October 15, 2025 • 25 mins
Ed Troup and Jacob Recht and highlight the top ten plays by the Steelers in their Week 6 victory over Cleveland.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Gabriel gets a snap back the pass look you left
under pressure.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Herbit gets it back of the.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Fourteen, then slings him to the turf.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the season at four and
one twenty three times in its historic franchise history. Back
in twenty twenty, they started a franchise best eleven to
zero before sinking at the end of that season. For
twenty twenty five, the team is on pace to make
the playoffs, win the AFC North, and now in the
conversation for a top seed in the AFC. Welcome to
another edition of the Steelers Standard here in Steelers Nation Radio,
(00:36):
part of the Steelers Audio Network. I am ed Troop
and joining me is Jacob Brett and Jacob. Going into
Week seven this week, only the Colts and the Steelers
have one loss in the AFC, and the AFC North
is tilting in the Steelers favor and I'll win tomorrow
night in Cincinnati can make that lead in the AFC
North even better for the Pittsburgh Steelers and put them
(00:57):
in a stronger position in the AFC.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, it's pretty remarkable to think.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
You know, we were talking as the season progressed, as
we saw Lamar get hurt, as we saw Joe burroget
hurt saying, oh man, the Steelers should really take advantage
of the week AFC North this year. We had no
expectation of the AFC North playing out the way it
has so far. And now a couple of weeks later,
as you mentioned, ed, the Steelers are in firm position
(01:21):
as the number two seed in the conference. With that
AFC matchup looming in a couple of weeks against the Colts.
Luckily it'll be played in Pittsburgh. There is a very
good chance by the midway point, ed, the Steelers could
be in place in first place in the conference. It
is wild to think that's where this team is. And again,
this isn't just you know, a couple of weeks into
(01:43):
the season and it's a small sample size. No, by
the time these two teams face off, it'll be more
than halfway into the year, or about at the halfway point.
So that is no small thing to just shrug off.
Is that is a legitimate case for the Steelers to
be making for the number one overall seed in the AFC.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
We knew the Steelers had a lot of potential coming
into twenty twenty five, the defense stacked Aaron Rodgers, the
veteran quarterback, you bring in Dk Metcalf. A lot of
expectations between Jalen Warren becoming the lead running back in
that room. But I don't think what we expected was
the rest of the AFC North to be sitting where
they are in injuries to Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow
(02:24):
sinking both the Bengals and Ravens this early in the season. Browns,
I don't think is a surprise at one in five.
We knew they were going to struggle with their offense.
We knew their defense would carry them a little bit
throughout the season. But yeah, they're in a great position
right now going into Cincinnati Thursday night. Football is not
being kind to the Steelers. Mike Tomlin addressed that in
his press conference the other day, and you know, kind
(02:44):
of joke that you know, it has not been kind
to him throughout the years. But facts are facts that
the Steelers are in a great position tomorrow night in
Cincinnati to further their lead in the division and again
continue to go on this path in the AFC.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, it's remarkable and Mike Tomlin really just has his
guys ready it's it's I know, a criticism of his
is to be the guy that can just get into
the playoffs, sneak into the playoffs and not do much
as he's done the last nine seasons. But this season,
like you said, with the potential, feels a little bit different.
I think the biggest factor, and I'm sure you would agree,
(03:20):
is Aaron Rodgers, because you can have all the potential
in the world across the board at every position if
you don't have the quarterback. We've seen teams who are
ninety nine percent complete, but without that starting quarterback, they're
not going to be taken seriously. They're not going to
be a legitimate threat in the postseason. And right now
the Steelers have what seems to be a complete team
(03:40):
with even more potential to be, with even more potential
to be realized. And with the quarterback playing the way
he is only three interceptions through five games, nearly double
digit touchdowns, you have to imagine that this team will
be a playoff threat come genuine.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
I mean, the being the position they are at this
point in the season, going into week seven, and as
I said at the opening, they have started the season
four and one twenty three times throughout franchise history and
back in twenty twenty. We remember this eleven to zero
during the COVID.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Season, we remember, but we want to forget.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
It, and then it fell apart towards the end.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
But this twenty twenty five team, I agree with you, Jacob,
it's a good point, just feels different. Before we move
on to Cincinnati and start talking about the game tomorrow
and on tomorrows show, we will exclusively preview Thursday Night
football and scout the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's take one more
look back at the steelers twenty three to nine victory
against the Browns this past Sunday. The top ten moments
from Week six will start in the first quarter and
(04:40):
work our way through to the end. In the first quarter,
of the opening drive, the first play of the game,
the play action at Darnell Washington for thirty six yard
thirty six yards. They do get a first down to
John new Smith, but the drive stalls. They have to
settle for a Chris Boswell forty four yard field goal
to cap a forty six yard, four minute and five
second opening scoring drive. Steelers led three to nothing early.
(05:01):
Jacob I thought that first opening play, the play action
to Darnell Washington, they attacked with a tight end I
thought set the tone for that game.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Agreed, I think that I don't really remember a play
that only went for what twenty or thirty yards and
not a touchdown at the beginning of the game in
a very inconsequential time.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I don't remember play like that having this much hype
around it. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
But yeah, given the circumstances, the team's inability to make
creative or effective play calling, the team's inability to get
the tight ends involved, with those two factors in mind,
and having them both come together and have that opportunity
open up for the offense and Rogers to find Darnell
wide open on that route and convert thirty yards on
(05:45):
the single play and have it be the very first
play of the game really added to the suspense around it.
Are really added to the magic around it. So I
think it's very worthy of being discussed today.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Washington plays eighty percent of the snaps on Sunday in
the tight end room, finishes with three catches for sixty
two yards, and no doubt. As I said a couple
of weeks ago, he was listed number one on the
death chart, and so far that's where he's playing alongside
Pat Friar Muth and John new Smith.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Okay, number nine on our list.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
In the first quarter, Jalen Ramsey a sack of Gabriel
at the Browns forty one yard line. Browns forced to
punt two plays later. It ends the first quarter Steelers
three Browns nothing. It was the first of two sacks
on the day for Jalen Ramsey, who, coming in Jacob
only had one career sack.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Now he's up to three.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
He made that joke in the post game that says,
who would have thought in the game with TJ. Watt
and Miles Garrett, I would lead them all in sacks?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But he did. Yeah, he did, and it was great
to see him get involved.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
That's another asset this Steelers defense has is their ability
to kind of line Ramsey up wherever, whether it's in
deep coverage or in the slot or at the line
of scrimmage. It is really helpful, really advantageous to them
to be able to let you know, Jalen play Jalen ball.
And I say it that way because if you remember
last year, at the beginning of the twenty twenty four season,
(06:59):
there was all this preseason hype surrounding Meka Fitzpatrick and
his ability to play minke a ball right the Tara
Lauson and Mike Tomlin and even Mika himself all said
so that they were gonna return to Mike a ball
last season, and you never really saw it, right. You
never saw him in special coverages or lining up in
the slot, enforcing turnovers or even getting to the quarterback
(07:23):
for sacks like Gilean Ramsey has done.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
So it's a huge breath of fresh.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Air to see that Jelen Ramsey has this ability to
make these big plays, and I think a lot of
the credit has to go to the rest of the
secondary being able to hold down the fort and say, yeah,
go up, you got the line of scrimmage will take
care of the secondary.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
It does feel like the Minka Fitzpatrick trade when they
acquired him back in what was that twenty nineteen. It
feels very similar. It's the same type of impact on
this defense that Fitzpatrick ket early, as you said, Jacob
is having with Ramsey right now, who combines six tackles
on Sunday, two sacks, two tackle for losses, two quarterback kids.
As he continues to be one of the top playmakers.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And this is why you brought him in.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
By the way, not to look too farther ahead to
tomorrow night, but this is why he's here because tomorrow
night he's gonna go up against Jamar Chase or team against.
And the Steelers completely had that in mind when they
brought him in here. They know what they were gonna face,
especially with that Cincinnati offense.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I mean, yeah, this will be the toughest wide receiver
match of this team has faced pretty much. You could
say this one or Minnesota and Justin Jefferson, Yeah, Justin Jefferson,
j Jordan Addison. But the fact that they have Justin
Jefferson and Jordan Addison, I think this one surpasses them
all because it's Jamar Chase Anti Higgins, who a lot
(08:39):
of people argue is the best one two punch in football.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Shortly behind them or not too far behind them.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Is that one two punch in Minnesota with Addison and Jefferson.
And we saw the numbers against Minnesota. I know Jefferson
got over one hundred. I think Addison did too. We
know he had that long eighty yard catch and run.
So you had to both of their guys being effective playmakers.
You'll have another tough matchup, another tough another tough battle
(09:10):
here against the Bengals with Chase and with Higgins. But
I think you should be okay given that in that
game against Minnesota, you remember Jalen Ramsey did get hurt.
You were without Joey Porter junior. This game, you'll have
both of them, so it should be you should be
(09:30):
in better shape. I'm not saying I'm not guaranteeing an
overall victory by the secondary over the Bengals receivers, but
you should be in better shape than you were against Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I just happen to have the Minnesota score sheet here
in front of me. That's I just showed you. It's
Addison did go for one fourteen.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The yeah, there you go.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So both guys got over one hundred yards. That's something
you have to try to improve upon this week against Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
But neither Jefferson or Addison in that game score touchdowns,
so zero touchdowns, which was which was important to keep
them out of the end zone. Back to our top
ten moments from week Steelers Browns this past week.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Number eight.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Another defensive stand in the second quarter TJ. Watt and
Alex Highsmith get home and sack Gabriel on third down
with nine oh five left in the quarter. Brown's one
of four on third down. Early we talked about Alex
high Smith being back, Jacob coming off that injury. They
rotated Nick Herbig in who played over sixty percent of
the snaps on Sunday, which was good over half. And
(10:23):
we'll get to Nick her Big here in a little
bit and his impact from last Sunday. But TJ. Watt
and Alex Highsmith again, seeing both of them get home
at the same time, I thought, build a lot of
momentum with this defense on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, I mean, what can you say about Herbig.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
We opened up the show with that highlight of his
getting that sack on Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Just what a performance by him.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
You remember about halfway through the game, he had that
play where Gabriel tried to throw a check down and
Herbig read it perfectly, tipped the ball nearly to himself
and if he would have caught it, it would have
gone for a pick six. So the guy just makes
plays all over the football field. And and I think
two indicators one is kind of silly. But one is
(11:03):
legitimate about his impact is the fact that Mike tom
you know, will allow twelve defenders to be announced to
the crowd at Acrocer Stadium before the game started. But
also the fact that when you look at the tape
from from this past Sunday, there were times when you
saw Nick Herbig, Alex Heismith and t J. Watt all
(11:24):
in the field at the same time. Wasn't something they
went to multiple times or really a decent amount throughout
that game. But that just shows that his impact is
so big that you can't just take him off the
field and say, oh, we're gonna rest, We're gonna wrest him.
You really want to have your best players on the field,
and Darrel Lawston thought and some of those packages his
(11:47):
best players were Nick Herbig and Alex Heismith and TJ.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Watt number seven on our Top ten Moments.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Brown's answer late in the second quarter as they move
the ball down pass midfield, but Derek Harmon comes up
with a big sack right for the two minute warning.
The Browns offense ultimately stalls out first three drives. They
have thirty four yards. Their final drive before halftime had
seventy two yards. Schmid, their kicker, hits a thirty one
yard field goal to make it Steelers nine Browns three
at halftime. But Derek Harmon, the first round draft pick,
(12:16):
again makes an impact late in the second quarter, gets
home and gets another Steeler sack, another sack of six
total on the day. For the Steelers, it's good to
get back to Blitzberg and I'm glad that.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
They're getting home and getting to these quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I mean Derek Harmon, the fact that he's come in
in such a short amount of time and like you said,
made his impact known. Right, He got a sack in
his very first game, and now with the defense fully healthy,
he's still getting involved. It's not like there's too many
mouths to feed, right. You mentioned it yourself. You said
it yourself. Six guys or six sacks registered. I also
(12:51):
know the stat that the Steelers have eleven different guys
on the team.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Who are registered at least a sack so far.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
That's not standing.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
That is for the most in the NFL with Denver,
and I believe they also have eleven guys who have
registered at least one tackle for loss, which is the most.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
In the NFL so far.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This season, so everyone getting involved, even the rookie, which
is great because we've seen the Steelers kind of have
not great luck in early round draft picks, right, I mean,
the jury still down and Troy Fatanu. We're still waiting
to see Roger Jones really become that consistent left tackle player.
We know that the signs are showing that he's improving.
(13:33):
And then you flash back to guys like Kenny Pickett
who's no longer on the team, Algie Harris who's no
longer on the team. So a lot of first round
draft picks here who just haven't really panned out. But
Derek Harmon looking like it so far. I know it's early,
but so far, onto big things, and Derek Harmon.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
This past week for the Steelers comes through with that
big sack, has a let's see here, four tackles on
the day, two quarterback hits, so he got home more
than just that one time. Just the other ones didn't
come up with sacks number six on our list. The Steelers'
first possession of the third quarter, the offensive team comes out,
they're sluggish. They do get a break on a running
(14:12):
into a punter call that keeps him on the field.
Weightman hits the ground after he gets smacked, Rogers connects
with John hus Smith and Metcalf and Warren had add
some nice gains. It was a nice offensive drive. Second
and ten at the Browns twelve, Rodgers rolls out and
hits Connor Hayward for a twelve yard touchdown. That's number
six on our list. It caps a seventy nine yard
scoring drive that lasted six minutes and two seconds. The
(14:33):
Steelers extend their lead sixteen to three. With seven to
fifty three left in the third quarter, Jalen Warren picks
up a block excellent job in the backfield so Rodgers
can roll out. He throws across the field, hits Connor
Hayward in the back of the end zone for the
Steeler touchdown. Good looking pass by Rogers, Risky pass thrown
across the field, but it shows his leadership, his veteran leadership,
that he can make that throw for six.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
I know we're going to be talking about the DK
touchdown a little bit later, but that first touchdown pass
of the day for.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Rogers was a thing of beauty, right.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
His ability to step up in the pocket extend the play,
that's something we really haven't seen out of a Steelers
quarterback really since Ben before that elbow injury. You know,
by the time he came back after that surgery in
twenty twenty and twenty twenty one, he was no offense.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Ben.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
I love you, but he was so old at that point.
He didn't have the legs that he had when he
was in his prime. And not to say that Rogers
is you know, speed racer out there, but he did
enough to keep the play alive and then zip the
ball in and then huge congrats are a huge effort
or huge credit rather to Connor Hayward for making that
(15:40):
diving catch. I mean that was not an easy catch.
Not everyone can make that catch in the NFL today,
and Connor Hayward showing his worth, showing him why he's
one of the fifty three guys on the team, why
he's one of the guys that gets a helmet on
game days. But yeah, just a great play on both ends,
the throw by Rogers and the catch by Connor.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
I don't understand why people hate on Connor Hayward's so much.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Yeah, I think it's the thing where you see, you know,
I don't want to call it nepotism. But you see
the familiar, right, It's like the the Connor Haywards, the
Derek Watts of the world. Right. You see Tomlin kind
of ease up to guys that other teams kind of
passed on, and you wonder if the name wasn't if
the last name wasn't the same when they really have
(16:23):
it spot on the team. Derek Watt, clearly the team
had to move on from. But I'm with you. I
think Connor Hayward has a spot on this team his
special teams contribution and then when he gets involved in
the offense, he is a playmaker.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I think the relationships from a siblings standpoint with some
of the players you just mentioned gives the Steelers an
initial look at some of these guys, like, hey, well
they have a football pedigree, they come from a football family.
Let's give them a look. Let's bring them in here.
But for them to sustain their career here in Pittsburgh
exactly is them and in my opinion, has nothing to
do with the nepotism part. Sure, he's earning that hat
(16:56):
on Sundays based on his play. Now again, they might
have brought him in initially, right to look at him.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
The same thing with Watt. But as you said, they
moved on from Derek, right, And I.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Think that's I think that's the biggest point here is
the fact that Connor has been here for years now,
where they said to themselves, Derek Watt is not doing
enough to be on this team, and so credit to
Connor for really making his worth known.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Number five on our list. Third quarter, Steelers closed the
quarter out strong, Roman Wilson a twelve yard catch.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Game Well about that.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You got it. You gotta mentionine his name whenever you can, right.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
That's not the moment though, this is part of the drive.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm sure it's not so gainwell and war and effective
on the ground. Washington converts a big third down and
the Steelers five of ten on third down to end
the quarter. I thought ending the third quarter on that
strong offensive drive really set up our play number four
on our list, which is the first play of the
fourth quarter. Rogers the DK Metcalf on a twenty five
yard touchdown, wide open fourth straight game that Metcalf scores
(17:53):
a touchdown, caps a ten play, seventy three yard scoring
drive in four minutes and thirteen seconds, and the Steelers
led twenty three to six to start the fourth quarter,
and as we talked about the other day, Jacob, this
pretty much put the game away.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Yeah, I think that it's really hard for me to
choose which one of these two touchdown passes I enjoyed
more Right, you loved the spontaneity or the improvisation by
Aaron Rodgers to heat the play going, and then, as
I mentioned, the individual effort by Connor Hayward to meet
the catch in the end zone.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
But how great was it just to see the ease
of that touchdown?
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Right, We all saw at the top of our screen
DK kind of break away, and when Rogers threw the
deep ball, you thought, Okay, here we go, here's DK
one on one and then he just had that extra
boost to get behind the defender. It was easy as
pie for that connection. So I love to see that.
It's really hard, as I said, it's hard for me
to pick which one I liked between the two. But
(18:49):
great to see, as you always mentioned, that DK and
Aaron Rodgers connection continuing to gel. Continue not just gel,
but also find the end zone.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Jacob and I are recapping for one final time this
week before we put a bow on Steelers Browns and
start talking Steelers Bengals, which will play tomorrow night on
Thursday Night Football. Steelers Brown's top ten moments from week six.
We're on number three now, fourth quarter Brown's drive. They
move downfield, aided by a helmet to helmet call on
to Seawn Elliott. Brandon Eckles has called for pass interference,
(19:19):
the ninth penalty the day on the Steelers. Nick Herbig
comes up with a big sack and that pushes the
Browns back to the fourteen yard line. Joey Porter Junior
breaks up to third down pass and the Browns have
to settle for another field goal, this time from thirty
two yards out, making the score Steelers twenty three nine,
which goes on to be the final. That was with
nine to twenty nine left. But again, I thought that
defensive stand by Nick Herbig with the big sack and
(19:41):
then Joey Porter Junior breaking up that third down pass
good sequence for the Steelers after two tough helmet to
helmet penalties and the passing interference on Eckles, which you know,
could it gave the Browns life on that drive if
they punch in seven rate there, Jacob, you know this
game gets a little tighter, but they pushed them back
and they settled for three again the sacked by her
Big and Joey Porter Junior breaking up that pass.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean again, how many how many names are
we going to mention who showed up on defense? I
don't think there was a single guy that we failed
to mention today that we would fail to mentioned today
or just not even today, but just evaluating the game
as a whole simply because that defense really, I think
you could say had their most complete game of the
(20:24):
season so far. First time they didn't allow a touchdown
all year, first time that they prevented Cleveland from scoring
a touchdown all year. Despite Cleveland not having a great defense,
or rather a great offense, the Steelers really held down
the fort there, enforcing the Browns. Yeah, they allowed some yardists,
but not really breaking at all, so huge credit. And
(20:47):
as you mentioned the play that ended that drive between
Herbie and JPJ, it just seemed like everyone was getting
to the quarterback on Sunday, our.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Top three moments from Sunday are all defensive plays and
that was the first of the three.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
That was another three.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Never got speaks volumes to how well the defense played.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
They really did.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And you know, offense had those big two touchdown strikes
with yeah, with Metcalf and Hayward in the back of
the end zone as you said, and bo is another
good day kicking the kicking three field goals. But the defense,
it was, it was a defensive day. We knew that
going in they would probably be low scoring in a
defensive battle, and it was especially early on number two
on our list, Running Gade played at Akuscher Stadium and
(21:26):
the Steelers Respawn Browns reached midfield, but Nick Herbig his
second sack of the game and again her Big another
big day on Sunday. We went over his stats earlier,
but second sack of the day and you mentioned you
could had the interception of potential pick six to two early.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
In that game. You had that in and that's a
huge day for Nick Herbig.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
But again he played over sixty percent of the snaps
on Sunday, and rightfully so he is humming at a
I don't want to say all pro but at least
a Pro Bowl level, Oh.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Ed, I actually might encourage you to raise your your
expectations for the end season award that he could collect,
because I think he is on pace, maybe not a
first team, but certainly as he's on pace for at
least a second team.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Not the guy.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
The guy is doing everything.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And you know it's upsetting because we mentioned earlier or
earlier this week that the Steelers had like six dropped
interceptions on the day. Right, they ended up with zero turnovers,
force fumbles nor interceptions, but they really left a lot
on the field considering how many passes Dylan Gabriel threw
right to their guys, including that one that Herbig had,
(22:32):
and I think that was the most clear path for
a touchdown as well, but unfortunately it doesn't doesn't count,
except I guess Herbig you do get credit for a
pass baut of down. So there you go, doing more,
more and more and more, just showing your versatility. Cannot
say enough about him, and that's the reason why you
saw him on the field as much as you did.
You remember you had mentioned that I think he logged
(22:54):
more snaps than TJ.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Watt did. He did, he did.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, just why why would you? Why would you you
take the hot guy off the field? You know, I'm
obsessed with Nick Herbig. We've talked about it as far
as his playing abilities.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Yeah, and I follow Brian Ballinger on Oh I love Baldy.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Yeah, and he so he always whenever you get a
spotlight from Baldy, you're feeling pretty good.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
He's now done.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Nick Herbig like three times four weeks. Yesterday was he
showed the misinterception, but then he showed how he came
back with the two sacks and how he just works
off the tackles and quick hands just like TJ. Watt,
very similar style with the quick hands coming off the
line of scrimmage and just getting by so quick man
speed from an outside edge rusher. You can't teach that,
and when you have it, it's special. Nick Herbig definitely
(23:38):
has it. Okay, enough about Nick Herbig. Number one on
our list is Jalen Ramsey second sack on third down,
the sixth Steelers sack of the day, fourth down incompletion
by Gabriel is next and the Steelers takeover at the
Browns forty two with just four minutes and two seconds left.
Jalen Ramsey, as we said at the top two sacks
on Sunday, only came in only with one career sack,
(24:00):
but his big play, big playmaker ability on defense is
leading this defense right now, especially in that secondary. I'm
excited to see him tomorrow night go up against these
big receivers for the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
As of my I think, despite you know, talking about TJ.
Watt getting involved with a half sack and a couple
of passes deflected, Nick Herbig, obviously we're big fans of
Cam Hayward being a disruptor. Derek Harmon is the rookie
doing great things. We're talking about how great of his
second year Patrick Queen is having with the team. I
think right now your defensive MVP for the team is
(24:31):
easily Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
And Ramsey, Nick her Big, TJ. Watts still make him plays.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Remember Alex Highsmith gone on the backfield for a sack too.
Everyone is due, everyone is showing up. Joey Porter if
you remember had that near interception in the end zone.
It's just everyone is getting involved. Derek Carmon, Yeah, of course,
rookie Harmon Harmon up front. And remember Keanu Benton. I mean,
he had a huge game over in Dublin and I
think you can just see it won't be a two
(24:57):
sack performers out of him every week. But given how
much attention has to go around pretty much, even keel
across the board for opposing offenses to say, oh, is
it gonna be Ramsey, It's gonna be TJ. It's gonna
be high Smith, he's gonna be cam count of Ben's
gonna have those days where he's just forgotten about.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
He has the easy path to disrupt the backfield.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Remember the old adage and football defenses wins championships of course,
so you know, of course, as well as your offense
doesn't lose the game for you and they get some
field goals, maybe a touchdown here or there, hey, your
defense can carry the rest of the way for you.
In some instances, the two thousand Ravens, for instance, your
defense can actually do everything.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Your offense doesn't even have to score. They can score
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
When we come back, Jacob and I will take our
ten Terrible Takes of the Week. We'll also go over
some injury news in our Top Bowl Points of the
week as well. It is the Steelers Standard with Ed
Troop and Jacob wret here on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network.
Gabriel gets a snap back the pass look you left
under pressure.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Herbit gets it back of the.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Fourteen, then slings him to the turf.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the season at four and
one twenty three times in its historic franchise history. Back
in twenty twenty, they started a franchise best eleven to
zero before sinking at the end of that season. For
twenty twenty five, the team is on pace to make
the playoffs, win the AFC North, and now in the
conversation for a top seed in the AFC. Welcome to
another edition of the Steelers Standard here in Steelers Nation Radio,
(00:36):
part of the Steelers Audio Network. I am ed Troop
and joining me is Jacob Brett and Jacob. Going into
Week seven this week, only the Colts and the Steelers
have one loss in the AFC, and the AFC North
is tilting in the Steelers favor and I'll win tomorrow
night in Cincinnati can make that lead in the AFC
North even better for the Pittsburgh Steelers and put them
(00:57):
in a stronger position in the AFC.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yeah, it's pretty remarkable to think.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
You know, we were talking as the season progressed, as
we saw Lamar get hurt, as we saw Joe burroget
hurt saying, oh man, the Steelers should really take advantage
of the week AFC North this year. We had no
expectation of the AFC North playing out the way it
has so far. And now a couple of weeks later,
as you mentioned, ed, the Steelers are in firm position
(01:21):
as the number two seed in the conference. With that
AFC matchup looming in a couple of weeks against the Colts.
Luckily it'll be played in Pittsburgh. There is a very
good chance by the midway point, ed, the Steelers could
be in place in first place in the conference. It
is wild to think that's where this team is. And again,
this isn't just you know, a couple of weeks into
(01:43):
the season and it's a small sample size. No, by
the time these two teams face off, it'll be more
than halfway into the year, or about at the halfway point.
So that is no small thing to just shrug off.
Is that is a legitimate case for the Steelers to
be making for the number one overall seed in the AFC.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
We knew the Steelers had a lot of potential coming
into twenty twenty five, the defense stacked Aaron Rodgers, the
veteran quarterback, you bring in Dk Metcalf. A lot of
expectations between Jalen Warren becoming the lead running back in
that room. But I don't think what we expected was
the rest of the AFC North to be sitting where
they are in injuries to Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow
(02:24):
sinking both the Bengals and Ravens this early in the season. Browns,
I don't think is a surprise at one in five.
We knew they were going to struggle with their offense.
We knew their defense would carry them a little bit
throughout the season. But yeah, they're in a great position
right now going into Cincinnati Thursday night. Football is not
being kind to the Steelers. Mike Tomlin addressed that in
his press conference the other day, and you know, kind
(02:44):
of joke that you know, it has not been kind
to him throughout the years. But facts are facts that
the Steelers are in a great position tomorrow night in
Cincinnati to further their lead in the division and again
continue to go on this path in the AFC.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, it's remarkable and Mike Tomlin really just has his
guys ready it's it's I know, a criticism of his
is to be the guy that can just get into
the playoffs, sneak into the playoffs and not do much
as he's done the last nine seasons. But this season,
like you said, with the potential, feels a little bit different.
I think the biggest factor, and I'm sure you would agree,
(03:20):
is Aaron Rodgers, because you can have all the potential
in the world across the board at every position if
you don't have the quarterback. We've seen teams who are
ninety nine percent complete, but without that starting quarterback, they're
not going to be taken seriously. They're not going to
be a legitimate threat in the postseason. And right now
the Steelers have what seems to be a complete team
(03:40):
with even more potential to be, with even more potential
to be realized. And with the quarterback playing the way
he is only three interceptions through five games, nearly double
digit touchdowns, you have to imagine that this team will
be a playoff threat come genuine.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
It's very exciting.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
I mean, the being the position they are at this
point in the season, going into week seven, and as
I said at the opening, they have started the season
four and one twenty three times throughout franchise history and
back in twenty twenty. We remember this eleven to zero
during the COVID.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Season, we remember, but we want to forget.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
It, and then it fell apart towards the end.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
But this twenty twenty five team, I agree with you, Jacob,
it's a good point, just feels different. Before we move
on to Cincinnati and start talking about the game tomorrow
and on tomorrows show, we will exclusively preview Thursday Night
football and scout the Cincinnati Bengals. Let's take one more
look back at the steelers twenty three to nine victory
against the Browns this past Sunday. The top ten moments
from Week six will start in the first quarter and
(04:40):
work our way through to the end. In the first quarter,
of the opening drive, the first play of the game,
the play action at Darnell Washington for thirty six yard
thirty six yards. They do get a first down to
John new Smith, but the drive stalls. They have to
settle for a Chris Boswell forty four yard field goal
to cap a forty six yard, four minute and five
second opening scoring drive. Steelers led three to nothing early.
(05:01):
Jacob I thought that first opening play, the play action
to Darnell Washington, they attacked with a tight end I
thought set the tone for that game.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Agreed, I think that I don't really remember a play
that only went for what twenty or thirty yards and
not a touchdown at the beginning of the game in
a very inconsequential time.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
I don't remember play like that having this much hype
around it. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
But yeah, given the circumstances, the team's inability to make
creative or effective play calling, the team's inability to get
the tight ends involved, with those two factors in mind,
and having them both come together and have that opportunity
open up for the offense and Rogers to find Darnell
wide open on that route and convert thirty yards on
(05:45):
the single play and have it be the very first
play of the game really added to the suspense around it.
Are really added to the magic around it. So I
think it's very worthy of being discussed today.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Washington plays eighty percent of the snaps on Sunday in
the tight end room, finishes with three catches for sixty
two yards, and no doubt. As I said a couple
of weeks ago, he was listed number one on the
death chart, and so far that's where he's playing alongside
Pat Friar Muth and John new Smith.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Okay, number nine on our list.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
In the first quarter, Jalen Ramsey a sack of Gabriel
at the Browns forty one yard line. Browns forced to
punt two plays later. It ends the first quarter Steelers
three Browns nothing. It was the first of two sacks
on the day for Jalen Ramsey, who, coming in Jacob
only had one career sack.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Now he's up to three.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
He made that joke in the post game that says,
who would have thought in the game with TJ. Watt
and Miles Garrett, I would lead them all in sacks?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
But he did. Yeah, he did, and it was great
to see him get involved.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
That's another asset this Steelers defense has is their ability
to kind of line Ramsey up wherever, whether it's in
deep coverage or in the slot or at the line
of scrimmage. It is really helpful, really advantageous to them
to be able to let you know, Jalen play Jalen ball.
And I say it that way because if you remember
last year, at the beginning of the twenty twenty four season,
(06:59):
there was all this preseason hype surrounding Meka Fitzpatrick and
his ability to play minke a ball right the Tara
Lauson and Mike Tomlin and even Mika himself all said
so that they were gonna return to Mike a ball
last season, and you never really saw it, right. You
never saw him in special coverages or lining up in
the slot, enforcing turnovers or even getting to the quarterback
(07:23):
for sacks like Gilean Ramsey has done.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
So it's a huge breath of fresh.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Air to see that Jelen Ramsey has this ability to
make these big plays, and I think a lot of
the credit has to go to the rest of the
secondary being able to hold down the fort and say, yeah,
go up, you got the line of scrimmage will take
care of the secondary.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
It does feel like the Minka Fitzpatrick trade when they
acquired him back in what was that twenty nineteen. It
feels very similar. It's the same type of impact on
this defense that Fitzpatrick ket early, as you said, Jacob
is having with Ramsey right now, who combines six tackles
on Sunday, two sacks, two tackle for losses, two quarterback kids.
As he continues to be one of the top playmakers.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
And this is why you brought him in.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
By the way, not to look too farther ahead to
tomorrow night, but this is why he's here because tomorrow
night he's gonna go up against Jamar Chase or team against.
And the Steelers completely had that in mind when they
brought him in here. They know what they were gonna face,
especially with that Cincinnati offense.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
I mean, yeah, this will be the toughest wide receiver
match of this team has faced pretty much. You could
say this one or Minnesota and Justin Jefferson, Yeah, Justin Jefferson,
j Jordan Addison. But the fact that they have Justin
Jefferson and Jordan Addison, I think this one surpasses them
all because it's Jamar Chase Anti Higgins, who a lot
(08:39):
of people argue is the best one two punch in football.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
Shortly behind them or not too far behind them.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
Is that one two punch in Minnesota with Addison and Jefferson.
And we saw the numbers against Minnesota. I know Jefferson
got over one hundred. I think Addison did too. We
know he had that long eighty yard catch and run.
So you had to both of their guys being effective playmakers.
You'll have another tough matchup, another tough another tough battle
(09:10):
here against the Bengals with Chase and with Higgins. But
I think you should be okay given that in that
game against Minnesota, you remember Jalen Ramsey did get hurt.
You were without Joey Porter junior. This game, you'll have
both of them, so it should be you should be
(09:30):
in better shape. I'm not saying I'm not guaranteeing an
overall victory by the secondary over the Bengals receivers, but
you should be in better shape than you were against Minnesota.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I just happen to have the Minnesota score sheet here
in front of me. That's I just showed you. It's
Addison did go for one fourteen.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
The yeah, there you go.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So both guys got over one hundred yards. That's something
you have to try to improve upon this week against Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
But neither Jefferson or Addison in that game score touchdowns,
so zero touchdowns, which was which was important to keep
them out of the end zone. Back to our top
ten moments from week Steelers Browns this past week.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Number eight.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Another defensive stand in the second quarter TJ. Watt and
Alex Highsmith get home and sack Gabriel on third down
with nine oh five left in the quarter. Brown's one
of four on third down. Early we talked about Alex
high Smith being back, Jacob coming off that injury. They
rotated Nick Herbig in who played over sixty percent of
the snaps on Sunday, which was good over half. And
(10:23):
we'll get to Nick her Big here in a little
bit and his impact from last Sunday. But TJ. Watt
and Alex Highsmith again, seeing both of them get home
at the same time, I thought, build a lot of
momentum with this defense on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah, I mean, what can you say about Herbig.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
We opened up the show with that highlight of his
getting that sack on Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Just what a performance by him.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
You remember about halfway through the game, he had that
play where Gabriel tried to throw a check down and
Herbig read it perfectly, tipped the ball nearly to himself
and if he would have caught it, it would have
gone for a pick six. So the guy just makes
plays all over the football field. And and I think
two indicators one is kind of silly. But one is
(11:03):
legitimate about his impact is the fact that Mike tom
you know, will allow twelve defenders to be announced to
the crowd at Acrocer Stadium before the game started. But
also the fact that when you look at the tape
from from this past Sunday, there were times when you
saw Nick Herbig, Alex Heismith and t J. Watt all
(11:24):
in the field at the same time. Wasn't something they
went to multiple times or really a decent amount throughout
that game. But that just shows that his impact is
so big that you can't just take him off the
field and say, oh, we're gonna rest, We're gonna wrest him.
You really want to have your best players on the field,
and Darrel Lawston thought and some of those packages his
(11:47):
best players were Nick Herbig and Alex Heismith and TJ.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Watt number seven on our Top ten Moments.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Brown's answer late in the second quarter as they move
the ball down pass midfield, but Derek Harmon comes up
with a big sack right for the two minute warning.
The Browns offense ultimately stalls out first three drives. They
have thirty four yards. Their final drive before halftime had
seventy two yards. Schmid, their kicker, hits a thirty one
yard field goal to make it Steelers nine Browns three
at halftime. But Derek Harmon, the first round draft pick,
(12:16):
again makes an impact late in the second quarter, gets
home and gets another Steeler sack, another sack of six
total on the day. For the Steelers, it's good to
get back to Blitzberg and I'm glad that.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
They're getting home and getting to these quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Oh absolutely.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I mean Derek Harmon, the fact that he's come in
in such a short amount of time and like you said,
made his impact known. Right, He got a sack in
his very first game, and now with the defense fully healthy,
he's still getting involved. It's not like there's too many
mouths to feed, right. You mentioned it yourself. You said
it yourself. Six guys or six sacks registered. I also
(12:51):
know the stat that the Steelers have eleven different guys
on the team.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Who are registered at least a sack so far.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
That's not standing.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
That is for the most in the NFL with Denver,
and I believe they also have eleven guys who have
registered at least one tackle for loss, which is the most.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
In the NFL so far.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This season, so everyone getting involved, even the rookie, which
is great because we've seen the Steelers kind of have
not great luck in early round draft picks, right, I mean,
the jury still down and Troy Fatanu. We're still waiting
to see Roger Jones really become that consistent left tackle player.
We know that the signs are showing that he's improving.
(13:33):
And then you flash back to guys like Kenny Pickett
who's no longer on the team, Algie Harris who's no
longer on the team. So a lot of first round
draft picks here who just haven't really panned out. But
Derek Harmon looking like it so far. I know it's early,
but so far, onto big things, and Derek Harmon.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
This past week for the Steelers comes through with that
big sack, has a let's see here, four tackles on
the day, two quarterback hits, so he got home more
than just that one time. Just the other ones didn't
come up with sacks number six on our list. The Steelers'
first possession of the third quarter, the offensive team comes out,
they're sluggish. They do get a break on a running
(14:12):
into a punter call that keeps him on the field.
Weightman hits the ground after he gets smacked, Rogers connects
with John hus Smith and Metcalf and Warren had add
some nice gains. It was a nice offensive drive. Second
and ten at the Browns twelve, Rodgers rolls out and
hits Connor Hayward for a twelve yard touchdown. That's number
six on our list. It caps a seventy nine yard
scoring drive that lasted six minutes and two seconds. The
(14:33):
Steelers extend their lead sixteen to three. With seven to
fifty three left in the third quarter, Jalen Warren picks
up a block excellent job in the backfield so Rodgers
can roll out. He throws across the field, hits Connor
Hayward in the back of the end zone for the
Steeler touchdown. Good looking pass by Rogers, Risky pass thrown
across the field, but it shows his leadership, his veteran leadership,
that he can make that throw for six.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
I know we're going to be talking about the DK
touchdown a little bit later, but that first touchdown pass
of the day for.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Rogers was a thing of beauty, right.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
His ability to step up in the pocket extend the play,
that's something we really haven't seen out of a Steelers
quarterback really since Ben before that elbow injury. You know,
by the time he came back after that surgery in
twenty twenty and twenty twenty one, he was no offense.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Ben.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
I love you, but he was so old at that point.
He didn't have the legs that he had when he
was in his prime. And not to say that Rogers
is you know, speed racer out there, but he did
enough to keep the play alive and then zip the
ball in and then huge congrats are a huge effort
or huge credit rather to Connor Hayward for making that
(15:40):
diving catch. I mean that was not an easy catch.
Not everyone can make that catch in the NFL today,
and Connor Hayward showing his worth, showing him why he's
one of the fifty three guys on the team, why
he's one of the guys that gets a helmet on
game days. But yeah, just a great play on both ends,
the throw by Rogers and the catch by Connor.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
I don't understand why people hate on Connor Hayward's so much.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Yeah, I think it's the thing where you see, you know,
I don't want to call it nepotism. But you see
the familiar, right, It's like the the Connor Haywards, the
Derek Watts of the world. Right. You see Tomlin kind
of ease up to guys that other teams kind of
passed on, and you wonder if the name wasn't if
the last name wasn't the same when they really have
(16:23):
it spot on the team. Derek Watt, clearly the team
had to move on from. But I'm with you. I
think Connor Hayward has a spot on this team his
special teams contribution and then when he gets involved in
the offense, he is a playmaker.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
I think the relationships from a siblings standpoint with some
of the players you just mentioned gives the Steelers an
initial look at some of these guys, like, hey, well
they have a football pedigree, they come from a football family.
Let's give them a look. Let's bring them in here.
But for them to sustain their career here in Pittsburgh
exactly is them and in my opinion, has nothing to
do with the nepotism part. Sure, he's earning that hat
(16:56):
on Sundays based on his play. Now again, they might
have brought him in initially, right to look at him.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
The same thing with Watt. But as you said, they
moved on from Derek, right, And I.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Think that's I think that's the biggest point here is
the fact that Connor has been here for years now,
where they said to themselves, Derek Watt is not doing
enough to be on this team, and so credit to
Connor for really making his worth known.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Number five on our list. Third quarter, Steelers closed the
quarter out strong, Roman Wilson a twelve yard catch.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Game Well about that.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
You got it. You gotta mentionine his name whenever you can, right.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
That's not the moment though, this is part of the drive.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm sure it's not so gainwell and war and effective
on the ground. Washington converts a big third down and
the Steelers five of ten on third down to end
the quarter. I thought ending the third quarter on that
strong offensive drive really set up our play number four
on our list, which is the first play of the
fourth quarter. Rogers the DK Metcalf on a twenty five
yard touchdown, wide open fourth straight game that Metcalf scores
(17:53):
a touchdown, caps a ten play, seventy three yard scoring
drive in four minutes and thirteen seconds, and the Steelers
led twenty three to six to start the fourth quarter,
and as we talked about the other day, Jacob, this
pretty much put the game away.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Yeah, I think that it's really hard for me to
choose which one of these two touchdown passes I enjoyed
more Right, you loved the spontaneity or the improvisation by
Aaron Rodgers to heat the play going, and then, as
I mentioned, the individual effort by Connor Hayward to meet
the catch in the end zone.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
But how great was it just to see the ease
of that touchdown?
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Right, We all saw at the top of our screen
DK kind of break away, and when Rogers threw the
deep ball, you thought, Okay, here we go, here's DK
one on one and then he just had that extra
boost to get behind the defender. It was easy as
pie for that connection. So I love to see that.
It's really hard, as I said, it's hard for me
to pick which one I liked between the two. But
(18:49):
great to see, as you always mentioned, that DK and
Aaron Rodgers connection continuing to gel. Continue not just gel,
but also find the end zone.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Jacob and I are recapping for one final time this
week before we put a bow on Steelers Browns and
start talking Steelers Bengals, which will play tomorrow night on
Thursday Night Football. Steelers Brown's top ten moments from week six.
We're on number three now, fourth quarter Brown's drive. They
move downfield, aided by a helmet to helmet call on
to Seawn Elliott. Brandon Eckles has called for pass interference,
(19:19):
the ninth penalty the day on the Steelers. Nick Herbig
comes up with a big sack and that pushes the
Browns back to the fourteen yard line. Joey Porter Junior
breaks up to third down pass and the Browns have
to settle for another field goal, this time from thirty
two yards out, making the score Steelers twenty three nine,
which goes on to be the final. That was with
nine to twenty nine left. But again, I thought that
defensive stand by Nick Herbig with the big sack and
(19:41):
then Joey Porter Junior breaking up that third down pass
good sequence for the Steelers after two tough helmet to
helmet penalties and the passing interference on Eckles, which you know,
could it gave the Browns life on that drive if
they punch in seven rate there, Jacob, you know this
game gets a little tighter, but they pushed them back
and they settled for three again the sacked by her
Big and Joey Porter Junior breaking up that pass.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
Yeah, I mean again, how many how many names are
we going to mention who showed up on defense? I
don't think there was a single guy that we failed
to mention today that we would fail to mentioned today
or just not even today, but just evaluating the game
as a whole simply because that defense really, I think
you could say had their most complete game of the
(20:24):
season so far. First time they didn't allow a touchdown
all year, first time that they prevented Cleveland from scoring
a touchdown all year. Despite Cleveland not having a great defense,
or rather a great offense, the Steelers really held down
the fort there, enforcing the Browns. Yeah, they allowed some yardists,
but not really breaking at all, so huge credit. And
(20:47):
as you mentioned the play that ended that drive between
Herbie and JPJ, it just seemed like everyone was getting
to the quarterback on Sunday, our.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Top three moments from Sunday are all defensive plays and
that was the first of the three.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
That was another three.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Never got speaks volumes to how well the defense played.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
They really did.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
And you know, offense had those big two touchdown strikes
with yeah, with Metcalf and Hayward in the back of
the end zone as you said, and bo is another
good day kicking the kicking three field goals. But the defense,
it was, it was a defensive day. We knew that
going in they would probably be low scoring in a
defensive battle, and it was especially early on number two
on our list, Running Gade played at Akuscher Stadium and
(21:26):
the Steelers Respawn Browns reached midfield, but Nick Herbig his
second sack of the game and again her Big another
big day on Sunday. We went over his stats earlier,
but second sack of the day and you mentioned you
could had the interception of potential pick six to two early.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
In that game. You had that in and that's a
huge day for Nick Herbig.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
But again he played over sixty percent of the snaps
on Sunday, and rightfully so he is humming at a
I don't want to say all pro but at least
a Pro Bowl level, Oh.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
Ed, I actually might encourage you to raise your your
expectations for the end season award that he could collect,
because I think he is on pace, maybe not a
first team, but certainly as he's on pace for at
least a second team.
Speaker 3 (22:07):
Not the guy.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
The guy is doing everything.
Speaker 4 (22:11):
And you know it's upsetting because we mentioned earlier or
earlier this week that the Steelers had like six dropped
interceptions on the day. Right, they ended up with zero turnovers,
force fumbles nor interceptions, but they really left a lot
on the field considering how many passes Dylan Gabriel threw
right to their guys, including that one that Herbig had,
(22:32):
and I think that was the most clear path for
a touchdown as well, but unfortunately it doesn't doesn't count,
except I guess Herbig you do get credit for a
pass baut of down. So there you go, doing more,
more and more and more, just showing your versatility. Cannot
say enough about him, and that's the reason why you
saw him on the field as much as you did.
You remember you had mentioned that I think he logged
(22:54):
more snaps than TJ.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
Watt did. He did, he did.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
Yeah, just why why would you? Why would you you
take the hot guy off the field? You know, I'm
obsessed with Nick Herbig. We've talked about it as far
as his playing abilities.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Yeah, and I follow Brian Ballinger on Oh I love Baldy.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
Yeah, and he so he always whenever you get a
spotlight from Baldy, you're feeling pretty good.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
He's now done.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Nick Herbig like three times four weeks. Yesterday was he
showed the misinterception, but then he showed how he came
back with the two sacks and how he just works
off the tackles and quick hands just like TJ. Watt,
very similar style with the quick hands coming off the
line of scrimmage and just getting by so quick man
speed from an outside edge rusher. You can't teach that,
and when you have it, it's special. Nick Herbig definitely
(23:38):
has it. Okay, enough about Nick Herbig. Number one on
our list is Jalen Ramsey second sack on third down,
the sixth Steelers sack of the day, fourth down incompletion
by Gabriel is next and the Steelers takeover at the
Browns forty two with just four minutes and two seconds left.
Jalen Ramsey, as we said at the top two sacks
on Sunday, only came in only with one career sack,
(24:00):
but his big play, big playmaker ability on defense is
leading this defense right now, especially in that secondary. I'm
excited to see him tomorrow night go up against these
big receivers for the Bengals.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
As of my I think, despite you know, talking about TJ.
Watt getting involved with a half sack and a couple
of passes deflected, Nick Herbig, obviously we're big fans of
Cam Hayward being a disruptor. Derek Harmon is the rookie
doing great things. We're talking about how great of his
second year Patrick Queen is having with the team. I
think right now your defensive MVP for the team is
(24:31):
easily Jalen Ramsey.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
And Ramsey, Nick her Big, TJ. Watts still make him plays.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Remember Alex Highsmith gone on the backfield for a sack too.
Everyone is due, everyone is showing up. Joey Porter if
you remember had that near interception in the end zone.
It's just everyone is getting involved. Derek Carmon, Yeah, of course,
rookie Harmon Harmon up front. And remember Keanu Benton. I mean,
he had a huge game over in Dublin and I
think you can just see it won't be a two
(24:57):
sack performers out of him every week. But given how
much attention has to go around pretty much, even keel
across the board for opposing offenses to say, oh, is
it gonna be Ramsey, It's gonna be TJ. It's gonna
be high Smith, he's gonna be cam count of Ben's
gonna have those days where he's just forgotten about.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
He has the easy path to disrupt the backfield.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Remember the old adage and football defenses wins championships of course,
so you know, of course, as well as your offense
doesn't lose the game for you and they get some
field goals, maybe a touchdown here or there, hey, your
defense can carry the rest of the way for you.
In some instances, the two thousand Ravens, for instance, your
defense can actually do everything.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Your offense doesn't even have to score. They can score
for you.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
When we come back, Jacob and I will take our
ten Terrible Takes of the Week. We'll also go over
some injury news in our Top Bowl Points of the
week as well. It is the Steelers Standard with Ed
Troop and Jacob wret here on Steelers Nation Radio, part
of the Steelers Audio Network.
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