HR2: Live from Dublin

Matt and Wes break down some more the Steelers Vikings matchup and chat about games around the league.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Your tunes about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hour number two of the Drive here on Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network at.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
The Temple Bar and downtown Dublin Island.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Oh, these people are ready, they're hydrated, they are living
life here on the Emerald Isle. We're gonna do this
at the start of every hour, just to keep the
vibes going.

Speaker 4 (00:38):
Who's here for the Pitts Park? Stealer, who's gonna win tomorrow?

Speaker 3 (00:48):
Here we go, stealers, here we go, Here we go, stealers,
here we go, and just real quick by what we'll do?

Speaker 4 (00:59):
Applause and cheers. If yes, thumbs down, booze If nos,
who here.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Likes that skull chant that Minnesota does? Oh man, what
a what a bunch of weirdos. I tell you, all
we need is a towel and some Here we go
and we are ready to roll, baby, having some fun
here at the Temple Bar.

Speaker 4 (01:17):
Steeler Nation.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Every day, like we said and we'll continue to say,
Thursday you felt the presence, Friday you felt the presence
and getting ramped up. Yeah, the sun's coming out here
a little bit. Everyone is out and about.

Speaker 4 (01:29):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
It's it's absolutely incredible. All right, One more crowdsource thing here.
Uh who got here early in the week and made
a whole week out of this?

Speaker 4 (01:36):
Make some noise. Anybody out there that got here in
like the last day or two, make some noise. Did
any of you sickos just get here this morning on
a red eye flight? I absolutely love it.

Speaker 2 (01:54):
Cheers to everybody, whether you've been whether you've been here
all week and made a vacation out of it, Like
my lovely family back there in the corner of the
ORMs from Tennessee.

Speaker 4 (02:02):
Everybody buy them beers all right before they get out
of here. They made a whole family vacation out of this.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
A lot of people, like I was telling you, I've
got a buddy who was at the Ryder Cup in
New York yesterday and just.

Speaker 4 (02:14):
Got here on our issues.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
Didn't go too well for us yesterday, but we got
plenty of time, all right, plenty of time in this
in this tournament here certainly as we continue to rock
and roll again here from Fitzsimon's Temple Bar in the
Temple Bar District.

Speaker 4 (02:30):
This is our third day here. It's been awesome. The
DV Morning Show will be here after us for a
specializition Saturday show for them.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
We will also have the post game show here as
well with with DVE. So this has kind of been
our This has been our studio for the last few days,
if you will, and.

Speaker 5 (02:47):
It's pretty much like the next six hours, there'll be
somebody camping out.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Here exactly right, exactly right, And it's been incredible. It's
been so much fun. They've been great hosts here and
I can't recommend FitzSimons enough for those of you who
are in the area or are planning to make trips
here in the future, Matt, I want to get into
some of your Matt's stats with you as well too,
for those of you that are unfamiliar. Matt puts together

(03:12):
a cheat sheet, a stats packet for Steelers dot Com
every single week that kind of previews and analyzes the
game from a statistical and analytical.

Speaker 4 (03:21):
Perspective, thinking pretty deep, pretty pretty.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Deep, and Matt, I wanted to get into some of these,
some of these numbers with you. The Vikings running fifty
one plays per game, which is.

Speaker 4 (03:32):
Fewest in the league.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
Yeah, Steelers at fifty four plays per game, fifth.

Speaker 4 (03:37):
Lowest in the league.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, why is that the case for both of these teams?
And what does that mean for tomorrow?

Speaker 5 (03:43):
So to me, it's much more concerning for the Steelers
because they haven't had quarterback changes, they haven't had left
tackle changes, they haven't destroyed the Bengals by defense alone.
So what really worries me, and we've talked about this
a lot the last couple of weeks is Steelers time
of possession is low, and it's been low, and there's

(04:06):
really only thing to blame is man. They're just not
creating first downs. They're just not holding the ball. They're
just not running the ball well enough. And as a result, Rogers,
because he's smart, and Smith because he's smart, have kind
of created this horizontal passing game. Now, the Steelers do
lead the league in yards after catch, which is great,
but it's a lot of Warren zero yards takes.

Speaker 4 (04:29):
It five, half right, right yards takes it thirteen.

Speaker 5 (04:32):
Yes, And I meant to talk about this last segment too.
If you watch the tape against the Steelers, you would
think everyone's like stacking the box to kill that run game.

Speaker 6 (04:42):
They're not.

Speaker 5 (04:43):
They're they're they're playing too high and they're taking away
the Austin and Metcalf bombs, and the Steelers still don't
run the ball that well against lighter boxes, so that's
why they've done this horizontal passing game. Now the Vikings
is more circumstantial for not running a ton of plays
because boom, you score on defense, she'll give the ball

(05:04):
right back. Yeah, I mean, you don't have to play
run a lot of plays. And early in the year
they were struggling with McCarthy with just procedural stuff. Left
tackle couldn't block a soul, so their their offense was
a mess. Then I don't think it's a mess now
where the Steelers. I'm not saying their offense is a mess.
It's just not sustaining. You know, it's gonna if you

(05:24):
keep that up. It's just going to ask too much
of the defense. Now the defense is the blame too.
They can get off the fields a little bit better
on third and fourth downs. You know, they've been phenomenal
at creating big plays, getting the ball out, forcing fumbles,
tipping passes, that type of thing. And even if you
watch the Patriot game first and second downs, Steeler defense
was excellent. Third and fourth downs, they weren't complete opposite. Yeah, right, right,

(05:47):
is that fluky? Is that something that that the teams
are attacking.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
There's a lot of that weird stuff. And like the
time of possession thing for me, you forget the first
two games. But yeah, even against New England it was
the same story.

Speaker 5 (05:58):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
And typically when you're winning a turnover margin by that wide,
the other team's really done should dominate time of possession.

Speaker 5 (06:04):
Right, you get five turnovers, you get that many gifts,
but you can't even turn them into first downs.

Speaker 4 (06:09):
To that's the problem.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
I think every single one of those turnovers except for one, right,
I think four of those five turnovers they went three
and out on the on the follows if I'm remembering correctly,
That's how you end up in that position.

Speaker 4 (06:21):
That's one of the things.

Speaker 5 (06:21):
To run more plays. I mean, it's hard to get
a running game going when you're not running enough plays
to get you know, really going. I mean it's chicken
or egg situation. Total ball, you'd run more plays, but
if you don't run them many plays, you can't get
a running gain going.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
And we saw we also saw a ton of that
from New England. Now they failed when they got down
close to the red zone. They had twelve play drives
seventeen play drive that each resulted in zero points.

Speaker 5 (06:42):
And we've seen it.

Speaker 4 (06:42):
We haven't seen the Steelers have a drive.

Speaker 5 (06:44):
Too many Steelers opponents have these long drives, and you're
not gonna be able to cause turnovers inside the two
yard line repeatedly. You know, that's a hard thing to
bank on. As good as they are turning out turning
people over.

Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, they are, and they you know, they have a
mantra for that defense of you know, in side the
twenty yard line doing things like that, but it's typically
holding teams to threes instead of seven.

Speaker 4 (07:05):
It's not forcing multiple turnovers at the goal line.

Speaker 5 (07:07):
Speaking of which we need to throw this out there.
From a positive nature too, though, Steelers offense in the
red zone as.

Speaker 4 (07:14):
Outstanding seven of eight so far this year.

Speaker 5 (07:16):
Seven of eight, and to me that's Rogers. I mean,
I completely agree, others are. I mean, you can't blame
Arthur Smith when things go wrong and not give them
credit when things go right either. People do what they'd
love to do. Those type of things too. But boy,
you've brought this up a bunch the last couple of months.
It's been five six years that they've been the bottom
of the league in red zone offense. And I mean

(07:39):
you settled for a lot of nineteen since twenty nineteen,
twenty long time.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Twenty eighteen that year where I mean it was maybe
one of the best years of AB's career. It was
the last year that Ben was still really Ben. They
had that offensive line. James Connor went to the Pro.

Speaker 4 (07:54):
Bowl that year.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Juju had a great season, great rookie season that year.
They were one of the best teams in the NFL.
I think top five in red zone that year, and
since then they have been in the bottom of.

Speaker 5 (08:04):
The bar, the way bottom. And you know, you settle
for field goals. Luckily you got Bos who never misses.
But just think if he was just an average field
goal kicker and you were asking an average field goal
kicker to do all that, you probably lose two or
three more games last year every year. Absolutely mean, that's able.

Speaker 2 (08:22):
You would have probably had a losing record at some
point in the last five seasons as many one.

Speaker 4 (08:28):
You might have gone eight to nine or you know,
seven and ten.

Speaker 5 (08:30):
As many one score games as they play in. If
your field goal kicker wouldn't be just average as opposed
to the best one out there, the results would be
a lot different. But I am super encouraged with the
red zone offense. And they throw touchdowns now. I mean
I used to have a running joke. I mean they
went years and years with like so few touchdown passes.

(08:51):
Now they're bodying up Washington. I mean they're they're getting
fades to Metcalf, big bodied receivers, and.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
Aaron's getting shots to Calvin Austin when he's got one
on Thempportunity absolutely, So, yeah, that is that is certainly
a big thing to keep an eye on. Kind of
piggybacking off of that, only twenty two point two percent
drives against Minnesota have reached the red zone this year.
That's the lowest rate in the in the NFL.

Speaker 5 (09:17):
So it doesn't matter if you're awesome in the red
zone if you never get there.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
And is that is that purely a function of the
Floores confusion?

Speaker 4 (09:26):
Is it?

Speaker 2 (09:26):
Hey, we're early into the season and Minnesota hasn't faced
a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.

Speaker 5 (09:31):
Who last I mean, yeah, they blew out the burrowless.

Speaker 4 (09:37):
Game zone second quarter.

Speaker 5 (09:39):
Yeah, I mean their defense has been good. Their defense
will always be good. But last week made that number
probably stronger than it really should be because of how
that game went and what their opponent was. I mean
that that was a really brutal performance by the Bengals.
Who Bengals might be shot.

Speaker 4 (09:54):
They they very well could be.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
And you know that is no one's gonna cry, and
that could be one of those breaks. You know, we
taught We've talked a lot about how sometimes the schedule
breaks your way, sometimes it doesn't. You know, getting the
Bengals twice Joe Burrow list certainly is a benefit as.

Speaker 5 (10:10):
Much as on the horizon here.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, as much as you might not be getting the
ideal quarterback matchup this week against Minnesota, for example, tomorrow,
you are certainly.

Speaker 4 (10:18):
Going to get that against Cincinnati.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
Sticking with some more of these numbers here that I
want to discuss with you, Matt, Minnesota penalized thirteen Despite
everything they did so well against the Bengals, penalized thirteen
times for over one hundred yards last week. They have
been penalized eight more times than their opponents. Only two
teams in the NFL to this point in the season
have more penalties called against them than the Vikings. Meanwhile,

(10:42):
Pittsburgh's only been penalized fourteen times. Minnesota almost did that
in one game against Cincinnati last week. So Vikings one
of the most penalized teams in the NFL. Steelers least
penalized team in the NFL.

Speaker 5 (10:54):
Yeah, and I can't comment a ton on why the
Vikings are so heavily penalized. I do know they'd a
lot of holding calls early on when they're left tackle
block you were saying, and things like that, and some
procedural stuff with McCarthy, I mean, false starts and you
know that kind of thing where delay of games, that
type of thing. Not that Wentz is going to be
a thousand times better at it. You would think he's

(11:15):
better in that regard. It certainly is an aggressive defense,
and sometimes super aggressive defenses will you know, be a
little grabby or totally you know what I mean, late
hits things like that.

Speaker 6 (11:25):
But this is an underreported thing.

Speaker 5 (11:27):
Too with the Steelers is we know they play in
a lot of close games. Last year, they were leased
penalized team in the league too, you know, I mean,
they're so good with turnover differential. Their penalty stuff has
been great. And now for what twenty games in a row,
and you go seventeen last year and these three.

Speaker 4 (11:44):
Again, it's a It's definitely a trend at this point.

Speaker 5 (11:47):
It's a trend at this point. It's not a fluke.
I mean, Tomlin knows how to win in the margins.
And it's a hard thing for the average fan to
give a coach credit for because it's.

Speaker 6 (11:56):
Not like throwing bombs.

Speaker 5 (11:58):
It's not sexy. It's not just running down your throat
with Jerome. It's not those ab teams with Ben that
you talked about. It's figuring out all the little things,
all the hidden yardage. The Steelers have been really good
at that stuff.

Speaker 4 (12:10):
They have, they certainly have.

Speaker 2 (12:11):
That's a big part of the reason why Mike Tomlin
one hundred and six sixty five and two in one
score games. Let's stick with that best percentage in the
league by far. And remember I laid this out for you.
I think maybe last time right now is just a
foreign concept. I don't know what day it is, what
year it is, if it was earlier this week or
last week. Whenever we talked about the Chargers, who have

(12:34):
been the who have played the second most one score
games since Mike tom has been hired, they have a losing.

Speaker 4 (12:39):
Record by like twenty games, by twenty games.

Speaker 2 (12:41):
Whereas the Steelers it's one oh six sixty five and two.

Speaker 5 (12:45):
Yeah, I mean a massive way over five hundred and one.

Speaker 2 (12:49):
Again, one of the most successful ten years. As it
relates that that number is since Mike Tomlin was hired
as head coach in two thousand and seven. Right, huge,
I mean it's it's like Belichick and Andy Reid are
the only people that are in the same stratosphere.

Speaker 5 (13:01):
Yes, now, I'm sure the Steelers would like to be
in fewer one score games, but when your quarterbacks are
Duck and Trubisky and Fields and you know everyone since Ben's.

Speaker 4 (13:12):
Elbow, Mason and Kenny, and you're.

Speaker 5 (13:14):
Luckier in as many one score games and you're not
the one getting blown out by seven ten points when
you play some of these quarterbacks that you have to
face so consistently over five six years, they've been at
a quarterback disadvantage. I'm hoping that's changing to at least
fifty to fifty, if not better with Rogers, we'll see.
It is promising. But I always used to think and

(13:36):
the analytics folks will tell you if you win, if
you go ten to two in one score games, chances
are you're coming back to the meme, you know, like it.
It's predictable that people will eventually over enough stretch be
right around five hundred and one score games.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
And this league is designed that way.

Speaker 5 (13:55):
That this league is designed his way. I mean, we
have a thing going. You know, if someone's getting seven
or more in spreads, take the.

Speaker 4 (14:03):
Point, Take the points.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
I mean, it's just how the league gets especially early
on winning the vast majority of NFL I mean, I
don't know about vast majority. Maybe that's a bit of
an exaggeration, but the majority of NFL games are one
score games.

Speaker 4 (14:15):
That's the way the league ones that.

Speaker 6 (14:16):
That's the way they want.

Speaker 4 (14:17):
That's why there's a salary cap. That's why there's free agency.

Speaker 5 (14:19):
Also why the worst team in the league gets the
first pick and gets the best play exact them.

Speaker 2 (14:24):
Always think cam Moore doesn't go to the you know,
the Eagles or you know someone who was in the
AFC or NFC championship a thousand.

Speaker 5 (14:32):
Now, I think it's very very safe to say that
Tomlin just hasn't been remarkably lucky for what eighteen or
nineteen years at these one score games.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
Again, if it's a year two or three, you can
make that excuse, but not over nearly a two decade tenure.

Speaker 5 (14:47):
Right Like Seattle last year was seven and one on
the road, so they were coming here in a road game.
I'm like, maybe that's just a fluke. Maybe this new
coach who's never played, you know, he was a rookie
for Seattle last year MacDonald happens to be good at it,
or maybe he was lucky in his first year. We
just don't have a big enough body of work, Tomlin.
We got a big enough body of work. You know

(15:09):
that some of the greatest coaches in history read Belichick.
Tomlin's right with them and even ahead of them in
terms of one score game winning percentage. And frankly, I
think there's an art to it. Don't take a lot
of penalties, don't turn the ball over, maybe punt when
the whole stadium wants you not to play a conservative

(15:30):
and you know, and he's been extremely good at it.
And again I think he doesn't get enough credit for
that type of thing.

Speaker 2 (15:36):
I don't either, And and that is something that listen
for the criticisms, right, I think like your your your
praise for what they do well has to be as
loud as what you criticize them. Yeah right, lets you
let your let your praise be as loud as your criticism.
And that is certainly something. Again, I know it's not sexy.
I know it's not the way people want to win
games all the time, right, But it wins games all
the time.

Speaker 5 (15:57):
I mean it's easy to forget you brought this era up.
I mean when he had been and ab and lev
Bell on the Killer.

Speaker 4 (16:04):
Bees, they were top three offense in the league.

Speaker 5 (16:07):
Every year, absolutely, and when they would score the first touchdown,
they'd go for two, you know, like they weren't conservative
to no end.

Speaker 6 (16:15):
I mean, it depends what cards he's.

Speaker 2 (16:17):
Been dealt, you know, red painty paints the barn red
yellow paint painted barn yellow.

Speaker 5 (16:22):
I mean, four games a year, you're looking at Burrow
or Lamar on the other sidelines, going I'm in a
massive disadvantage at the quarterback position. How can I muck
this thing up and grind in the corners with Matthew
Barnaby and Troy Loney to try to, you know, make
this thing work.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
You know, big shout out to Troy Loni, My former
youth hockey coach, nice and once upon a time boss
with the Youngstown Fantoms, my first full full time job
out of college. But no, you're absolutely right. You got
you have to find different ways to get it done.
And I think listen again, no coach is perfect. Even
someone like Andy Reid has his criticisms. Oh yeah, even
someone like Bill Belichick. They're trying to take some of

(16:56):
the shine off of what he accomplished for twenty years
in Jounglin. But that is one of the things that
you it's a calling card of Mike Tomlin teams.

Speaker 4 (17:03):
It's a pretty good there's card.

Speaker 5 (17:05):
To winning one score games.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
And and like you mentioned, especially against four times a year,
Borrow and Lamar.

Speaker 4 (17:12):
You know we've had Buffalo on.

Speaker 2 (17:13):
The schedule so much lately, Josh Allen, you know last
year against the Chiefs and the Eagles, and I mean
you are you are facing some some really good quarterbacks
in this conference.

Speaker 5 (17:23):
You got with them.

Speaker 4 (17:24):
You got to go on the road to play justin
Herbert here.

Speaker 2 (17:27):
You know, in a couple of months, the AFC is
littered with him and the Steelers haven't had that. They're
closer to having that now with Aaron Rodgers certainly than
they've been in the past.

Speaker 5 (17:34):
And maybe they'll draft one next year and that'll be
that guy, hopefully, hopefully.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
So we'll get back to our our college quarterback tracker
next week on the Drive that I had some stuff
actually prepared for that this, but I did look.

Speaker 5 (17:48):
Where we are come on great bye week thing.

Speaker 2 (17:52):
Absolutely and we will do plenty of that during the
bye week. Maybe we'll even take a look at some
other position groups as well too that the Steelers could
be interested in.

Speaker 4 (17:59):
Wes Youler, Matt Williamson.

Speaker 2 (18:00):
We are live here at the Temple Bar Fitzsimon's Town
har in Dublin, having some fun. Steeler Nation is rocking
and rolling. Everyone's getting ready for the game. What do
we say, We just we'll call this the pre pre
pregame show right now, we'll just roll this thing into
tomorrow about twenty four hours from now from kickoff. Everybody's
having some fun, they're geared up, they're ready to go.

(18:22):
You are listening to The Drive with West Jeweler and
Matt Williamson on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (18:29):
Your Tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the black and goal.

Speaker 6 (18:33):
Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 4 (18:43):
Back at fitz Simon's Temple Bar here in Dublin.

Speaker 2 (18:46):
It's the Drive on location the day before the Steelers
and Vikings make history the first NFL regular season game
on tap just about twenty four hours from here now
nine point thirty back home, Little Kegs and as the
Little Kegs and X Chris for everybody back in Pittsburgh
two point thirty afternoon time here of course.

Speaker 4 (19:06):
At historic Croke Park. We are all looking forward to it.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Matt Williamson West Ruler with you here on location having
some fun with Steeler Nation for this special three hour
edition of the Drive. Here, Matt, I want to continue
pouring over some of the numbers behind this matchup. This
one's a little alarming to me. Okay, this is kind
of a key something to keep an eye on for tomorrow.

Speaker 4 (19:29):
About twenty four hours from now.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
From kickoff, the Steelers turn a set of downs into
a new set of downs or touchdown on sixty nine
percent of their drives, so picking up first downs or
touchdowns on sixty nine percent of their drives. That's ninth
lowest in the NFL. So not completely bottom of the barrel,
but not a disaster at the same time either. But
here's kind of what is worrisome about that. I think

(19:51):
the Vikings defense allows sixty four percent of the time
first downs or touchdowns.

Speaker 4 (19:56):
That's the second best in the league.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
That to me, again, it's all the ecosystem of football,
but your time of possession, your ability to run the
football like that. This cannot be a week where the
Steelers go six straight drives with three and out or
a turnover like they did it so right, that will
sink you against this Vikings team.

Speaker 5 (20:15):
Right, because this is a stiffer test than any of
the ones. Well, I don't know about Seattle, but especially
then the Patriots. That data's face that isn't nearly as
good in that capacity. And again it is the diabolic
as Flores is in all the crazy stuff he does.
It's not as scary on first and ten or staying

(20:35):
ahead of the chains. You know, if you're getting sure,
if you're getting the second and two, well his crazy
stuff isn't as scary. You know, you've got to stay
ahead of the chains. But if you're going to be
in third and six, is third and eight, third and
twelves after a penalty, things of that nature. The chances
you converting against his team are really really slim, very slim.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
Yeah, very slim, And so Matt, we know, obviously, I
think just the you know, if we're writing on the
grease board, how to fix that.

Speaker 4 (21:01):
Number one is the run game. Offensive line in the
run game, winning more on.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
First down, setting up second and short, second and manageable
third and short, all those different things to keep your
playbook and your options open and not get into early
you know, early down predictable passing situations at the same
time either that. Obviously, though tomorrow, especially with the status
of Jalen Warren up in the air, is going to
be a tougher ask it is.

Speaker 4 (21:24):
Could this be? Is this maybe the week?

Speaker 2 (21:26):
And listen, I know Minnesota has yet to allow seventy
receiving yards to a wide receiver this season. They allowed
just four point six yards per pass attempt, second best
in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (21:37):
I mean, they're pretty good so far through every three games.

Speaker 2 (21:40):
If you're not picking up on this, but you and
I have also over the few weeks of the regular season,
you know, about the month or so now that we've
been into this thing, discussed Steelers tight end usage plenty.
Is this Finally, maybe the weekend where we start to
see it come together, or at least does it need
to be.

Speaker 5 (21:57):
I think it's been a little lack lust and that's unacceptable.
And I'd even throw Metcalf in there. I mean, Jalen
Warren's been tremendous, but he shouldn't be leading the team
in receiving yards.

Speaker 2 (22:07):
No, it's a testament to him, but that should not
That's not why you went out and got DK Metcalf exactly.

Speaker 5 (22:13):
And we knew that this was going to be a
very tight end centric offense and passing game. We've seen
glimpses of it, but not enough in my opinion. Now,
I definitely think, oh, I know Rogers will throw in
between the numbers much more than Russell Wilson, but that's
not the only way you use tight ends. That can
be just a short sighted way, you think, I just

(22:35):
haven't seen a ton I've seen some of, Boy, Washington
so much different than friar Mouth, and Friar moves so
much different than Smith, and Smith is so much different
than Washington. You know that I'm not seeing, Boy, You've
put two three tight ends out there and the defense
has no answers. You know that there's just mismatches galore. Right, Okay,

(22:56):
they're playing nickels, so they're running the ball down their
throats with three tight ends. Haven't seen that? Oh they're
playing bass, so you're spreading them out and hitting John
New and Friarmouth against linebackers.

Speaker 2 (23:05):
Haven't really so, And that's a lot of what we
envisioned from this offense when we all gathered a latrow
back in July.

Speaker 5 (23:11):
That's how it's built. You don't make the John New trade,
you know, and Washington's a really good player. Those three
needs to be out there a lot mooth.

Speaker 4 (23:17):
Is what the eight or ninth highest paid tight end
in the league.

Speaker 5 (23:19):
Sure? Sure, And I don't think it's been terrible. I
don't think it's been.

Speaker 6 (23:23):
Bad, right, But it needs to be a strength.

Speaker 5 (23:26):
It needs to be a strength. Yeah. I mean, like
Tom and I do the pre pregame show, and a
big thing we've been saying is, yeah, I can survive
with that, but I want to thrive with that, you
know what I mean. And it needs to be your foundation.
It needs to be what sets you over.

Speaker 4 (23:40):
Called this offense and brought all those guys in.

Speaker 5 (23:42):
Absolutely and Metcalf as well. I mean, you know you're
gonna have one receiver who stands above the rest, and frankly,
in week one, I had no problem that he wasn't
super productive because Sauce Gardner is an exceptional corner and
more importantly, the rest are defensive back strength. So just
don't throw it Sauce and Sauces. Following Metcalf, we saw

(24:03):
Austin have a big game. Everybody did well. But in
a game like this, I don't see one defensive back
that's just gonna eliminate Metcalf or one spot you just
have to avoid. I also don't see one spot you're
gonna pick on like crazy either, you know. I mean
some of those Patriot defensive backs you could pick on pretty.

Speaker 4 (24:21):
Good, especially with Gonzales out of the lineup last week
as well too. Yeah, that was a big benefit.

Speaker 5 (24:25):
That was a massive benefit.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
Oh dear, oh, somebody just brought us some beverages.

Speaker 4 (24:31):
Thank you so much, thank you, very kind of you.

Speaker 5 (24:33):
Thank you, Joey Porter.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
I appreciate all the way from Texas to bring us
to bring us some beverages here in Dublin.

Speaker 5 (24:40):
Now, we talked about the personnel of the Vikings and
it's kind of a vanilla group because none of them
are stars, but they all are versatile. They all do
their job. Now, Ivan Pace Junior is a pretty good
young linebacker that people don't really know. But the middle
of the field for them is probably their weakest area,
including Pace, who's also a little undersize.

Speaker 4 (25:02):
So maybe that is a good thing for this week.

Speaker 5 (25:04):
That's what I'm hoping, you know, Like I've in Paced
Junior went to the University of Cincinnati. He was undrafted.
The only reason he was undrafted because he's like five
ten and he didn't blow up the combine. But he
was great in college. But the fact that he's five
to ten, he used to be five to ten when
he wakes up tomorrow and five to ten the next day.
Washington's not five to ten. No, Friar Moose's not five ten.

(25:26):
You know what I mean, Like, if he's their best
linebacker and he has a deficiency based.

Speaker 4 (25:32):
On size, pick on it man, Yeah.

Speaker 5 (25:34):
Yeah, I mean attack the middle of the field with
big bodies.

Speaker 2 (25:38):
Steelers tight end snap counts last week John new Smith
forty five, Pat Fryarmooth thirty eight, Darnell Washington two one
offensive snap for Connor Hayward as well too, U John
Newsmith on the field for eighty four percent of Pittsburgh's
pass plays, fifty six percent for Friar Mouth, sixteen for
Mount Washington.

Speaker 6 (25:57):
Let's harp on that, yeah, because it seems.

Speaker 4 (26:00):
A little low for everyone other than Johnny.

Speaker 5 (26:02):
To me, Well, I think there's a typo there, because
do you have Washington having two snaps?

Speaker 4 (26:08):
No? Twenty snaps? Okay, you said too, Oh sorry, I'm sorry,
twenty for Darnell Washington for sixteen percent of the Steelers
pass plays.

Speaker 5 (26:17):
First off, I'd love to see more Washington. I mean,
I know Friar moves making more money. Johnny Smith caught
eighty eight passes last year. I think Washington's their hardest
tight end to play against because he's just so unique
from a size. He's like Sack in the post, right,
and he gets better and better every year. I thought

(26:38):
he was their most improved player as a rookie and
got even better this past year. So I would love
to see more and more Mount Washington out there, for sure.

Speaker 2 (26:47):
I would as well. Do you hear the Natives getting
restless out here?

Speaker 3 (26:51):
Baby?

Speaker 2 (26:52):
I absolutely love it? All right, real quick, let's do
this real quick again. Everybody, raise your glass with us.
Thanks to the lovely man in the blue right here
for buying this parus love all of you stealer Nation Slancha. Anyways,
what were we talking about? So tight Oh, my goodness,

(27:12):
that's incredible, My goodness, my guinness.

Speaker 4 (27:16):
Uh yeah, tight end usage?

Speaker 5 (27:17):
Oh yeah yeah? What were the percentages of run versus pass?
That last sentence the because that I don't like, so.

Speaker 4 (27:23):
They I have here.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
H Smith was on the field for eighty four percent
of pass plays, fifty six percent for Friar Mooth, sixteen
for Darnell Washington.

Speaker 5 (27:31):
See, I'm fine with Friar Mouth kind of split in
the difference. But they become and these these defensive coordinators
are so smart and these defensive staffs picked this stuff apart.

Speaker 2 (27:44):
Oh, these guys are all millionaires who are filmed junkies
and know everything.

Speaker 5 (27:49):
They have working for them. I mean, like, I mean,
there's a lot of advantages, but they're becoming more predictable
with their tight end usage that when Washington's out there,
they run, and when John Who's out there, they pass.
And this was what we're hoping to totally avoid.

Speaker 2 (28:05):
This has been an issue in the past that again
that we were hoping was going to be behind us
this year.

Speaker 5 (28:10):
One thousand percent was you have these three really versatile
and different chess pieces, make yourself unpredictable by the usage.
You know, like rarely have I seen John Who and
Washington out there, you know, like Washington's this huge shack dude,
John Who's really a slot receiver. Friar moves somewhere in

(28:31):
between that you can mix and match those three totally
to really throw tendencies off. And again it's only through
three weeks, but too high a percentage when Washington's out there,
they run, and too high a percentage when John Who's
out there, they passed.

Speaker 4 (28:46):
They pass.

Speaker 6 (28:46):
Ye.

Speaker 5 (28:46):
People know this stuff, they sure do.

Speaker 2 (28:49):
I mean, and this is utmost respect to you. But
if it's in Matt's stats, it's in the meeting rooms
for the Vikings, I.

Speaker 6 (28:55):
Would assume, so at least they're doing something wrong right,
at least a better.

Speaker 5 (28:58):
Be Just go to Steelers dot com and get it.

Speaker 4 (29:00):
That's exactly right.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
That's where you can get match cheat sheet, his stats
packet every single week Matt and kind of staying with
that tight end usage offense. Week one, I loved what
the Steelers did in the play action game thirty three
point three percent of the time, literally an exact third percent.
At the time Aaron Rodgers was dropping back, they were
using play action that has very effectively yes week two

(29:24):
against Seattle fifteen point two percent. Okay, maybe that made
a little sense with that, with that defensive front and
that pass rush.

Speaker 5 (29:29):
That's one hundred percent why that one dropped, But it
was still only I mean, if if you run play
action and things, you're gonna hurt it a smidge longer.

Speaker 2 (29:36):
Turning your back to a very talented defensive front, that
certainly makes sense. And I know New England not to
Seattle's standpoint talented. They led the league in sacks going
into that week three matches in fox for a last week,
but still just twenty one point seven percent of the time.
Is this Minnesota defenses that allow you to get back
up into the thirty percentage you know tomorrow.

Speaker 5 (29:56):
I almost think that this point it shouldn't matter the
opposition all that much. So let's kind of do the
history of this is Aaron Rodgers' career, very low, very
little play action percentage got Ben didn't like play action.
A lot of those dudes defense, right, and when I
turn my back to the defense and I flip around,

(30:17):
they're not where they used to be. You know. Now,
I guarantee you that when Rogers came to town before he
signed his contract and met with the team, remember that
weekend he was here that I'm sure him and Smith
and I'm sure Tom was in the room, talked about
how do I marry you my offensive philosophy with your

(30:37):
offensive philosophy. You know, let's let's blend these two worlds
because they're not exactly the same. But there is some
overlap because Arthur Arthur Smith was with Lafleur under Vrabel
with the Titans, and Lafloor went and coached Rogers, so
they and did it really well one MVPs with the guys,
you know. So, I mean there's there was an overlap

(31:00):
app there. But Rogers for his career before coming to
Pittsburgh was reluctant to run play action. Didn't want to.
I want to see the field. He's real big too
of when the play clock's running. I want to use
a ton of play clock. Yes, to survey the field.
You're gonna move around.

Speaker 4 (31:20):
Let's run some motions. See how they respond.

Speaker 5 (31:22):
We're just going to be static and I'm going to
just read it out because I'm smarter than you. And frankly,
that's what Peyton Manning did. Marvin Harrison was on the right,
Wayne was on the left, and he just said him
and ray Lewis could bark at each other.

Speaker 4 (31:34):
Well for both of those guys a right, And I'm
smarter than you.

Speaker 5 (31:36):
And if I had the longer I wait, the more
information I get, I don't need the play action stuff
to manipulate you. I don't want to move my eyes.
But at this stage of Rogers' career, and the league
has changed since ten years.

Speaker 4 (31:48):
Ago, changes rapidly almost every year.

Speaker 5 (31:50):
No question, play action is becoming a bit of a
cheap code. That everyone's numbers when running play action are
better than not. And he used to make me crazy,
especially under Mac Canada. They were low play action rates.

Speaker 4 (32:03):
Oh it was like like single bidget percentage.

Speaker 5 (32:05):
A lot of games, right, and those those quarterbacks needed it.
Now give Picket some help, I mean, give Trubisky some help.
And they didn't. So in week one I thought, Wow,
this is a really good blend of both worlds and
it worked really really well. They're numbers under when using
play action drop back were great. So I'm hoping they

(32:27):
just didn't get away from that, or maybe they are
Patriot and especially Seattle specific. Sure, but you get a
lot of pass rushers and you're coming up that are tough,
you know, including this one from a different post.

Speaker 2 (32:40):
Everybody in the NFL now has these apex predators on
the defensive line.

Speaker 5 (32:43):
And so I think you need to get back to
more play action and getting layups.

Speaker 4 (32:49):
How does that work? Though?

Speaker 2 (32:50):
Since Brian Flores became a Vikings defensive coordinator in twenty
twenty three, they have the highest blitz percentage in the
NFL nearly forty five and a half percent of time.

Speaker 4 (33:01):
Does that matter?

Speaker 2 (33:02):
Does that relate to again turning your back around, taking
that extra half second. Could they maybe even get a
little gun shy with that this week?

Speaker 5 (33:09):
I mean I could see why they would, But the
numbers using it are just way better than without, and
that's an across the league thing, and it definitely was
with a run.

Speaker 4 (33:18):
Numbers that too. Even if you have a run game
that's been struggling like the Steelers has through three.

Speaker 5 (33:22):
Weeks, and you can also run play action out of
the shotgun and do this thing and it's not as
effective as old school play action. Put the ball in
their belly, pull it out, you know, But I think
you have to utilize it more. The offense is struggling.
There's just way too much evidence, way too much data
that shows across the league for five ten years, play

(33:44):
actions better than not.

Speaker 2 (33:46):
Yes, and I certain I certainly think that that's something
to keep an eye on. For tomorrow's kickoff, of course,
at Crow Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Speaker 4 (33:57):
Two thirty local time.

Speaker 2 (33:58):
Here home in the United States of America, Matt and
I are a little over halfway home here with our
show today. Plenty going on at the Temple Bar, Fitzsimon's
Temple Bar here in the fabulous Temple Bar district of
downtown Dublin. Westheuler, Matt Williamson. It's a special on location,
out of the country edition of the Drive on Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (34:22):
Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (34:34):
Wrapping up the second hour of the Drive here at
Fitzsimon's Temple.

Speaker 4 (34:38):
Bar in downtown Dublin. We got the cameraman in here.
Now everybody go nuts. Let's go, let's get the towns going.
Let's make some uns. I tell you what this is,
standing room only up here on the rooftop bar. Matt Williamson. Oh,
it's getting packed, it It certainly is.

Speaker 3 (35:00):
Who's running for some football tomorrow?

Speaker 4 (35:06):
Are the Steelers gonna win tomorrow?

Speaker 3 (35:10):
Here we go, Staalers, Here we go, Here we go, Staalers,
Here we go.

Speaker 4 (35:19):
You're all beautiful people. Slaunch them, slaunch a raise them.
Let's go, let's go, let's go better. You just can't
beat this. Oh wait, one more, one more? Who's done
a Guinness tour this week?

Speaker 2 (35:38):
Happiest place in the world if you ask me, I
could spend a whole week there and not leave West Yuler.
Matt Williamson. It's a special on location edition of The
Drive here and Matt, what do you say? I think
it's time for our NFL Pick Them segment? Yeah, let's
go around the league a little bit here. Typically we
do this on Fridays, but of course we had to

(35:59):
save this for our last show here before the game tomorrow.
Of course, so Matt, we will run through the gambit
here of these games will save Steelers Vikings. Final thoughts
and predictions for the end, but all the other games
across the NFL. Let's start Commanders and Falcons in Atlanta.
Jayden Daniels limited in practice this week.

Speaker 5 (36:21):
He obviously don't think he'snna play.

Speaker 4 (36:22):
He missed the game last week.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Marcus Mariota played well and they beat the Raiders comfortably.

Speaker 4 (36:27):
Two and a half point favorites are the Atlanta Falcons.

Speaker 5 (36:30):
Falcons are favorite at home.

Speaker 4 (36:31):
Huh after losing three nothing.

Speaker 5 (36:35):
I gotta think Washington in that one. I expect Panics
to drop to bounce back. I mean, he was really miserable,
could hardly complete a pass. I assume they're gonna go
back to the run game feature bijon quite a bit,
and I'm sure that that'll be their worst game of
the year. I mean, that was a miserable performancy.

Speaker 4 (36:54):
I mean they lost by thirty two, a bad teen.

Speaker 5 (36:56):
And I'll be honest, I think Washington's overrated and I've
been kind of betting again against them every step of
the way. But man, I mean, they're just in a
lot better place than Atlanta's right, and Atlanta does not
have a huge home field advantage.

Speaker 2 (37:08):
They they certainly do not. That's a great point. This
one's a tough one, like this is one of those
I would stay away from, you know, And if I'm
doing you know, actual gam yeah, or making real bets
on Sunday. I like Atlanta. I like Atlanta to respond
at home. There is a lot of that in this league.
Like get embarrassed one week, come back and play with

(37:29):
some pride like a prospect.

Speaker 4 (37:31):
I do too.

Speaker 2 (37:32):
We both adore Bijon Robinson. We've talked about that plenty
this season so far. Two and a half points, that's
enough to lay. I'll take the Falcons minus two and
half at home, Bills hosting the Saints and a one
of the biggest spreads that you will see probably this season.
Buffalo obviously three and zero. The game is at home
the Saints, oh and three. Quick side note for you

(37:54):
are Buddy Arthur Motes. The Bills for this game invited
back all their former alumni, So if you've anyone, anyone,
because because this is their final season at Orchard Park,
right so they're doing a lot of different stuff for that.

Speaker 5 (38:06):
Still a bazillion people.

Speaker 4 (38:07):
They invited all their alumni back for the game.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
The Motes families going up there like they're all gonna
go out onto the field at halftime, you know, and
there's gonna be an Orchard Park thing, so so pretty cool.
It'll be a rocket environment there, as it always is.
But fifteen and a half points is a massive number.

Speaker 5 (38:23):
Oh, I'm taking the point.

Speaker 4 (38:24):
I think so too.

Speaker 5 (38:25):
It's just so many.

Speaker 4 (38:26):
It's like they got to win by more than two touchdowns, right.

Speaker 5 (38:29):
I mean, you pulled Josh Allen in the fourth quarter
and Trubisky's in there and pick six and then you
win your bet. I mean, over fourteen is hard for
me to take. And I know that Saints just got
crushed by Seattle. By the way, Seattle's crushing everybody the way.

Speaker 4 (38:43):
Can it do that crazy win on Thursday night for
them too?

Speaker 5 (38:46):
Yeah, but that loss to the Seattle doesn't look as
bad for the Steelers as maybe initially thought. I just
think that's too many points because other than that game,
I think the Saints have played okay, you know, for
a bad.

Speaker 4 (38:57):
Team for an oh and three tea, It's not like
they've been a disa.

Speaker 2 (39:00):
No, No, I'm with you too, though, Like I typically
shy away from double digit spreads, it is Buffalo at home.
It's a little bit of a different story, but I'm
gonna take the Saints into plus fifteen and a half.

Speaker 4 (39:10):
Buffalo gets it done by thirteen or fourteen.

Speaker 5 (39:12):
But yeah, over fourteen, it's rare, man very rare.

Speaker 2 (39:15):
We see that maybe once a year. Another massive spread, Matt.
The Detroit Lions at home against the Cleveland Browns. Detroit
a ten point favored against Cleveland. This one, to me,
is just a question of if the Browns defense does
what the Browns defense has.

Speaker 4 (39:30):
Been doing through three games. I don't think the Lions
are gonna win by eleven.

Speaker 5 (39:34):
I'm gonna infuriate some people listening here, but Miles Garrett
is playing a remarkable a Lawrence Taylor rest of his career,
way better than he has at any point, which is frightening.
The defense has been outstanding, outstanding. Now, I don't think
they're a good football team. I think their offense needs
a ton of work, but I think the defense keeps

(39:55):
it close. I do too, I'll take the points.

Speaker 2 (39:57):
I think i'll take the points with Cleveland as well.
Like I have no out that Detroit is.

Speaker 5 (40:00):
Gonna win, I think they will too.

Speaker 4 (40:03):
I think it's gonna be rare that we're going to
see Ms beat.

Speaker 5 (40:05):
The Packers, though, I mean like they might be able
to hang with good teams again.

Speaker 2 (40:09):
That defense, I mean is going to be a handful
for people, and I think for Detroit, yeah, they'll win
at home, but by more than ten points.

Speaker 5 (40:17):
I'm not Again these big spreads, especially early in the year,
they're scared.

Speaker 4 (40:21):
Ye, very scary, very scary.

Speaker 2 (40:23):
The Patriots are back home in Foxborough once again, hosting
the Carolina Panthers off what I think will certainly be
Carolina's best performance season, a battle of one and two
teams New England five and a half point favorites at
home tomorrow.

Speaker 5 (40:35):
That's a big number. It is a bit. I didn't
think it'd be three and a half, four and a half,
three and a half. Yeah, I'll take the points in
that one too. I know the Steelers just beat them,
but I mean, I think the pan the Patriots are
still working on figuring out a lot of different things.
You know, who's going to be the ball carrier May
is still a work in progress. So I'm really high
on them now. I wouldn't touch the game because I

(40:57):
still think Caroline was terrible despite beating you know, Atlanta,
But I'm gonna take the points.

Speaker 2 (41:05):
That's a tough one for me because I think Carolina
played so well last week. New England played so poorly
last week. They turned the ball over five times, but.

Speaker 5 (41:13):
They did move the ball.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
They did move the ball. I think I'm gonna think
I'm gonna pay the points with New England in this one. Okay,
I think Caroline is gonna have a little let down
off of that that solid performance, and I think New
England's gonna be pissed off, frankly, with how they treated
the football.

Speaker 5 (41:26):
Last week, say the least in practice this week.

Speaker 4 (41:30):
I can't imagine that it was. Yeah, that it was
a comfortable.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
Film room meetings for the Patriots when you're watching a
tape where you turn the ball over five separate times.

Speaker 4 (41:40):
I'm gonna lay the five and a half with New England.
I think they win by a touchdown.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
A battle of teams on the opposite coast and teams
in opposite directions, the zero to three Giants host the
three and zero Chargers Jackson Dark QB one for the
remainder of the season.

Speaker 4 (41:56):
Brian Dables said, yeah, but that's a right move.

Speaker 5 (41:58):
If you're gonna jump in, they go all the way.
But this is.

Speaker 2 (42:00):
It's a very tough test for him for his first
go at it in the NFL, despite having to come
across the coast for a one o'clock game, which we
know traditionally the record for West Coast teams in that
it's like a thirty three percent win percentage.

Speaker 4 (42:10):
It's not great. But Chargers a six and a half
point favorite at MetLife.

Speaker 5 (42:14):
I don't think that's nearly enough points for me.

Speaker 4 (42:16):
I don't need I think this should be one of
those ones that's closer to ten. Yes, with double digit.

Speaker 5 (42:20):
That Charger defensive coordinator throws a lot at you for
your first start. I think that's a really tough situation.
I think a Charger playing great football, Herbert's playing like
an MVP. That one, to me is way too low
of a number. So side note, I wonder if Russell
Wilson like ends up in Cincinnati.

Speaker 6 (42:43):
I mean, they got Jameis Winston there to be the two.

Speaker 5 (42:45):
They've already dedicated themselves to Dart.

Speaker 4 (42:47):
They're not going back to Russ at this point.

Speaker 6 (42:49):
He can't.

Speaker 5 (42:49):
I mean, he's too big a name that messes everything up.
I think you shop him. I mean, if you're the Bengals,
consider it. It might keep you.

Speaker 4 (42:58):
Afloat long enough round pick.

Speaker 6 (43:00):
I mean nothing, He's not making a ton of money.

Speaker 2 (43:03):
You know, it's not a bad idea that you float
out there, and that would certainly make for.

Speaker 4 (43:07):
Some uh some fun matchups.

Speaker 2 (43:09):
Yeah, right in Cincinnati here later on in the season,
uh Matt And what could be, of course, obviously, other
than the first NFL regular season game in Dublin, what
could be the game of the week this weekend?

Speaker 4 (43:20):
The Bucks post.

Speaker 2 (43:21):
The Eagles in a battle of three and OHO teams
there in the NFC. Obviously, Mike Evans is not gonna play.
He's gonna miss I think two to three weeks they
said Philly in Tampa a three and a half point
favor in Tampa.

Speaker 5 (43:33):
Right in Tampa, I'm taking the home dog there for sure.
I'm very fond of the Eagles, of course, but yes,
they'd lose Evans. But they're bringing back Godwin, They're bringing
back Worfs. The Eagles are not blowing people out, They're not.
I mean, I think Baker's playing really, really well. These
teams have kind of have a knowledge of each other.

Speaker 4 (43:54):
I think that in the playoffs a couple of times
in the last handful of years.

Speaker 5 (43:57):
I think it's close. At home, I thought they win,
but it's close.

Speaker 4 (44:00):
I think so too.

Speaker 2 (44:01):
This is one of those if this was two and
a half instead of three and a half, I probably
lean towards Philadelphia maybe, but I see, I know Philly
could kick a last second field goal like they did
last week.

Speaker 4 (44:10):
Well, I guess they blocked the last second field goal
last week.

Speaker 2 (44:12):
Part of me against the Rams, but I do think
it'll be that type of down to the wire finish.
Philly finds a way to get it done, but I
think the Bucks cover. I'll take the three and a
half points with you there. Certainly, Matt in a maybe
the team that is in the biggest must win situation
this weekend has to be the Houston Texans at home.
I wouldh and three playing team playing an oh and

(44:33):
three team in Tennessee. Houston is seven point favorites. This
to me again, this is if you're if you're picking
one team in the NFL that has to win this week,
it's definitely it's definitely Houston Houston, but by seven, I
don't know. I think that the Titans can move the
ball and score a little bit. Cam Ward's looking a
little more comfortable.

Speaker 5 (44:53):
I'm a ward believer. This is like if this was
six and a half, if.

Speaker 2 (44:59):
It was seven and a half, take Tennessee. I don't
like that flat seven number, which.

Speaker 5 (45:03):
Is probably exactly why it exists, so that they get Vegas.
I mean, that's like the perfect number. I guess I'll
take Houston based on their defense, more established quarterback, the
must win factor is huge for them. There's already talk
at Tennessee getting fired too, but yeah, I mean they
don't have the same expectations by any stretch. I'll take

(45:25):
Houston reluctantly.

Speaker 4 (45:28):
I think I'm with you. Reluctantly is a good word
to use there.

Speaker 2 (45:30):
Certainly, the Rams are back home after that disappointing loss
to the Eagles against the Colts, who have maybe been
the surprise team at least certainly in the positive department
in the NFL this season. Three and oh Colts in
La taking on the two and one Rams, Rams three
and a half point favorites. Is this where the Colts
finally come back to life?

Speaker 5 (45:51):
They absolutely they could come back.

Speaker 4 (45:52):
To Earth, back down to Earth, Siden That's what I mean.

Speaker 6 (45:54):
Yeah, I mean that Houston's gonna try and come back
to life.

Speaker 5 (45:57):
Yeah, that's a really tough test. But if that was
under three, I think i'd go the other direction. You're
gonna be three and a half. I'm gonna take it enough.
I think they can run the ball and keep it close.

Speaker 4 (46:07):
I'm gonna lay the points with the Rams back home.

Speaker 2 (46:10):
I don't think they're gonna be They're gonna be ticked
off after coughing up that lead to Philly, and they're
not going to take this Coats team lightly at all. No,
they should, but they're not gonna sneak up on anybody anymore.
That's another tough one, but I think I'll I think
I'll go against you on this one and lay the
points with La Staying in California the Niners three and
oh Niners as.

Speaker 4 (46:30):
Well to Matt.

Speaker 2 (46:31):
They host the Jacksonville Jaguars two and one. Jacksonville with
a good start to the season as well two San Francisco,
another three and a half point favorite at home.

Speaker 5 (46:41):
That's tough, That is tough.

Speaker 4 (46:44):
I might take Jacksonville in the points on this one.

Speaker 5 (46:46):
Yeah, their defense is played better than I expected. I
keep expecting Lawrence and Thomas and Connor to really pop
and it hasn't quite happened yet. I'm gonna go with
San Francisco, and they have some issues. I think party's
coming back though, although Jones wasn't terrible No Bosa, I
don't love that aspect of it. But Shanahan's a winner

(47:08):
and I think he understands where his team's at. I'm
gonna go with the Niners.

Speaker 4 (47:13):
This is another one of those.

Speaker 2 (47:14):
I would like it much more if it was two
and a half for San Francisco, but I think I'm
still gonna I'm gonna give them more continuity as a roster,
more continuity as.

Speaker 4 (47:22):
A coaching staff. M hm.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
Over Jacksonville, who's at this So far, so good relatively,
but at the start of a new era again.

Speaker 5 (47:29):
They're just in a lot different places as franchises.

Speaker 2 (47:32):
Another one of these potential Game of the Week type matchups, Matt.
This will be perfect for us here because it'll be
in the evening time after we're all done with our
Steelers and Vikings responsibilities. Two teams who did not expect
to be one and two, the Chiefs and the Ravens. Yeah,
at Arrowhead Stadium, Baltimore. Hey, how do we feel about
Baltimore in here? Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait

(47:57):
one more time. I don't think I heard you feel
about Baltimore in here. This is crazy. The Chiefs two
and a half point underdogs at home. I know we
haven't we haven't seen that in seven eight years. Baltimore
two and a half point favorite. Again, this is another one,
like a big still probably too early to say must win,
but this is huge.

Speaker 5 (48:18):
But it's huge. I mean, one of these teams going
one and three, one and three, that's bonkers to me.
I can't give the Homes that many points at home.

Speaker 4 (48:25):
Same.

Speaker 5 (48:25):
I mean, I think Baltimore is quite good, but both
their lines have been bad. I mean they're getting pushed
around on both sides of the ball. Matta Bouquet has
been out for a while. That's been a huge deal
for them. Their offensive line looks troubling. I think that
they win the line of scrimmage and both I trust
the Chiefs both their lines a lot more than I
trust Ravens Lignes.

Speaker 2 (48:47):
This is one of those for me, Matt like until
the body is cold in Kansas City, right, I'm not
gonna believe.

Speaker 6 (48:52):
It in their in their building, especially.

Speaker 4 (48:54):
At Arrowhead Stadium.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
Yeah again, how often in the last six or seven years,
have you been able to get Kansas City and points
at home?

Speaker 4 (49:01):
Probably zero.

Speaker 5 (49:02):
That doesn't happen often at all.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
Maybe maybe last week against Philly, I think it was
like one yes Philly or something. I will take Kansas
City plus two and a half at home all day.
But that is a huge one in the scope of
the AFC early on here in the season. To close
down the month of September, a couple more games to
get to here, actually, in fact, just one more game
to get to or no, sorry, two more part of me,
two more here. Bears Raiders in Vegas, two teams that

(49:27):
have shown some good but have struggled as well too.

Speaker 5 (49:30):
Like where Vegas is at right now.

Speaker 2 (49:32):
I don't either. They're one point favorite at home against
the Bears.

Speaker 5 (49:35):
I like the Bears. I mean, I'm not convinced that
they've turned this big corner, but I do think they're
starting to show signs of life. Young quarterback, young coach.
Both have a lot of potential. Maybe they're starting to
kind of get each other a little bit. Vegas they're
a line maybe the worst in the league. I feel
for Ashton Genty in such a bad way. I mean

(49:56):
those all linemen are getting pushed backwards. I mean, like we've.

Speaker 6 (49:58):
Talked about, like Jayalen war yards before first.

Speaker 5 (50:01):
Contact isn't very good. Negative, it's terrible, it's really rough.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
Yeah, that that's one of those. I mean, it's almost
to pick them at a one point spread. I don't know, though,
I might just lean towards Pete Carroll, the more veteran coach,
Gino Smith, the more veteran quarterback. Can they just minimize
the error enough to get out of there with a win.
I think I might lay the one point with Vegas
on that one Sunday night football matt which will actually

(50:28):
be one twenty am here for us Monday, so it'll
be like Monday mourn all night.

Speaker 4 (50:34):
I think maybe if you get a nap in before that.

Speaker 5 (50:36):
And then stay, then they can't watch them.

Speaker 4 (50:37):
The other guy, but then you can't watch Chiefs. You
are a warrior, and we do.

Speaker 2 (50:41):
Have a seven and a half hour flight home to
get some sleep in there as drill two.

Speaker 5 (50:45):
To post Steeler game, I think I'm gonna stay up
all night.

Speaker 4 (50:47):
That's hey. I can't say I'll join you, but but
I will be interested.

Speaker 5 (50:51):
To hear your thought watch those games Man.

Speaker 2 (50:53):
Cowboys at home reeling a little bit against the Packers,
who another one of these teams.

Speaker 4 (50:58):
This is a tough spot for Dallas.

Speaker 2 (50:59):
You're in a team that has ticked off about their
performance from the previous week.

Speaker 6 (51:03):
The whole Parsons factor going to the whole.

Speaker 2 (51:05):
Parsons revenge factor as well to ceed Lamb. I guess
decent news for Dallas. He's not gonna go on ir
He's not going to play in this game. It's certainly
going to miss a few weeks. Green Bay a seven
point favorite.

Speaker 4 (51:17):
At Jerry World.

Speaker 5 (51:18):
I think they blow them out.

Speaker 4 (51:19):
I do too.

Speaker 2 (51:19):
I think it's a double digit I mean in NFL
Termsah yeah, Like they're not going to go in there
like Alabama playing Southeastern Central Missouri State, right, but by
ten to fourteen points.

Speaker 4 (51:30):
I think the Packers win this.

Speaker 5 (51:31):
Dallas is one of the worst defenses in the league. Terrible, terrible,
and right now without Lamb it's just Pickens and Ferguson
getting all the attention. And that's fine, it's just not enough.
They don't run the ball very well. They got o
line injuries. Gary's leading the league in sacks, and Parsons
is better than him. You know. I mean like I
think this is a really really long day from Dallas.

Speaker 4 (51:53):
I do as well too.

Speaker 5 (51:54):
That's a Sunday night, right.

Speaker 4 (51:55):
That is the Sunday nighter. Yes.

Speaker 2 (51:57):
Again, when you combine the Parsons factor and the a
Green Bay team that is probably very disappointed with their
performance last week in Cleveland, I think that spells disaster
for Dallas. Could be a big day for George Pickens though,
sliding number one slot there with Dak Prescott two hours
of the books Bonus Hour. When we return, our buddy
Brian back over the Pittsburgh Post Gazette is going to
join us. Maybe we'll rope in some maybe PURSUITO or

(52:20):
some DV people depending on what time they get here
as well too. But it is all happening at Fitzsimon's
Temple Bar in Dublin.

Speaker 4 (52:27):
Steeler Nation is here. They are ready to go.

Speaker 2 (52:30):
Oh yeah, we're coming back with the Bonus Hour plenty
more here high atop of the rooftop.

Speaker 4 (52:36):
All right, yeah, now we're talking. You guys are awesome.

Speaker 2 (52:41):
It's the Drive West Wheeler Matt Williams and Steelers Nation
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network