all
(09:09):
beat up. And you also have to say that to
the media too. But I wonder if there's any gamesmanship
going on. But he's not been the same.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
I mean, I know that that that I think we
can all agree on and so maybe you know you
won't be Hey.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
The Browns record would even be playing. I don't know.
I'm just throw yea.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
If he was the Joe Burrow type situation, he would
he even be playing.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I mean, whould be better if he was not on
the field.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Probably, it's a fair question, and maybe we'll get an
even better look at that on Sunday afternoon, Matt. Another
piece of news here, not as significant for Sunday's game,
but certainly worth mentioning and discussing and sharing. After returning
to practice December third, Steelers cornerback Dante Kent sustained a
(09:52):
new injury that will cause him to miss the remainder
of the twenty twenty five season. That's a real bummer.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's a bummer.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't think he was gonna have a big role
for this team down the stretch, but I think just
returning to practice for three weeks and getting ingrained and
getting back to it to kind of have that to
leapfrog into the off season would have been a nice
benefit and nice timeline for him.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
But it's also weird that him and Trice did the
exact same thing. The window opens and then they get
hurt in their first practice coming back, and I don't
and they don't have to tell you as much because
they're not on the active roster. It'll go on the
injury report or whatnot. But did they reaggravate the same
injury or was it. Did they know that there was
a chance, you know, yeah, yeah, you know, like, go
(10:33):
give it a try. It might not. It's a fifty
to fifty proposition. I don't know, you know, doctor, stuff's
hard to comment on.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
It sure is, and you and I have said many
many times over the years that we don't particularly enjoy comment, right,
I just know, I don't know exactly right, We just
know that we don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I'd be shocked if they were like, well, Dante's coming back.
That's why we can release Slay. No, there's no way
they were counting on him, not that quick of return around. Absolutely,
we'll be fine. We got he's coming back because they
how much they know about him.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
And maybe that's what they were just hoping to do
mora is find out about him and more data points
and see this guy in three weeks of practice.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Could use another special team or you know.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And maybe, yeah, maybe he does end up down the fold,
you know, gets a helmet in one of the final
games of the season or something like that. But we
do know now, unfortunately that that will not be the
case for Dante Kent as he has been now ruled
out for the rest of the season. Let's take a
break here. We come back on the other side. We'll
continue to talk Steelers Ravens, will continue to set the
(11:34):
scene with our friend Missy Matthews, Steelers sideline reporter when
we return. All that and more as we roll along
West Shuuler, Matt Williamson, It's the Drive on a Friday
on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You know the drill, when you hear the bounce, it's
time to get the view from the sideline. It's time
to go down to the field level with the queen
of the sideline, Missy Matthews. Missy, thank you so much
for taking the time as always for us on a Friday.
And you know, it's I think I think Matt said
it well at the start of the show, It's Ravens
Week and those are really only, I think the two
(12:37):
words that all Steelers fans need to get the blood pumping,
to get the juices flowing. You've obviously been privileged to
be on the sidelines over the years for a lot
of huge Steelers games. Rivalry games, playoff games, primetime games,
all that stuff. How is this one different? How's that
intensity on the sidelines and out on the field different
(13:00):
from you know, just about every other game the Pittsburgh
Steelers play.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I think, as it always means something. Very rarely do
you find a Steelers Ravens game where you're like, it
doesn't matter who wins, doesn't do anything for either team.
That never happens, and I think there's this weird mutual
hatred but also mutual respect between the two teams. You know,
you don't have the good, good old days of you know,
(13:27):
trell Suggs and ray Lewis and hinz Ward and just
you know, the things that used to take place. You
don't have that animosity. But I do think that there's
still a Hey, if you're a Steeler, you don't like
the Ravens. If you're a raven you don't like the Steelers.
And there they're always fun. There's always you know, it
always comes down to something crazy. It's one of those
(13:49):
weird things where the score can be you know, a
number of different ways. They're usually not high scoring. Sometimes
it's just field goals, as we have seen in the past.
So it never disappoints, I guess, is what I will
say in terms of Steelers Ravens.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
So you go there every year and you have for
some time. Now, is it high or low? I would
best guess low on your favorite travel destinations during the
work here.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Well, okay, so they there's a very good restaurant there
that I do. Enjoying there tomorrow night, Matt, I already
have reservations. You know, dan Quinlan was working ahead for
us on that enjoy that. I do like staying in
the Inner Harbor. I've stayed at the airport before, and
let me tell you that's not very fun. But M
(14:39):
and T Bank is a cool stadium. I don't like
the Ravens, but I can appreciate because there are some
stadiums where you're like, this is a dump. This sideline
is so small, I'm going to get hit by a cart.
I just think the way they set up M and
T Bank makes sense. Their press box used to be
Chef's Kiss, but of course, you know, making money go
(15:00):
in the way of that, so they kind of moved
it so that they could sell those really good seats
that were just it was probably the lowest press box
that I've ever been to in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
It was the best in the league until until they
moved it last year.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Yeah yeah, yeah, I mean it was it was down low,
it was right on the fifty. But I also understand
that that can make you a lot of money because
those would be some.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Really good seats for some cor zero. I would imagine
the fans aren't super kind to you guys though.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
No, And you know, when the press box used to
be super close originally, Like I just remember Hill, grow
Punch and Woolf telling stories about the crazy people because
you could literally hear them. You could talk to them.
That's how you know. You were like basically in the stands,
but just kind of boxed off a little bit. But
(15:53):
you know, if you want to open the windows, then
you kind of hear some things.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I don't imagine Race might have touch, might have gotten
into yeah, Tounch might have gotten into some back and
forth with some some people wearing purple a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. They got the best
of them, and he fought back. I'll give him that.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
You know, Matt. Something that that never gets old is pulling,
you know, in and out of stadiums on the team
buses when you're on the road, and of course everybody
gives you their different greetings and salutes and those things.
A lot of one finger salutes in Baltimore at M
and T M and T Bank Stadium for the Steelers
when you're when you're arriving and departing on those buses.
That's for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I've probably told you the least kind in my day.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
West Virginia, I'm might have been. I might have been
one of those them, you know that was throwing throwing, throw,
throwing psi throwing pepsi cans at eleven years old at
Matt Williamson trying to get off the bus. Uh, Missy,
I I think that that all. I completely back you
up on on all of that. This is a one
(16:56):
o'clock game, so it won't be the you know, quite
the un under the lights and the light show and
all that stuff that they can do there at M
and T Banks Stadium. But it's obviously still going to
be juiced up. And it feels like there's a lot
of key things to talk about matchups and X factors
in this game, but man, at the top of that
list feels like it's the health of both quarterbacks Aaron
(17:18):
Rodgers of course with that fractured left wrist, and Lamar Jackson,
who was already dealing with some hamstring and some knee
stuff and then popping up yesterday with an ankle injury
as well. It it feels like a, you know, an
attrition going on for both of these, you know, former
MVP signal callers, and maybe whoever's healthier and able to
(17:40):
play their game more on Sunday could again be a
massive X factor in this one.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Yeah. I was, you know, looking at tweets from people
in Baltimore because it's the same thing, you know, earlier
practice and coaches and players talk and trying to get
a vibe of what's happening since the practice reports aren't outed.
The one tweet just said Lamar Jackson said he's feeling
pretty good, and I'm like, oh, that's that's not like,
you know, you're not very confident in how you're feeling
(18:09):
if you just say pretty good. And they said it
was an ankle injury. He got stepped on in practice
on Wednesday, which everyone was excited. He was at practice
on Wednesday. He wasn't then able to practice yesterday. He
was out there today John Harbaugh said he will start,
but you know, kind of something new to monitor in
terms of Lamar Jackson and some of the injuries he's
(18:31):
dealt with this season.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
So I don't mean to bring the mood down. And
now it's sort of ancient history, but give me the
sideline vibes of Steelers bills.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Yeah that one was not great, yep not. Didn't love it.
And I have to give credit to Chris Boswell because
it does not matter if they are winning by thirty
or losing by thirty or whatever. He is this same like,
has this same temperament the entire time, and I always
at least it has to happen at least once a game.
(19:06):
If it's really loud, I have both of my ear
I have fees, and I really cannot hear. Uh, it's
noise canceling. Like I don't really hear around me other
than the guys talking of the broadcast. And at least
once a game, Boss has to physically move me because
I'm in the way of either you know, Corliss and
Christian warming up or Haym warming up. And even when
(19:27):
things weren't going well the way Boss, hey, missy, no
big deal, Just moving you over, you know, like same,
was it like throwing me? Didn't yell at me? Same.
But you could just tell for the amount of time
that the defense spent on the field, uh, the little
time they spent on the bench, it was almost like
you know, putting the helmet back on to go out there.
You were almost like, Okay, here we go again. And
(19:51):
it did just feel like the huge turnover that the
Bills scored that defensive touchdown on just dampered the mood
and they could not regroup after that in any phase
of the game. So, yeah, and I think I've told Wes,
but because he was there. Yeah, Wes was upstairs in
(20:11):
the radio booth after the game, like that locker room,
who it was, It was pretty empty and it was
very quiet. That was That was definitely not a good one.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, it was not. And we are not looking for
a repeat of that on Sunday, certainly when it would
involve all of us getting on a plane and flying
home after the game. Missy Matt and I talked a
little bit in the first segment about how and you know,
maybe there's some similar vibes to this of of what
we saw on Sunday against Buffalo we analyze all this,
(20:43):
you know, we all spend hours on radio and video
and some people, you know, writing columns and articles in
that thing, dissecting every angle and every matchup and all
the keys and all the schematics and and and this
and that stats together. But yeah, somebody, somebody puts together
like a fis worth of stats packet every every single
week here on this show.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Might rhyme with his name too, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
That's right, might flow very nicely there in that regard.
But this one feels with the current kind of injury
status of both teams, with both of them being six
and six and not on top of their game and
playing the best football that they want to be, playing
a back to basics football one oh one. Who's better
in the trenches, who's more physical, who's more buttoned up,
(21:29):
is going to have the much better chance to win
the game Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Oh yeah, you know, this one does just feel like
it's a must win. And I know you can say
that at several points or like this is a must win,
this will help at the end, But we are in
the final five game stretch. You know, you're going to
see these guys in the final week, which I don't
even think what matter what happens this Sunday, the Week
eighteen game is going to mean something to somebody, if
(21:56):
not both. And it does just feel like to get
out of this skid, of this this losing skid, the
Steelers have to go down there and put a consistent
performance together both sides of the ball, because what is
happening is just it's just not working. And you can
tell that everybody wants it to change. But you know,
(22:18):
actions speak louder than words, and I don't think anybody
in that locker room thinks that just talking about it
is going to make them feel better. You know, the
Ravens were on a five game winning streak until Cincinnati
broke that on Thanksgiving. For the Steelers, they're in the
two game losing streak. You know, they had one of
those before and then they came out with a powerful
(22:38):
win against the Colts. So will that be the case again?
I hope so. But you don't want to stack a
loss here, and then I think you're gonna get to
the point where you're gonna have to worry about what
other people are doing. If they can just focus on
these last five games and what they are doing and
doing them well. Hopefully that's the direction we're going in
(22:59):
and it's not like last year where you make it
into the playoffs, but you're kind of like, oh, we're
not playing good football. You want to go in with
some steam and what better time to start than the
first week of December.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Bessie, I'd really like to get your input on the
Harbaugh Tomlin dynamic relationship. I mean, do you think they
prepare differently for one another? Do you think they coached
during the game differently because of one another and the familiarity.
But really what I want to know is if you've
ever paid attention to them interacting pre or postgame.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Pre game for sure, and I think it was on
Hard Knocks last year was something with the NFL films
where coach Tomlin kind of joked like, man, we just
talked about what our kids like we're dressing up as
for Halloween. Yeah, right, Like when you this is the
thirty ninth meeting between them, including playoffs, that that's no
(24:01):
small number of coaches. Of course, you know they're some
of the longest tenured coaches current active coaches in the league.
But I think they have a respect for each other.
I think it is a you're not going to do
anything kind of the I don't want to say college level,
but almost like I hate him and I'm not shaking
(24:22):
his hand type deal. But I don't think it's you know,
I don't think there's no love loss put it that way.
But I do think that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Each other.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
No, not at all. No, And it's you know, it's
like every game, uh, you shake your opponent's hand, you
hug them whatever. I'm sure you know they're small talk
before the games have has significantly increased over the years.
How could it not, And you know, when you're you're
like each other, not saying necessarily the coaching styles. I
(24:55):
don't know that much about John Harbaugh. I've covered one
Ravens game, maybe two in my local TV days back
in the past. But I just think that you know,
they respect each other, and they know that they're both
trying to do the exact same thing. It's just who
can do it better on this day because they know
that if they played the next day it could be
the complete opposite result.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
I wonder if, like five years after they're both retired
and have given up football for a living and moved
on and their grandparents if they'd actually be friends, or
I always joke that I hope there's a thirty for
thirty or a football life with Ozzie Knew some Kevin,
Colbert Harbaugh and Tomlin on a fishing boat together, just
being honest, you know what I mean, Like, man, you
(25:39):
used to make me I was about to draft that
guy and Ozzie you snagged them right in front of
me here. You know, I bet they'd be great.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Oh yeah, I mean, Or imagine if they just like
running out an auditorium, like I'd pay to go watch that. Yeah, yeah,
tell stories to be produced. Yeah, like just just riff
and let's let's let's hear.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
What happened really, missy. Last one I've got for you is,
you know, we found out a few days ago that
it's the twenty fifth anniversary of that two thousands Baltimore
Ravens team that beat the New York Giants in the
Super Bowl to capture there, you know, first as Baltimore Ravens.
(26:18):
You know of that that post move era, you know,
that team with Ray Lewis and that great defense and
Trent Dilpher as a quarterback. Coach by Brian Billick is
going to be honored at halftime on Sunday. I'm sure
that that's not by coincidence that that's happening in this
game against the Steelers. Are you happy that Max Starks
is no longer on the sideline and you're not gonna
(26:39):
have to hold him back against those guys?
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Well, you know, you know, those guys are a going
to be out there during pregame and b I'm sure
one of them will get announced at some point, you know,
almost like when we do the Terrible Chals role. That
seems like the appropriate time that they would you know,
honor those guys, just you know, prematurely before the big
halftime ceremony. But I remember, I don't remember if it
(27:05):
was last year, whichever game it was in Baltimore, there's
been a bunch and some of their former players were
there and Max was just like, I hate him. I
hate him, you know, just standing there and it was like.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
It would have been.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Yeah, and it was just so funny. It wasn't like, Hey,
I'm going to go say hi to him, because Max,
clearly you knows so many people and it's you know,
every game, Hey, I'm going to go say hi to
my buddy over here, I'm going to go this Baltimore
week Max isn't saying hi to anybody.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Ron Woodson in the Ravens booth.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
That's yeah, because he yes, they're both in the same time. Yeah,
rod is you know, he likes to play both sides.
Obviously he's working for the Ravens, but did some amazing
things with the Steelers as well. And yeah, that that's
probably the only Baltimore person that I can think of
that I've ever seen Max have like a chit chatty
(27:58):
conversation with.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Oh, Missy, It's gonna be fun and I'm looking forward
to it. Thank you for joining us and taking the time.
As always, we'll hear you on the call on Sunday
with Robin Max and I will see you on the
airplane tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Sounds good. Thanks guys, have a great weekend you as well.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
There she goes the queen of the Sideline, Melissa Matthews,
And uh, yeah, I listen. There's a lot of times,
I'll be honest with you, a lot of times that
I envy Missy forgetting to be down on the sideline.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
You see some cool stuff, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
No doubt in cool stadiums in the atmosphere and all that.
Not that my view is bad in the broadcast booth, obviously,
but there's plenty of times where I don't envy Missy
Matthews on the sideline because of weather conditions. Say weather,
maybe it's pouring down rain or it's freezing, and I
don't think it's gonna be freezing, but it will be
cold obviously Sunday, December and Baltimore. But even with the
weather I envy. It could be three degrees and pouring
(28:54):
down sleet and I would still want to be on
the sideline for Steelers Ravens, just kind of soak it
allway and get all the details. It's not often in December.
This is probably how I should have said it. It's
not often in December that I'm jealous of Missy being
down on the sideline because of the weather. But I
will be Sunday. I will be Sunday at one o'clock.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
That's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Thanks to her for joining us and taking the time.
When we come back on the other side, we still
got to get into five Star Friday. We've got some
more kind of you know, ahead of the weekend news
across the NFL that we need to get into all
things Steelers, Ravens and more as we roll along. Euler Williamson.
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Network, your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It's a Friday, A lot happening here across the National
Football League as we get ready for a massive Week fourteen.
And I guess, technically, Matt, it did start last night
with Thursday Night Football between the Cowboys and the Lions
and an impressive and assertive performance by Detroit at home.
Is they get to win they deeply desperately needed forty
(30:23):
four to thirty over Dallas, and Matt, that might be
all she rode for the Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I think it is all, she wrote. I mean, they're
not mathematically eliminated, but they're down to like six percent
or something. They need everything in the world to line
up perfectly.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Basically went out, yeah and get some help in the
process as well.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
One hundred percent. So quite a few things stood out
to me. First off, I think the Lions asserted themselves.
I picked Dallas to win that game. I don't regret
my choice, but I mean I didn't also didn't know
Saint Brown was playing. I mean, had that heinz Ward
feel about the toughness he brings, watchability and all that stuff.
(31:02):
Gibbs was the best player on the field and was
unbelievably you know, dangerous, especially in the receiving game. But
a couple other things. I mean, the Lions did lose
Brian Branch for the season at the end of that game.
That's a big, big deal. The turnovers were massive. It
means three to zero turnover differential. Cowboys lose Ceedee Lamb.
(31:23):
I think in the second quarter after he was lighting
them up. Their protection was a big problem. I had
never heard of the left tackle, the backup left tackle.
But I don't feel like I need to do a
whole lot of work on him because I don't think
he's going to be doing this for a living much longer.
But they kept leving him, leave him alone against Hutchinson
(31:43):
and then the other guy on the right side of
three sacks. I mean, Dak was under.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Man He was like dodging bullets the whole time.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Yeah, and I know it's the topic of the day,
and I'm not trying to pick on the guy, but
it's not good look for Pickens, you know, basically the
day you get eliminated, you're trotting through routes and doing
a lot of stuff you saw here, you.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Know, and at a time when CD was out of
the game injured, right when you when it's like okay, hey,
your time, like yeah, you know, our other big gun
on offenses out here, we're on the road, We're in
a desperate situation. Yeah, that's when you need the cream
to rise at the top instead of kind of shrinking
in the moment.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
And I haven't watched every Cowboy snap like I do
the Steelers, but I have not seen that until this
point with them. And it wasn't at the very end
the last you know, like it's the game's over, like
we need you man, you know, where are you going?
Speaker 2 (32:36):
And some more some war of words between him and
Richard Sherman in the last twenty four hours and and
all that stuff, and yes, that is listen. You know
we've said many times this year the NFL feels like
such a week to week.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
League this year.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Or George Pickens might be the most week to week
league player in the National Force. Yeah, right, the best
free agent to be He might be the best receiver
in the warld world on on certain on certain Sundays
and Thursdays, and but he he also gives you next
to nothing on certain Sundays and Mondays and Thursdays. And
that is the ceiling in the floor in the wowed
(33:13):
inconsistency that comes with him. And I think a lot
of people that have spent the last month doing the
you know, what the hell are the Steelers things thing
night were kind of like, well, okay, you heard that
a lot last night. Suddenly all these people were like, yeah,
I don't know if i'd pay that guy thirty thirty
five forty million dollars.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
You know, boy, there was the worst trade, which is
people say is the worst trade in NFL, worst.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Trade in NFL history. I mean it's not even the
worst trade in the AFC North history. All right, as
the quarterback whose practice window was activated in Cleveland has
that award locked up? Yeah, but yeah, it was. It
kind of made me last good, George, No, it was not.
But in another kind of timely example, it's like the
same people that would always crush James Franklin and Penn State.
(33:58):
You can't win a big game, and you got to
get rid of that guy then going well was Penn
State thinking getting rid of James Franklin. Come on, you
can't you can't do you can't tell me how bad
of a trade it was for the Steelers and then
be like, oh, well, you know that's why you don't
want to pay that guy big money. I mean, this
is there's always a middle ground there that you know.
I think realistically, you you you knew if you were
(34:19):
a Steeler fan or somebody who was you know, just
in tune with these type of things. A couple other
significant Detroit though.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
I mean, they're not out of the woods. There's a
lot of battling to do.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
There's still going to be in that NFC picture. I mean,
there's going to be a good team that gets left out. Yeah,
and maybe in the a f C, you know, similar
similar type deal. But they're like.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
They're like someone in the in the North is going
to be left out.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Someone in the North is in likelihood left out yea
and yeah, and that could be like a ten and
seven team that gets left out that's really strong, that's
really strong. Detroit helping themselves, helping their cause big time
last night. Now they've got the extra few days of rest,
but they are. Yeah, I think that's a good way
(35:08):
to put it. Certainly not out of the.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Weeds just yet, not at all.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Matt from that last night, A couple more pieces of
news that I want to hit on. One off the
back of that game last night, and it sounds like
Brian Branch a torn achilles and that's a bummer from
one of the better young defensive backs in the National
Football League.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
So it brought me to I didn't know this until
the broadcasters said it last night. I knew the last
thing was true that when you look at like games
lost due to injury, the Lions were like the most
injured team in the league last year in four years,
twenty twenty four, and the announcer said this that they're
one of there at the top of the league in
(35:49):
injuries again this year before the branch injury going into
the game and just wonder, like, Dan Campbell's a really
good coach. I understand why people love them.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I think I know where you're going with this, and
I think it's fair.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
But it's all gas, no break, you know, like everything
is all whoe no sick them all the time. You know,
we're just gonna keep going for.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Play harder woe. Yeah, I said that background.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
I wonder if he is going to lead towards injuries
late in the season, fatigue late in the season. I'm
not saying he can never win the big one, but
that would be a concern with me with him. And
it's not his fault that Brian Branch, you know, to Achilles,
But I get what you're saying. Yeah, I just think
that's something to be considered with Campbell. All these coaches
(36:33):
have strengths and weaknesses, and you know, he might be
too much all the time.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
I think that that is it's a fair question to ask.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Yeah, it's just a propos. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
The man like we are all about physicality, hard practices,
hard training camps like you mentioned. Even games that they've
got teams put away, it's still like they're a super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
We're going for it every fourth down, you know, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
And and and hey, over the course of seven team games,
that can certainly catch up with you. I don't think
there's I don't think there's any denying that.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Yeah, I just need to be examined. You know, if
I was ownership, I'd be like, Okay, is this a trend?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Or back off a little bit in August to something
help our chances in December, or maybe.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
We don't play anyone in the preseason, or I don't know.
The Branch loss is big, though huge, more and more
true do it all? Slot defensive backs I don't even
want to call them corners are becoming extremely valuable. I
always say they're the lampatize the room together, you know
what I mean? They and I think that's.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
A few of them picked in the first round over
the last couple of years.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah, yeah, And frankly, I think that's what Ramsey was
brought here to do. You know, you can do so
Kyle Hamilton does a lot of this. They come in
all shapes inside a perfect one. Yeah, I mean, they
don't all look like Mike Hilton and a few of
them do.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Now I was gonna look, Yeah, they look like safeties.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Right because they have to tackle Derek Henry, you know.
And Branch is that guy for them, you know what
I mean, he super important, more important than the box
score show. That's It's like, I can't play this.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Coverage it certainly way that they want to play.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, A lot of stuff I can't call
as a play caller without.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Him, absolutely, and that's a big, substantial loss for Detroit.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Just a total side note. But like I think I
think we both agree, and I've said this before. I
thought you did too, that the Texans are probably the
best defense in the league. You have to pick one.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Yes, if I had to pick one to wear the
Black and Gold this weekend, it might be that Houston defense.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
And a tape analyst that I really respect said, Jalen
Petrie is our most important guy. You know, you wouldn't
think of Jalen Petrie. I mean, like Anderson would be
probably defensive player of the Year if it wasn't for
Miles Garrett, you know, and Hunter. But I think those
two are still more important.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
He's but I guess he's like the insurance policy on
the Porsche.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Yeah, right, right right, Porsche is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Will Anderson is, you know, is poor. She's the insurance policy.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
There's so much I can't do that you keep the
you keep the fancy car in. There's just so much
that you can you can't The fancy car isn't gonna
hum like it's supposed to.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
He's the case for my phone. That's exactly right. Like
you need to have.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Maybe he's the gasoline and the.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Anhere.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yes, it's not going anywhere without that guy. Yeah, that
iPhone is going to get real cracked and damage.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
About the version they give you in the box isn't
gonna last very long, all right.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
He's like the nice wine glass. It's about the wine
wine somewhere to hold it exactly. That's a really good example.
I like that, and I think you're right. I think
a lot of defenses that's a real calling card for
them now.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
And I realize that and people are paying them and
paying up for them in the draft.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
And yeah, if you and I had Mike Tomlin on
back in July at the start of training camp and
gave them truth serum, I think you're right. I think
that would have been the type of role that they
were envisioning for Jalen Ramsey before things got never failed.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
No, Yeah, I think he's semi failed as he's not
an outside guard Jamar Chase all day, the roll revis guy.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
But I think if you were still if the Shawn
Elliott's still healthy, if you would hit on one thornhill,
I think we'd still see Ramsey doing.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
A lot of that stuff and I know this is
totally made up, but I mean, if you didn't have
to trade Menca for Ramsey, Ramsey being the slot perfect, Yeah,
if you give the up a draft pick instead of Menca.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Matt looks like Jade and Daniels will play for the
Commanders against the Vikings this weekend since that dislocated left
elbow nasty, ugly injury about a month ago on November ninth.
The Commanders are three and nine and have nothing to
play for. I understand though, that he's still just a
sophomore in this league. He's a second year guy. Every
(40:43):
rep is important, Matt. What's our favorite TV show on Hulu?
Speaker 3 (40:49):
The Bear?
Speaker 2 (40:50):
The Bear and what's the Big Line? And the Bear?
Every second counts, every every rep, every game counts for
Jaden Daniels at this stage of his career. But man,
I just really hope they're not rushing him back early
in a season that's already gone. And uh, I don't
think guy that's been banged up all year.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I think it's similar to Burrow coming back, but they're
further down, They're they're further gone. You know, they're three
and nine, and he's not the wealthiest guy on the team.
I mean, he's the face of the franchise, don't get
me wrong. But Burrow's playing and you can't stop him,
you know, And and.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
He's been there for a long time. He is the
alpha in the room.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
And they just beat the Ravens and they may even
beat the Bills this week. I mean, like when we
start picking games the way, I know, since he looks good,
but I don't know if they can come back or not.
But Washington has no chance. And I think I would
have shut Daniels down.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
I get it. And you know dan Quinn saying like
at his point in his career, every rep counts, every
game matters. And I do think that there's truth to that.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Sure, Sure, he needs has work to do, he needs.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
To developed like Wolf. We'll I used to lament this
all the time. He'd be like, the only way to
get better at playing football is by playing football. Yeah,
and we play less football now than we've ever did before.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
So I he's right, He is absolutely right, But there
is also the big picture, the longer term. He is
only in his second year, and you hope he's your
quarterback for another fifteen years and twelve years.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
An injury filed year he had some injury concerns at
LSU as well. You know, he's not the biggest, earliest
Josh Allen looking dude either. I get both sides. I
mean I loved the Burrow said, well, I get paid
to play football, so I play football. Yeah, I love football,
And I mean that's what I want my quarterback to say.
You know, I don't want to be like, well they
(42:41):
shut me down, and that's okay. I was just gonna
sit on sidelines the clipboard, you know, like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I think you are right. Though it's a little different
when you're like the what's Burrow now in his six
or seventh season, right year veteran as opposed to a
second year guy who is, yeah, the face of that
team but still trying to earn your stripes, still trying
to come along in your career.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
I mean, everyone knows how important he is to the commander. No,
but you know obviously, but still.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
They're hoping he's Joe Burrow type value for them going forward.
And so yeah, I either side, whatever happens, I'm not
going to act like it's if they play him. I'm
not going to act like it's the worst colossal mistake
we've ever seen, or if.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
He gets hurt again, It's not like fire Quinn because
anyone can get hurt.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
Anyone can get hurt, especially on that turf there, like
we talked about. Oh yeah, yeah, we talked about yesterday.
Although I don't know if it's a home gamer. If
it's in it is in Minnesota, So never never mind
on that one, at least for this Sunday, Matt first
hour of the program in the books, another hour to go.
When we return for hour number two, it's gonna be
jam packed. As a Gene Wilder would have said in
(43:42):
the Chocolate Factory, So much to do in so little time.
Five Star Friday, around the NFL Week fourteen, and of
course all of our final thoughts and predictions for Steelers
Ravens Sunday, one pm at M and T. Banks Stadium
in Baltimore. All of that and more as we get
into our number two on your twenty four seven home
of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the
(44:04):
Steelers Audio Network
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Networks. Shooler and Matt Williamson with you here for
the next two hours on a Friday. Matt as that
road is narrow, partner. It's December. Yeah, it's cold outside
Ravens You know what. I'm glad you said it that way.
That's really all that needs to be said.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
It's all you've said.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
It's Ravens Week. It's Friday of Ravens Week, which means
we've got plenty to get into, to discuss, to get
ready for what is Always it doesn't matter if these
teams were twelve and oh six and six oh and twelve,
Always one that you circle, always one that you highlight,
Always one that rightfully so in not only Pittsburgh and Baltimore,
but across the NFL, demands a ton of attention.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, and I mean given us some thought late in
the week here that maybe it's a good time for
Ravens Week, you know, like this is going to imply
that other games aren't as important or they don't try
as hard and that's not what I mean at all,
But it's a different feel in that building for Ravens Week.
I mean, the cam Haywards of the world that have
gone through many battles of these teams is going to
trickle down to the new guys and all that. And frankly,
(01:36):
I don't think any of us are thrilled with all
the Steelers have played lately, you know, And you could
even say that in probably Baltimore's building, you know that
they're not thrilled with certainly their last game totally, and
some things have not gone to schedule. So maybe you
get back to a barroom brawl and see where it
goes from there, you know, like maybe it's good for you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I think that's a great way to put it. I
was talking to our buddy Chad Tyson, who does after
noons on DVE and similar kind of thing like this
feels like, I like the barroom ball moniker that you bought,
ball room brawl moniker that you just used there, but
like we like this seems like in kind of an
old school the proverbial like throw out the record books
(02:16):
that everybody likes to say. And I know that this
has been the case as long as football has been played,
as much as the game has changed and evolved and
offenses have changed and evolved, so often football comes down
to your big guys being better over the course of
sixty minutes than the other team's big guys. And again
we can all argue that in twenty twenty five, maybe
(02:36):
that means less than it did in nineteen ninety five.
Probably true, But I think for I think, for this one,
for both teams, dealing with some injuries, dealing with some struggles,
it is a let's get buttoned up, let's be let's
be on our fund like, on our fundamentals, almost to
back to basics. We're going to out physical these guys
over the course of sixty minutes, you know, over three
(02:56):
hours on Sunday, and that's going to be the difference,
as it's so often is between these two teams.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I mean, maybe a lot less cuteness of we're
gonna do this, We're gonna do that. I mean, the
coaches know each other so.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, second most between any two coaches in NFL history.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, And I can't stress that enough. I mean that
there's I think these both these coaches would probably even
admit after they retire. I coached it different against Harbaugh
than I did against most other games. I coached different
against Tomlin than I did other games. You did it
so many times totally, you know, right.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I think that makes a ton of sense. If you're
a legendary pitcher and a legendary batter and you, yeah,
right right, stepped into the batter's boxing on the mound
against each other one hundred times, that's different than someone
that you're seeing for the third or fourth time.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
It just he's bringing that curveball.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah right right' It's it's a lot less I feel
like smoking mirrors and a lot more we I know, you,
you know me. We're lining up, let's do this thing,
and let's see who blinks first.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah yeah, And there'll be new wrinkles as every game
and then they're certainly not going to game plan differently.
But I think it might do the Steelers some good
to get back to your grassroots and okay, we just
need to be the most physical team out there. We
need to block better than them. We need to hit
on the rise. We got to get people on you
know a lot of bodies the football, you know, fundamental stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I think that is is job number one for both
of these teams here on Sunday one o'clock in Baltimore
at M and T Banks Stadium. Matt We're going to
talk to Missy Matthews in a few minutes, but we've
got some news of the day to get to here.
As we get rolling, I think we will have Steelers
injury updates here shortly. But we do have some pertinent
(04:37):
ones for Baltimore. This happened after you and I were
off the air yesterday. But Lamar Jackson, after being a
full participant on Wednesday, was had a issue Thursday with
an ankle injury.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I saw that because I do a Thursday night show
with Pursuda and that came up then. But I'm like,
that must have just happened.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So but though according to Lamar Jackson, according to Lamar Jackson,
part of me. According to John Harbaugh, Lamar Jackson returned
to practice today Friday after missing Thursday with that ankle
injury that popped up on Wednesday. Okay, so he's already
not just.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
A hamstring, He's got like four different lower body injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
He's got the hockey thing, like, yeah, lower body, upper
body injury, lower body injury, those are the only two designations.
He's got a lot of lower body injury stuff going
on right now, does Lamar but return to practice today,
but he's dealing with some more potentially nagging bumps and
bruises associated with play Lamar. Lamar will start according like
(05:41):
it's good to play and you know and all that,
according to to Jim Harbaughs. So that's not the greatest
news from from the you know, from the Black and Purple,
No right point of your quarterback who's already clearly been
compromised with injury this year, having something new pop up,
you know, Steelers week.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
So I have great respect for the betting world in
Vegas and their knowledge and all those things.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
As we always say, right, there's a reason they have
all those big beautiful buildings out Yeah, and it's not
because they're losing money.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
One thousand percent. And as usual on a lot of
my outlets on Friday, we pick games and especially the
big ones, and this is one of the big ones,
of course, and I hadn't realized until my co host
kind of laid it out. He's like, the line on
this game has been changing. It's been rapidly all week,
which I assume most of our listeners know that just
(06:32):
means money's coming in on one side rather than the other.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Their whole goal isn't to get the line right. Their
whole goals get fifty percent betting on both teams. You know,
they don't care if their lines are right, but they
are remarkably accurate. And I just wonder, do they know
more about this injury? Well, I know they know more
about injury than I, but I know that much. But
that's the only thing I could see changing the lines
that much. Is is he playing? Is he not? What
(06:58):
version of Lamar are you're getting? I assume play, but
you know.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Yeah, I think they've been pretty clear that he is playing.
But you're right, the big question is what version of
him are you getting? That's been an issue for them
all season, but I think particularly in the last few
weeks when again, if you if you watch the games,
he missed a lot of missing throws, not pulling it
down and taking off nearly as often as he does
not the design.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
The design really telling me they're almost none one or two.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Game, and so that that's also though one of those
things that while you'll take it also gives me like
the scaries a little bit of oh a lot. It's
it's early fourth quarter, it's cold, it's been physical, you're
worn down. Lamar has it run it all game, and
then in a crucial situation a third and long or
(07:45):
a fourth and short, here comes a what Lamar designed
run rocketship that it takes fifty five sixty yards or just.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Breaks your back on third and eight on the biggest
play of the game. It comes down to this play,
you know, and then they kneel.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
It out, you know, yes, no doubt and so again.
And I don't mean to be like, yeah, everyone gets
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
I'm not.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Yeah, Lamar's hurt, great, right, but you will clearly how
that works. You'll clearly take one of the best. I mean,
they're saying the same thing about Aaron Rodgers. His left
wrist is messed up. Maybe he'll bumble a snap and
a key moment. The cost of the Steelers. That's just football.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Do whatever. I mean, they're they're happy Harmon's not playing
or Roger Jones, right right, I mean you could go
on on every game there or something like that.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Kyle Hamilton got ruled out with the flu today. You know,
we wouldn't be playing the sympathy card.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
For no, no, no.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
So as much as a compromised Lamar is a benefit
to the Steelers, I think you still have to be
You got to be cautious about that.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Still sleeping giant.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
You got to be cautious about pressed. You know, you
gotta be. Yeah, that's a good point. Ten days rest.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Is harball playing games like may how about you don't
how about you don't play? Just take Thursday off, you
know what I mean? Like again the harball Tom and
I know that you know, and I coach Austin even
said yesterday we are preparing as if Lamar is one thousand,
and that's the only way you can I mean, you're
crazy If you don't, we're to pretend like you all
(09:09):
beat up. And you also have to say that to
the media too. But I wonder if there's any gamesmanship
going on. But he's not been the same.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
I mean, I know that that that I think we
can all agree on and so maybe you know you
won't be Hey.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
The Browns record would even be playing. I don't know.
I'm just throw yea.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
If he was the Joe Burrow type situation, he would
he even be playing.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I mean, whould be better if he was not on
the field.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Probably, it's a fair question, and maybe we'll get an
even better look at that on Sunday afternoon, Matt. Another
piece of news here, not as significant for Sunday's game,
but certainly worth mentioning and discussing and sharing. After returning
to practice December third, Steelers cornerback Dante Kent sustained a
(09:52):
new injury that will cause him to miss the remainder
of the twenty twenty five season. That's a real bummer.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
That's a bummer.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I don't think he was gonna have a big role
for this team down the stretch, but I think just
returning to practice for three weeks and getting ingrained and
getting back to it to kind of have that to
leapfrog into the off season would have been a nice
benefit and nice timeline for him.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
But it's also weird that him and Trice did the
exact same thing. The window opens and then they get
hurt in their first practice coming back, and I don't
and they don't have to tell you as much because
they're not on the active roster. It'll go on the
injury report or whatnot. But did they reaggravate the same
injury or was it. Did they know that there was
a chance, you know, yeah, yeah, you know, like, go
(10:33):
give it a try. It might not. It's a fifty
to fifty proposition. I don't know, you know, doctor, stuff's
hard to comment on.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
It sure is, and you and I have said many
many times over the years that we don't particularly enjoy comment, right,
I just know, I don't know exactly right, We just
know that we don't know.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
I'd be shocked if they were like, well, Dante's coming back.
That's why we can release Slay. No, there's no way
they were counting on him, not that quick of return around. Absolutely,
we'll be fine. We got he's coming back because they
how much they know about him.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
And maybe that's what they were just hoping to do
mora is find out about him and more data points
and see this guy in three weeks of practice.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Could use another special team or you know.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
And maybe, yeah, maybe he does end up down the fold,
you know, gets a helmet in one of the final
games of the season or something like that. But we
do know now, unfortunately that that will not be the
case for Dante Kent as he has been now ruled
out for the rest of the season. Let's take a
break here. We come back on the other side. We'll
continue to talk Steelers Ravens, will continue to set the
(11:34):
scene with our friend Missy Matthews, Steelers sideline reporter when
we return. All that and more as we roll along
West Shuuler, Matt Williamson, It's the Drive on a Friday
on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
You know the drill, when you hear the bounce, it's
time to get the view from the sideline. It's time
to go down to the field level with the queen
of the sideline, Missy Matthews. Missy, thank you so much
for taking the time as always for us on a Friday.
And you know, it's I think I think Matt said
it well at the start of the show, It's Ravens
Week and those are really only, I think the two
(12:37):
words that all Steelers fans need to get the blood pumping,
to get the juices flowing. You've obviously been privileged to
be on the sidelines over the years for a lot
of huge Steelers games. Rivalry games, playoff games, primetime games,
all that stuff. How is this one different? How's that
intensity on the sidelines and out on the field different
(13:00):
from you know, just about every other game the Pittsburgh
Steelers play.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
I think, as it always means something. Very rarely do
you find a Steelers Ravens game where you're like, it
doesn't matter who wins, doesn't do anything for either team.
That never happens, and I think there's this weird mutual
hatred but also mutual respect between the two teams. You know,
you don't have the good, good old days of you know,
(13:27):
trell Suggs and ray Lewis and hinz Ward and just
you know, the things that used to take place. You
don't have that animosity. But I do think that there's
still a Hey, if you're a Steeler, you don't like
the Ravens. If you're a raven you don't like the Steelers.
And there they're always fun. There's always you know, it
always comes down to something crazy. It's one of those
(13:49):
weird things where the score can be you know, a
number of different ways. They're usually not high scoring. Sometimes
it's just field goals, as we have seen in the past.
So it never disappoints, I guess, is what I will
say in terms of Steelers Ravens.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
So you go there every year and you have for
some time. Now, is it high or low? I would
best guess low on your favorite travel destinations during the
work here.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Well, okay, so they there's a very good restaurant there
that I do. Enjoying there tomorrow night, Matt, I already
have reservations. You know, dan Quinlan was working ahead for
us on that enjoy that. I do like staying in
the Inner Harbor. I've stayed at the airport before, and
let me tell you that's not very fun. But M
(14:39):
and T Bank is a cool stadium. I don't like
the Ravens, but I can appreciate because there are some
stadiums where you're like, this is a dump. This sideline
is so small, I'm going to get hit by a cart.
I just think the way they set up M and
T Bank makes sense. Their press box used to be
Chef's Kiss, but of course, you know, making money go
(15:00):
in the way of that, so they kind of moved
it so that they could sell those really good seats
that were just it was probably the lowest press box
that I've ever been to in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
It was the best in the league until until they
moved it last year.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
Yeah yeah, yeah, I mean it was it was down low,
it was right on the fifty. But I also understand
that that can make you a lot of money because
those would be some.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Really good seats for some cor zero. I would imagine
the fans aren't super kind to you guys though.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
No, And you know, when the press box used to
be super close originally, Like I just remember Hill, grow
Punch and Woolf telling stories about the crazy people because
you could literally hear them. You could talk to them.
That's how you know. You were like basically in the stands,
but just kind of boxed off a little bit. But
(15:53):
you know, if you want to open the windows, then
you kind of hear some things.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
I don't imagine Race might have touch, might have gotten
into yeah, Tounch might have gotten into some back and
forth with some some people wearing purple a couple of times.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. They got the best
of them, and he fought back. I'll give him that.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
You know, Matt. Something that that never gets old is pulling,
you know, in and out of stadiums on the team
buses when you're on the road, and of course everybody
gives you their different greetings and salutes and those things.
A lot of one finger salutes in Baltimore at M
and T M and T Bank Stadium for the Steelers
when you're when you're arriving and departing on those buses.
That's for sure.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I've probably told you the least kind in my day.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
West Virginia, I'm might have been. I might have been
one of those them, you know that was throwing throwing, throw,
throwing psi throwing pepsi cans at eleven years old at
Matt Williamson trying to get off the bus. Uh, Missy,
I I think that that all. I completely back you
up on on all of that. This is a one
(16:56):
o'clock game, so it won't be the you know, quite
the un under the lights and the light show and
all that stuff that they can do there at M
and T Banks Stadium. But it's obviously still going to
be juiced up. And it feels like there's a lot
of key things to talk about matchups and X factors
in this game, but man, at the top of that
list feels like it's the health of both quarterbacks Aaron
(17:18):
Rodgers of course with that fractured left wrist, and Lamar Jackson,
who was already dealing with some hamstring and some knee
stuff and then popping up yesterday with an ankle injury
as well. It it feels like a, you know, an
attrition going on for both of these, you know, former
MVP signal callers, and maybe whoever's healthier and able to
(17:40):
play their game more on Sunday could again be a
massive X factor in this one.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Yeah. I was, you know, looking at tweets from people
in Baltimore because it's the same thing, you know, earlier
practice and coaches and players talk and trying to get
a vibe of what's happening since the practice reports aren't outed.
The one tweet just said Lamar Jackson said he's feeling
pretty good, and I'm like, oh, that's that's not like,
you know, you're not very confident in how you're feeling
(18:09):
if you just say pretty good. And they said it
was an ankle injury. He got stepped on in practice
on Wednesday, which everyone was excited. He was at practice
on Wednesday. He wasn't then able to practice yesterday. He
was out there today John Harbaugh said he will start,
but you know, kind of something new to monitor in
terms of Lamar Jackson and some of the injuries he's
(18:31):
dealt with this season.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
So I don't mean to bring the mood down. And
now it's sort of ancient history, but give me the
sideline vibes of Steelers bills.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Yeah that one was not great, yep not. Didn't love it.
And I have to give credit to Chris Boswell because
it does not matter if they are winning by thirty
or losing by thirty or whatever. He is this same like,
has this same temperament the entire time, and I always
at least it has to happen at least once a game.
(19:06):
If it's really loud, I have both of my ear
I have fees, and I really cannot hear. Uh, it's
noise canceling. Like I don't really hear around me other
than the guys talking of the broadcast. And at least
once a game, Boss has to physically move me because
I'm in the way of either you know, Corliss and
Christian warming up or Haym warming up. And even when
(19:27):
things weren't going well the way Boss, hey, missy, no
big deal, Just moving you over, you know, like same,
was it like throwing me? Didn't yell at me? Same.
But you could just tell for the amount of time
that the defense spent on the field, uh, the little
time they spent on the bench, it was almost like
you know, putting the helmet back on to go out there.
You were almost like, Okay, here we go again. And
(19:51):
it did just feel like the huge turnover that the
Bills scored that defensive touchdown on just dampered the mood
and they could not regroup after that in any phase
of the game. So, yeah, and I think I've told Wes,
but because he was there. Yeah, Wes was upstairs in
(20:11):
the radio booth after the game, like that locker room,
who it was, It was pretty empty and it was
very quiet. That was That was definitely not a good one.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
No, it was not. And we are not looking for
a repeat of that on Sunday, certainly when it would
involve all of us getting on a plane and flying
home after the game. Missy Matt and I talked a
little bit in the first segment about how and you know,
maybe there's some similar vibes to this of of what
we saw on Sunday against Buffalo we analyze all this,
(20:43):
you know, we all spend hours on radio and video
and some people, you know, writing columns and articles in
that thing, dissecting every angle and every matchup and all
the keys and all the schematics and and and this
and that stats together. But yeah, somebody, somebody puts together
like a fis worth of stats packet every every single
week here on this show.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Might rhyme with his name too, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
That's right, might flow very nicely there in that regard.
But this one feels with the current kind of injury
status of both teams, with both of them being six
and six and not on top of their game and
playing the best football that they want to be, playing
a back to basics football one oh one. Who's better
in the trenches, who's more physical, who's more buttoned up,
(21:29):
is going to have the much better chance to win
the game Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Oh yeah, you know, this one does just feel like
it's a must win. And I know you can say
that at several points or like this is a must win,
this will help at the end, But we are in
the final five game stretch. You know, you're going to
see these guys in the final week, which I don't
even think what matter what happens this Sunday, the Week
eighteen game is going to mean something to somebody, if
(21:56):
not both. And it does just feel like to get
out of this skid, of this this losing skid, the
Steelers have to go down there and put a consistent
performance together both sides of the ball, because what is
happening is just it's just not working. And you can
tell that everybody wants it to change. But you know,
(22:18):
actions speak louder than words, and I don't think anybody
in that locker room thinks that just talking about it
is going to make them feel better. You know, the
Ravens were on a five game winning streak until Cincinnati
broke that on Thanksgiving. For the Steelers, they're in the
two game losing streak. You know, they had one of
those before and then they came out with a powerful
(22:38):
win against the Colts. So will that be the case again?
I hope so. But you don't want to stack a
loss here, and then I think you're gonna get to
the point where you're gonna have to worry about what
other people are doing. If they can just focus on
these last five games and what they are doing and
doing them well. Hopefully that's the direction we're going in
(22:59):
and it's not like last year where you make it
into the playoffs, but you're kind of like, oh, we're
not playing good football. You want to go in with
some steam and what better time to start than the
first week of December.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Bessie, I'd really like to get your input on the
Harbaugh Tomlin dynamic relationship. I mean, do you think they
prepare differently for one another? Do you think they coached
during the game differently because of one another and the familiarity.
But really what I want to know is if you've
ever paid attention to them interacting pre or postgame.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Pre game for sure, and I think it was on
Hard Knocks last year was something with the NFL films
where coach Tomlin kind of joked like, man, we just
talked about what our kids like we're dressing up as
for Halloween. Yeah, right, Like when you this is the
thirty ninth meeting between them, including playoffs, that that's no
(24:01):
small number of coaches. Of course, you know they're some
of the longest tenured coaches current active coaches in the league.
But I think they have a respect for each other.
I think it is a you're not going to do
anything kind of the I don't want to say college level,
but almost like I hate him and I'm not shaking
(24:22):
his hand type deal. But I don't think it's you know,
I don't think there's no love loss put it that way.
But I do think that.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
Each other.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
No, not at all. No, And it's you know, it's
like every game, uh, you shake your opponent's hand, you
hug them whatever. I'm sure you know they're small talk
before the games have has significantly increased over the years.
How could it not, And you know, when you're you're
like each other, not saying necessarily the coaching styles. I
(24:55):
don't know that much about John Harbaugh. I've covered one
Ravens game, maybe two in my local TV days back
in the past. But I just think that you know,
they respect each other, and they know that they're both
trying to do the exact same thing. It's just who
can do it better on this day because they know
that if they played the next day it could be
the complete opposite result.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
I wonder if, like five years after they're both retired
and have given up football for a living and moved
on and their grandparents if they'd actually be friends, or
I always joke that I hope there's a thirty for
thirty or a football life with Ozzie Knew some Kevin,
Colbert Harbaugh and Tomlin on a fishing boat together, just
being honest, you know what I mean, Like, man, you
(25:39):
used to make me I was about to draft that
guy and Ozzie you snagged them right in front of
me here. You know, I bet they'd be great.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Oh yeah, I mean, Or imagine if they just like
running out an auditorium, like I'd pay to go watch that. Yeah, yeah,
tell stories to be produced. Yeah, like just just riff
and let's let's let's hear.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
What happened really, missy. Last one I've got for you is,
you know, we found out a few days ago that
it's the twenty fifth anniversary of that two thousands Baltimore
Ravens team that beat the New York Giants in the
Super Bowl to capture there, you know, first as Baltimore Ravens.
(26:18):
You know of that that post move era, you know,
that team with Ray Lewis and that great defense and
Trent Dilpher as a quarterback. Coach by Brian Billick is
going to be honored at halftime on Sunday. I'm sure
that that's not by coincidence that that's happening in this
game against the Steelers. Are you happy that Max Starks
is no longer on the sideline and you're not gonna
(26:39):
have to hold him back against those guys?
Speaker 4 (26:42):
Well, you know, you know, those guys are a going
to be out there during pregame and b I'm sure
one of them will get announced at some point, you know,
almost like when we do the Terrible Chals role. That
seems like the appropriate time that they would you know,
honor those guys, just you know, prematurely before the big
halftime ceremony. But I remember, I don't remember if it
(27:05):
was last year, whichever game it was in Baltimore, there's
been a bunch and some of their former players were
there and Max was just like, I hate him. I
hate him, you know, just standing there and it was like.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
It would have been.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Yeah, and it was just so funny. It wasn't like, Hey,
I'm going to go say hi to him, because Max,
clearly you knows so many people and it's you know,
every game, Hey, I'm going to go say hi to
my buddy over here, I'm going to go this Baltimore
week Max isn't saying hi to anybody.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Ron Woodson in the Ravens booth.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
That's yeah, because he yes, they're both in the same time. Yeah,
rod is you know, he likes to play both sides.
Obviously he's working for the Ravens, but did some amazing
things with the Steelers as well. And yeah, that that's
probably the only Baltimore person that I can think of
that I've ever seen Max have like a chit chatty
(27:58):
conversation with.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Oh, Missy, It's gonna be fun and I'm looking forward
to it. Thank you for joining us and taking the time.
As always, we'll hear you on the call on Sunday
with Robin Max and I will see you on the
airplane tomorrow.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
Sounds good. Thanks guys, have a great weekend you as well.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
There she goes the queen of the Sideline, Melissa Matthews,
And uh, yeah, I listen. There's a lot of times,
I'll be honest with you, a lot of times that
I envy Missy forgetting to be down on the sideline.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
You see some cool stuff, I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
No doubt in cool stadiums in the atmosphere and all that.
Not that my view is bad in the broadcast booth, obviously,
but there's plenty of times where I don't envy Missy
Matthews on the sideline because of weather conditions. Say weather,
maybe it's pouring down rain or it's freezing, and I
don't think it's gonna be freezing, but it will be
cold obviously Sunday, December and Baltimore. But even with the
weather I envy. It could be three degrees and pouring
(28:54):
down sleet and I would still want to be on
the sideline for Steelers Ravens, just kind of soak it
allway and get all the details. It's not often in December.
This is probably how I should have said it. It's
not often in December that I'm jealous of Missy being
down on the sideline because of the weather. But I
will be Sunday. I will be Sunday at one o'clock.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
That's cool.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Thanks to her for joining us and taking the time.
When we come back on the other side, we still
got to get into five Star Friday. We've got some
more kind of you know, ahead of the weekend news
across the NFL that we need to get into all
things Steelers, Ravens and more as we roll along. Euler Williamson.
It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Network, your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to
seven home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
It's a Friday, A lot happening here across the National
Football League as we get ready for a massive Week fourteen.
And I guess, technically, Matt, it did start last night
with Thursday Night Football between the Cowboys and the Lions
and an impressive and assertive performance by Detroit at home.
Is they get to win they deeply desperately needed forty
(30:23):
four to thirty over Dallas, and Matt, that might be
all she rode for the Cowboys.
Speaker 3 (30:28):
I think it is all, she wrote. I mean, they're
not mathematically eliminated, but they're down to like six percent
or something. They need everything in the world to line
up perfectly.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Basically went out, yeah and get some help in the
process as well.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
One hundred percent. So quite a few things stood out
to me. First off, I think the Lions asserted themselves.
I picked Dallas to win that game. I don't regret
my choice, but I mean I didn't also didn't know
Saint Brown was playing. I mean, had that heinz Ward
feel about the toughness he brings, watchability and all that stuff.
(31:02):
Gibbs was the best player on the field and was
unbelievably you know, dangerous, especially in the receiving game. But
a couple other things. I mean, the Lions did lose
Brian Branch for the season at the end of that game.
That's a big, big deal. The turnovers were massive. It
means three to zero turnover differential. Cowboys lose Ceedee Lamb.
(31:23):
I think in the second quarter after he was lighting
them up. Their protection was a big problem. I had
never heard of the left tackle, the backup left tackle.
But I don't feel like I need to do a
whole lot of work on him because I don't think
he's going to be doing this for a living much longer.
But they kept leving him, leave him alone against Hutchinson
(31:43):
and then the other guy on the right side of
three sacks. I mean, Dak was under.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
Man He was like dodging bullets the whole time.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Yeah, and I know it's the topic of the day,
and I'm not trying to pick on the guy, but
it's not good look for Pickens, you know, basically the
day you get eliminated, you're trotting through routes and doing
a lot of stuff you saw here, you.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Know, and at a time when CD was out of
the game injured, right when you when it's like okay, hey,
your time, like yeah, you know, our other big gun
on offenses out here, we're on the road, We're in
a desperate situation. Yeah, that's when you need the cream
to rise at the top instead of kind of shrinking
in the moment.
Speaker 3 (32:23):
And I haven't watched every Cowboy snap like I do
the Steelers, but I have not seen that until this
point with them. And it wasn't at the very end
the last you know, like it's the game's over, like
we need you man, you know, where are you going?
Speaker 2 (32:36):
And some more some war of words between him and
Richard Sherman in the last twenty four hours and and
all that stuff, and yes, that is listen. You know
we've said many times this year the NFL feels like
such a week to week.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
League this year.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Or George Pickens might be the most week to week
league player in the National Force. Yeah, right, the best
free agent to be He might be the best receiver
in the warld world on on certain on certain Sundays
and Thursdays, and but he he also gives you next
to nothing on certain Sundays and Mondays and Thursdays. And
that is the ceiling in the floor in the wowed
(33:13):
inconsistency that comes with him. And I think a lot
of people that have spent the last month doing the
you know, what the hell are the Steelers things thing
night were kind of like, well, okay, you heard that
a lot last night. Suddenly all these people were like, yeah,
I don't know if i'd pay that guy thirty thirty
five forty million dollars.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
You know, boy, there was the worst trade, which is
people say is the worst trade in NFL, worst.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
Trade in NFL history. I mean it's not even the
worst trade in the AFC North history. All right, as
the quarterback whose practice window was activated in Cleveland has
that award locked up? Yeah, but yeah, it was. It
kind of made me last good, George, No, it was not.
But in another kind of timely example, it's like the
same people that would always crush James Franklin and Penn State.
(33:58):
You can't win a big game, and you got to
get rid of that guy then going well was Penn
State thinking getting rid of James Franklin. Come on, you
can't you can't do you can't tell me how bad
of a trade it was for the Steelers and then
be like, oh, well, you know that's why you don't
want to pay that guy big money. I mean, this
is there's always a middle ground there that you know.
I think realistically, you you you knew if you were
(34:19):
a Steeler fan or somebody who was you know, just
in tune with these type of things. A couple other
significant Detroit though.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
I mean, they're not out of the woods. There's a
lot of battling to do.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
There's still going to be in that NFC picture. I mean,
there's going to be a good team that gets left out. Yeah,
and maybe in the a f C, you know, similar
similar type deal. But they're like.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
They're like someone in the in the North is going
to be left out.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Someone in the North is in likelihood left out yea
and yeah, and that could be like a ten and
seven team that gets left out that's really strong, that's
really strong. Detroit helping themselves, helping their cause big time
last night. Now they've got the extra few days of rest,
but they are. Yeah, I think that's a good way
(35:08):
to put it. Certainly not out of the.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
Weeds just yet, not at all.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Matt from that last night, A couple more pieces of
news that I want to hit on. One off the
back of that game last night, and it sounds like
Brian Branch a torn achilles and that's a bummer from
one of the better young defensive backs in the National
Football League.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
So it brought me to I didn't know this until
the broadcasters said it last night. I knew the last
thing was true that when you look at like games
lost due to injury, the Lions were like the most
injured team in the league last year in four years,
twenty twenty four, and the announcer said this that they're
one of there at the top of the league in
(35:49):
injuries again this year before the branch injury going into
the game and just wonder, like, Dan Campbell's a really
good coach. I understand why people love them.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
I think I know where you're going with this, and
I think it's fair.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
But it's all gas, no break, you know, like everything
is all whoe no sick them all the time. You know,
we're just gonna keep going for.
Speaker 2 (36:08):
Play harder woe. Yeah, I said that background.
Speaker 3 (36:11):
I wonder if he is going to lead towards injuries
late in the season, fatigue late in the season. I'm
not saying he can never win the big one, but
that would be a concern with me with him. And
it's not his fault that Brian Branch, you know, to Achilles,
But I get what you're saying. Yeah, I just think
that's something to be considered with Campbell. All these coaches
(36:33):
have strengths and weaknesses, and you know, he might be
too much all the time.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
I think that that is it's a fair question to ask.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Yeah, it's just a propos. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
The man like we are all about physicality, hard practices,
hard training camps like you mentioned. Even games that they've
got teams put away, it's still like they're a super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
We're going for it every fourth down, you know, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
And and and hey, over the course of seven team games,
that can certainly catch up with you. I don't think
there's I don't think there's any denying that.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Yeah, I just need to be examined. You know, if
I was ownership, I'd be like, Okay, is this a trend?
Speaker 2 (37:09):
Or back off a little bit in August to something
help our chances in December, or maybe.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
We don't play anyone in the preseason, or I don't know.
The Branch loss is big, though huge, more and more
true do it all? Slot defensive backs I don't even
want to call them corners are becoming extremely valuable. I
always say they're the lampatize the room together, you know
what I mean? They and I think that's.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
A few of them picked in the first round over
the last couple of years.
Speaker 3 (37:37):
Yeah, yeah, And frankly, I think that's what Ramsey was
brought here to do. You know, you can do so
Kyle Hamilton does a lot of this. They come in
all shapes inside a perfect one. Yeah, I mean, they
don't all look like Mike Hilton and a few of
them do.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Now I was gonna look, Yeah, they look like safeties.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Right because they have to tackle Derek Henry, you know.
And Branch is that guy for them, you know what
I mean, he super important, more important than the box
score show. That's It's like, I can't play this.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
Coverage it certainly way that they want to play.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, A lot of stuff I can't call
as a play caller without.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Him, absolutely, and that's a big, substantial loss for Detroit.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
Just a total side note. But like I think I
think we both agree, and I've said this before. I
thought you did too, that the Texans are probably the
best defense in the league. You have to pick one.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Yes, if I had to pick one to wear the
Black and Gold this weekend, it might be that Houston defense.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
And a tape analyst that I really respect said, Jalen
Petrie is our most important guy. You know, you wouldn't
think of Jalen Petrie. I mean, like Anderson would be
probably defensive player of the Year if it wasn't for
Miles Garrett, you know, and Hunter. But I think those
two are still more important.
Speaker 2 (38:47):
He's but I guess he's like the insurance policy on
the Porsche.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Yeah, right, right right, Porsche is wonderful.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Will Anderson is, you know, is poor. She's the insurance policy.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Man.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
There's so much I can't do that you keep the
you keep the fancy car in. There's just so much
that you can you can't The fancy car isn't gonna
hum like it's supposed to.
Speaker 3 (39:08):
He's the case for my phone. That's exactly right. Like
you need to have.
Speaker 2 (39:13):
Maybe he's the gasoline and the.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
Anhere.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yes, it's not going anywhere without that guy. Yeah, that
iPhone is going to get real cracked and damage.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
About the version they give you in the box isn't
gonna last very long, all right.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
He's like the nice wine glass. It's about the wine
wine somewhere to hold it exactly. That's a really good example.
I like that, and I think you're right. I think
a lot of defenses that's a real calling card for
them now.
Speaker 3 (39:39):
And I realize that and people are paying them and
paying up for them in the draft.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
And yeah, if you and I had Mike Tomlin on
back in July at the start of training camp and
gave them truth serum, I think you're right. I think
that would have been the type of role that they
were envisioning for Jalen Ramsey before things got never failed.
Speaker 3 (39:55):
No, Yeah, I think he's semi failed as he's not
an outside guard Jamar Chase all day, the roll revis guy.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
But I think if you were still if the Shawn
Elliott's still healthy, if you would hit on one thornhill,
I think we'd still see Ramsey doing.
Speaker 3 (40:10):
A lot of that stuff and I know this is
totally made up, but I mean, if you didn't have
to trade Menca for Ramsey, Ramsey being the slot perfect, Yeah,
if you give the up a draft pick instead of Menca.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Matt looks like Jade and Daniels will play for the
Commanders against the Vikings this weekend since that dislocated left
elbow nasty, ugly injury about a month ago on November ninth.
The Commanders are three and nine and have nothing to
play for. I understand though, that he's still just a
sophomore in this league. He's a second year guy. Every
(40:43):
rep is important, Matt. What's our favorite TV show on Hulu?
Speaker 3 (40:49):
The Bear?
Speaker 2 (40:50):
The Bear and what's the Big Line? And the Bear?
Every second counts, every every rep, every game counts for
Jaden Daniels at this stage of his career. But man,
I just really hope they're not rushing him back early
in a season that's already gone. And uh, I don't
think guy that's been banged up all year.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
I think it's similar to Burrow coming back, but they're
further down, They're they're further gone. You know, they're three
and nine, and he's not the wealthiest guy on the team.
I mean, he's the face of the franchise, don't get
me wrong. But Burrow's playing and you can't stop him,
you know, And and.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
He's been there for a long time. He is the
alpha in the room.
Speaker 3 (41:31):
And they just beat the Ravens and they may even
beat the Bills this week. I mean, like when we
start picking games the way, I know, since he looks good,
but I don't know if they can come back or not.
But Washington has no chance. And I think I would
have shut Daniels down.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
I get it. And you know dan Quinn saying like
at his point in his career, every rep counts, every
game matters. And I do think that there's truth to that.
Speaker 3 (41:55):
Sure, Sure, he needs has work to do, he needs.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
To developed like Wolf. We'll I used to lament this
all the time. He'd be like, the only way to
get better at playing football is by playing football. Yeah,
and we play less football now than we've ever did before.
Speaker 3 (42:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:09):
So I he's right, He is absolutely right, But there
is also the big picture, the longer term. He is
only in his second year, and you hope he's your
quarterback for another fifteen years and twelve years.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
An injury filed year he had some injury concerns at
LSU as well. You know, he's not the biggest, earliest
Josh Allen looking dude either. I get both sides. I
mean I loved the Burrow said, well, I get paid
to play football, so I play football. Yeah, I love football,
And I mean that's what I want my quarterback to say.
You know, I don't want to be like, well they
(42:41):
shut me down, and that's okay. I was just gonna
sit on sidelines the clipboard, you know, like, yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
I think you are right. Though it's a little different
when you're like the what's Burrow now in his six
or seventh season, right year veteran as opposed to a
second year guy who is, yeah, the face of that
team but still trying to earn your stripes, still trying
to come along in your career.
Speaker 3 (43:00):
I mean, everyone knows how important he is to the commander. No,
but you know obviously, but still.
Speaker 2 (43:04):
They're hoping he's Joe Burrow type value for them going forward.
And so yeah, I either side, whatever happens, I'm not
going to act like it's if they play him. I'm
not going to act like it's the worst colossal mistake
we've ever seen, or if.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
He gets hurt again, It's not like fire Quinn because
anyone can get hurt.
Speaker 2 (43:22):
Anyone can get hurt, especially on that turf there, like
we talked about. Oh yeah, yeah, we talked about yesterday.
Although I don't know if it's a home gamer. If
it's in it is in Minnesota, So never never mind
on that one, at least for this Sunday, Matt first
hour of the program in the books, another hour to go.
When we return for hour number two, it's gonna be
jam packed. As a Gene Wilder would have said in
(43:42):
the Chocolate Factory, So much to do in so little time.
Five Star Friday, around the NFL Week fourteen, and of
course all of our final thoughts and predictions for Steelers
Ravens Sunday, one pm at M and T. Banks Stadium
in Baltimore. All of that and more as we get
into our number two on your twenty four seven home
of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio on the
(44:04):
Steelers Audio Network
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