Hr2: 5 Star Friday

The Drive highlights key matchups for Sunday Night Football as they continue to preview Steelers vs Ravens.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good evening, Stealer Nation. How you doing. I guess check
back Monday. Yeah, yeah, our number two here of the Drive,
our final show of the regular season, just three segments left, man, Matt,
I swear we were just in Latrobe yesterday getting this
thing going. It is amazing how fast, you know, July

(00:46):
to January flies every single year with training camp, the
end of summer, back to school, holiday season and all
that stuff, and it's like it's a mad dash, and
all of a sudden, here we are staring down a
season finale with everything on the line against the Baltimore Ravens.
And I want to talk a little matchup centric stuff
with you here, a little thing that we do called

(01:08):
five Start Friday. We're humbled and excited to be in
these five star matchups.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Five star matchup.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
Somebody leaving here with the loves not gonna be us?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Better not be us, or else we'll worry about that Monday, Matt.
So much of this We're gonna talk a couple specifics here,
but so much of this centers around Derrick Henry obviously,
Oh sure, and you know our buddy Bob Labriola sends
us like this research packet every week about the matchup

(01:41):
and some of the stuff that that Derrick Henry has accomplished.
This year's is just insane. Players with the most seasons
with at least ten rushing touchdowns in NFL history. He
now tied Adrian Peterson. He did this in week thirteen.
Tied Adrian Peterson for second most in league history. Only
Ladani and Tom and Emmett Smith tied ap and Emitt
Smith for second most eight seasons with ten or more

(02:03):
rushing touchdowns. Only La Danian Tomlinson has more with nine.

Speaker 3 (02:06):
It's crazy.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
Players with the most consecutive seasons consecutive seasons with at
least ten rushing touchdowns. He's second in that regard to
behind only La danleyan Thomlinson. Players with the most seasons
with at least twelve rushing touchdowns in the NFL. He's
tied with the Danian Tomlinson for first overall at seven
most games in NFL history for a running back with

(02:30):
at least two rushing touchdowns Ladanian Tomlinson number one, Hall
of Fame, Emmett Smith number two, Hall of Fame, Derrick
Henry number three.

Speaker 3 (02:38):
And the longer careers. They had, longer careers, had more games.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
And players with the most games with at least two
hundred rushing yards in NFL history, So most games with
two hundred or more yards. After last week, Derrick Henry
now stands alone with the most in NFL history, seven,
passing the tie that he had to break that tie
with Adrian Peterson. And I'm sorry, I just can't say

(03:02):
his name without chuckling a little bit. O. J. Simpson.

Speaker 3 (03:05):
Wow, his career stuff's crazy. It's unbelievable, going up the
all time touchdown list and all time rushing yards list,
and you know, his December stuff, December January stuff is
way better than anyone in unbelievable. I mean, he's like
a one hundred and two yards per game after November,

(03:27):
I mean, and no one else is even at one hundred.
I mean, and people were in the high nineties.

Speaker 4 (03:32):
You know.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
So this is not time you want to face him.
He's coming off one of his best games ever. Maybe
he's not quite as dynamic as he was in his prime,
but he's still a huge problem.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
He's a massive problem. Yeah, And would just thirty one
rushing yards against the Steelers, he will join Barry Sanders
as the only two players in NFL history with five
career seasons with at least fifteen hundred rushing yards. He
currently has fourteen sixty nine, so needs just thirty one
to tie Barry Sanders as the only two to do something.

Speaker 3 (04:05):
All the names just mentioned that he's compared to, they're
either the.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
Ball time Hall of famers or someone like Adrian Peterson
who's going to be a Hall of Famer pretty soon.

Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, and say you one about OJ I think he's
like one of the most underrated running backs ever. Yeah,
in terms of the pat you know who's on the
field if.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
You stay in between, if you stay in between the
white lines. Yeah, he was. He was unbelievable.

Speaker 3 (04:24):
And for a while there before last week, Henry getting
to fifteen hundred ish was kind of quiet, you know,
like he wasn't winning your fantasy league rights or you know,
but he's inevitable.

Speaker 2 (04:36):
Consistency. Consistency. Yeah, So, Matt, what's it look like for
the Steelers? How do you go about slowing down, limiting
whatever the term is, because you're not going to shut
this guy down. No, but what's the what's the onus,
what's the game plan? You know, if you're if you're
running the defensive meetings, what are some things that you're
highlighting that we have to do to this guy and

(04:58):
not let him run wildly he did last week at Lambeau.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
The book's easy, it's just making it happen is hard.
It's it's making him chop his feet, not get to
full speed at the line of scrimmage. Get I mean
penetration is hit backfield, yes, or make him change He's
not the best change direction back compared to Tomlinson and
OJ and all those guys too. But once he gets

(05:23):
like Greg co Sales calls his guys a track back,
you know, like when you get on the train tracks
watch him stop in the locomotive was no fun. But
he's not going to be real wiggily compared to great bashes.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Compared to Jamior Gibbs, Yeah yeah, I'm La Dati and Thomlinson,
who we were talking about.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
Being six three two forty five, he's got pretty good wiggle,
but I mean still that that's definitely how it needs
to be done. Now this brings me back to the
thing I was talking about with Lamar though too is
last year we saw two games against those two at
the height of their power, and one game they folks,
I mean on the on like the zone read stuff.
They focused on Henry okay, and Lamar at a big game, sure,

(06:01):
and then they focused on Lamar and Henry had a
big game. And there really is no answer if they're
running that zone read thing, because then all of a sudden,
Jackson's legs are much more important than they have been
the last couple of months totally. So that worries me
right away. Like if they're calling a lot of the
zone read stuff and he's keeping it and everyone's crashing
on Henry and there goes Lamar for twelve and then

(06:24):
starts out of bounds, like this could be that doubles
your problem. Yeah, it doubles your problem in the run game.
I would be shocked though, if the Steelers are as less,
if they were as non competitive as the Packers were,
You know that defense should be ashamed themselves for a

(06:46):
lot of that, and they turned down a lot that.
I don't think the Steelers will. I also think you'll
probably if we start talking tactics, I bet there's gonna
be a lot of snaps. Whereas a Flowers is the
only receiver on the field, there are one in the field.
Recard's playing more and more. They're gonna play with a
lot of tight ends, so I think you're yeah. And

(07:10):
actually Kohlar is playing a lot too because he's their
best blocker, so he's actually got more. I think he
had more snaps than likely or Andrews against the Packers.
And they also the lead and they're pounding you with
their big people. But Ricard, they're playing old school Recard
in the eye as like the lead fullback. Usually he's
a move piece. But I mean it's like no mystery

(07:30):
at all.

Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's not traditional thirteen personnel, but it's a similar type
of yeah.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
You know, I mean, we're gonna say some both sides
of the ball. I think that this is gonna be
I don't mention. I was on with Ross, he's a
former offensive lineman, and we were kind of giggling, like
it's his kind of game. It's like, there's gonna be
so many big people on the field, like I wish
Washington was out there, one more big. It's one big guy.
You're short on offense, but I expect there to be

(07:56):
huge people on the field, and I think the Steelers
are probably gonna play a fair amount of snaps with
only three defensive backs on the field, and that doesn't
happen very much in this league.

Speaker 2 (08:06):
No.

Speaker 3 (08:06):
I mean, now, Douggar is a pretty big bodied guy, sure,
but you might be taking Pierre or Samuel off the
field and Porters running around with Flowers and two safeties
because things they've done against the Ravens more than other
teams is they'll bring the extra linebacker in, whether it's
an outside guy you know, Herbig or Watt in this case,

(08:27):
or Harrison Harrison, I bet you see a fair amount
of extra front seven people that it's just going to
be a big.

Speaker 4 (08:36):
Personeah heavy box physicality, like Bill Hillgrove said in an
alley way right, fist fight in the parking lot type
of type of football game from these teams.

Speaker 3 (08:51):
One thing I'll touch on too. So there's a lot
of matchups here that scare you. Sure, Henry's a handful,
you know, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (09:00):
The title we talked about Zay Flowers yesterday.

Speaker 3 (09:03):
And really even on the other side of the ball,
which I know we'll get to know who's gonna beat
Man coverage, who's gonna make plays for you? But what
I keep coming back to, and I think about this
game more and more, is so much in Ravens Steelers
or playoff football or this time of year comes down
to who's better on the line of scrimmage. Totally, the
Steelers are better on both lines of scrimmage, and I

(09:25):
think it's pretty substantial right now.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
Like hard to argue on the defensive front from Baltimore's
standpoint without Metabuque, where they were already light in that
regard and then lost probably their most significant contributor.

Speaker 3 (09:36):
Because I think the old lines by far in the
best spot it's been all.

Speaker 2 (09:39):
Year the Steelers.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
I would love that Washington in this game.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
But Raven's offensive line isn't a disaster, but it's also
not what it's been in the past.

Speaker 3 (09:48):
Especially the guards. And Linderbaum is a really good player,
but if he's not gonna deal with Cam's bull rush,
I mean, he's an undersized movement leverage dude. And the
tackles are okay, But I mean, I really think if
both lines of scrimmage distinctly favor the Steelers more than
we've talked about all week, and that's encouraging. Yeah, yeah,

(10:11):
I mean again, I mean, you'd love to have the
best quarterback or Henry or blah blah blah, but I
might take being better on the line of scrimmage for
this game for this type of right, right, right. So
I was listening on podcasts on the way here, and
I just wanted to put this in perspective for people.
So Brandon Thorn, to me, is the best media O

(10:34):
line guru out there. You google him if you want.
I've talked to him a couple of times. He's really,
really good. There's not a lot of O line specialists
out there.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
Max Starks as a fan of his. Two Oh, I bet,
I bet, I'm gonna go ahead and take both of
your words for.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
It, Okay, and the other name who's not as much
in media, but you'll hear him here and there as
Duke Mannyweather, and.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
He does like the Center Summit, doesn't He is that
line masterminds mastermins.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
A new thing now that we're it's an O line convention.
All the coaches are there, he runs it. He trains
guys in the office.

Speaker 2 (11:06):
And for some reason I thought it was only centers,
but it's the entire line.

Speaker 3 (11:09):
It's the entire o line Masterminds I think is the
name of his company. But anyways, Brandon and Duke do
a podcast once a year and it came out this
morning and it's their all Pro team and they go
three deep at every position and they don't just pick
three tackles, they go three.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
Left tackles the position.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
Sure, yeah, they're real nerdy about it.

Speaker 2 (11:32):
It'd be like like Wolf would love listening to it.

Speaker 3 (11:34):
Oh they love it. I mean, I'm gonna mention the
MAXI no time I see him because if he hasn'tntill
love it too. And they go into depths and there's
some dudes and you wouldn't think about.

Speaker 2 (11:42):
It's like four hundred level football conversation PhD.

Speaker 3 (11:45):
The best line conversation you could listen to out there.
Like they took Peter Scarnsky from the Titans as their
number one left guard, you know, like you wouldn't think
that attention to or their number one center was Aaron Brewer,
who we talked about for Miami. Yes, been phenomenal, But
my point is there were no Ravens on the list,

(12:06):
but they went three deep at center. They went Brewer one,
they went Creed Humphrey two, and they went Frasier nice,
you know, and they felt very strong about it. They said,
these are definitely the three. I'm not number four is
a distant four.

Speaker 2 (12:19):
Can we get some of those guys in the NFC please,
so my guy Zach can start getting some recognition.

Speaker 3 (12:23):
Yeah yeah. But at right tackle, I thought this was
really interesting too. They all, they're the biggest Lane Johnson
fans on the planet.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Real quick, Sorry, do they do it just three or
do they do three for AFC? Three for NFL?

Speaker 3 (12:34):
Three? Period three?

Speaker 2 (12:35):
Period?

Speaker 3 (12:35):
Three period? So Lane Johnson missed a lot of times.
So they picked Penney Seol as their number one right tackle.
But they said, I can't leave Leane off. They said,
Lane's the best offensive lineman on the planet right now.
We's played like eight games, so we're gonna make them
team two. But out of respect, I.

Speaker 2 (12:52):
Mean, he's had an incredible career.

Speaker 3 (12:54):
FL Tawny was a three.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
Wow, I mean these are the these are these are conversations.
They're not tied to the Steelers, no, not at.

Speaker 3 (13:03):
All, you know, And that third right tackle spot wasn't easy.
There was guys like right from the Bear Darnel Wright. Yep,
that they like a lot too, and there's a lot
of good right tackles right now. But this is the
light these guys are in. And you know, Duke was
even like, this is Troy's rookie year, right, you know,
let's not forget that.

Speaker 2 (13:22):
It's always sophomore season, exactly right.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
They're both drafted the same year, but Troy did get
to really play, you know.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
And not to toot our own horns. But one of
the predictions that you made, we made part of me,
both of them at the beginning of the season, was
that by the end of the year, the rest of
the football world would be calling Zach Fraser and Troy
FALTONU stars. I still have that. I still have that
in my notes from August. Some of the other predictions
that we made that we'll revisit at some point in
the off season. But that's great to see. That's a

(13:49):
massive development.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
And that's why I wanted to give these guys resumes
because I trust them more than anybody. Yes, like they
picked Jonah Jackson from the Rams. No one's like, who's
Jones Jackson. He's one of the best guards.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
Only they're not just picking pretty names. And and you know,
given some fluff. Credit to him. It's like real any
of that kind of stuff, the real offensive line dorks
who know the positions and grind the tape.

Speaker 3 (14:12):
And but back to this game, I think the trenches
greatly favored the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (14:17):
Well that's great then, and let's use that to kind
of piggyback to the other side of the football where Matt.
I don't think like sometimes in these matchup segments there's
some unknown, some uncertainty. This to me is pretty straightforward.
I don't think you're going to have the receivers to
win very often against the Ravens talented secondary. That this

(14:37):
has to start with winning in the trenches and winning
at that second linebacker level for the Steelers run game.

Speaker 3 (14:43):
So I tweeted this. I saw it this morning that
the Ravens played their highest percentage of man coverage all
year in the first meeting. Interesting, and Metcalf had a
bunch of explosives and he made him pay for it.

Speaker 2 (14:56):
He did nobody else really very big explosive catches.

Speaker 3 (14:59):
Nobody else really did, right, but he really did. And
then the Browns doubled down. That's what they do. And
we should have been stronger on that last week there's
some hindsight here, but that was an awful matchup for
a Metcalf list passing game because you're playing right into
their hands, like who's the my man beaters here?

Speaker 2 (15:15):
You're playing into their strength without your biggest without without.

Speaker 3 (15:18):
Your biggest piece can make them pay for it. And thus,
what do you think is going to happen Sunday night?
You know, the Ravens are going to play a ton
of run it back, and they're gonna run it back,
and they're going to do what they did before. I
think it was like forty eight percent, which is a
really high percentage of man for this league. They may
be at sixty in this game. You know, like no
one's like a hundred percent, you know, I mean, it

(15:39):
doesn't work that way. But and I don't think all
of a sudden, the Steers created a bunch of new
Man beaters from the wide receiver position. So it's gonna
be tough Sletting. Now, I don't think they're as good
at playing man single high as Browns are. They're not.
I mean, they don't have ward, it's not as much
what they do. But the biggest thing is their pass rushes,

(15:59):
and it's good you know, like it's easier to play
man with Myles Garrett's rush, of course, you know what
I mean. So that's where they fall short, is their
pass rush won't be as good. Now nobody blitzes Rogers.
He's like the least blitz quarterback in the league. Raven's
manufacturer pressure through blitz. He may sting them a little bit.

(16:20):
I mean, if he can hold the ball a little
longer because their pass rush isn't good, could the Thielings
and mvs's have half a second longer to get open?
You know? But that's kind of stuff I'm looking at.
But in the end, I almost think, and we've said
this a lot of fridays, you know, who runs the
ball better might be? Might be what it all comes down.

Speaker 2 (16:40):
I was just gonna say, I was I was literally
about to say, like, stop me if you guys have
heard this before. But it sounds like the game plan
for the Steelers offense is run the ball, run the ball,
run the ball, run the ball. And that was a
little critical to our show the last couple of fridays.
But because they're good at it. Because they're good at.

Speaker 3 (16:56):
It, that's the thing. I don't know if they know
they're good at it, sometimes you know, with it. And
I was a little critical on Monday, Man, you're not
doing anything through the air. Just lean on Warre and
lean on game. Well, run the ball, run the ball,
run the ball. And some of their pass splits got
skewed against the Browns because the last driver to throw, throw, throw,
But I still thought they should have been run heavier

(17:18):
in neutral situations.

Speaker 2 (17:20):
Yes, it can always be easy to pick apart certain
individual statistics. But yeah, I don't want to come in
here on Monday and we're recapping this game and Jalen
Warren has twelve carries.

Speaker 3 (17:29):
Yeah, well, he touched the ball fourteen times this game, Like, oh.

Speaker 2 (17:33):
I want that to be lost. I want that number
in the twenties. Yeah, could be low twenties, but I
want it in the twenties.

Speaker 3 (17:38):
I mean, what's the number we want him in gainwell
or combined touches? Thirty maybe twenty eighth. Yeah, I mean
if you tell me it's twenty, I'm gonna be like, hey,
you lost.

Speaker 2 (17:49):
I would like Warren to have nineteen to twenty two carries.

Speaker 3 (17:54):
Yeah, a couple catches, A.

Speaker 2 (17:56):
Couple catches, So let's say twenty four for him.

Speaker 3 (17:59):
I'm thinking game wells and get six targets.

Speaker 2 (18:01):
Yes, I mean that would put you in thirty and
then maybe ten carries for him.

Speaker 3 (18:04):
Forty yeah, yeah, forty touches between the two sounds like
a ton and it actually it is, you know, right,
but it's the only run sixty plays. But still, I mean,
I don't need mvs getting ten targets.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
Exactly right, And that's right, that's just it to me.
It's in a situation like this, like I want to
I want to live or die with my best.

Speaker 3 (18:28):
Playmaker and dance with Rung.

Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah, exactly right, right, exactly right. I throw Pat Fryarmouth
into that mix and give me a heavy dose of
both running backs.

Speaker 3 (18:35):
Now, which Friar Moth brung us more. I think he's
been underutilized all year.

Speaker 2 (18:40):
Maybe maybe you wouldn't need to win this game if
that were the case. But different conversation for a different time.
I think that about covers it from a a matchup standpoint,
And yeah.

Speaker 3 (18:51):
Around the league segment is going to be I was
just gonna say, there's a lot of games that aren't working.

Speaker 2 (18:55):
I was literally about to say this might be the
most anti climactic around the league segment that we've had
coming at you on the other side, but we still
got it. We still got to have it a couple
still in a couple important games and discuss We'll do
that and then obviously before we get out of here,
final thoughts predictions on Steelers Ravens at the bottom of
the hour as we roll along here on the Drive,
West Ruler Matt Williamson, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers

(19:18):
Audio Network, your tunes.

Speaker 1 (19:25):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Down the home stretch here, not only of this edition
of the Drive, but also on the twenty twenty five
now twenty twenty six NFL regular season. I've always been like,
I don't know, is it's still twenty twenty five regular season?
I guess, but it's the twenty five twenty six regular season.
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (20:04):
It gets a little I don't like basketball and hockey
do that? Yeah, it's both.

Speaker 2 (20:09):
Which is always weird. It's like, is that team the
twenty five or like, whoever wins the NBA title this year?
Are they the twenty five or the twenty six champions?

Speaker 3 (20:16):
Now?

Speaker 2 (20:16):
I don't sure That's the one thing that I like
about the baseball schedule, is it all it's all contained
in one calendar year. But this is week eighteen. It's
the final week of the twenty five to twenty six
regular season here for the National Football League, and not
the greatest set of tie breakers and this happens to

(20:36):
that team and this and that. But there are obviously
still a few games that deserve highlighting. Matt two of them.
On Saturday. There are two important games on Saturday, and
it begins at four thirty with the only other winner
go home, sorry winner, move on, loser go home?

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Yeah, yeah, lose.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
You know, two dogs one bone type games in Tampa
Bay at Raymond James Stadium, where the Bucks are three
point favorites over the Panthers. Winner wins the NFC South
and hosts a playoff game next week. The loser hits
the off season by Monday morning, well by Sunday morning.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
Tampa loses. I think Bulls could lose his job too.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
I mean, if they were to go from what seven
one at one, six and one monument finishing seven and ten. Yeah,
and I know this is not fair to Bulls, but
I'm sure there's a lot of revisionist history of like
we let Liam Cohen go.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
That's I think it was working to get some more
than anything. But those two the two well he's playing
is one of them. But the last two offensive coordinators
were so good that they've turned into very successful coaches.
And then he hires a third offensive coordinator which hasn't
been close to it's good.

Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah, it's almost like a victim of his own success
in hiring his coordinators there. It's almost it reminds me
the Brian Flores thing with the Steelers, Like you get
the credit for bringing in Flores and having them, but
then everyone's like, why didn't you keep them?

Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right, he was moving up.

Speaker 3 (21:58):
Yeah, what were you gonna do?

Speaker 2 (21:59):
Just fire somebody so you can move him up. Like
it's it's not that simple.

Speaker 3 (22:03):
We know how there's grumpy fans and there's always fans
that aren't happy with coaches no matter what. But I
mean in Tampa, the big thing is you should have
fired Bulls and kept coing.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
Yeah, and I know that that's easy to say that
the Bucks have been to the playoffs for five straight years.
I know he was some of that was BA, but still,
like they know.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
They've been a coordinator during that time too.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
Yeah, that to me is total like history bs like.

Speaker 3 (22:30):
That never happens in the league where you fire the
head guy and a coordinator gets bumped up. Never keep
the stake.

Speaker 2 (22:34):
It stinks that you lost Flores, it stinks that you
lost Liam Cohen. That's life in the National Football.

Speaker 3 (22:39):
League, right, he did a good job hiring you know, right.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
The same people who are probably crushing bulls are probably
the same ones who were like, look at the coaching tree,
you know.

Speaker 3 (22:46):
Yeah, right right right that being said, I can't bet
on the box.

Speaker 2 (22:51):
The same I was just gonna say, I'm taking the
Panthers plus three. I think I would take him to
win straight up.

Speaker 3 (22:55):
I'm shocked they're getting that many points. And I don't
even think they're good. I'm not sure they're particularly good
at anything, but I just I'm done on the box.
I mean every week I'm like, oh, I think this
is the box will get back to what we think
they are. Mike Evans is back and maybe may Field
a little healthier, and you know, they just lose every week.
I'm done.

Speaker 2 (23:13):
They have lost eight of their last nine. I think
it is something like that and I'm with you too.
I cannot pick the Bucks to win. I certainly can't
lay three points with Tampa Bay with the way that
they've been playing.

Speaker 3 (23:23):
I mean, it's a coin flip game at best for me,
for them, let alone. Do you realize they're not in
if they win. I didn't know that until yesterday. Who
the box? This is not a lose relief, I didn't so.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
Oh something with Atlanta.

Speaker 3 (23:37):
Yes, so we have an over this, but it's deep, deep,
deep down the tie breakers. And since Atlanta played Monday
night and won, it's not they need Atlanta to lose
to the Saints and win if you're the Bucks, because
they will all be eight and nine. Yeah, and a
team under five hundred, well go to the playoffs. But

(24:00):
they lose tiebreakers directly to the Falcons. So this is
not Carolina wins and they're in. But if Tampa wins,
they get to wait around. Interesting many people were talking
about that. I didn't know that until yesterday.

Speaker 2 (24:11):
I didn't know that at all. Yeah, and then that
is weird to me than that they would make the
Falcons games. They put those games on opposite days, right, Like, yeah,
that's that, that's bizarre. But if the Panthers. If the
Panthers end up getting the job done, I think probably
most surprising division winner of the year would have would

(24:32):
have to.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
Be have to be. I mean, the Bears are kind
of up there too, considering the Lions, and I mean.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
It's a great one.

Speaker 3 (24:38):
Minnesota won a bunch of games last year. You know,
it's good division.

Speaker 2 (24:41):
Like I know, the NFC East is loaded, but I
don't think maybe Seattle, but I don't think that really
surprises to to that degree. The Bears is a great
shout by you too, just because of how good we
all the division is and the Packers.

Speaker 3 (24:52):
And the Lions, how good they were last year.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
Big one Saturday Night, not for you know, winter winter
stays loser, go home type scenario, but for the number
one seed in the first round by in the NFC.
The Seahawks travel to uh San Francisco, Santa Clara to
Levi Stadium, Niner Seahawks, eight o'clock Sunday, Saturday Night. Part
of me this has been a good rivalry in the

(25:17):
NFL now for for a while in the twenty first century,
these two teams have played some.

Speaker 3 (25:22):
Very important games. Rustin Kaepernick and Harbor.

Speaker 2 (25:25):
Richard Sherman's screaming about Michael Crabtree. When you try me
with the sorry bleat bleep bleep receiver like crab Tree,
that's what you're gonna get.

Speaker 3 (25:33):
Raven Steelers.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
For a while, this was this was maybe the game
of the year in the NFL for for a while.
Niners at home are one and a half point underdogs
Seattle laying one and a half points on the road
against San Francisco.

Speaker 3 (25:46):
So I don't know if you know this. I'm sure
a lot of our listeners don't. Another little cool tibbitt
about this. If the Niners win, they will play every
remaining game, including the super Bowl, at home.

Speaker 2 (25:57):
Didn't think about that? Yeah, absolutely right, that's.

Speaker 3 (25:59):
I mean, they're of the number one seed and they
would host the super Bowl, the Super Bowl, I mean,
so they're never leaving town. That'd be awesome.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
That's very nice for them.

Speaker 3 (26:08):
That's a really nice situation.

Speaker 2 (26:10):
This is that happened to the Rams when the Rams
won the Super Bowl like four or five years ago
against Since against Cincinnati, that was it. So far. They
were the first ever NFL team to win a Super
Bowl at home at home. But I don't know if
the first I don't know if they I don't know
if they were the one seed. No, I don't know
it had I'm pretty sure that it happened before where someone.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Had played in it.

Speaker 2 (26:29):
But they were the first to win it, I believe
at their home stadium. But I don't know if they
were the one seed or not.

Speaker 3 (26:35):
I don't know that either. I think it's a really
good game.

Speaker 2 (26:40):
Four times tap in TV they were the four seeds,
they were the four seed.

Speaker 3 (26:46):
I think this is gonna be a really good game.
San Francisco's defense is by far the weakest unit of
the four, but I think they're the best offense in
the league right now and are humming at a ridiculous level.
I'm not exactly sold on Donald as a big game
quarterback yet, I need to at least see it. He's
never played great in a big game, and as good

(27:09):
as Seattle is on all facets, their offenses come back
to earth a little a little bit, so is Donald.
I'm kind of shocked the Niners are a dog at home.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
Same and I know their defense has not been great.

Speaker 3 (27:21):
No, it's not.

Speaker 2 (27:22):
I think a lot of those things that you just had.
This is a big spot for Seattle like this to
me almost feels like it means more for Seattle than
San Franz.

Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah, I mean imagine them being the one seed, like
this is a highly successful.

Speaker 2 (27:32):
Year, big time, and that's a really tough place to
play and for the NFC to go through. For the Niners,
it's just like it's amazing that you're in this opportunity
with all the injuries and all the loss you've had
this season.

Speaker 3 (27:43):
Right Kittle's playing. I think Trent Williams. I know this
because I host with them, but there's a chance they're
gonna be on their third string left tackle, which is
not ideal. William's a total stud.

Speaker 2 (27:58):
Absolutely. I think I'll take the points with the Niners.
I know it's not much, it's only a point and
a half, but I think they've been so good at home.
They've been almost impossible to stop at home.

Speaker 3 (28:07):
Their offense is just at a ridiculous level.

Speaker 2 (28:09):
They score thirty some points. Again, It's yeah, they're gonna
be tough to beat. Matt Twice, it's happened two teams
have played a Super Bowl in their stadium in NFL history,
and it happened in back to back years twenty twenty
of course Tom Brady was the first to ever do it.
I should have remembered that the Bucks did it in
twenty twenty with Brady against the Chiefs, and then the
very next year the Rams did it at SOFI against

(28:31):
the Bengals. So it's happened twice and it was both
back to back years and the home team won both times.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
Okay, I guess it'll probably be more and more common
as more domes pop up across the country too.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Would I would definitely used.

Speaker 3 (28:42):
To be the Saints in Miami and you know Pasadena.

Speaker 2 (28:46):
Right there was only four or five host cities like
the Saints and Saints. And right onto the Sunday slate,
speaking of the Saints and the Falcons, what becomes a
big one there now in Atlanta one o'clock where the
Falcons are three and a half point favorites over the
upstart Saints and Tyler Schuck.

Speaker 3 (29:05):
No chrysal Lava. But I'm still taking the Saints to
stay within three and a half.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
They've been playing the playing good, not as well as anybody. Yeah, yeah,
I think that's what that number was. If that was
a one and a half number, I think i'd lay
them with Atlanta over three with New Orleans. I think
you're right. They're playing well and people.

Speaker 3 (29:22):
Around here don't realize that's a huge rivalry.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
It is a big rivalry. And the Falcons have been
so streaky, they've been so weak. Like what we've talked about,
there were those teams that has been such a week
the week, you know, proposition with those guys. They played
really well last week, they come back down to earth
a little bit this week, I think. So I'll take
the Saints plus three and a half. I'm with you
on that one. Cincinnati at home against the Browns where

(29:45):
some top ten pick seating is on the line here,
and of course Miles Garrett still looking to get that
single season sack record. Yes, it's a.

Speaker 3 (29:54):
Hard one to assume because as we saw with the Steelers,
you can really scheme around one guy like that. You know,
I bet he does.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
I think he does. It's tough. It's just tough to
see him getting shut out back to back weeks. Yeah,
he's just too good with that on the line. And
you know the Bengals are gonna let Burrow throw.

Speaker 3 (30:13):
Yeah, they're gonna throw.

Speaker 2 (30:15):
Cincinnati seven and a half point favorites at home there
in the Battle of Ohio.

Speaker 3 (30:19):
I'll take the Bengals. They're playing pretty well, I mean
quiet kind of situation in that no one's paying attention.
They're eliminated, but the defense hasn't been horrendous lately. They
got all their weaponry pretty much on offense. I think
they win that game.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
Seven and a half is tough, which it was under.

Speaker 3 (30:36):
Seven and a half. There's some huge spreads as you
can imagine this week, which really cut There's very few
things I would actually put action on.

Speaker 2 (30:42):
Yeah, I feel like the Browns always give the Bengals
hell and these matchups too.

Speaker 3 (30:47):
I'll take I'm gonna take the plus.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
I'm gonna take the plus seven and a half. With Cleveland,
I think the Bengals win, but I don't know. If
they win by eight points, I'll take the round.

Speaker 3 (30:53):
He's still playing strong.

Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yes, uh, you know I like to do this. That
is your cheapest get in price of the weekend. In
that game, twenty six bucks will get you a ticket
to pay Course Stadium For the Battle of Ohio, Minnesota
hosts the Packers. Another Sunday one o'clock doesn't really mean much.

Speaker 3 (31:08):
Clayton Tuone starting for the Packers, who yeah, Clayton tune
who they're locked into the seventh seed.

Speaker 2 (31:15):
They don't want to let us see Milik Willis one
last time, do they.

Speaker 3 (31:18):
I think the Ikes blow them out.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
They're nine and a half point favorites at home. Oh wow,
it's a big number. It's one of the bigger numbers
of the weekend.

Speaker 3 (31:25):
Flora's defense is flying around. Though. There are some of
these teams like Miami and since.

Speaker 2 (31:30):
I was just gonna say, the Vikings kind of strike
me as Cincinnati of like in an alternate universe. They're
getting ready for the playoffs and you don't want to
see those guys.

Speaker 4 (31:37):
Yeah, they're playing well, but they're playing well the wrong
you know, too little, too late.

Speaker 3 (31:43):
I don't know if they're beating anybody.

Speaker 2 (31:45):
If they're beating anybody by ten points.

Speaker 3 (31:47):
I mean, they're still a quarterback issues.

Speaker 2 (31:49):
I'll take the Packers plus ten the Vikings. The Vikings
win a low score. This is also like the lowest
over under of the week, with only thirty six and
a half for the over under. There said that.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
Game is like a five and a half or six.
When you said nine and a.

Speaker 2 (32:00):
Half, I was like, I'll take the Packers. Yeah, I
guess I'll take them to not lose by ten.

Speaker 3 (32:05):
I assume they're sitting everybody, though.

Speaker 2 (32:08):
I would think so. At MetLife, the Giants host the
Cowboys Dallas three and a half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (32:14):
I don't think the Cowboys. I mean they're still trotting
out Dak and Pickens and Lamb and those guys.

Speaker 2 (32:18):
Yeah, it doesn't mean much to either team, but I
know Dallas just a much more talented roster.

Speaker 3 (32:22):
No, yeah, yeah, yeah, And I think the Giants wouldn't
mind losing that too.

Speaker 2 (32:27):
Yeah yeah. Jacksonville against another team who might not mind losing,
the Tennessee Titans, this one in Florida. The Jags Matt
with a win would go thirteen and four and win
the division. Who saw that coming back back in August.
They're thirteen and a half point favorites at home.

Speaker 3 (32:43):
Every Friday, I do a locked on NFL show with
the Jags host. His name's Amp Wig, good dude, and
he said, they're playing everyone like crazy in this game.
You know, they're kind of looking to blow your doors
off both sides of the.

Speaker 2 (32:56):
Ball, and they're not going to get the first round
by so No.

Speaker 3 (32:58):
But they win the division with the division that's super important,
and they're looking to roll momentum. And yeah, yeah, I'm
still taking the Titans though, because the Houston game's going
on at the same time and I'm sure they'll be
scoreboard watching. But I just think Tennessee's feisty. I mean,
like Ward's playing pretty well.

Speaker 2 (33:18):
I've got the best left guard in football, goodly good
left guard.

Speaker 3 (33:22):
The end of the year hasn't been bad for them.

Speaker 2 (33:24):
No, it hasn't. You know, they're not rolling over and
dying and all that.

Speaker 3 (33:26):
They're not a junk team. You know, they're at least
trending the right direction.

Speaker 2 (33:30):
They're okay in the trenches.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (33:31):
Yeah, and they've got they've got a quarterback who is promising, promising.

Speaker 3 (33:35):
Yeah, They've run the ball pretty well. Yeah. I mean
it's a huge spread.

Speaker 2 (33:39):
Right, it's thirteen and a half.

Speaker 3 (33:41):
Yeah, just take the point.

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Take the Titans. Yeah, to have to cover two touchdowns,
I think that's smart. And it might even be one
of those where the Jags are up twenty one points
in the third quarter, but then Tennessee scores ten.

Speaker 3 (33:51):
And they pull Lawrence out because they have it won exactly.
That's probably the way I think it happens.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
The scoreboard watching in Houston, or maybe the score watching
in Jacksonville as it relates to Houston. The Texans host
the Colts at one o'clock. Matt If a couple months ago,
we would have said that this game would would be
for a playoff spot. One of these teams would be
eliminated and one would still have an outside shot of
winning the division. I think would be like, oh, the Colts, you.

Speaker 3 (34:15):
Know, they took a little bit of a step back,
but they're still going to make the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
No, it's the Texans, who are eleven and two in
their last thirteen games, their ten point favorites at home
over the floundering Riley Leonards starting quarterback Indianapolis Colts.

Speaker 3 (34:31):
I'm still taking the points.

Speaker 2 (34:32):
I mean, Houston's another one, Like, I don't know if
they'd score enough on offense to win a game by
yeah thirteen.

Speaker 3 (34:38):
Their defense might keep them to ten points or whatever,
but I don't know that they're going to put up
thirty themselves.

Speaker 2 (34:43):
Here's my only thing for this one is are the Colts.
Have the Colts done the Cancun on three thing? The
way that this season's played out, and it's so disappointing
of an end, and it's like we're on the road.
Who cares? Just get me out of here.

Speaker 3 (34:54):
Jonathan Taylor. Yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
I might lay the points with Houston. Now I'm thinking
this out loud. I get it because of all the
teams with nothing to play for in Week eighteen, the
Colts might be the most disappointed amongst that group.

Speaker 3 (35:06):
Like soft Gardner's not gonna play obviously, and guys like that.
I mean, like we were rightly, let's see what you
can do.

Speaker 2 (35:11):
We were just seven and two and now we're eight
and eight.

Speaker 3 (35:14):
That's right. I mean, I wouldn't touch any of these games,
but I'm just kind of looking at it like division matchup,
trying to kind of be spoiler. If you're give me
ten points plus, you know, I'll take it.

Speaker 2 (35:25):
I don't like any of these.

Speaker 3 (35:26):
I really know.

Speaker 2 (35:27):
Buffalo just seven and a half point favorites at home
against the Jets. Does that mean Josh Allen ain't playing.

Speaker 3 (35:32):
I think it's Trubisky and I still think they win.

Speaker 2 (35:35):
I still think they win.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
I'll probably lay those I'll take the bills.

Speaker 2 (35:39):
Yeah, yeah, seven and a half isn't a it's more
than a touchdown. But the Jets are bad.

Speaker 3 (35:43):
I say, Jets and Raiders. I'm not picking.

Speaker 2 (35:45):
That's the last, you know, the last Orchard Park game. Yeah,
place will be rocking and there'll be a lot of
emotion in the building.

Speaker 3 (35:50):
Like I would assume they sit down James Cook, but
they're probably playing like they're all their receivers and the
whole offensive line at least to start. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I think the Bills are just terrible.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
That's the biggest thing for me is the Jets are another.
They've got their they've got their vacation plans made, and
they're just they're just trying to see this thing.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
Let's say what you want about Mitch, but he's an
NFL quarterback.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
Yes, yeah, oh absolutely. Bears hosting the Lions, Matt This
is one that a few weeks ago, maybe a month
or two ago, looked like it could have massive implications. Instead,
the Bears three point favorites at home against the eight
and eight Lions.

Speaker 3 (36:27):
The Bears and Eagles are weird because I think the
Eagles are seating.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
There's some seating stuff still.

Speaker 3 (36:32):
They're gonna be two and three, but it depends if
they But that's as far as they can go. It'll
be two and three or three and two. And I
know the Eagles are playing Tanner McKee. Yes, I assume
the Bears are playing everyone. But I just think Campbell
will play hard. That's They're not a roll over and
die CanCon team at all. I'm gonna take the I'll

(36:54):
take the points. I just don't know what the Bears
are gonna trot it out there.

Speaker 2 (36:58):
It's a good point because i've.

Speaker 3 (37:00):
Seen any reports on that, because that's one of those
young I don't know that I'd be resting everybody.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
But it could also be they played till halftime and yeah, yeah,
that's a thing. I think I'm going to take the points.
With the Lions, there's a lot of unknown With the Bears.

Speaker 3 (37:13):
I would think Campbell wants to finish the season strong.

Speaker 2 (37:16):
Mile High Stadium Broncos Chargers seating implications in this one.
Denver wins and they are the one seat in the
AFC and they get to buy and the conference runs
through Mile High Chargers, we know, shutting down Herbert Denver
twelve and a half point favorites at home. It's a
big number. Now, that's a big number.

Speaker 3 (37:34):
I guess I'll take Denver. I don't like it at all.

Speaker 2 (37:38):
What's crazy is it's only a thirty seven and a
half over and under some.

Speaker 3 (37:41):
Yeah, they're expecting the Chargers not to put any points up, yes,
which I mean it's a side note. But if I
ever brought up the JT. O. Sullivan football school or
quarterback school, I don't think So. He's got a YouTube
page and he breaks down the all twenty two and
I was watching just last night. I was watching Herbert
last week against the Texans. And to say they don't

(38:04):
block anybody, I mean, just watch it on TV. It's
like they don't block.

Speaker 2 (38:07):
Anything like me and you out there blocking for justin Herbert.

Speaker 3 (38:09):
They blow assignments left in right too, like these guys
have never played with each other, you know, and against
that Denver front, I'm gonna have a hard time with that.
Her Herbert bails them out over and over.

Speaker 2 (38:19):
That's a lot. That's a lot of points to lay.
But I think the Broncos will be engaged because they
know if they get the job done, they get a
week off. Oh yeah, like they're you know, hanker and
arrest people. When when you get.

Speaker 3 (38:29):
The job, they're gonna want to win. Yes, I mean
they may pool guys in the last series or something.

Speaker 2 (38:34):
Sure, but right, which is the only thing that gives
me pause is and the Chargers back door cover at
the end. But I'm with you, I'll lay. I think
the safer bet is to lay the twelve and a
half with den It's a big number one Raiders host
the Chiefs. I don't think either team wants to win
this game. Mat Kansas City is five and a half
point favorite.

Speaker 3 (38:48):
I just kind of made a statement that I'm not
taking the Jets of Raiders in any game the end
of season, so I'll stick with that. But I mean,
it's is this gonna be Kenny versus.

Speaker 2 (38:58):
I believe so, same draft, last same draft platform, a
couple of former Stellars out there slinging it in Sin City.

Speaker 3 (39:05):
Kenny's better than him?

Speaker 2 (39:07):
Has therese Has there ever been a game in NFL
history where both fan bases have wanted their team to
lose as much as they will at four to twenty
five on Sundays, could win though they absolutely could.

Speaker 3 (39:17):
I mean that would and then it'd be terrible.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
That'd be terrible, right if you beat this bump Chief
team meetingless game and it costs you, Fernando Mendoza.

Speaker 3 (39:25):
And by the way, the Chiefs end up like the
fifth pick in the draft and you gotta play against
them twice a year or two.

Speaker 2 (39:29):
Did you see Mendoza's I.

Speaker 3 (39:31):
Wonder if Kansas City would like the Raiders to win,
probably like I don't. I don't want you to get
the first I don't want you.

Speaker 2 (39:36):
Did you see Mendoza's postgame interview after the Rose Bowl? Yes,
weapons grade level, dork. I tell you, man, weapons grade
level about that?

Speaker 3 (39:45):
In draft season. I'm just not sure, dude, I'm not
sure I can get there. I did not see the interview,
but I might have to look it up. Matt On's
like like.

Speaker 2 (39:55):
Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Montana, the coolest guy in the room,
walking in.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
Like Johnny and night As, smoking a cigarette, a Ken
stabler with a gallon of whiskey, with his olignement.

Speaker 2 (40:06):
Hey, listen, Kayleb Williams painting his nails and all that
goofy stuff. I think we're getting there. I think we're
getting there. The Rams host the Cardinals eight and a
half point favorites at SOFI.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
They said they're playing everyone, but I bet it's only
for like a series.

Speaker 2 (40:19):
That's what I'm thinking too. The Cardinals are one and
thirteen in their last fourteen games.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
Why would you keep Stafford out there.

Speaker 2 (40:25):
I don't like the eight and a half number because
I think it'll be low scoring now, But I'm leaning
on the side of the Rams because I think the
Cardinals are one of those.

Speaker 3 (40:34):
They don't get to the finish line.

Speaker 2 (40:36):
Can couon on three.

Speaker 3 (40:37):
I'm gonna take the Cardinals just because I think mcveigh's
history of resting people, especially in the preseason. It's true
he values much stronger than he does this statement that
we're gonna play everybody. Yeah, you're gonna play everybody, but
they're gonna play one series.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
Patriots still will be keeping an eye on the Broncos
to see if they have a chance to get that
one seed there at home against the Dolphins four twenty five,
eleven and a half favorites are New England.

Speaker 3 (41:01):
Miami's playing pretty well again. Yeah, I mean we talked
about this when the Steelers played them. Their wins aren't
against powerhouses.

Speaker 2 (41:07):
But there's seven and nine.

Speaker 3 (41:08):
There's seven and nine. Actually, yours has played pretty well.

Speaker 2 (41:11):
Aliast been terrible.

Speaker 3 (41:13):
I thought he was gonna be bad.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
Say, I thought he was going to be a disaster. Yea, hey,
maybe he'll be one of these guys that can be
a good long term backup in this league.

Speaker 3 (41:20):
Yeah, Miami said, coach knows how to manufacture offense.

Speaker 2 (41:23):
He can scheme it up.

Speaker 3 (41:24):
I'm definitely taking the points. I actually kind of like
this one. And my thought is Drake may maybe looking
the whole fourth quarter with a baseball cap on because
of Denver's winning.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
Big and they're like, get him out of him, out
of here.

Speaker 3 (41:37):
You got we don't have a buy next week. Yes,
and Miami's gonna play hard.

Speaker 2 (41:41):
Last one Matt Eagles Commanders. This is another one that
I'm sure the schedule makers thought would be a week eighteen,
but instead he goals only four and a half point
favorites because I they're going to rest some people and
shut some people down.

Speaker 3 (41:52):
Well, McKee's definitely starting, Yeah, and I think he's pretty good.
Actually he is. He's one of these, like Willis backup
Mac Jones guys that I think could be.

Speaker 2 (42:00):
I think I told you this, but you know, I'm
pretty in tap with the Philly market, Yeah, because I
worked there for three years. My wife's from there in laws,
some people prefer to hurt. I've still got a lot
of I've still got a lot of Philly friends in
the media that cover that team that I worked with
for three years. When I was living there. Last year,
they were all like, why' is Kenny pick at our
number two? It should be Tanner McKee. Yeah, And there's
as you mentioned, there's even some crazies in Philly that

(42:21):
think he is better than Jalen Hurts. But they're really
high on that guy.

Speaker 3 (42:24):
I know. I mean again, story for another day, But
if we have the conversation in a month, should the
Steelers straight a third round pick for McKee, I'd be like,
let's have this conversation. Yeah, I mean, like, I think
he's that kind of guy. And I think Washington's on
their third quarterback. I don't think Mariota is playing I might.
I forget who even that is. I'll take the Eagles.

(42:48):
They have a little bit to play.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
For, a little bit to play for. It's not a
defensive it's not a massive spread. It's only four, and
it's not seven and a half or eight and a half.
Their defense is awesome. They're at home.

Speaker 3 (42:57):
I would think Barkley gets shut down.

Speaker 2 (42:59):
I think so, yeah, but I think the Eagles are
going to play with some pride and want to win that.
And yeah, you'll go into the postseason.

Speaker 3 (43:05):
Yeah, absolutely, at the same time as the Bears they do.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
Yes, same time, Yes, same ting time. Yep. So that's
your slate, except for, of course, the final game of
the weekend, which is late pretty lucky, but not this
one Raven Steelers in primetime on Sunday Night. We'll give
final thoughts and predictions when we return on the other side.
As we close down this show on a Friday, West Huler,

(43:30):
Matt Williams and it's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (43:41):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (43:54):
Down the home stretch. Here we are Steelers Ravens Sunday
Night football. Winner moves on, loser goes home. We've got
two things that we have to discuss. One's breaking news,
one's a wild statistic. The good news the breaking news.
TJ Watt, according to Adam Schefter, is set to return
to action Sunday night, which is awesome, a much needed

(44:16):
boost and.

Speaker 3 (44:18):
Even emotional boost. I mean everything, not to mention she's
a great player.

Speaker 2 (44:21):
That stuff. Matt, Like, these guys aren't human as much
as people think they're just robots and professional athletes and
bulletproof millionaires. You are backed into a corner, do or die?

Speaker 3 (44:31):
Yeah, I think, and your harmon is a rookie playing
this game, and I got TJ back to my.

Speaker 2 (44:35):
And here the guy who has been your best player
for the last five years. Yeah, you know, through the
tunnel at the time when you need him most.

Speaker 3 (44:42):
That's why we need someone on defense to make a
big play to seal this game. I'm glad nineties play.

Speaker 2 (44:46):
That's the one that I would put my poker chip on.

Speaker 3 (44:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (44:49):
And then Matt, you unearthed the potential insane New York
Jets stat when we went to break here. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (44:56):
So this side note, I mean, Matt's stats apparently is
growing in popularity, and.

Speaker 2 (45:01):
We talk about it a lot brands.

Speaker 3 (45:04):
And frankly, a lot of people from the city steal
it to whether you know they cite me or not,
I don't care. You know, great, everyone knows where it's
coming from, and I don't care. But this dude, Lou
who follows me sent me a Matt's status or mats
or you know, an adjusted turnover differential chart with the
missfield goals and a lot of the fourth down stuff

(45:25):
and Lou if you're listening, send me one next week
because I want to hold this for, you know, after
the season is complete. But anyways, I looked and the
Jets are dead last, and it dawned on me. I'm like,
we have not brought this up. They don't have an
interception all year? They have zero? Can you double check
it for me? Just so I'm not talking on the
other my mouth, but I'm almost one thousand percent sure,

(45:49):
and it would be the first time in NFL history
that a defense had zero interceptions zero zero TVs.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
Like as in like the o that Oregon fans hold.

Speaker 3 (45:58):
Yeah, they have not picked off an opposing passer all year.

Speaker 2 (46:02):
Just to really not to really paint the picture, the
next lowest teams, Cowboys, Titans, Niners each have six.

Speaker 3 (46:08):
Okay, yeah, wow, so there's nobody.

Speaker 2 (46:10):
In the league with less than five and zero's they don't.

Speaker 3 (46:14):
Get one this week, they will be the only team
in NFL history that's wild. And it's seventeen game seasons.
I mean, the teams and there's twelve game season, while
people turnovers left them right back then. But still you
get my point.

Speaker 2 (46:27):
According to my hastily done AI starch here on Google,
if the Jets don't record an interception this week, they
will be the first team in NFL history.

Speaker 3 (46:34):
How bad that is? I mean, like the deflection upre right.

Speaker 2 (46:38):
This isn't the sixties where they were throwing the ball
twelve times a game.

Speaker 3 (46:41):
I know, and actually I would have been another crazy
one that I retweated from them to Matt.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
Two months ago, ESPN wrote an article Jets baffled by
historic streak of no interceptions. That was two months ago,
wow and a half ago.

Speaker 3 (46:57):
So this doesn't bode great for the Steelers, but remembers
the long time we go folks. The Jets have had
the lead this year for sixty six snaps.

Speaker 2 (47:08):
That's wild, that's wild game composite one game.

Speaker 3 (47:11):
And unfortunately twenty four of those sixty six were steel
every one. So in week one they had the lead
for twenty four snaps. Since they've had the lead for
forty two snaps, you know how bad that is.

Speaker 2 (47:24):
We might have to at the end of the year
do the Drive awards and really decide who's the worst
team To say, though, was it the Jets of the Raiders.

Speaker 3 (47:32):
We were really hard on the Raiders, and the Jets
got a little bit of a pass or some of
these power ranking weeks.

Speaker 2 (47:38):
Maybe just because we expected more from the Races after.

Speaker 3 (47:40):
The trades too, and with Cook being the quarterback it
was better at least when Fields and big Hower Taylor.

Speaker 2 (47:48):
Big shot out the lou for putting that together.

Speaker 3 (47:50):
Yeah, nice Lou, But we went invent zero interceptions.

Speaker 2 (47:53):
That's crazy, man, Like you'd think you just luck into
one or two Raven Steelers. Ain't gonna be no luck
to say in this one, Matt. A good old fashioned
armageddon between good old fashioned hatred rivals. Here Baltimore now
three and a half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (48:11):
I picked the Ravens to win twenty to seventeen. Okay,
And a lot of it is recency biased, sure, most
of it's based off of who's gonna make plays versus
man coverage for the Steelers. And I hope that a
weak trial run like a PURSUITO was talking about, you know,

(48:32):
like the coaching staff tried this once. I'll know what happened,
what works well, what doesn't can benefit you, and I hope,
as you mentioned Gamewell, Warren and particularly friar Mouth of
the guys touching the football and getting targeted. But we
haven't seen that evidence, you know. I mean, it's a
leap of faith. And frankly, the thing that worries me

(48:52):
most is yours gonna kick off the ravens Lamar takes
the first snap and we go, oh, that's Lamar again,
and then I'm scared. But I'll also be truthful. I
picked it because when I pick against the Steelers that win,
now that might double reverse jinx it.

Speaker 2 (49:13):
I don't know, Well, this is make people happy.

Speaker 3 (49:16):
Then I think it's gonna be a very very close game,
and I think that the lines of scrimmage really great
favor of the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (49:22):
The people will be happy. Only three times this year
of you and I both picked the Steelers to lose,
and all three times the Steelers have won.

Speaker 3 (49:30):
Colts Colts, Lions, Lions.

Speaker 2 (49:36):
What was the other one Packer? Nope, because they lost
that game. Could have been the Bills Colts Lions, I'm
john a blank. Early in the season, was or something
like that, maybe the Bengals Thursday night or No, we
both picked them to win that one. I'm not sure.

(49:56):
Baltimore the first Baltimore game. I think it was the first.
It was the first baltim Yeah, yep, Colts Lions first
Baltimore game, Matt, from my lips to your Heart, Baltimore thirteen,
Steelers nine.

Speaker 3 (50:11):
Love it. I definitely think it's gonna be a low scoring,
grinded out down to the wire Boz kick or something
like that. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (50:20):
I you have me feeling much better with your highlights
of the trenches and the Steelers being better on which
I don't think his Homer Steelers Audio Network black and
gold glasses.

Speaker 3 (50:28):
I think it's distinct.

Speaker 2 (50:29):
I think it's I think that makes me that as much.

Speaker 3 (50:33):
Railed the Raven season as much as Lamar's injuries. They're
not very good on any.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
Of the last when you're when you're not very good
in the trenches and your MVP quarterbacks kind of playing
at a human level.

Speaker 3 (50:42):
They had some innate issues before he got there. Yeah,
the first month and then that just exacerbates Yeah. Yeah,
and he couldn't elevate them like you usually.

Speaker 2 (50:50):
Well, regardless of how it plays out, Steelers win, uh, Matt,
and I will be back here on Monday to break
it down for you win loser draw, which, by the way,
if there is a tie, Deelers win the division.

Speaker 3 (51:01):
So oh yeah, I'm sure.

Speaker 2 (51:02):
They'll talk about that on the broadcast. But if it
does go into overtime, the Steelers have two possible outcomes
to uh to go to the postseason where Baltimore needs
a win straight up and nothing else will do the trick.
Thanks to Missy Matthews for joining us today, Thanks to
TV for producing the video side of things. In a
big shout out.

Speaker 3 (51:20):
To the season.

Speaker 2 (51:23):
The regular season, big shout out back that we will
and and for the foreseeable future, we ain't going anywhere.

Speaker 3 (51:30):
So you know, to ruined Derrick Henry's birthday, that's right, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (51:33):
That's exactly right too. Let's make it a let's make
it a one of those where he's, you know where,
Dereck Henry's in his sixties and he's talking to his
grandkids and he's like, yeah, my thirty second birthday really sucked.
Went to Akerschure Stadium, had our season end against the Steelers,
and I had to watch all those terrible towels being
waved in my face. Let's fine. Three times let's get
it done and let's host a playoff game next week.

(51:55):
Baby Matt. This is my eighth or ninth eighth season
with the Steelers. Now, one thing that they haven't done
in my time is host a playoff game again. I'm
not counting pleven year against the Browns with sixty eight
thousand terrible towels screaming and yelling. We'll be back Monday
to break it all down. As always, you know where
to find us for Matt Williamson. I'm West Huler, and

(52:15):
that's on your twenty four to seven Home with the
Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio