Hr1: Waiting All Week For Sunday Night

Matt and Wes set the scene for a massive showdown between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

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 (00:29):
Good afternoon, Steelers Nation. It's the Drive on the Steelers
Audio Network. Wes Shuoler and Matt Williamson with you here
on a Friday as we rock and we roll and
get ready for Sunday Night football. Steelers Ravens, two Dogs,
one bone. Matt Williamson, I know that that is a cliche.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
It's not on Sunday night. That's truth. On Sunday night
to enter, only.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
One can leave his division champs and go into the postseason.
It is one of the fiercest rivalries in football. And
this is you know, I know that these teams in
the twenty first century have met in an AFC championship game,
in a couple of playoff games. Other than that, this
is you know, this is towards the top of the
list I think of most important, most consequential matchups ever

(01:15):
between these two franchisees.

Speaker 3 (01:16):
I mean it's as much on the line as a
playoff game. I mean one of them is going home
and one of them's advancing. You know, That's what it's
come down to. It is a playoff game and it's
super cool that it's the last NFL game of the season,
the regular season. Well that's a good point too.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
I didn't really didn't really consider it that way, but
you're right.

Speaker 4 (01:32):
Do you know what else is that day? Derek Henry's birthday.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
It is his thirty second birthday. I really hate that,
but we got to spoil there, his thirty second birthday.
I kind of dislike that too.

Speaker 4 (01:44):
Right, I don't like that one bit.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
But hopefully, hopefully he'll be heading home on the plane
what'll be late Saturday or wee hours of Monday morning,
upset that his birthday didn't go according to plan. But
that is, Hey, if we're gonna if we're gonna jump
right into it and kind of do the scene setter
thing here, Matt, that feels like such a storyline.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
You know.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
I do the quick hitters segments with our buddy Chad
Tyson on DVS on DV on Fridays, and it's normally
just like a four or five minute segment. It's not
so long, and you know, he asked me like a
question or two. We get like two or three minutes
into it and then I'm like, you know what, though,
we probably buried the lead because we're halfway through this
bit and haven't said the name Derrick Henry, and I
feel like that's the biggest The most consequential player on

(02:26):
the football field Sunday night might be Derrick Henry. I
would think if he plays well, the Ravens have a
great chance to win. If the Steelers can limit him,
there might be a direct parallel, And it's doesn't always
play out this simple, but it certainly could where you know,
Monday morning, you look at that box score for Derrick
Henry and if it's high twenties carries, triple digits, touchdown

(02:49):
or two, you probably don't have a great chance to win.
If it's probably seventy seven yards eighty one yards for
Derrick Henry in that box score, you probably got a
pretty good chance to find yourself in a favorable position.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Because I think the number of carries is going to
be there no matter what. Yeah, I mean, I'd be
really shocked. I mean, so they don't use him like
Christ McCaffrey or I mean, there's times he's on the
sideline for a long stretch, passing situations, third downs, et cetera.
But this past week against Green Bay, he played a
ton of third downs because.

Speaker 4 (03:21):
They were always in like third and one.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yes, I mean they were so ahead of the chains
all the time in that game. If first down run,
second down runs were gaining six, seven eight yards over
and over and over. And that's what the Steelers need
to stop. I mean, he's always dangerous if he can
bust the forty yard or run away from people. But
if they can stay ahead of the chains over and
over and over and keep handing it to him, it's

(03:44):
gonna be a long day because eventually he's gonna get
his But I do think, no matter what, I don't
think the Steelers are capable offensively of just like making
this a Keaton Mitchell game right where it's just gonna
be throw throw, throw, throw throw. But that also brings
me my bigger X factor. I don't think he's an
X factor. I think we know what Henry is. I
don't think you called him an X factor. But Lamar

(04:05):
scares me more and more every second. Yeah, because he's practiced.
I mean, he hasn't missed any practice this week. Might
we get MVP Lamar? I mean he has not been
at all.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
That would shock me.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
It would shock me too, But I just wonder like
in the first series, be like, oh I remember that guy,
and the whole AFC would just gasp and be like,
oh no, he's back. You know like that, that to
me is a huge wildcard. Is what version of the
MVP do we get?

Speaker 2 (04:33):
No doubt? And you're right, it's not an X factor.
That's more of like a wild card or an unknown. Okay,
can I can I be a little cynical for you
for a minute then if that's if that's your worry,
my shoes on the other foot, Okay, as Matt Shimmy's
and shakes.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
If you're watching on UTAX from the Boss, yeah, he's
in the wrong spot.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
TV's got to keep your TV's got to keep you
fresh on the TV.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Here. I got two spots. I got this camp spot
and I got this camps depends on.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
Where I'm like the famous camera no camera be and
the anchors looking the wrong way, like you could tell
someone screaming in their ear while they're trying to hold.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
Back the curt and tell people how we do things
around here.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
Absolutely, we show you how the sausage is made around
these parts. Lamar Jackson practice full participant the entire week
that hasn't happened this season. Can I be a little
cynical for you for a minute.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
Oh it could be terrible, Yeah, yeah, please bring it on.

Speaker 2 (05:25):
I think that's because some of the criticism that he's
taken over the last couple of weeks in Baltimore, these stories.

Speaker 4 (05:29):
I think there's some of that too.

Speaker 3 (05:30):
And this is his teammates all of a sudden, they're
stepping up and defending him, like we're all attacking poor Lamar.

Speaker 2 (05:36):
This is one of those Yesterday, you and I gave
the the media, and when we say that label, it
typically means the the true beat reporter journalists, because like
you and I are technically considered media, TVs technically considered media,
but we're talking reporters who really break stories in that
type of thing.

Speaker 3 (05:53):
Like when we go to the combine roners meeting our
tags as media, Yes, right, I'm sure if you're a game,
it's as media. But there's a big different.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
It's between what you and I do and what Chris
Adamski and Chris Hallick do and what Dale did and
what Mike pursued it. Does you know the Jerry Dulax
of the world, those type of.

Speaker 3 (06:09):
People writing a column every week too. You know, old
school Pittsburgh Press.

Speaker 2 (06:14):
Exactly right, exactly right, and you got to get it
into your editor by a certain time so it can
make deadline.

Speaker 3 (06:20):
Traveling on the train with Babe Ruth and I Ah,
I'm with the press. I don't know why you are.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, you always got to throw them in there when
you're talking about old timey news stuff. For some reason,
the cynical nature in my mind is kind of like
with the timing of the last couple of weeks. Some
of these stories of Lamar's not great in team meetings
and Lamar stays up too late playing video games and
they're really questioning his commitment to the team. It's always

(06:50):
funny how those stories never come out when he's in
the middle of a thirteen win MVP season.

Speaker 4 (06:53):
What he cares. It's a shower shoot narrative.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
This is where, you know where yesterday we gave our
media buddy some love. This is where I'll give him
some flax, some grief. Those stories always come out in
tough times. In tough times, part of me thinks that.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
The old dys played videos when he's win the MVP.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
I bet when I bet three years ago, when Lamar
was lighting the league on fire. Two years ago, he
was still playing video games. Yes, to me, I think
some of what we've seen from him this week is
a pushback to some of that, like, Oh, you want
to talk about how I don't care. You want to
talk about how I don't pay attention, I'm not good
in team meetings, I stay up late playing video games.
I'm going to be a full practice participant every single

(07:27):
day this week ahead of our biggest game of the season. Yeah,
that's I'm a little cynical when it comes to that
kind of I get it.

Speaker 3 (07:35):
I just don't think we have to worry about health anymore.
I don't know what kind of player he is at
this moment as currently constructed, but it scares me that
he's not compromised.

Speaker 4 (07:46):
Did he look some way.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
I don't know Saturday night at lambeau Field. Do you
think he's looked about as good as he looked all season?

Speaker 5 (07:51):
Oh?

Speaker 4 (07:52):
He didn't playing Lambeau Yah. That's what I mean. That's
why I'm.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Saying it, because what was their game before that was?

Speaker 3 (07:58):
I can't remember if you played two weeks ago or not. Okay,
I mean Huntley played, Huntley started two games.

Speaker 2 (08:04):
This year, yes, but I thought one was that one
against the Bears all the way back in like October, right, Patriots, ok,
you TV.

Speaker 3 (08:13):
So last we saw him, I thought he was getting
more spry as a runner. You'd see some bursts here
and there, you know, because there was a stretch that
he probably shouldn't have been out there. I mean, sure,
people that don't think he's like not into the team
or whatever, watch those games because he shouldn't have been
the field to begin with, and he's out there trying
to save their season and kind of being a detriment.

(08:34):
But last we saw him, I can't remember if that
was two weeks ago, three weeks ago, whatever, it was
the Patriot game. You started to move around pretty well
before getting re injured. That's what worries me is now
we have this unknown version of him. I wish I
could have watched him last week and been like, man,
he shouldn't been out there, But now is he healthy?
MVP guy? Or if this game didn't matter, would he

(08:54):
not have any chance of playing?

Speaker 4 (08:56):
You know what I mean?

Speaker 3 (08:56):
That's I don't know, but in the first series we
might figure it out real quick.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
It's a great uh, it's a great kind of point
to raise here in this scene setting opening segment. Yeah,
the last time Lamar played was two weeks ago against
the Patriots, seven of ten for one hundred and one
yards and two runs for seven yards before exiting that
game with Tyler Huntley taken over. So that's when he
got hurt, right, Yeah, So it's a very interesting point

(09:22):
because I'd forgotten completely that it was Huntley on Saturday
at Lambo.

Speaker 3 (09:27):
It's just revitalized and fresh. You know, I give him.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
I give him more credit in that regard than probably
most because he's still in his twenties. He's still you know,
it's a little different than Aaron Rodgers, a forty two
year old and a fractured wrist, where you know that
even if you give him a week off, that's still
gonna like he got in Chicago, that's still gonna linger.
That's still gonna be.

Speaker 3 (09:46):
But that we got Rogers some good, absolutely all right,
And I wanted to do Lamar some good.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
I expect it will. Yeah, but to what extent You're right?
I mean, that becomes a that becomes a major part
of this equation. In Sunday Night Football, last game of
the regular season between these two great rivals. Matt Tyler
and I were talking about this. It is going to
be complete polar opposite ends of the spectrum of how

(10:13):
we come in here on Monday afternoon.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
No matter what, no matter what.

Speaker 4 (10:17):
I mean.

Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah, Steelers win, and it's like, hey, you're hosting a
playoff game for the first time in five six years. Yeah,
a home playoff game. Home playoff game other than the
COVID one against the Browns, which had seven thousand deep.
I mean before that, it was the Divisional round against
the Jacks, Jags all the way back in what I
think that was the was that the eighteen season and
would have been no, sorry, it was the seventeen season,

(10:39):
and that game would have been in January of twenty eighteen.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
Yeah, so it's been eight.

Speaker 2 (10:44):
Years since you've hosted a playoff game with sixty seven
thousand terrible towels and full effect.

Speaker 3 (10:49):
Sure, the whole week of prep and tone of the
drive all next week will be way different.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
First, you know, if we come in here Monday and
the season's over, and how did they squander this opportunity?

Speaker 4 (11:00):
You know, who's in the draft, what's.

Speaker 2 (11:02):
Going on, the quarterback situation, what's going on with all this. Obviously,
the conversation and the narrative around DK Metcalf and that
suspension is how that's he might be the biggest Steelers
fan on Sunday night for this team to just like
to get it done so that that story doesn't linger forever.
But yeah, this is and I told you this earlier

(11:24):
in the week. I you know, I've spent this entire
week kind of like bummed that this game means something. Yeah,
because you just you wanted to get the hat and
T shirts in Cleveland. You wanted to get the rest
for all your veterans.

Speaker 4 (11:36):
Which seemed very possible to pull off, you know.

Speaker 2 (11:39):
But but now as it gets very very possible to
pull off, in fact, probably still kicking yourselves that you
didn't get it done. But now that this has happened,
it's like I said, you know, aside from the playoff
games that these teams have played, this you could argue
is right up there with any of them. And you know,
it's five years now, ten years from now, fifteen years

(12:01):
from now when the Steelers and Ravens play and it's
on CBS at four point thirty and they're doing the
pregame stuff they're gonna show clips from this game. Remember
probably remember in twenty twenty six Week eighteen Steelers and Ravens,
and it's gonna be Aaron Rodgers, and it's gonna be
Derrick Henry and they're gonna show that quick, little sixty
second highlight package and one of those teams with their
you know, one of those coaches fist pumping as they

(12:23):
walk off the field. The circumstances around it won't live
as much in the time capsule as just the result
of what happens on Sunday Night ten years from now,
when they're showing highlights of this game, they're not gonna say, well,
the Steelers had a chance to render that game irrelevant
and they blew it in Cleveland. It's just gonna be

(12:43):
Week eighteen Steelers Ravens Sunday Night Football for all the marbles. Yeah,
and that's that's gonna live in the time capsule forever.
And so that's putting a little pep in my step
as we get closer. Yeah, Saturday Night.

Speaker 4 (12:55):
Like the national shows I do.

Speaker 3 (12:57):
And I was actually on Ross Tucker's podcast, yes, yeah,
and you know he was just going to go back
and today, by the way, yeah, it comes out today,
actually actually might come on Saturday. Whatever it comes out
today or whatever, you know. But he's just he's like,
I'm so cite.

Speaker 5 (13:10):
You know.

Speaker 3 (13:10):
All the national folks are like, oh, this is great.
You know, we didn't think we'd have many games to
get excited about. We're gonna be looking waiting all day
for Sunday night.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
You know what I mean, Because imagine the Imagine the
world where the Steelers took care of business in Cleveland
and then the only two really meaningful NFL games this
weekend are Panthers in Tampa, right, uh Bucks, Bucks and
Panthers and Seahawks and Niners just for seating purposes. Yeah,
for the other thirty teams around the NFL, and even
thirty one because you include Baltimore in this, they're thrilled

(13:40):
that this is happening.

Speaker 3 (13:41):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (13:42):
They're they're the only ones happy that it's a Sunday
at eight twenty. Or they're the ones happy. We're the
only ones unhappy that it's not a Sunday one to.

Speaker 3 (13:49):
Clay, any any NFL fan of any capacity that's not
a Steeler fan, it's correct, right.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
And a friend of ours, Matt the legendary, iconic former
voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the great Bill Hillgrove. I
think he said it best. I wanted to play this clip.
I wanted to play this clip for you at some
point here in our scene setting opening segment before we
get to our friend Missy Matthews on the other side.
Bill Hillgrove, of course, for thirty years, was the voice

(14:16):
of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I think he said it
best between these two teams, Baltimore and Pittsburgh a few
years ago when he was previewing this great AFC North rivalry, that.

Speaker 4 (14:28):
Game should not be played on a Sunday afternoon at
one o'clock Steelers Ravens should be played in a dark
alley at midnight.

Speaker 2 (14:36):
Well not quite midnight, but on Sunday night Football Week eighteen, Yeah,
eight twenty or eight fifteen, whatever the exact kickoff time is.
It's gonna be a lot of fun. I still wish
it was Sunday at one o'clock and we had our
hat and T shirts. But it's gonna be a lot
of fun.

Speaker 3 (14:50):
Oh, the fun and the stakes and all that are undeniable.

Speaker 2 (14:53):
Yeah, it will either be a result that lives in
happy memory time capsule for the day decades, or it'll
be a result that we harken back to in terms
of frustration and disappointment and can't believe that that's how
this season ended. Two Dogs, one bone, two trains, one track,
and joining us on the other side to continue the preview,

(15:14):
someone who's been on the sideline for a lot of
these big Steelers Ravens games, Missy Matthews, will help us
set the scene and paint the picture as we continue
to preview Pittsburgh and Baltimore, all of that and more
as we roll along, Missy on the other side. Just
getting started here on the Drive at Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (15:39):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio, New year,
same intro music.

Speaker 2 (15:58):
When you hear that bounce, you know it's time to
talk to the Queen of the Sideline, Steelers Sideline reporter
Missy Matthews, joining us as she's kind enough to do
every Friday here on this program to preview a big one. Missy,
the Steelers and the Ravens have obviously played a lot
of meaningful, impactful, huge you know, Eyes of the Nation

(16:20):
type games, AFC championship playoff games, and this one not
quite that, but pretty close. Week eighteen two Dogs, one Bone,
two Trains, one track. Is this perhaps, you know, the
most consequential regular season Steelers Ravens game that you can remember, Missy.

Speaker 5 (16:41):
I mean, it's starting to have that feel to it,
I think because of what it means to both teams.
You know, what the Ravens were thought of during the preseason,
what their season was like, the Steelers going all in
on Aaron Rodgers, changing over their roster. It just it
does feel like that It's not an a championship type feel.

(17:02):
Obviously that one is a lot more at stake, but
it does feel like, you know, the fact that it's
more common for these two teams to play three times
a year instead of to be a do or die
Week eighteen is pretty crazy, and I think just speaks
to the rivalry and how similar the teams are as well.

Speaker 3 (17:21):
So it's Friday, it's a new year. Are you over
the Browns debacle or and excited about this one? Or
is it still lingering with you?

Speaker 5 (17:33):
Lingering a little? I feel like it's hard not to
get over it, because you know, you think Sunday night
football are one o'clock football, big difference personally, professionally, all
of the above. And you know, I think the big
thing too is if they would have been playing at
one o'clock on Sunday and had already clinched the North

(17:55):
and Cleveland, then you know that guys would have got rest.
And I think that's pretty huge, especially right and it's
not like, oh it's you know, you'd lose momentum. No,
you have a lot of guys that just need rest,
and I think that would have been clutched. But it
didn't happen. And unfortunately, it's all hands on deck. Whoever's

(18:17):
healthy is going to have to, you know, put their
best foot forward and go out there.

Speaker 2 (18:23):
And and two of those guys for me, Missy, you know, uh,
Matt and I touched on this. I can't remember if
it was yesterday or early in the week, whenever it was.
But you know, from a Steelers standpoint, you've got some
guys like Aaron Rodgers. You've got some guys like Cam
Hayward a little bit longer in the tooth, certainly closer
to you know, the the eighteenth Green in the clubhouse
than they are the front nine you know of their careers.

(18:45):
To use a golf analogy there, this feels like a
moment in time where this is why you brought in
Aaron Rodgers. This is why you have a veteran like
Cam Hayward to get you over the line in games
like this.

Speaker 5 (18:59):
Yeah, I only things that Aaron Rodgers factor is real.
We've seen him the pull this team, not just the offense,
you know, out of things throughout the season that you
were like, all right, this, this is why they coveted
him so much. And I think that's maybe why the
Cleveland game was so surprising of how it went down
and not being able to score a touchdown might be

(19:21):
able to score defensive touchdown, which at that point felt
more likely. I just think that he does have that
mentality of Okay, yep, that game happened, it's over. We
need to have a good week of prep and head
into this game. And that's something that you know, instead
of maybe some guys being down in the dumps about
it and still mad, can turn the page quickly and

(19:43):
help make whatever is wrong better. So hopefully that is,
you know, it's obviously his mentality. He's pretty much said
that multiple times right after the game even before. So
if guys can follow that, that is hopefully a game
plan that worked, because he typically is a rebound when
he has a stinky game, or however he put it
earlier this week.

Speaker 3 (20:04):
So miss Patrick Queen won the Chief Award. And I'm
curious your interactions with him, how you see him on
the sidelines, I mean, how you see him with the media,
et cetera, et cetera. Tell us a little bit about PQ,
not on the field necessarily.

Speaker 5 (20:22):
Well, you know, he's a big fisher, loves to fish.
I know whenever he came in the first time, when
they signed him in free agency, all he could talk
about was the new boat he was going to buy
his dad though. And you know he even has like
a small I don't want to say it's like a
bait shop along the line. I'm not very I up

(20:44):
on my lingo of fisherman stuff in his local town
because he said there wasn't places close by, and he
just wanted to make sure that there was stuff for
people who you know, had the same interest as him.
And I'm not saying I'm always right, but I feel
like a lot of times you can really read a
player when they sign in free agency or after the
draft of like who they are as a person. And

(21:05):
he was definitely one of those guys where he walked
in the room and when he walked out, we're all like,
he's awesome, Like we're gonna love him. And I totally
get why he won the Chief Award. I mean it's
you know, the ups and downs of the season, and
he is one that we'll talk all the time, and
he's even you know, one of those guys some people
and I respect it as well, will say okay, I

(21:27):
already talked you know peek. He was like whatever, yeah,
come on, Like, I'll take a shower after this one,
and then he'll come back out and he'll talk to
other people. So he definitely has that media savbiness and
it's not fake. It's just genuine like, hey, you guys
have a job, we have a job. We were good
at our job, or we were bad at our job,
and I'm willing to talk about it with you.

Speaker 3 (21:48):
And he's his exuberance is on the sidelines as well, right.

Speaker 5 (21:52):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah. He definitely
if he has a thought, he's sharing it. He definitely
brings that high energy, everything that you would kind of
want in your defensive quarterback. In terms of communication, I
feel like maybe at sometimes you Know or Cam or
somebody is telling him to tune it down a little bit,

(22:14):
but good communicator, really just all around great guy too,
no doubt.

Speaker 2 (22:21):
And I Matt and I discussed it a little bit yesterday,
but I think there is something to be said for,
you know, that guy that stands up and faces the
music when times are good, when times are bad, you know,
doesn't try and and shy away from it, but instead
leans into it. He deserves a lot of credit for that,
and he's certainly going to be a big part of
the equation on Sunday night against his former team, Missy

(22:41):
and slowing down. Well, I almost said former teammate, but
I guess him and Derek Henry never played together in Baltimore.
But we all saw what King Henry was able to
do up at Lambeau Field, the hallowed historic grounds of
Lambeau and Green Bay on Saturday night, Missy thirty six, yeah,
thirty six, carry for a career high and one of
the better games of his career, which is saying something

(23:04):
for how many amazing performances he's had. Matt pointed this out.
He actually turns thirty two on Sunday, it's his birthday.

Speaker 4 (23:12):
I don't like that one bit.

Speaker 5 (23:13):
Oh god, I don't like that at all. I don't
We're not getting him a birthday cakes.

Speaker 2 (23:19):
No, that's exactly right. He's not getting Oakmont Bakery. He'll
be lucky if we get him like a tasty cake
from from Sheets or get Go or something.

Speaker 3 (23:27):
But is it you know?

Speaker 2 (23:28):
But Matt and I talked about this a little bit
to start. I know it can be simple because there's
so many X factors key players in this game. But
to me, I think we'll be able to draw there'll
be a real correlation Monday morning of what Derrick Henry's
statline looks like and what the outcome of this game
ends up being.

Speaker 5 (23:47):
Yeah, I do think so, and I feel like, obviously
that's how the Steelers have had success against him, even
when he was with the Titans. If he has under
one hundred yards rushing, they're five and oh. If he
has over one hundred, as we know, maybe over two
hundred getting close to that, they're o and two and
their offense. Clearly, it does not matter who the quarterback

(24:08):
can run through him. And you know, even though OC
was joking this week how at one point Derrick Henry
was like, guys like, I'm tired, Can I get a breather?
And they're like, no, get back out there, like we
need to run more clock and he just he has
that endurance to do those types of things. So I definitely,
for sure, I don't think it's a secret the Steelers

(24:28):
are going to want to stop the run first and
foremost in order to you know, test Lamar. Everyone's talking
about he's the healthiest he's been in you know, X
amount of months and this and that, and he's practiced
every day this week. He still has to go out
there and perform. And obviously, if you can stop Dereck Henry,
you can you can force Lamar into bad decisions hopefully.

Speaker 3 (24:49):
So the other side of the ball wasn't real hard
to figure out schematically why the Steelers struggled, and the
Metcalf absence was felt a great deal. And now Washington
is not going to be around for this game. Metcalf's
not returning. Would you expect more targets to go to
Friarmouth Gainwell, some of those type.

Speaker 5 (25:08):
Of guys I would hope. So, yeah, obviously you know
Gainwell gets his targets, whether it's carries or whatnot. I
do hope that Pat Friarmuth is more involved in the
game plan and somebody that they can utilize as a
zone killer, as coach Tomlin always calls him, and just
the things he's able to do. He's reliable, he can

(25:29):
stretch the field a little bit. Obviously, you can have
him in there kind of in the Darnell Washington sense
of he can help you in your run game with blocking.
He's not Darnell by any means, but he still has
that capability. It's something that you know is kind of
a knock on him when he came out of the draft,
but it is something he has really worked on since
coming here to Pittsburgh. So I think using him a

(25:52):
lot more would be helpful for a number of reasons.
And you know, you obviously know DK won't be there.
You hope maybe Calvin I can can go, But obviously
no Darnel Washington, which really stings.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
Plenty to contemplate here. As always from our friend the
great Queen of the Sideline, Missy Matthews, hear her on
the call Sunday Night with Rob King and Max Starks
on the Steelers Audio Network, dve your Steelers flagship, all
those great places. Missy, thank you for the time as always,
take care and we'll talk to you this weekend.

Speaker 5 (26:29):
Eric guys, sounds good. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (26:31):
Thanks for being here as always. There she goes the
great Missy Matthews, Queen of the Sideline, and a big
one on tap Sunday night for the Steelers and the Ravens.

Speaker 3 (26:42):
And it'll be a.

Speaker 2 (26:43):
It'll be a charged up radio crew there, I bet you.
I'm sure, Oh, Matt Williamson, we'll be ready on Sunday night.
That's and I know I've told you this before and
TV and everything, and I'm sure I've even shared this
on the show.

Speaker 3 (26:56):
Things at times can get a little Monday.

Speaker 2 (26:59):
It can get a little you know, routine, like we're
we all do this and we're fortunate to do this
for a living. But at the same time, it's still
work as much fun as it is and we're not
swinging hammers and laying concrete and crunching numbers and cubicles,
you know, but it can still feel like work at times.

Speaker 3 (27:13):
Yeah, yeah, But man, at.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
About about eight o'clock on Sunday night, when that ac
DC is cranking at aftersure and the sun's down and
it's dark and the.

Speaker 3 (27:22):
Towels are waving.

Speaker 2 (27:23):
Yeah, oh yeah, that's that's what that's what we play for.
It is as much as we would like this game
to mean nothing and be at one o'clock and get
that rest, uh, it is a obviously a huge opportunity
to write a story that will that will kind of
live in the history of this organization, in this fan
base and this rivalry here at home on Sunday night.

Speaker 3 (27:44):
God, who take a break here?

Speaker 4 (27:45):
I have to make a rule real quick.

Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, there were only four more segments of the regular
season now I think of it. That's true. We might
not be allowed to say anymore. I wish this was
a rest week. I wish it was at once. Okay, yeah,
we're done now right, right, we've talked. I mean, we
all know exactly where that is. No more of that,
no crying over spilled milk.

Speaker 4 (28:04):
Right, it happens in the books.

Speaker 3 (28:06):
It's in the books. It's done. You can't change it.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
All you can do is focused on the next opportunity,
and it is a huge opportunity for the Steelers. Matt,
the Steelers have named a team MVP that we will
discuss when we return on the other side. Also, we've
got to kick around a couple thoughts on the college
football playoff now that we're into the semi finals and
seeing some of these quarterbacks that we've been talking about
all year on a big stage. We'll do that as

(28:29):
we close down the first hour when we return on
the other side with our new rule, All eyes on Sunday,
Euler Williamson, It's the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
Radio, closing down the first hour here of the Drive

(29:09):
on this Friday, as we are looking ahead to the
final regular season game and a massive one against the
Baltimore Ravens. With that, Matt, we started discussing some you know,
some team awards and things like that. Yesterday you mentioned
Patrick Queen Chief Award winner, Derek Harmon, Joe Green Performance

(29:30):
Award winner as the Steelers Rookie of the Year. We
also know now the team MVP has been named and
it is none other than running back Kenneth Gainwell. Named
your team MVP for the twenty twenty five season, voted
by his teammates Matt when the Steelers signed him to
a one year deal this past offseason and went out

(29:51):
and drafted Caleb Johnson in the third round, and I
think they had picked up Jalen Warrens contract during.

Speaker 3 (29:58):
Execon I put two more years on, you know, right.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
I don't think any of us envisioned this type of
season for Kenneth Gainwell. It's surprising, but I can't say
it's undeserved. I mean it is a real testament to
the year that he has had to be voted by
his teammates as MVP. And I don't think any of
us would have guessed this back in July or August.

Speaker 4 (30:17):
Well, congrats to him.

Speaker 3 (30:18):
I mean, he's had a tremendous year as both a
runner and receiver. And I was when we talk about
like Gainwell's year, I always go back to that Dublin
game because I remember the pregame It's like, Okay, Warren's
not gonna go. Johnson certainly doesn't look ready. And I
was asked a couple of times, you know, what are
they gonna do a running back? Why are they gonna
do a running back? And I thought, well, maybe they'll

(30:39):
just take Caleb Johnson, throw him right in the deep end.
There is why we drafted you. We're gonna give the
ball bunch, you know. Instead, they gave the game well
and I really thought that was a one off for
him to just be a true belcwal for one day.
But then he get They kept giving him more and
kept giving him more and more really every step of
the way. So congrats to him. Frankly, I don't think

(31:04):
he's the most valuable member of the football team, but
so be it. I mean, you know, I probably would
have given it to Rogers or cam at this point.
But there's a lot of pretty equal candidates considering how
the season's gone.

Speaker 5 (31:17):
You know.

Speaker 3 (31:18):
Yeah, yeah, there's not a t J.

Speaker 2 (31:21):
Watt playing at a defensive Player of the Year level exactly.
There's not a Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, you know, all
pro level performer on the offensive side of the football.
I think you're right. I think there's a lot. There's
probably four or five different guys that you can make
a legitimate, good faith argument for votes, and you're right.
In the it's like kind of the definition of the thing.

(31:44):
It takes a lot for a running back to be
your most valuable player.

Speaker 3 (31:47):
But they probably don't look at it that way. They're
not a team building and don't draft the running back
around one.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, and you know Ben only won this thing once obviously,
just by merit should have won it more than one time.

Speaker 3 (32:00):
But maybe he said, why don't you vote for I.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
Wonder if there was some of that from Aaron Rodgers table,
you know, like let's let's let's let's give this to
somebody else and it's.

Speaker 4 (32:09):
A great honor.

Speaker 3 (32:10):
It's a great Rogers has had a lot of honors,
you know, like I love Kenneth to get it.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
Sure, maybe even someone even someone like Cam who this
would mean a lot to him at this stage in
his career, Like he's been an All Pro multiple times
and multiple time and he's Walter Peyton Man of the Year, right,
you know, other than you know, being a Super Bowl champ,
champion or m VP, is you know, right up there
with the biggest honor he could get in the in
the National Football League.

Speaker 3 (32:34):
I'm not diminishing what game Well yeah, yeah, no, I
know what back a little me too? Yeah, like whoa
Really I hadn't thought of that, but I kind of
get it.

Speaker 2 (32:42):
Like, if the second that I walked in this door today,
you were like, team MVP got announced, who do you
think it was? I would have said Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 3 (32:49):
And you would came up with five or six, would.

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Have said and then I would have said Cam Hayward
and you would have said nope, And then I would.

Speaker 3 (32:54):
Have been like, hmm hmm, maybe Ramsey is a new addition.

Speaker 2 (32:59):
Or my first thought would have been like Chris, but
but yeah, right, yeah.

Speaker 3 (33:04):
No Lineman or yeah, and it's not bos this year. Yeah,
it's a strange one.

Speaker 2 (33:09):
It's a strange one, but it's a testament to Kennie
Porter was really good. Yeah, and I think even more
so Matt just it shows what he means in that
locker room, you know. Yeah, because this is voted on
by your teammates.

Speaker 3 (33:22):
That's my biggest and that's the biggest.

Speaker 2 (33:24):
Takeaway I think, is they really respect this guy's skill set,
his work ethic and what he's what he's meant to
this team this year.

Speaker 3 (33:30):
Yeah, and I do want to have these conversations today. Again,
we're running out of real estate in the regular season,
but bringing him back makes a lot of sense too.
You know, maybe this goes a long way to him
saying I want to come back, you know, I.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Think so, and hey maybe that maybe that's even part
of it. But yeah, that'll be something that we will
certainly discuss within.

Speaker 3 (33:49):
His role this weekend's big though, Hug he ended up
chipping Miles Garrett probably more than they would have wanted.
That doesn't mean you can't catch passes, but I bet
they design more stuff for him in the passing game,
you know, true slot stuff.

Speaker 4 (34:02):
Things like that.

Speaker 3 (34:03):
I'm hoping that's the case. I mean too, and like
we mentioned, Missy, I really think it has to be
a friar move game. It has to.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
And that's that's clear to me, Matt if you're listing,
if you're listening listing, you know, asking me to go
up to the grease board and write down who gets
the most touches? Yeah, who's gonna eat the most on
this offense Sunday.

Speaker 3 (34:21):
Night where we're divvying up the football, I think I
go war and one, Yeah, Friar Mouth too, Kenneth gain
Well three and then there's a there's a clear.

Speaker 4 (34:28):
Then I don't know who's next.

Speaker 2 (34:29):
There's a clear. I think top Trio and like those
three are on the podium.

Speaker 4 (34:33):
Those are going to be you ever gets the bold.

Speaker 2 (34:35):
Silver, the bronze. Okay, we could split hairs, but I
want those three on the podium Sunday night.

Speaker 3 (34:40):
I think so too, because I think Frankly Austin's a
bit of a wild card. But I mean, those are
the guys getting the football. I mean, I guess I
could picture a world where Thieland gets eight targets, but
not if they play a lot of man coverage. That's
more of a zone beater type guy. You know you're
running out of guy's pretty quick. No, No, Washington. I'm
sure Johnny's myth will get a carry or two and

(35:01):
a target or two or a screen or two, but
I would much rather feed Firemooth agreed.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
Agreed, And that's something we'll talk a little bit more about,
specifically when we do a little five Star Friday here
to kick off hour number two and talk some some
matchup specific developments. Matt, Yeah, so that'll that kind of
does it for the Kenneth Gainwell just wanted to make
sure to mention, I mean, obviously it's team MVP. It's
significant news. First offensive team MVP for the Steelers since

(35:31):
twenty eighteen. Now it's been TJ. Watt five of the
last six, which may which makes a ton of sense.
But if you would have asked, this is another one
of those like if I walked in the door today
and you were like, who won team MVP? Would have
taken me a few guesses to get there. Who was
the last Steelers offensive team MVP? Was Juju Smith Schuster
back in twenty eighteen? I might have guessed AB or

(35:51):
Ben or somebody like that. But Juju had a monster
season obviously in twenty eighteen.

Speaker 4 (35:58):
Was that his second year?

Speaker 2 (35:59):
That was his second year. That was the year that
him and A B both had outstanding years. He actually
had more receiving yards than AB that year. And that
was the last Super years, Yes, yes, that was. That
was the last year that AB and uh And and
lev Bell were members of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well,
and Juju was still abeled to to win that award

(36:21):
after an outstanding sophomore campaign. Speaking of outstanding campaigns, how
about the Indiana Hoosiers, Matt Williamson, how's that? How's that
for a transition for you? I'm locked into Mendoza number
one now, as I don't think there was much. I
don't think there was much left, but after what he's
done in these last two games, there there was some

(36:42):
of that, you know, okay, as he really played the
greatest competition and yeah, they went to Oregon and won
earlier in this season. But he wasn't he wasn't terrible,
but he wasn't outstanding in that game either. But after
what he did to an Ohio State defense that you
know in the Big Ten championship game that's gonna have
two or three guys drafted in the first round alone

(37:03):
on it.

Speaker 3 (37:03):
With a lot of NFL concepts from a former NFL
defense coordinator too.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
And kind of same thing with Alabama here. I mean
I expected Indiana to win, but thirty eight to three, Matt,
I mean.

Speaker 3 (37:14):
It seemed like it was over at the end of
the first quarter. It's like, this is not even close.
And I did not see that coming out.

Speaker 2 (37:20):
I didn't see that coming at all. And it's an
incredible testament to Kurt Signetti in that IU program and
to Mendoza. I think they are certainly the team to
beat without a doubt.

Speaker 3 (37:33):
Yeah, if they finished the.

Speaker 4 (37:34):
Show, State no longer in the mix. I would think.

Speaker 2 (37:37):
There Georgia's out of the equation. I mean, they Oregon
is going to be a big game, and that's who
they've got in the semi final. But man, I was
I came away from that just crazy impressed by Iu
and Mendoza. I mean he only threw the ball sixteen times,
but fourteen of sixteen for one hundred and ninety two,
three touchdowns, no turnovers, and then sixteen yards on the

(37:58):
ground with his legs two to earn a couple first downs,
and and things like that, some really nice tight window throws. Listen,
a lot can happen between now and the end of April.
When you know, when when Roger Goodell will read that
first overall pick, you know, just a few miles from
where you and I sit right now.

Speaker 4 (38:17):
More beats him and goes crazy.

Speaker 3 (38:19):
That that to me is like the only way that
it's fair point that changes, you know, right.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
Certain, and again a lot can change between now and then.

Speaker 3 (38:26):
But but he's why far the odds on favored.

Speaker 2 (38:28):
He is by he's got to be you know, I
think that that that makes a ton of sense. And
uh yeah, it will be uh Indiana against Oregon on
January ninth. Here in a few days here in about
seven days, which college question for you?

Speaker 3 (38:45):
If I gave you Indiana or the field to win
it all, who would you take?

Speaker 4 (38:50):
Now?

Speaker 3 (38:51):
Like, definitely you wouldn't you had taken the field a
couple of days ago? Sure? Yeah, yeah, I mean Ohio
State was still alive and you know, oh Man, you
either got some about of fifty fifth proposition.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
I think that's about a fifty fifty proposition. I think
Organ's very good. Yeah yeah, not the Miami and Old
Miss aren't sure, but this Organ Indiana game kind of
feels like that.

Speaker 3 (39:09):
I think Indiana is pretty happy about some of the
team's gonna eliminate.

Speaker 2 (39:12):
It absolutely absolutely Ohio State and Georgia, I mean being
out is like, again, you're not looking at Miami and
Old Miss like that's an easy matchup. But I think
if you're Indiana, if.

Speaker 4 (39:22):
You're deep in the college playoffs, that's kind of an
easy matchup. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (39:26):
Yeah, sure.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
It's like we get to we get to play Organ
in a neutral site, who we beat at their stadium.
Albeit that was a few months ago. It's not like
that was recently.

Speaker 4 (39:35):
When's this game?

Speaker 5 (39:36):
Right?

Speaker 2 (39:37):
No, Indiana is a four point favorite open. I think
that sounds about right.

Speaker 4 (39:42):
Yeah, I knew they'd be favored, but I didn't think
it'd be a.

Speaker 2 (39:44):
Touchdown this though, and did not exist. But we can
go here. You know, we've said with Buffalo a few times,
like it's not their best team, but it's kind of
starting to feel like it might be.

Speaker 3 (39:54):
Lining up to be their year.

Speaker 2 (39:55):
Yeah, feeling that a little bit for organ They I
can see that.

Speaker 4 (39:59):
Okay, they they.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
Beat Texas Tech twenty three to nothing. That game could
have been fifty to nothing if Texas Tech's defense didn't
play the way that they did.

Speaker 4 (40:08):
Okay, it was six.

Speaker 2 (40:09):
Nothing Oregon at halftime. Oregon had run like forty four plays.
Texas Tech could run like thirteen. I mean it was
Texas Tech turned the ball over twice. Yeah, the yardage difference,
I mean, it was that whole time of possession and
all that stuff that we talk about to the end.
Degree and twenty three nothing is a blowout, but I
mean it could have been forty eight nothing.

Speaker 4 (40:28):
Really wasn't a better game.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
Yeah, Oregon, you know, didn't have to play in the
Big Ten Championship, which in a weird way was almost
a benefit for Ohio State last year. You know, Ohio
State last year had to sit there and watch Oregon
and Penn State play for the Big Ten Championship, and
they got to lick their wounds, and they got to
sit there and kind of stew and be angry and
prepare for that game. And then Ohio State went and

(40:50):
blew out Oregon. Yeah, it's kind of what Oregon. Did
you know Oregon was, despite being one of the you know,
best teams in the country, top five in the country,
they sit home and watch Indiana in Ohio State play
the national championship game. They get to lick their wounds,
They get that messaging from their coaching staff for three
weeks of like, you know, like you guys are better
than this, you guys are and they go out there
and they, I mean, they made Texas Techs offense look

(41:13):
like they it was the first day of summer practice.
I mean, they could not get anything going.

Speaker 3 (41:18):
And maybe you mentioned this, but a lot of people are,
at least I've heard say next year is Oregon's year.

Speaker 2 (41:23):
I think so. But now what happens with the quarterback
is obviously a big part of that. Yeah, yeah, I
think now Dante Moore's going to the NFL.

Speaker 3 (41:32):
It doesn't seem like there's much competition at the top
of the draft. Just because you can be a top
five pick, you should go.

Speaker 2 (41:36):
If you're his agent and you're like, you're gonna be
a top five pick. At worse you'll be seventh or eighth. Yeah, yeah,
it's like how much better can you really get, you know,
by staying another year. But Oregon's a relatively young roster
for where they're at here, and if Dante Moore leaves,
they'll go and get Sam Levitt or DJ Lacks one
of these big names out of the portal. Absolutely, and

(41:57):
I really think next year Orgon could be even better.
But yeah, we'll still we'll talk about these games get
closer and closer. But whoever wins that Oregon Indiana game.
And I don't mean this is disrespect to Old Miss
in Miami, because I think they're both very good, But
that's starting to feel like the de facto leader in
the Clubhouse Championship game.

Speaker 4 (42:18):
That Georgia was fun, though.

Speaker 2 (42:19):
I was gonna say I if I was wearing a
hat like I to use the Hines wardline, you gotta
take your hat off and give it to them old
Miss for everything that happened with Lane Kiffin and all
the uncertainty there. Okay, they beat Toledo at at home
in the first round, okay, but for them to go
and play like like that was Tu Lane. Sorry, yes,

(42:39):
you're right, Tu Lane, Holy Toledo. For them to go
and beat Toledo, which was I just didn't again for
the beat Tu Lane, which was a team that they
already played earlier this season, familiar with all that stuff
at home. Okay, clearly more talented Tou Lane and lost
their coaching staff too, so you were kind of on
level footing in that regard. But for them to do

(43:01):
what they like that was not a That was not
a fluke win. Georgia turned the ball over. Georgia played poorly.
I mean, that was two good teams lining up and
Old miss outlasted them and kicked that field goal at
the end to win it. And I don't know if
you saw this, but Old Missus athletic director actually caught
the field goal in the end zone. And he's like,
just Keith Davis, I think is his name? All the

(43:23):
credit in the world to that, Like, you lose, Lane Kiffin.
Now you've won two playoff games and you're in the
semi finals. He's got to be the happiest athletic director
in the country. But huge win for Old Miss and Trinidad.
Shambless man, I'm.

Speaker 3 (43:36):
Gonna be more of a conversation, that's for sure.

Speaker 2 (43:38):
I think his conversation is going to be do I
stay at Old Miss and get a huge amount of money?

Speaker 3 (43:43):
Well, there's a chance he doesn't give pending is there
is there is something?

Speaker 2 (43:48):
He played the D two route, He went the D
two route and then transferred and all that's up in
the air now. Like Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback, I
don't know how familiar you are with him, Like he
was able to challenge the NCAA and get an extra
year of eligibility this year because they ruled that his
year in Juco didn't count or like towards his NCAA.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
So there's there is a lot of it that were
weird world. It's a very yes.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
And as I was complaining about with you and TV
earlier in this week, in college basketball, now we have
a guy going from the New York Knicks back to Baylor.
Like it's just it's it's such a it's such a
weird world. Uh, but Trinidad Chamble, it's gonna be one
to keep an eye on and certainly want to see
him against that Miami defense in the semi final.

Speaker 3 (44:29):
And yeah Miami.

Speaker 5 (44:31):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (44:31):
We talked about this a little bit yesterday because that
game had or am I getting my timeline confused? We
talked about this a little bit, talked about yeah, yeah, yeah,
we talked about that one a little bit a little
bit yesterday. But Miami with a a impressive performance against
Ohio State. So you get Oregon, Indiana, you get Old
Miss Miami, Matt. All four quarterbacks could be in the draft,

(44:53):
will be in the draft at some point. All four
quarterbacks relevant, a ton of first round picks on both rosters.
Work keep in an eye on game that So January
eighth is oh Miss Miami and then January ninth is
Indiana Oregon. So it will be next next Thursday.

Speaker 3 (45:10):
And Fridayday and Friday, Yes gotcha, uh.

Speaker 2 (45:12):
To lead to lead into the wild card weekend.

Speaker 4 (45:15):
Yeah, really good stretch there, Thursday.

Speaker 2 (45:18):
Thursday, Friday college football games and then Saturday, Sunday, Monday,
NFL Wildcard.

Speaker 3 (45:24):
Yeah, so I don't love that same.

Speaker 2 (45:27):
Sorry to my wife, it's her birthday next weekend, but
husband's gonna be pretty busy. Hour in the books another
hour ago, Matt, let's jump back into Steelers in Baltimore
when we return on the other side with a little
five Star Friday. As we talked some matchup specifics in
this Steelers Ravens clash.

Speaker 3 (45:44):
We'll do all of.

Speaker 2 (45:44):
That in more in our number two. It is the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.