November 7, 2025 • 43 mins
The Drive gets into all the biggest matchups of Sunday's clash, as well as previewing the Week 10 action across the NFL.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. It's
(00:25):
a five star matchup because.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
We're in good evening Steeler Nation. How we do it? Well,
that's good us too. Our number two here on the
Drive West shouler Matt Williamson down the home stretch, final
hour of the week, and you know what that means.
It's time for our matchup segment. It's time for a
(00:47):
little five Star Friday as I pick the brain of
our resident scout and football expert, the wonderful world, the
Weird World of Matt Williamson. We're gonna make that an
offseason We're gonna make that an offseason weekly thing, the
Weird World of Matt Williamson, where we'll come up with
something different and obscure to talk about football related every
(01:08):
single week. But for now, it's just quite simply five
Star Friday. Matt. I know that we talked some of
this in the first first segment, but yeah, yeah, it
really does feel like the juiciest matchups to sink your
teeth into in this one are Chargers offense, Steelers defense. Yeah,
(01:31):
and really it starts with the quarterback Justin Herbert, as
we discussed at the start of the show. But then
I think you go to the talented pass catchers that
the Chargers have at wide receiver and tight end. Can
you talk a little bit more about those guys.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah, I mean, so just kind of give you a
rundown on each one of them. I mean, Dadson has
come on like gangbusters. I mean these last three four weeks,
he's like the most productive tight end in the league.
He's Syracuse dude. People might remember his dad.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Wolf would have loved this.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Were talking about.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I love talking about a Syracuse tight end man.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And he doesn't block anybody. He's a big receiver. I
mean he's two hundred and thirty pounds. I mean, that's
why he dropped is he's a true tweener. But he
was really productive. He's a good football player, and he's
come on like gangbusters because he's come on so much.
And they like to play multiple you know, tight end
sets with like Matt Locke and big blocker bruiser dudes,
so they get their blocking elsewhere. But he's cut into
(02:30):
like Keenan Allen's usage, you know. I mean, they have
too many good pass catchers to get on the field,
which was kind of an Indie and Green Bay problem,
Like it's nice to have Chase and Higgins and they're
always out there world nice and.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
He traded one of those guys this past week.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
But yeah, right, right, right, But they have that issue too.
So one thing they've been doing lately, so Gadson's really
good after catch, He's a dynamic young tight end has
come on strong. One thing they've been doing the last
couple of weeks, though, and I think it's a healthy
O line, is they've been playing with one wide receiver
on the field, Like you'll see some sets with one
wide receiver on the field, which is very rare in
(03:05):
this league. I think people know. And it's been Trey Harris,
the rookie who's not one of their best guys, but
he's a big bodied, tough guy downfield, dude, size, speed,
second round pick that blocks. I mean, he's a physical guy.
So that's something that's been kind of a new wrinkle
lately is sometimes you'll see a lot of heavy bodies
with these Matt Locke type dudes and Gadson, I mean,
(03:27):
because Gadson's really a receiver, but they count him as
a tight end. So Trey Harris is an intriguing young player.
I think everyone knows who McConkey is at this point,
but there is a misconception, maybe because of skin color,
to be honest with you, is that he's slot only.
He's Westwelker. No, he's all the above. I mean, he's
a big time outside receiver and he's not having a
(03:48):
monster year because they just spread the ball around so much.
I mean in the stat pack, I forget what the
numbers are, but there's four or five guys that are
between like three hundred and fifty and four hundred and
fifty yards. You know, there's no go to option, and
that makes it hard to defend because they all can
hurt you a magnitude of waves. Allen's basically just stays
slot only at this point. He doesn't run well, but
(04:10):
he didn't run well coming out of col fifteen years
ago or whatever.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
He's really made an incredible career for himself.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I thought he was done with the Bears. You know,
people even ask me Steelers have any interesting this guy,
Like it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Was one of those things we talked about in training
camp before the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I don't see it anymore. He's still in his he's
the old man at the why that gets every rebound.
He knows how to get open.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You know, he's that guy knocks down throw right.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I mean it knows where to be on the court.
I mean that type of dude. And but his roles
dropping just because there's too many, too many good pass catchers.
And the last guy I want to bring up two
is Quintin Johnston, who was.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
A first round pick first.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yes, and he's by far having his best season. I
think this is third year in the league.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yes, because his last year was that TCU team that
beat Michigan in the semi final and then got boat
raced by Georgia in the Nexampionship.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Now, I think I don't think Harbaugh drafted him.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
He did not.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He did not. He wouldn't have because he got boat
rights by mission. Right.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He probably doesn't like that guy, right, all.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Right, Johnson's probably I remember you guys destroy us, all right.
I bet that comes up from time to time. But
especially his rookie year, he was horrible. I mean, so
many drops and he does have drop issue. Still, he's
never gonna be a clean catcher of the football. He
had him at TCU, but they misused him a great deal,
and this year they've really started to figure it out.
(05:32):
And Harbaugh started to figure out last year. Just because
he's six three and a half and two hundred and
ten pounds and looks wonderful and he's super fast, people
think he's an on the line X beatman coverage technician,
downfield pickings metcalf type. He's not at all. I mean,
he's much more of a move z type guy. Get
(05:54):
him on a slant, get the ball in his hands,
and he runs away from people and breaks tackles. I
mean he's a lot more debo than he is picking.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yes, So they've really gotten a wide variety. I mean
we've had this conversation, but I like bring it up
to is. I mean, there's a theory out there that
you want your pass catchers to resemble a basketball team.
I want to point guard. I want a guy it's
a little bit taller. I want the smid shooting forward
or shooting guard. I want the power forward, and then
I went the center. I want a wide variety, and
(06:21):
they do, and they really understand their roles.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
It's why they're able to still be where they're at
despite all those injuries. On the offensive line, yeah, and
in the backfield, right. I mean, obviously Herbert deserves a
ton of credit, but they do. They've got some real
talented guys. And I the one area that I give
Harbaugh credit is a lot of those guys are kind
of written off, you know, at times at times in
their career other than lad McConkey. But he's found a
(06:47):
way to make them all effect put them in the
right spot to six thousand. Too many of those guys
were being asked to be a point guard when they
should be a shooting guard, being asked to be a
power forward when they should have been a small forward.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And that's a Harbaugh thing too. He really recognized is
how to put guys in their best situation, how to
pump them up. I mean he always thought he's like
well known for inflating the egos, which is a great
trait of his quarterbacks to no end, just giving them
unlimited confidence. Like when he got there, he's like, I
stay awake, laying and you know, staring at my ceiling
at night, trying to figure out how to get justin
(07:19):
Herbert in the.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Hall of Fame, yep. And he used to talk about
JJ McCarthy like he was.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Tom Brady exactly, exactly exactly, and which players want to
I mean, especially the college level. I mean that goes
a long way. But Herbert also at this point too,
is he's going to diagnose things. He's been He's played
a lot of football. He's super smart. These guys are
going to catch balls even if protection is an issue.
I mean, he's going to find matchups to his liking.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
On Sunday night, let's spin the block here and take
a look at the Steelers offense against the Chargers defense.
Matt a couple of household names on that Chargers defense
obviously in Khalil Mack and Darwin James, but they've all
so not.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
As many as you think.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I mean, there's a lot of the days of Ingram
and Bosa, No, but they've also got one of the
best up and coming young off ball linebackers in football
as well.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah. So first of all, this is also a Harbaugh thing.
I think the the whole is greater than the sum
of the parts. On defense, you know, like it's well
coached group. They don't have superstars everywhere, but it's always
a solid defense since he's been there.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
That's one thing that he's done from Stanford to San
Francisco to Michigan to LA They're always.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And they're always gonna play hard. They're gonna be fundamentally sound,
they're gonna tackle well, they're gonna get a lot of
guys of the ball. Anyone loafing is gonna get dragged
off the field, you know. So he instills that immediately
and you'll see it. I want to start the edge guys. Though.
Khalil Mack, unfortunately is really playing with one hand, I
mean with one arm. He I think it's a pack
(09:00):
or maybe it's even an elbow. But he was injured
a couple of weeks ago and he probably shouldn't be
out there anymore, like if they were out of it.
You know, if you go watch his recent tape, it
doesn't look like the Khalil Mack everyone that's going to
the Hall of Fame. Sure, I mean he.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Doesn't Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah. And I think it's his left arm that he
can barely tackle or take blocks on with that arm.
And it's just a side note, but I think I
always think of Khalil Mack whenever I think about this too.
Like he was so good. He's one of the best
I've ever seen with a long arm technique. They call
it as a pass rusher, where he gets his body
(09:38):
like perpendicular to the tackle's chest. So I'm coming out
you like this, and he and and with that long arm,
it doesn't matter how long. Yeah, it just stabs you
to death. And it hits you right in the chest
and drives you up. And you have to have great
strength to do it. But if you're a tackle with
exceptionally long arms, like many of these guys are in
(09:59):
the league, it nullifies you because no one's arms you know. Yes,
my arms are longer than yours. I'm six to three
and I'm taller than you. My probably have longer arms
if we look right at each other. But if you
come at me the opposite direction.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And the launch angle right, he's great at that.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And I think a lot of it's nullified because he's
kind of only playing with one arm, you know. So
that and oh, by the way, you have an off
arm to do other things with, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
So it's like almost like taking away his fastball.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's in a way, but the other two are good.
O way keeps racking up sacks since they traded for him.
He's super talented and twoy top of Lopo. I know
that's not how you say his name.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
But I'm not gonna try. We'll just call him.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
But he's a good young player. That that's why Bosa's
not there was to get him on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yes, yeah, it's like we can let Bosa walk. We've
got this young guy who's yeah yeah, younger and more
cost effect.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
We need to get this guy in the field. Deyon Henley,
who you're talking about, is the off ball linebacker. It's
much like the Edger and Cooper conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I feeling that draw that parallel from the Packers conversation
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
There are two of my what it's called young off
the ball linebackers that I think will be stars. They're
the next generation of top dudes. Henley season has been
a little up and down, has been quite as good
as I expected, But man, he shows up.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Like I was talking to Rob at uh lunch yesterday
and he's like, I watched all the Charger games. He's like,
I never heard him. Who's this Henley dude. He's like
he's everywhere I'm like, yeah, he's everywhere. He's really long,
he's lean, he's only like two hundred and twenty pounds, but
he's got like the narrow waste super athletic flies around
the field. But he will show up a lot on
(11:43):
Sunday night. And there's no doubt in my mind. Last guy,
you have to bring up those Durwin Jams.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Absolutely and Durwin James best safeties of his generation.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
And there was a couple of years pre Harbaugh. I
don't say he was disinterested, but he got into Quentin
Nelson conversation we had like, yeah, he's still good, but he's.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Not a destroyer of rides. Yeah, And I.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Think Harbaugh really has him as the leader of the defense,
the best defensive player. He's exactly like Kyle Hamilton with
the Ravens. You know they there's obvious Raven Harbaugh connections
here as well as in Seattle. Seattle's head coach was
(12:24):
defensive coordinator with the Ravens. Well McDonald. Seattle trades up
in the early second round for the South Carolina safety
and Mare because these guys want the Hamilton, the Darwin.
You know, these two and twenty pound do it all
dudes because they don't want to sub. You know, they
can do If you need me to play deep middle coach,
I got it. If you need me to play blitz,
(12:45):
I got it. I mean they can do it all well.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I can cover well.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yeah, and Durwin's playing as well as he ever has.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
He's got an incredible skill set. He has an absolute
monster at Florida State.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
He was I think Kim and Ramsey are good Florida State,
but I'm not sure if they they had to think.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
The Jamis Winston when those guys won a national championship.
I'm pretty sure if I'm remembering correctly.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Ramsey's a little older than James, but not by much.
I mean they both I think were five star defensive backs. Oh,
absolutely massive standouts, you know right.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, Derwin James is one of those guys I've I
really he would be on the short list of like
my favorite players to watch on other teams.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah right, right right, He's another one. If you happen
to walk down the field, I bet it's like WHOA.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, Yes, he's just guy because the way that he
moves at his size, the way that he hits people.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
He never takes playoff he's aggressive as could be.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, Yeah, he's nas he's those Those are my favorite
kind of safeties that do it all. Physical can run
as well too. Yeah, they're hard to find. There's not
many of those guys coming off the assembly line. No,
but he's seats three or something. Yeah, he's certainly one
of them. Good stuff there for a little five star
Friday for some individual names to watch. Uh, speaking of
(13:56):
Rob King, you'll laugh at this. Before we before we
go to break, I was you were kind of picking
my brain about what happens on the plane and these
flights and that stuff. I can guarantee you when we
get on the flight to fly home, I could tell
you what Rob King will be doing. He'll be on
his He'll be on his iPad watching Cincinnati Bengals tape.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Okay, he is.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
He's the consummate professional. It's why he's so good at
his job.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
It's funny you say that because Thursday he was as
we were filming, he was asking some of the people
that are flying with him, I'd Missy and whoever else
on the video staff. He was asking him like, do
you know we're going to have internet? Like I still
have one more charger game I want to watch on
the flight out there, yea too, Like I mean so,
and I'm sure on the way home making yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Oh, we'll all be like eating our ice cream and
trying to sleep, and he'll be poor in a study.
He'll be studying the bank quizzing himself on the Bengals
depth chart. Yeah, I mean, Matt. We were flying back
from Dublin and he was doing Brown's breakdown stuff on
the plane and I'm like, dude, you realize that game
is thirteen days away, plenty of time. Why don't you
just get some sleep and relax.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I was joking with him too, I'm like, I'm only
going to pronounce it or try to announced two weeks
all Lopo's name one, something like that's your job. He's like,
I got it. Yeah, he's saying it perfectly.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, absolutely is Absolutely is good stuff. Gotta love our
guy Rob King and his diligences certainly shows through on
the broadcast without a doubt. There's your five star Friday.
When we come back on the other side, it's time
to go around the NFL give some thoughts on all
these games happening. A big week ten slate across the
league will dive into it when we return. Was Shooler.
(15:26):
Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your two.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Weeks about Drive on your twenty four to seven home
of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Time to go around the NFL here on the Drive.
It is getting close to Thanksgiving. The road is narrowing.
We are in week ten of the NFL season here
and some important games across the National Football League. Of course,
we all know. We discussed it very briefly the Broncos
one and ugly one last night ten to seven over
(16:31):
the Raiders for your Thursday Night Action. The Broncos sitting
real pretty at eight and two here, heading into a
long stretch before they play the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt,
let's run the gambit of games here, gives us thoughts
like we always do. Across the pond in Germany. Yah,
the Falcons and the Colts. The Colts tough loss to
(16:53):
the Steelers. Now they have to go to Berlin. I promise,
I'm sorry any they have, but Berlin. The Colts six
and a half point favorites against the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, I like the Colts here, big now overseas and
Thursday night, it's all weird games. Like I don't know
if I'd like bet on, you know, but think about
like Sasce Gardner's life. I mean, he he did that.
He gets shipped to Indye a couple of days ago,
you know for two first probably didn't even think he
was on the trade block, meets all his buddies, and
(17:25):
then he's like, let's go to Germany, right, Like all
right man, and it's probably just like you have Drake London,
that's all you gotta do this. You know, it's a
perfect team for them to play. They have a true
number one. We're not going to mix up coverages. You
just followed Jake around and Drake around in Germany, which
I think is perfect. You know, we broke down the
Colts to no end all last week, and corner was
(17:47):
the one spot I was didn't think they were particularly
good at. And I don't think the Steelers solved this
this offense. I think Steelers played great, but I expect
the Colts offense to be one of the best in
the league going forward. And I just don't have a
lot of faith in the Falcons right now, especially if
London has at least a.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Tough time a pedestrian day.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, London doesn't do well in Europe. Ooh, there's some
joke to be made there.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
London's calling for sauce, he said, He's just just they
tell him, they're like, sauce. All you got to worry
about this week. All you have to do, buddy, is
follow Drake London. And he's like, all right, coach, got it,
got it. Then, like Friday night tonight, like at the
German beer Haul, Drake London's in there and Sauce Gardner's
just lurking over his shoulder as he drinks his stein
and his later host. Back to the United States, to
(18:34):
the Windy City. We talked about a big one for
the Chicago Bears. They are five and three and still
with a lot to play for, hosting the New York Giants,
who were one of those teams that feel like they're
kind of on the brink of falling apart a little
bit as well too. The Giants zero to five away
from home. Important to note as well, not won a
single road game all season. Chicago a four and a
(18:55):
half point favorite at home.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I love a spread, though, I mean, I think New
York could keep it close. I think Chicago might be
starting to feel themselves a little bit. Say that about
New England too, like not sure as you're good as
you think you are a type of situation. This league
tends a knock you down a peg when you start
to do pretty good things.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Yes, it does.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
But I don't like where the Giants are at, and
there could be more points in that than you think. Though.
Chicago's deed is not great.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
At all, It's not.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, they're a high scoring team.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I'm a little surprised the over under and that's only
forty six and a half. I would have thought that
that was going to be higher. I like Chicago to win,
but I might take I don't know that. Four and
a half is a tricky number.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Yeah, I don't love the points.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I don't love the points because I think it's a close.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Couple games I love.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
If it was three and a half, i'd be more
leaning towards Chicago. If it was five and a half,
I think i'd definitely take New York. That might be
one that if you wanted to bet on, I'd just
take the over. Forty six and a half points.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, that does seem low. Stay away I wondering weather
or something, you know, could It's always like a slow
track and you.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Know, hey, I don't call it the Wendy City for nothing.
Right down in Miami South Beach hard Rock Stadium, which
is nowhere near South Beach. The Bills in Miami a
place where it seems like they always struggle, But to
be fair, that's typically early in the season when it's
like seven hundred degrees and they've got to stand on
that sideline from the sun. The Bills are eight and
(20:15):
a half point road favorites down in Miami this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
It's also a big number. But Miami's run defense is horrible,
and boy do the Bills run the ball well.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Now I just traded Jalen Phillips too.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, that's true. I mean they've they're they're a little depleted,
to say the least. That old line is top notch.
Cook is a tremendous running I don't think we've brought
him up.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And you know what, I was just gonna say, maybe
yesterday when we were talking about candidates for Offensive Player
of the Year. I don't think he'll win it, but
we should have probably been that far off. You should
have probably he's in the conversation.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean he's it gets better every time I
watch him. He's impressive. Yeah. And Bills d has been
playing better. I mean since they're by they've been really
really good.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Had a couple of key injuries in that win against
the Chiefs, but I think they'll be I think they'll
be able to keep it humming. That is a big number,
but I think i'd lay the points of buffal I
could see them winning by ten.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah. And they tend to blow some teams.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Out too, they do. They have that tendency about them,
A big one that all Steelers fans will be keeping
an eye on. On Sunday afternoon in Minnesota, the Vikings
host the Ravens. You remember that fun final hour of
the shows that we had in Dublin with Marquise Pouncy. Yeah,
and we were doing our best Freddie Mercury at Live
Aid impersonation and get the crowd all route up. Remember
(21:29):
with Marquis who said the crowd, how do we feel
about teams who wear purple?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
People went, Now they're matching.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Now they're matching each other up. And Baltimore is a
four and a half point favorite in Minnesota, Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
It's an awful place to play.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
That's yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I think Minnesota wins.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I think they might. I'm definitely taking the points.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I'm definitely taking the points. I mean, I understand the
Lamar factor is massive, and I have so much respect
for that, but man, I loved how Flora's defense played
last week. The Vike so lines healthy. Finally, Aaron Jones
is back in the mix. I don't love McCarthy, but
he helped them a lot. He's made plays with his
(22:09):
legs and was definitely the best quarterback play they've had
in a while. I don't think it's a good time
to play Minnesota in their building.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I agree with you on that they're feeling good about
themselves and they know, like we win this, we're back
above five hundred, we got everything to play for.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
And they could start to get back in the playoff
picture quickly here. And I still think the Ravens have
some fundamental issues. Yeah, they don't rush pastor well, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
As good as Lamar is, they still have some issues.
And they're still pretty banged up elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah they are, they are. I think they have This
is a very losable game for them. I'm jumping all
over the points.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Matt in what we could call maybe the what's the
opposite of the game of the season, the the I
don't want to call it the toilet Bowl. Okay, that's
just me.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
I think the Saints play the Jets in a week
or two. It's not much better.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's just not much better. I guess maybe it'd be
like the Jets and the Titans at this point, would
be the true kind of battle of the bottom of
the barrel here.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Without quinnen without sauce, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Lord, the Jets one in seven. They are zero and
five at home, though still haven't won at MetLife they
host the Browns. Okay, so the Jets haven't won a
home game. The Browns haven't won a road game. Something
has to give, Matt. Unless they end up tying Cleveland,
a two and a half point favorite there at MetLife
Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
It's amazing that the Browns are about a field on
the road, a favorite on the road against anybody. I
think I think I'm taking the Browns.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
I think I would take the Browns too, and i'd
lay those points.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Yeah, I mean, they may win ten to nine and
you lose a bat.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
You talked a lot about this leading into that season
opening game where Dallas went to Philadelphia. Yeah, and I
think you even said on the Wednesday Show, what's the
morale like on the Cowboys plane when they all get
on the plane to fly to Philly defending champions and
they look around and they go, our best player's not.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Here, where's Mike?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Where's Michael?
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
What's that due to your morale? You're the Jets and
you get to that locker room on some and you're like,
where's Sauce? Where's Quinnin that to me that these guys
are humans as much as we know robots, these guys
are humans.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They know what the organization's thinking. A thousand demoralized, right,
And I thought Cleveland might move the Joku or Judy
or somebody, and they didn't. I mean, I'm sure the
defense will still be playing their best and all that.
You know. Yeah, the defense is by far the best
unit in this game.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
It's solid, It's very good. In fact, it's more than solid.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yeah, and I'm with you. It is kind of surprising
that the Browns are a road favored against anybody, right,
but I will I'll take them to win this one
by at least three points. I think that that is
certainly doable. Matt a couple along with Ravens Vikings a
couple of really interesting games in the one o'clock window. Actually,
I'm excited to kind of roll out of bed and
watch these at what will be ten am, California time.
(24:50):
Patriots and Bucks seven and two, verse six and two.
This one's down in Tampa. Tampa's come back to life
a little bit since they're hot start to the season.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Coming off a by right now too, which I think
is helpful for them.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
The Patriots, maybe other than Denver, the hottest team in
the NFL right now? Do they come back to life
a little bit?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I think they get knocked down a peg?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
How's this one play out? Tampa two and a half
point favorites at home, so it's a close spread.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
New England doesn't run the ball well. Tampa is really
hard to run on with Vita Bay in the middle there.
And I think Bulls will I love May, you know,
I love May, but Bulls is going to throw stuff
at me myself.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Okay, sorry, that was worse than my charged up for
the Chargers joke.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
I just think Bulls throws a ton at him, you know,
a young quarterback. And sometimes you just look at these
teams and like, boy, the Patriots are really out kicking
their coverage, but this league has a way of just
knocking it back down.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
You said that a few minutes ago. Yeah, I completely
agree with you. It happened to the Colts this past Sunday.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, absolutely. And I think Tampa is good on the
offensive side of the ball. And I think, you know,
the New England defense is fine, don't get me wrong,
but Mayfield coming off of bye. You know, some of
these guys like Wurfs that were injured, I'm sure they're
happy about the bye.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
You know, my buddies. I've got some buddies that are
you know, got some degenerate tendencies. And every Sunday morning
I get a text from them, what lines do you
like today? What tell me what the Yeah, Tampa minus
two and a half is going to be high on
that list of lines that I like.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I think off of a bye week, bikes are high
on that list.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yes, Minnesota getting the points is going to be high
on that list too, But this one, I just off
the bye week. I think Tampa is prime for a
solid performance. I think the Patriots are kind of in
that spot where you said it feels like maybe they'll
take a little bit of a step back.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah, I'll lay the two and a half with Tampa.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Yeah. Four steps forward, one step back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Sure, they're still going to be in a great spot.
And I don't I don't think they're going to go
down there and embarrass themselves, but I think the Bucks
will win. Saints are in Charlotte to take on the Panthers.
The Panthers at five and four, talking about a surprise
team that we didn't think would have much to play for,
but they do. Matt, this one is intriguing to me
because it is the second The only game all week
(27:02):
that has a lower over under is Jets Browns. Okay,
that adds up. This is the second lowest over under
of the week. Just thirty eight and a half points
is the over under. But the Panthers are favored by
five and a half, which.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Is another one. It's kind of like the Browns, like,
should you really be favored by five and a half?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Usually when you see an over under that small, the
money doesn't.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Leave, but yeah, it doesn't leave them. The room to
you both right.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'm surprised by that because I do think Carolina has
been a positive story and a positive surprise in the
NFL this year. Yes, but the divisional games there in
the NFC South are always wonk either always. It's like
weird stuff happens in that division all the time. I
think the Panthers win, But five and a half is
a big number.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
You're taking the taking them taking the point, take.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
The points with the Saints. I don't like that one.
That'd be the stay away from In fact, I might
hit the over on that number.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Yeah. I never think of them having a great home
field advantage either. In Carolina. They just run on everybody.
Right now, I think I'm going to take the Panthers.
The Saints have a lesser version of that sauce Quinn
Mike conversation we just had too, like you just dumped you.
You know you're obviously not in to win it. It's
(28:12):
got to be some good mojo going around Carolina right
now too. I mean, they're all kicking our coverage. But
I don't feel strong about that game. But I'll take Carolina.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Carolina right now is the overweight, chubby guy with a
receding hairline sitting at the bar with somebody that is
way out of his lead.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I forget what show is doing the other day, and
they're like, man, I thought Tampa Bay would have controlled
this division by now, but Carolina is right in it.
I'm like, not for long, give it two weeks. You
want to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Last one of the one o'clock games, Matt, and it's
another again, some really intriguing ones in this one o'clock
slate in Houston, A big one between the Texans and
the Jags. The Jags looking to stay at kind of
the forefront of the wild card conversation, Houston looking to
keep their season on life support with out C. J. Stroud,
Jacksonville a one and a half point favorite deep in
(29:05):
the heart of Texas.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I'm not a huge Jags believer, but without Stroud and
still massive o line problems, I'm a little shocked that
that's not a bigger line. Me too. Yeah, Houston's d
is great. They definitely could keep us in close, and
if it's a real low scoring game, I understand the
small line and Mills isn't the worst backup in the world,
(29:26):
but still it's like, I think this is the end
for the Texans.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
I think so too. I would lay those points with Jacksonville.
I know home dogs are always dangerous.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I know division home dogs in particular special Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
But it just this feels like the Sunday where it
starts to go downhill for the Houston Texans. Unfortunately into
the four o'clock slate of games.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Total coincidence, but my phone just lit up and said,
Brian Thomas Junior will miss Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Well, that's not good for jackson all right.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean they's trade for Myers. I assume they saw
that coming. Yeah right, Travis Hunter is still out correct, Yeah,
but probably.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Short term, might be a good week to have Jacobe
Myers on your fantasy team.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Yeah, I guess run right in the mix.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
In the four o'clock slate, out West Seahawks host the Cardinals.
Matt is this a little rat poison? Seattle? I realized
six and a half that's I mean, that's not nothing,
but Seattle. I feel weird saying only a six and
a half point favorite when it's a when it's a touchdown.
But yeah, that's one of the ones that I would
have thought would be more like eight and a half
(30:30):
for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
I thought same thing. I just think they're way better,
way better. And I wonder if that line reflects a
lot of people watched Arizona Dallas and like, well they
didn't go back to Murray, that Arizona's got it all
figured out, And I like, is.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
A occasional game too, like weird stuff happens.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I just think playing against Dallas' defense is a lot
different than playing against Seattle, is it ever? Yeah, I'm
taking Seattle there.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I think so too. I that's what the Nick Saban
line of like rat poison, you know, like that's like
I told you last week. I was like that Falcons
are How are the Patriots only favored by five against
the Falcons? That feels like rat poison. The Falcons score
ten points late to you know, to cover.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, and that could be the case.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
That could be the case here, but I just I
don't know. That to me feels like it should be
more like eight and a half Seattle. So I will
lay the points with the Seahawks to win that one
by at least a touchdown against on.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
The road though totally, which is wild.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Destroyer of worlds. They're two and two at home, four
and oh on the road Seattle. Another one out there
in the NFC West, another important one for playoff positioning.
Here in November, the six and three Niners host the
six and two Rams the Battle of California. The Rams
are a four and a half point favorite.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I'm taking the Rams very reluctantly. I just think they're
way better than the Niners.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I think Niners a few weeks ago when they played
on Thursday Night, but the written the Niners one he
things happen on Thursday Night.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Shanahan beats McVeigh a lot more often than the other
way around. And there's something to it. There's a little
bit of like Raven Steelers feel to that game. And
I've made that comparison with my my co host, Brian Peacock,
who does Niners. And I'm like, do you think it's
smart BP to just take the points in this game?
No matter what? He's like, yep, Like that's what if
(32:22):
I pick Raven Steelers. It could be twenty thirty one.
Just give me the points, you know what I mean, Like,
it doesn't matter, just give me the point, right. It's
like it's gonna be close. These teams know each other too. Well,
nobody's gonna blow out the other. But I am taking
the Rams, and I'm going against everything I just said
because I think Stafford's way better and I think that
(32:44):
Rams just don't have any weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Right now, we kind of keep waiting for that shoe
to drop for the Niners. I know, maybe this is
the week. Just keep losing players left, right, Shanahan all
the credit in the world, made big time. He's done
this year, But eventually that attrition wears you down.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah and a half.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I'd like it more if it was three and a half.
Maybe two and a half. But I'm with you in
San fran right, and it's in Santa Claric.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah, yeah, I guess the Steelers are using the building
on Sunday and.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Correct, correct, I'm with you on that one. Wouldn't shock
me if the Niners win. But I think it's I
think the Rams. I think it's there. I think it's
their turn we turn the favorite. I do too, Yeah,
I do too. And finally, Matt, before we take a
break and get to our final thoughts on Steelers, Chargers,
the Commanders at home in a tough spot.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
No, we'll save the Monday night or the Monday.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
We'll save the Monday Night Eagles. Baby. Heck yeah. Commanders
hosting the Lions. A beat up, kind of downtrodden Commander's team,
a Lions team that's kind of by their standards, coming
off an embarrassing performance Detroit seven and a half point
favorite on the road.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
I know if you saw. But Washington gid gets some
good news about Daniels that it's not as bad as
originally thought. I don't think he is. He's gonna be
out for a while, but it's not I don't think
he needs surgery. It's not as bad as originally thought.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Was glad to hear that me too.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
I was like, he went to that guy back out there.
I still think they're a wounded animal though, and actually
the Lions of the wounded animal and the way they're constructed.
I just think that this is a type of game
where they're going to be pissed with how they played embarrassed.
Not that you know, it wasn't an embarrassing loss. The
Vikings aren't bad, but they just seem to respond to
(34:28):
these games by like winning by twenty the next week.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
Yes, that's what they do.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
That's what they do, right, Emier Gibbs is like one
hundred and eighty yards after having nothing last week, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
It was a long night at home on was it
mon No? Was it Sunday night football last week? When
when the Seahawks went in there? Was it Monday night?
I can't remember if that, but regardless it was, it
was a long night for the Commanders last week at home.
I think this is going to be a long one
for them again. I mean Seattle and Detroit back to back,
(34:59):
two physical each you up defenses.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
That's a good point.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I I don't think this one's gonna pretty for the McLaurin.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
You're not Daniels.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
You know it's a big number. But that might be
another one of my my picks that I send my
buddies is Detroit minus seven, especially if you could tease
it down with something else to five and a half. Yeah,
get it under seven seems like a really smart play.
That's it for our around the NFL every Friday segment. Here,
just one game left to talk about the Steelers and
the Chargers in prime time. We'll give our thoughts and
(35:29):
our predictions on that one before we get up out
of here. On the other side, well, Shuler, Matt Williamson,
it is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Your tunees about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
Radio final segment.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Here on a Friday, we have got to get to
our final predictions between Steelers and Chargers. But Matt, it's
been a couple of weeks. I always forget to ask
you this, and I will not forget today before we
get to the line and our predictions and our score
predictions and final thoughts and all that simple question for you.
Excuse me as I burped some coffee up here. Nice,
(36:33):
the Steelers win, if the Steelers lose.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
If the lose, I was going to open with, is
we might come back here on Monday that a lot
too and be like, man that justin Herbert, dude's good.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
You know you didn't win the turnover battle and lay.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Right like he picked you apart just when you thought
you had on me, escaped and had that thirty yard
run that broke your back. And man, he spread the
ball around and could quite get to him.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
He converted a third and fourteen with his legs. Yeah,
key moment or something.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Like that kind of feel like if they win, he's
the MVP, and we all just go, Man, we lost
to a really good quarterback and that's been there, you know.
I mean, it's that's brutal. And I could also see
the Steelers running game struggling too, you know, like not
getting a lot of rhythm on offense, you know, not
getting that running game going, getting away from it a
little bit, and then Herbert beats you. You know that,
(37:28):
That's how I think you could lose it. But to
cut to the chase, I'm picking the Steelers to win.
I'm picking them win twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Twenty gosh, we're not far off again. Really, last couple
of weeks, we've been almost spot on.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Did I ever tell you this? Damn?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
And I have a stretch of like five or six
straight weeks where you picked the same score.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
It was like seven or eight. We had to I
had to like write down my score to prove, to prove,
and we weren't even like on video back then, and
I'd be like, I'd show to it and he'd the
one time he like spit out his diet coke, He's like,
that's my exact same score. And I haven't proved, you know,
like we would do it beforehand.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
It's hilarious.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
It was unbelievable. We were the exact same score for
like seven or eight weeks in a row.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Is not we haven't had the same one, but we've
been like we've been closed. You said twenty six twenty,
I did twenty eight, twenty eight twenty. I'm going twenty
seven to twenty Steelers. Okay, so we are.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
We are just about and it's not like we're just
like picking it right off the spread and Steelers Steelers
are dogs, you know. I mean that doesn't match the
if we weren't, if this wasn't the Steeler segment, this
would be one of my favorite bets of the week.
Like you're gonna give me points and what's basically going
to be a home game away from home. I just
think it's a terrible time or a great time from
this perspective to play the Chargers all.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
About the old line, completely agree.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
I just think they're really not able to block people.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
We we talk about how the ebbs and flows of that.
Sometimes you get teams at the wrong time. Yes, sometimes
you get them at the right time. And I do
feel like they're getting the Chargers at the at the
best time. You could be getting them right now as
they are just trying to patchwork, throw that offensive line together,
and when you're coming off the just wrecking ball performing
that your defense had last week as well too.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
Yeah, and you and Missy had a good point too
about if crowd noise can actually work to your advantage,
Like those tackles have never heard Herbert's cadence or know
any of that kind of stuff. And the communication with
O line is so important. None of those dudes have
played together let alone. They're just not as good as
TJ and Hysmith and Cam and you know what I mean.
(39:23):
They're just overmatched physically, but the mental and communication stuff
I think could be really tough on them. And I'm
sure Harball will have some I wouldn't be shocking me
if he like fakes a punt or you know it
does something goofy. But I also keep coming back to
that that graph that I posted about turnovers and special
teams are such in the Steelers favor too.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
I think that's enough, and in a close game like
this that quite often ends up being the difference. Yeah,
my Steelers lose if they're not at least even in
the turnover battle.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Sure, and we can say that just about every week
with that question, you know.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
And and they and they let Herbert run wild.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Herbert has been turned the ball over and they turnovers
aren't real friendly of this team either.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
Another way they could lose is if the Chargers possessed
the ball for thirty six thirty seven minutes.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
That's actually my biggest concern. I should have kind of
opened with that too, along with Herbert being awesome. But
if they're real physical with those big, heavy packages and
the Steelers are three and out, three and out and
the Steelers d starts to look like, oh we let
up a lot of yardage, like and maybe make big
plays maybe not, that would worry me. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Yeah, I also think like turnover differential obviously a big one.
Steelers winning the sack differential again, I think would go
a long.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Way and be shocked if they don't.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
I'll be shocked if they don't.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Yeah, And it's you know, it's.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
It's so funny. I'll give a shout out to His
name's Jordan. He's my oldest daughter, Olivia. Our daughters go
to daycare together.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
Oh okay, so he's a dad, he's a dad, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
And his daughter and my daughter are like bestie's and
he's a Steelers diehard. He has season tickets, and so
every time we see each other dropping off the kids
or picking up the kids, he's always picking my brain.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
I'm sure he's happy.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I like talking to him. He likes talking to me
type thing. He's a good dude. He's actually on a
flight right now to LA to go out there for
the week and go to the game. And I saw
him this morning and he was like, he's like, I'm
just worried. He's like, we should absolutely dominate that offensive line,
which makes me think we won't.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Yeah, of course, And I get that way of thinking.
I mean, if you don't, we do all this analysis
and we don't know. Yeah, we don't know.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
That's what That's why we love football. So yeah, yeah,
that's that's why we all get it in Sunday and
spend twelve hours sitting on the couch.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
But it's a mess of a line.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
It is, it really is.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Playing is the point where I feel bad for.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Playing this team in week two or week three versus
now is a world of difference. It's a complete one.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Eighty and you never should do this, but like schedule release,
I'm like, oh, I don't. I probably take the Chargers
in that game, you know, even though I knew it
was gonna be a ton of Steeler fans back in
July one, you know. But still it's like they're a
pretty solid team.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
I mean, if they're completely healthy, Like they're an offense
that is built to neutralize what the Steelers do well
on the defense.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Yeah. Man, it's like Slater and all.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
He can put those guys on an island.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Right name. They can probably handle TJ by himself, you know, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
But that is not the case. And hopefully the Steelers
will take advantage and I'll be low on sleep but
not grumpy when we're back here to uh to break
down a victory Monday. And man, if the Steelers moved
to six and three, get a little help from the Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Vikings, yeah, now you're talking.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
I get by with a little help from my friends,
and we could be in a good position on Monday.
But regardless of what happens matt win, loser, draw, we
will be back here Monday to break it down for
everybody on Steelers Nation Radio. For Missy Matthews kind enough
to give us some of her time. Big thank you
to her of course, to our video producer Tyler V
mister TV for making us look handsome on the YouTube,
(42:47):
and young Nathan in here training and learning the ropes.
He's Matt Williamson. I'm West Yuler. Enjoy the weekend, everybody.
If you are one of those West Coast Steelers fans
or traveling Steelers fans, make sure you make some noise
and race. Yeah you gotta pardon this, raise some hi
double hockey sticks there at Sofi Stadium and have those
guys on a silent count at home and help demoralize
(43:08):
that Chargers offense and offensive line. And we'll be back
here on Monday to break it all down. As always,
you know where to find us. It's on your twenty
four to seven Home of the Black and Gold Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. It's
(00:25):
a five star matchup because.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
We're in good evening Steeler Nation. How we do it? Well,
that's good us too. Our number two here on the
Drive West shouler Matt Williamson down the home stretch, final
hour of the week, and you know what that means.
It's time for our matchup segment. It's time for a
(00:47):
little five Star Friday as I pick the brain of
our resident scout and football expert, the wonderful world, the
Weird World of Matt Williamson. We're gonna make that an
offseason We're gonna make that an offseason weekly thing, the
Weird World of Matt Williamson, where we'll come up with
something different and obscure to talk about football related every
(01:08):
single week. But for now, it's just quite simply five
Star Friday. Matt. I know that we talked some of
this in the first first segment, but yeah, yeah, it
really does feel like the juiciest matchups to sink your
teeth into in this one are Chargers offense, Steelers defense. Yeah,
(01:31):
and really it starts with the quarterback Justin Herbert, as
we discussed at the start of the show. But then
I think you go to the talented pass catchers that
the Chargers have at wide receiver and tight end. Can
you talk a little bit more about those guys.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Yeah, I mean, so just kind of give you a
rundown on each one of them. I mean, Dadson has
come on like gangbusters. I mean these last three four weeks,
he's like the most productive tight end in the league.
He's Syracuse dude. People might remember his dad.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Wolf would have loved this.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Were talking about.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I love talking about a Syracuse tight end man.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
And he doesn't block anybody. He's a big receiver. I
mean he's two hundred and thirty pounds. I mean, that's
why he dropped is he's a true tweener. But he
was really productive. He's a good football player, and he's
come on like gangbusters because he's come on so much.
And they like to play multiple you know, tight end
sets with like Matt Locke and big blocker bruiser dudes,
so they get their blocking elsewhere. But he's cut into
(02:30):
like Keenan Allen's usage, you know. I mean, they have
too many good pass catchers to get on the field,
which was kind of an Indie and Green Bay problem,
Like it's nice to have Chase and Higgins and they're
always out there world nice and.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
He traded one of those guys this past week.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
But yeah, right, right, right, But they have that issue too.
So one thing they've been doing lately, so Gadson's really
good after catch, He's a dynamic young tight end has
come on strong. One thing they've been doing the last
couple of weeks, though, and I think it's a healthy
O line, is they've been playing with one wide receiver
on the field, Like you'll see some sets with one
wide receiver on the field, which is very rare in
(03:05):
this league. I think people know. And it's been Trey Harris,
the rookie who's not one of their best guys, but
he's a big bodied, tough guy downfield, dude, size, speed,
second round pick that blocks. I mean, he's a physical guy.
So that's something that's been kind of a new wrinkle
lately is sometimes you'll see a lot of heavy bodies
with these Matt Locke type dudes and Gadson, I mean,
(03:27):
because Gadson's really a receiver, but they count him as
a tight end. So Trey Harris is an intriguing young player.
I think everyone knows who McConkey is at this point,
but there is a misconception, maybe because of skin color,
to be honest with you, is that he's slot only.
He's Westwelker. No, he's all the above. I mean, he's
a big time outside receiver and he's not having a
(03:48):
monster year because they just spread the ball around so much.
I mean in the stat pack, I forget what the
numbers are, but there's four or five guys that are
between like three hundred and fifty and four hundred and
fifty yards. You know, there's no go to option, and
that makes it hard to defend because they all can
hurt you a magnitude of waves. Allen's basically just stays
slot only at this point. He doesn't run well, but
(04:10):
he didn't run well coming out of col fifteen years
ago or whatever.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
He's really made an incredible career for himself.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I thought he was done with the Bears. You know,
people even ask me Steelers have any interesting this guy,
Like it.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Was one of those things we talked about in training
camp before the Chargers.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
I don't see it anymore. He's still in his he's
the old man at the why that gets every rebound.
He knows how to get open.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
You know, he's that guy knocks down throw right.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I mean it knows where to be on the court.
I mean that type of dude. And but his roles
dropping just because there's too many, too many good pass catchers.
And the last guy I want to bring up two
is Quintin Johnston, who was.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
A first round pick first.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yes, and he's by far having his best season. I
think this is third year in the league.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yes, because his last year was that TCU team that
beat Michigan in the semi final and then got boat
raced by Georgia in the Nexampionship.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Now, I think I don't think Harbaugh drafted him.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
He did not.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He did not. He wouldn't have because he got boat
rights by mission. Right.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He probably doesn't like that guy, right, all.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Right, Johnson's probably I remember you guys destroy us, all right.
I bet that comes up from time to time. But
especially his rookie year, he was horrible. I mean, so
many drops and he does have drop issue. Still, he's
never gonna be a clean catcher of the football. He
had him at TCU, but they misused him a great deal,
and this year they've really started to figure it out.
(05:32):
And Harbaugh started to figure out last year. Just because
he's six three and a half and two hundred and
ten pounds and looks wonderful and he's super fast, people
think he's an on the line X beatman coverage technician,
downfield pickings metcalf type. He's not at all. I mean,
he's much more of a move z type guy. Get
(05:54):
him on a slant, get the ball in his hands,
and he runs away from people and breaks tackles. I
mean he's a lot more debo than he is picking.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Yes, So they've really gotten a wide variety. I mean
we've had this conversation, but I like bring it up
to is. I mean, there's a theory out there that
you want your pass catchers to resemble a basketball team.
I want to point guard. I want a guy it's
a little bit taller. I want the smid shooting forward
or shooting guard. I want the power forward, and then
I went the center. I want a wide variety, and
(06:21):
they do, and they really understand their roles.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
It's why they're able to still be where they're at
despite all those injuries. On the offensive line, yeah, and
in the backfield, right. I mean, obviously Herbert deserves a
ton of credit, but they do. They've got some real
talented guys. And I the one area that I give
Harbaugh credit is a lot of those guys are kind
of written off, you know, at times at times in
their career other than lad McConkey. But he's found a
(06:47):
way to make them all effect put them in the
right spot to six thousand. Too many of those guys
were being asked to be a point guard when they
should be a shooting guard, being asked to be a
power forward when they should have been a small forward.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
And that's a Harbaugh thing too. He really recognized is
how to put guys in their best situation, how to
pump them up. I mean he always thought he's like
well known for inflating the egos, which is a great
trait of his quarterbacks to no end, just giving them
unlimited confidence. Like when he got there, he's like, I
stay awake, laying and you know, staring at my ceiling
at night, trying to figure out how to get justin
(07:19):
Herbert in the.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Hall of Fame, yep. And he used to talk about
JJ McCarthy like he was.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Tom Brady exactly, exactly exactly, and which players want to
I mean, especially the college level. I mean that goes
a long way. But Herbert also at this point too,
is he's going to diagnose things. He's been He's played
a lot of football. He's super smart. These guys are
going to catch balls even if protection is an issue.
I mean, he's going to find matchups to his liking.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
On Sunday night, let's spin the block here and take
a look at the Steelers offense against the Chargers defense.
Matt a couple of household names on that Chargers defense
obviously in Khalil Mack and Darwin James, but they've all
so not.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
As many as you think.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
I mean, there's a lot of the days of Ingram
and Bosa, No, but they've also got one of the
best up and coming young off ball linebackers in football
as well.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah. So first of all, this is also a Harbaugh thing.
I think the the whole is greater than the sum
of the parts. On defense, you know, like it's well
coached group. They don't have superstars everywhere, but it's always
a solid defense since he's been there.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
That's one thing that he's done from Stanford to San
Francisco to Michigan to LA They're always.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And they're always gonna play hard. They're gonna be fundamentally sound,
they're gonna tackle well, they're gonna get a lot of
guys of the ball. Anyone loafing is gonna get dragged
off the field, you know. So he instills that immediately
and you'll see it. I want to start the edge guys. Though.
Khalil Mack, unfortunately is really playing with one hand, I
mean with one arm. He I think it's a pack
(09:00):
or maybe it's even an elbow. But he was injured
a couple of weeks ago and he probably shouldn't be
out there anymore, like if they were out of it.
You know, if you go watch his recent tape, it
doesn't look like the Khalil Mack everyone that's going to
the Hall of Fame. Sure, I mean he.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Doesn't Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yeah. And I think it's his left arm that he
can barely tackle or take blocks on with that arm.
And it's just a side note, but I think I
always think of Khalil Mack whenever I think about this too.
Like he was so good. He's one of the best
I've ever seen with a long arm technique. They call
it as a pass rusher, where he gets his body
(09:38):
like perpendicular to the tackle's chest. So I'm coming out
you like this, and he and and with that long arm,
it doesn't matter how long. Yeah, it just stabs you
to death. And it hits you right in the chest
and drives you up. And you have to have great
strength to do it. But if you're a tackle with
exceptionally long arms, like many of these guys are in
(09:59):
the league, it nullifies you because no one's arms you know. Yes,
my arms are longer than yours. I'm six to three
and I'm taller than you. My probably have longer arms
if we look right at each other. But if you
come at me the opposite direction.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And the launch angle right, he's great at that.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
And I think a lot of it's nullified because he's
kind of only playing with one arm, you know. So
that and oh, by the way, you have an off
arm to do other things with, you know.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
So it's like almost like taking away his fastball.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
It's in a way, but the other two are good.
O way keeps racking up sacks since they traded for him.
He's super talented and twoy top of Lopo. I know
that's not how you say his name.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
But I'm not gonna try. We'll just call him.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
But he's a good young player. That that's why Bosa's
not there was to get him on the field.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
Yes, yeah, it's like we can let Bosa walk. We've
got this young guy who's yeah yeah, younger and more
cost effect.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
We need to get this guy in the field. Deyon Henley,
who you're talking about, is the off ball linebacker. It's
much like the Edger and Cooper conversation.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I feeling that draw that parallel from the Packers conversation
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
There are two of my what it's called young off
the ball linebackers that I think will be stars. They're
the next generation of top dudes. Henley season has been
a little up and down, has been quite as good
as I expected, But man, he shows up.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Like I was talking to Rob at uh lunch yesterday
and he's like, I watched all the Charger games. He's like,
I never heard him. Who's this Henley dude. He's like
he's everywhere I'm like, yeah, he's everywhere. He's really long,
he's lean, he's only like two hundred and twenty pounds, but
he's got like the narrow waste super athletic flies around
the field. But he will show up a lot on
(11:43):
Sunday night. And there's no doubt in my mind. Last guy,
you have to bring up those Durwin Jams.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Absolutely and Durwin James best safeties of his generation.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
And there was a couple of years pre Harbaugh. I
don't say he was disinterested, but he got into Quentin
Nelson conversation we had like, yeah, he's still good, but he's.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Not a destroyer of rides. Yeah, And I.
Speaker 3 (12:04):
Think Harbaugh really has him as the leader of the defense,
the best defensive player. He's exactly like Kyle Hamilton with
the Ravens. You know they there's obvious Raven Harbaugh connections
here as well as in Seattle. Seattle's head coach was
(12:24):
defensive coordinator with the Ravens. Well McDonald. Seattle trades up
in the early second round for the South Carolina safety
and Mare because these guys want the Hamilton, the Darwin.
You know, these two and twenty pound do it all
dudes because they don't want to sub. You know, they
can do If you need me to play deep middle coach,
I got it. If you need me to play blitz,
(12:45):
I got it. I mean they can do it all well.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I can cover well.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Yeah, and Durwin's playing as well as he ever has.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
He's got an incredible skill set. He has an absolute
monster at Florida State.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
He was I think Kim and Ramsey are good Florida State,
but I'm not sure if they they had to think.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
The Jamis Winston when those guys won a national championship.
I'm pretty sure if I'm remembering correctly.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Ramsey's a little older than James, but not by much.
I mean they both I think were five star defensive backs. Oh,
absolutely massive standouts, you know right.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, Derwin James is one of those guys I've I
really he would be on the short list of like
my favorite players to watch on other teams.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah right, right right, He's another one. If you happen
to walk down the field, I bet it's like WHOA.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, Yes, he's just guy because the way that he
moves at his size, the way that he hits people.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
He never takes playoff he's aggressive as could be.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, Yeah, he's nas he's those Those are my favorite
kind of safeties that do it all. Physical can run
as well too. Yeah, they're hard to find. There's not
many of those guys coming off the assembly line. No,
but he's seats three or something. Yeah, he's certainly one
of them. Good stuff there for a little five star
Friday for some individual names to watch. Uh, speaking of
(13:56):
Rob King, you'll laugh at this. Before we before we
go to break, I was you were kind of picking
my brain about what happens on the plane and these
flights and that stuff. I can guarantee you when we
get on the flight to fly home, I could tell
you what Rob King will be doing. He'll be on
his He'll be on his iPad watching Cincinnati Bengals tape.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
Okay, he is.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
He's the consummate professional. It's why he's so good at
his job.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
It's funny you say that because Thursday he was as
we were filming, he was asking some of the people
that are flying with him, I'd Missy and whoever else
on the video staff. He was asking him like, do
you know we're going to have internet? Like I still
have one more charger game I want to watch on
the flight out there, yea too, Like I mean so,
and I'm sure on the way home making yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Oh, we'll all be like eating our ice cream and
trying to sleep, and he'll be poor in a study.
He'll be studying the bank quizzing himself on the Bengals
depth chart. Yeah, I mean, Matt. We were flying back
from Dublin and he was doing Brown's breakdown stuff on
the plane and I'm like, dude, you realize that game
is thirteen days away, plenty of time. Why don't you
just get some sleep and relax.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
I was joking with him too, I'm like, I'm only
going to pronounce it or try to announced two weeks
all Lopo's name one, something like that's your job. He's like,
I got it. Yeah, he's saying it perfectly.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, absolutely is Absolutely is good stuff. Gotta love our
guy Rob King and his diligences certainly shows through on
the broadcast without a doubt. There's your five star Friday.
When we come back on the other side, it's time
to go around the NFL give some thoughts on all
these games happening. A big week ten slate across the
league will dive into it when we return. Was Shooler.
(15:26):
Matt Williamson. It's the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on
the Steelers Audio Network, your two.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Weeks about Drive on your twenty four to seven home
of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Time to go around the NFL here on the Drive.
It is getting close to Thanksgiving. The road is narrowing.
We are in week ten of the NFL season here
and some important games across the National Football League. Of course,
we all know. We discussed it very briefly the Broncos
one and ugly one last night ten to seven over
(16:31):
the Raiders for your Thursday Night Action. The Broncos sitting
real pretty at eight and two here, heading into a
long stretch before they play the Kansas City Chiefs. Matt,
let's run the gambit of games here, gives us thoughts
like we always do. Across the pond in Germany. Yah,
the Falcons and the Colts. The Colts tough loss to
(16:53):
the Steelers. Now they have to go to Berlin. I promise,
I'm sorry any they have, but Berlin. The Colts six
and a half point favorites against the Falcons.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, I like the Colts here, big now overseas and
Thursday night, it's all weird games. Like I don't know
if I'd like bet on, you know, but think about
like Sasce Gardner's life. I mean, he he did that.
He gets shipped to Indye a couple of days ago,
you know for two first probably didn't even think he
was on the trade block, meets all his buddies, and
(17:25):
then he's like, let's go to Germany, right, Like all
right man, and it's probably just like you have Drake London,
that's all you gotta do this. You know, it's a
perfect team for them to play. They have a true
number one. We're not going to mix up coverages. You
just followed Jake around and Drake around in Germany, which
I think is perfect. You know, we broke down the
Colts to no end all last week, and corner was
(17:47):
the one spot I was didn't think they were particularly
good at. And I don't think the Steelers solved this
this offense. I think Steelers played great, but I expect
the Colts offense to be one of the best in
the league going forward. And I just don't have a
lot of faith in the Falcons right now, especially if
London has at least a.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Tough time a pedestrian day.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, London doesn't do well in Europe. Ooh, there's some
joke to be made there.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
London's calling for sauce, he said, He's just just they
tell him, they're like, sauce. All you got to worry
about this week. All you have to do, buddy, is
follow Drake London. And he's like, all right, coach, got it,
got it. Then, like Friday night tonight, like at the
German beer Haul, Drake London's in there and Sauce Gardner's
just lurking over his shoulder as he drinks his stein
and his later host. Back to the United States, to
(18:34):
the Windy City. We talked about a big one for
the Chicago Bears. They are five and three and still
with a lot to play for, hosting the New York Giants,
who were one of those teams that feel like they're
kind of on the brink of falling apart a little
bit as well too. The Giants zero to five away
from home. Important to note as well, not won a
single road game all season. Chicago a four and a
(18:55):
half point favorite at home.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
I love a spread, though, I mean, I think New
York could keep it close. I think Chicago might be
starting to feel themselves a little bit. Say that about
New England too, like not sure as you're good as
you think you are a type of situation. This league
tends a knock you down a peg when you start
to do pretty good things.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
Yes, it does.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
But I don't like where the Giants are at, and
there could be more points in that than you think. Though.
Chicago's deed is not great.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
At all, It's not.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Yeah, they're a high scoring team.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
I'm a little surprised the over under and that's only
forty six and a half. I would have thought that
that was going to be higher. I like Chicago to win,
but I might take I don't know that. Four and
a half is a tricky number.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Yeah, I don't love the points.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
I don't love the points because I think it's a close.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Couple games I love.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
If it was three and a half, i'd be more
leaning towards Chicago. If it was five and a half,
I think i'd definitely take New York. That might be
one that if you wanted to bet on, I'd just
take the over. Forty six and a half points.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, that does seem low. Stay away I wondering weather
or something, you know, could It's always like a slow
track and you.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Know, hey, I don't call it the Wendy City for nothing.
Right down in Miami South Beach hard Rock Stadium, which
is nowhere near South Beach. The Bills in Miami a
place where it seems like they always struggle, But to
be fair, that's typically early in the season when it's
like seven hundred degrees and they've got to stand on
that sideline from the sun. The Bills are eight and
(20:15):
a half point road favorites down in Miami this weekend.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
It's also a big number. But Miami's run defense is horrible,
and boy do the Bills run the ball well.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Now I just traded Jalen Phillips too.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Yeah, that's true. I mean they've they're they're a little depleted,
to say the least. That old line is top notch.
Cook is a tremendous running I don't think we've brought
him up.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
And you know what, I was just gonna say, maybe
yesterday when we were talking about candidates for Offensive Player
of the Year. I don't think he'll win it, but
we should have probably been that far off. You should
have probably he's in the conversation.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean he's it gets better every time I
watch him. He's impressive. Yeah. And Bills d has been
playing better. I mean since they're by they've been really
really good.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Had a couple of key injuries in that win against
the Chiefs, but I think they'll be I think they'll
be able to keep it humming. That is a big number,
but I think i'd lay the points of buffal I
could see them winning by ten.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
Yeah. And they tend to blow some teams.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Out too, they do. They have that tendency about them,
A big one that all Steelers fans will be keeping
an eye on. On Sunday afternoon in Minnesota, the Vikings
host the Ravens. You remember that fun final hour of
the shows that we had in Dublin with Marquise Pouncy. Yeah,
and we were doing our best Freddie Mercury at Live
Aid impersonation and get the crowd all route up. Remember
(21:29):
with Marquis who said the crowd, how do we feel
about teams who wear purple?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
People went, Now they're matching.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Now they're matching each other up. And Baltimore is a
four and a half point favorite in Minnesota, Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
It's an awful place to play.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
That's yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
I think Minnesota wins.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
I think they might. I'm definitely taking the points.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
I'm definitely taking the points. I mean, I understand the
Lamar factor is massive, and I have so much respect
for that, but man, I loved how Flora's defense played
last week. The Vike so lines healthy. Finally, Aaron Jones
is back in the mix. I don't love McCarthy, but
he helped them a lot. He's made plays with his
(22:09):
legs and was definitely the best quarterback play they've had
in a while. I don't think it's a good time
to play Minnesota in their building.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I agree with you on that they're feeling good about
themselves and they know, like we win this, we're back
above five hundred, we got everything to play for.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
And they could start to get back in the playoff
picture quickly here. And I still think the Ravens have
some fundamental issues. Yeah, they don't rush pastor well, you know.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
As good as Lamar is, they still have some issues.
And they're still pretty banged up elsewhere.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah they are, they are. I think they have This
is a very losable game for them. I'm jumping all
over the points.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Matt in what we could call maybe the what's the
opposite of the game of the season, the the I
don't want to call it the toilet Bowl. Okay, that's
just me.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
I think the Saints play the Jets in a week
or two. It's not much better.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's just not much better. I guess maybe it'd be
like the Jets and the Titans at this point, would
be the true kind of battle of the bottom of
the barrel here.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Without quinnen without sauce, you know.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Lord, the Jets one in seven. They are zero and
five at home, though still haven't won at MetLife they
host the Browns. Okay, so the Jets haven't won a
home game. The Browns haven't won a road game. Something
has to give, Matt. Unless they end up tying Cleveland,
a two and a half point favorite there at MetLife
Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
It's amazing that the Browns are about a field on
the road, a favorite on the road against anybody. I
think I think I'm taking the Browns.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
I think I would take the Browns too, and i'd
lay those points.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Yeah, I mean, they may win ten to nine and
you lose a bat.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
You talked a lot about this leading into that season
opening game where Dallas went to Philadelphia. Yeah, and I
think you even said on the Wednesday Show, what's the
morale like on the Cowboys plane when they all get
on the plane to fly to Philly defending champions and
they look around and they go, our best player's not.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
Here, where's Mike?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Where's Michael?
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (23:56):
What's that due to your morale? You're the Jets and
you get to that locker room on some and you're like,
where's Sauce? Where's Quinnin that to me that these guys
are humans as much as we know robots, these guys
are humans.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
They know what the organization's thinking. A thousand demoralized, right,
And I thought Cleveland might move the Joku or Judy
or somebody, and they didn't. I mean, I'm sure the
defense will still be playing their best and all that.
You know. Yeah, the defense is by far the best
unit in this game.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
It's solid, It's very good. In fact, it's more than solid.
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yeah, and I'm with you. It is kind of surprising
that the Browns are a road favored against anybody, right,
but I will I'll take them to win this one
by at least three points. I think that that is
certainly doable. Matt a couple along with Ravens Vikings a
couple of really interesting games in the one o'clock window. Actually,
I'm excited to kind of roll out of bed and
watch these at what will be ten am, California time.
(24:50):
Patriots and Bucks seven and two, verse six and two.
This one's down in Tampa. Tampa's come back to life
a little bit since they're hot start to the season.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Coming off a by right now too, which I think
is helpful for them.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
The Patriots, maybe other than Denver, the hottest team in
the NFL right now? Do they come back to life
a little bit?
Speaker 3 (25:08):
I think they get knocked down a peg?
Speaker 2 (25:09):
How's this one play out? Tampa two and a half
point favorites at home, so it's a close spread.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
New England doesn't run the ball well. Tampa is really
hard to run on with Vita Bay in the middle there.
And I think Bulls will I love May, you know,
I love May, but Bulls is going to throw stuff
at me myself.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Okay, sorry, that was worse than my charged up for
the Chargers joke.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
I just think Bulls throws a ton at him, you know,
a young quarterback. And sometimes you just look at these
teams and like, boy, the Patriots are really out kicking
their coverage, but this league has a way of just
knocking it back down.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
You said that a few minutes ago. Yeah, I completely
agree with you. It happened to the Colts this past Sunday.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Yeah, absolutely. And I think Tampa is good on the
offensive side of the ball. And I think, you know,
the New England defense is fine, don't get me wrong,
but Mayfield coming off of bye. You know, some of
these guys like Wurfs that were injured, I'm sure they're
happy about the bye.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
You know, my buddies. I've got some buddies that are
you know, got some degenerate tendencies. And every Sunday morning
I get a text from them, what lines do you
like today? What tell me what the Yeah, Tampa minus
two and a half is going to be high on
that list of lines that I like.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
I think off of a bye week, bikes are high
on that list.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
Yes, Minnesota getting the points is going to be high
on that list too, But this one, I just off
the bye week. I think Tampa is prime for a
solid performance. I think the Patriots are kind of in
that spot where you said it feels like maybe they'll
take a little bit of a step back.
Speaker 3 (26:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah, I'll lay the two and a half with Tampa.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
Yeah. Four steps forward, one step back.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Sure, they're still going to be in a great spot.
And I don't I don't think they're going to go
down there and embarrass themselves, but I think the Bucks
will win. Saints are in Charlotte to take on the Panthers.
The Panthers at five and four, talking about a surprise
team that we didn't think would have much to play for,
but they do. Matt, this one is intriguing to me
because it is the second The only game all week
(27:02):
that has a lower over under is Jets Browns. Okay,
that adds up. This is the second lowest over under
of the week. Just thirty eight and a half points
is the over under. But the Panthers are favored by
five and a half, which.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Is another one. It's kind of like the Browns, like,
should you really be favored by five and a half?
Speaker 2 (27:17):
Usually when you see an over under that small, the
money doesn't.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Leave, but yeah, it doesn't leave them. The room to
you both right.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
I'm surprised by that because I do think Carolina has
been a positive story and a positive surprise in the
NFL this year. Yes, but the divisional games there in
the NFC South are always wonk either always. It's like
weird stuff happens in that division all the time. I
think the Panthers win, But five and a half is
a big number.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
You're taking the taking them taking the point, take.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
The points with the Saints. I don't like that one.
That'd be the stay away from In fact, I might
hit the over on that number.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Yeah. I never think of them having a great home
field advantage either. In Carolina. They just run on everybody.
Right now, I think I'm going to take the Panthers.
The Saints have a lesser version of that sauce Quinn
Mike conversation we just had too, like you just dumped you.
You know you're obviously not in to win it. It's
(28:12):
got to be some good mojo going around Carolina right
now too. I mean, they're all kicking our coverage. But
I don't feel strong about that game. But I'll take Carolina.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Carolina right now is the overweight, chubby guy with a
receding hairline sitting at the bar with somebody that is
way out of his lead.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I forget what show is doing the other day, and
they're like, man, I thought Tampa Bay would have controlled
this division by now, but Carolina is right in it.
I'm like, not for long, give it two weeks. You
want to have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Last one of the one o'clock games, Matt, and it's
another again, some really intriguing ones in this one o'clock
slate in Houston, A big one between the Texans and
the Jags. The Jags looking to stay at kind of
the forefront of the wild card conversation, Houston looking to
keep their season on life support with out C. J. Stroud,
Jacksonville a one and a half point favorite deep in
(29:05):
the heart of Texas.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I'm not a huge Jags believer, but without Stroud and
still massive o line problems, I'm a little shocked that
that's not a bigger line. Me too. Yeah, Houston's d
is great. They definitely could keep us in close, and
if it's a real low scoring game, I understand the
small line and Mills isn't the worst backup in the world,
(29:26):
but still it's like, I think this is the end
for the Texans.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
I think so too. I would lay those points with Jacksonville.
I know home dogs are always dangerous.
Speaker 3 (29:37):
I know division home dogs in particular special Yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
But it just this feels like the Sunday where it
starts to go downhill for the Houston Texans. Unfortunately into
the four o'clock slate of games.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Total coincidence, but my phone just lit up and said,
Brian Thomas Junior will miss Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
Well, that's not good for jackson all right.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean they's trade for Myers. I assume they saw
that coming. Yeah right, Travis Hunter is still out correct, Yeah,
but probably.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Short term, might be a good week to have Jacobe
Myers on your fantasy team.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Yeah, I guess run right in the mix.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
In the four o'clock slate, out West Seahawks host the Cardinals.
Matt is this a little rat poison? Seattle? I realized
six and a half that's I mean, that's not nothing,
but Seattle. I feel weird saying only a six and
a half point favorite when it's a when it's a touchdown.
But yeah, that's one of the ones that I would
have thought would be more like eight and a half
(30:30):
for Seattle.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
I thought same thing. I just think they're way better,
way better. And I wonder if that line reflects a
lot of people watched Arizona Dallas and like, well they
didn't go back to Murray, that Arizona's got it all
figured out, And I like, is.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
A occasional game too, like weird stuff happens.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I just think playing against Dallas' defense is a lot
different than playing against Seattle, is it ever? Yeah, I'm
taking Seattle there.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
I think so too. I that's what the Nick Saban
line of like rat poison, you know, like that's like
I told you last week. I was like that Falcons
are How are the Patriots only favored by five against
the Falcons? That feels like rat poison. The Falcons score
ten points late to you know, to cover.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
Yeah, and that could be the case.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
That could be the case here, but I just I
don't know. That to me feels like it should be
more like eight and a half Seattle. So I will
lay the points with the Seahawks to win that one
by at least a touchdown against on.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
The road though totally, which is wild.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Destroyer of worlds. They're two and two at home, four
and oh on the road Seattle. Another one out there
in the NFC West, another important one for playoff positioning.
Here in November, the six and three Niners host the
six and two Rams the Battle of California. The Rams
are a four and a half point favorite.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
I'm taking the Rams very reluctantly. I just think they're
way better than the Niners.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
I think Niners a few weeks ago when they played
on Thursday Night, but the written the Niners one he
things happen on Thursday Night.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Shanahan beats McVeigh a lot more often than the other
way around. And there's something to it. There's a little
bit of like Raven Steelers feel to that game. And
I've made that comparison with my my co host, Brian Peacock,
who does Niners. And I'm like, do you think it's
smart BP to just take the points in this game?
No matter what? He's like, yep, Like that's what if
(32:22):
I pick Raven Steelers. It could be twenty thirty one.
Just give me the points, you know what I mean, Like,
it doesn't matter, just give me the point, right. It's
like it's gonna be close. These teams know each other too. Well,
nobody's gonna blow out the other. But I am taking
the Rams, and I'm going against everything I just said
because I think Stafford's way better and I think that
(32:44):
Rams just don't have any weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Right now, we kind of keep waiting for that shoe
to drop for the Niners. I know, maybe this is
the week. Just keep losing players left, right, Shanahan all
the credit in the world, made big time. He's done
this year, But eventually that attrition wears you down.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Yeah and a half.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
I'd like it more if it was three and a half.
Maybe two and a half. But I'm with you in
San fran right, and it's in Santa Claric.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah, yeah, I guess the Steelers are using the building
on Sunday and.
Speaker 2 (33:12):
Correct, correct, I'm with you on that one. Wouldn't shock
me if the Niners win. But I think it's I
think the Rams. I think it's there. I think it's
their turn we turn the favorite. I do too, Yeah,
I do too. And finally, Matt, before we take a
break and get to our final thoughts on Steelers, Chargers,
the Commanders at home in a tough spot.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
No, we'll save the Monday night or the Monday.
Speaker 2 (33:33):
We'll save the Monday Night Eagles. Baby. Heck yeah. Commanders
hosting the Lions. A beat up, kind of downtrodden Commander's team,
a Lions team that's kind of by their standards, coming
off an embarrassing performance Detroit seven and a half point
favorite on the road.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
I know if you saw. But Washington gid gets some
good news about Daniels that it's not as bad as
originally thought. I don't think he is. He's gonna be
out for a while, but it's not I don't think
he needs surgery. It's not as bad as originally thought.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Was glad to hear that me too.
Speaker 3 (34:05):
I was like, he went to that guy back out there.
I still think they're a wounded animal though, and actually
the Lions of the wounded animal and the way they're constructed.
I just think that this is a type of game
where they're going to be pissed with how they played embarrassed.
Not that you know, it wasn't an embarrassing loss. The
Vikings aren't bad, but they just seem to respond to
(34:28):
these games by like winning by twenty the next week.
Speaker 2 (34:30):
Yes, that's what they do.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
That's what they do, right, Emier Gibbs is like one
hundred and eighty yards after having nothing last week, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
It was a long night at home on was it
mon No? Was it Sunday night football last week? When
when the Seahawks went in there? Was it Monday night?
I can't remember if that, but regardless it was, it
was a long night for the Commanders last week at home.
I think this is going to be a long one
for them again. I mean Seattle and Detroit back to back,
(34:59):
two physical each you up defenses.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
That's a good point.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
I I don't think this one's gonna pretty for the McLaurin.
Speaker 3 (35:05):
You're not Daniels.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
You know it's a big number. But that might be
another one of my my picks that I send my
buddies is Detroit minus seven, especially if you could tease
it down with something else to five and a half. Yeah,
get it under seven seems like a really smart play.
That's it for our around the NFL every Friday segment. Here,
just one game left to talk about the Steelers and
the Chargers in prime time. We'll give our thoughts and
(35:29):
our predictions on that one before we get up out
of here. On the other side, well, Shuler, Matt Williamson,
it is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
Your tunees about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
Radio final segment.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Here on a Friday, we have got to get to
our final predictions between Steelers and Chargers. But Matt, it's
been a couple of weeks. I always forget to ask
you this, and I will not forget today before we
get to the line and our predictions and our score
predictions and final thoughts and all that simple question for you.
Excuse me as I burped some coffee up here. Nice,
(36:33):
the Steelers win, if the Steelers lose.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
If the lose, I was going to open with, is
we might come back here on Monday that a lot
too and be like, man that justin Herbert, dude's good.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
You know you didn't win the turnover battle and lay.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
Right like he picked you apart just when you thought
you had on me, escaped and had that thirty yard
run that broke your back. And man, he spread the
ball around and could quite get to him.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
He converted a third and fourteen with his legs. Yeah,
key moment or something.
Speaker 3 (37:05):
Like that kind of feel like if they win, he's
the MVP, and we all just go, Man, we lost
to a really good quarterback and that's been there, you know.
I mean, it's that's brutal. And I could also see
the Steelers running game struggling too, you know, like not
getting a lot of rhythm on offense, you know, not
getting that running game going, getting away from it a
little bit, and then Herbert beats you. You know that,
(37:28):
That's how I think you could lose it. But to
cut to the chase, I'm picking the Steelers to win.
I'm picking them win twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Twenty gosh, we're not far off again. Really, last couple
of weeks, we've been almost spot on.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Did I ever tell you this? Damn?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
And I have a stretch of like five or six
straight weeks where you picked the same score.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
It was like seven or eight. We had to I
had to like write down my score to prove, to prove,
and we weren't even like on video back then, and
I'd be like, I'd show to it and he'd the
one time he like spit out his diet coke, He's like,
that's my exact same score. And I haven't proved, you know,
like we would do it beforehand.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
It's hilarious.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
It was unbelievable. We were the exact same score for
like seven or eight weeks in a row.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Is not we haven't had the same one, but we've
been like we've been closed. You said twenty six twenty,
I did twenty eight, twenty eight twenty. I'm going twenty
seven to twenty Steelers. Okay, so we are.
Speaker 3 (38:15):
We are just about and it's not like we're just
like picking it right off the spread and Steelers Steelers
are dogs, you know. I mean that doesn't match the
if we weren't, if this wasn't the Steeler segment, this
would be one of my favorite bets of the week.
Like you're gonna give me points and what's basically going
to be a home game away from home. I just
think it's a terrible time or a great time from
this perspective to play the Chargers all.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
About the old line, completely agree.
Speaker 3 (38:38):
I just think they're really not able to block people.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
We we talk about how the ebbs and flows of that.
Sometimes you get teams at the wrong time. Yes, sometimes
you get them at the right time. And I do
feel like they're getting the Chargers at the at the
best time. You could be getting them right now as
they are just trying to patchwork, throw that offensive line together,
and when you're coming off the just wrecking ball performing
that your defense had last week as well too.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
Yeah, and you and Missy had a good point too
about if crowd noise can actually work to your advantage,
Like those tackles have never heard Herbert's cadence or know
any of that kind of stuff. And the communication with
O line is so important. None of those dudes have
played together let alone. They're just not as good as
TJ and Hysmith and Cam and you know what I mean.
(39:23):
They're just overmatched physically, but the mental and communication stuff
I think could be really tough on them. And I'm
sure Harball will have some I wouldn't be shocking me
if he like fakes a punt or you know it
does something goofy. But I also keep coming back to
that that graph that I posted about turnovers and special
teams are such in the Steelers favor too.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
I think that's enough, and in a close game like
this that quite often ends up being the difference. Yeah,
my Steelers lose if they're not at least even in
the turnover battle.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Sure, and we can say that just about every week
with that question, you know.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
And and they and they let Herbert run wild.
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Herbert has been turned the ball over and they turnovers
aren't real friendly of this team either.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
Another way they could lose is if the Chargers possessed
the ball for thirty six thirty seven minutes.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
That's actually my biggest concern. I should have kind of
opened with that too, along with Herbert being awesome. But
if they're real physical with those big, heavy packages and
the Steelers are three and out, three and out and
the Steelers d starts to look like, oh we let
up a lot of yardage, like and maybe make big
plays maybe not, that would worry me. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
Yeah, I also think like turnover differential obviously a big one.
Steelers winning the sack differential again, I think would go
a long.
Speaker 3 (40:38):
Way and be shocked if they don't.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
I'll be shocked if they don't.
Speaker 3 (40:41):
Yeah, And it's you know, it's.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
It's so funny. I'll give a shout out to His
name's Jordan. He's my oldest daughter, Olivia. Our daughters go
to daycare together.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
Oh okay, so he's a dad, he's a dad, yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
And his daughter and my daughter are like bestie's and
he's a Steelers diehard. He has season tickets, and so
every time we see each other dropping off the kids
or picking up the kids, he's always picking my brain.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
I'm sure he's happy.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
I like talking to him. He likes talking to me
type thing. He's a good dude. He's actually on a
flight right now to LA to go out there for
the week and go to the game. And I saw
him this morning and he was like, he's like, I'm
just worried. He's like, we should absolutely dominate that offensive line,
which makes me think we won't.
Speaker 3 (41:19):
Yeah, of course, And I get that way of thinking.
I mean, if you don't, we do all this analysis
and we don't know. Yeah, we don't know.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
That's what That's why we love football. So yeah, yeah,
that's that's why we all get it in Sunday and
spend twelve hours sitting on the couch.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
But it's a mess of a line.
Speaker 2 (41:37):
It is, it really is.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
Playing is the point where I feel bad for.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
Playing this team in week two or week three versus
now is a world of difference. It's a complete one.
Speaker 3 (41:44):
Eighty and you never should do this, but like schedule release,
I'm like, oh, I don't. I probably take the Chargers
in that game, you know, even though I knew it
was gonna be a ton of Steeler fans back in
July one, you know. But still it's like they're a
pretty solid team.
Speaker 2 (41:57):
I mean, if they're completely healthy, Like they're an offense
that is built to neutralize what the Steelers do well
on the defense.
Speaker 3 (42:03):
Yeah. Man, it's like Slater and all.
Speaker 2 (42:05):
He can put those guys on an island.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Right name. They can probably handle TJ by himself, you know, right, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
But that is not the case. And hopefully the Steelers
will take advantage and I'll be low on sleep but
not grumpy when we're back here to uh to break
down a victory Monday. And man, if the Steelers moved
to six and three, get a little help from the Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
Vikings, yeah, now you're talking.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
I get by with a little help from my friends,
and we could be in a good position on Monday.
But regardless of what happens matt win, loser, draw, we
will be back here Monday to break it down for
everybody on Steelers Nation Radio. For Missy Matthews kind enough
to give us some of her time. Big thank you
to her of course, to our video producer Tyler V
mister TV for making us look handsome on the YouTube,
(42:47):
and young Nathan in here training and learning the ropes.
He's Matt Williamson. I'm West Yuler. Enjoy the weekend, everybody.
If you are one of those West Coast Steelers fans
or traveling Steelers fans, make sure you make some noise
and race. Yeah you gotta pardon this, raise some hi
double hockey sticks there at Sofi Stadium and have those
guys on a silent count at home and help demoralize
(43:08):
that Chargers offense and offensive line. And we'll be back
here on Monday to break it all down. As always,
you know where to find us. It's on your twenty
four to seven Home of the Black and Gold Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network
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