Hr2: 5 Star Friday

The Drive talks key matchups between the Steelers and Dolphins and preview a big Week 15 across the NFL.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Good evening, Steeler Nation, how we do it? Well, that's
good us too. Our number two here of the Drive
on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network. As
we continue to get ready for Steelers Dolphins Monday night football.
A massive one and let's continue that now little matchup segment, simple,
easy pasy, but a little thing we call five Star Friday.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
We're humbled and excited to be in these five star matchups.

Speaker 4 (00:55):
Five star matchup.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Somebody leaving here with the loves not gonna be a.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
All right, Matt, We did, I think kind of potentially
cover the biggest one, and that is a chain. I
don't know if there's a specific I mean, maybe the
one thing that I didn't ask you when we talked
about how they run the fall, run the ball differently
than the Steelers last couple opponents.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
His skill set, three.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
Very different run games.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Frankly, yes, is this a Is this a big game
for Patrick Queen and for those off ball linebackers and
their ability to track sideline to sideline with a guy
like h Yeah, for.

Speaker 5 (01:31):
Sure, even just keeping up with his speed first of all,
I mean, can you run with the guy? And right
if he doesn't play it well, it looks like he
would be the backup, or it would be the next
guy up. He was against the Jets. He also can fly,
but he's not like a chan But more so it's
understanding the blocking angles, not taking a false step, not

(01:54):
not taking the cheese, you know, like there's a lot
of eye candy for those line you can definitely take
the cheese.

Speaker 4 (02:01):
So that's a huge deal.

Speaker 5 (02:03):
But the one thing we have been touched on is
their offensive line isn't like littered with big name guys.

Speaker 4 (02:08):
It's not Lane Johnson and you know Dickerson.

Speaker 5 (02:11):
And but it's gotten better and better and better. It's young,
and I think they're like the quickest group I've seen
off the ball. Their center is very very active, like
a pouncy active type guy, I mean, really an athletic player,
and getting him to the second level is something they
do really really well. So just like Queen and the

(02:32):
linebackers in general, they may have some very active type,
quick you know linemen in their lap too. Especially Frankly,
if the Steelers D line plays as poorly as it has,
not cam, but the rest of them have been going
backwards a lot lately too. Yeah, and these guys are
good leverage, quickness players. They're not brutes, but they're they

(02:52):
get the job done, to say the least.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
They get in the right spot quickly, out leverage you,
out you, and yeah, light on the fat and yeah you're.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
Gonna have It's almost as much of a mental challenge
as it is a physical challenge.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Just a group and a run game.

Speaker 5 (03:06):
And everything Miami's offense does is fast and quick.

Speaker 4 (03:10):
You know, it may really make you think.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yes, it's kind of the closest maybe to and I
hesitate to even say this because it almost feels like
you're disparaging them.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
But there's some like collegiate elements.

Speaker 5 (03:21):
Oh yeah, their offense, Like we did the show with
Merrill last night and he's like, people look at it
like it's flukey gimmicky, and it kind of is, you know.
I mean, it's innovative in that they do different their
their offense doesn't look like most NFL offenses, but don't
mistake that for it not being like fundamentally sound sure,

(03:41):
you know, right, right, And they'll even do old school
things like line up a chan behind a full back
and the eye you know, you know, you don't see
that very much in the league anymore, and just come
at you with a fullback lead, you know, to out
of the behind center.

Speaker 4 (03:57):
You know, so they throw a lot at you.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
And I'm sure people especially remember like when Tyreek was
really him flying around behind the line of scrimmage before
you know.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Jet sweet.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, kind of crazy emotions and yeah, well, speaking of Tua,
let's talk about Tua because Matt, I think there's a
lot of misconceptions amongst I guess I could this week
label it as Steelers fans, but just whatever fan base
is playing the Dolphins in a particular week. And here's
what I mean by that. I think a lot of
people here to attack of Viola, and they picture the

(04:29):
first five or six years in the league to attack
of Viola. The guy that was running around, the guy
that was taking big hits way too often, the guy.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
That was scrambling. He has completely changed his game since then.

Speaker 2 (04:41):
He is I mean, could you is it fair to
label him as a pocket passer at this point?

Speaker 4 (04:46):
Almost exclusively.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
He does doesn't do the tuist stuff that I think
a lot of people got accustomed to and would expect. Again,
if you're someone who just watches your NFL team and
you're not, you know, maybe once a year type thing
watching the Dolphins, if they're on national TV and you've
got the game on, I think the perception is not
the reality with him anymore. In the style of Playbama

(05:11):
and you know, and.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
His first you know, handful of years in the league.

Speaker 5 (05:13):
Yeah, so I think he's very clearly exactly as I say,
like some of these guys like, oh you you pigeonhole them.

Speaker 4 (05:20):
But they can do a lot of different things.

Speaker 5 (05:22):
And this is what would bother me and really is
a challenge for designing an offense around this quarterback. Is
timing and rhythm is everything. You know that that back
foot hits, the.

Speaker 4 (05:34):
Ball comes out. He's got He's very decisive and accurate
with his first read. Get these guys in space, and
they do.

Speaker 5 (05:41):
And over the last couple of years, they've done a
great job of playing to those strengths. You know, hit
a guy in stride, yards, have to catch, ball comes out,
quick strike, low time to throw. But the league also
started catching on to how they were making those first
read things so available to them, and that's when things

(06:01):
go Haywire because he doesn't improv well at all. He
doesn't move particularly well. He is a pocket passer. I mean,
he's not a stiff, but like he has like thirty
rushing yards for the year too, you know, like they
don't run him unless it's absolutely necessary. He does take
a beating. He doesn't feel the rush particularly well. And

(06:22):
then this year he's added a lot of interceptions to
his resume too, which wasn't a huge problem, but now
he's leading league interceptions and they're hardly throwing the ball
for the last month.

Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yes, you know, so he's he's a weird evil.

Speaker 1 (06:35):
He is.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
He's not for every right.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
He's not for everyone, and he's not what we remember
him in his first you know again handful of years.

Speaker 3 (06:43):
In the league.

Speaker 5 (06:44):
Remember it was tank for Tua, like he was the
next Andrew Lucke and that's probably never going to come befruition.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, yeah, Tank for Tua was a real thing.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
And then Joe Burrow ends up kind of having that
kind of having that all time great season at LSU,
goes first in that draft. And yeah, there's been times
where Tua was playing at a high level, but it's
never really come together.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
As the package, and.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
It needs to be in a certain system, you know.

Speaker 5 (07:09):
Like usually I give people a hard time and they're like, oh,
he's a system quarterback. I'm like Montana was a system quarterback,
Brady's system.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Almost all these guys are. You need a system and
structure to play with him.

Speaker 5 (07:21):
But he's really two is really a square peg you
know that only fits in you know, a square hole.

Speaker 3 (07:27):
You know, a good way to put it, very good
way to put it.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
And then I guess kind of final piece of the
offense that I wanted to discuss with you is Jalen
Waddle another name, another name that people are very familiar with,
but I think even more so this year he is
leveled up. There's way more piece of the pie, you know,
his his his share of the pie is much greater.
Obviously with Tyreek Hill being out for such a long time.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
He is.

Speaker 2 (07:53):
You know, they will, they will grind you down almost low,
you to sleep with that run game, and then bang,
here comes here comes the speedy Jalen Wattle to beat
you over the top or beat you over the middle,
or find him in space. I don't know, Matt, if
he's like one of those Tier one wide receivers in
the NFL.

Speaker 4 (08:09):
No, but not off.

Speaker 2 (08:10):
But I think he's formally in that, in that next
group and like the group of really good maybe not elite,
but they're really good.

Speaker 3 (08:16):
And you've got to account.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
For him on Monday evening or he will make you pay.

Speaker 5 (08:21):
Yeah, and I think people will. It's easy to kind
of sleep on what the Dolphins have done because people
wrote him off and they're not on the national TV
a lot.

Speaker 4 (08:29):
At this stage, a.

Speaker 3 (08:30):
Lot of people were like, oh, they're one and six.

Speaker 5 (08:33):
Yeah, and frankly Waddle's numbers the last two years before
this year they're okay, not great, but this is really
who he is. I mean, he's had some injuries the
last couple of years, not this year as much. But
with Tyreek there, he really had to play the role Robin,
you know, where he's more of a batman than a Robin,
but he's They had him do a lot of the

(08:54):
dirty work, a lot of the clear out routes, a
lot of the stuff at the Lion scrimmage versus press
man to open things up for Tiy and he did
it like a champ. I mean he's a Bama competitive sure. Yeah,
he was there with DeVante Smith. And you know, like
he's he's played with great dudes and he is unselfish,
but he can shine alone. And that's what's happening now.
I mean he's not just a speed guy, always great speed.

(09:16):
You always think about speed with Miami. He's a route runner.

Speaker 4 (09:20):
I mean, he has pretty much pretty much the full package.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
He's just not huge, twenty seven years old. He's in
his peak, in his prime right now.

Speaker 4 (09:28):
They just paid him, gladly paid him.

Speaker 2 (09:30):
He's always had the speed, but like you mentioned, he's
got the game brain and the full rounded skill set.

Speaker 4 (09:35):
Right now.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
He is dangerous.

Speaker 4 (09:37):
Yeah, he's dangerous.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
He's he's very dangerous.

Speaker 5 (09:39):
This offense is great at getting the ball in their
best playmaker's hands in space.

Speaker 4 (09:43):
And that's what on a chant.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
That And I'm glad you mentioned that before we transition
to the other side of the ball. I think that's
the best way to describe it. They have square pegs
and round pegs on this Miami offense. They asked their
square pegs to do square peg stuff. Round pegs do
round peg stuff. It's very tailored to put their guys
in position to succeed. They don't have the best Jimmy's
and Joe's. But they're excellent.

Speaker 3 (10:07):
They are like the You know, we were.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Laughing with Labs yesterday about that whole conversation of having
an identity, not having an identity like their identity on
offense right now is we have some red paint and
some green paint. Okay, that's how we're painting the barn.
We might want to do some yellow paint stuff, but
we don't have it. I want to slap some blue
paint on the shutters, but we don't have it. They
are sticking to what they have in the toolbox and

(10:31):
it's working.

Speaker 5 (10:32):
It is they figured it out again. I think he's
a tremendous offensive mind.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
So, Matt, let's spin the block to the other side
of the ball here. And I kind of mentioned this
to Missy, but I want to get your thoughts on this.
I think there's concern from the Miami offense versus the
Steelers defense, even if TJ.

Speaker 3 (10:51):
Watt was going to be out there.

Speaker 2 (10:53):
Like again, they've got some things that they can do
to stress any defense in the NFL. And I think
particularly when you look at out the Steelers performed in
the run game these past couple of weeks. There's fair
cause for concern there. But when I go to the
Steelers offense versus the Miami defense, I think the same thing.
From the Steelers' perspective, I think you should be able
to establish the run. It's not a very high bar

(11:14):
to clear, but better against these guys than you have
the last.

Speaker 4 (11:17):
Few weeks, I would hope.

Speaker 2 (11:18):
Yeah, And while Mika Fitzpatrick is a steady, you know,
force there on the back end for them, I think
you can get after this secondary.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
I think you can have another big week for Aaron
Rodgers and DK.

Speaker 4 (11:28):
Metcalf I tend to agree.

Speaker 5 (11:30):
Now, I do think they're d rushers are decent players, Yeah,
and the interior of the D line is better than
people think they're off the ball linebackers or above average players.
Brooks in particular, we don't we know about Meka who
they move around a lot but does a lot of
slot stuff. But nobody's avoided all costs or man, we

(11:50):
got to get four hands on Micah Parsons, you know
that type of thing. And I would think to your
point that Rogers will off and often come to the
line of scrimmage and be like, I like that match
and whether it's Metcalf or whoever. But I mean, I
think there will be a lot of matchups in the
passing game against their secondary that'll be favorable. I worry

(12:13):
that I'm underestimating their defense a little bit because it
has played really well the last couple of weeks, mostly
against really bad offenses. Last week was and there's right.

Speaker 2 (12:23):
This is a same Church, different Pew conversation that we
had with the Bears. Yeah, I that's another collegiate thing.

Speaker 3 (12:33):
You haven't played anybody.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
I mean, that argument, that line of thinking, that logic
doesn't hold as much water for me when we talk
NFL because it's still the NFL. Like, even if the
Bears are quote unquote not playing anybody good, there's still
all pros and future Hall of famers and millionaires right
right right, you know, on on on the opposite sideline
and the opposite roster. But at the same time, there

(12:55):
is nuance in there, and I'm not going to be
completely naive. Whereas the Dolphins have played a lot of
bottom of the barrel team.

Speaker 4 (13:01):
The last couple of opponents have not been.

Speaker 2 (13:03):
Throughout this throughout this win streak that they've been on
and so with that, you know, I wonder if there's
if there's opportunity for the Steelers to to maybe jump
on him a little bit early and just hit him
with a guy like a DK Metcalf that they haven't
seen too much of, hit him with a pass rush
like Herbig and high Smith that they haven't seen, you know,
too much of over these last couple of weeks.

Speaker 5 (13:24):
Yeah, I would hope so. But I mean when we
previewed Steelers Chargers, I was very questionable of the Chargers
defense too, Like it's well coached, but they don't really
have a lot of star power. And I'll be the
first admit the Chargers D I thought then is better
than this Dolphins D now. But then I you know,

(13:45):
you watch that game and you watch the Chargers in action,
and really, since I've gained a lot more respect for
the coaching staff the Chargers defense, and I worry Monday
I might come or Tuesday I might come in here
and be like, Dolphins d's a little more legit.

Speaker 4 (13:58):
Than I thought it was.

Speaker 5 (14:00):
Yeah, I mean, because I'm selling it pretty short right
now where I thought because it started the season and
like their their year long numbers are bad so some
of the like the year long stats I put in
the packet, are a little harsh because it's way better
now than then. You know, you much try to have played
it in Week three or five or whatever then now.

Speaker 4 (14:17):
But I still don't have a lot of respect for
that side of the ball.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
I think that's a fair way to say it. Yeah,
I think I think that's absolutely fair. Matte.

Speaker 5 (14:27):
One note though, is their defensive coordinator is Anthony Weaver's
defense tackle from Notre Dame played for the Ravens and
he was one of the dudes when McDonald took the
head job with the Seahawks and the Ravens got hit
hard in terms of coaching.

Speaker 4 (14:45):
You know, on the defensive.

Speaker 5 (14:46):
Side of the ball. They lost their coordinator who became
a head coach. But Weaver also left that offseason to
become Miami's head coach. I bring that up just because
Raven Steelers. I mean, Weaver no exactly what Steelers will
want to do. Yeah, correct, Femi, I mean he's game
playing against Steelers a lot.

Speaker 3 (15:06):
Matt. We now have t J. Watt news as Mike
Tomlin has officially ruled him out for Monday.

Speaker 2 (15:14):
Okay, the Dolphins no shock there. But now the speculation
is is gone and we know that TJ. Watt will
not play Monday night, which obviously.

Speaker 4 (15:25):
Makes I'm sure that's better for him.

Speaker 3 (15:27):
It's gotta think absolutely.

Speaker 2 (15:30):
And while this is an important game, all of them
are important games. One, I mean his health and his livelihood,
you know, longevity is very important. And two, so they
got three important games after this down the stretch. I mean,
you know this is this is not going to be
the last important game you play. You still got you
still need for Detroit and Cleveland and Baltimore after that.

(15:51):
And uh, and hopefully he will be will be healthy
and and and and able to go going forward. But
we do know for now that TJ. Watt will not
play Monday night.

Speaker 5 (16:00):
Totally bummer. I mean, I hope it's total a lot
more than that, but yeah, that adds up.

Speaker 3 (16:04):
Total bummer.

Speaker 2 (16:05):
But but not a lot of surprise there and kind
of the information that we knew at this time.

Speaker 3 (16:10):
That'll do it for this. Uh, this five star Friday
Miami Dolphins edition, it's a five star matchup because we're in.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
Playing.

Speaker 2 (16:23):
When we come back on the other side, we are
going to go around the NFL.

Speaker 4 (16:26):
It is we gain.

Speaker 2 (16:28):
That road is narrow, Matt Williamson, and we'll discuss in
preview and give some thoughts on all of the action
across the National Football League this weekend when we return
West Wheeler. Matt Williamson, it is the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh man, it is week fifteen across the National Football League.

Speaker 3 (17:12):
Things are getting serious.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
The road is narrowing and there are big games on
the docket now for just about everybody going forward every
single week. And Matt, we have got a wide slate
to preview for this upcoming Sunday.

Speaker 4 (17:28):
That was find an interesting too.

Speaker 5 (17:30):
It's fresh on my mind because last night of Who's
gonna be the spoilers?

Speaker 4 (17:34):
Too?

Speaker 5 (17:34):
The guys that the teams have nothing to play for?
Like there's a couple of divisional games where the quote
playoff team is favored on the road in the division.
You know, like Carolina New Orleans is New Orleans gonna
be the spoiler for Carolina just when you got your
hopes up. Sure we're gonna crush it, you know, Cincinnati Baltimore.

Speaker 4 (17:54):
You know that kind of thing, you know, right.

Speaker 2 (17:56):
You know something that I need to ask, Like, I
don't know if Labs or Missy would have an answer
to the who I could who I could find? But
I just find that's something I just noticed here look
at the schedules for the next couple weeks that I
find interesting is next week. Week sixteen is when the
NFL starts playing Saturday games. They've done this for a
few years now. It's it's a little weird now because

(18:17):
that's also like college football playoff day, but they tend
to have more of those games in the afternoon where
the NFL does the Saturday night thing. But I wonder
if the NFL doesn't play Saturday games this week because
of Army Navy, if they want to stay away from that,
give that's the respect that it deserves.

Speaker 4 (18:36):
Maybe maybe like why.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Start next year this Saturday when college football season has
been over. The only thing that I can think is
that there's Army Navy this Saturday. But that's all I got.
I'd be interested to know if that's part of the decision,
or if the NFL just decides that it's like a
last three weeks of the season thing when we replay
interesting that might be one. I'll have to see if
I can do a little dig in and ask some
some people who might know.

Speaker 3 (18:59):
But let's ump into this week fifteen slate.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
Of course, we did discuss earlier in the first hour
of the show, that big comeback win for the Dolphins,
for the Dolphins part of me for the Falcons last
night in Tampa Bay that now has the NFC South
threw a big wrench into that equation.

Speaker 1 (19:16):
Matt.

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Let's take a look here now at Sunday's games Cleveland
in Chicago, where the Bears are seven and a half
point favorites, and Matt, I know you won't be shocked
by this, but by a pretty significant margin, by three points,
the lowest over under of the week here at just

(19:37):
thirty eight and a half, the Bears seven and a
half point favorites at home against the Browns and that
Cleveland defense.

Speaker 5 (19:43):
I'm not saying he's like the answer or all of
a sudden I'm on the Schador train, but he played
very well last week, and so I'm intrigued to see
if he can keep it up and at least open
to the possibility.

Speaker 4 (19:55):
I was so tired of talking about him.

Speaker 1 (19:58):
For a while.

Speaker 5 (19:59):
Yeah, but I do also have great respect for the
Browns defense. I assume they'll be weather. I mean, even
if it says it's not, there will be something. Sure
it's not going to be beautiful in Chicago, and I'm
sure I'll take the points. I just think it's a
reasonably close game. I don't think the Browns win. I
don't think it's a, you know, super competitive, down to

(20:21):
the wire type of deal. But I could just see
a low scoring game in Chicago doesn't win by a ton.

Speaker 2 (20:26):
Eleven degrees in sunny in Chicago at one o'clock on Saturday.

Speaker 3 (20:31):
I'm with you. I don't like that seven and a half.

Speaker 4 (20:33):
I mean neither. I thought it'd be like five and
a half.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
If it's five and a half or six and a half,
I'm laying them with Chicago over a touchdown. I'm gonna
take the points. Bears find a way to get it done,
but I don't know. If they win by more than seven,
that's what i'll take. I'll take that with Cleveland.

Speaker 4 (20:48):
I don't know that Chicago just run all over them.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
Brown's defense is stout, as we all know. And I
think you're right there's a little momentum there or at
least something to play for with Chador, I think that'll
be enough for Cleveland to keep it respectable.

Speaker 5 (21:01):
So I think it's a four gone conclusion of Miles
Garrett's defensive player of the Year. I mean, like they
would have to like fall off the cliff. I mean, right,
but I think Schwestioninger, their linebacker, could be defensive rookie
ye right, yeah.

Speaker 3 (21:12):
And he missed a few games earlier in the season.

Speaker 4 (21:14):
Nobody else really stepped up a really good player for them.

Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to think but that, I.

Speaker 5 (21:21):
Mean, Abdul Carter's been kind of slow. I mean it's
a it's not a good ru.

Speaker 3 (21:25):
Not a great rookie defensive class.

Speaker 2 (21:26):
Now staying with a team from Ohio going into the
AFC North here and what could factor in to be
a big one for the Steelers. If the Bengals are
able to sweep the Ravens this year, they will attempt
to do so at home one o'clock at pay Course Stadium.
Tickets is low as just fourteen dollars. Wow, as Baltimore
a two and a half point favorite in the Natty, you.

Speaker 5 (21:49):
Think we should expect a lot of Ravens fans there, No, no.

Speaker 3 (21:55):
Although when you go on the road, it's always a
different story.

Speaker 4 (21:58):
Right, Let's make it a road trip. Let's go take
a weekend.

Speaker 3 (22:00):
Yeah, and just think about it.

Speaker 2 (22:01):
If you're a Baltimore Ravens fan that lives in Ohio
or Michigan or Indiana, yeah, you probably back in July,
plan to go to this game.

Speaker 4 (22:10):
Right right now, and it's not as closed as obviously Pittsburgh.
It's a pretty good haul.

Speaker 2 (22:13):
And that's kind of like similar for the Steelers. I
think even if the Steelers listen, folks, I'm gonna break
some news here, Okay, Yeah, one day again, the Steelers
will have a losing record time. Someday, one day again,
the Steelers will be bad and they'll pick in the
top ten or the top fifteen. It will happen again someday,
hopefully out anytime soon, but it'll happen again someday. So

(22:35):
if that were the case, if the Steelers in an
alternate universe right now, we're going to Miami, yeah, and
the Steelers were instead of seven and six, they're three
and ten, there would still be a ton of Steelers
fans at that game, because you'd have all the Florida
Steelers fans that would have planned to go to that
game months ago, and we don't care. We only get
to see our team play every couple of years. We're

(22:56):
going and we're having fun, and we bought the tickets
and we got the parking pass and we reserved hotel
months ago.

Speaker 5 (23:01):
Now, Miami, I'm not giving you a hard time, but
Miami isn't the best example, because a lot of people
go to Miami right now even though there's not a
game fair, you know what I mean, like nice place
to Baltimore to Cincy.

Speaker 3 (23:10):
Nice place to escape this time of year.

Speaker 5 (23:12):
It's not like I'm gonna bring my swim trunks to
Cincy from Baltimore, you know, all right?

Speaker 3 (23:16):
You mean the weather Cincinnati isn't great.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
Like the Great Winner Getaway. I don't want to make
this game.

Speaker 5 (23:23):
I keep really looking into the Burrow comments heavily like
that to me is really bad Mojo, and he kind.

Speaker 3 (23:30):
Of like double like went on the Pat McAfee show
and doubled down on it.

Speaker 4 (23:33):
The other day, totally in on it.

Speaker 5 (23:34):
Yeah, and Higgins has been ruled out, But I'm not
all that impressed with Baltimore, and since he just beat them, I'm.

Speaker 4 (23:41):
Sure Burrow will still play well. I mean, I don't
think he's like not interested anymore. It's two and a half, right.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
I think I'm taking the points of Cincinnati game too.

Speaker 4 (23:51):
In their building.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
This is one that if I would try and tease
that up to three and a half, I'm I'm all
in for Cincinnati. I might try and get an extra
point there, just to cover the field goal.

Speaker 5 (24:00):
But what's the pursuit. Always say, like, if you think
there's a good chance they win, you know, take the points.
You always take the points. And I think there's a
good chance they win.

Speaker 2 (24:07):
Don't don't be greedy and get them on the money line.
Still take the points and just put a couple extra
shillings on it if you're that confident. But yeah, that's
gonna be an odd one with everything going on with
Joe Burrow, with what's going to be you know, probably
a stadium that's going to be seventy percent full.

Speaker 3 (24:23):
You know, it won't be a.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
Crazy, roucous crowd type atmosphere there, clearly by the ticket prices.

Speaker 3 (24:28):
But I think I'm gonna take the points with Cincinnati.
I'd like to buy it up.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
Another point, though, if I was really gonna put some
some action, some cheddar on this in Kansas City at Arrowhead,
maybe they are still technically Monty Python, They're not dead yet.
But if the Chiefs lose at home to the Chargers,
can we officially stick a fork into Matt Williamson.

Speaker 5 (24:45):
Yeah, I think all the tie breakers and stuff just
destroy them. AFC Division game.

Speaker 2 (24:50):
They would need everybody else to lose out and they
would need to win out.

Speaker 3 (24:53):
And then even then it's.

Speaker 5 (24:54):
Still be like like a three percent or something crazy,
which wouldn't break my heart at all. Like I'm I'm
expecting Steers go to the playoffs. I'd love Mahomes not
to be one of the ones in the AFC field
be there.

Speaker 2 (25:05):
Let's keep the Homes out of there, see Josh Allen
in the first round.

Speaker 5 (25:10):
That being said, one week ago, I picked the Chiefs
to go and not the Chargers, and now that doesn't
look as good after the Chargers win, you know, last week,
and the Chiefs losing to Houston. I'm still going to
bank on Kansas City here though. That spreads bigger than
I expect. I know it's bigger than I thought, but
I still don't believe in the Chargers.

Speaker 4 (25:31):
Oh line.

Speaker 3 (25:32):
I don't believe in the Chargers. Oh line. I don't
really believe in the Chargers with just how injured they
are everywhere I know, but five and a half is
up city.

Speaker 2 (25:42):
I'm taking the points like I just straight up. I
think the Chiefs will find a way to win a
lower scoring, ugly one that over under and this is
only forty and a half. That's on the lower end
of things this weekend. By the way, the biggest biggest
over under by far is Baltimore in Cincinnati fifty one
and a half. So expecting some points.

Speaker 5 (26:02):
I guess Bengals always have a hide. Yeah, it totally
adds up.

Speaker 2 (26:07):
I think I'm gonna take the five and a half
with the Chargers. I think the Chiefs will win by
three or four, maybe even five.

Speaker 3 (26:13):
I'll take the five and a half.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
It wouldn't shock me. I wouldn't touch it with that's.

Speaker 2 (26:16):
I was gonna say, though, that's mister Grinch. Yeah, thirty
nine and a half foot Paul, I'm not touching it.
At Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts, the Patriots, the Bills a
big one, and Buffalo looking to get some revenge against
a New England team that has not lost since mid
September when the Steelers were there, Buffalo a point and

(26:39):
a half favored on the road. Matt, when the Patriots
went to Buffalo back early in the season and shocked
everybody and beat the Bills, you and I both said,
I don't care what the spread is the next time
these teams play. I'm taking Buffalo. Is our energy matching
our commitment from a few months ago.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
Mine is not. Since then, since then, I bought the Patriots.

Speaker 5 (27:01):
I mean, I really think May is a tremendous player
and yet another potentially elite AFC quarterback, which stinks for
the rest of the AFC teams that don't have one
team we're working for at the moment.

Speaker 4 (27:13):
You know, for the long.

Speaker 5 (27:13):
Term, how did the Patriots win. They're coming off of bye.
They they've played like the second or third most rookie snaps,
and I bet all those rookies loved the bye.

Speaker 3 (27:25):
Love.

Speaker 4 (27:27):
That is a long year. You know.

Speaker 5 (27:29):
They played a lot of preseason. They played thirteen fourteen games.

Speaker 2 (27:33):
Their career, their their football season was basically over unless
they were playing for Ohio State around Georgia, like.

Speaker 5 (27:39):
We got four more games in playoffs, like, give me
a week off, And I don't know that Buffalo's great.
Will Buffalo run all over them like they did the Steelers?
Allen's playing great? I mean, I just think Buffalo has problems.
I don't think they're an elite team. I'm not saying that, Bat,
I agree with you on that. Yeah, I also think
it's going to be a rock and atmosphere.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
Their second most points a most expensive get in price
of the weekend. The old add only ticket that's more
expensive is the Broncos hosting the Packers. Uh In in Denver.
Is the only get in price more expensive than this one.
I'm I'm laying the points of Buffalo. I just I
keep waiting, and it's a testament to them. It hasn't happened.

(28:20):
They are, without a doubt, a good team, a legitimate
threat in the AFC. But I keep waiting for like
the shoot to fall for the Patriots a little bit kind.
They're good, they're legit, they're a playoff team, but they're
not eleven and two good. They're not the Rams or
the Seahawks or and I just I.

Speaker 4 (28:37):
Think up like an eight or nine win team.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Even as this is This is probably the fourth time
I've said this in the last seven or eight weeks.
But I just I think the Patriots are kind of
due for some medicine, for a little dose or reality,
And so I am with you. I don't think Buffalo
is elite. I don't think Buffalo is nearly as good
as we thought they were going to be coming into
this season. But I think Josh Allen will sprinkle some

(29:00):
faery dust up there in the middle of those neighborhoods
in Foxborough and Buffalo will find.

Speaker 3 (29:03):
A way to win, wouldn't shock me?

Speaker 4 (29:05):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (29:06):
Can I tell you I saw hilarious video I actually
meant to send this to you in TV.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
It was like some.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Dude from Europe complaining about the World Cup, lying about
the stadium locations.

Speaker 3 (29:17):
So it's basically like, look at this, Look at his stadium.
They say it's in Boston.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
It's forty miles outside of Boston in the middle of
How am I supposed to get there?

Speaker 3 (29:26):
Look at it? They say it's in San Francisco. It's
in Santa Clara, sixty miles away. How were we supposed to
get there?

Speaker 4 (29:32):
I guess that's a pretty good complaint.

Speaker 3 (29:34):
I was cracking up. I was cracking up. They say
it's in Dallas. It's not really in Dallas. It's eighteen
miles south and there's no public transportation. Good luck.

Speaker 4 (29:43):
Yeah, and we all supply it was another one.

Speaker 3 (29:46):
Oh New York City. It's not in New York City.

Speaker 4 (29:49):
It's not even this not even closed right right right?

Speaker 3 (29:52):
And yeah our public transportation.

Speaker 5 (29:54):
In downtown New York or downtown State of Manhattan.

Speaker 3 (29:58):
And you're from you know, Argent Pina.

Speaker 4 (30:01):
How am I going to get there? Right?

Speaker 3 (30:02):
Without paying? That's like if we flew dollars for an
Uberg good luck.

Speaker 4 (30:05):
Like we flew into Dublin and the game was in
the side of the country, but.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
It's actually it's actually in Killarney. But at least they
have public transportation as they get you there.

Speaker 4 (30:14):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, right, Well that's actually a really good I.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
Was cracking I meant to send it to you and
TV a few days ago, and I just remembered, like
how they go to the only one of these stadiums
that are actually in their cities, and like Philadelphia speaking
of MetLife Stadium, not in New York City. It's an
East brother for New Jersey. The Giants host the Commanders,
two teams that are kind of Cancun on three here, Matt,

(30:38):
I don't think I don't think this one will inspire
much greatness on Sunday afternoon. But the Giants are two
and a half point favorites at home over Washington.

Speaker 5 (30:46):
It seems like a lot over anybody. Mariotas played pretty well,
that was my thing, but boy, Washington's defense is so
bad right now. I'm gonna take the Giants off a bye.
I assumed darts Back.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
I think the Buye is the kicker there. Yeah, I
think Washington will look a little bit better than they
did last week. But you're right, Giants are off the
by dart Back. I think that'll be enough for them
to get it done.

Speaker 4 (31:06):
But yuck. I kind of wanted to pick against both
those teams.

Speaker 2 (31:09):
Tickets is low as just thirteen dollars at MetLife Stadium.
I promise you they'll be much more expensive to that
when the World Cup rolls into town in June. In Philadelphia,
Kenny Pickett seems like he is going to get the
go as Gino Smith is still not practiced this week
with that shoulder injury. The Eagles, my goodness, second largest
spread of the weekend, no part of me third largest

(31:32):
eleven and a half point. There's some big, chunky spreads
here when we get into some of these later. Now
Eagles are eleven and a half point favorites in a
game that is only thirty eight points over and under
Matt Vegas expecting Philadelphia to rolla Vegas expecting Philadelphia.

Speaker 4 (31:50):
To roll Vegas.

Speaker 3 (31:52):
H do you concur eleven and a half. That's a
big number.

Speaker 4 (31:55):
It's a big number, but cross cusher. It's a one
o'clock game, two o'clock, yep.

Speaker 5 (31:58):
And I can't I can't take the Raiders against anybody.

Speaker 3 (32:02):
Same.

Speaker 4 (32:03):
Yeah, the Eagles offense is kind of broken.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
Though it is, but this is also one of those
spots where it feels like a good team beats up
on a bat. You know, we've been getting crushed in
the media and buy our fan base for this past week.
We just, you know, we felt like we gave one
away on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. We're gonna
come back and we're gonna Max Starks barbecue chicken this
bad team.

Speaker 4 (32:26):
And said, I just can't pick the Raiders. They're such
a bad game.

Speaker 2 (32:29):
And I with Philadelphia right now, I hate the idea
of laying eleven and a half points to This is
another mister Grinch game. Stay away from it with a
thirty nine and a half foot pole, But I will
lay the eleven and.

Speaker 5 (32:39):
A half Philly scored on defense or something like that.

Speaker 2 (32:42):
Sure, Jacksonville hosts the Jets. Big one for the Jags
as they look to continue to stay firmly in the
division lead and playoff race. They are biggest spread of
the weekend. Matt tied with Seattle for biggest spread of
the weekend thirteen and a half points at home the Jets.

Speaker 5 (33:00):
I really liked how the Jets have played despite not
having any talent until last week. I mean, Miami had
no problems with them whatsoever. They just announced Cook is
going to start again for the Jets.

Speaker 4 (33:12):
Who Yeah, I forget his first name.

Speaker 3 (33:15):
That's what I mean.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
When when Matt When when a team signs a guy
or starts a guy and Matt Williamson goes.

Speaker 3 (33:21):
I don't think I even know much about him, right,
That's when you really know.

Speaker 4 (33:27):
I can't take the Jets. Jags are playing really well.
That's such a big number.

Speaker 2 (33:31):
Though, this is another one I'm just staying away from
I just want no part of it. But if you
made me choose, I think I would lay the points
with Jacksonville because, yeah, Jets, just.

Speaker 4 (33:42):
That was miserable what they did yesterday.

Speaker 2 (33:44):
Yeah, they had a few weeks of life there after
the trade.

Speaker 4 (33:48):
They did did some decent things, but I think it
was a tyrod.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
And I think they're back to Cancun on three now,
and hey, nice a nice sunny day in Jacksonville might
might only add to that. In Houston, another big one
in the AFC South. There, big one for Jacksonville, big
one for Houston. They host the Arizona Cardinals. They're a
big number two, nine and a half point favorites at

(34:11):
home are the Texans.

Speaker 5 (34:13):
I think Arizona's cast it into like Marvin's I'll playing again,
bring Benson.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
Ben like a lot of guys.

Speaker 4 (34:18):
Yeah, a lot of guys I thought probably could play.

Speaker 5 (34:22):
They don't seem I think Arizona's pretty excited about getting
a good draft pick. I love how Houston's playing. They
don't beat I mean, they're a defensive minded team. So
I bet the over unders not super high, and I
hate taking you know, big favorites with low over unders.
I just don't know where Arizona's at. I don't like
their headspace right now.

Speaker 3 (34:43):
Say I'm with you, that's a big number, but it
is not big numbers.

Speaker 2 (34:48):
If this one was like thirteen and a half, i'd
probably I'd probably lay them. I'd probably take or sorry,
I'd probably take the points with Arizona. But at nine
and a half.

Speaker 3 (34:58):
Yeah, I'll lay them.

Speaker 4 (34:59):
Yeah, I'll lay them.

Speaker 2 (35:01):
Did you see the funny video with the Texans owner
that they put out today? So it was Sunday night
football they played last week against the Chiefs.

Speaker 3 (35:09):
Correct, Yeah, if I'm remembering correctly.

Speaker 2 (35:13):
There was a funny clip from the end of that
game where CJ.

Speaker 3 (35:17):
Stroud was kind of walking off the.

Speaker 2 (35:18):
Field and waving to the fans and celebrating, and the
owner of the Texans was on the sideline at Arrowhead Stadium,
but he was like wearing a hat and a jacket,
was kind of bundled up and CJ. Stroud just in
the chaos and waving to the fans and the owner
wearing a you know, a hat and a jacket. The
owner was like hand out trying to high five CJ.
And CJ didn't see him. And so it's the classic,

(35:40):
you know, like the like a guy that's just standing
there with his hand up, like you get left hanging.
They put out a video on social media that was
like the owner came into the office in Houston, still
dressed like in his winter outfit with his hand up
and was like walking around like anybody's seen, CJ.

Speaker 3 (35:57):
Anybody seen. It was pretty fun.

Speaker 4 (36:00):
That's good.

Speaker 3 (36:00):
It was pretty good. In Denver.

Speaker 2 (36:03):
The owner off, you can you can't blow the owner off,
Come on, mate in Denver. The most expensive ticket of
the weekend if you want to sit in those bleeds,
two hundred and eighty five dollars just to get in
as the Broncos host the Packers, one of the more
intriguing games in this week fifteen slate at Mile High Stadium.
Denver's actually a home dog the Packers. Yeah, favored by

(36:26):
two and a half points.

Speaker 5 (36:27):
I think this one super interesting and it doesn't even
mean that much because it's an AFC NFC match.

Speaker 3 (36:31):
And they're most likely both going to the playoffs. Yeah
both but safe.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
You know you're right if like, other than the Steelers
obviously for our jobs, this is probably this sort of
the Patriots Bills game is probably like the proverbial.

Speaker 3 (36:42):
Other game that I would most like to watch, ye
Rams Lions.

Speaker 5 (36:45):
I'd put it there too. That's also an interesting We'll
get to that one. So I think this is going
to be very low scoring. I think both defenses are
really good. I know Denver's is really good. Green Bays
has gotten better and better better. Yeah, and I don't
love and I think clearly Denver's offense is the worst
unit of the four. I'm a little shocked at the

(37:05):
spread though, And I don't think Denver can win the
Super Bowl, and I think green Bay can. I think
they're a better team. And maybe I'm overthinking this, but
if this is gonna be a tight game, green Bay
only plays in Denver once every eight years.

Speaker 4 (37:18):
I mean, that's an.

Speaker 5 (37:20):
Awful place to play, especially in the second half when
you're sucking wind, and if you're in a tight dog fight,
I'm taking the points at home. I mean, is Jordan
Love ever played in altitude like that? Or I mean
most of these guys are probably never played.

Speaker 2 (37:34):
I bet you Jordan Love, I bet you Jordan Loved
maybe College.

Speaker 3 (37:40):
LA and then some of those Pac twelve elevations.

Speaker 4 (37:42):
Played the UTAs State. So he played in the Mountains.

Speaker 3 (37:45):
Or Utah State. Why am I thinking UCLA? He played
at Uta Stybe.

Speaker 4 (37:48):
He's not the best example.

Speaker 3 (37:49):
He played he played in the But yes, Green Bay
never goes there. I know what you're saying, though, it's
a different environment. The cold.

Speaker 2 (37:57):
I'm looking here at the altitude to be sixty degrees
in sunny actually, so maybe not that cold, but the
altitude is that's a pike game, I think, especially this
time of year. To Yeah, it gets to the altitude
in early October, when you're not beat down by playing
thirteen fourteen games already at that point, it can be
a little bit of a different story.

Speaker 5 (38:19):
If you talk to players that don't play there, often
it takes them aback, like, oh man, you don't acclimate
in a day or whatever.

Speaker 2 (38:26):
This is a tough one because Denver's a weird evaol.
They are, They're a weird evail. I don't really trust
the offense much at all, but I think the defense
is very good. I think it might be the second
best defense in the NFL after Houston. I'm with you
in your thought part process that the Packers, like, if
I had to pick one of these teams to win

(38:47):
the Super Bowl, it would definitely be Green Bay.

Speaker 4 (38:50):
At some point, I'm gonna look at what are NFC
records in Denver. I bet they're bad.

Speaker 3 (38:55):
It's a good one.

Speaker 4 (38:56):
I mean, I know early season in Denver's really bad,
really bad.

Speaker 3 (38:59):
Really is winning there in Week two? Was that last
year year before.

Speaker 4 (39:03):
Last year ago? There was not quite in shape, big.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Deal and hey, maybe you know bow Knicks playing in
just his second start in the National Football League was
part of that. You get him at the right time.

Speaker 4 (39:12):
Yeah, definitely was.

Speaker 3 (39:13):
I don't like I think I'm gonna lay the points, though.

Speaker 2 (39:18):
I I just something about Green Bay to me has
felt like they've kind of flipped the switch a little bit.

Speaker 4 (39:23):
Oh, I think so. I'm a Green Bay believer.

Speaker 3 (39:24):
They've won a lot of close games against good teams lately.

Speaker 5 (39:28):
Guys like Christian Watson have really stepped up, and Jayden
Reed is back.

Speaker 4 (39:32):
I'm a green Bay believer. I just because it's why
I'm doing the other I.

Speaker 3 (39:36):
Think I'm gonna lay the points.

Speaker 2 (39:37):
I think I I think I'll take the Packers minus
two and a half. Bronco is another one of those
teams kind of similar to New England. I think that
they're really good, but I think they've been getting away
with it a little bit too.

Speaker 3 (39:47):
I don't think.

Speaker 5 (39:48):
I don't know if like they're due for one above them,
I do.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Yeah, I agree with you on that.

Speaker 4 (39:55):
Here was a Super Bowl, I would pick the Packers.

Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yeah, if it's if it's a neutral sight in San
Francisco or something and the weather's not going to play
a factor. Here's another great one, Matt at beautiful Sofi
Stadium in Southern California, the Rams hosts the Lions. A
big one for the Rams in the sense of trying
to win the division and get that first round by
A big one for Detroit in the sense of trying
to stay in the wild card hunt. This is a

(40:20):
massive one for both of these teams for different reasons
of playoff implications. The Rams six point favorites at home
against Detroit. That's a big number.

Speaker 5 (40:29):
I think the numbers too big. I think the Rams
are the best team in the league. Have nothing negative
to say about them. It's just a desperate Campbell coached,
nasty team.

Speaker 3 (40:40):
How often are you going to get the Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions plus six?

Speaker 5 (40:44):
That's what I mean when they absolutely have to have it,
And I don't know if This is true, but it
seems like since the Golf Stafford trade they've played against
each other several times. I know there's a playoff game,
so there's some familiarity there. Again, I have nothing bad
to say about the ram I think they're tremendous. It's
just I don't know that it's the best home field
advantage of in the league.

Speaker 3 (41:05):
Oh, I can tell you someone who's been someone who's
been there twice. It is not.

Speaker 4 (41:08):
I'm sure it's not, and I'm sure there'll be some Lions.

Speaker 3 (41:11):
In fact, it's one of the worst.

Speaker 5 (41:12):
Yeah, I'll take the points. I don't think they win,
but I'll take the point.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
I don't think Detroit wins, but I think that they
keep it closer than six.

Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yeah, well every seven, So.

Speaker 5 (41:22):
They're gonna go for it on every fourth. They're gonna,
I mean, they're gonna do anything it takes.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
Rams win.

Speaker 2 (41:28):
But by three or four, give me the Lions plus
six to cover A big one for the Carolina Panthers
in New Orleans. Carolina suddenly in the lead in the
NFC South New Orleans playing a little bit better and
you know, not rolling over and taking it down the
stretch here despite their poor record and not having much
to play for tickets as low as just twelve dollars

(41:51):
lowis get in price of the week of any of
these games at the Superdome, where Carolina is a two
and a half point road.

Speaker 5 (41:58):
Favorite, Carolina is gonna be looking their shops and they're
coming off a bye and they're a physical team. I
just don't know if they're good. I don't think they are.
They're good, I just don't think they are. And I
think New Orleans is still playing hard and Shuck's done
some good things, kind of like the should or Sanders
conversation we had and the NFL just just when you

(42:18):
think like we got them where we want them, I
just have to have this easy win in New Orleans
and then I got the division by the short ones.

Speaker 4 (42:25):
It's like.

Speaker 5 (42:27):
The Saints just end up winning, you know, the rivalry
game at home. Division spoiler. I'm taking the Saints, and
it's just a hunch.

Speaker 2 (42:35):
I completely agree with you, But I'm gonna lay the
points with Carolina better than the Saints. If it was
three and a half, I think I'd take the points
with New Orleans at two and a half. All they
got to do is win by a field goal. I'm
gonna go Panthers. We are going long winded here. Let's
let's run through these last couple ones. In San Francisco,
Tennessee their second biggest spread of the weekend, nine ers

(42:57):
twelve and a half point favorites over the Titans at home.

Speaker 4 (42:59):
It's a ton of points. But I guess I'll take
the Niners.

Speaker 3 (43:02):
I think so. Yeah, I just can't do Tennessee any
benefit of the death.

Speaker 4 (43:05):
Like the Raider conversation, Matt if.

Speaker 2 (43:07):
I would have told you a couple months ago that
when the Colts go to Seattle in December, they're gonna
be thirteen and a half point dogs.

Speaker 4 (43:14):
Do we know the storting quarterback's gonna be?

Speaker 2 (43:16):
It sounds like it's gonna be Philip Rivers, I assumed, so.
It sounds like it's gonna be Philip Rivers. According to
all the reporting.

Speaker 3 (43:21):
Thirteen and a half point favorites on the Colts too,
at one point had the best record in the NFL,
and where the story of the year. It's a big number.
Can they keep it closer than two touchdowns?

Speaker 4 (43:31):
I think so. I mean, I'm gonna expect him to
at least do smart things at the line of scrimmage.
That's where I'm and hand the ball to Taylor a
million times and try to shorten.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
The game, lose by eleven or twelve.

Speaker 4 (43:41):
I don't think they'll win.

Speaker 3 (43:43):
It'll be one of those like the result is never
in doubt.

Speaker 5 (43:46):
I'm not worried if I'm Seattle. But that's a lot
of points. I mean, the Colts are a talented team,
and I don't think right.

Speaker 2 (43:52):
Like, that's the type of spread that Seattle wouldn't need
to score a defensive touchdown or two, which we've seen
them do plenty. But I think the one thing Philip
Rivers is going to do is take care of the ball.

Speaker 4 (44:01):
I would think, give it to Taylor and over and
over away.

Speaker 2 (44:05):
Throw it to the popcorn vendor in the tenth row
if there's nothing there. Last one, in prime time, the
Cowboys host the Vikings. Still for Dallas playoff implications is,
as you know, as far down as their odds may be,
they do still have something to play for, and they
are five and a half point favorites at home over Minnesota.

Speaker 5 (44:23):
Give me Dallas, but I don't feel strong about it.
I mean, Minnesot's coming off a pretty good outing as
is McCarthy and kind of rooting for him. Everyone's just
kind of like kicked them into his grave already. But
Dallas is better on their best day, for sure.

Speaker 2 (44:34):
I agree, And they've had the long week to get
ready for it.

Speaker 4 (44:38):
Yeah. Same with Detroit. I wanted to mention that too.

Speaker 2 (44:40):
Yeah, that game and Dallas got The one thing I
think you can count on for the Cowboys is to
embarrass themselves when they're getting all the credit in the world,
and then to respond after they like they did a
roller coaster.

Speaker 4 (44:52):
Things like Pickens might have won sixty, you know, like.

Speaker 2 (44:55):
Everyone dumps on them, and then for three or four
weeks they look like the hottest team in the league,
and then every one's stinging their praises and then they
go out and lay an egg. I expect them to respond.
I'll lay those points as well too. We'll give Steelers
thoughts and predictions before we get up out of here.
On the other side, West Yuler, Matt Williamson, It's the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (45:21):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal.

Speaker 4 (45:25):
Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
Final segment here on a Friday, and with the game
time on Monday and our responsibilities and our duties and everything,
we will not have a.

Speaker 3 (45:45):
This This will be our last show before kickoffs. Basically
is all that I'm trying.

Speaker 5 (45:48):
To Tom and iight for though, is when we come on.

Speaker 2 (45:51):
You and Tom will be on it for four Yeah,
there will be a lot of other, you know, stuff
going on between now and then, but yes, our coverage
will aren't at four fifteen fifteen game four hours ahead
of time on DVE. You'll have Matt and Tom for
two hours, which we'll roll right into pursuita du Lac
and the Dean of Doom himself, Bob Labriola, for a

(46:14):
two hour pregame show leading up to kickoff at eight
fifteen Steelers Dolphins, Big one for the Steelers and Miami,
you know, suddenly with a lot of pride and not
necessarily something to play for, but they've been playing for
reputation jobs.

Speaker 4 (46:29):
They're not eliminated.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
There they are, you know, not a cankun on three team.
I think as we all assumed they would be.

Speaker 5 (46:36):
I should have mentioned slier in the week, but it
blows me away. The Chiefs and Dolphins have the same
record insane.

Speaker 3 (46:42):
Absolutely insane.

Speaker 2 (46:44):
If you would have taught us that before the season,
I'd be like, oh, wow, so the Dolphins really had
a good year. The Dolphins won like double digit games.

Speaker 5 (46:49):
If he told me that after the first month, I'd
be like, what did Mahomes get hurt?

Speaker 2 (46:52):
You know?

Speaker 4 (46:52):
Right?

Speaker 2 (46:54):
The Indy Reid retire and at the middle of the season,
Matt Steelers after being Dawn is a couple weeks in
a row. Here three and a half point favorites part
of me three point just three, three flat three point
favorites Monday Night against Miami.

Speaker 4 (47:08):
I guess Steelers twenty three seventeen.

Speaker 5 (47:11):
I hate this Watt news, but I definitely think there's
something to Miami and weather Steelers on Monday Night. I
don't have a lot of respect for Miami's defense, to
be honest with you, but Miami's running.

Speaker 4 (47:24):
Game scares the heck out of me.

Speaker 5 (47:26):
Right now, I'm hoping Harmon's back with that that prediction,
you know, we're.

Speaker 3 (47:30):
That's a very key indicator.

Speaker 5 (47:32):
We have one less day and one less practice report
to do our predictions, you know what I mean. And
I'm hoping and I'm assuming he's going to be back,
which is big.

Speaker 2 (47:42):
I'm going another weird one. I'm going Steelers twenty three
Miami nineteen. That's gonna be my That's gonna be my
score prediction for Monday Night. Not the prettiest, you know,
most aesthetic, sexy victory performance for the Steelers, but I
think they just I think they got enough veterans, enough
dudes to get it done in a tight spot. Uh.

Speaker 3 (48:05):
You know, the Dolphins will blink first and.

Speaker 2 (48:08):
Hope, so yeah, make them make the mistake or the
Steelers will make the play. That is that is the
difference in this one. I think another another big spot
for Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 4 (48:17):
I think Rogers keeps his momentum going.

Speaker 2 (48:18):
I think he keeps his momentum going national TV spot, right,
He's probably looking at this like, hey, like other than
the playoffs, you know, this is going to be one
of those few opportunities I have the rest of the
way to really be at the center of attention. And
him and the Steelers group in general have typically played
very well in those type of situations.

Speaker 5 (48:36):
They have and I don't I'm not saying they're great players,
but MVS and especially theel and I think.

Speaker 4 (48:43):
Will be where they're supposed to be details.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, details, you know, uh, the stuff
that maybe Roman Wilson was lacking for Aaron Rodgers in
that regard and is why you've turned to the veterans,
and I think they will be very buttoned up on
Monday night.

Speaker 3 (48:57):
There it is.

Speaker 2 (48:58):
There's our shows for the week. There's our predictions for Monday.
A big thanks to all our guests this week. Big
shout out to Missy Matthews for joining us today. Big
thanks to mister TV Tyler V himself. A big thanks
to tell me once again the name of the company
that's center year. Yeah, Yin's er gear for the cool
coffee mugs and T shirt.

Speaker 4 (49:16):
Yeah, I'm pre psyched for our S and R drive here.

Speaker 2 (49:18):
Now Matt and I just have to figure out where
we're hiding those things for the rest of the well,
I guess for you know, going forward in perpetuity here
as we'll continue to rock and roll on the drive
throughout the year for Matt Williamson throughout the year, throughout
again perpetuity. Just sign off, you'll learn get out of
here on a Friday for Matt Williamson.

Speaker 3 (49:37):
I'm west Shuler.

Speaker 2 (49:38):
Take care, everybody, enjoy the weekend and we will be
back win loser draw on Tuesday to break it all
down with you. As always, you know where to find us.
It's on your twenty four to seven home of the
Black and Gold. It's Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers
Audio Network