Hr2: 5 Star Friday, Around the NFL

The Drive gets into key matchups between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. They also go around the league to preview all of Sunday's action.

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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 Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Good evening, Steeler Nation. How we doing well? That's good
us too much better than our counterparts across the commonwealth
in Philadelphia. Who baby our number two here of the
Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on a Friday, and that
means it is time to continue with a little five
Star Friday. We're humbled and excited to be in these

(01:03):
five star matchups.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Five star metchup. Somebody leaving here with the loss not
gonna be a.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
That's Mike Tomlin and Joe Hayden on that one. This
is the second one, yeah, and Joe Hayden. So the
first five Star Friday cut is the Shay Townsend and
Troy Polamalo. Second one, Mike Tomlin and Joe Hayden. I
thought that was fitting since Joe Hayden kind of synonymous.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
The Gift from the Browns, Gift.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
From the Browns and synonymous with both of these organizations.
Matt Let's spin the block and talk now Brown's offense,
Steelers defense. Steelers defense coming off of a for the
first eighty eighty five percent of the game, a very
strong performance yes, against the Vikings. They have done well

(01:47):
in the turnover department. They are getting much better in
the sack department. They're creating chaos, explosive play. Differential still
not great, but I gotta think that how worried are
you about that this week? With the Browns offense? Let's
start there, because it feels like three yards and a
cloud of dust type off.

Speaker 3 (02:04):
Well, I don't know if the Steeler to rewind. I
don't expect a lot of explosives from the Steeler offense
to help the differential, but I also be shocked if
they create a lot themselves either. The Browns.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, now I was gonna say, get away from you.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean, especially as Steelers have been as aggressive as
any team in the league with blitz and bringing people
line of scrimmage and trusting their corners and you know,
trying to create chaos to a really stronger degree than
I can remember. I mean, since Lebo era, and even
Lebo didn't bring six like these guys, you'd be able
the illusion of six. You know who's coming, who's not.

(02:37):
But these guys are bringing a lot of pressure. And
if you do that on rundowns, and you know you
missed a tackle all of a sudden y yeah, yeah, yeah,
and that wouldn't be great obviously. The two low hanging
fruits to me on this side of the ball for
Steeler Keys, though, are rattle the rook totally. And you

(02:58):
can't get cashed in in the ground game, you know,
like the run defense looked better, but I'm not going
to bet everything I own that they've got it fixed.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know they're gonna hold junkins the seventy yards, right.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
It's that's it's Steed or it's you know, Hampton and
Aaron Smith and Keyesol and you know, like.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
No one's comes Pozzi in the A gap game.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
I'm not blowing. I'm not sold on that yet. You
know that, oh it's fixed. I mean they could get
gashed in this game. And Judkins is really good, certainly. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
And he's been getting stronger and stronger every week, which
isn't surprising. I mean, the guy played no snaps I
don't think in training camp or preseason if signed, it
wasn't even signed. Yeah, yeah, so that makes it all
the more impressive how quickly he's gotten up the speed.
I think.

Speaker 3 (03:40):
That is he's real good with yards after contact. Too.
That's one of the best in the league.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
You know, so often at this level, at the NFL level,
I think we can get guilty of well, if you
just slow down this guy on offense, you'll be all right.

Speaker 3 (03:55):
It's works. It's just everybody could play.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Everybody has millionaires and dudes and college Hall of famer
you know, guys that are going to be in their
collegiate Hall of Fame and their high school Hall of
Fame and all that different stuff. But this might be
as close to that as the Steelers see this season.
I mean, they've got talented tight ends. Jerry Judy is good.
I don't think he's great, but he's a good NFL
wide receiver. But man, if you can really limit Judkins,

(04:21):
you can really make Dylan Gabriel have to make plays
with his arm. I think you would be in a
very favorable position to have a good outcome on something.

Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah, I think this version of the Browns has to
play a certain way, you know. I mean, I'm sure
there'll be a lot of play action. Other than Rogers.
He's getting the ball out of his hands as quick
as any quarterback in the league on purpose, and that's
what he's good he's a processor, he's a quick you know,
even as a rookie, as you kind of alluded to,
very tight end centric passing game in England, and I

(04:55):
expect it to be the same. Najoku's their most reliable guy.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
He did a lot of that when he was at
Auburn and organ as well too.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, yeah, or sorry, I'm Bonix at Oregon and Oklahoma.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
Okay, Yeah, they have an infatuation with Fannin that I
don't quite understand. But I mean he's a unique chess piece.
I mean that they manufacture a lot of touches for him,
easy throws. He is willing to throw in the middle
of the field. But I also think the Steelers will
bat down one point five. It should be the line

(05:29):
and passes bat a down at the line of scrimmage.
I mean, he is short, and the Steelers the best
in the league at it, and if he's thrown over
the middle of field, I mean he's going to have
some issues there. He's just not very impressive physically. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
I mean he's smaller five eleven.

Speaker 3 (05:45):
Yeah, on a good day, he's five eleven, and his
arm is very average. He's a good athlete. He's not
a special athlete. He's not Kyler, you know. Yes, he's
a little guy.

Speaker 2 (05:55):
I forgot. He spent time at UCF as well. So
two years at UCF. Uh sorry, three old yeah, three
years at UCF, two years at Oklahoma, and then his
last year at Oregon.

Speaker 3 (06:06):
At Oregon replacing Knicks.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
Replacing Knicks. Yes, who he was the one who came
from Auburn to Oregon, right, Why I was getting that.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
But he's probably twenty five.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
He's twenty four. He will be twenty five around the
time that Santa Claus is sliding down the chimney in December.

Speaker 3 (06:20):
He turns to and everyone talks about his maturity and
great kid and smart and all those things. Good. I mean,
I think he comes.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
I think he comes with a decent floor to his game.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, Like I think he'll be a backup for many years.
You know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
You put him on the Vikings offense right now, they
would win a lot of games maybe, all right? Yeah? Yeah,
yeah to me, I think like he has certainly a
skill set there, but if you can make him have
to do a little bit more.

Speaker 3 (06:45):
Yeah, that's the thing.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
I think that that's.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
And I bet they heat him up and I'm sure
he'll get hit a lot. Now I can make you
pay when he's getting hit or the ones he doesn't.
You know, I have some issue, you know, I don't
love his receivers either.

Speaker 2 (06:59):
No, so, like we said, Judy is okay, but after
that it's.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
And I actually I mean Judy's okay. I think he's
in over one more over eighted receivers in the league,
to be honest with you, and they ask him to
be like a on the line of scrimmage X metcalf
pickens guy, and he really should probably be a Z.
You know, he should probably be a complimentary pace.

Speaker 2 (07:18):
You know, I didn't realize this. Little Wes's stats for you,
m hm. Gabriel Is has the career NCAA FBS record
Division one record for most career points responsible for.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh wow.

Speaker 2 (07:34):
That's also as the most career touchdowns responsible for. And
it's tied with case Keenum for most nc double A
Division one career touchdown passes.

Speaker 3 (07:44):
Wow. But how many years does it say how many
years he started at all those stops. He's been quite
a few.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
It was a five played for six years and started
basically every year except for his freshman year at UCF.

Speaker 3 (07:54):
He's a five year college starter, but.

Speaker 2 (07:56):
He started the last couple games his freshman year at UCF,
so like a five and a half year college starter.
Mike Tomlin said in his press conference he threw for
something like sixteen thousand yards during his collegiate career. I mean,
just up right, he's a guy who's got a lot
of experience under center in the NFL, but at high

(08:16):
level I mean, UCF, Oklahoma, Oregon, you know, high level programs,
but you got you gotta make him bite off a
little more than he can chew on Sunday.

Speaker 3 (08:27):
Yeah, yeah, that doesn't mean he's ready for Akischer in
Hinesfield and Watt and yeah, etcetera, et cetera. I've never
said this on the air, and not because it's like
a big secret, but especially back in the when I
was a scout many many years ago, and I think
it pretty much holds up now too.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Though.

Speaker 3 (08:44):
When you wrote your scouting report, Dylan Gabriel, Oregon, blah blah,
the first sentence is three and a half year starter,
two year starter, you know, yes, seven game starter, yes, period,
you know, And it's.

Speaker 2 (08:56):
A lot, that's the thing with And we'll get more
into this as we continue to deeper into our round campus.
But like I love Dante More.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
Yeah, yeah, he's started.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
He started nine games in his college career, and that
could be seventeen or eighteen when he comes out in
the draft. That's not many.

Speaker 3 (09:13):
And the guys that are succeeding the knises and guys
that have played a lot. It goes back to the parcels.

Speaker 2 (09:18):
Ty Ty Simpson from Alabama, who you know that I'm like, what,
he started five games in his career, Like you know.

Speaker 3 (09:25):
That's Trubisky Haskins. Those are some of the guys that didn't.

Speaker 2 (09:28):
Correct correct, whereas Sellers has a little bit more, Fernando
Mendoza has a little bit more, Matier has more. Okay,
So that's just something that will continue to kind of
keep eye on.

Speaker 3 (09:39):
Six year guy. Nicks was a six year guy, you know,
right Ward was in several spots before being the first
world pick last year.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
Exactly right, exactly right. So I'm not saying that I
don't like Dante More or anything like that, but it's
it's a notable part of the evaluation process. Okay, a
couple more angles for the Steelers defense versus Browns offense
that I want to discuss with you. Let's talk about
the Steelers defensive front. First. Yeah, I think they had
one of their better performances against the Vikings. Granted a

(10:06):
Vikings offensive line that went into that game missing a
key guard and then very early lost O'Neill their right
tackle and Kelly. Yeah, and Kelly as well too. That's right.
This Brown's offensive line is not beat up like that.
They are really struggling at the left tackle position. However,
huge way who who's in line to potentially feast on

(10:27):
that Steelers defensive front.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
Well, for the last five ish years, the Browns of
ed one of the best set of guards in the league.
No question about center position has never been bad, but
the guards have been the foundation.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Said this line that twenty twenty year where they beat
the Steelers in the wild card game, the COVID year,
I mean, they had a very good offensive line to
mit Chubb like that was their recipe for success, right.

Speaker 3 (10:48):
And that's why I killed them for not drafting the
line this year, because you understood the value of it
just recently. It's still a good group of guards Atonio
and Teller, but they're on whole number fourteen of an
eighteen and they're not what they use.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
They can see the clubhouse off in the distance.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
And Cam's had success against them in the past two
and there's a familiarity there. But I would think you're
going to try to run up the middle a lot.
Judkins is a good interior runner and that's the strength
of your ow line. And with a short quarterback, your
interior protection is going to be stressed more than ever.
I mean, it's be harder for him to step up
in the pocket. You don't want him to step up,

(11:26):
you know, as a shorter guy. Yes, Like, for example,
I loved when Drew Brees was with the Saints. They
dedicated more resources to guard center guard by far than
any team in the league because Drew Brees is short,
you know. I mean if some paint was sitting there,
because Drew Brees is short, you know, right, I have
to invest in these guys more because he can't have

(11:48):
yellow paint yellow right exactly. I can get guys that
run past them on the edge, that's fine, you know,
but if he can't step up, we got problems. Yes,
So the Steeler pass rush plan I think will reflect
that to some degree, and you're gonna have to win
those interior battles, and I like their chances, especially with
how Benton's playing a little better. Harmon's in the mix.
Now it's not just Cam, you know, yeah, but they

(12:09):
definitely have massive advantages versus tackles. You mentioned left tackles bad.
I would imagine you go with Cam Robbinson full time
at this point. He's been there long enough. He played
like nine or ten snaps against the Vikes. The other
dude has some kind of injury designation. He's bad. But
what worries me is if you have to help him

(12:30):
so much. And I should have said this even earlier
in the week, this is like the only team in
the league that plays multiple tight ends more than the Steelers. Yes,
so there's there's tons.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
Of tight ends. Go with kind of their tight ends
against the Steelers linebackers. But you could start to transition
there now if you want to.

Speaker 3 (12:45):
But they're not blockers. There's no Washington, yes, you know
what I mean. They play tight ends a lot the past,
John Smith's yeah, John hu Friarmith types. There's no Well,
we'll just put Washington on this side. Now. There's other
ways to help, but you got to keep running back
I don't love him in protection. I don't love fan
and or Nijoku in protection. What's your who's your extra guy,

(13:06):
who's your six man blocking? I'm not sure that there's
a great answer for that. They will roll a defensive
tackle out whose name I forget, as like a lead
blocking fullback. But that's like a short yardage thing. He's
not picking anyone.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
Up in passing Refrigerry right, that type of thing.

Speaker 3 (13:21):
So these guys are going to have to play well.
And what do you do? I mean, you don't have
the guys real equipped to double them and her big
or high Smith has a huge advantage over the left
handle mass massive, massive mass.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
This could be another big her big game.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
Huge Herry game. And if the result is we're getting
whipped too bad on this side, that we have to
leave what one on one with Conklin, who's had a
good career. But that's not even a fair fight either,
you know that's a problem.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah, and that's I think one of the areas that
you should be looking forward to, should be excited about
from a black and gold perspective on Sunday. Yeah, yeah,
this should be one one of those lobsided sack differential games.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
I would think in a big way, in a big
although the Browns gona have a lot of sacks too. Yeah,
then when you talk about differential, but I expect the
Steelers to have five.

Speaker 2 (14:09):
Ish and I think Aaron Rodgers will be better at
getting that ball out keeping things moving than a rookie U.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
And I mentioned too, the Steelers are blitzing at a
really high rate, especially the last two weeks the time, right, yep.
And I was harsh on them early in the year
that man, I thought we're gonna see a lot more variety.
Last year they were very static, defense execution based. Well,
we're seeing it now for sure. And one of the
things they're doing too is helping Watt is they'll take

(14:36):
Peyton Wilson put him on his outside shoulder on the
line of scrimmage. I've posted some stuff about Watt's chip
percentage and all that. Well, he's a little easier to
chip because he often wins to the outside shoulder of
the tackle. So we're gonna chip him there, you know
where Garrett doesn't get chipped as much because if he
moves more, well that too. But if you're gonna chip

(14:58):
him with a back or a tight end then you're
forcing him to cross the face of the tackle and
she and you don't want that to happen your quarterbacks
like that. Let's not do that, right, He gets doubled
more by two OH linemen than TJ. TJ gets more
chips because their style play, you know, like so, but
if I got Wilson here coming, well, then Watt doesn't

(15:21):
get chipped as much. You know, they're doing more of
that makes sense?

Speaker 2 (15:24):
Yeah, before we go to break here and wrap up
our five star Friday, how do you think, uh Queen
and Wilson matchup against Nijoku and the Browns other rookie
tight end. Is that a good matchup for the Steelers
or is this going to be Shawn Elliott's going to
have to play a role in this as well too.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
Yeah, I mean it's always a group effort against tight ends,
and they do a really good job of scheming those
guys up, you know, tunnel screens and things like that,
and they both were productive after the catch. I definitely
think Najoku is the clearly better player, and he's coming
off a nice game, Like I would be pretty comfortable
with Najoku and Fantasy this week. You know what, I
mean like he could catch a lot of balls. Actually,

(16:03):
looked at his over under catches. It's too low by
the way, folks, go take a look at that one.
But in the end, if the Joe, if the tight
ends combined for ten catches for ninety nine yards in touchdown,
does that break your heart? It's not like justin Jefferson
ripping your heart and Addison with an eighty one yarder,
you know what I mean. Yes, it's still a long,

(16:25):
hard process, right, But I think they'll be successful, especially
in Nijoku.

Speaker 2 (16:29):
They'll they'll make some pay yeah, yeah, yeah, Just just
don't let them go off. Yeah yeah, they can make
a couple of plays, but just don't let them, you know,
start to take anything over or really create mismatches there.
I think that makes a lot of sense. There is
your five star Friday match up reviews for the Steelers
and the Browns, both sides of the ball. There we're

(16:50):
gonna get to break when we come back, Matt, it's
time to run the gauntlet. It's time to run the
gambit of games across the NFL. We'll give you know,
our typical thirty to sixty second thoughts on each of
the other games. Around the league before of course picking
and predicting Steelers and Brown So plenty more to get
to in our last two segments. Well Shouler, Matt Williamson,

(17:11):
it is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network, your.

Speaker 1 (17:25):
Tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven home
of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
Down the home stretch here on the Drive, penultimate segment
on a Friday, that means it's time to go around
the NFL. Take a look at some of these games
that are happening on a jam packed Sunday slate here
as we are getting to the halfway point in October
and things are starting to get a little bit more clear,
but still plenty of questions to be asked. Matt, let's

(18:13):
run through the gambit of these games and give some
thoughts and some predictions on each of them. We've got
another London game this Sunday, some more early Sunday morning football.
I love it, Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium, the Jets zero to five,
looking for that first win, the designated home team against
the Broncos. Playing much better after a little bit of

(18:34):
a rocky start for Denver to the season, Denver six
and a half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (18:39):
Last sear I was seven and a half, and I
feel way better about six.

Speaker 1 (18:42):
And a half.

Speaker 2 (18:42):
Same. Yeah, even seven and a half, I think I'd
probably still lay the points with the Broncos. But at
six and a half, I will definitely.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
We picked it at seven and a half earlier today,
and I did take the Broncos. Just it's hard to
get behind the Jets right now. And I think a
rookie head coach, especially compared to Sean Payton, Tomlina overseas,
I mean, we were just there. It's a different environment.
It's not your These guys are such creatures a habit.
First time head coach dealing with that over there and

(19:09):
that defense, I don't like it. And I'm not picking
on Justin Fields. I think I've mentioned this on here before.
Every game he's started in his career, if the opponent,
which he has nothing to do, scores twenty points or more,
he's over He's won twenty six. Twenty six is at
that many?

Speaker 2 (19:25):
Wow, big thing.

Speaker 3 (19:26):
I know it was over twenty, but wow.

Speaker 2 (19:28):
Yeah, that's It's not a great indicator. No, it's not,
it's not.

Speaker 3 (19:32):
And the Jets d is allowing twenty regular.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
Yes they are, Yes they are. And the Broncos again,
it's starting. Bo Nicks is playing better there. It's it's
starting to come back there for the real I do too. Yeah,
and they might, they might flex those muscles over there
across the pond in London and beat up on the Jets.
But I will definitely lay the six and a half.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
And good lines travel and they have good lines.

Speaker 2 (19:54):
Yeah. The Colts, the upstart Colts at home against these
struggling Cardinals. I was looking like Kyler Murray is in
mine to play though, if you're kind of reading some
of the injury reports from today, this one a little
surprising to me. Indianapolis only a six and a half
point favorite.

Speaker 3 (20:11):
It's still one of my favorites of the week, though,
is it? The Colts? And I know how this league
goes is right when you trust the team that levels up,
you get slapped down a little bit totally. I just
don't have any faith in Arizona right now. I'm getting
a lot of bad mojo out of that offense. I
think Kyler kind of is what he is. The coaching
staff might hit a wall.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
And running back, I don't have a running back.

Speaker 3 (20:31):
They handed the game to the Titans last week in
several ways, and I'm just in on the Colts kind
of like the Denver I like. I think they're both
for real.

Speaker 2 (20:40):
I think the Colts are for real. I think the
Cardinals are slipping and coming back to earth, or maybe
even lower than that after that two and oh start.
I would like this a lot more if it was
five and a half or four and a half, certainly,
but I think I'm still with you. I'm gonna lay
the points with anil capless and take them to win
by at least a touchdown at home, where they've been
very good as well too. The Colts at Lucas Oil

(21:02):
Stadium there in fabulous downtown Indianapolis, one of our favorite
cities to go to. We spend a little bit of
time there. I'm actually so they they're here. I guess
the first week in November. The Coults are here. I
I owe some of their broadcast guys a good time
Saturday night, and we might have to. I might have
to rope you into that. We might have to. We

(21:24):
might have to go out and do some some some
bally hooing with the Colts guys. As they've been. They've
been such generous hostess to us in Indianapolis plenty of times.
And they're a good they got a good crew, a
good group of broadcasters there that we you know, we
get to holler at at the combine every sing yep.
Dolphins at home, struggling, hanging on for dear life.

Speaker 3 (21:46):
There's some really long road trips this week. This is
one of them.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
This is one of them, Chargers against the Dolphins. The Chargers,
remember they just did one of these long road trips
two weeks ago when they played the Giants on a
one o'clock game and it did not go great. I'm
gonna give them a little more benefit of the doubt
this time that they'll be more prepared for it in
such quick succession. Chargers three and a half points on
the road down in Miami.

Speaker 3 (22:09):
I'm not fond of either team at the moment, So
if you're gonna give me home more than a touchdown,
Miami still moves the ball. They got problems, don't get
me wrong, They got a lot of problems. They got
a quarterback or a coach on the hot seat, but
even with Tyreek out, they move the football. You know,
at home, whether it's not gonna be a problem. If anything,
it works in their favor because maybe it's hot over
a touch, over a field goal. I'm taking points, yeah,

(22:32):
I'll be honest. So the first two weeks of the season,
my picks weren't very good, and last couple of weeks
they've gotten a lot better because Went and Dwald have
been taking the points.

Speaker 2 (22:41):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (22:42):
I mean it's just kind of a which is not
a bad track, no, I mean the league is a
lot of parody, and I look at that game like
Miami might win.

Speaker 2 (22:50):
I know the Chargers are beat up. Yeah, I think
that they're due for a good performance. Though I think
I might lay the points with l on this one.

Speaker 3 (22:58):
Miami can implode any they can't.

Speaker 2 (23:00):
But they're also kind of I mean, you're right, like
they're due for a better performance. But I just the
the body language and the press conferences out of Miami
just seem I mean, Mike McDaniel his weekly Normally I
can't stand putting too much stock into these things, but
he looked like a defeated guy at his weekly press conference.
I mean he was like stumbling and mumbling through his answers,

(23:21):
and you know, wasn't you know, talking about how he's
had meetings with the ownership, and uh, I don't.

Speaker 3 (23:27):
We're in the beginning of the end or the midway
through the end.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
You know, I would like this a lot more if
it was one and a half as opposed to three
and a half. But I think I'm just gonna air
on the side of Harbaugh and the Chargers on this one.
Saints at home against the Patriots, who are feeling really
good about themselves. That one a one o'clock game there
at the Superdome in New Orleans, New England, three and
a half point road favorite.

Speaker 3 (23:51):
You said it, and I'm gonna say it's about the
Jags too. Feeling really good about yourself isn't always good?

Speaker 2 (23:56):
No, it's not.

Speaker 3 (23:57):
Yeah, like, oh, we just beat the Bills. We're here
to stay. Hey, Saints or nothing. Now we got to
go all those guys. That place is gonna be loud.
They're a well coach team. I think they win, But
I'm just saying they better not be smelling themselves too much,
thinking they'll think, you know, like, they still got a
lot of work to do as an organization to learn
how to win this league. Same with Jacksonville got another

(24:18):
tight game this week. We beat the Bills, you know,
we beat these great the Chiefs. Doesn't mean you're out
of the woods. I'll take the points.

Speaker 2 (24:26):
I'm gonna take the points as well. I am totally.
This is one where it's like, I think it'll be
a close game regardless. Soon give me the three and
a half. The Saints are doing a good job of
hanging within everyone despite the one and four record. Like,
I don't think they are a dumpster fire, at least
not yet. Tough place to play as we all know,
they're the Superdome Patriots. Maybe feeling a little too good

(24:48):
about themselves after that big win in Buffalo. Yeah, yeah,
give me the Saints plus three and a half. Even
if they lose, I think they'll still find a way
to cover.

Speaker 3 (24:55):
Yeah, I don't think they'll get blown out.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
Panthers two and three at home against the Cowboys, the
two two to one Cowboys. We know that the Cowboys
can score a lot of points and give up a
lot of points. The Panthers have been weird to evaluate
so funny, Yeah, they strong performances, They've had a couple
of terrible performances. Bryce Young is tough to get a
beat on Dallas. We got we got another road favorite,

(25:19):
another home dog, Dallas a three and a half point
favorite in Charlotte.

Speaker 3 (25:24):
I don't feel strong about it because I could definitely
see this being one of the weeks where boy Panthers
had a nice offensive game, because kind of everyone does
against Dallas. I'm gonna take the Cowboys, though, I think
underrated coach of the Year candidate, well not not coach
of the year but successful new coaching higher in Dallas.
I mean, it's Parsons right before, your.

Speaker 2 (25:46):
Best player on defense and your best player on.

Speaker 3 (25:48):
Offense Boom, you know, right, yeah, and line injuries, and
they're still cracking it out, so I think they'll score enough.

Speaker 2 (25:56):
I think they will too. That's one of the higher,
if not the highest Chiefs lines, the highest.

Speaker 3 (26:03):
That are like forty nine or higher run and this
is one of them.

Speaker 2 (26:07):
So I definitely think there'll be some points scored in
this one. I like the Cowboys to win and cover,
though there in Charlotte, where let's be honest, it's gonna
be eighty percent Cowboys fans.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
That's it's not the hardest place.

Speaker 2 (26:18):
I think I've told you this before, but I've got
a good buddy from college, Luke. I actually got to
when the Steelers. Every time we go to Charlotte, him
and I get together the night before the game. So
when we when we were there, when we were there
for the preseason game, him and I, it was a
Wednesday night. I think we went to a brewery there
and Charlotte. Him and I lived together our freshman year
and senior year at WV. One of my best friends
from college. He's from d C. So him and his

(26:41):
wife their Commanders fans, but they've lived in Charlotte now
for like six or seven years. They have Panthers season
tickets because it's just it's fun, fun kids. They take
their kids to the games.

Speaker 3 (26:52):
But he was telling me, even like late season games
aren't cold.

Speaker 2 (26:55):
Exactly right, but he was telling me, he's like, the
best part is is he's like, one year, every time
Steelers come here, the Bills come here, the Eagles come here,
he's like, we sell our tickets and it like pays
for most of this. And he said to me, he
was like, I'm definitely doing that. When the Cowboys come
to town in October, he's like, he's like, it's gonna
be eighty ninety percent Cowboys.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
Fans good money too.

Speaker 2 (27:18):
You know those those Carolina Cowboys fans who only get
to see their team every once in a while.

Speaker 3 (27:22):
You're not even a Panthers fan, right, I get to
go for free the rest of the game.

Speaker 2 (27:26):
I think there's gonna be a large a lot of
people there with that blue star on their on their
jersey and on their T shirt and the stands. Certainly
another team that is feeling good about themselves is certainly
the Jacksonville Jaguars. This to me, Matt, one of the
games of the week, Like, if I could, if I
could only watch one other game across the NFL besides
the Steelers, Okay, it would be Chiefs Lions, but this

(27:48):
might be number two. You've got the Seahawks going to Jacksonville,
another far trip. A Seahawks team that is, I think
we both agree, one of the better teams in the NFL. Legit.
But they are three and two and certainly aren't gonna
want to fall to three and three and you know,
be behind the Rams and be behind the Niners. Jags

(28:08):
team four and one, three and zero at home off
that big win on Monday night against the Chiefs, Seattle
a slight favorite one and a half points there in Florida.

Speaker 3 (28:17):
Yeah, and I like the Hawks, and that kind of
just spilled the beans before that. I think the Jags
and Patriots are in a similar situation. You win a
big primetime game against a monster organization. I think Seattle,
like if we were power ranking them, Seattle would be
a tier ahead of Jacksonville. Both are out kicking their
coverage this year. But I sometimes there's just you know,

(28:40):
I like my analytics, and this has nothing to do
with the analytics or logic. It's just the Jags don't
look like a five to one team to me. Yeah,
like that, this doesn't smell right.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
I agree with you on that. I think they are
moving in the right direction. Yeah, I think they are
better than we all thought they'd be. But yeah, I
don't see a five and one team there in Jacksonville.
And hey, if they did, I think I'll start believe
sure be a big win. I'm gonna lay the one
and a half with Seattle for them to win a
three or four points they win one there in Jacksonville.
The Seahawks do.

Speaker 3 (29:09):
Defense is good, Matt.

Speaker 2 (29:11):
A game that a lot of Steelers fans will be
keeping an eye on. It is the one in four
and almost cooked Baltimore Ravens at home against the Rams.

Speaker 3 (29:20):
I know, smart practice, He's not gonna.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
Play similar thing last week. I think Houston was a
five and a half or a six and a half
point favorite going into Baltimore. We never see that the
Rams are. This is a West Coast team coming to
the East Coast for a one o'clock game. Again, it's
like a thirty percent win percentage in the twenty first century.

Speaker 3 (29:39):
Alone in Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (29:41):
Seven and a half point favorites. The Rams are. When
was the last time that the Ravens were more than
a touchdown dog at home? That's crazy to see. But
I think this is an easy I'll lay the seven
and a half with the Rams. I think they the
Ravens are gonna get blown out again.

Speaker 3 (29:55):
I just say the same thing. I still think it's
an easy pick.

Speaker 2 (29:58):
Easy.

Speaker 3 (29:58):
I mean the Rams are really good, really well coached.
I can see Ravens Nation being unhappy. And I told
you you go back and watch that game last week
against Houston.

Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, and it turned. It looks like a it looks
like a spring training game. I mean there's no one.
They all left. I mean they were there at the start,
but they all left. I think it could get ugly
there at M and T Banks Stadium in Baltimore. There
could be a lot of boo birds. That one could
be over at halftime.

Speaker 3 (30:28):
I don't know who they go there by after this Baltimore,
and I don't know who that next game is out
of the bye. I want to say it's Bears. It
doesn't even matter. That's kind of my point is it doesn't.

Speaker 2 (30:37):
Matter it is the Bear.

Speaker 3 (30:38):
I'm going to pick the Ravens in that game, but
I'm gonna picking them to get blown out in this one.

Speaker 2 (30:42):
Yeah, they are in a bad spot and it's not
getting any easier with a Rams team that has ticked
off if they let one get away against the Niners,
and a Rams team that hasn't played since Thursday so
has a little bit of extra time to rest up
and prepare for this one as well too.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
I might say it, I'm gonna save it for next segment,
but my phone just had a little something light up.
That's good news for the Steelers. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,
and we'll talk about next segment. We make it fixed.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
I like that, Yeah, I like that A couple more
here to get to before we will get to that
news and the Steelers Browns predictions talk about struggling. The
Raiders are struggling.

Speaker 3 (31:19):
These might be the worst two teams. It might be
the worst time playing each other because I want to
bet against both of them no matter what the line is.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
But if there is going to be a get right
game for the Raiders, this is it. They've got the
Titans coming to town three and a half point favorites.
I figured they'd be favored in but three and a half.
I think I'm still gonna lay the points with the
Raiders because I do think that they're just They have
to play better than they have and if it's gonna happen,
it has to be this week. But I don't love it.

(31:46):
I don't love laying three and a half with Vegas.

Speaker 3 (31:49):
I've had success when two teams I don't want to
bet on play each other. Take the point, just take
the points over a touch. I just don't know. The
Raiders should be three and have favorites over anyone, So
that's enough for me.

Speaker 2 (32:00):
It should be probably more like one and a half.

Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, yeah, they're just not good. I mean these are
the Jets might be better on both these teams. I mean,
if the Cardinals don't give them that win, they're still
lasting every hour, right, Yeah, they didn't play great.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
Totally, totally.

Speaker 3 (32:13):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (32:14):
The biggest spread of the week, in one of the
bigger spreads you'll see this season, is at lambeau Field.
The Packers coming off a bye week as well. They're
hosting the Bengals. Fourteen and a half point favorites are
Green Bay. That's a I didn't know it's over fourteen
fourteen and a half, that's a big number.

Speaker 3 (32:32):
I'll take the Bengals and a backdoor late cover. You see,
Chase might not play.

Speaker 2 (32:38):
We talked about Chase might not play. He's ill.

Speaker 3 (32:40):
I wouldn't touch it, but I know, and I can I.

Speaker 2 (32:44):
Can see Arthur moch shaking his head at maybe. But
the Packers blew out the lines at home. The Packers
blew out the Commanders at home. Much better teams than
the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
Blackos are get sacked a lot.

Speaker 2 (32:54):
The Packers I think are rightfully so. They went into
their bye week ticked off about their prior to performances.
Something bad loss to Cleveland, bad, tie to Dallas. I
think the Packers are ready to remind everybody that they're
one of the best teams in the NFC. I'm gonna
lay the fourteen and a half of Green Bay. I
hate doing that. I think that's the biggest number I've
ever laid before.

Speaker 3 (33:16):
Very reluctantly going to take the points. I think the
Bengals are a terrible team. So maybe it jumps starts
on enough that.

Speaker 2 (33:23):
Flacco throws a touchdown at the end and they live
by thirteen instead of twenty.

Speaker 3 (33:26):
That's what I think's gonna happen. Like I know, if
I put Bucks on the the Packers, that's what's gonna
exactly right.

Speaker 2 (33:31):
It be a bad beat for Green Bay.

Speaker 3 (33:33):
Twenty seven to three, and then before you know, and
it's like twenty seven to seventeen and no one's even
watching anymore.

Speaker 2 (33:39):
Like I lost Bucks, the four and one Buck. This
is another man. There's some good games weekend. The four
and one Bucks hosts the four and one Niners, another
far a lot of West Coast teams making far trips
to the East coast. Tampa Bay three and a half
point favorites at home.

Speaker 3 (33:55):
They just announced no Evans, no Godwin. That's a lot
of firepower. Now Buka is good and.

Speaker 2 (34:01):
Is irving back or is he still.

Speaker 3 (34:03):
I don't know. I don't know. It's a good question.
It's a big number, but a little bit of a
too gayzy.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
I think so too.

Speaker 3 (34:11):
And this is a top road trip. I'm a believer
in the Bucks. I don't love the number.

Speaker 2 (34:15):
Wish it was two and a half instead of three
and a half, but.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
I think they win. I'm gonna take the box.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
I'm with you a little reluctantly, but I'm gonna I'm
gonna air on the side of Baker in that and
that bugs team as it sounds like, by the way,
they're still really bad. Gutsy performance last Thursday against the
Rams to get it done.

Speaker 3 (34:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:35):
I don't know if they're.

Speaker 3 (34:36):
Gonna be Jones the average, that's for sure. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (34:39):
I don't know if they're going to do that back
to back weeks though in Tampa. Yeah, I'm with you.
I'll lay the points the three and a half with
the Bucks. Finally, Sunday night, football, Man, this is a
big one for Kansas City at home against the Lions.
Lions four straight impressive victories after that disappointing opener at
lambeau Field. The Chiefs of continent need to be back

(35:00):
and forth. They lost a close one on Monday night, Matt.
If they lose this, they'd fall to two and four,
and all of a sudden, they'd be in some real trouble.

Speaker 3 (35:08):
It's kind of like that Jacksonville logic of they're just
not a two and four team.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
They're not. They're not Kansas City two and a half
point favorites at home. I do think that that's a
perfect spread.

Speaker 3 (35:19):
Okay, I think it's a little high because I do
think the Lions are the better team. I agree, and
they beat teams bad and they have fewer weaknesses. If
it was even if it was a pick them, I
think i'd take the Chiefs. I expect them to squeak
one out. But they also left the bad taste of
my mouth losing jacksone. I thought they were gonna win
that game. Same, I'll take the points. If you're give

(35:40):
me the better team and points, I think I'll take them.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
I said to you. I think it was a couple
of weeks ago when the Chiefs were underdogs at home
against the Eagles. They're like, I'm gonna take the chief
I'm gonna take mahomes. Andy Reid and points every single time. Yeah, Yeah,
they're a two and a half point favorite.

Speaker 3 (35:59):
Different story.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
I think I'm gonna take this Lions team in points
every single time.

Speaker 3 (36:03):
Yeah, They're too good to be getting points.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
I could flip. I could flip a coin and convince
myself either way on this one.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
Me too. This is just sit back and enjoy.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
I'm gonna take I'm gonna take the Lions plus two
and a half though, I just like getting a point.
Kansas City could win like twenty eight to twenty seven
and it wouldn't surprise me. I'm gonna take the points
with the Lions. Get a team that's won four in
a row and I'm getting points with them. Yeah, I'll
take that.

Speaker 3 (36:28):
I'll take that anyway.

Speaker 2 (36:29):
They sure are again. They that season opener at Lambeau
was not good for them, but they have been very
good and impressive since then. Extremely Matt there. It is
our kind of Sunday slate of picks. We will get
to the Steelers in Browns some pertinent news there as
well too. We will get to all of that when
we return on the other side and shut this thing
down with some Steelers and Browns thoughts and predictions, West Shuuler,

(36:51):
Matt Williams, and it's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio
on the Steelers Audio Network, your tunes.

Speaker 1 (37:01):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal.

Speaker 2 (37:05):
Steelers Nation Radio, Final segment of the Friday, final segment
of the week. It is time to get into our
Steelers picks and predictions. But Matt, before we do that,
some pretty good, some pretty encouraging news on the Steelers
injury front.

Speaker 3 (37:25):
Yeah, I teased it earlier, just my phone just happened
if something came across that. Jalen Ramsey full participant.

Speaker 2 (37:31):
Jalen Ramsey full practice participant today and is officially listed
as questionable, doubtful, right, better than we expected now. Calvin
Austin has been ruled out already, no practice for him
this week. I think that's what we expected.

Speaker 3 (37:47):
Yes, I thought both would be today.

Speaker 2 (37:48):
But good encouraging news for Jalen Ramsey and no designation
for Jalen Warren or for Joey Porter or.

Speaker 3 (37:56):
For Alex Heiser Heismith. I didn't look at it as well.

Speaker 2 (37:58):
Now, that doesn't mean he won't be on some type
of a snap count pitch count potentially, but he's playing,
Joey Porter Junior, playing Jalen Warren playing No Calvin Austin.

Speaker 3 (38:08):
Austin Jillian when we know is out really.

Speaker 2 (38:10):
Correct and Ramsey is questionable. Other than that, everyone else's
game status is clear, which is awesome to see for
the Browns. Mostly good news for them as well too.
You know, we talked about how Miles Garrett had been
dealing with that ankle all week. He was a full
participant today, only one for Cleveland with an injury status
and he's ruled as out. Is Mike Hall Junior. The
defensive tackle.

Speaker 3 (38:31):
Okay, rotational guy, talented player, but they they're okay.

Speaker 2 (38:35):
Like as you mentioned, they got five or six guys
and that defensive front. So for them, that's I think
one that they can stomach. Certainly. So both teams I
think in pretty good shape heading into this one. Matt
the Steelers at home for just the second time this season,
a six and a half point favorite in a game

(38:56):
that only has an over under of thirty eight points,
by far the lowest over under, the only one this
week that is under forty one and a half points.
Steelers able to win by a touchdown or more at home.

Speaker 3 (39:11):
Six and a half's a lot for that love and
over under. I mean it's it's hard to cover, yes,
you know with that big of a spread. I mean
the implied total.

Speaker 2 (39:19):
Would be like twenty three to seventeen or something like that.

Speaker 3 (39:25):
Yeah, what's the over runner again?

Speaker 2 (39:26):
Right? That mass always no, sorry, that'll be way more.
I'm off what's the over under? The over under is
thirty eight and a half.

Speaker 3 (39:32):
Thirty eight and a half. If the Steelers win by seven,
we should be able to figure this out. We should
twenty one to fourteen fourteen. Yeah, yeah, that kinably gets us.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
It gets us a thirty five twenty to seventeen. No,
but then it's got to be a six and at
you got to be closer to.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
We should just rewind this whole TV strike.

Speaker 2 (39:56):
This from the record, Matt, I'm going twenty three to
sixteen Steelers is my prediction. Okay, So just a slight
cover for the Browns at six and a half, which
would be in a twenty three thirty nine. It would
be a seven point win.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
For the a total accident.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
Just gone with that. At the first place, it was
a total accident three to sixteen.

Speaker 3 (40:18):
Weird, you're thinking just like Vegas I'm thinking just like Vegas, baby,
I've Steelers think learn to think is those around you
there you learn what's the exact what's learn to.

Speaker 2 (40:27):
Think like those around you think that that's the Godfather one.

Speaker 3 (40:30):
I'm going seventeen thirteen Steelers kind of spreads a little
big for the Browns defense. But I hate for Brown's
perspective that they're coming off the game that they were
with a rookie quarterback on the road and all you know,
Tom went after a bye and you know, first game
a long time at act, you sure your nation's gonna
be lubed up, and Steeler pass rush. There's a lot

(40:51):
of things to like. And frankly, it wouldn't blow me
away if we come in here Monday and be like,
Steelers won twenty three ten and it really was never
close in the second half. Yeah, you know, like they
just controlled things. I could absolutely see that, and they
beat the number. But I think it's a little high
for their defense, you know, considering how good the Browns
defense is.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
So you're going seventeen thirteen, seventeen thirteen, I go twenty
three sixteen Stullers that the real kicker of all this
is what kind of a shape are they in after
a trip out of the country just on Sunday and
then going back.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
Mentally and physically and just emotionally.

Speaker 2 (41:27):
You know, you and I am Att. Now we drank
our fair share Aguinness and did our fair share of
bopping around, right, but we didn't play sixty minutes of
football in Dublin and it still was probably Wednesday or
Thursday before we felt back to normal.

Speaker 3 (41:42):
Yeah, and then they're going the road against tough tea.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
And so if it's Wednesday or Thursday where those guys
are feeling normal and then they got to get on
a bus Saturday and go right back on the road.

Speaker 3 (41:52):
Like we're trading for making two trades throughout the week.
And as always there's stuff up in the air with
the Browns. You know, there's no stability.

Speaker 2 (42:00):
It's like one am Monday when you get home. Yeah,
your Monday shot. Oh, you spend just Tuesday and Wednesday
trying to get back your rhythm back Thursday, okay, maybe
you get one day of normal practice where you feel
like yourself Friday before Friday walk through Saturday, you're getting
on a bus.

Speaker 3 (42:16):
Like that's that's tough.

Speaker 2 (42:18):
That's real tough. That's real tough, and I think that
will play out over the course of sixty minutes.

Speaker 3 (42:23):
Fourth quarter might belong to the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (42:25):
Very much so, very much so, And I think you're right.
I think listen, it rarely plays out. These AFC North
games are so infrequently blowouts on either end. It doesn't
matter who's playing who, who's good, who's bad. But it
wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers were in the driver's
seat and the fourth quarter and able to win a
little comfortably. But I'm always in these matchups gonna lean

(42:48):
towards the It'll be a little bit closer for comfort.
But like you said, I think it could be one
of those even if the Steelers only win by a touchdown,
where the result result was never really in doubt.

Speaker 3 (42:58):
Yeah, but I do think I'm not sold that the
Steeler offense has everything figured out and the old lines,
you know, ready to start rolling people. I'm not there yet,
neither am I.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
But hopefully when we come in here on Monday, we'll
be singing a different tune. Good Bee good, Big Matt
enjoyed this week. It was a fun week. Yeah, what
good kind of getting back to our regular rhythm.

Speaker 3 (43:19):
And then next week right won't be at all the
negative regular rhythm.

Speaker 2 (43:24):
When the Stellers will be playing on a short week
against Cincinnati. Hopefully we'll be back Monday to recap a
win over an Ohio team and then quickly turn the
page to previewing another matchup against one of those teams
from that stinking state of Ohio. But that will do
it for us this week. Big thanks to Missy Matthews
for joining us, Tyler V mister TV, our YouTube producer,
for making sure we look handsome on the videos, and

(43:46):
to Swiss on Swiss himself. Matt Williamson Matt Levan's finest.
I mean a lot of famous people from a lot
of famous people out of Libo High School. But uh,
you know in my book, Matt Williamson is number one folks.

Speaker 3 (43:58):
Over Crowley and Shirtless.

Speaker 2 (44:01):
Absolutely and Joe Manjanello and Dave Filoni.

Speaker 3 (44:06):
Oh yeah, and was a good street hockey goalie. Man
told yeah, that's awesome, Big Patrick wa guy Mark Mark
Cuban's a pretty good Mark Cuban.

Speaker 2 (44:15):
I knew, I knew there was a big name Mark Cuban.
That guy's done all.

Speaker 3 (44:19):
Right for him.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
Yeah, I do always love it, like every time you
see Star Wars accounts, like on social media when they
post pictures of like the sets and stuff. Okay, there's
always Dave Filoni in the background, like wearing a Penguin's hat,
a Penguins hoodie or something.

Speaker 3 (44:34):
Was always like, yeah, we played a lot of street hockey.

Speaker 2 (44:36):
There's our doing the thing for Star Wars. That's awesome.
You guys played some street hockey together. I love it.

Speaker 3 (44:42):
Dude, he'd get dressed at home, hop out of the car,
fully dressed in his goalie, just ready to go with it.
Patrick wah Jersey.

Speaker 2 (44:49):
On right, Montreal, Canadian.

Speaker 3 (44:50):
His brother would drive him right, Yeah, here's the best
goalie we played to get played with and he come
out of the car ready. I mean, we don all
get dressed there, right.

Speaker 2 (44:58):
That is one of those hockey things. Some of the
kids don't like to get dressed in the locker room.
They've got to do it at home and then hop
out of the car and oh that's great though, funny,
funny story. Uh, everybody, enjoy the weekend. Take care. We
will be back to break it all down for you
on Monday. 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.