December 30, 2025 • 44 mins
Matt and Wes take a look at the weekly power rankings and give their thoughts. Who was ranked too high? Who is ranked too low? The guys give their thoughts on every team and where they are ranked. The guys take a look at the 2026 NFL Draft order as it stands today. Which teams will have the best chance to land a top college prospect during the draft in Pittsburgh? The guys break it all down.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Your tuns about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good evening, Stealer Nation. How we do it? That's good
us too. Better than yesterday?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yesterday? Question mark?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Absolutely, I think yeah, got a good night's sleep. Girls
slept intil the balmy hour of seven am, so oh wow,
we were really feeling good.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I think my kid slept on noon. So I was
saying this, I don't wake me up, get breakfast anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
No, they do not. I was saying this to my
My brother in law is with us for a couple
more days. He was in for the holiday. He graduated
from Robert Morris last year. He now works in Wisconsin.
He works for a software company in Madison, Wisconsin. And
like I was having the conversation with him last night
while we were all having dinner of like, this is
(01:00):
the time, this time, this time of year, in summertime,
or when I really miss like being young, being in school,
oh man, because just Christmas break and summer break, Like
it's the best.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I've told you this, and it's ridge repeat at my
house lately with my son having people over and just
crushing thirty packs left and right. But last night, they're
watching the Monday night football game and ten or twelve
of them in the basement just making a mess out of
my house. And I go down to halftime and I
fill my glass and what are we betting on now, dude?
(01:30):
And I'm like, put two bucks on rams money line.
At this point, I think they're losing twenty one nothing. Boy,
the place erupted. I mean for a good hour and
a half, the whole second half. I'm just here and come. Yeah.
But like I mean, because the odds were like, I
don't know, fifteen to one at that point.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, when you're down twenty four to nothing or whatever
it was.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Twenty one or twenty four and a half time, I'm
like mcvay'll figure some things out. They'll come back and
make this interesting. And it goes down the last play. Yeah, controversy,
right right. I mean, so they almost had the thrill
of a lifetime on the big hit.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
That's fantastic. That's what we do this for, boys, MAC.
Time to take a let's try that again. Time to
take a look at our weekly power rankings here of
course Week eighteen addition, as we head down the home
stretch of the NFL regular season and big shocker, but
a different team at number thirty two here Jets.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
No, I'm just kidding it, Okay, say I was going
to say the Jets better be thirty one, but nobody
beats out the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I just wanted to see if I could get you,
get you like a what?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
No, totally, I mean Jets got the Jet pretty bad.
I mean they're pretty horrible right now too.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Uh yeah, that's Raiders thirty two, Jets thirty one. That
I mean, yeah, if you wanted to switch them, I
wouldn't hate it. But yeah, clearly, yeah, clearly bottom of
the bear.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Gets a conversation at thirty. Yes, yes, Giants.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That's who it is. Okay, I think I think I
would go Cardinals because the Giants is just one right,
Cardinals are one in thirteen in their last fourteen games.
Ignore now again, we are you know, we're picking through
the you know, garbage, the garbage here, and I'm saying
(03:20):
I want that rotten banana peel over that you know,
that orange that's been cast aside.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, we're dumpster diving.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
We're dumpster diving. But I think I would go Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Seems are shutting guys down. To that could have played
and you know, yeah, going wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I think I would go Cardinals thirty, Giants twenty nine
or maybe twenty eight. The Titans stay put it at
twenty eight after that back toward Saints game.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It was pretty enjoyable. Yeah, and at least there's encouraging
things coming out of that one.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I'm not saying I'm moving the Titans crazy high up
these lists, but I would take them right now to
beat the Cardinals, the Jets, the Raiders, and the Giants
for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yes, for sure. Yes, Giant showed signs of life.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Giants showed signs of life, albeit against a lifeless opponent.
But they're at least ahead of that, I think. And yeah,
the right maybe we should talk about this a little
bit in the next segment of Raiders firmly trending to
having that number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah, I don't know the order other than that off
the top of my head, so I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Let's we'll discuss that a little bit here and nour
number two. But yeah, the Titans stay and put at
number twenty eight after a close loss back and forth
to the Saints, number twenty seven up a couple spots
is the Cleveland Brands.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
A defense that they do. Yeah, we certainly, we certainly
compart these bad teams. They get something to hang their
hat on, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Hey, man, I mean between Miles Garrett, what they have
at linebacker, Yeah, Denzel Ward there and some other nice
pieces in the secondary. Matt Miles Garrett. Does he break
the record Sunday against Cincinnata. Yes, Joe Burrow, can you
do something for me, buddy.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I'm gonna say yes. But I mean all these teams,
not because it's the record, are scheming a mad amount
of people in his in his path, you know. Yeah,
it's not gonna be an easy road for them.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Were you the one that had the suggestion of, like,
if you're the Steelers, just take the Brett Farv esque set.
Were you the one who brought that up yesterday? Or
was that somebody else?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I would not. I don't think Rogers would ever.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I don't think Rodgers would ever saw Tomlin wouldever signed
up for that. But there were I saw some people
in the aftermath being like.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Because Farv was the one that did it too, he's
not going to follow it no way.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
First first play the game, you should have just done
the Brett Faarr of Michael Strahan and just giving Garrett
the sack record and gotten it out of the way
and then proceeded with the rest of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So rewatching the game. Here's an observation we didn't bring
up about Garrett though. He was more infatuated with it
than anybody. Yes, and I get it. What else do
you have to play for? It's a huge record. Hey,
if I was, you know, trying to get the home
run record, I'd be into it too, especially if.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
You were trying to get the home run record on
a bottom five or sixteen.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Rightly, you have nothing else.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
If you're on the Dodgers and you got a chance
to win the World Series, it's a different call. But
if you're a pirate, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Like swinging for the fences on everything. You know. But man,
watch him a different time, different times throughout the game.
He widened his alignment massively, like he was on the sidelines.
I mean, like you never see why nine right, my goodness,
just saying if I can get ahead of Steam, I
mean taking extra steps to get there. But I mean
(06:13):
that's the only reason you would do that. Like and
game well's chipping him and he's coming to the outside
shoulder of the chipper, you know, trying to take on
you know, just for sack. You only do that for sacks,
is like I'm just want to get ahead of steam going.
I just urge people to check it out. There were
a full of plays where no edge defender should line
(06:33):
up that hot that line.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
It reminded me of remember that weird dream team Philadelphia
Eagles team like fifteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, when they had a great offseason and they never
came to.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Some off season and they moved there. It was one
of the weirdest coaching decisions I've ever made. They moved
their offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Cordinayling, and they're strange.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
They would have Connor Barwin like lined up like fifteen
yards outside of Yeah. Yeah, I was so bizarre. But
that's the only other time I've ever seen that.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
He only was doing that to get a sack, which
I don't even blame him, but it's still weird stuff,
you know, Like I'm not gonna get into it, but
like a three technique is on the outside shoulder of
a guard. Five techniques on the outside shoulder technique and
the odd ones are outside. So a wide nine is
a staple for the Browns. I mean, that's that means
(07:24):
you're coming from really far. Anyways, he was outside of
the tight end. He's like, he's like thirteen, there was
such a thing. Yeah, that's it's crazy. He's like he's
covering the slot receiver.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Myles Garrett lining up on the outside shoulder of the
slot receivers, right, And I gotta imagine they'll do more
of that stuff. I mean, listen, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Sure he's just choosing to do it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yes for them this week, like it's probably last week.
Job number one was we're not letting the Steelers Clint
the division in our house we're in. Job number two
was probably get Miles the record this week. Job number
one is get Miles the record. For the Cleveland Browns,
in terms of how they're preparing for this week.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
They should stun them and twist them and do stuff
like that a little bit more and make it they
didn't do a ton of that.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
They did some and the Bengals are not just going
to give the ball to Brown thirty times and to
hope to mitigate that, the Bengals are going to go
out there and try and win and let Burrows sling
it and I got a feeling he'll probably get it done.
But hey, that'll be certainly a side plot to watch.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
But I wouldn't to make sure we mentioned that, I'm
kind of done talking about Miles Garrett in the sack
record and how it influenced the game. But boy, he
cared about it. I mean, his alignment was.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Weird, without a doubt, Without a doubt. Did you see
Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz were going back and forth
on Twitter about the conversation we had yesterday about to
the Steelers trying game plan Miles too much to hinder
what they now because Joe Thomas was tweeting about it
and yeah, and Mitchell Schwartz just replied and was like, dude,
if their number one goal was to prevent Miles Garrett
(08:48):
from breaking the sack record, they probably wouldn't have dropped
Aaron Rodgers back thirty nine times, you know, Like, why
would they have had Aaron throw the ball thirty nine
times if they were that obsessed with keeping Miles Garrett
you know, shut out in that regard.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
I don't have the numbers in front of me, but
the Steelers did go empty a lot, but every time
they did they either rolled him.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yes, or that it was some percent of the time yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They were all away from him, or it was a
real super quick yeah yeah, thirty seconds.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Commanders check in at twenty six. I don't know. I
might have them a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
The Arizona. It's like they have some talent, but they're
really bad.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Now. Yeah, yeah, I might have them a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Titans right now. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
They might not, They might not. I mean the Titans
at least have a quarterback and some tangible you know,
things that they can hang their hat on. Commanders at
twenty six, Chiefs all the way down at twenty five,
Well that's yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
But it's kind of weird because as constructed on New
Year's Eve, they don't have a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I yeah, right, in the true sense of power ranking
is this is right?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yeah, you can't honor what they could be or.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Also don't have a backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I mean right, they're not playing with an NFL starter
or backup right.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Number twenty four the Miami Dolphins seems a little rough.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
They're seven to nine, right, I mean they're not junk.
I understand way better than when we talked about it.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I understand the quarterback situation is also dire, as we
kind of have mentioned with some of these teams, but
I'm with you. I think they should be a few
spots higher.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I mean, I'm a shock fan and I'm impressed with
what the States have done lately, but I don't know
if they beat the Dolphins, the so.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Are one spot out of Dolphins at twenty three. Shuck
Man two hundred and fifty one yards, two touchdowns after halftime.
I mean, like he's been very good. Four straight wins
for the Saints. I mean again, they were in that
conversation for the pop overall pick about a month ago.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
He's to be their starter next year.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Now it's like, I think we've got our quarterback for
next year. How do we build around that guy and
keep building up the nest? And Olave's really come on
to which has helped them big time.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
M hm. They might be a pretty well coached team too.
They might be they were a bad situation.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
They're one of those, like like we've said with the Titans,
like they're a good offseason away not from being a contender,
but from being maybe a playoff can get in back,
you know, could win eight or nine games, playing important
football in December, So with something on the line. Twenty
two is those Cincinnati Bengals. They've been rolling the last
two weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
They're playing as well as they have at a point
really in the season.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's what they have done the last few years. You know,
they kind of get healthy, healthy at the wrong time.
They hit their stride at the wrong time.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, they often have that.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But they could still finish seven and ten, which again,
like if you're a Bengals fan, you're probably kicking yourself, like,
can we just lose some games here and get a
better draft pick?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
And I better not have them ahead of a couple
of teams we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Mention, but I yeah, as constructed right now, they're dangerous.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Going to play against Borough chasing Higgins, and you know.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I could probably make a okay total aside here. Could
you argue that you'd rather play the Ravens than the
Bengals this weekend?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I was almost gonna say that they're playing the best
football in the division right right now.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
If it was a four team round robin AFC right
start from scratch right now, the thing might be slightly
but might be the favorite.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, Browns are definitely fourth.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Browns are definitely fourth.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I don't think that's insane.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I don't either. Number twenty one, the team who pulled
it off last night quietly seven and nine. The Atlanta
Falcons could finish eight to nine.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Kind of respectable.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
They certainly haven't. They've got some playmakers man, and Rahie
Morris has at least he hasn't lost that team even
think job I think I think so. They were four
to nine, just defenses.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Used to be a lot of young guys playing. His
cousin's a starter.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Somewhere next year he gets the opportunity to be, he
goes to like an Arizona with a first round quarterback.
I don't think Minnesota would bring him back because he's
already been with that organization, but somewhere like that with
a JJ McCarthy, maybe the Saints would be interested in
bringing him in to kind of have as a uh,
you know, if things don't work out with Tyler Shuck,
or just to have from around to mentor the young quarters.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Kind of one like if the Raiders got their quarterback rooms,
you know and pick it are both gone and you
know you're taking Mendoza.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Great one.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I'm in for that absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yeah, they're almost like the exact same human beings. Now
I think about it, they're both.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Weapons gray goofiness for both.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Of those guys. How do you do that quarterback?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Weapons of mass dork structure between In fact, for everybody
in the Las Vegas market right now, if you end
up drafting Mendoza and getting Kirk Cousins, you're welcome to
use weapons of mass dorkstruction.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And you get to worry about them getting in trouble.
Give me that Vegas stress.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Or exactly what Sin City? No, thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
We'll be in glass of milk and him a mile tea. Yeah, now,
I love that combination.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
We gotta start, we got to start opining for.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
That and Tom Brady's listening and make it happen.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah, TB twelve, Come on, dude, I of all the
this quarterback is going to land the mac Jones is
the Kyler Murray's that. I think Cousins would be the
mac Jones maybe, But if if I'm starting with a
young quarterback, yeah, I would want to hurt. If it's
like JJ McCarthy where it's you know, the crossroads. Time
(14:18):
to put up or shut up. Then I want probably
a mac Jones type. Yeah yeah, but if i'm if
I'm bringing in a Mendoza or a Dante Moore or
somebody like that, and I just want a vet to
mentor him and to be there.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
And really that's kind of what he's with Pennix too.
I mean I'm not sure he even moves. Yeah, it's
good point, is what he's doing now.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
A good point. Falcons, Man, if they had a first
round pick, they could they could really be in a
good spot that next year.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Buddy and his friends are so impressed with I'm like,
remember the Rams who they're playing right now, benefit double
if they win this game. Right, They're like, oh, that's
good thinking, mister living.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Thanks, maybe I will one day. Cowboy checking at number twenty.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
They're falling apart.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, I mean they are the definition of average defense.
Some weeks they're bad. Some weeks seven eight and one,
they could finish eight eight and one, and that's about
what they are.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Yeah. Yeah, nineteen the Colts, they're falling apart.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
They are falling apart.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And man, they announced Umi Leonard, Yes, Rivers this week.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Not going to be Rivers this week? Does that play
into his draft or his draft part of me his
Hall of Fame clock at all.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
I think they put him on the active rosters. I
don't think he was a practice squad call up. So
I think he's waiting five more years because he would
have been eligible this year with these guys and he
was not. I think they pulled him off the list, right, yeah, Yeah,
he could have been. He would have still been. He
would definitely been one of those fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
They talked a finalist tea.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah and there. Whether he gets in or not, he
would have been won to fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I think so. Tampa Bay Bucks checking at eighteen them
in the court.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
They should be lower too. They don't ever win. Absolutely,
They're not much different than the Cardinals in some ways.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Seven of their last eight, right, six to their last seven? Yeah,
I seven of their last eight they've lost.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
There's the Bengals are better than the box Lord, yes,
blind clothes.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The Falcons are better than the Fox right right, they
got the same record. Uh yeah. The Bucks and the
Colts from where they were in mid October to where they're.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
At now, didn't see that collapse coming, right.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Life comes fast at you. In the National Football League,
another team not having the year they expected checking in
at seventeen. It's the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Ooh. I mean they don't mean to play for you more.
They're eliminated, but I think they're favored against the Steelers
or Ravens if they played again today. Maybe I know
we just saw that parade, But DK Metcalf playing or not,
I would rank the Steelers if he isn't. It's the
same thing as like Mahome's not being there for the Chiefs.
(16:49):
Yeah right, I mean if if currently constructed, he's not
a he's on the roster, he's not available.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The Lions are an interesting one because I definitely think
they're better than eight and eight. But Bill Parcells right says,
you are six sixteen. The Minnesota Vikings the team they're
putting some.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Good stuff together. Yeah they haven't cashed.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yeah they can finish with a winning record, But for them,
it's really about the quarterback situation next year.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
And a lot of mixed opinions. If late season momentum
translates to the following year. I never think it's a
bad thing. No, I agree, especially like a young quarterback
like MacCarthy.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I agree with you, right, Like we've talked about football
is different in that regard the wins and losses matter.
If they could keep Brian Floores around, because I gotta
think he'll factor into some some head coaching opportunities this offseason.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
H J J.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
McCarthy, what's going on there? I wonder you know, the
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman just announced that he's staying.
So that's another potential NFL head coaching opening. You know.
Apparently rumor was the Giants were pushing hard after him,
or not even a rumor the reports, but he will
stay at Notre Dame. That opens another door.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I'm sure we'll do some segments on obsolute, but it
sounds like most of them are defensive, yes, and there's
not a lot of these, Like there's not the Ben Johnson.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Correct right or the Liam Cohen right right right. And
that's the guy that I would want every one of
these teams, particularly if I'm a team that's the Raiders
and I'm going to be bringing in a young quarterback, Yeah,
I want the guy to mentor and develop that young quarterback.
Fifteen the Carolina Panthers stumbling.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Down the home stretch head of Tampa.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
In the NFC South. Yeah, definitely a big opportunity for
them in Tampa Bay on Saturday, number fourteen, the Baltimore
Ravens hanging around Matt They have the Steelers at thirteen.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
So those shocked at the Steelers are ahead of them.
The Ravens are favored.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I think I am too, But I also Lamar's health
feels like a big even with the Huntly performance that
we just saw, feels like Lamar's health is a big.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
I mean one week ago, I definitely would have had
the Steelers ahead of the Ravens. Yes, but I'm a
little shocked they don't, or that they still do. They're
putting right next each.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Other, they are, and you know what, the DK Metcalf
absence would probably be enough, in my mind matter to
flop those two matters. Certainly matters. But those two Steelers thirteen,
Ravens fourteen, number twelve, the Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Packers, they might be lower, but are they still better
than the Steelers and Ravens Maybe, but they'd be.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They're just they're just so knackered, man. They just just
beat them pretty bad in there in their house.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
If this was Ravens, Zation Radio would be a little
upset with being behind the Stackers. The second.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
We just beat these guys in their stadium.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Right right, ran all over them, ran it right at.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Them, punched them in the math for sixty minutes. Number eleven,
the LA Chargers.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's about where they belong.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I think it's about where they have the Bay. I
would definitely have them over Green Bay. I think they
deserve a lot of credit. I don't think they're a
legitimate Super Bowl threat, but I think they deserve a
ton of credit.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I mean, hanging on.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
They lost their one A offensive lineman before the season
even started, and their one B offensive lineman early into
the season. Herbert has been broken, hand, banged up, all
that stuff. They're eleven and five.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, in fact, they have eleven wins.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Impressive. I mean they at one point were down their
top two running backs as well with Dog and Hampton. Like,
they've had as much injury issues as anybody besides maybe
the Niners, but they've navigated it expertly into the top ten.
Number ten the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
The defense is playing phenomenal, by the way.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Very good, and that's gonna be enough for them to
be dangerous. But like Hurts didn't complete a pass the
entire second half of that game. And I know the
weather was a factor there in Buffalo, but I.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Think this is true. If not, I'm off by one.
There are three games this year where a team won
by and also threw less than five yards in one
of the half, and they're all the Eagles that.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Would check out.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
It would, but it's not. I would believe that last year,
more like when Barkley was running for the running game
has been ridiculous. No, it's a defense.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
It's the defense. The defense is outstanding, phenomenal and could
carry them, could rival the Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah, I mean they.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Took them a little while with all the new pieces.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Yeah, Phillips, Phillips getting involved my numbers quarterback right now,
they're dangerous man number nine, the Rams, Matt Williamson's Super
Bowl Darling, it'd still be one for me.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I can't quit them. And their O Lione was a
mess last night.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I can't quit them.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I still think they might win there like Nicotine.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I can't quit them over here.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Trust the quarterback and the coach. And I don't know
if he lost the MVP last night, but he's worse.
Number two.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, that's that's a good point. That was a weird
one last night.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It was first half was not pretty. No, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It wasn't. But I'm with you. I think the Rams
are one of those teams. They can flip the switch
when they need to, and they're very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
You know, like we talked about this with something Steeler guys.
But they're showing Adams running routes before the game. Looks great,
looks like throw him back in the mix and they'll
be okay.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They'll be just fine.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Number eight, the Houston Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I'm higher on them too.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I think both of these teams were both a little
bit higher. Yeah, the Texans after starting zero to three,
they are eleven and two in their last thirteen.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I think we mentioned about them if we were clear
enough last segment. Chances are whoever wins Sunday Night gets
the Texans, right.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yes, yes, yeah, yes, because the Texans play I forget who,
but the Texans I think have a pretty favorite.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
But someone in the division. It's not Jacksonville, so it's
either or.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
It's the Cults. Yes, it is the Colts. So that, yeah,
that should be a favorable matchup certainly, and that would
lead to Texans yes, the Texans traveling to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Or that would lock up their five seed.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
The Chicago Bears check in at number seven, Matt cool
for real?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah for real?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
You know, like you have group chats with your buddies.
We've all got that same thing, kind of a running
joke that we've had and one of my group chat
with all my buddies. You know, since probably I don't know,
mid October Halloween timeframe is like are the Bears for real?
Are the Bears for real? Are the Bears now? It's
just like every weekend, it's like someone will text, hey, guys,
the Bears are for real. The Bears are for real,
(23:04):
Like Sunday night every time Chicago would answer the Niners.
So you're like, hey, guys, I think the Bears are
for real. They're for real. I know that they lost
in San Francisco, but.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Even if they lose the first round of the playoffs, they
were they had a very real season.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Absolutely absolutely number six. The Buffalo Bills down three spots
after that loss to the Eagles to six. I don't know, man,
I still think Buffalo is a legit contender and threat
in the AFC.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Yeah, especially the way the AFC is constructed right now.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But this is another one of those. Such a week
the week league. I felt a lot better about the
Bills last week than I did this week.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Me too, and a lot of it's just all in health.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yep, that's one hundred percent, one hundred percent. Number five
into the top five here. The Niners check in at
number five, up two spots after they're taking down in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I've been reluctant to buy in just beca the defense
is getting hit so hard with injuries, but they just
outscore everybody.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Their offense is unbelieved it unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Machine.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Broncos check in at number four.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Cool, yeah, right, I'm as Patriots whatever.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Yeah, I think this is about right. They've got their flaws,
but everybody does. If bo Nix is, you know, playing
at a plus level, I think the Broncos are very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I was talking on my six Pack podcast, you know
about that class. You know, we were talking about May
Verse Stafford for m VP. Maybe May wins it, and
my co hosts like, I'd put a buck on Caleb
Williams for next year. I'm like, cool, great, I don't
think that's crazy. Yeah, maybe they're both ahead of Daniels,
who none of us are worried about it all. And
(24:37):
then I threw out, you might see may versus Nicks
in the AFC Championship. K welcome. I mean like that
class could be outstanding Rivers, Eli Ben, you know, yeah,
it could.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Be Lay Elway, Kelly.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Marino, Marino. Yeah, Kelly went to the USFL right away,
but then it took a year or two. The Burrow
to Herbert her love pretty strong lately too, pretty good? Yeah,
pretty falling off, but I mean still still.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Did I tell you I watched it. I tell you guys,
yesterday I watched the Lway documentary. That documentary on the
on the drive to Cleveland on the bus. Thought it
was really good.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah, very good.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I did not know that John Elway was the quarterback
of the famous The Band is on the field that
was his last college football game.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Imagine what's crazy is he had an awesome drive before.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Converted fourth and fourteen. It would be like some legendary
like launch Yeah yeah, NFL. Instead it's one of the
most epic endings. You know, on the field. That was
his last college football game. Losing, losing to your losing
to your rival like that who Number three, the Jacksonville Jags.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
I guess I can't argue with it.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Makes a ton of sense. I think you and I
both all year were very cautious on them.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Yeah. Yeah, but at twelve and four.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Ever since they blew that game in Houston against you know,
Davis Mills and the Texas, it's like two months ago,
they have been outstanding. Number two is the Patriots. Number
one is the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Fine, Seattle be one.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I would definitely have Seattle ahead of anybody.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
In the I know people think I'm crazy if if
I had the Rams won, they don't know it's good
a resume, but Seattle does.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I think I would probably have a couple more NFC
teams ahead of because it's Seattle one than Patriots, Jags, Broncos.
I might have some of those NFC teams higher than Patriots, Jags, Broncos.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Say, are the Eagles better than those three teams or
the Rams better than those three teams? Maybe Niners. I
think the Rams are definitely better than those three teams.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I think so too, But again I understand for the
purpose of power ranking, all Patriots did just absolutely boat
race the Jets and make it look like that was
a scrimmage game.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
So yeah, the Rams have two recent losses.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
But we're gonna tell you what pretty soon, these power rankings,
we're gonna rip them up and throw them out the window.
We're gonna see the playoffs play out here, baby, and
see how it all goes down. This is a long segment.
We're overdue for a break. Let's take a little bit
of a look at the draft order when we return
on the other side. Wells Shooler, Matt Williamson. It is
the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Back on the drive here as we roll along on
a Tuesday evening in Matt, let's kind of piggyback off
a lot of this power rankings, playoff order, playoff picture.
Part of me a conversation that we've been having today
because with one week to go, the race is on
for the top ten picks. Yeah, in the NFL draft
(27:46):
number one. Everybody knows is the race super quick.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Sorry, I show you a lot, but.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
That's usually when the good stuff is on the way.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So off eighteen and above our playoff team. Yes, and
we pretty much know who those are, you know, so
we basically know, with the exception of two teams either Steels,
the Ravens or Panthers or Box, who are going to
pick in the top eighteen seventeen.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Yes, yes, absolutely, and that picture will obviously become.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
And that's all changing too, yes.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yes, bye. By Monday, we'll we'll have some finality on that.
But here's what we know. As of now, Raiders are
number one. They're the worst team in the league win
loss record. There's a handful of teams that have three
wins and four wins, but the Raiders the lone two
win team in the National Football League, and as things
stand today, they would be first. Now I think, so,
(28:40):
I think, And listen, would you and I have talked
about this a little bit and we'll get more and
more into it in depth.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, I don't think Mendoza has the Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger,
Joe Burrow ceiling, but I think he's got a pretty
high floor.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Like I think at worst he's Kirk Cousins.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Yeah, you know, like at worst he's heard like her.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
And that's like like if you're the Raiders. You would
absolutely sign up for that time. You wouldn't have had
a quarterback that good and that much stability at your
most important position.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
That's a good start in a long time.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
It's a goods. It's not taking Andrew Luck first overall,
Trevor Lawrence first overall draft.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
The guys are available, but it's.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
It's a I and I know this is not necessarily
what you want to hear for the first overall pick,
but for taking like I think cam Ward has a
higher ceiling than Mendoza, but I think Mendoza would be
a safer first overall pick, Like I would be shocked
if he bust.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
If they both coming the same year, I could see
cases for both. Yes, personally, I swing for the fences.
I would have warned ahead of them.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Like we've talked about I want to go to Porsche, yeah,
and not Honda yeak down. But I know I'm getting
two hundred thousand miles out of that, han Man, you
know what I mean. It's gonna get me on to
a lot of places that I need to go. Raiders
picking number one, and you know, barring something unforeseen crazy,
they will pick number one. Then there's four teams right now,
(30:01):
with three wins the Giants, the Jets, the Titans, and
the Cardinals. Based on tie breakers, it would be seated
currently in that order that I just stated. So the
Giants would be two, the Jets would be three, Titans four,
Cardinals five.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Okay, giants are and well again this is such we'll
talk this to death.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
If they end up with two, maybe in a great spot. Yes,
because of Mendoza, Go's one and there's another Dante Moore.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yes, they The gionversation is going to be do you
move on from Dart? Do you take more?
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Now? If you ask me right now, who would I
rather have? It would be Dante Moore, me too. But
if you're also asking me, is Dante more worth completely
giving up on Jackson Dart after a year? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I don't know right. I mean, that's gonna be the conversation, yes,
which is.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
An interesting hear that talk to death. You and I
might talk that to death.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
By the time we get we will already know it's coming,
there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
But that's an interesting one. The Giants would be in
a favorable, very good position there at pick two.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
So people be like, boy, that's hard to move off
first round quarterback. No, it's not. He's making like four
million a year, five million a year. He was a
twenty third pick or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Moving off of Kenny Pickett kill the Steelers from a
snap standpoint or anything.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Absolutely the way that the structure, it's not hard to
move from late first guy.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Yeah, if he was the if Jackson Dart was the
sixth overall pick, it's a different content. Yeah, number three
the Jets, that'd be a good spot for them to Yeah,
they've got to maybe not to get their future franchise quarterback,
but maybe that's not the maybe that they want to
build that nest up a little bit more before they
do so.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And then Titans at number four, again, they could stay
put right there and have a great chance to get
the best offensive line and the best wide receiver, the
best defensive player. Is sorry, I'm banging Mike. I'm banging
the desk, the Bob Labriola thing, and I'm banging the
desk too hard, and Williamson's mic is going flying over there.
Boo boo. But if you're the Titans at number four,
you could have a ton on the table, including Hey,
(31:59):
we can always trade down couple spots and pick up
some more capital if more and more.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, again, they're going the right direction. They're gonna have
a high pick. There was a portion of the season
where it looked like they'd have one, and then you
could really hold teams from Ransom for Mendoza and that
would be a wonderful spot. Absolutely, that ship sailed for them.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That ship has sailed for them. They could still move
up a little bit from four, but it's gonna be
the Raiders picking pick. The first believe that a team
that at five is not in the greatest scenario is
the Cardinals because it's probably gonna be too late for
them to get a quarterback there. Yeah, and I don't know. Again,
they'll have a shot at taking a ridd off line
(32:35):
and really good defensive player, but they're gonna be probably
one of those in the quarterback market as well, and
they might.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Wonder if they just run it back with Brissette, trade
Kyler and try to get in that market a year
from now. That's probably what I would be maybe Kyler
or that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Yeah, I mean there could be worse stop gaps for
the set.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Absolutely, I think you're picking in this neighborhood next year.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
You know, there are currently Matt two or win teams
in the NFL, the Commanders who would pick sixth, and
the Cleveland Browns, who would pick seventh.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I've been hard on the Commanders, but they're a pretty
good roster to be picking this early to add a
premium player.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
If it's maybe you could get the second or third
defensive player off the board. Yeah, what if you get
an RVL rece he.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Re or the second best ad rusher, you know, or
something like that, Like okay, they buy that.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Commanders are in a are in a good spot too.
Browns is an interesting one at seven because again you're
probably out of the quarterback range there.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
I wonder if it's just well they do two first,
don't they. They's going to be the Jags, which we're
going to be higher, But later they could get the two.
They could I mean, you could convince the Giants why
you can't start, and you know.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We'll give you seven, twenty two or twenty three, whatever
it ends up being. It certainly could be in play.
They could also be another one who's just hey, there's
one offensive lineman off the board at this point, or
maybe they're all the tackles are still there. At pitch seventh.
You can get what's his face from Miami or you
can get Fannu from Utah and kind of two top prospects.
(34:05):
That'd be interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
If I were Cleveland, maybe they can be convinced Sanders
as the guy. Maybe I'm not, but maybe they are.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Me me.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
I mean, I would, I would, I would somewhat understand it.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Number eight the Saints. There are no five win teams
in the NFL right now, so now you're out of
the three and four win territory now into the six
win territory. It would be Saints eight. Chiefs nine.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Yeah, that's frightening for the rest of the world.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Bengals ten mm.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
I mean, could the Chiefs get the best receiver in
the draft?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Hundred? Yeah? Right, they could go we want we want
Tate or we want Lemon or we want Pyson, whoever
they think is the best they're picked. Nine. Certainly a possibility.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Bengals are pretty good to be picking that early too.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Bengal.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I mean, we know it's gonna be defense, I'm sure,
but could they get downs? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Yeah, absolutely, because I would be surprised if by the
time we get to pick seven eight, there's not two
quarterbacks off the board.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Yeah, already.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
The Bengal probably I wouldn't think, would go back to
edge rusher back to back years.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
It's certainly possible, right, Hendrickson's probably won't be back.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Because Hendrickson probably won't be back, and it's not like
Schimer Stewart has lit the world on fire. But there
I also, they don't think they're gonna, you know, punt
on him after a year. Oh no, no, but that
would be interesting. So especially if you consider Matt say two,
So say the Bengals on the clock at ten, two
quarterbacks go in the top nine, the Chiefs take a
wide receiver, which the Bengals aren't gonna do.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
There could be two defensive players off the board at
that point.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Possible, right, Bengals could be in a good spot. Chiefs
could be in a good spot. I really for all
these teams, except for maybe the Cardinals and the Browns,
just because needing quarterbacks and where they're pegged, I think
all these teams are gonna have a lot of options
on the team, except for the Raiders. For the Raiders,
it should be we're putting our phone on, do not
disturb and we're drafting Fernanda Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Yeah, I agree, Chiefs and Bengals are just not that
far removed from being pretty darn successful, you know. Absolutely,
you can kind of say that about washing Into but
it's only one good year for.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Washington, good offseason, and they're right back into the food
And yeah, that's if you're Kansas City. That's the one
bright spot is hey, your your dynasty. This edition of
it came to a screeching halt, but you got an
opportunity to reboot it pretty quickly on the other side too,
So we'll see. But that's what the top ten looks.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Like currently, Okay. I mean it's just startling to see
the Chiefs there. I knew they were in the top ten,
but you just don't see that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
It's crazy, right it is.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
The Lions are going to be like at fourteen probably
or so at fifteen or something like that too. It's
like they weren't that far removing a pretty good team.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Too, right right, I mean, the Bengals were a popular
pick to win the AFC North.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Come out A favorite Baltimore might have been.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
I think Baltimore was a slight favorite over Cincinnati, but
a lot of the talking heads were picking the Bengals
to win the division. Now they're picking in the top ten.
Albeit though if they win and they beat the Browns,
that could throw that into flux. They could end up
moving back, you know, twelve thirteen, whatever the case may be.
But we'll keep an eye on this as we go along.
But that's where we are at here right now, with
one week to go and terms of the top ten
(37:00):
of the NFL Draft. Segur final break here Matt closed
this thing down. On the other side was Shooler. Matt Williamson.
It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
You were two weeks about Drive on your twenty four
to seven home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
Final segment here of the Drive on this Tuesday, as
we cross some te's and dot some i's before we
get up out of here, Matt, I did notice this too,
Matthew Stafford sixth all time in NFL passing yards now
after last night, passing former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. No, yeah,
(37:47):
so Ben Ben jumps the spot back there in his
in terms of his career. Stafford, I know that this
was a debate a couple of years ago, but like,
he's a no brainer, surefire Hall of Famer now, right.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
I thought so the second they won the Super Bowl. Yeah,
and probably even before that. Yes, And now, especially if
he wins the MVP, I think that's a first ballot
Drew Brees level type. You know that we had that conversation.
I think he's kind of vastly underrated in terms of
like all time quarterbacks. I agree with you on the right.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
I agree with you on that, and I think, especially
in hindsight, like a couple of times that he was
able to navigate the Lions to the playoffs and things
like that look even better when he went to the Rams,
and now.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
The success of the All Hill Climb.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Yeah, and I think people had kind of written him
off and then they have that resurgence last year and
win a playoff game and take Philly down to the
wire and then have another chance to go on a
great run this year.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
I haven't done it in a long time. But like,
if I do like my top twenty quarterbacks of all time,
I don't think he's in the top ten, but he's
be in top twenty. You know what.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
That's another one of those things that we should do
this offseason.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Yeah, it's in the it's the hardest one ever.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
But in the in the you know, watching the The
l Way documentary on on Netflix to.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Him higher, But I mean I have higher than most people.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
If you go into my attic, there's still youth John
Elway and Terrell Davis Jerseys somewhere somewhere in my attics.
I'm maybe a little bias, but I'm adding that to
the I have a notes tab on my laptop titled
the TV's laughing over there, because you know, you have
talked about this with him a couple of times, titled
the Weird Word the Weird World of Matt Williamson. And
(39:28):
it's all just different random topics that we could get
into during the offseason. I just put Top twenty quarterbacks. Ever,
this's something that will debate at some point, because you're right,
that's a lot more fun than the top ten, uh Matt.
ESPN just posted their first and second team all rookie
rosters for the NFL this year. Okay, so I know
we only got like a few minutes here, but let's
run through this real quick and just see if there's
(39:48):
any that you would patently disagree with anything like that.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Something that might be quiet on half of them.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Yeah, quarterback I don't think is surprising cam Ward first team,
Tyler Schuck second time.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
I think I have Shucked first. Really, I like Ward
better going forward, But who had the better year?
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Interesting shock just because of this stretch of games. I mean,
but I get what you're saying War he did. He
certainly did. Yeah, he has a much larger sample size
this year than than Shuck does. But I think those
guys are clear one and two.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Yeah, I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
No, I mean, yeah, I was gonna say, I don't
even know. Really who else you'd have in the conversation
he had no Dart didn't play enough Sanders or Dylan
Gabriel didn't play.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
Enough Dart would be three.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yes, I was laughing at that they had these. And listen,
I understand that's what teams do. Like if you're the
Browns content team, like, you gotta find stuff to pump
out there, even if your team's only won three games.
But one of the things that they had, like on
the jumbo Tron pregame was like Brown's rookie quarterbacks have
thrown for the second most yards of any rookie quarterback.
(40:52):
And I'm like, okay, Campboard and Shuck who just started
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
But I get it.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
You gotta find positive things to put on the on
the big screen. Running Backs Travon Henderson first team, Quinn
Shawn Junkinds second team. Little oh h I oh.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Yeah, Hampton didnt play enough, gent Y didn't have enough.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Moo got hurt already. I mean, Monding guy might deserve
a shout in here. But yeah, I think I think
those are the two. I think those are the clear two.
Wide receiver Ted McMillan first team. Sorry sorry sorry, They
did first team tet A Mecca and Luther.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Burden, okay, and then yes, even though he is falling off.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
And then they did second team, Pat Bryan, Jaden Higgins,
Chimiri Dyke.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Okay, yes, I might have just picked.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
I might have just picked between the top three for
first and second teamer, but I think those top three
are the clear three.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Yeah, that's not super impressive.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
Though it's not. I mean, Buca started out crazy hot
and he's he's kind of flat lined, like they have.
I think McMillan's the clear one. I mean he's he's
a good player. Uh. Tight end Fannin Junior, number one,
Cleveland Browns easily second team Colson Loveland.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
And they said that they would have had Tyler Warren
in this spot until the last couple of weeks. I
guess that's fair.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Numbers are bonkers.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Unbelievable, especially considering like he didn't have the Caleb Williams
and the you know, the Daniel Jones like throwing him
the ball for for the majority of the season. Left
tackle Calvin or Kevin sorry, Kelvin Banks junior from the
New Orleans Saints, really good, Josh Simmons from the Chiefs.
Number two. Uh.
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Left over Campbell from the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
But that's a good call. I guess Campbell missed some
time in there. Gray Zabel, the left guard for the
Seattle Seahawks, I think one of the more underrated offensive
linemen in the entire league this season.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
I don't think there's like any centers to pick from.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Uh. Jonah Monaghan of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His number is
number one. He only has two starts. That tells you
it was in that department. Tyler Booker, the right guard
for the Cowboy His first team. Uh, and your boy
Armond Membo of the Jets. Easy one, easy one at
right tackle. Let's see here, Abdul Carter at edge rusher.
(43:15):
Is he gonna win? Who's gonna win Defensive Rookie of
the Year.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
I think he'll be sweatinger you think so? Yeah, very
well could be.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
He's he's obviously the pick it uh at linebacker, but
Ghot Campbell right on his yeah, right on his toes.
There Will Johnson, first teamer at corner out of the Cardinals.
Quincy Riley as well too from the Saints. He's really
come on in the back half of the season.
Speaker 3 (43:38):
Had a really good rookie class.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Jonas Sanker their safety. Yeah, the third round pick on here, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
Left tackle, quarterback, and two pieces of your secondary right
off the bat.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
Yeah, rookie class and h and Nick Wori of the
he's an outside He's difference quietly been been very good
after being a second round pick.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
That was a fun way to it down there. We'll
have more of that big picture stuff in the following weeks,
but obviously as we roll along the rest of the week,
we'll start to turn the page and focus on the
Baltimore Ravens. We'll do all that and more as we
roll along. Thanks to Chris Adamski for joining us here today,
to Nathan for producing on the radio side of things,
(44:19):
TV Mister TV on the video side of things, keeping
us crisp and handsome as always, for Matt Williams and
um Wesheeler. Take care everybody, We'll talk to you tomorrow.
As always, you know where to find us. It's on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and
Gold at Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Your tuns about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Good evening, Stealer Nation. How we do it? That's good
us too. Better than yesterday?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Yesterday? Question mark?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Absolutely, I think yeah, got a good night's sleep. Girls
slept intil the balmy hour of seven am, so oh wow,
we were really feeling good.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
I think my kid slept on noon. So I was
saying this, I don't wake me up, get breakfast anyway.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
No, they do not. I was saying this to my
My brother in law is with us for a couple
more days. He was in for the holiday. He graduated
from Robert Morris last year. He now works in Wisconsin.
He works for a software company in Madison, Wisconsin. And
like I was having the conversation with him last night
while we were all having dinner of like, this is
(01:00):
the time, this time, this time of year, in summertime,
or when I really miss like being young, being in school,
oh man, because just Christmas break and summer break, Like
it's the best.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
I've told you this, and it's ridge repeat at my
house lately with my son having people over and just
crushing thirty packs left and right. But last night, they're
watching the Monday night football game and ten or twelve
of them in the basement just making a mess out of
my house. And I go down to halftime and I
fill my glass and what are we betting on now, dude?
(01:30):
And I'm like, put two bucks on rams money line.
At this point, I think they're losing twenty one nothing. Boy,
the place erupted. I mean for a good hour and
a half, the whole second half. I'm just here and come. Yeah.
But like I mean, because the odds were like, I
don't know, fifteen to one at that point.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Yeah, when you're down twenty four to nothing or whatever
it was.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Twenty one or twenty four and a half time, I'm
like mcvay'll figure some things out. They'll come back and
make this interesting. And it goes down the last play. Yeah, controversy,
right right. I mean, so they almost had the thrill
of a lifetime on the big hit.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
That's fantastic. That's what we do this for, boys, MAC.
Time to take a let's try that again. Time to
take a look at our weekly power rankings here of
course Week eighteen addition, as we head down the home
stretch of the NFL regular season and big shocker, but
a different team at number thirty two here Jets.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
No, I'm just kidding it, Okay, say I was going
to say the Jets better be thirty one, but nobody
beats out the Raiders.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I just wanted to see if I could get you,
get you like a what?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
No, totally, I mean Jets got the Jet pretty bad.
I mean they're pretty horrible right now too.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Uh yeah, that's Raiders thirty two, Jets thirty one. That
I mean, yeah, if you wanted to switch them, I
wouldn't hate it. But yeah, clearly, yeah, clearly bottom of
the bear.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Gets a conversation at thirty. Yes, yes, Giants.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That's who it is. Okay, I think I think I
would go Cardinals because the Giants is just one right,
Cardinals are one in thirteen in their last fourteen games.
Ignore now again, we are you know, we're picking through
the you know, garbage, the garbage here, and I'm saying
(03:20):
I want that rotten banana peel over that you know,
that orange that's been cast aside.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, we're dumpster diving.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
We're dumpster diving. But I think I would go Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Seems are shutting guys down. To that could have played
and you know, yeah, going wrong.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I think I would go Cardinals thirty, Giants twenty nine
or maybe twenty eight. The Titans stay put it at
twenty eight after that back toward Saints game.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
It was pretty enjoyable. Yeah, and at least there's encouraging
things coming out of that one.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
I'm not saying I'm moving the Titans crazy high up
these lists, but I would take them right now to
beat the Cardinals, the Jets, the Raiders, and the Giants
for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Yes, for sure. Yes, Giant showed signs of life.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Giants showed signs of life, albeit against a lifeless opponent.
But they're at least ahead of that, I think. And yeah,
the right maybe we should talk about this a little
bit in the next segment of Raiders firmly trending to
having that number one overall pick.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
Yeah, I don't know the order other than that off
the top of my head, so I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Let's we'll discuss that a little bit here and nour
number two. But yeah, the Titans stay and put at
number twenty eight after a close loss back and forth
to the Saints, number twenty seven up a couple spots
is the Cleveland Brands.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
A defense that they do. Yeah, we certainly, we certainly
compart these bad teams. They get something to hang their
hat on, you know.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Hey, man, I mean between Miles Garrett, what they have
at linebacker, Yeah, Denzel Ward there and some other nice
pieces in the secondary. Matt Miles Garrett. Does he break
the record Sunday against Cincinnata. Yes, Joe Burrow, can you
do something for me, buddy.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I'm gonna say yes. But I mean all these teams,
not because it's the record, are scheming a mad amount
of people in his in his path, you know. Yeah,
it's not gonna be an easy road for them.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Were you the one that had the suggestion of, like,
if you're the Steelers, just take the Brett Farv esque set.
Were you the one who brought that up yesterday? Or
was that somebody else?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I would not. I don't think Rogers would ever.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I don't think Rodgers would ever saw Tomlin wouldever signed
up for that. But there were I saw some people
in the aftermath being like.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Because Farv was the one that did it too, he's
not going to follow it no way.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
First first play the game, you should have just done
the Brett Faarr of Michael Strahan and just giving Garrett
the sack record and gotten it out of the way
and then proceeded with the rest of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So rewatching the game. Here's an observation we didn't bring
up about Garrett though. He was more infatuated with it
than anybody. Yes, and I get it. What else do
you have to play for? It's a huge record. Hey,
if I was, you know, trying to get the home
run record, I'd be into it too, especially if.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
You were trying to get the home run record on
a bottom five or sixteen.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Rightly, you have nothing else.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
If you're on the Dodgers and you got a chance
to win the World Series, it's a different call. But
if you're a pirate, it's.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Like swinging for the fences on everything. You know. But man,
watch him a different time, different times throughout the game.
He widened his alignment massively, like he was on the sidelines.
I mean, like you never see why nine right, my goodness,
just saying if I can get ahead of Steam, I
mean taking extra steps to get there. But I mean
(06:13):
that's the only reason you would do that. Like and
game well's chipping him and he's coming to the outside
shoulder of the chipper, you know, trying to take on
you know, just for sack. You only do that for sacks,
is like I'm just want to get ahead of steam going.
I just urge people to check it out. There were
a full of plays where no edge defender should line
(06:33):
up that hot that line.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
It reminded me of remember that weird dream team Philadelphia
Eagles team like fifteen years ago.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah, when they had a great offseason and they never
came to.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Some off season and they moved there. It was one
of the weirdest coaching decisions I've ever made. They moved
their offensive line coach Juan Castillo to defensive.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Cordinayling, and they're strange.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
They would have Connor Barwin like lined up like fifteen
yards outside of Yeah. Yeah, I was so bizarre. But
that's the only other time I've ever seen that.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
He only was doing that to get a sack, which
I don't even blame him, but it's still weird stuff,
you know, Like I'm not gonna get into it, but
like a three technique is on the outside shoulder of
a guard. Five techniques on the outside shoulder technique and
the odd ones are outside. So a wide nine is
a staple for the Browns. I mean, that's that means
(07:24):
you're coming from really far. Anyways, he was outside of
the tight end. He's like, he's like thirteen, there was
such a thing. Yeah, that's it's crazy. He's like he's
covering the slot receiver.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Myles Garrett lining up on the outside shoulder of the
slot receivers, right, And I gotta imagine they'll do more
of that stuff. I mean, listen, I'm not.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Sure he's just choosing to do it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yes for them this week, like it's probably last week.
Job number one was we're not letting the Steelers Clint
the division in our house we're in. Job number two
was probably get Miles the record this week. Job number
one is get Miles the record. For the Cleveland Browns,
in terms of how they're preparing for this week.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
They should stun them and twist them and do stuff
like that a little bit more and make it they
didn't do a ton of that.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
They did some and the Bengals are not just going
to give the ball to Brown thirty times and to
hope to mitigate that, the Bengals are going to go
out there and try and win and let Burrows sling
it and I got a feeling he'll probably get it done.
But hey, that'll be certainly a side plot to watch.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
But I wouldn't to make sure we mentioned that, I'm
kind of done talking about Miles Garrett in the sack
record and how it influenced the game. But boy, he
cared about it. I mean, his alignment was.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Weird, without a doubt, Without a doubt. Did you see
Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz were going back and forth
on Twitter about the conversation we had yesterday about to
the Steelers trying game plan Miles too much to hinder
what they now because Joe Thomas was tweeting about it
and yeah, and Mitchell Schwartz just replied and was like, dude,
if their number one goal was to prevent Miles Garrett
(08:48):
from breaking the sack record, they probably wouldn't have dropped
Aaron Rodgers back thirty nine times, you know, Like, why
would they have had Aaron throw the ball thirty nine
times if they were that obsessed with keeping Miles Garrett
you know, shut out in that regard.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
I don't have the numbers in front of me, but
the Steelers did go empty a lot, but every time
they did they either rolled him.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yes, or that it was some percent of the time yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They were all away from him, or it was a
real super quick yeah yeah, thirty seconds.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Commanders check in at twenty six. I don't know. I
might have them a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
The Arizona. It's like they have some talent, but they're
really bad.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
Now. Yeah, yeah, I might have them a little bit.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Titans right now. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
They might not, They might not. I mean the Titans
at least have a quarterback and some tangible you know,
things that they can hang their hat on. Commanders at
twenty six, Chiefs all the way down at twenty five,
Well that's yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
But it's kind of weird because as constructed on New
Year's Eve, they don't have a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I yeah, right, in the true sense of power ranking
is this is right?
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yeah, you can't honor what they could be or.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Also don't have a backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
I mean right, they're not playing with an NFL starter
or backup right.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Number twenty four the Miami Dolphins seems a little rough.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
They're seven to nine, right, I mean they're not junk.
I understand way better than when we talked about it.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
I understand the quarterback situation is also dire, as we
kind of have mentioned with some of these teams, but
I'm with you. I think they should be a few
spots higher.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I mean, I'm a shock fan and I'm impressed with
what the States have done lately, but I don't know
if they beat the Dolphins, the so.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Are one spot out of Dolphins at twenty three. Shuck
Man two hundred and fifty one yards, two touchdowns after halftime.
I mean, like he's been very good. Four straight wins
for the Saints. I mean again, they were in that
conversation for the pop overall pick about a month ago.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
He's to be their starter next year.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Now it's like, I think we've got our quarterback for
next year. How do we build around that guy and
keep building up the nest? And Olave's really come on
to which has helped them big time.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
M hm. They might be a pretty well coached team too.
They might be they were a bad situation.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
They're one of those, like like we've said with the Titans,
like they're a good offseason away not from being a contender,
but from being maybe a playoff can get in back,
you know, could win eight or nine games, playing important
football in December, So with something on the line. Twenty
two is those Cincinnati Bengals. They've been rolling the last
two weeks.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
They're playing as well as they have at a point
really in the season.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
It's what they have done the last few years. You know,
they kind of get healthy, healthy at the wrong time.
They hit their stride at the wrong time.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Yeah, they often have that.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
But they could still finish seven and ten, which again,
like if you're a Bengals fan, you're probably kicking yourself, like,
can we just lose some games here and get a
better draft pick?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
And I better not have them ahead of a couple
of teams we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Mention, but I yeah, as constructed right now, they're dangerous.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Going to play against Borough chasing Higgins, and you know.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
I could probably make a okay total aside here. Could
you argue that you'd rather play the Ravens than the
Bengals this weekend?
Speaker 3 (11:56):
I was almost gonna say that they're playing the best
football in the division right right now.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
If it was a four team round robin AFC right
start from scratch right now, the thing might be slightly
but might be the favorite.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, Browns are definitely fourth.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Browns are definitely fourth.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I don't think that's insane.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
I don't either. Number twenty one, the team who pulled
it off last night quietly seven and nine. The Atlanta
Falcons could finish eight to nine.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Kind of respectable.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
They certainly haven't. They've got some playmakers man, and Rahie
Morris has at least he hasn't lost that team even
think job I think I think so. They were four
to nine, just defenses.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Used to be a lot of young guys playing. His
cousin's a starter.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Somewhere next year he gets the opportunity to be, he
goes to like an Arizona with a first round quarterback.
I don't think Minnesota would bring him back because he's
already been with that organization, but somewhere like that with
a JJ McCarthy, maybe the Saints would be interested in
bringing him in to kind of have as a uh,
you know, if things don't work out with Tyler Shuck,
or just to have from around to mentor the young quarters.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
Kind of one like if the Raiders got their quarterback rooms,
you know and pick it are both gone and you
know you're taking Mendoza.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Great one.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I'm in for that absolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Yeah, they're almost like the exact same human beings. Now
I think about it, they're both.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Weapons gray goofiness for both.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
Of those guys. How do you do that quarterback?
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Weapons of mass dork structure between In fact, for everybody
in the Las Vegas market right now, if you end
up drafting Mendoza and getting Kirk Cousins, you're welcome to
use weapons of mass dorkstruction.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
And you get to worry about them getting in trouble.
Give me that Vegas stress.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Or exactly what Sin City? No, thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
We'll be in glass of milk and him a mile tea. Yeah, now,
I love that combination.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
We gotta start, we got to start opining for.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
That and Tom Brady's listening and make it happen.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah, TB twelve, Come on, dude, I of all the
this quarterback is going to land the mac Jones is
the Kyler Murray's that. I think Cousins would be the
mac Jones maybe, But if if I'm starting with a
young quarterback, yeah, I would want to hurt. If it's
like JJ McCarthy where it's you know, the crossroads. Time
(14:18):
to put up or shut up. Then I want probably
a mac Jones type. Yeah yeah, but if i'm if
I'm bringing in a Mendoza or a Dante Moore or
somebody like that, and I just want a vet to
mentor him and to be there.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
And really that's kind of what he's with Pennix too.
I mean I'm not sure he even moves. Yeah, it's
good point, is what he's doing now.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
A good point. Falcons, Man, if they had a first
round pick, they could they could really be in a
good spot that next year.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Buddy and his friends are so impressed with I'm like,
remember the Rams who they're playing right now, benefit double
if they win this game. Right, They're like, oh, that's
good thinking, mister living.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
Thanks, maybe I will one day. Cowboy checking at number twenty.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
They're falling apart.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, I mean they are the definition of average defense.
Some weeks they're bad. Some weeks seven eight and one,
they could finish eight eight and one, and that's about
what they are.
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Yeah. Yeah, nineteen the Colts, they're falling apart.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
They are falling apart.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
And man, they announced Umi Leonard, Yes, Rivers this week.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Not going to be Rivers this week? Does that play
into his draft or his draft part of me his
Hall of Fame clock at all.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
I think they put him on the active rosters. I
don't think he was a practice squad call up. So
I think he's waiting five more years because he would
have been eligible this year with these guys and he
was not. I think they pulled him off the list, right, yeah, Yeah,
he could have been. He would have still been. He
would definitely been one of those fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
They talked a finalist tea.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah and there. Whether he gets in or not, he
would have been won to fifteen.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I think so. Tampa Bay Bucks checking at eighteen them
in the court.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
They should be lower too. They don't ever win. Absolutely,
They're not much different than the Cardinals in some ways.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
Seven of their last eight, right, six to their last seven? Yeah,
I seven of their last eight they've lost.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
There's the Bengals are better than the box Lord, yes,
blind clothes.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The Falcons are better than the Fox right right, they
got the same record. Uh yeah. The Bucks and the
Colts from where they were in mid October to where they're.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
At now, didn't see that collapse coming, right.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Life comes fast at you. In the National Football League,
another team not having the year they expected checking in
at seventeen. It's the Detroit Lions.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Ooh. I mean they don't mean to play for you more.
They're eliminated, but I think they're favored against the Steelers
or Ravens if they played again today. Maybe I know
we just saw that parade, But DK Metcalf playing or not,
I would rank the Steelers if he isn't. It's the
same thing as like Mahome's not being there for the Chiefs.
(16:49):
Yeah right, I mean if if currently constructed, he's not
a he's on the roster, he's not available.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
The Lions are an interesting one because I definitely think
they're better than eight and eight. But Bill Parcells right says,
you are six sixteen. The Minnesota Vikings the team they're
putting some.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Good stuff together. Yeah they haven't cashed.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yeah they can finish with a winning record, But for them,
it's really about the quarterback situation next year.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
And a lot of mixed opinions. If late season momentum
translates to the following year. I never think it's a
bad thing. No, I agree, especially like a young quarterback
like MacCarthy.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
I agree with you, right, Like we've talked about football
is different in that regard the wins and losses matter.
If they could keep Brian Floores around, because I gotta
think he'll factor into some some head coaching opportunities this offseason.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
H J J.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
McCarthy, what's going on there? I wonder you know, the
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman just announced that he's staying.
So that's another potential NFL head coaching opening. You know.
Apparently rumor was the Giants were pushing hard after him,
or not even a rumor the reports, but he will
stay at Notre Dame. That opens another door.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I'm sure we'll do some segments on obsolute, but it
sounds like most of them are defensive, yes, and there's
not a lot of these, Like there's not the Ben Johnson.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
Correct right or the Liam Cohen right right right. And
that's the guy that I would want every one of
these teams, particularly if I'm a team that's the Raiders
and I'm going to be bringing in a young quarterback, Yeah,
I want the guy to mentor and develop that young quarterback.
Fifteen the Carolina Panthers stumbling.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Down the home stretch head of Tampa.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
In the NFC South. Yeah, definitely a big opportunity for
them in Tampa Bay on Saturday, number fourteen, the Baltimore
Ravens hanging around Matt They have the Steelers at thirteen.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
So those shocked at the Steelers are ahead of them.
The Ravens are favored.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I think I am too, But I also Lamar's health
feels like a big even with the Huntly performance that
we just saw, feels like Lamar's health is a big.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
I mean one week ago, I definitely would have had
the Steelers ahead of the Ravens. Yes, but I'm a
little shocked they don't, or that they still do. They're
putting right next each.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Other, they are, and you know what, the DK Metcalf
absence would probably be enough, in my mind matter to
flop those two matters. Certainly matters. But those two Steelers thirteen,
Ravens fourteen, number twelve, the Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
Packers, they might be lower, but are they still better
than the Steelers and Ravens Maybe, but they'd be.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
They're just they're just so knackered, man. They just just
beat them pretty bad in there in their house.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
If this was Ravens, Zation Radio would be a little
upset with being behind the Stackers. The second.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
We just beat these guys in their stadium.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Right right, ran all over them, ran it right at.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Them, punched them in the math for sixty minutes. Number eleven,
the LA Chargers.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's about where they belong.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
I think it's about where they have the Bay. I
would definitely have them over Green Bay. I think they
deserve a lot of credit. I don't think they're a
legitimate Super Bowl threat, but I think they deserve a
ton of credit.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
I mean, hanging on.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
They lost their one A offensive lineman before the season
even started, and their one B offensive lineman early into
the season. Herbert has been broken, hand, banged up, all
that stuff. They're eleven and five.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Yeah, in fact, they have eleven wins.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Impressive. I mean they at one point were down their
top two running backs as well with Dog and Hampton. Like,
they've had as much injury issues as anybody besides maybe
the Niners, but they've navigated it expertly into the top ten.
Number ten the Eagles.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
The defense is playing phenomenal, by the way.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
Very good, and that's gonna be enough for them to
be dangerous. But like Hurts didn't complete a pass the
entire second half of that game. And I know the
weather was a factor there in Buffalo, but I.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Think this is true. If not, I'm off by one.
There are three games this year where a team won
by and also threw less than five yards in one
of the half, and they're all the Eagles that.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Would check out.
Speaker 3 (20:47):
It would, but it's not. I would believe that last year,
more like when Barkley was running for the running game
has been ridiculous. No, it's a defense.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
It's the defense. The defense is outstanding, phenomenal and could
carry them, could rival the Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Yeah, I mean they.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Took them a little while with all the new pieces.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Yeah, Phillips, Phillips getting involved my numbers quarterback right now,
they're dangerous man number nine, the Rams, Matt Williamson's Super
Bowl Darling, it'd still be one for me.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I can't quit them. And their O Lione was a
mess last night.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I can't quit them.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I still think they might win there like Nicotine.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
I can't quit them over here.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Trust the quarterback and the coach. And I don't know
if he lost the MVP last night, but he's worse.
Number two.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yeah, that's that's a good point. That was a weird
one last night.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It was first half was not pretty. No, it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It wasn't. But I'm with you. I think the Rams
are one of those teams. They can flip the switch
when they need to, and they're very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
You know, like we talked about this with something Steeler guys.
But they're showing Adams running routes before the game. Looks great,
looks like throw him back in the mix and they'll
be okay.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
They'll be just fine.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Number eight, the Houston Texans.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
I'm higher on them too.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I think both of these teams were both a little
bit higher. Yeah, the Texans after starting zero to three,
they are eleven and two in their last thirteen.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I think we mentioned about them if we were clear
enough last segment. Chances are whoever wins Sunday Night gets
the Texans, right.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Yes, yes, yeah, yes, because the Texans play I forget who,
but the Texans I think have a pretty favorite.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
But someone in the division. It's not Jacksonville, so it's
either or.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
It's the Cults. Yes, it is the Colts. So that, yeah,
that should be a favorable matchup certainly, and that would
lead to Texans yes, the Texans traveling to Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
Or that would lock up their five seed.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
The Chicago Bears check in at number seven, Matt cool
for real?
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah for real?
Speaker 2 (22:44):
You know, like you have group chats with your buddies.
We've all got that same thing, kind of a running
joke that we've had and one of my group chat
with all my buddies. You know, since probably I don't know,
mid October Halloween timeframe is like are the Bears for real?
Are the Bears for real? Are the Bears now? It's
just like every weekend, it's like someone will text, hey, guys,
the Bears are for real. The Bears are for real,
(23:04):
Like Sunday night every time Chicago would answer the Niners.
So you're like, hey, guys, I think the Bears are
for real. They're for real. I know that they lost
in San Francisco, but.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Even if they lose the first round of the playoffs, they
were they had a very real season.
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Absolutely absolutely number six. The Buffalo Bills down three spots
after that loss to the Eagles to six. I don't know, man,
I still think Buffalo is a legit contender and threat
in the AFC.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
Yeah, especially the way the AFC is constructed right now.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But this is another one of those. Such a week
the week league. I felt a lot better about the
Bills last week than I did this week.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
Me too, and a lot of it's just all in health.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Yep, that's one hundred percent, one hundred percent. Number five
into the top five here. The Niners check in at
number five, up two spots after they're taking down in Chicago.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
I've been reluctant to buy in just beca the defense
is getting hit so hard with injuries, but they just
outscore everybody.
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Their offense is unbelieved it unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
Machine.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Broncos check in at number four.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Cool, yeah, right, I'm as Patriots whatever.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Yeah, I think this is about right. They've got their flaws,
but everybody does. If bo Nix is, you know, playing
at a plus level, I think the Broncos are very dangerous.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I was talking on my six Pack podcast, you know
about that class. You know, we were talking about May
Verse Stafford for m VP. Maybe May wins it, and
my co hosts like, I'd put a buck on Caleb
Williams for next year. I'm like, cool, great, I don't
think that's crazy. Yeah, maybe they're both ahead of Daniels,
who none of us are worried about it all. And
(24:37):
then I threw out, you might see may versus Nicks
in the AFC Championship. K welcome. I mean like that
class could be outstanding Rivers, Eli Ben, you know, yeah,
it could.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Be Lay Elway, Kelly.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Marino, Marino. Yeah, Kelly went to the USFL right away,
but then it took a year or two. The Burrow
to Herbert her love pretty strong lately too, pretty good? Yeah,
pretty falling off, but I mean still still.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
Did I tell you I watched it. I tell you guys,
yesterday I watched the Lway documentary. That documentary on the
on the drive to Cleveland on the bus. Thought it
was really good.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah, very good.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
I did not know that John Elway was the quarterback
of the famous The Band is on the field that
was his last college football game.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Imagine what's crazy is he had an awesome drive before.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
Converted fourth and fourteen. It would be like some legendary
like launch Yeah yeah, NFL. Instead it's one of the
most epic endings. You know, on the field. That was
his last college football game. Losing, losing to your losing
to your rival like that who Number three, the Jacksonville Jags.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
I guess I can't argue with it.
Speaker 2 (25:49):
Makes a ton of sense. I think you and I
both all year were very cautious on them.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Yeah. Yeah, but at twelve and four.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Ever since they blew that game in Houston against you know,
Davis Mills and the Texas, it's like two months ago,
they have been outstanding. Number two is the Patriots. Number
one is the Seahawks.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Fine, Seattle be one.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I would definitely have Seattle ahead of anybody.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
In the I know people think I'm crazy if if
I had the Rams won, they don't know it's good
a resume, but Seattle does.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
I think I would probably have a couple more NFC
teams ahead of because it's Seattle one than Patriots, Jags, Broncos.
I might have some of those NFC teams higher than Patriots, Jags, Broncos.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Say, are the Eagles better than those three teams or
the Rams better than those three teams? Maybe Niners. I
think the Rams are definitely better than those three teams.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I think so too, But again I understand for the
purpose of power ranking, all Patriots did just absolutely boat
race the Jets and make it look like that was
a scrimmage game.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
So yeah, the Rams have two recent losses.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
But we're gonna tell you what pretty soon, these power rankings,
we're gonna rip them up and throw them out the window.
We're gonna see the playoffs play out here, baby, and
see how it all goes down. This is a long segment.
We're overdue for a break. Let's take a little bit
of a look at the draft order when we return
on the other side. Wells Shooler, Matt Williamson. It is
the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
Your tune's about drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Back on the drive here as we roll along on
a Tuesday evening in Matt, let's kind of piggyback off
a lot of this power rankings, playoff order, playoff picture.
Part of me a conversation that we've been having today
because with one week to go, the race is on
for the top ten picks. Yeah, in the NFL draft
(27:46):
number one. Everybody knows is the race super quick.
Speaker 3 (27:48):
Sorry, I show you a lot, but.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
That's usually when the good stuff is on the way.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
So off eighteen and above our playoff team. Yes, and
we pretty much know who those are, you know, so
we basically know, with the exception of two teams either Steels,
the Ravens or Panthers or Box, who are going to
pick in the top eighteen seventeen.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Yes, yes, absolutely, and that picture will obviously become.
Speaker 3 (28:15):
And that's all changing too, yes.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yes, bye. By Monday, we'll we'll have some finality on that.
But here's what we know. As of now, Raiders are
number one. They're the worst team in the league win
loss record. There's a handful of teams that have three
wins and four wins, but the Raiders the lone two
win team in the National Football League, and as things
stand today, they would be first. Now I think, so,
(28:40):
I think, And listen, would you and I have talked
about this a little bit and we'll get more and
more into it in depth.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yeah, I don't think Mendoza has the Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger,
Joe Burrow ceiling, but I think he's got a pretty
high floor.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Like I think at worst he's Kirk Cousins.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Yeah, you know, like at worst he's heard like her.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
And that's like like if you're the Raiders. You would
absolutely sign up for that time. You wouldn't have had
a quarterback that good and that much stability at your
most important position.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
That's a good start in a long time.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
It's a goods. It's not taking Andrew Luck first overall,
Trevor Lawrence first overall draft.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
The guys are available, but it's.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
It's a I and I know this is not necessarily
what you want to hear for the first overall pick,
but for taking like I think cam Ward has a
higher ceiling than Mendoza, but I think Mendoza would be
a safer first overall pick, Like I would be shocked
if he bust.
Speaker 3 (29:35):
If they both coming the same year, I could see
cases for both. Yes, personally, I swing for the fences.
I would have warned ahead of them.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Like we've talked about I want to go to Porsche, yeah,
and not Honda yeak down. But I know I'm getting
two hundred thousand miles out of that, han Man, you
know what I mean. It's gonna get me on to
a lot of places that I need to go. Raiders
picking number one, and you know, barring something unforeseen crazy,
they will pick number one. Then there's four teams right now,
(30:01):
with three wins the Giants, the Jets, the Titans, and
the Cardinals. Based on tie breakers, it would be seated
currently in that order that I just stated. So the
Giants would be two, the Jets would be three, Titans four,
Cardinals five.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Okay, giants are and well again this is such we'll
talk this to death.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
If they end up with two, maybe in a great spot. Yes,
because of Mendoza, Go's one and there's another Dante Moore.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
Yes, they The gionversation is going to be do you
move on from Dart? Do you take more?
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Now? If you ask me right now, who would I
rather have? It would be Dante Moore, me too. But
if you're also asking me, is Dante more worth completely
giving up on Jackson Dart after a year? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
I don't know right. I mean, that's gonna be the conversation, yes,
which is.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
An interesting hear that talk to death. You and I
might talk that to death.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
By the time we get we will already know it's coming,
there's no doubt.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
But that's an interesting one. The Giants would be in
a favorable, very good position there at pick two.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
So people be like, boy, that's hard to move off
first round quarterback. No, it's not. He's making like four
million a year, five million a year. He was a
twenty third pick or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Moving off of Kenny Pickett kill the Steelers from a
snap standpoint or anything.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Absolutely the way that the structure, it's not hard to
move from late first guy.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
Yeah, if he was the if Jackson Dart was the
sixth overall pick, it's a different content. Yeah, number three
the Jets, that'd be a good spot for them to Yeah,
they've got to maybe not to get their future franchise quarterback,
but maybe that's not the maybe that they want to
build that nest up a little bit more before they
do so.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah. Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
And then Titans at number four, again, they could stay
put right there and have a great chance to get
the best offensive line and the best wide receiver, the
best defensive player. Is sorry, I'm banging Mike. I'm banging
the desk, the Bob Labriola thing, and I'm banging the
desk too hard, and Williamson's mic is going flying over there.
Boo boo. But if you're the Titans at number four,
you could have a ton on the table, including Hey,
(31:59):
we can always trade down couple spots and pick up
some more capital if more and more.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Yeah, again, they're going the right direction. They're gonna have
a high pick. There was a portion of the season
where it looked like they'd have one, and then you
could really hold teams from Ransom for Mendoza and that
would be a wonderful spot. Absolutely, that ship sailed for them.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
That ship has sailed for them. They could still move
up a little bit from four, but it's gonna be
the Raiders picking pick. The first believe that a team
that at five is not in the greatest scenario is
the Cardinals because it's probably gonna be too late for
them to get a quarterback there. Yeah, and I don't know. Again,
they'll have a shot at taking a ridd off line
(32:35):
and really good defensive player, but they're gonna be probably
one of those in the quarterback market as well, and
they might.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Wonder if they just run it back with Brissette, trade
Kyler and try to get in that market a year
from now. That's probably what I would be maybe Kyler
or that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
Yeah, I mean there could be worse stop gaps for
the set.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
Absolutely, I think you're picking in this neighborhood next year.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
You know, there are currently Matt two or win teams
in the NFL, the Commanders who would pick sixth, and
the Cleveland Browns, who would pick seventh.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I've been hard on the Commanders, but they're a pretty
good roster to be picking this early to add a
premium player.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
If it's maybe you could get the second or third
defensive player off the board. Yeah, what if you get
an RVL rece he.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Re or the second best ad rusher, you know, or
something like that, Like okay, they buy that.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Commanders are in a are in a good spot too.
Browns is an interesting one at seven because again you're
probably out of the quarterback range there.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
I wonder if it's just well they do two first,
don't they. They's going to be the Jags, which we're
going to be higher, But later they could get the two.
They could I mean, you could convince the Giants why
you can't start, and you know.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
We'll give you seven, twenty two or twenty three, whatever
it ends up being. It certainly could be in play.
They could also be another one who's just hey, there's
one offensive lineman off the board at this point, or
maybe they're all the tackles are still there. At pitch seventh.
You can get what's his face from Miami or you
can get Fannu from Utah and kind of two top prospects.
(34:05):
That'd be interesting.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
If I were Cleveland, maybe they can be convinced Sanders
as the guy. Maybe I'm not, but maybe they are.
Speaker 4 (34:12):
Me me.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
I mean, I would, I would, I would somewhat understand it.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Number eight the Saints. There are no five win teams
in the NFL right now, so now you're out of
the three and four win territory now into the six
win territory. It would be Saints eight. Chiefs nine.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
Yeah, that's frightening for the rest of the world.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Bengals ten mm.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
I mean, could the Chiefs get the best receiver in
the draft?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Hundred? Yeah? Right, they could go we want we want
Tate or we want Lemon or we want Pyson, whoever
they think is the best they're picked. Nine. Certainly a possibility.
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Bengals are pretty good to be picking that early too.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Bengal.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
I mean, we know it's gonna be defense, I'm sure,
but could they get downs? Absolutely?
Speaker 2 (34:49):
Yeah, absolutely, because I would be surprised if by the
time we get to pick seven eight, there's not two
quarterbacks off the board.
Speaker 3 (34:57):
Yeah, already.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
The Bengal probably I wouldn't think, would go back to
edge rusher back to back years.
Speaker 3 (35:03):
It's certainly possible, right, Hendrickson's probably won't be back.
Speaker 2 (35:06):
Because Hendrickson probably won't be back, and it's not like
Schimer Stewart has lit the world on fire. But there
I also, they don't think they're gonna, you know, punt
on him after a year. Oh no, no, but that
would be interesting. So especially if you consider Matt say two,
So say the Bengals on the clock at ten, two
quarterbacks go in the top nine, the Chiefs take a
wide receiver, which the Bengals aren't gonna do.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
There could be two defensive players off the board at
that point.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
Possible, right, Bengals could be in a good spot. Chiefs
could be in a good spot. I really for all
these teams, except for maybe the Cardinals and the Browns,
just because needing quarterbacks and where they're pegged, I think
all these teams are gonna have a lot of options
on the team, except for the Raiders. For the Raiders,
it should be we're putting our phone on, do not
disturb and we're drafting Fernanda Mendoza.
Speaker 3 (35:51):
Yeah, I agree, Chiefs and Bengals are just not that
far removed from being pretty darn successful, you know. Absolutely,
you can kind of say that about washing Into but
it's only one good year for.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
Washington, good offseason, and they're right back into the food
And yeah, that's if you're Kansas City. That's the one
bright spot is hey, your your dynasty. This edition of
it came to a screeching halt, but you got an
opportunity to reboot it pretty quickly on the other side too,
So we'll see. But that's what the top ten looks.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Like currently, Okay. I mean it's just startling to see
the Chiefs there. I knew they were in the top ten,
but you just don't see that.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
It's crazy, right it is.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
The Lions are going to be like at fourteen probably
or so at fifteen or something like that too. It's
like they weren't that far removing a pretty good team.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Too, right right, I mean, the Bengals were a popular
pick to win the AFC North.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Come out A favorite Baltimore might have been.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
I think Baltimore was a slight favorite over Cincinnati, but
a lot of the talking heads were picking the Bengals
to win the division. Now they're picking in the top ten.
Albeit though if they win and they beat the Browns,
that could throw that into flux. They could end up
moving back, you know, twelve thirteen, whatever the case may be.
But we'll keep an eye on this as we go along.
But that's where we are at here right now, with
one week to go and terms of the top ten
(37:00):
of the NFL Draft. Segur final break here Matt closed
this thing down. On the other side was Shooler. Matt Williamson.
It is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network.
Speaker 1 (37:10):
You were two weeks about Drive on your twenty four
to seven home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio.
Speaker 2 (37:26):
Final segment here of the Drive on this Tuesday, as
we cross some te's and dot some i's before we
get up out of here, Matt, I did notice this too,
Matthew Stafford sixth all time in NFL passing yards now
after last night, passing former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. No, yeah,
(37:47):
so Ben Ben jumps the spot back there in his
in terms of his career. Stafford, I know that this
was a debate a couple of years ago, but like,
he's a no brainer, surefire Hall of Famer now, right.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
I thought so the second they won the Super Bowl. Yeah,
and probably even before that. Yes, And now, especially if
he wins the MVP, I think that's a first ballot
Drew Brees level type. You know that we had that conversation.
I think he's kind of vastly underrated in terms of
like all time quarterbacks. I agree with you on the right.
Speaker 2 (38:19):
I agree with you on that, and I think, especially
in hindsight, like a couple of times that he was
able to navigate the Lions to the playoffs and things
like that look even better when he went to the Rams,
and now.
Speaker 3 (38:29):
The success of the All Hill Climb.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
Yeah, and I think people had kind of written him
off and then they have that resurgence last year and
win a playoff game and take Philly down to the
wire and then have another chance to go on a
great run this year.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
I haven't done it in a long time. But like,
if I do like my top twenty quarterbacks of all time,
I don't think he's in the top ten, but he's
be in top twenty. You know what.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
That's another one of those things that we should do
this offseason.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Yeah, it's in the it's the hardest one ever.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
But in the in the you know, watching the The
l Way documentary on on Netflix to.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Him higher, But I mean I have higher than most people.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
If you go into my attic, there's still youth John
Elway and Terrell Davis Jerseys somewhere somewhere in my attics.
I'm maybe a little bias, but I'm adding that to
the I have a notes tab on my laptop titled
the TV's laughing over there, because you know, you have
talked about this with him a couple of times, titled
the Weird Word the Weird World of Matt Williamson. And
(39:28):
it's all just different random topics that we could get
into during the offseason. I just put Top twenty quarterbacks. Ever,
this's something that will debate at some point, because you're right,
that's a lot more fun than the top ten, uh Matt.
ESPN just posted their first and second team all rookie
rosters for the NFL this year. Okay, so I know
we only got like a few minutes here, but let's
run through this real quick and just see if there's
(39:48):
any that you would patently disagree with anything like that.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Something that might be quiet on half of them.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Yeah, quarterback I don't think is surprising cam Ward first team,
Tyler Schuck second time.
Speaker 3 (39:58):
I think I have Shucked first. Really, I like Ward
better going forward, But who had the better year?
Speaker 2 (40:03):
Interesting shock just because of this stretch of games. I mean,
but I get what you're saying War he did. He
certainly did. Yeah, he has a much larger sample size
this year than than Shuck does. But I think those
guys are clear one and two.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
Yeah, I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
No, I mean, yeah, I was gonna say, I don't
even know. Really who else you'd have in the conversation
he had no Dart didn't play enough Sanders or Dylan
Gabriel didn't play.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
Enough Dart would be three.
Speaker 2 (40:31):
Yes, I was laughing at that they had these. And listen,
I understand that's what teams do. Like if you're the
Browns content team, like, you gotta find stuff to pump
out there, even if your team's only won three games.
But one of the things that they had, like on
the jumbo Tron pregame was like Brown's rookie quarterbacks have
thrown for the second most yards of any rookie quarterback.
(40:52):
And I'm like, okay, Campboard and Shuck who just started
a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 3 (40:57):
But I get it.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
You gotta find positive things to put on the on
the big screen. Running Backs Travon Henderson first team, Quinn
Shawn Junkinds second team. Little oh h I oh.
Speaker 3 (41:07):
Yeah, Hampton didnt play enough, gent Y didn't have enough.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
Moo got hurt already. I mean, Monding guy might deserve
a shout in here. But yeah, I think I think
those are the two. I think those are the clear two.
Wide receiver Ted McMillan first team. Sorry sorry sorry, They
did first team tet A Mecca and Luther.
Speaker 3 (41:28):
Burden, okay, and then yes, even though he is falling off.
Speaker 2 (41:34):
And then they did second team, Pat Bryan, Jaden Higgins,
Chimiri Dyke.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Okay, yes, I might have just picked.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
I might have just picked between the top three for
first and second teamer, but I think those top three
are the clear three.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Yeah, that's not super impressive.
Speaker 2 (41:50):
Though it's not. I mean, Buca started out crazy hot
and he's he's kind of flat lined, like they have.
I think McMillan's the clear one. I mean he's he's
a good player. Uh. Tight end Fannin Junior, number one,
Cleveland Browns easily second team Colson Loveland.
Speaker 3 (42:06):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (42:08):
And they said that they would have had Tyler Warren
in this spot until the last couple of weeks. I
guess that's fair.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Numbers are bonkers.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Unbelievable, especially considering like he didn't have the Caleb Williams
and the you know, the Daniel Jones like throwing him
the ball for for the majority of the season. Left
tackle Calvin or Kevin sorry, Kelvin Banks junior from the
New Orleans Saints, really good, Josh Simmons from the Chiefs.
Number two. Uh.
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Left over Campbell from the Patriots.
Speaker 2 (42:38):
But that's a good call. I guess Campbell missed some
time in there. Gray Zabel, the left guard for the
Seattle Seahawks, I think one of the more underrated offensive
linemen in the entire league this season.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
I don't think there's like any centers to pick from.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
Uh. Jonah Monaghan of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His number is
number one. He only has two starts. That tells you
it was in that department. Tyler Booker, the right guard
for the Cowboy His first team. Uh, and your boy
Armond Membo of the Jets. Easy one, easy one at
right tackle. Let's see here, Abdul Carter at edge rusher.
(43:15):
Is he gonna win? Who's gonna win Defensive Rookie of
the Year.
Speaker 3 (43:17):
I think he'll be sweatinger you think so? Yeah, very
well could be.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
He's he's obviously the pick it uh at linebacker, but
Ghot Campbell right on his yeah, right on his toes.
There Will Johnson, first teamer at corner out of the Cardinals.
Quincy Riley as well too from the Saints. He's really
come on in the back half of the season.
Speaker 3 (43:38):
Had a really good rookie class.
Speaker 2 (43:39):
Jonas Sanker their safety. Yeah, the third round pick on here, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:43):
Left tackle, quarterback, and two pieces of your secondary right
off the bat.
Speaker 4 (43:47):
Yeah, rookie class and h and Nick Wori of the
he's an outside He's difference quietly been been very good
after being a second round pick.
Speaker 2 (43:59):
That was a fun way to it down there. We'll
have more of that big picture stuff in the following weeks,
but obviously as we roll along the rest of the week,
we'll start to turn the page and focus on the
Baltimore Ravens. We'll do all that and more as we
roll along. Thanks to Chris Adamski for joining us here today,
to Nathan for producing on the radio side of things,
(44:19):
TV Mister TV on the video side of things, keeping
us crisp and handsome as always, for Matt Williams and
um Wesheeler. Take care everybody, We'll talk to you tomorrow.
As always, you know where to find us. It's on
your twenty four to seven home of the Black and
Gold at Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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