Hr2: Week 1 Pick Em

The Drive gives thoughts and predictions on all of the Week 1 games across the NFL, including how Sunday will play out for Pittsburgh.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hour number two of the Drive. Just one more hour
to go for this week before well, I guess we'll
turn our attention to some NFL action tonight.

Speaker 3 (00:40):
And of course, yeah, five nights.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
I do love it. I can't say that I would
be a proponent of the NFL having a game every
Friday night, I know, but to start the season, I
think it's pretty cool.

Speaker 3 (00:52):
We've talked about this a bunch, about the schedule, what
could be coming. But I think you might see it
Tuesday Wednesday, not necessarily every night. I don't think if
we're like baseball, you get just turned on no matter what.
But you might get a little more used to different nights.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, and I get it. It's I guess it's business
in the NFL. Business is booming. I'm gonna watch, everyone's
gonna watch. But the dork and me like the real
foot as much as I love the NFL. And I
realize I'm saying this on an NFL show on an
NFL teams network, right, but I also appreciate, like the
football pyramid of Friday night is high school football Saturday

(01:27):
is college football. Sunday is the NFL. I yeah, yeah, yeah, uh, Matt,
we had a crazy one for a lot of different
reasons last night in Philadelphia. Yeah, season opener between two
division rivals. The MICAEH Parsons storyline the Eagles raising their
Super Bowl banner started out uh wow, with some controversy

(01:47):
with Jalen Carter being kicked out before the Eagles even
took a defensive snap, uh for spitting on Dak Prescott.
And then you know, a couple hours later, the footage
comes out of Dak kind of I don't think it's
fair to say spitting on Jalen Carter, but spitting in
his direction as well too. Did you miss that as
well too? That came out later last night after kind

(02:09):
of you know, people went through and watched all the
tape and everything. They kind of, you know, had some
words with each other and they were set. They were separated,
and that kind of spit on the ground in Carter's.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Direction general direction, and.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
This general direction he spits in his general direction. I
was wondering how long it was going to take you
and I to get to a Moni Python reference. It's
about time. And then Jalen Carter, you know, does what
you can't do. The retaliation. That's what the refs always get. Man,
I just I haven't seen I can't remember a game's
I know, you know, Joey Porter and Willie Green and

(02:46):
having a fight during warm ups and getting tossed. But
a spitting incident is just it's it's just weird. There's
no other way to put.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
It than just weird and right, and you're not going
to get away with it. Every camera in the world,
world's on the biggest game of the year, and oh,
by the way, you're the best player on the defense.
So I thought last night was super interesting, as every
Opening Night is because the first game, of course, but
there were so many storylines, like before kickoff, we're talking Parsons,

(03:14):
Michael Parsons, you know, a huge deal that just basically
just happens, the biggest thing going on in the game
or in the league, and then that dumb thing happens.
So the two best players on defense that could have
been in this game aren't. And I don't think it's
a coincidence that both offenses are just walking down the
field anyway they want. With Carter in the locker room,
and Micah and Green Bay, and I thought that was

(03:36):
a huge storyline. And Ceedee Lamb's just ripping these guys apart.
Everyone's going to kill Ceedee Lamb today. But like he
was pretty awesome for a lot of that game, you know, absolutely,
and Pickens is struggling. It looked like he got Mitchell
a lot. And I thought that was a good, good
plan by the Eagles. I thought both quarterbacks played really
really well. They're moving the football consistently. But then we

(03:59):
get this weird weather delay. Yeah, that was rough. It's rough.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
I'm not gonna lie to you. I fell asleep on
the couch during the weather delay. Ye found myself waking
up in the wee hours of the morning. Yeah, but yeah, it.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
Was because then it was a lot different game after that.
It was right.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
It was just kind of a bizarre opener. Yes, in
a lot of different regards. And Philadelphia comes out twenty
four to twenty as the as the home team often
does in those I know, the circumstances obviously changed a lot.
But I thought you and I were kind of in
our synopsis of you know, wouldn't like I think we
assumed that the Cowboys would cover and keep it close,

(04:33):
but that the Eagles would kind of be in the
driver's seat the whole game as well. I think that's
how it played out.

Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, and but I think Eagles took some body blows
there early on and had to be It was far
from locked up by the time that the rain fell,
you know, not even close. Absolutely, and I think they
were a little concerned, especially with Carter not out there.
I thought Hurts played a whale of a game. And
if you ever box score scalped, if you look at
the two quarterbacks to that lines, you're like, man, those

(05:00):
guys struggle defense ruled today. Aj Brown, DeVante Smith, Pickings.
No one even like hardly caught a ball between the
three of them, and then Lamb has a ton of
drops at the end. It's probably like, man, but that
wasn't the story of the game so much. I mean
I heard today and it adds up just watching the
TV feed. They didn't play one snap of man coverage

(05:20):
against Hurts. It was all zone take away the big stuff.
He had a lot of underneath throws to Godder.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
A lot of seven eight yard run Yeah.

Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, Okay, if you're gonna give me something, I'll just
use my legs or I thought he played a very mature,
patient game then keeps getting better. You know, I can
be a little harsh on Hurts when we do like
quarterback lists and things like that, and he's so unique
to me. Yeah, and because situation's so good. You know,
there's that argument that what if you put Justin Herbert
in Philly, he'd be really good to him. Yeah, he would,

(05:49):
but doesn't mean Hurts bad. He keeps getting better and
better and better.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
I'm with you on that. Yeah, And listen, he's not
for everybody. He would not fit on it. He would
not fit on every roster. But the dude just knows
how to win within the confines of the system and
what he's asked to do. Yes, and he's impressive. He
is because it is not it's not the drop back
and pick you apart. You know, it is so different
decent at that.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
I mean, he's Okay, you're just gonna play zone and
take away the big stuff. I'm not gonna chuck at
the AJ Brown. I'll dump it the Dallas Goddard and
move chains. And I should know this, but I forget
who the color guy was last night. But it's always
the same Colin's Worth. Yeah, and he said the quarterback
job is converting third downs and converting in the red zone. No,
he's like as good as anyone at it. I mean

(06:33):
he does that.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey. Speaking of Chris Collinsworth and uh
and the commentator on the color commentator on last night's game,
I did want to give a shout out to our
guy Max Starks, who is I know, he worked the
three preseason games, but he's going to be moving into
the booth for the first regular season game with Rob
king I'm excited, uh to listen to those guys. I mean,

(06:54):
I sit in the booth with him every single game.
It was a blast to work with Billy Hillgrove for
a few years. And now Kinger is, as you know,
just great and and and fits in very well with
our crew. Uh. And then you know, just the lineage
of Punch and Wolf and now Max hugely so and
and I you know, I had a couple of moments

(07:14):
during the preseason where I got a little jammed up
thinking about those guys. I'm sure Sunday I probably will
again the home opener, probably will again when we're in
when you and I are in Dublin, having having a pint,
A couple of pints will be be be thinking to
those guys. But a really cool the on Steelers dot Com.
On the Steelers YouTube channel, they have that series called
The Steelers Standard that our guy Alec Balenciaga doesn't amazon

(07:38):
with a lot of help from people like TV and
everybody else. On the Steelers video crew, Uh, really cool
long form storytelling that the Steelers do and some really
cool stuff focusing on Max moving into the booth, how
he prepps, how he preps for games and everything. So
make sure, uh you're checking that out. Like I said,
Steelers dot Com and on the Steelers YouTube page as

(08:00):
well too. Matt Tonight's Game Real.

Speaker 3 (08:04):
Quick on Tonight's game on one of my other networks,
we were kind of talking about this too, like weird games,
like when you deal with a delay like last night,
get weird. It's weird. I think playing in Brazil is
extremely weird. You know, the playing surface is supposedly a
lot different than what you get here. It's a weird
road trip. It's going to be a weird crowd. I

(08:26):
guess there's some altitude I should I'm not a geography major.
I mean it's just it's a weird place to play football.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
There is, there's definitely it's it's I mean, it's mile
high type.

Speaker 3 (08:35):
Yes, yeah, yeah. So where I'm going with this is
I think that when you really deal with weirdness, it
really favors teams like the Eagles and Chiefs that like
play in the super Bowl every year, which is the
weirdest game ever, you know what I mean, Like right, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'm a longer media events and every eye in the
world's looking at you, just like these two games. So

(08:55):
I think that that's an advantage last night post delay
and tonight in a weird spot for the teams that
play these kind of games a lot.

Speaker 2 (09:05):
That's a good that's a good scouts eye there from
from Matt Williamson. Uh As. I that's a great point.
The weirdness the more you get into the playoffs and
playing on different days, and like you mentioned the super
Bowl and all the time off and the media stuff
and the travel and the you know, you're not just
going the day before the game, you're spending you're spending

(09:25):
more time there in that city. That's a that's a
very good point by you, Matt. Before we get back
into this I did want to just coming across the timeline.
Now is the Steelers' final practice injury report from today.
Derek Harmon officially ruled out and Mike Tomlin said that
on Tuesday. But now it's officially official.

Speaker 3 (09:44):
We can start talking about how many games it's going
to be. But we knew it was going to be.

Speaker 2 (09:47):
At least one, exactly right, and I'm sure we will
discuss that last week. Cam Heyward full participant today in practice.
Good news there Nick Herbig for the third straight day
a limited participanta time, his game status officially listed as
questionable okay, and then added to the Herbig. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
I think he's a great player, but run defense isn't
his specialty either, you know, Like if you I know
it's not working out this way, But if it was
fifty to fifty on Cam, I'd be like, like Cam,
if it's fifty to fifty on Herbig, I'd be like,
maybe wait a week, because I don't know that his
specialty on third downs rush the passer is as required
this week as most.

Speaker 2 (10:26):
If you're playing the Bengals right, different different story, different story,
and you might even feel more comfortable with Jack Sawyer
in a matchup like this where you think that's more
tailored to his skill set.

Speaker 3 (10:34):
Yeah, but if you want to give high Smith a
little bit of a blow or whatever, Jack, you play
first downs and we'll bring high Smith out this series
on passing down, you know.

Speaker 2 (10:44):
And a new addition to the injury report, No, Skyler
Thompson is now. He was limited today and is listed
as questionable with a hamstring injury.

Speaker 3 (10:53):
He's gonna be an active either way, and.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
I think he's going to be an active either way.
So that one not a huge needle mover, but I
wanted to obviously make it since it's on the practice
report and on the injury report that we shared that
with you. So that's the latest on that front. Why
do you say you want to take a break here,
We'll get back and it. We'll go across the gambit of.

Speaker 3 (11:10):
These as last year set.

Speaker 2 (11:12):
Let's do some pick them, some quick discussion on all
of these Week one games, obviously ending with our thoughts,
our picks, our predictions for the Steelers and the Jets.
We'll get into all of that. What's going to happen
at MetLife, what's going to happen across the league when
we return on the other side, West Ruler, Matt Williamson,
it is the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the
Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 1 (11:42):
Your tune's about Drive on your twenty four to seven
home of the Black and Goal, Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (12:03):
Now it's starting to feel real, Matt. We got a
game in the books, we got another one tonight, and
we are finally gonna sit here and go through this
Week one slate across the NFL me as well, I am.
I'm excited, And I mentioned in the last segment, I
love the football pyramid. And I know high school football
has been around back for a couple of weeks. College
football has been back for a couple of weeks. But

(12:25):
it really feels like all right, Labor days in the books.
Now it's now, it's go time for the next time,
for the next five for the next five months. This
is our life. And uh it's a games. It's a
very good one. Like a I feel like they always
try and do that Week one, but but this year especially.

Speaker 3 (12:42):
There's stands out.

Speaker 2 (12:44):
There's some juice.

Speaker 3 (12:44):
Sunday nights Alan versus Lamar.

Speaker 2 (12:48):
Two big divisional matchups Thursday Friday. Obviously, the Steelers and
Jets storylines of the first time in NFL history quarterbacks
both facing their former.

Speaker 3 (12:59):
Team in that's crazy.

Speaker 2 (13:01):
Just a lot a lot to like about this slate.
We're gonna go through and pick them. We will save
our Steelers thoughts and predictions obviously till the final segment,
but Matt will start with tonight. Chiefs Chargers Kansas City
three and a half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (13:16):
Last I saw it was three and it was one
of my favorites of three still is. I'm a big
Chiefs believer here. I'm kind of just have this hunch
that Mahomes is ready to kind of show the world
that he's still the number one quarterback. Chiefs or Mahomes
and Reid rarely lose division games. They know their division

(13:38):
extremely well. The weirdness we talked about before, I think
Favors and Chiefs that have done a lot of weird stuff.
And I mean like Taylor going to be there, I
mean like it's used to all the spotlight and all this,
you know that kind of thing. But more so Andy
Reid when he is a long time to prepare is

(13:58):
good luck?

Speaker 2 (13:59):
Really yeah, I have tried to talk myself into the
Chargers tonight. Mm hm Oh, Jim Harbaugh played those guys
more than most in the preseason, and they're gonna be
fresher and it means more to them. Right, Hey, Chiefs,
maybe still a little bit of a Super Bowl hangover.
Maybe it'll take them a little bit to warm up
to it this season.

Speaker 3 (14:21):
You're not there.

Speaker 2 (14:21):
Like I said to you, I think when we were
doing the AFC Tiers of teams earlier in the week,
I'm just gonna continue to bet on the Chiefs until
proven wrong. Yeah, because why would you. I mean, it's
like you're shooting yourself in the foot trying to come
up with reasons as to why they're going to lose
a game or take a step back.

Speaker 3 (14:38):
Like their old line is getting totally reshaped in Kansas City.
But I don't think that the Chargers front is It's
not like playing the Steelers front. You know. I'm like,
I think you can withstand that. And you just want
to throw this out there. You and I have had
a lot of one score game conversations homes is seventeen
and oh in the last seventeen one score games, it's insanity.

Speaker 2 (14:58):
In Kansas City's record last year those was like ten
and oh, right, or something art win.

Speaker 3 (15:03):
In close games. So if this is a three or
four point game, I'm taking the Chiefs.

Speaker 2 (15:07):
The one thing that gives me pause is the three
and a half.

Speaker 3 (15:11):
I don't love that it was three this It could.

Speaker 2 (15:13):
Very easily see Kansas City kicks a last minute field
goal to win the game, you know, because they did
a lot of that last year.

Speaker 3 (15:19):
Of course, they don't blow people out that that's a
common miscontent. They don't.

Speaker 2 (15:23):
They really don't. They win a lot of close games again,
nine or ten and oh in those one score games
last year, I believe it was.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
It was a lot more comfortable with where I got
it this morning than at three and a half.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
At three, I'm absolutely taking the Chiefs. At three and
a half, I'm gonna get on my app but I'm
gonna buy the extra half point back down to three.

Speaker 3 (15:41):
They pay attention between now and kickoff, but.

Speaker 2 (15:43):
I think we both like the Chiefs to cover.

Speaker 3 (15:45):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (15:46):
On to Sunday Arizona Cardinals in New Orleans. Arizona six
and a half point favorite.

Speaker 3 (15:53):
It seems about right. It's not one of my favorites.
I'm gonna take the home dog, though, and I don't
have a I don't think the Saints are great, but
I think Kellen Moore is a good coach. I think
they can keep it closed. It's gonna be a tough
environment to play. Arizona to me, isn't over the hump.
Is they're going the right direction, but they're still a
upstart group.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
This is an interesting one. Like you ever do Survivor
pool stuff.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
It's funny. I've yesterday, I got in my first one
ever officially, Okay, and I'll tell you the game when
we get to it.

Speaker 2 (16:24):
Okay, Yeah, yeah, I I do one with my family. Okay,
And this was one of the things I had in
my notes today was like if we need extra I
can tend to be a little over prepared and just
personality trait whatever.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (16:38):
Yeah, So I'll always have a rough outline of like
what we're going to talk about, but then I'll have
one or two things of if these conversations go faster
and you need to cover an extra four minutes, go
to this. Okay, Survivor pool was who would your Survivor
Pool pick be? Week one? Because one of my so
I guess we'll get to yours.

Speaker 3 (16:53):
And reveal it when it comes around. Yeah, you go
with the Cardinals.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Mine might be the Cardinals.

Speaker 3 (16:57):
It's one of the bigger spreads, but I think.

Speaker 2 (17:00):
The Saints cover too. I like the Cardinals to win,
but I like New Orleans to keep it six points
are closer.

Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, it's not my favorite, one of my it's like
four or five. I like this week, it's not. This
isn't one of them. But I'm I'm predicting the same
thing as you. Cardinals win. But any tight game.

Speaker 2 (17:17):
Certainly going to be a tight game in Indianapolis where
the Colts host the Dolphins one and a half point
part of me one and a half point favorites articles
they're laying one and a half points.

Speaker 3 (17:29):
I think Miami wins.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Woo. Yeah, quarterback play better.

Speaker 3 (17:34):
Yes, I like Miami early in the year, especially in
Miami in the heat. You've talked about it, but I
always talk about them being they need dump trucks, not Ferrari's.
They got enough Ferraris. But week one in the Dome,
Ferraris work well, and that coach always has some tricks
that he's some mad scientist stuff that he's been working
on that no one's seen. And I do think Miami's

(17:56):
got a lot of concerns, but I think they're defensive
lines really good and Kenneth Grant looked really good, and
the Colts have a good line, but they get two
new starters and I don't trust their quarterback. I think
Miami wins that game on the road. So if you
don't give any points, sign me up. That's what my favorite.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
That's the old Mike Persuda. Always take the points right,
always take a point, even if you like the underdog.
Don't be prideful. And I'm gonna take a money line.
Just put more money on the points to get that
number to where you want it to be.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
He's coached me up on that a few times.

Speaker 2 (18:24):
The Dolphins in domes, and like you said, in the
early season in the heat, they just know how to win.

Speaker 3 (18:30):
Their speed based team.

Speaker 2 (18:31):
They got a lot of Lamborghinis and Ferraris and those
work in nice weather and those working domes, whereas the
Colts are trying to work in a new quarterback, a
lot of new pieces on that offense. I'm gonna take
the one and a half, but I think the Dolphins
win straight up as well too. That the raid is
in New England. Couple well, I almost said first time

(18:53):
they're not first game with their new teams, first season
with their new franchises head coaches, and Pete Carroll and
Mike Vrabel.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
Make a lot of wins under their belts, all right,
a lot.

Speaker 2 (19:02):
Of accomplishments between those two. Certainly the Patriots at home
two and a half point favorites over there.

Speaker 3 (19:08):
I think I just want points in this game now,
and I think because they're sort of in a lot
of the same rebuild area with a similar coach, I
think it's gonna be close. So I'll take points.

Speaker 2 (19:20):
You'll take Raiders plus two and a half?

Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, saying, yeah, I don't know who wins, but if
you're gonna give me points, I'll take the points.

Speaker 2 (19:24):
I like the Raiders to win, Okay, I just I
think they're a little bit I know they're kind of
hit a reset button in a way as well, too,
but I think they've just got more proven. They've got
a Max Crosby on defense.

Speaker 3 (19:37):
Oh yeah, you know.

Speaker 2 (19:38):
They They've got a guy like Brock Bowers who is
one of the best tight ends in the NFL already.
And in terms of in terms of if I'm taking
one to start a team, I'm gonna go Drake May.
I think he has a crazy high ceiling. But if
I need to win a game on Sunday, I'm taking Gino.
Uh So, Yeah, this is another one where despite being

(19:58):
an underdog, I'd like the Raiders to win. I will
take the points though, because you know, Mike Pursuit will
yell at me if I don't. Raiders plus two and
a half.

Speaker 3 (20:05):
Christian Gonzalez isn't gonna play. He's one of the best
corners in the league. I don't know if I assume
he'd end up on Myers a fair amount, but it
doesn't help, you know.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Doesn't help. Be interested to see what Jacobe Meyers, you know,
production and performance looks like in this year.

Speaker 3 (20:17):
The Mary Cooper retiring yesterday after being one of the
team ten days.

Speaker 2 (20:20):
A lot going on there in Vegas, both on and
off the field. As always a NFC East clash. We
saw one of those last night. We'll see another one
on Sunday as the Commanders host the Giants. Another one
of the bigger spreads of the week. Here the Commander's
five and a half point favorites.

Speaker 3 (20:37):
These Giants keep it close. I went to points in
this one. Yeah, yeah, I'm a little down on Washington.
I'm a little higher than most on the Giants. I
don't think the Giants record will reflect it when it's
all said and done, because they play a lot of really,
really tough games. But I think their D line is
a nightmare to play against. And the biggest concern with
me of the Giants is their O line. But I

(20:58):
don't think Washington's fronts can really take advantage of that
very much. Now I might regret it, and Jayden Daniels
might put up fifty points in this game. I mean
that they're capable, but I'll take the points. In a
division game.

Speaker 2 (21:09):
I'm gonna lay the points. I'll lay the five and
a half and take the Commanders. I think you make
some very good points there, and that Giants defense could
just do enough to make it a rock fight and
keep it close and a type of game where maybe
it never really feels like the Commanders are in danger
of losing, but they don't pull away at the same
at the same time either. But I just now the

(21:31):
Terry McLaurin thing has been settled for a couple of weeks.
I just think the Commanders are going to be able
to put up some points in that one, and I
don't know if the Giant I don't think they blow
them out and win by two touchdowns or something like that,
but I think they could win by six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Speaker 3 (21:47):
Oh, I can see it. It's not one of my favorites.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
I'll lay the five and a half with I do.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
Think Washington one of the one of the best offenses
in the league. They should be, and I think that's
one of the best defenses in the league.

Speaker 2 (21:56):
In New York they shut certainly should be one of
the best defensive in New York, that's for sure. Down
in Jacksonville gonna be a hot one as the Jags
host the Panthers and Jacksonville in the first game of
the Liam Cohen Era down there A three and a
half point favorite at.

Speaker 3 (22:14):
Home, another one I don't feel super strong about. I
don't know that the heat's gonna bother Carolina as much
as some teams, but still, it's a long day in
Jacksonville in the sun, and that's not a lot of fun.
I'm taking the home team, but I'm a little wishy
washy on it. This is the point.

Speaker 2 (22:28):
This is another one of those I wish was Jacksonville
three point favorites two and a half point favorites. But
I'm I'm gonna lean on what I think is a
better roster in Jacksonville, what I think is a better
quarterback in Jacksonville. I think is potentially a better head
coach in Jacksonville, although it is his first go at it.

Speaker 3 (22:47):
I think those receivers are big days against a bad defense.

Speaker 2 (22:50):
Yes, that Carolina defense is going to struggle and uh
and I think Jacksonville will put up some points and
cover that three and a half. A very intriguing one
in the AFC North Cleveland Bengals at the Browns, the
Battle of Ohio. There a game that has gone the
Browns way, I think way more often than people realize
or think. Lately. Cincinnati five and a half point favorites

(23:12):
on the road.

Speaker 3 (23:13):
Another one. I don't feel super strong about it. I
think the Browns could hang around.

Speaker 2 (23:16):
I thought this might be your survivor pool.

Speaker 3 (23:18):
Now I am taking the Bengals. I would give up
the points, but I don't adore it. You know, I said,
the Bengals defense is bad, so.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
You're gonna lay the points with Cincinnati.

Speaker 3 (23:32):
Or five and a half and a half.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah, that's where I'm at too, and I agree. I
think the Bengals defense is going to be bad, but
I don't think the Browns offense has any real elements
that scare, you know, and I just, for whatever reason,
everyone like this is a Cincinnati has been a hugely
popular pick in the survivor pool.

Speaker 3 (23:52):
I guess that makes sense against the Browns.

Speaker 2 (23:55):
Betting against the Browns, But a lot of people have
pushed back on that and saying, well, Cincinnati always you
know in there in the last five years, they're one
to nine in their first ten games. They went about
things very differently this year, though. I think it's noteworthy
played those guys a lot in the preseason. I think
that's gonna lead to a little bit of a faster
start for the offense. I don't think Cleveland's gonna be
able to keep a lid on that for sixty minutes.
I'll lay the five and a half and take the

(24:16):
Browns minus the points as well.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Okay, I'm just betting on Burrow.

Speaker 2 (24:20):
It's never a terrible option.

Speaker 3 (24:22):
It's not the idea.

Speaker 2 (24:23):
A NFC South clash down in Atlanta, where the Steelers
open their season last year against the defending division champion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa one and a half point favored
on the road. Surprise. I know they've got their struggles,
and I know a lot of people are high on
the Falcons. I'm surprised that number is only one and
a half though.

Speaker 3 (24:43):
Yeah, that shocks me too.

Speaker 2 (24:44):
It could be more two and a half, three, three
and a half.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
I think that's gonna be a really difficult place to
play super loud. They're super excited about Pennix at fan base.
They're not the craziest fan base in the world, but
I do think you're gonna get them on a good day.
I still think that number is too low. I mean,
Tampa is a battle tested team. They've played a lot
of big games, don't have a ton of turnover. I
think they win that game. I'm more than a field goal.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
I would take Tampa probably. I would lay the points
up to three and a half, maybe even four.

Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah, and I get it's week one.

Speaker 2 (25:18):
The games are always closer, the scoring is always lower,
all that stuff.

Speaker 3 (25:21):
But may get like Godwin and Worf's are out and
that's fine, But.

Speaker 2 (25:27):
It's okay, Tampa team that's largely familiar with which you
know hasn't hasn't had a ton of turnover anything like that.
They obviously lost Liam Cohen, their offensive coordinator, but the
Falcons are really kind of, you know, starting from a
place of a lot of unknown as well too.

Speaker 3 (25:40):
Yeah, I don't trust Atlanta all that much.

Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, I think we could be singing a different tune
about them if the offense develops. But that's going to
take some time.

Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yeah, yeah, that's I see it first.

Speaker 2 (25:49):
That's maybe the easiest pick of the week for me.
Is real point and a half.

Speaker 3 (25:52):
Yeah, for a familiar place.

Speaker 2 (25:55):
Might lay three and a half or four points on
Tampa and still feel confident. I can see that a
lot of division clashes to open up the season will
go out west now to the NFC West up in Seattle,
where another one of these good NFL rivalries. The Niners
are at the Seahawks in San Francisco on the road
point and a half favorite.

Speaker 3 (26:15):
Before I saw any of the lines, I just told myself,
I'm taking whoever is getting points in this game. Okay,
I think it's gonna be a very close battle. I
really will Seattle comes here next week, right, Yeah, we'll
talk a lot of Seattle going forward, But I think
they have a great defense, and I think it's going
to be a close, low scoring game, so I just
want points. And if I can get it at home, great.

Speaker 2 (26:35):
You know real quick, when you said Seattle coming here,
that reminded me. I meant to bring this up when
we were talking about the Raiders Patriots game.

Speaker 3 (26:42):
M hm.

Speaker 2 (26:43):
You talk about like outliers for certain coaches and quarterbacks
and one score games and all those different things. Yeah,
Pete Carroll's record when he was the head coach of
the Seahawks on the East Coast was insanely good.

Speaker 3 (26:57):
Oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
Most of the times those West Coast teams when they
come to the East Coast to play one o'clock games,
they win like twenty percent of the time. Pete Carroll
won like seventy five percent of the time when he
was the Seahawks coach playing a one o'clock game on
the East Coast. I know Vegas is quite as far
out as Seattle, but it's still coming from the West
Coast to an East Coast team one o'clock. Meant to

(27:19):
bring that up when we were talking about that. His
record when he takes a West Coast team to the
East Coast for a one o'clock game is a complete
opposite of what the trend is. Yes, I think your
logic is sound here. I don't love the Christian McCaffrey
news that has come out with the Niners.

Speaker 3 (27:37):
Yeah, I from the first round on my fantasy draft.

Speaker 2 (27:40):
I don't love the fact that they're going on the
road with as you brought up earlier in the week,
four or five rookie defensive starters for San Francisco. I'm
gonna take the I'm gonna take the points with Seattle.
I'm gonna take Seattle plus one and a half.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah. I just think their defense is going to be
keeps this game real close.

Speaker 2 (27:55):
And I also just I got to disagree with you
on some things here and some of the we're back
on YouTube now, some of the people in the YouTube
comments are saying I agree with you too often. Well,
how about that. We're changing that up now. The Broncos
in the biggest spread of the week.

Speaker 3 (28:09):
This is my eliminator pick.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
It's a good one. Yeah, it's a really good one.

Speaker 3 (28:13):
It's every one never losing the first two weeks of
the year at.

Speaker 2 (28:15):
Home, unless except when the Steelers went there last year.
But they had a rookie quarterback and a lot going on.

Speaker 3 (28:21):
Awful place to play when you're not if you're ward.

Speaker 2 (28:24):
Man, this is such a tough task, I know, not
only in that environment mile high, which is very difficult
all the time, but especially in the early season when
it's hot too.

Speaker 3 (28:32):
It was the best defensive league last year and probably.

Speaker 2 (28:35):
Going to be one of the best two to three
defenses in the league again this year.

Speaker 3 (28:38):
And so I really like Ridley, like I targeted him
a lot in fantasy. But he's get He's gonna get
certained all day long, and I don't see other receivers
that can do much. I'm excited about Ward. It's just
a really nasty challenge. And I think Peyton will just
run the ball, play small ball, beat you up with
you know, short throws to knicks. Now, I don't love
the number. It's eight and a half, right, eight and

(28:59):
a half, But for eliminator, that's my favorite. I think
Denver wins and controls the game. I think I I'll
lay the points. I mean, I feel confident they're gonna win,
so I'll lay the points. But that's a lot in
week one.

Speaker 2 (29:12):
So you know, you and I have laughed at some
of the like the the different quirks that you and
Dale had, the different things that that Motes and I
had on when we did the Blitz together. One of
the motesisms, if you will, was he was like, I'm
never laying more than a touchdown in the National Football League.
It's just I see a play. I will never lay

(29:34):
more than seven points in the National Football League. I
don't care how bad the team is, how good the
team is. Yeah, you just the vast majority of games
are one score games. Eight and a half is a
big number to big number, a big number again, especially
for Week one when offenses typically aren't kicking like they are.

Speaker 3 (29:50):
Like, I don't think Tennessee's be the worst team in
the league again, you.

Speaker 2 (29:53):
Know I I I think the Titans find a way
to cover, even even if it's a late kind the
back door. You know, they score a meaningless garbage time
touchdown at the end to lose by seven instead of fourteen. Yeah,
I'm just very rarely going to lay eight and a
half points. I'll take them, and take the Titans plus eight.

Speaker 3 (30:12):
Nard might bring them back against the prevent defense, you
know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (30:17):
A NFC North clash with early division title ramifications. The
Packers hosting the Lions green Bay one and a half
point favorites at Lambeau.

Speaker 3 (30:27):
So this one in Bill's ravens to me are just awesome.
Just get your popcorn ready. I don't want to pick it,
you know, I'm super psyched about watching the game. What'd
you say the Lion was here? It's in green Bay.

Speaker 2 (30:40):
Green Bay is a point and a half favorite, so
they're laying a point and a half.

Speaker 3 (30:45):
It's a total coin flip to me, I don't feel
strong about either. I kind of told myself I was
just going to take the home team in this one,
So I'll take the home team.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
The Lions lost so much, I know, but they have
just had the they have had the Packers number.

Speaker 3 (31:05):
Yeah. I don't love picking this one or the like.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
This is one of those if I was, if I'm
actually one of one of you degenerates out there, that's
that's gonna, you know, put some some shillings on this.
I would stay away.

Speaker 3 (31:17):
Oh me too.

Speaker 2 (31:19):
Now go pack I'm gonna take the Packers with you
though at home new season. Who knows what Mark Michael
Parson's status is or how much he plays.

Speaker 3 (31:27):
I'm sure he'll play a lot and play well.

Speaker 2 (31:30):
That's the way I'm leaning, and if he does, I
think that's definitely the difference to tilted in green Bay's advantage.
I'll take the Packers minus one and a half as
well too. Out in Los Angeles. The Rams against the Texans.

Speaker 3 (31:43):
I mean again, dude, so many good games.

Speaker 2 (31:46):
To playoff teams from last year, two teams that fancy
themselves as playoff teams again this year. Certainly Rams three
and a half point favorites at home.

Speaker 3 (31:54):
This is one of my favorites. I'm definitely taking Houston
with points. I think they win. I don't feel super
strong about that, but I think both defensive lines rule
the day, and that Houston O line is a work
in progress. To be kind, and Jared Versus and company
are a real handful, but the Houston D line is nasty.

(32:16):
I mean, if anyone has better edg rushers than Steelers,
probably the Texans or now Green Bay. And I know
Stafford's playing, but that doesn't mean the back isn't an issue.
You know, their secondary is really good to deal with
Adams and the Kua. I'd like the Texans to win
this game. So if you're gonna give me point. Don't
think it's the hardest place in the world to play.
There's probably some Texans fans there. You know, you'ren't give

(32:38):
me over three points in this one. I'm real happy
about that.

Speaker 2 (32:41):
It's a no brainer. Me think, like, I'm shocked if
the Rams were one and a half point favorites. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Okay,
they're the home team, it's Week one, all that stuff.
Three and a half no way. And if you tell
me the Rams find a way to win, it's like
on a last second field goal and they win by three.
You know, like I that seems like a lot.

Speaker 3 (33:01):
Yeah, I seems a little disrespectful to a Texans team.

Speaker 2 (33:05):
It's won a lot of games, won a lot of
games lately and been to the playoffs. And as you mentioned,
they're not going to lambeau Field. You know, they're not
going to Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia.

Speaker 3 (33:15):
Like, I don't see an answer for Nico Collins. Yeah,
I mean that secondary is not great.

Speaker 2 (33:20):
That's a pretty easy one for me. Houston. Yeah, I
thought that that number was gonna move like crazy, like
I thought it would be. Yeah. I thought it would
move down, you know, closer to to to uh to
l a plus one, because I thought people would just
be they'd see that and they'd hammer here.

Speaker 3 (33:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and that's apparently not.

Speaker 2 (33:36):
Apparently not Sunday night, Matthew, as we wrap this thing up,
because we'll save Monday Night football for Monday correct time.
Get back, yeah, Sunday Night football, perhaps in a week
full of juicy. I mean, these are like, these are
like Ribbi matchups here in week one, but this is
like the This is like the dry aged Ribbi with

(33:58):
the with the extra crab on top and the and the.

Speaker 3 (34:01):
Uh and the good this is a pricey meal here
goods saw.

Speaker 2 (34:04):
So this is like what we run up the bill
when we go to the combine in those steakhouses in Indianapolis.
Bills at home hosting the Ravens Baltimore favorites by a
point and a half on the road in Buffalo.

Speaker 3 (34:15):
Which I understand. I think they're the slightly better team,
you know, like if we're power ranking teams, I would
have the Ravens maybe number one in the whole league,
to be honest with you, but I would have them
ahead of the Bills slightly. But Bills would be far
behind this one. I told myself, whoever getting points I'm taking.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
You can tell yourself a lot that.

Speaker 3 (34:34):
Yeah, if you're gonna give me one and a half
or whatever it was and Josh Allen at home, that's
enough for me. You know, no replace is gonna be bonkers.

Speaker 2 (34:45):
Last home opener ever for that stadium.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
I didn't think of that.

Speaker 2 (34:47):
Okay, and Ravens have a little bit of that revenge
factor from last year, certainly, But there's just this kind
of weird like love triangles. Not the term that I'm
looking for, but it's like the top that AFC pecking order.
It feels like certain teams just have the other's number.

Speaker 3 (35:04):
Oh the rock paper scissors thing, the rock paper scissors thing.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
Just for now, I think Buffalo has Baltimore's number, and
with them being at home, yeah, I'm gonna take plus
one and a half. I think Buffalo wins a close one,
but I'll take I'll take the one and a half.

Speaker 3 (35:17):
So if you're gonna points in Josh Allen at home
against anyone, I will take that right now.

Speaker 2 (35:22):
It is very telling with I think how close a
lot of these matchups are projected to be. How many
of these, at least half of these felt like one
and a half point spreads. I know, there were not
many big ones, not as many two and a half,
three and a half, four and a half as you
usually get.

Speaker 3 (35:35):
There weren't a lot of obvious eliminator picks.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
A lot of not a lot of obvious eliminator picks
as well too, as much as Broncos and Titans, feels
like it could be lobsided, even that one. It's Week one.
Crazy things can happen. Cam Ward has himself a game
out there, But.

Speaker 3 (35:49):
Yeah, it's a big Steeler Bengal contingency, right.

Speaker 2 (35:53):
I would, I would, I would, I would think. So
that's that's what I got from from ours at least,
and I see that one too. I do, I do,
except for like Cleveland has had a weird way of
biting the Bengals.

Speaker 3 (36:04):
When division game road, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (36:07):
Right, division game on the road. Crazy things.

Speaker 3 (36:09):
Suddenly I've put my first bet down on a road
team in division game.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
That's tough. That's tough. And if that's Cincinnati. If Cincinnati
ends up, you know, being all right this year, then
you're kind of prevented from taking them the rest of
the year. You always kind of have to look at
that as well too. The cars are what are matchups
the exactly get it out of the way, take the
Cardinals and get it out of the way.

Speaker 3 (36:29):
That was slam dunk either that.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
Was no, it's not, but that was kind of my
logic behind it as well.

Speaker 3 (36:33):
I get it.

Speaker 2 (36:33):
One more segment to go on the other side, we
will give our Steelers and Jets predictions and thoughts before
we get out of here. West Shuler, Matt Williamson, It's
the Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network,

(36:55):
your tunes.

Speaker 1 (36:56):
About Drive on your twenty four to seven home of
the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio.

Speaker 2 (37:14):
Congratulations, you made it, folks, last segment of the week,
that means last segment for us and our Steelers Nation
Radio programming before the ball will be kicked off in
the air. Yeah, we've got the pregame show and all
those things on DVE that Matt is a part of,
Mike Pursuda, Jerry Doulac, Bob Labry, all of the whole
cast night characters, and it's been a lot of fun.

(37:37):
I'm not just saying this because you're both my buddies
and I like you both and everything, but I enjoy
you know, like right around the time that dan Quinlan
and I get to the booth get set up. We
get there about four and a half five hours early.
But by the time we get set up is about
four hours ish before the game, which is right when
you and Tom are going on. And so I'll go

(37:59):
to the cafeteria there. I'll get myself a play of food.
Hey is in the barn at that point kind of
you know what I mean, And I could put my
feet up and eat a meal and listen to you
and Tom do the pregame show. It's been fun you guys.
Have you guys some good chemistry and uh and we'll
be looking forward to that uh with you guys getting
regular season proceedings underway for us starting nine am with

(38:20):
the pre pregame show on your flagship of the Black
and Gold one O two point five dv E. And
then of course UH pursuita du Lac Labs at eleven
o'clock for the two hour pregame show leading up to
that one o'clock kickoff.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
And I joined those guys too about an hour before kickoff.

Speaker 2 (38:39):
Matt Williamson is busy on game days, folks. I tell you,
uh as there will be uh, there will be plenty
of pregame and of course a fun, intriguing start to
the season for the Steelers in New Jersey. That's one
of the other Arthur Motes things you better not ever called,
You better not ever say New York about the Giants
and the Jets. It's in New Jersey, alright, All their

(39:01):
stuff's in New Jersey.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
There's only it's only the title of the franch.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
Only one team that plays in New York. That's the
Buffalo Bills.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
I got you, okay, I guess he's a former Bills.

Speaker 2 (39:11):
Sunday at MetLife in New Jersey, the New York Jets
hosting the Steelers Pittsburgh a two and a half point favorite,
Matt and this by far to the lowest over under
of the week in the NFL, just thirty seven and
a half points. Let's start there, over under thirty seven
and a half points.

Speaker 3 (39:30):
It's funny to do this because I always screwed up.
Dales makes fun of me all the time. My pitt
John's Tom math a t I have a what's the
number again?

Speaker 2 (39:40):
Thirty seven and a half.

Speaker 3 (39:41):
I'm under Okay, I'm not going to divulge my score,
but I had to add it up my head. There.

Speaker 2 (39:46):
I am under, Oh, that's a good call. I can
do the same thing.

Speaker 3 (39:49):
I'm also under Okay, take it away. What's your prediction?

Speaker 2 (39:52):
My prediction is sixteen thirteen Steelers.

Speaker 3 (39:56):
Ooh, okay, I'm similar before under if you figured it
be okay.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
One touchdown and three Chris Boswell field goals and for
New York one touchdown and two Nick Folk field goals.

Speaker 3 (40:09):
Okay, I just pretty specific on that. Okay, I like it.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
I just think I think that the spread is about
right on this one. You know, I see the Steelers
winning by three or four points. I think there'll be
some some squeamy, some squirmy moments. There'll be some squeaky
moments for Steelers fans. They'll they'll have the butt clenched
from time to time. Yeah, But I do think the

(40:35):
Steelers just talent wise, continuity wise, and I know they've
they've got a lot of new pieces on that offense
and defense, but I think that they have more of
a mantra of how they're gonna play and how they're
gonna win. I like Pittsburgh sixteen to thirteen. It'll be
a rock fight. It won't be pretty, but we'll be
flying back for the home opener with with the first

(40:56):
win in the books for a lot of.

Speaker 3 (40:59):
The similar reasons. And this happens a lot in the
last segment of the week. Is you talk about a
game all week, you kind of get the idea what
your co host is thinking too. You know, I have
the Steelers winning seventeen sixteen. One thing we haven't noticed
is one thing we haven't brought up is Tomlin on
opening day is very, very good. I don't think that's
an accident. Yeah, I mean, I think he knows how

(41:20):
to prepare his team now. He didn't play his starters
as much as usual. But I also think he's got
a really good pulse for where his franchise is no
matter what. And the Jets have a first time head coach,
which I have a hard time betting on, I mean,
especially first game ever. You know, where when do I
call timeouts? You know, just all the logistics of it
all can get screwy younger quarterback. But I I'm a

(41:44):
little I think there will be Steeler fans on Monday
that aren't thrilled with the offensive performance. I don't think
it's going to be a great running game. I think
metcalfs in for a long day and I could see
a lot of three and outs and a lot of punts. Rust.
Call it whatever you want or concern, but I think

(42:04):
the Steeler d is set up real well, and I'm
assuming Cam Hayward plays. I think the pass rush will
be dominant. I can't see Wilson beating them. And I
think you sell out to stop the run a lot
with a deep front seven that you just keep rotating
them through and that gets a win. It might not
be pretty. I don't think it's seeming pretty.

Speaker 2 (42:23):
I would bank on it not being Yeah. Yeah, I
think the Steelers defense much like we saw in the
opener against Atlanta last year.

Speaker 3 (42:29):
Yeah yeah.

Speaker 2 (42:30):
You had a new head coach, a new quarterback with
that team and Kirk Cousins yep. Like the Steelers defense
was the difference and all you needed was eighteen points
what six Chris Bosswell field goals say.

Speaker 3 (42:41):
I trust the Steelers special teams more too.

Speaker 2 (42:43):
Even with the addition of Nick Folk, who's been good
over the last two years. I still trust the Steelers
special teams more. All right, I'm gonna let a hail
Mary get in here. At the last second from Jeff
on Twitter. Okay, he says Steelers twenty three, Jets seventeen,
but he wants some quick over and unders from us
on these. Metcalf over under seven and a half receptions under.

(43:04):
I agree. Aaron Rodgers over under one hundred and seventy
yards passing over slightly over.

Speaker 3 (43:11):
Yeah, I think he gets the two hundred dish.

Speaker 2 (43:14):
TJ Watt over under two and a half sacks. That
it's a big number.

Speaker 3 (43:18):
Yeah, Jets don't plan on throwing. They will, but they
don't play on throwing a lot.

Speaker 2 (43:21):
I think that's an easy under. Jalen Warren over under
eighty five yards rushing under.

Speaker 3 (43:28):
I could see eighty five all purpose yards. I mean,
I do think he'sa get the ball of the carries.
I do too, And that's a crazy number. I think
that's a good number.

Speaker 2 (43:37):
I think he better. I think he better at least
be close to that.

Speaker 3 (43:39):
Yeah. I mean I don't think Johnson's going to play
a ton.

Speaker 2 (43:42):
I don't either, Yeah, And I think the game will
gonna get situational.

Speaker 3 (43:45):
I don't think get many carries. I mean he might
be out there, but he won't get many carries.

Speaker 2 (43:49):
If the Steelers are playing with the lead most of
the game. I don't think we'll see a ton of game.

Speaker 3 (43:52):
Will No, I think Warren.

Speaker 2 (43:55):
Gifts they're chasing it. Will definitely see game.

Speaker 3 (43:57):
Will Warren mike his highest percentage of snaps of the
year here. So I'm kind of talking myself into the
over because I think they're gonna quarterback's not gonna run
for anything. I think they run for about one hundred yards,
you know, good numbers.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
I think that's right about writing about the range. Matt
fun stuff this week, man, and I'm excited to uh
to really get into the flow of it here. That
will be breaking down games and previewing games now every
single week. It'll be a lot of fun.

Speaker 3 (44:23):
Yeah, absolutely did.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Thanks to Matt for for co hosting. Thanks to our
guy TV in here for putting all the YouTube stuff
together for us. If you are we have a we
have a a hype rally show as well too. Matt.
I wanted to make sure to plug this. I got
the name of it written down here, but if you're
gonna be in the area Saturday night in Jersey City,

(44:47):
and what's the name of it here for crying out loud,
Wicked Wolf Tavern six thirty eight thirty. Rob King, Missy
Matthews myself will be doing the show for two hours
hanging out. We also, at some point are going to
be joined by a Steelers legend, Super Bowl Champion Hall
of Famer who played for both the Steelers and the Jets,

(45:11):
Big Red Allen Fanica.

Speaker 3 (45:12):
Ah, I should have got that. I'm sitting here thinking
it's Antonio Holmes James Ferrier, but I'm like, they didn't
go the whole fame. They had great careers, but okay,
that's a good one.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
So an opportunity to come out for a little road
Warriors party and listen to some more of your favorite
Steelers Audio Network personalities as well too. But that will
do it for us this week. We'll be back with
you as always to break it all down on Monday.
You know where to find us. It's on your twenty
four to seven home of the Black and Gold Steelers
Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.