September 30, 2025 • 30 mins
Which Steelers are the statistical leaders through three weeks, and Ed and Jacob rank their top ten teams heading into the fifth week of the season.
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Speaker 1 (00:10):
Wentz to the jockgun gets a snap back to past
pressure coming backside down.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
He goes Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Herbig with his sack all the way back in the
forty one yard line of the biking Mama. There goes
that man, Nick Herbigs and stepping in for Alex high Smith.
Ten tackles on the season, two and a half sacks.
He has four tackles for losses, one pass deflection that
interception earlier this season, and also one forced fumble. It
(00:38):
has been a big year for Nick Herbigs to love
herb me for Alex high Smith. It is the Steelers
standard with Ed Troop and Jacob wrecked.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
He also big love for Max having that mama. There
goes that man called the very end. Just Max is
so good at what he does.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Good stuff, man, real good stuff from Rob King and
Max Starks. This past Sunday here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network, we wrapped up last
segment with our ten Terrible Takes. Let me give you
a few NFL hot takes and get your thoughts, and
then we'll get into our review of the Steeler and
NFL pop stat Lewish, and then we'll finish up the
segment with our power rankings. But the Ravens at one
(01:14):
in three will miss the playoffs. Terrible take or no, terrible?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Oh man, that's so hard to say.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I actually don't know if I can give you an
answer on that one, simply because we don't.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Know about the situation about Lamar.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I will say this, if it comes out that he'll
miss some significant time, let's say even a month or so.
They're one in three right now. We talked about it
last second. How bad that defense has looked. If they
if they, like I said, even lose him for a month,
that could be season ending for them. Because if you
say you followed the one and six on the season,
(01:48):
you know it's funny. The Steelers have done a couple
of times right where they go two and six or
three and six or three and seven to start a
season and everyone counts them out saying, oh, here we go,
Mike Tom's about to have his first lose the season
as a head coach. Well, they always find a way
to get back to eight and eight or just above
five hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
John Harbad does not have that similar success.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He does not have that ability to round his rile
his guys up even without you know, his all pro quarterback.
I mean, I think that's the big distinction between Harbor.
You can make between Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin is whenever
Mike Tomlin or whenever John Harbaugh didn't have Joe Flacker
with Lamar Jackson, whenever it was his backups, he was
(02:29):
struggling as a head coach. He cannot get his team
to a five hundred or better record, whereas Mike Tomlin
when he doesn't have his young Ben Roethlisberger available to him,
when he had guys like Mason Rudolph or Landry Jones
back in the day, Charlie Batch, Duck Hodges, Mitch Trubisky,
Kenny Pickett, and even last season Justin Fields, who was
(02:52):
now out to an zero to four record, by the way,
so I don't think Justin Fields is as good as
everyone thought he was. And Russell Wilson, who just got
bench for Jackson Dart, it doesn't look like he'll be
taking back the starting rains anytime soon. After the Chargers
beat the previously undefeated Chargers, I think Mike Tambain does
a lot better with a lot less compared to John Harbaugh.
So if Lamar loses and let's just look at the
(03:14):
Ravens schedule coming up. They have Houston, winnable game with Lamar,
toss up without him. They have the Rams without Lamar,
good luck the Bears toss up there.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Bears are getting better, Bears are getting better.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Miami who just had their first win, but we'll see,
and then Minnesota. It's actually not a bad schedule at
all for the Ravens. The only real test I see
for them is green Blitz is green Blay, green Bay.
But that's all the way down in Week seventeen, their
second to last game. So even if Lamar is out
for a significant time, he'll most likely be back for
(03:49):
that game.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So it's a relatively easy schedule.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
But with like I said, doing more with less, jarn
Harbaugh hasn't had the pedigree or the resume rather that
Mike Tomlin has shown or proven. So if Lamar misses
significant time, I think you could say that it's not
a hot take that they will miss the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Seven percent of teams in the NFL have made the
playoffs after a one to three start, so the numbers
are not encouraging for raven fans out.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
There, you know, and unfortunately for the Ravens. If you
had spread out, you know, Buffalo, Kansas City, Detroit throughout
the season, rather than having them be three of your
first four opponents, maybe things would have gone differently for them.
But having to play all three of those teams and
a four week spand clearly not easy on them.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
They're gonna have to go pretty much nine and four
the rest of the way, and that margin for air
very very small for the Ravens. Okay, a couple other
hot takes before we move on to our stat leaders
so far this NFL season. The Bills at four and
OH are the best team in the NFL currently, and
we're gonna do our power rankings at the end of
this segment, so we'll get to that. But right now,
the Bills at four and OH are the best team
(04:55):
in the NFL, and the Saints at zero to four
are the worst team in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Oh, that's tough.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's always tough to say who's quite the best, because
right now there are two four to oh teams and
they look damn good. I think the Eagles, though, have
the more impressive win this week this week of the
two undefeated teams. And then when you look at the
winless teams. Let's see how many of there are we're
meeting now. There's only three left because we saw Miami
get their first win of the year, we saw the
(05:23):
Giants get their first win of the year, right, and
we saw the Texans get their first win of the year.
So that leaves only three undefeated teams. That's the Jets,
the Titans, and the Saints. So that sample sizes getting
a little smaller. I'm gonna discount the Jets, say it's
not them. It just leaves the Titans and Saints. We
came into this year knowing that the Saints were gonna
(05:43):
be really, really, really bad. I don't think the Titans
had these expectations because you thought maybe new head coach
and Brian Callahan, new quarterback and cam Ward. But Brian
Callahan is seemingly already playing himself out of a contract.
Could just be a one un done kind of guy
as a head coach for Tennessee. I'll say it's not
a hot take for the Saints, but I might push
(06:03):
back on the Bills being the best team simply because
the defending Super Bowl champions right now are four to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Also, Jacob, I'll cue this one up for you get
your standings up. The NFC West is now the best
division in the NFL, while the NFC South is the
worst division.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So let's look.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
The West has the Niners at three and one, the
Seahawks at three and one, the Rams are three and one,
and the Cardinals at two and two. Pretty good, I mean, yeah,
just about as good as you can get. I'm trying
to look, is there any other team?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
No.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Historically our division, the af SURE North, has been I'm
just saying right right now, as we stand right now,
there is no team out there with three three and
one teams except for the NFC West.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
However, we look at the South, the Bucks in it
three and one, the Falcons are at two and two,
the Panthers are at one and three, the Saints are
at owing four.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
They're probably the candidate. I might even push back.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I guess you can't, because I was gonna look at
the AFC South, But both the Colts and the Jags
are at three and one and one. The Jaguars, by
the way, popping up on everyone's radar this week after
being the Niners, giving them a surprising loss on the year.
So I think you have to say it's that NFC
West is the best and the NFC South is the worst.
(07:25):
But I still really like the Bucks leading the way
in that division.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's look at some that's gonna do for our NFL
hot takes. I looking back, I always historically thought it
was in the AFC, the AFC North was the best division.
In the AFC South was the worst. But based on
everything you just said, I flipped the other way. The
NFC West right now, after four weeks into the NFL
season the best division in the NFL, while the NFC
South is struggling so far this season. Let's get to
(07:50):
our stat leaders for the Pittsburgh Stewers through the first
four games of the season, the Steelers three and one,
Aaron Rodgers leading the way. As far as quarterback play goes,
Mason Rudolphs only thrown two passes so far this season,
one of two, so Rogers numbers pretty good through the
first four game sixty eight percent completion percentage, seven hundred
and eighty six yards seventy four of one hundred and
(08:11):
eight attempts, and he has eight touchdowns and three interceptions,
sacked nine times and against, seven of those nine coming
in the first two weeks of the regular season not
too bad the last two games rushing wise, Kenny game
Well Kenny g is now number one one hundred and
fifty four yards rushing after his ninety nine yards on
the ground against the Vikings this past week, three rushing touchdowns.
(08:34):
He's the only Steeler on the ground. Jalen Warren has
yet to get a rushing touchdown. Warren one hundred and
thirty two yards in his three games that he's played
so far this season. Receiving wise, I'll give you that
and then we'll get the v Jacob dk metcalf leading
the way two hundred and sixty one yards receiving, fifteen
catches on twenty two targets, three touchdowns in the air.
(08:55):
His game this past week again one hundred and twenty
six yards was huge to get him on the front
because it was Kenny Gamewell who or knocked Kenny Gamel.
Jalen Warren rather led this category for the first three
weeks four weeks of the regular season going into this
past week, Jalen Warren one hundred and forty two yards
receiving and a touchdown. Thoughts on the offensive leaders so
far the rest of the receivers. I'll just give you
(09:17):
one more, Calvin Austin one hundred and thirty nine yards
receiving and two touchdowns. So the Steelers have three receiving
numbers over one hundred yards with Metcalf, Jalen Warren out
of the backfield, and Calvin Austin through the first four game.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, let me ask you this about the receivers. Can
you give me the total receptions for Ben Scarronic and
Roman Wilson on the year.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, ben' Skarnik two catches for twenty two yards and
Roman Wilson two catches for seven yards, neither of which
with any touchdown. So Dk Metcalf, Wait, Ben, or I'm sorry,
Ben Scronk does have a touchdown? He had that?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Yeah, Yeah, Ben's Dk Metcalf in his rifle position right
now as the leading receiver on the team in yards,
and then Calvin Austin makes sense that he would come
in second. That's the reason I asked about Scronic and
Roman Wilson is they're the only two receivers on the
team at the wide receiver position with a catch and
(10:08):
they have a combined eight catches through four weeks. So
if you want to talk about how much the Steelers
are in need of some good wide receiver depth. Look
no further than those two guys, because once you get
past really Calvin Austin, that's who you have.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And you can see how little they've been contributing.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Despite Skarna getting involved early in that first drive of
the season with that touchdown, since that catch he had
on the first opening drive of the season, has had
one catch. And I won't even say three games because
it's really like three and three and three quarters of
a game because that first touchdown catch he had that
(10:47):
was on that first rive.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's about it.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Actually, check that I was looking at targets, So wait
a minute, Ben Ben Scarnick targeted two times, one catch,
one catch for twenty two months to touchdown, that's it.
And Roman Wilson two targets, one catch for seven year,
so two catches combined for twenty nine yards. You're right,
good point, very good point, exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
So they've they've been completely uninvolved in this season, Ben Scronix.
So it has zero catches since that first touchdown catch
in the season. Roman Wilson's been a completely non factor.
Uh so you really are relying on Calvinassin to come
back fully healthy, and then when it looks at when
you look at the running backs too, it's it's nice
(11:25):
to see that Kenneth game All was able to carry
the load without Jalen Warren available, but hopefully with Jalen
Warren back in the lineup following the bye week and
giving him extra time to come back from whatever was
his setback this week against the Vikings. Having both of
them at one hundred percent, this should be something reminiscent
of Najie Harris and Jalen Warren tandem. It's just can
(11:47):
you do can you recreate those numbers or even exceed
those numbers that you had with Nause and Jalen.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Going in and throughout training camp, I think we were
thinking more of the Caleb Johnson and Jalen Warren two
headed monster, with Kenny Gainwell being your third down running back.
But that script has completely changed. Kenny Gainwell and Jalen
Warren are now your two fifty to fifty Well, maybe
not a fifty to fifty share, but it might turn
into that. From what I saw from Gamewell this past Sunday,
(12:13):
I think it's might be more of a fifty to
fifty split. That's your two headed monster than your third
down running back could be a combination of the two
of them, because Joralen Warren that was his gig, that
was his gig with nauje Hers, he was the third
down back. So in Caleb Johnson, he's gonna have to
earn earn some carries this past weekend an opportunity. Not
too bad though when you look at the stat sheets.
Six carries for twenty two yards a three point seven average,
(12:36):
better than what he had done previously. And listen, let's
face it, for Caleb Johnson or rookie after that bad
mistake against Seattle, he's gonna earn some carries back and
he's gonna have to do that slowly because right now
Gainwell and Warren, now you're one and two running backs.
Let's look at the defensive stats. Jacob total excuse me,
total tackle so far, Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson leading
(12:58):
the way with thirty five each so far this season.
We mentioned Queen and his big numbers so far, sack wise,
TJ Watt with three What actually did get credited for
a sack this past week against Minnesota, So back to
back games with sacks after being shut out the first
couple games of the season. TJ. Watt now leading the
team with three sacks, two and a half sacks for
Nick Herbig, one and a half sacks for Kean Obenton,
(13:21):
Cam Hayward, Derek Harmon, Jack Sawyer, Deshaun Elliott, Patrick Queen,
Alex high Smith, Peyton Wilson, all each with one sacks
so far this season. So the Steelers fourteen sacks for
the first four games of the season. That's not too bad.
I think that's pretty strong. And again, if you would
have told us that before the season started that's where
they'd be after four games, we would take it. Five
(13:43):
interceptions through the first four games. TJ. Watt, Nick Herbig,
Deshaun Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Brandon Eckles with interceptions so far
this season. Anything stand out?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
No, just the fact that news numbers are very spread out,
which is what I want to see. You don't want
to see just this team has let's say, ten sacks
through however many games, and nine of them come from
like two guys, right. You want to see that even distribution,
of course, with the one guy still outperforming everyone else
as your defensive leaders. Uh, But I think that's what
(14:14):
you're getting right now, you're seeing even though he got
called back because of the weird rule, Jalen Ramsey has
been involved in every single game this season.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Uh. They would have had two more turnovers against the Vikings,
but both got overturned.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
The second one James Pierre light.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
They said that he was out of bounds or out
of control right, didn't have possession. Uh. Weird to see
James Pierre on the defense side of the football. Usually
you see him reserve for special teams. But the fact
that he undercut that pass to get in front of
the ball, which he just would have kept possession. But
getting back to the playmakers, Ramsey's getting involved. TJ didn't
get a sack this past week, but got the pick.
(14:53):
Cam Hayward I think had another at least two balls
boutted down at the line of scrimmage. Your playman are
making plays on defense, that's what matters most. And then
you're beyond them, you're seeing other guys contribute, like Nick Herbick,
like Keanu Benten, like Derek Harmon. We haven't even mentioned
Pat Queen, but he's been all over the place this season.
He's having to really, like I said earlier, great start
(15:15):
of this year compared to the start of his first
year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So yeah, I would say
just overall, as especially as the season has progressed. When
you looked at Week three, in Week four, they're getting
better on defense.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Steelers ten total turnovers on the defense, getting ten turnovers
throughout the first four games. We talked about the five interceptions.
Just to wrap this up, five fumble recoveries. TJ Watt,
Jabrel Peppers, bench, Coronica Pepper, teams, Peyton Wilson, and Darius
Slay all with fumble recoveries. So ten total takeaways throughout
the first four games.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Again, yeah, I'm looking at it right now. They are.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
They have not only this, they have the second best
different turnover differential as you mentioned, ten total takeaways, only
three giveaways on offense, and they lead. Also they're in
second place overall with total takeaways on the season. So
as as you mentioned, of course, a lot of that
is coming from the five turnover game that you had
(16:12):
against New England last week. But you're gonna take it, right,
I mean, you're not gonna say, oh no, ignore those numbers.
Only give the Steelers five total takeaways on the year.
And then when you look at sacks as well, they
are second. I'm sorry, they're tied for second in the
NFL with fourteen total sacks.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Only the Denver Broncos have more on the season than
the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
So they are making splash plays when it matters most,
and they're doing it effectively and efficiently through all four
weeks of the season. And like you said, they're getting better.
You saw them have that five sack, five five turnover
performance in Week three. You saw them follow that up
with an interception by tg Watt, a couple of sacks
by Kean the Benner and Nick Herbig this past Sunday.
(16:53):
So it's not just they're having these these quick spurts
of a game and then they're they're fading back to normal.
They are doing it consistently.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
The Steelers third down efficiency looks like this, seventeen of
forty four, clipping at about thirty eight point six percent
so far this season on defense teams going twenty three
to fifty five at forty one percent against the Steelers
fourth down. I just want to point this out. Steelers
one of three on fourth down, No big deal there,
but opponents eight of twelve on fourth down versions at
(17:24):
sixty six percent for the first four games of the season.
And one other team stat that I want up through
out there is penalty. Steelers have been very good with
penalties through the first four games, only nineteen penalties for
one hundred and thirty five total yards. That's an average
of about thirty three penalty yards per game. Meanwhile, opponents
penalties twenty four times for two hundred and twenty yards
and fifty five average per game yardage wise against the
(17:47):
Black and Goal.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yeah, so looking at third down and fourth down, Steers
are really struggling there. No team has had more has
had their opponents go for the fourth down version more
times than the Steelers twelve attents against the Steelers opposing
offenses going for it. It leads the NFL. And like
you said, the teams right now are eight of twelve.
(18:10):
So you can recognize the teams are seeing the Sewers
are not doing well in fourth down coverage.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's why they're going for it so often.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Because the Sewers allow it to happen, you will get
third down conversions for the Seelers. On defense, they're also
in the bottom third. You have to see those numbers
improved because, like you said, it's all about time and possession.
It's all about third down and fourth down battles. You
can't lose those. If you lose those, it's going to
make a life a lot harder for you to win
that football game. Luckily, as I said all throughout today's shows,
(18:42):
they're doing well. They're doing it clearly enough to get
the three to one. But life could be a lot
easier if you're winning those battles on third and fourth down.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Let's finish up this segment with our NFL Power ranking.
Let's do it, Jacob. We are now turning the page
this week, the week five in the NFL. Hard to believe, right,
You've got a whole month into the regular season. October
first is tomorrow, so September will be behind us. And
let's look at our three teams on the outside looking in.
What's the abbreviation in you?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I can't believe you'll have a memorized I'm so easy.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's the jdq MTC, the teams that just didn't quite
make the cut.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
So who do you have in your your three spots there?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Jd qq MTC MTC. Okay, I like I'm gonna write
it down then I'll remember it. I know you and
Tom Afferman have copyright on those, so I get it.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, you pay me about five five percent of one
penny for every time I was gonna say it's not
gonna be much.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Indianapolis Colts for me are number thirteen, three and one,
the Kansas City Chiefs two and two, and the Green
Bay Packers at two to one and one. So the Colts, Chiefs,
and Packers are my three teams on the outside looking in.
The Chiefs have won two in a row. Yeah, the
Packers weird game Sunday night. They played with that ties
are always weird, aren't they? Forty four caip. They didn't
(19:54):
go for the win there at the end.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, I think they were just kind of I think
they were just kind of saying, we're playing from the
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So if you don't get it, then it's a loss.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And you really can't afford to fall into two and two,
especially with how good Detroit's looked.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Right. Yeah, and I think the Chiefs the defending AFC
chanes two in a row, and that was an impressive
win against Baltimore at home this past week.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Definitely all right, So my three and the JDQFDC.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I got the Colts also at thirteen, I got the
Denver Broncos at twelve, and I got your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
At number eleven.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Wow, okay, got it.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
You gotta show some respect there.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
That I'm going to show them a lottery. Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
I thought you were saying that's impressive to have them
that high, but you got to be even higher.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
I'm impressed. Yeah, I have them a lot higher.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
All right, Okay, all right, so let's let's kick it off.
You're number ten team.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
My number ten team are the Jacksonville Jacksons. Same here
at three and one, right, Yeah, yeah, nice win for
Jacksonville this past week.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Yeah, impressive win Oversea or I'm sorry over San Francisco,
who I actually kept out on my top ten. And
my team's on the outside looking and simply because they're
so banged up brock Party, I don't know if you
saw this, Ad said after the game he's feeling that
toe injury yet. So brock Party is not at one
hundred percent. They just lost their first game of the
season to the Jacks, who are another three and one team.
(21:07):
I don't really think that the season is sustainable for
the Niners. But I do think that I've impressed so
far with first year head coach Liam Cohen and what
he's getting out of Trevor Lawrence's quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I have been to and now two wins in a
row against the Texans and that big win that you
just mentioned this past week for the Jaguars. So they
check in at number ten for both of us, at
three and one. Number nine. I have the Tampa Bay
Bucks at three and one on the season.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Come on the tough. That's a little hard, shut.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I think I'm gonna have I think by next three
out of four, you're gonna tell me her.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Okay, okay, but but I I like the Bucks being
in the top ten.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I just think it's harsh to put him that low.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Oh okay, I got you. Well, you know that was
a that was their first loss of the season against
the Eagles this past week. But you know that was
that was a game in which I watched that game
and and uh, I thought they get up and down it.
They made a little bit of a comeback there towards
the end. But but yeah, they're number nine on my list.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
So I have the Seattle Seahawks clocking in at number
nine here also three and one, also a team that
I think is so far exceeded expectations this year. They're playing,
as we mentioned, in a tough division. But I got
the Jags or I'm sorry, the Hawks here at number nine.
It's just really impressive to see what they've done offensively
(22:21):
and defensively so far.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
They're having a good year.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So I think we have the same top ten, but
much different order. Okay, number eight, I have the San
Francisco forty nine ers at three and one, who you don't.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah, so we don't have the same top ten.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Who you just made me feel. Yeah, you made me
feel a little worse about their injury situation with Brock
Purdy being banged up against So maybe I shouldn't have
them in my top ten, and I should be with you, Jacob,
and they should be out of my top ten. But
I have them checking at number eight. How about you,
number eight? This is a team you had on your
outside looking in this. We're at the Kansas City Chiefs.
(22:55):
The Chiefs, I mean back in the top ten.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
They got their first win in Week three, and then
they followed it up with a dominant performance over the Ravens.
I know Lamar was her in and out for a time.
But really, when you look at what the Chiefs did,
this is something. This is a game usually the Ravens win.
The Ravens are a great regular season team, uh, and
this is a game Like these matchups the Ravens typically win.
(23:17):
But right now, like I said, they're one in three
and the Chiefs really took it to him. The Chiefs
looks beginning a lot of momentum. That Kid Thornton, the
wide receivers having a great connection with Pat Mahomes this year.
Travis Kelce looks like he drank from the fountain if
youth after having a big setback in his stats last year.
And Chris Shows leading that Kansas City defense off to
(23:38):
a great start for them. So they're they're two and
zero in their last two weeks. It's even building some momentum.
You can never count the Chiefs out. I think they're
gonna be right back in the playoff come to the
end of the year.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
You never count Patrick Mahomes out there, no for sure,
and they are. They are picking up momentum after an
zero to two start. Now the Chiefs at two and two,
number seven for me are the La Rams three and one.
You know, you look at their schedule. They beat the Texans,
they beat the Titans, Okay, no big deal there. They
barely lose to the Eagles on the road, a game
in which they had the lead thirty three to twenty six,
(24:10):
and a nice bounce back win this past week at home,
defeating the Colts, who were previously undefeated, twenty seven to twenty.
So I have the Rams at number seven.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
My number seven team is where I have the Packers. Again,
really hard to understand what kind of team this Packers
team is with that tie, right, I think they fall
and I think they won that game in Cleveland. If
that ending wasn't so weird for them, they would have
gone three to oh and then three and oh and one.
I would have said, Okay, the Packers are probably still
the top five team, but that loss against Cleveland is weird.
(24:42):
Tie against the Cowboys, which is hard to place them.
I still think they're a top ten team, but not
as close to the top as I thought coming into
this year.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Number six for me, Yeah, you're a Pittsburgh Steelers. Wow
at three and one? Okay, here we go. Number six.
They're the number two team in the AFC. Right now, right,
A bunch a bunch of other And I told you,
especially early in the season, if you're undefeated or you
only have.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
One loss, yeah, you stand by the record a lot
more than I do.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Especially early in the season. So for me, I'm going
with the Steelers at number six.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah, it's funny that you say they're the number two
team in the AFC. I mean, you still have the
Chargers there, you still have the Colts there, still have
the Jags there. So really just my record right right,
But I mean you could say they're the fifth team
if you put them at the bottom of that group
of teams with only one loss. That's how many teams
there are right now with one or fewer losses.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
My number six team, this is where I had the
La Rams.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
I mean, we talked about the Seahawks earlier, but right now,
the Rams, to me, are so much more impressive.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I think they had a tough loss.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Their only loss on the year was against the defending
Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
They've taken care of business.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
All three of their other wins come against the AC South,
which we know isn't that great of a division, but
they have a huge couple of tests, coming up against
San franciscoing against Baltimore. If they can win those games,
that you have to say the Rams are legit and
the Rams are for real time.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For our top five for this week, number five checking
in for me are the Seattle Seahawks at three and one.
You had the Seahawks at number nine. I have them
at five.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Okay, my number five team, this is where the La Chargers.
I think the Chargers are good, but they had a
set back, so it's not you can't crowd them so quickly.
You can't really you can't really lose that game, right
the Chargers or the superior team coming against coming up
against Jackson Dart making his first ever NFL start, and
you lose that game. If you're the Chargers, take that
(26:32):
four to zero commanding lead. Show the AFC who you
really are. But I guess they got to show their
true colors by having that misstep against the Giants.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I thought that was a weird game, losing the to
the Giants. For the Chargers probably overlooked the Giants a
little bit clearly, you know. Because of that. I have
the Chargers on my list at number four, so they're
still in my top five, but they checking at number
four on my list.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
So number four for me, this is a team that
you had way way way down.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
At the bottom.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
It's about the Tampa Buccaneers. I mean, the Bucks are legit.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Baker Mayfield is a winning quarterback in this league, and
I can't fault him, same way that with the Rams.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
The Rams are three and one right now. Their only
loss was against the Eagles. Same thing, same goes for
the Tama Bay Buccaneers. They're three and one right now
and their.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Only loss coming against the defending Super Bowl champions, the
Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
We get a good couple of matchups for the Bucks
coming up. They play on the right against the at
on that it's not going to be easy. They play
against the Niners, and they go on the road against Detroit.
Those are all three legitimate teams. Then later on, if
you look a couple weeks later, they get the Buffalo
Bills and the Rams back to back weeks. So the
Bucks will be tested as the season goes on. But
I can't fault them. I mean, they, like you said,
(27:45):
they brought it. They came back at the end, They
got into a one position game at the very end,
they had the Costague turnover, which was the resulting play
of the game, the most consequential player of the game
rather and they lost. But again they kept a close
Baker Mayfield showing that he's never really out of it either.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So I got the Bucks at number four.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
So we both have the Bills, Eagles and lines in
our top three.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Depends on the order.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
It depends on the order, and I think that does
define right now, it's very clear. Those are the three, Yeah,
those are the three big boys. After that, it gets
a foggy, right, we go back and forth. We have
different orders. So just to recap quick, Jacob has this
is ten through through three, Jaguars, Seahawks, Chiefs, Packers, Rams, Chargers,
Bucks at number four. I have Jags, Bucks, forty nine, Ers, Rams, Steelers, Seahawks,
(28:33):
Chargers up to my number four. So my top three
lines at three, Eagles at two and Bills at number one.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
We're so close.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yet again it because I have the lines of three,
the Bills at two with the Eagles at.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
One, we flip flop our top two.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
The Eagles have I don't know the last time the
Eagles lost the games. It's dating back to last season.
That's how far back you have to go. I mean, remember,
they won four games in the playoffs. They're four to
zero right now, so they've won at least eight games
in a row dating back to last year. The Eagles
are just I understand the Bills are dangerous. The Bills
are also four and oh right now, but you know
(29:06):
they lost in the in the divisional round. They didn't
even make it to the AC championship game this past year,
so I really have to respect, excuse me, the Eagles,
and I'm looking at it now. They won their last
two games of the year. So the Eagles right now
are in a ten game winning streak over the course
of two seasons, so I have to respect them. And
then number two and number three for us, excuse me,
(29:28):
the Bills in Detroit offensive Juggernauts.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
It's gonna be tough to stop either of those teams.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Yep, you're exactly right on the Eagles. They lost to
the Commanders back. I remember this game December twenty second,
thirty six to thirty three. I believe that was Washington
scoring right at the end to beat them. Yeah, you're right.
They barely lost that game, and prior to that they'd
won a bunch straight, including against your Pittsburgh Steelers. So yeah,
the Eagles a lot of wins in a row, and
they look very good right now. Hard to argue whether
they're one or two, and hard to argue that the
(29:54):
Bills are one or two. I think it's very clear.
And then the Lions in that mix again, the Lions, Eagles,
and Bills your top teams, however you do it. So
again I have the Bills at number one, the Eagles
at number two, and the Lines at number three. Jacob
Eagles one, Lions two or no Bills too, and then
Lions three for you as well. So that's going to
do it for our power rankings for this week. Jacob
(30:15):
and I will be back at it here on the
Standard on Thursday and Friday this week as we get
you through the Steeler bye week and get you ready
for next week. And we'll also go around the NFL
in preview Week five as again we turn the page
here to the fifth week of the NFL season. Hard
to believe. It is the Steelers Standard with Ed Troop
and Jacob Brect here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
(30:35):
the Steelers Audio Network,
Wentz to the jockgun gets a snap back to past
pressure coming backside down.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
He goes Nick.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Herbig with his sack all the way back in the
forty one yard line of the biking Mama. There goes
that man, Nick Herbigs and stepping in for Alex high Smith.
Ten tackles on the season, two and a half sacks.
He has four tackles for losses, one pass deflection that
interception earlier this season, and also one forced fumble. It
(00:38):
has been a big year for Nick Herbigs to love
herb me for Alex high Smith. It is the Steelers
standard with Ed Troop and Jacob wrecked.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
He also big love for Max having that mama. There
goes that man called the very end. Just Max is
so good at what he does.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Good stuff, man, real good stuff from Rob King and
Max Starks. This past Sunday here on Steelers Nation Radio,
part of the Steelers Audio Network, we wrapped up last
segment with our ten Terrible Takes. Let me give you
a few NFL hot takes and get your thoughts, and
then we'll get into our review of the Steeler and
NFL pop stat Lewish, and then we'll finish up the
segment with our power rankings. But the Ravens at one
(01:14):
in three will miss the playoffs. Terrible take or no, terrible?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Oh man, that's so hard to say.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I actually don't know if I can give you an
answer on that one, simply because we don't.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Know about the situation about Lamar.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
I will say this, if it comes out that he'll
miss some significant time, let's say even a month or so.
They're one in three right now. We talked about it
last second. How bad that defense has looked. If they
if they, like I said, even lose him for a month,
that could be season ending for them. Because if you
say you followed the one and six on the season,
(01:48):
you know it's funny. The Steelers have done a couple
of times right where they go two and six or
three and six or three and seven to start a
season and everyone counts them out saying, oh, here we go,
Mike Tom's about to have his first lose the season
as a head coach. Well, they always find a way
to get back to eight and eight or just above
five hundred.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
John Harbad does not have that similar success.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
He does not have that ability to round his rile
his guys up even without you know, his all pro quarterback.
I mean, I think that's the big distinction between Harbor.
You can make between Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin is whenever
Mike Tomlin or whenever John Harbaugh didn't have Joe Flacker
with Lamar Jackson, whenever it was his backups, he was
(02:29):
struggling as a head coach. He cannot get his team
to a five hundred or better record, whereas Mike Tomlin
when he doesn't have his young Ben Roethlisberger available to him,
when he had guys like Mason Rudolph or Landry Jones
back in the day, Charlie Batch, Duck Hodges, Mitch Trubisky,
Kenny Pickett, and even last season Justin Fields, who was
(02:52):
now out to an zero to four record, by the way,
so I don't think Justin Fields is as good as
everyone thought he was. And Russell Wilson, who just got
bench for Jackson Dart, it doesn't look like he'll be
taking back the starting rains anytime soon. After the Chargers
beat the previously undefeated Chargers, I think Mike Tambain does
a lot better with a lot less compared to John Harbaugh.
So if Lamar loses and let's just look at the
(03:14):
Ravens schedule coming up. They have Houston, winnable game with Lamar,
toss up without him. They have the Rams without Lamar,
good luck the Bears toss up there.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Bears are getting better, Bears are getting better.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Miami who just had their first win, but we'll see,
and then Minnesota. It's actually not a bad schedule at
all for the Ravens. The only real test I see
for them is green Blitz is green Blay, green Bay.
But that's all the way down in Week seventeen, their
second to last game. So even if Lamar is out
for a significant time, he'll most likely be back for
(03:49):
that game.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
So it's a relatively easy schedule.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
But with like I said, doing more with less, jarn
Harbaugh hasn't had the pedigree or the resume rather that
Mike Tomlin has shown or proven. So if Lamar misses
significant time, I think you could say that it's not
a hot take that they will miss the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Seven percent of teams in the NFL have made the
playoffs after a one to three start, so the numbers
are not encouraging for raven fans out.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
There, you know, and unfortunately for the Ravens. If you
had spread out, you know, Buffalo, Kansas City, Detroit throughout
the season, rather than having them be three of your
first four opponents, maybe things would have gone differently for them.
But having to play all three of those teams and
a four week spand clearly not easy on them.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
They're gonna have to go pretty much nine and four
the rest of the way, and that margin for air
very very small for the Ravens. Okay, a couple other
hot takes before we move on to our stat leaders
so far this NFL season. The Bills at four and
OH are the best team in the NFL currently, and
we're gonna do our power rankings at the end of
this segment, so we'll get to that. But right now,
the Bills at four and OH are the best team
(04:55):
in the NFL, and the Saints at zero to four
are the worst team in the NFL.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Oh, that's tough.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It's always tough to say who's quite the best, because
right now there are two four to oh teams and
they look damn good. I think the Eagles, though, have
the more impressive win this week this week of the
two undefeated teams. And then when you look at the
winless teams. Let's see how many of there are we're
meeting now. There's only three left because we saw Miami
get their first win of the year, we saw the
(05:23):
Giants get their first win of the year, right, and
we saw the Texans get their first win of the year.
So that leaves only three undefeated teams. That's the Jets,
the Titans, and the Saints. So that sample sizes getting
a little smaller. I'm gonna discount the Jets, say it's
not them. It just leaves the Titans and Saints. We
came into this year knowing that the Saints were gonna
(05:43):
be really, really, really bad. I don't think the Titans
had these expectations because you thought maybe new head coach
and Brian Callahan, new quarterback and cam Ward. But Brian
Callahan is seemingly already playing himself out of a contract.
Could just be a one un done kind of guy
as a head coach for Tennessee. I'll say it's not
a hot take for the Saints, but I might push
(06:03):
back on the Bills being the best team simply because
the defending Super Bowl champions right now are four to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Also, Jacob, I'll cue this one up for you get
your standings up. The NFC West is now the best
division in the NFL, while the NFC South is the
worst division.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So let's look.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
The West has the Niners at three and one, the
Seahawks at three and one, the Rams are three and one,
and the Cardinals at two and two. Pretty good, I mean, yeah,
just about as good as you can get. I'm trying
to look, is there any other team?
Speaker 2 (06:36):
No.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Historically our division, the af SURE North, has been I'm
just saying right right now, as we stand right now,
there is no team out there with three three and
one teams except for the NFC West.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
However, we look at the South, the Bucks in it
three and one, the Falcons are at two and two,
the Panthers are at one and three, the Saints are
at owing four.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
They're probably the candidate. I might even push back.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
I guess you can't, because I was gonna look at
the AFC South, But both the Colts and the Jags
are at three and one and one. The Jaguars, by
the way, popping up on everyone's radar this week after
being the Niners, giving them a surprising loss on the year.
So I think you have to say it's that NFC
West is the best and the NFC South is the worst.
(07:25):
But I still really like the Bucks leading the way
in that division.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's look at some that's gonna do for our NFL
hot takes. I looking back, I always historically thought it
was in the AFC, the AFC North was the best division.
In the AFC South was the worst. But based on
everything you just said, I flipped the other way. The
NFC West right now, after four weeks into the NFL
season the best division in the NFL, while the NFC
South is struggling so far this season. Let's get to
(07:50):
our stat leaders for the Pittsburgh Stewers through the first
four games of the season, the Steelers three and one,
Aaron Rodgers leading the way. As far as quarterback play goes,
Mason Rudolphs only thrown two passes so far this season,
one of two, so Rogers numbers pretty good through the
first four game sixty eight percent completion percentage, seven hundred
and eighty six yards seventy four of one hundred and
(08:11):
eight attempts, and he has eight touchdowns and three interceptions,
sacked nine times and against, seven of those nine coming
in the first two weeks of the regular season not
too bad the last two games rushing wise, Kenny game
Well Kenny g is now number one one hundred and
fifty four yards rushing after his ninety nine yards on
the ground against the Vikings this past week, three rushing touchdowns.
(08:34):
He's the only Steeler on the ground. Jalen Warren has
yet to get a rushing touchdown. Warren one hundred and
thirty two yards in his three games that he's played
so far this season. Receiving wise, I'll give you that
and then we'll get the v Jacob dk metcalf leading
the way two hundred and sixty one yards receiving, fifteen
catches on twenty two targets, three touchdowns in the air.
(08:55):
His game this past week again one hundred and twenty
six yards was huge to get him on the front
because it was Kenny Gamewell who or knocked Kenny Gamel.
Jalen Warren rather led this category for the first three
weeks four weeks of the regular season going into this
past week, Jalen Warren one hundred and forty two yards
receiving and a touchdown. Thoughts on the offensive leaders so
far the rest of the receivers. I'll just give you
(09:17):
one more, Calvin Austin one hundred and thirty nine yards
receiving and two touchdowns. So the Steelers have three receiving
numbers over one hundred yards with Metcalf, Jalen Warren out
of the backfield, and Calvin Austin through the first four game.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well, let me ask you this about the receivers. Can
you give me the total receptions for Ben Scarronic and
Roman Wilson on the year.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Yeah, ben' Skarnik two catches for twenty two yards and
Roman Wilson two catches for seven yards, neither of which
with any touchdown. So Dk Metcalf, Wait, Ben, or I'm sorry,
Ben Scronk does have a touchdown? He had that?
Speaker 3 (09:48):
Yeah, Yeah, Ben's Dk Metcalf in his rifle position right
now as the leading receiver on the team in yards,
and then Calvin Austin makes sense that he would come
in second. That's the reason I asked about Scronic and
Roman Wilson is they're the only two receivers on the
team at the wide receiver position with a catch and
(10:08):
they have a combined eight catches through four weeks. So
if you want to talk about how much the Steelers
are in need of some good wide receiver depth. Look
no further than those two guys, because once you get
past really Calvin Austin, that's who you have.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
And you can see how little they've been contributing.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Despite Skarna getting involved early in that first drive of
the season with that touchdown, since that catch he had
on the first opening drive of the season, has had
one catch. And I won't even say three games because
it's really like three and three and three quarters of
a game because that first touchdown catch he had that
(10:47):
was on that first rive.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's about it.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Actually, check that I was looking at targets, So wait
a minute, Ben Ben Scarnick targeted two times, one catch,
one catch for twenty two months to touchdown, that's it.
And Roman Wilson two targets, one catch for seven year,
so two catches combined for twenty nine yards. You're right,
good point, very good point, exactly.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
So they've they've been completely uninvolved in this season, Ben Scronix.
So it has zero catches since that first touchdown catch
in the season. Roman Wilson's been a completely non factor.
Uh so you really are relying on Calvinassin to come
back fully healthy, and then when it looks at when
you look at the running backs too, it's it's nice
(11:25):
to see that Kenneth game All was able to carry
the load without Jalen Warren available, but hopefully with Jalen
Warren back in the lineup following the bye week and
giving him extra time to come back from whatever was
his setback this week against the Vikings. Having both of
them at one hundred percent, this should be something reminiscent
of Najie Harris and Jalen Warren tandem. It's just can
(11:47):
you do can you recreate those numbers or even exceed
those numbers that you had with Nause and Jalen.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Going in and throughout training camp, I think we were
thinking more of the Caleb Johnson and Jalen Warren two
headed monster, with Kenny Gainwell being your third down running back.
But that script has completely changed. Kenny Gainwell and Jalen
Warren are now your two fifty to fifty Well, maybe
not a fifty to fifty share, but it might turn
into that. From what I saw from Gamewell this past Sunday,
(12:13):
I think it's might be more of a fifty to
fifty split. That's your two headed monster than your third
down running back could be a combination of the two
of them, because Joralen Warren that was his gig, that
was his gig with nauje Hers, he was the third
down back. So in Caleb Johnson, he's gonna have to
earn earn some carries this past weekend an opportunity. Not
too bad though when you look at the stat sheets.
Six carries for twenty two yards a three point seven average,
(12:36):
better than what he had done previously. And listen, let's
face it, for Caleb Johnson or rookie after that bad
mistake against Seattle, he's gonna earn some carries back and
he's gonna have to do that slowly because right now
Gainwell and Warren, now you're one and two running backs.
Let's look at the defensive stats. Jacob total excuse me,
total tackle so far, Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson leading
(12:58):
the way with thirty five each so far this season.
We mentioned Queen and his big numbers so far, sack wise,
TJ Watt with three What actually did get credited for
a sack this past week against Minnesota, So back to
back games with sacks after being shut out the first
couple games of the season. TJ. Watt now leading the
team with three sacks, two and a half sacks for
Nick Herbig, one and a half sacks for Kean Obenton,
(13:21):
Cam Hayward, Derek Harmon, Jack Sawyer, Deshaun Elliott, Patrick Queen,
Alex high Smith, Peyton Wilson, all each with one sacks
so far this season. So the Steelers fourteen sacks for
the first four games of the season. That's not too bad.
I think that's pretty strong. And again, if you would
have told us that before the season started that's where
they'd be after four games, we would take it. Five
(13:43):
interceptions through the first four games. TJ. Watt, Nick Herbig,
Deshaun Elliott, Jalen Ramsey, Brandon Eckles with interceptions so far
this season. Anything stand out?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
No, just the fact that news numbers are very spread out,
which is what I want to see. You don't want
to see just this team has let's say, ten sacks
through however many games, and nine of them come from
like two guys, right. You want to see that even distribution,
of course, with the one guy still outperforming everyone else
as your defensive leaders. Uh, But I think that's what
(14:14):
you're getting right now, you're seeing even though he got
called back because of the weird rule, Jalen Ramsey has
been involved in every single game this season.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Uh. They would have had two more turnovers against the Vikings,
but both got overturned.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
The second one James Pierre light.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
They said that he was out of bounds or out
of control right, didn't have possession. Uh. Weird to see
James Pierre on the defense side of the football. Usually
you see him reserve for special teams. But the fact
that he undercut that pass to get in front of
the ball, which he just would have kept possession. But
getting back to the playmakers, Ramsey's getting involved. TJ didn't
get a sack this past week, but got the pick.
(14:53):
Cam Hayward I think had another at least two balls
boutted down at the line of scrimmage. Your playman are
making plays on defense, that's what matters most. And then
you're beyond them, you're seeing other guys contribute, like Nick Herbick,
like Keanu Benten, like Derek Harmon. We haven't even mentioned
Pat Queen, but he's been all over the place this season.
He's having to really, like I said earlier, great start
(15:15):
of this year compared to the start of his first
year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So yeah, I would say
just overall, as especially as the season has progressed. When
you looked at Week three, in Week four, they're getting
better on defense.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Steelers ten total turnovers on the defense, getting ten turnovers
throughout the first four games. We talked about the five interceptions.
Just to wrap this up, five fumble recoveries. TJ Watt,
Jabrel Peppers, bench, Coronica Pepper, teams, Peyton Wilson, and Darius
Slay all with fumble recoveries. So ten total takeaways throughout
the first four games.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Again, yeah, I'm looking at it right now. They are.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
They have not only this, they have the second best
different turnover differential as you mentioned, ten total takeaways, only
three giveaways on offense, and they lead. Also they're in
second place overall with total takeaways on the season. So
as as you mentioned, of course, a lot of that
is coming from the five turnover game that you had
(16:12):
against New England last week. But you're gonna take it, right,
I mean, you're not gonna say, oh no, ignore those numbers.
Only give the Steelers five total takeaways on the year.
And then when you look at sacks as well, they
are second. I'm sorry, they're tied for second in the
NFL with fourteen total sacks.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Only the Denver Broncos have more on the season than
the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
So they are making splash plays when it matters most,
and they're doing it effectively and efficiently through all four
weeks of the season. And like you said, they're getting better.
You saw them have that five sack, five five turnover
performance in Week three. You saw them follow that up
with an interception by tg Watt, a couple of sacks
by Kean the Benner and Nick Herbig this past Sunday.
(16:53):
So it's not just they're having these these quick spurts
of a game and then they're they're fading back to normal.
They are doing it consistently.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
The Steelers third down efficiency looks like this, seventeen of
forty four, clipping at about thirty eight point six percent
so far this season on defense teams going twenty three
to fifty five at forty one percent against the Steelers
fourth down. I just want to point this out. Steelers
one of three on fourth down, No big deal there,
but opponents eight of twelve on fourth down versions at
(17:24):
sixty six percent for the first four games of the season.
And one other team stat that I want up through
out there is penalty. Steelers have been very good with
penalties through the first four games, only nineteen penalties for
one hundred and thirty five total yards. That's an average
of about thirty three penalty yards per game. Meanwhile, opponents
penalties twenty four times for two hundred and twenty yards
and fifty five average per game yardage wise against the
(17:47):
Black and Goal.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
Yeah, so looking at third down and fourth down, Steers
are really struggling there. No team has had more has
had their opponents go for the fourth down version more
times than the Steelers twelve attents against the Steelers opposing
offenses going for it. It leads the NFL. And like
you said, the teams right now are eight of twelve.
(18:10):
So you can recognize the teams are seeing the Sewers
are not doing well in fourth down coverage.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's why they're going for it so often.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Because the Sewers allow it to happen, you will get
third down conversions for the Seelers. On defense, they're also
in the bottom third. You have to see those numbers
improved because, like you said, it's all about time and possession.
It's all about third down and fourth down battles. You
can't lose those. If you lose those, it's going to
make a life a lot harder for you to win
that football game. Luckily, as I said all throughout today's shows,
(18:42):
they're doing well. They're doing it clearly enough to get
the three to one. But life could be a lot
easier if you're winning those battles on third and fourth down.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Let's finish up this segment with our NFL Power ranking.
Let's do it, Jacob. We are now turning the page
this week, the week five in the NFL. Hard to believe, right,
You've got a whole month into the regular season. October
first is tomorrow, so September will be behind us. And
let's look at our three teams on the outside looking in.
What's the abbreviation in you?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I can't believe you'll have a memorized I'm so easy.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
It's the jdq MTC, the teams that just didn't quite
make the cut.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
So who do you have in your your three spots there?
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Jd qq MTC MTC. Okay, I like I'm gonna write
it down then I'll remember it. I know you and
Tom Afferman have copyright on those, so I get it.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, you pay me about five five percent of one
penny for every time I was gonna say it's not
gonna be much.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Indianapolis Colts for me are number thirteen, three and one,
the Kansas City Chiefs two and two, and the Green
Bay Packers at two to one and one. So the Colts, Chiefs,
and Packers are my three teams on the outside looking in.
The Chiefs have won two in a row. Yeah, the
Packers weird game Sunday night. They played with that ties
are always weird, aren't they? Forty four caip. They didn't
(19:54):
go for the win there at the end.
Speaker 3 (19:55):
Yeah, I think they were just kind of I think
they were just kind of saying, we're playing from the
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So if you don't get it, then it's a loss.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And you really can't afford to fall into two and two,
especially with how good Detroit's looked.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Right. Yeah, and I think the Chiefs the defending AFC
chanes two in a row, and that was an impressive
win against Baltimore at home this past week.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Definitely all right, So my three and the JDQFDC.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I got the Colts also at thirteen, I got the
Denver Broncos at twelve, and I got your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
At number eleven.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Wow, okay, got it.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
You gotta show some respect there.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
That I'm going to show them a lottery. Okay.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
I thought you were saying that's impressive to have them
that high, but you got to be even higher.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
I'm impressed. Yeah, I have them a lot higher.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
All right, Okay, all right, so let's let's kick it off.
You're number ten team.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
My number ten team are the Jacksonville Jacksons. Same here
at three and one, right, Yeah, yeah, nice win for
Jacksonville this past week.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Yeah, impressive win Oversea or I'm sorry over San Francisco,
who I actually kept out on my top ten. And
my team's on the outside looking and simply because they're
so banged up brock Party, I don't know if you
saw this, Ad said after the game he's feeling that
toe injury yet. So brock Party is not at one
hundred percent. They just lost their first game of the
season to the Jacks, who are another three and one team.
(21:07):
I don't really think that the season is sustainable for
the Niners. But I do think that I've impressed so
far with first year head coach Liam Cohen and what
he's getting out of Trevor Lawrence's quarterback.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
I have been to and now two wins in a
row against the Texans and that big win that you
just mentioned this past week for the Jaguars. So they
check in at number ten for both of us, at
three and one. Number nine. I have the Tampa Bay
Bucks at three and one on the season.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Come on the tough. That's a little hard, shut.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I think I'm gonna have I think by next three
out of four, you're gonna tell me her.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Okay, okay, but but I I like the Bucks being
in the top ten.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I just think it's harsh to put him that low.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
Oh okay, I got you. Well, you know that was
a that was their first loss of the season against
the Eagles this past week. But you know that was
that was a game in which I watched that game
and and uh, I thought they get up and down it.
They made a little bit of a comeback there towards
the end. But but yeah, they're number nine on my list.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
So I have the Seattle Seahawks clocking in at number
nine here also three and one, also a team that
I think is so far exceeded expectations this year. They're playing,
as we mentioned, in a tough division. But I got
the Jags or I'm sorry, the Hawks here at number nine.
It's just really impressive to see what they've done offensively
(22:21):
and defensively so far.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
They're having a good year.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
So I think we have the same top ten, but
much different order. Okay, number eight, I have the San
Francisco forty nine ers at three and one, who you don't.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
Yeah, so we don't have the same top ten.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
Who you just made me feel. Yeah, you made me
feel a little worse about their injury situation with Brock
Purdy being banged up against So maybe I shouldn't have
them in my top ten, and I should be with you, Jacob,
and they should be out of my top ten. But
I have them checking at number eight. How about you,
number eight? This is a team you had on your
outside looking in this. We're at the Kansas City Chiefs.
(22:55):
The Chiefs, I mean back in the top ten.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
They got their first win in Week three, and then
they followed it up with a dominant performance over the Ravens.
I know Lamar was her in and out for a time.
But really, when you look at what the Chiefs did,
this is something. This is a game usually the Ravens win.
The Ravens are a great regular season team, uh, and
this is a game Like these matchups the Ravens typically win.
(23:17):
But right now, like I said, they're one in three
and the Chiefs really took it to him. The Chiefs
looks beginning a lot of momentum. That Kid Thornton, the
wide receivers having a great connection with Pat Mahomes this year.
Travis Kelce looks like he drank from the fountain if
youth after having a big setback in his stats last year.
And Chris Shows leading that Kansas City defense off to
(23:38):
a great start for them. So they're they're two and
zero in their last two weeks. It's even building some momentum.
You can never count the Chiefs out. I think they're
gonna be right back in the playoff come to the
end of the year.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
You never count Patrick Mahomes out there, no for sure,
and they are. They are picking up momentum after an
zero to two start. Now the Chiefs at two and two,
number seven for me are the La Rams three and one.
You know, you look at their schedule. They beat the Texans,
they beat the Titans, Okay, no big deal there. They
barely lose to the Eagles on the road, a game
in which they had the lead thirty three to twenty six,
(24:10):
and a nice bounce back win this past week at home,
defeating the Colts, who were previously undefeated, twenty seven to twenty.
So I have the Rams at number seven.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
My number seven team is where I have the Packers. Again,
really hard to understand what kind of team this Packers
team is with that tie, right, I think they fall
and I think they won that game in Cleveland. If
that ending wasn't so weird for them, they would have
gone three to oh and then three and oh and one.
I would have said, Okay, the Packers are probably still
the top five team, but that loss against Cleveland is weird.
(24:42):
Tie against the Cowboys, which is hard to place them.
I still think they're a top ten team, but not
as close to the top as I thought coming into
this year.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Number six for me, Yeah, you're a Pittsburgh Steelers. Wow
at three and one? Okay, here we go. Number six.
They're the number two team in the AFC. Right now, right,
A bunch a bunch of other And I told you,
especially early in the season, if you're undefeated or you
only have.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
One loss, yeah, you stand by the record a lot
more than I do.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
Especially early in the season. So for me, I'm going
with the Steelers at number six.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Yeah, it's funny that you say they're the number two
team in the AFC. I mean, you still have the
Chargers there, you still have the Colts there, still have
the Jags there. So really just my record right right,
But I mean you could say they're the fifth team
if you put them at the bottom of that group
of teams with only one loss. That's how many teams
there are right now with one or fewer losses.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
My number six team, this is where I had the
La Rams.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
I mean, we talked about the Seahawks earlier, but right now,
the Rams, to me, are so much more impressive.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
I think they had a tough loss.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Their only loss on the year was against the defending
Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
They've taken care of business.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
All three of their other wins come against the AC South,
which we know isn't that great of a division, but
they have a huge couple of tests, coming up against
San franciscoing against Baltimore. If they can win those games,
that you have to say the Rams are legit and
the Rams are for real time.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
For our top five for this week, number five checking
in for me are the Seattle Seahawks at three and one.
You had the Seahawks at number nine. I have them
at five.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Okay, my number five team, this is where the La Chargers.
I think the Chargers are good, but they had a
set back, so it's not you can't crowd them so quickly.
You can't really you can't really lose that game, right
the Chargers or the superior team coming against coming up
against Jackson Dart making his first ever NFL start, and
you lose that game. If you're the Chargers, take that
(26:32):
four to zero commanding lead. Show the AFC who you
really are. But I guess they got to show their
true colors by having that misstep against the Giants.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I thought that was a weird game, losing the to
the Giants. For the Chargers probably overlooked the Giants a
little bit clearly, you know. Because of that. I have
the Chargers on my list at number four, so they're
still in my top five, but they checking at number
four on my list.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
So number four for me, this is a team that
you had way way way down.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
At the bottom.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
It's about the Tampa Buccaneers. I mean, the Bucks are legit.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Baker Mayfield is a winning quarterback in this league, and
I can't fault him, same way that with the Rams.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
The Rams are three and one right now. Their only
loss was against the Eagles. Same thing, same goes for
the Tama Bay Buccaneers. They're three and one right now
and their.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Only loss coming against the defending Super Bowl champions, the
Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
We get a good couple of matchups for the Bucks
coming up. They play on the right against the at
on that it's not going to be easy. They play
against the Niners, and they go on the road against Detroit.
Those are all three legitimate teams. Then later on, if
you look a couple weeks later, they get the Buffalo
Bills and the Rams back to back weeks. So the
Bucks will be tested as the season goes on. But
I can't fault them. I mean, they, like you said,
(27:45):
they brought it. They came back at the end, They
got into a one position game at the very end,
they had the Costague turnover, which was the resulting play
of the game, the most consequential player of the game
rather and they lost. But again they kept a close
Baker Mayfield showing that he's never really out of it either.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
So I got the Bucks at number four.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
So we both have the Bills, Eagles and lines in
our top three.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Depends on the order.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
It depends on the order, and I think that does
define right now, it's very clear. Those are the three, Yeah,
those are the three big boys. After that, it gets
a foggy, right, we go back and forth. We have
different orders. So just to recap quick, Jacob has this
is ten through through three, Jaguars, Seahawks, Chiefs, Packers, Rams, Chargers,
Bucks at number four. I have Jags, Bucks, forty nine, Ers, Rams, Steelers, Seahawks,
(28:33):
Chargers up to my number four. So my top three
lines at three, Eagles at two and Bills at number one.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
We're so close.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Yet again it because I have the lines of three,
the Bills at two with the Eagles at.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
One, we flip flop our top two.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
The Eagles have I don't know the last time the
Eagles lost the games. It's dating back to last season.
That's how far back you have to go. I mean, remember,
they won four games in the playoffs. They're four to
zero right now, so they've won at least eight games
in a row dating back to last year. The Eagles
are just I understand the Bills are dangerous. The Bills
are also four and oh right now, but you know
(29:06):
they lost in the in the divisional round. They didn't
even make it to the AC championship game this past year,
so I really have to respect, excuse me, the Eagles,
and I'm looking at it now. They won their last
two games of the year. So the Eagles right now
are in a ten game winning streak over the course
of two seasons, so I have to respect them. And
then number two and number three for us, excuse me,
(29:28):
the Bills in Detroit offensive Juggernauts.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
It's gonna be tough to stop either of those teams.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Yep, you're exactly right on the Eagles. They lost to
the Commanders back. I remember this game December twenty second,
thirty six to thirty three. I believe that was Washington
scoring right at the end to beat them. Yeah, you're right.
They barely lost that game, and prior to that they'd
won a bunch straight, including against your Pittsburgh Steelers. So yeah,
the Eagles a lot of wins in a row, and
they look very good right now. Hard to argue whether
they're one or two, and hard to argue that the
(29:54):
Bills are one or two. I think it's very clear.
And then the Lions in that mix again, the Lions, Eagles,
and Bills your top teams, however you do it. So
again I have the Bills at number one, the Eagles
at number two, and the Lines at number three. Jacob
Eagles one, Lions two or no Bills too, and then
Lions three for you as well. So that's going to
do it for our power rankings for this week. Jacob
(30:15):
and I will be back at it here on the
Standard on Thursday and Friday this week as we get
you through the Steeler bye week and get you ready
for next week. And we'll also go around the NFL
in preview Week five as again we turn the page
here to the fifth week of the NFL season. Hard
to believe. It is the Steelers Standard with Ed Troop
and Jacob Brect here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of
(30:35):
the Steelers Audio Network,
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