October 21, 2025 • 29 mins
Which Steelers are the statistical leaders through seven weeks, and Ed and Jacob rank their top ten teams heading into the eighth week of the season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
It is the Steelers' Standard with Ed Troop and Jacob
Brett on the Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. Jacob and I now into our third segment
here today it is Standard Tuesday. Well, the Mike Tomlin
Press con press conference coming up here at noon as
we record this a little bit after eleven o'clock, we'll
get coach Tomalin's take on what happened last Thursday night
(00:29):
against the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a preview of
the game upcoming this Sunday night, in which the Steelers
will wear their nineteen thirty three special Alternative throwback jerseys.
I'm not sure what the official name is, Jacob, I
put like sixteen different nicknames in one, but it's probably
one of those or all of them all in One
fact is it will look a lot like their throwbacks
(00:50):
that they wore back in nineteen ninety four to celebrate
the seventy fifth anniversary of the NFL, but some a
few alternations.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Made to them.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
A lot of gold in these uniss Not a lot
of fans behind this this decision as far as what
they look like. But the Steelers are four and oh
when they debut an alternative uniform.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, I mean, I guess they have that many. I
didn't realize that well. I guess the bumblebee jersey, the
original Color Rush jersey back in seven, the new Color
Rush jersey. I don't know what the fourth would be
among that for under Mike Tomlin. Maybe that would be
under Tomlin, right right, because you said it was under
Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
You've had four alternates they did you get the one
where they had the black jersey with the white pants.
Remember that one with the yellow helmet.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That was a combination back maybe around fourteen or fifteen.
I'll bring it in on Thursday for y'all. I'll show
you it. I pick it on Madden sometimes that's the
majors when I play my sons in madd I've picked
it up.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
It is time for our steel Digits of the Week
segment here where Jacob and I review Steeler stat leaders
as well as NFL stat leaders, and we get to
our weekly power rankings. Let's start with your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers now on the season over twelve hundred yards
passing in six games played. Not too bad, completing one
hundred and eighteen of one hundred and seventy two passes
(02:08):
for two hundred and seventy yards. That's an average up
two hundred and eleven yards per game, so he's over
two hundred yards per game passing with fourteen touchdowns and
five interceptions. He's been sacked nine times, but out of
that nine, seven were in the first few weeks of
the season, so the offensive.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Line doing a better job there.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Running wise, Jalen Warren at the top of the running
back room with three hundred and eleven yards on seventy carries,
averaging four point four yards per carry. No rushing touchdowns
yet though this season for Jalen Warren in five games,
so that's a statistic that needs to change going forward.
Kenny Game, well, we'd like to call him Kenny g
Forty four carries, one hundred and ninety yards and three
(02:48):
rushing touchdowns so far this season. And then Caleb Johnson,
the rookie out of Iowa fourteen carries for only thirty
six yards, no touchdowns receiving wise for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And then Jacob we'll get your thoughts here on these
offensive none numbers. DK Metcalf twenty two receptions on thirty
six targets for four hundred and six yards four touchdowns
so far this season, averaging sixty seven point yards per game.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Just as we go down the receiving numbers and I
got to refresh my receiving numbers, Jacob, there we go.
I was going to say, well, no, Pat Pririm, Youth
is number two on the team.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So there you go.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
I was getting ready to read far Muth's name, and
I'm like, that can't be right. I got to refresh
these numbers. No. One hundred and eighty seven yards after
that big one hundred and eleven yard game against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
H boy, he sure went up the chart. Huh.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
On seventeen targets, thirteen catches, and two touchdowns for Youth,
He's now second on the team. Jalen Warren is third
with seventeen catches for one hundred and eighty four yards
and one touchdown. In Calvin Austin, who most likely should
be back this upcoming Sunday Night, has ten catches for
one hundred and thirty nine yards and two touchdowns so
far this season. How about Youth number two now on
(03:56):
the receiving end.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy with that, but we know
that it only came because of one performance. If it
was a consistent output week after week, I'd be a
lot happier. But knowing how he was pretty much a
ghost on the field through the Steelers' first five games,
it's not that indicative of an overall great season.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Looking at the defensive numbers, Patrick Queen forty eight total
tackles to lead the Steelers. Peyton Wilson is second with
forty eight, so they are tied the two inside linebackers,
which is probably where it should be. That's who you
want at the top of your tackle list, the two
guys inside that should be making most of the stops.
One Thornhill, your safeties probably right in line two. They're
the next three Thornhill with thirty six, Elliott with thirty three,
(04:39):
and Clark with twenty eight. You just don't want to
see those numbers too high because if they are, that
means players are breaking into the secondary and they're being
forced to step up and make tackle. Sackwise, Nick Herbig
leads the room with four point five through five games played.
TJ Watt four sacks through six games played. Keanu Benton,
who had another sack this past week against the Bengals,
He's up to two point five. Now, how about this,
(05:01):
Derek Harmon fourth on the team, the rookie with two sacks,
Jalen Ramsey with two, then Cam Hayward and Alex Highsmith
each with a sack and a half, and then rounding
out the sack numbers, which, by the way, the Steelers
twenty two sacks through six games so far this season.
I'll just give you all the ones quick, Jack Sawyer,
Deshaun Elliott, Patrick, Queen Peyton Wilson with a sack each
(05:22):
so far this season. Interception wise, not really too much
to talk about here. Jacob nobody more than one, only
five interceptions this season, TJ Watt, Nick Herbig, Deshaun Elliott,
Jalen Ramsey, and Brendan Eckles with a sack each or
a sec I'm sorry interception each.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, I mean, up until a couple of weeks ago,
the Steelers were doing really well in terms of forcing
sacks and forcing turnovers. But now after quiet I mean,
I know, they got six sacks last week against the Browns,
but for the turnover conversation after a quiet each of
the last two weeks they fall into around toward the
top ten instead of the number two, sacks around top
(06:01):
five or top six instead of number two as well,
so obviously want to see them get back into the
top the very very top of those lists.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Looking at the NFL leaders through seven weeks of the
regular season here in twenty twenty five, let's start with
passing wise, Jacob, who do you think is number one?
We have another new number one.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I'll give you that, oh man, because I finally remember
it was Stafford from a couple of weeks ago, but
I guess it's not.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And before that it was Daniel Jones for the first
part of the season. But neither of those, is it?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Sam Donald, Well, you're kind of close.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's Justin Herbert, right, it's a West coast Cardal's now
on the West coast. Right, he's with Seattle just a
little bit further south on the west coast you go
to the Chargers. Yeah, Justin Herbert is now your NFL
passing leader over nineteen hundred yards passing. Then dak is
second with one eight hundred and eighty one. Stafford is
third with eighteen sixty six eighteen hundred. Evenly for Patrick Mahomes,
(06:54):
who now breaks into the top five for the first
time this season for passing in Daniel Jones number five,
just over seventeen hundred yards passing one thousand, seven hundred
and ninety Actually he's closer to eighteen hundred, I should
say running wise at the top of the rush list,
No change there now, j T. I'm sure Jonathan Taylor
from the Indianapois Colts. He's held that position three pretty
(07:15):
much the entire season. Six hundred and ninety seven yards
rushing through seven weeks. Javonte Williams my guy from Dallas second,
still five hundred and ninety two yards. Rico Dawdle from
Carolina five hundred and fifty one yards. He's now number
three in the league for rushing. James Cook from Buffalo
is fourth with five hundred and thirty seven and Jamar
Gibbs with five hundred and twenty six yards rushing from
(07:38):
the Detroit Lions rounds out your top five for rushing
receiving wise, no change there as well. This guy's been
there the last couple of weeks. And you want to
guess Jacob jay is N, Yeah, yeah, JSN from the
Seattle Seahawks. Jackson Smith and Jigba eight hundred and nineteen yards.
He's now held that spot the last few weeks. Jamar
Chase after his big game against the Steelers, now second
(07:59):
in the league with receivers six hundred and twenty nine.
Puka Nakuka six hundred and sixteen yards. Number three Nkua
comes in to play there, and how about number four
George Pickens up from the Dallas Cowboys six hundred and
seven yards receiving, and then Saint Brown from Detroit has
five hundred and thirty eight yards receiving. So Pickens now
(08:20):
in that top five. Nkua number three, Chase number two,
and ns R JSN Smith and Jigbuff from Seattle number one. Yeah,
any thoughts on the offensive leader.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Would love to see DK Metcalf enter that conversation, but
it's probably going to be a while until he does.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Defensive leaders quickly, I'll run through him. No changes here either.
Jordan Brooks from Miami, of all places, for what it's worth,
leads the league in total tackles with seventy five. Bobby
Wagner is number two from Washington with seventy three. Sherwood
from the Jets that we saw earlier this year in
Week one is third with seventy sacks. Wise, Brian Burns
(08:59):
number one now from the New York Giants with nine sacks,
and Byron Young from the Rams is tied with him
with nine. Your guy from Denver, Benito, is now third
with eight sacks on the season. So there's your top
three sack players. And again you look at TJ. Wats numbers.
He's usually in that top three each and every year.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
He has four so.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Far this season, and the leader Brian Burns and Byron
Young from the Rams, each with nine so far this season.
Interceptions wise, Byron from the Bears has four, Devin Lloyd
from Jacksonville has four, and Jamel Dean from Tampa Bay
has three interceptions this season. So there's a look at
your NFL leaders so far this season. And now it's
(09:40):
time for Jacob and I to jump into our NFL
Power rankings for Week eight. Last night a good one
in the NFL. Yeah, very good matchup the early game
against with the Lions and the Bucks, but the Lions
ran away with it. They defeat the Bucks last night
on Monday Night Football, the first of two Monday Night games,
twenty four to nine. The Lions had controlled this game
(10:02):
pretty much throughout, and then the later game, the late game.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
If you stayed up for it, good for you. I
did not. I know you definitely didn't.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Nope, the Seahawks defeat the Texans, no surprise there, twenty
seven to nineteen. Seahawks now five and two, Texans now
two and four, Lions now five and two, and Buccaneers.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Fall to five and two. Yep.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So with that, I just want to set that up
because especially the Seahawks, Lions, and Bucks would impact our
top ten power rankings, the top three on the outside
looking in that abbreviation that I write down every week
and then I go home and I want to retype
it up for next week, but I throw it away
and then I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So the ADQMDC that just didn't quite make the cut.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Just didn't quite make the cut, right. Do you want
to start with your three?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So I have Denver at number eleven. I have Patriots
at number twelve. I have the Chicago Bears, who won
four in a row at number thirteen.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So you go Denver, Patriots, Bears on the outside looking in. Okay,
I'm gonna go Bear at number thirteen. At four and two.
I'm gonna drop the Buffalo Bills down to twelve at
four and two on the outside, loall for not playing
one game. They drop all the way outside of number twelve.
They do for me because they got that four win total.
You gotta get to that five the crack the top.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well not really. I got another team.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Up there, and the Steelers four and two after the
loss against Cincinnati, are now number eleven on my list.
I got the Bears at thirteen, Bills at twelve, and
the Steelers at eleven. I was gonna flip flop the
Bills and put them at eleven and put the Steelers
at twelve. But a little bit of home cooking being
a Homer that am so I'm gonna go Bear or
Steelers at number eleven at four and two. All right,
(11:40):
let's dive into our top.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Ten, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yeah, and I'm going to start with the team that
I just talked about moments ago, the Seattle Seahawks at
five and two. They're my number ten team in my
top ten. There again, five and two now on the season.
Nice win last night at home against the Texas, but
they took care of business. I mean, I don't think
very many people at all thought maybe this Seahawks would hiccup,
especially at home, right if they're on the road, maybe,
(12:04):
but they have now won two in a row, defeating
the Jaguars and now the Texans. Losses on the season
to the Bucks and forty nine Ers. They beat the Steelers, Saints,
and Cardinals. So for me, I have the Seahawks at
number ten.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
My number ten team. It's a four win team, so
you're not gonna like this. I had the Kansas City
Chiefs in my top ten. Hard to ignore what the
Chiefs have been doing. I know they played the Raiders,
but they did what they were supposed to do, unlike
the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They blew them out.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I know that game was rather in Kansas City versus
the Steelers who had to play on the road, but
still we talked about how the Raiders had made it
competitive against the Chiefs in both of their matchups last season.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
That wasn't the case here.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So they follow up the Chiefs do an impressive win
against the Lions with a blowout win against the Raiders,
and the Chiefs right now they've won fourth to their
last five.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Lookout for Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You know I flirted with the Chiefs on this list
yesterday and I had a hard time figure it out.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So they're not anywhere on your list. They are not
on my at the worst. They're number fourteen for you,
well exactly they are.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And I flirted with putting them at number ten where
you did, or in the outside looking in, just didn't
quite make it category with the Steelers, Bears.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And Bills.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I know I got you right now with the Bills
in Chiefs, I'm like on the rope and we're in
a boxing match and Jacob's ready to go for the
TKO that I did include the Bills or Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
In my top ten.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
But I will say this, I think it's just a
matter of time at least for me, that maybe even
as early as next week, that the Chiefs will definitely
be in my top ten. I mean they are, They're
on the rise, right They're going, They're doing what the
Chiefs typically do with Patrick Mahomes and company. So yeah,
maybe another week or so and they'll be in my
power rankings in the top ten. Okay, So I got
Seattle ten, you got the Chiefs at ten. Let's move
(13:45):
the number nine. I'm gonna go with the Steelers opponent
this upcoming week the Green Bay Packers at four to
one and one. The pack for this upcoming week, we'll
travel to Pittsburgh, as we know, to play the Steelers
on Sunday night. But the facts are fact, Jacob. They
only have one loss on the season. They do have
that tie, which will irk us throughout most of this season.
(14:06):
But Green Bay for me, number nine.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
My number nineteen, this is where I have your number
ten team. This is where I have the Seattle Seahawks.
I mean really impressive. We talked about this yesterday in
our Week seven recap episode.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
How good the NFC West is.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
They have three teams at five and two and including
the Seahawks. I think it's hard to ignore what they're
doing offensively. Sam Darnold, a lot of people were saying
he's not going to be as good in Seattle because
he didn't have Kevin O'Connell as his coach, he doesn't
have Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Well, I mean, look at what he's doing right now
in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Jackson Smith and Jacob, as you've referenced, has been the
number one leading receiver in the league for the past
couple of years or years weeks so far, they have
one of the best scoring offenses in football.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They just really with this quarterback.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Have clearly made the right decision because if you look
at where Gino Smith is with the Raiders, he just
got benched last week for Kenny Pickett. So I clearly
think that the Seahawks made the right decision here for
this year. They're five and two. They're a dangerous team.
I have no idea who's gonna win the West this year.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Well, and you look at their upcoming schedule. I was
just looking at why you were you were going through
all that. Other than two games against the Rams, their
act hand full games are not too bad. They go
to Washington to the Commanders, not getting that's cross country,
but it worked out last time when it came here
to Pittsburgh. So and the Commanders with especially they're reeling
a little bit the last few weeks. So a winnable
game for sure for them. Tough to go into Washington
(15:33):
to win.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, I mean, but Jawn Daniels didn't come back from
injury in that last game that the Washington Commanders played
this past week against Dallas, So if that's a sign
that he won't play this week, the Seahawks should win
that game, should win against Arizona the week after that
and proved to seven and two. Then you got a
show down between the Rams and the Seahawks in mid November.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
That'll be a very good game to watch.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then at Techs at the Titans, and then they host
the Vikings and at Falcons for the Colts and Rams again.
So a couple of tough games in there with the
Rams twice in the Colts, but other than that, some
winnable games ahead for Seattle. Okay, number eight on my
list is one of those teams we just referenced the
La Rams at five and two.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I also have the Rams number.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
There we go, so now we can both talk about
the Rams in a lot of positive feedback for the
Rams as they both come in at number eight on
our list. Yeah, I mean, this is a team that
I think that has been getting better each and every week.
And I'm just gonna pull up their schedule real quick here, Jacob,
is my computer freezes of course every time you're trying
to get to us, so.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I'll get to it.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So the Rams were able to go into London last
week and put up thirty five on the Jags. I
mean that Jags offense. Remember we were praising the Jacks
just a couple of weeks ago, thinking that if they
were able to stack enough wins, they could challenge the
Colts for the number one seed in their division. Well
that hasn't been the case for the Jags, and the
Rams took advantage. You remember they were playing that game
without Puk and Nakua. It did not matter. So that
(16:58):
allowed the combination or the connection between Matt Stafford and
DeVante Adams really flourish and Kyra Williams, who's been a
force ever since he's coming to the league, one of
the best running backs in football. It's a really well
balanced offense. It's really good young defense as well. I mean,
look at the last couple of weeks. They've allowed a
combined total of ten points in the last two games.
(17:20):
So the Rams are seriously someone that you should be
considering if you're in the NFC side, just looking at
the wildcard race, just because you know it's most likely
that you're gonna see three teams out of that NFC
West Division because right now they're all five and two.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Here's the point I wanted to make, and then my
computer unfreezed, is the two losses very close games against
the Eagles thirty three to twenty six on the road
in Philadelphia, game on which they led pretty much the
entire game, and then the forty nine Ers twenty six
to twenty three loss a few weeks back. Other than that,
they are you know, they've won every other game that
they've played. I've been impressed with the Rams so far
(17:55):
this season, and as you mentioned, Jacob, an impressive win
against the Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And you have to remember two they handed Indianapolis that
are only lost of the year. Indy is five and
one with that one loss, or I'm sorry, six and
one with that one loss coming against the Rams.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Next up on our list number seven for me, a
new one on my top ten, and they come in
at number seven, the New England Patriots, who have now
won four straight games in a row at five and two.
I don't have many AFC teams in my top ten,
but this is I think one of let's see here,
I'm gonna do my math real quick.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Just three.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I have three of the top ten from the AFC,
and this is my first of those three with the.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
New England Patriots.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
As we said, we talked about this yesterday and we
were going around our renegade review of Week seven results.
Mike Rabel has this team playing at a high level
right now. Now. Granted, you can also make the argument
that the three of their last four wins have beginning
been at home against the Panthers, the Saints on the road,
and the Titans on the road, but they also went
into Buffalo and One, so three straight road games in
(18:58):
which they won all three. And remember, in the NFL,
I don't care what team you're playing or where you're playing,
it is hard to win on the NFL, let alone
three straight away games. Now they get three of their
next four at home in Foxborough against the Browns Falcons,
then they go to Tampa Bay, then the Jets. The
Patriots have talked about stacking wins. They've put themselves in
a very good position at this point in the NFL season.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, definitely, my number where we're at, my number seventeen.
This is where I have another NFC West team. I
had three NFC West teams in a row.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
There.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
We have the San Francisco forty nine ers, and I
was really kind of crapping on the Niners as the
season was progressing, just because I said they're hanging on
by a thread.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
They're getting more and more injuries week after week.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
But if anything taught, if you learn anything from this
past week, it's a good thing comes from those who wait.
George Kittle finally returns to the lineup, and you get
Christian McCaffery his best game of the season so far.
He's had a phenomenal season overall, but this was his
best game by far or now, averaging totally over two
hundred yards from scrimmage against the Falcons, who we thought
(20:01):
could be a fun team to keep on people's radars,
but the Niners just silence that crowd, got a good
win against the Atlanta I think even if, or even
despite all these injuries, the Niners clearly, considering they're at
a five and two record, they need to be on
everyone's radar because they're doing all this with all these
injuries in mind, And even if they get Brocked Party back,
(20:25):
I think they'll still be or when they get brock
Party back, rather, I think they'll have to be considered
even more of a serious threat. And then remember, too,
Brandon and a Yuk will be returning to the lineup shortly.
He was projected to come in around the halfway point,
which we are approaching very quickly. We're at week eight already,
So you get George kittleback, you get Brandon and I
(20:45):
Yuke back, you get brock Party back. All of a sudden,
this Niners team is a real threat.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I have my second AFC team at number six in
our power rankings here for week eight.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
For me, it's the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
So the Broncos, and I think i'd have to go
back and look at last week's kings, Jacob. I think
that's the first time I've put the Broncos in the
top ten as well.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
You're number seventeen and number sixteen.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
They were both my GDQMTC, the Pats and the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah, at least I have at least I do not
have them in my top five. Then you'd be really
throwing something at me.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, I'll be throwing something after you. If you kept
the Steelers in.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Your top five, you thought I was gonna go that
home or pick this week. I know you did still did,
because you still put my number eleven. I don't have
them even in my top thirteen.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
You know, you don't even have them on the outside
looking in. Yeah. Come on, man, this is the.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Steelers Nation Radio. You gotta at least throw them a
little bit of love, throw them something now. I hey, listen,
after that loss against Cincinnati. You know, it's a lot
of people have them out of their power rankings in
the top ten.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Hard to believe. Last week.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
What did I have them last week? Number five? I
think I think they were four four. I mean I
had them up there. I had them I think at
six or seven. Let's talk about the Denver Broncos, who
I have at number six this week. They've won four
straight games, beating the Bengals, at the Eagles, Jets, and
that crazy comeback win against the Giants this past week
thirty three to thirty two led that charge on Sunday.
(22:02):
He's a big reason along with that defense that's very
good as well for Denver. For me at least, Jacob,
that has them at this top spot. You know, when
do they play the Chiefs. Let me look here real quick.
They play them in a few weeks, So they go
Cowboys at home, at Texans, Raiders at home, and then
the Chiefs. So November sixteenth, that's the date the circle
if you follow the AFC West Chiefs Broncos. That'll be
(22:26):
a huge one coming up, as long as they can
take care of business. He's next three, which they get
the Cowboys at home, then at Texas and the Raiders
at home. They should, I mean going into that game,
they should be eight and two, but we shall see.
Anything can happen on any given Sunday. Yeah, impressive what
they've been doing. My number sixteen, this is where I
have her. I believe your number twelve team or number eleventeen,
(22:47):
there's where have the Buffalo Bills. Didn't punish them for
taking the week off. They did, but I do think
though if they lose another game they're coming back from
the bye.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
This week they're playing at Carolina. Remember Carolina is a
tough opponent. They've won four to their last five. If
they lose that game, then the Bills are officially in
a free fall. And then you look at what they
have coming up after that. They have Kansas City, which
is one of their biggest, if not their biggest rivalries
since Josh Allen came into the league.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
They gaint Miami, so that's a breather.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
But they have to go play against the Buccaneers in
Baker Mayfield, that's not gonna be easy for them at all.
So if they lose this game against Carolina, they could
easily lose what you could say, three of their next
four with the Chiefs and Bucks still coming up, So
it'd be a pretty panicking situation in Buffalo. But I
think they get back on track against Carolina. But still,
(23:35):
even if they do, it's not the most promising it's
not the most reassuring win for them either.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I struggled with the Bills this week.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
They probably should be my top ten I have on
the outside looking in, but I don't know. That's just
again I like at this point, but at this point
the season, I still like the rank them based on
number of losses. But we are starting to get to
that point halfway through, almost now here in the next
couple weeks where that's going to kind of start to
go away, right, because some teams that have less losses
than others may just clearly be better and more and
(24:02):
these are power rankings, more powerful and should be ranked
ahead of them, And I'm starting to do that a
little bit. Jacob, you should be proud of We have
the Packers with only one loss. They're number nine on
my list. So I'm starting to, you know, get rid
of that equation that I use a lot during the
early part of the season.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Let's get to our top five. For me.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
At number five are the Tampa Bay Bucks, who were
number one all for you, Yeah, last night losing. I
thought that game against Detroit would kind of define their
season and what they've done so far. They've been impressive.
We talked about them yesterday. I think if they if
they beat the lines, they are clearly still number one
or at least number two on our list for this week.
So I haven't fallen a little bit, but not too far.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
They're not out of the top five.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Just down to number five are now the five and
two Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
My number five team is that team you just for instance,
where I had the Green Bay Packers sitting at four
one on one, the Steelers upcoming opponent this Sunday night.
Like I said, they have a really good defense. The
offense is doing just enough to keep them afloat. Remember
they scored forty points in tie, but still that offense
can score when they need to. I think the pack
are a dangerous team. I think everyone kind of jumped
(25:07):
the gun when it came to expectations for the Packers
after that Week one win against the Lions. But still,
like you said, they're only a one loss team through
seven weeks so far, you have to respect that.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Again, and you know, when we were going through through
this list, the Packers only one loss, right, They're only
one of two teams with one loss.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And I have them at number nine.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So for you putting them into the top five, it
makes complete sense to me as well, because like I said,
they do have that tie against the Cowboys, but only
one of two teams so far this season with only
one loss. Okay, Number four on my list are the
San Francisco forty nine Ers, So I have them ranked
for higher than you do, but they come in at
number four on my list. Forty nine Ers are one
of those teams I just can't figure out. I feel
(25:48):
like in my gut that they're not really that good.
They're they're not reflective of a five.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
And two team.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
They've beaten really, they've beaten the Seahawks, the Saints, the Cardinals,
they lost to the Jaguars, they did beat the Rams,
they did beat a good Falcon team.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Yeah, so I think those two loss or those two
wins are kind of glossing over. They have wins. They
have tie breakers right now over both the Rams and
the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
So the West out in the West. Yeah, yeah, maybe
maybe you're convincing me to feel a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I mean, you have them at number fours or at yeah, at.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Number four, there's no disrespect. You shouldn't be you shouldn't
be second guessing your decision. How about you number four?
Speaker 3 (26:21):
For you my number four teams, so I still have
some big names here my number four team, I still
have Indie not yet quite cracking that top three for me.
I have to respect them though, because they got the
win against the Chargers. But as we all know now,
the Chargers are in a free fall. You remember they
started off three to zero and they went to three
(26:41):
and two, and they got to win against the one
win Dolphins at the time, and then they followed it
up with a real dud against the Colts.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So I have to respect the Colts for what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
It's real offensive juggernaut in the NFL so far, and
it's going to be your problem for the Steelers when
they match up in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
You know, you and I for the most part throughout
this season, once we get to our top five, we've
been maybe a spot or two off. But I feel
like this week and this wee kind of all over
the place. We're all over the place, and I think
our top five is gonna be all over the place
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
But that's okay. It makes it mix for good radio.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
For you and I both go back and forth on
disagreeing where we are. So, yeah, you got the Colts
at number four. Let's get into our top three. Now, Yeah,
let's do it quick because we're up against it. I
see that I'm gonna go. I'll give you all three
of mine and then you give me your three. How
about that?
Speaker 2 (27:29):
All right? Three for me?
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Philadelphia Eagles at five and two, number two and one
and two. I debated back and forth early they could
be in either spot. But I got the Lions at
number two at five and two and the Colts at
number one at six and one. Is the true best
team in the NFL right now. So I did the.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Conservative thing by putting Indie outside of my top three.
The top three teams have not ventured far from these
rankings all year for me, so I have affiliate number three.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Three.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
I have the Bucks at number two and.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I have the Lions at number one, so you still
have so for me, the biggest difference between us, because
I have the Lions up there of the Eagles as well,
are the Bucks I have with them. I had them
follow to number five and you have them at number two.
I mean, yeah, top five team, and I have the
Lions at two and you have them at one. But
where'd you have the Colts? You had the Colts at
(28:22):
number four? Okay, so really our top five are the
same five teams for the most part.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Other than what did you put the Packers?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Yeah, that's I was gonna say, that's the Niners. You
also including your top five I have not do that.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Those are the two that we have different.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I have the Packers at number nine, you have them
at number five. I have the Bucks at number five,
and you have the Bucks at number two. Okay, well
we're your You go Lions, Bucks, Eagles, Indie Green Bay.
I go Colts, Lions, Eagles, forty nine Ers Bucks.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So one thing is clear, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
We have a lot of NFC teams, but not a
lot of AFC teams, and only one and I would agree.
Through through eight weeks of the season or seven weeks
we have Week A coming up, the NFC has been
better and arguably they have one of the best divisions.
We talked about this yesterday about who has the top
division out there, and we both said the the NFC West,
(29:13):
and we just showcased the West on that as well. Well,
that's going to do it for the Steelers Standard for today.
Those are our power rankings here for week eight. As
we begin Week eight, Jacob and I will be back
on Thursday and Friday this week to start previewing the
Steelers Packers game for Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
At Akushore Stadium.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It is the Steeler Standard with Ed Troop and Jacob
Brett here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network.
It is the Steelers' Standard with Ed Troop and Jacob
Brett on the Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network. Jacob and I now into our third segment
here today it is Standard Tuesday. Well, the Mike Tomlin
Press con press conference coming up here at noon as
we record this a little bit after eleven o'clock, we'll
get coach Tomalin's take on what happened last Thursday night
(00:29):
against the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a preview of
the game upcoming this Sunday night, in which the Steelers
will wear their nineteen thirty three special Alternative throwback jerseys.
I'm not sure what the official name is, Jacob, I
put like sixteen different nicknames in one, but it's probably
one of those or all of them all in One
fact is it will look a lot like their throwbacks
(00:50):
that they wore back in nineteen ninety four to celebrate
the seventy fifth anniversary of the NFL, but some a
few alternations.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Made to them.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
A lot of gold in these uniss Not a lot
of fans behind this this decision as far as what
they look like. But the Steelers are four and oh
when they debut an alternative uniform.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Yeah, I mean, I guess they have that many. I
didn't realize that well. I guess the bumblebee jersey, the
original Color Rush jersey back in seven, the new Color
Rush jersey. I don't know what the fourth would be
among that for under Mike Tomlin. Maybe that would be
under Tomlin, right right, because you said it was under
Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
You've had four alternates they did you get the one
where they had the black jersey with the white pants.
Remember that one with the yellow helmet.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
I don't remember.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
That was a combination back maybe around fourteen or fifteen.
I'll bring it in on Thursday for y'all. I'll show
you it. I pick it on Madden sometimes that's the
majors when I play my sons in madd I've picked
it up.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
It is time for our steel Digits of the Week
segment here where Jacob and I review Steeler stat leaders
as well as NFL stat leaders, and we get to
our weekly power rankings. Let's start with your Pittsburgh Steelers.
Aaron Rodgers now on the season over twelve hundred yards
passing in six games played. Not too bad, completing one
hundred and eighteen of one hundred and seventy two passes
(02:08):
for two hundred and seventy yards. That's an average up
two hundred and eleven yards per game, so he's over
two hundred yards per game passing with fourteen touchdowns and
five interceptions. He's been sacked nine times, but out of
that nine, seven were in the first few weeks of
the season, so the offensive.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Line doing a better job there.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Running wise, Jalen Warren at the top of the running
back room with three hundred and eleven yards on seventy carries,
averaging four point four yards per carry. No rushing touchdowns
yet though this season for Jalen Warren in five games,
so that's a statistic that needs to change going forward.
Kenny Game, well, we'd like to call him Kenny g
Forty four carries, one hundred and ninety yards and three
(02:48):
rushing touchdowns so far this season. And then Caleb Johnson,
the rookie out of Iowa fourteen carries for only thirty
six yards, no touchdowns receiving wise for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And then Jacob we'll get your thoughts here on these
offensive none numbers. DK Metcalf twenty two receptions on thirty
six targets for four hundred and six yards four touchdowns
so far this season, averaging sixty seven point yards per game.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Number two.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Just as we go down the receiving numbers and I
got to refresh my receiving numbers, Jacob, there we go.
I was going to say, well, no, Pat Pririm, Youth
is number two on the team.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So there you go.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
I was getting ready to read far Muth's name, and
I'm like, that can't be right. I got to refresh
these numbers. No. One hundred and eighty seven yards after
that big one hundred and eleven yard game against the Bengals.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
H boy, he sure went up the chart. Huh.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
On seventeen targets, thirteen catches, and two touchdowns for Youth,
He's now second on the team. Jalen Warren is third
with seventeen catches for one hundred and eighty four yards
and one touchdown. In Calvin Austin, who most likely should
be back this upcoming Sunday Night, has ten catches for
one hundred and thirty nine yards and two touchdowns so
far this season. How about Youth number two now on
(03:56):
the receiving end.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah, I mean, I'm happy with that, but we know
that it only came because of one performance. If it
was a consistent output week after week, I'd be a
lot happier. But knowing how he was pretty much a
ghost on the field through the Steelers' first five games,
it's not that indicative of an overall great season.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Looking at the defensive numbers, Patrick Queen forty eight total
tackles to lead the Steelers. Peyton Wilson is second with
forty eight, so they are tied the two inside linebackers,
which is probably where it should be. That's who you
want at the top of your tackle list, the two
guys inside that should be making most of the stops.
One Thornhill, your safeties probably right in line two. They're
the next three Thornhill with thirty six, Elliott with thirty three,
(04:39):
and Clark with twenty eight. You just don't want to
see those numbers too high because if they are, that
means players are breaking into the secondary and they're being
forced to step up and make tackle. Sackwise, Nick Herbig
leads the room with four point five through five games played.
TJ Watt four sacks through six games played. Keanu Benton,
who had another sack this past week against the Bengals,
He's up to two point five. Now, how about this,
(05:01):
Derek Harmon fourth on the team, the rookie with two sacks,
Jalen Ramsey with two, then Cam Hayward and Alex Highsmith
each with a sack and a half, and then rounding
out the sack numbers, which, by the way, the Steelers
twenty two sacks through six games so far this season.
I'll just give you all the ones quick, Jack Sawyer,
Deshaun Elliott, Patrick, Queen Peyton Wilson with a sack each
(05:22):
so far this season. Interception wise, not really too much
to talk about here. Jacob nobody more than one, only
five interceptions this season, TJ Watt, Nick Herbig, Deshaun Elliott,
Jalen Ramsey, and Brendan Eckles with a sack each or
a sec I'm sorry interception each.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, I mean, up until a couple of weeks ago,
the Steelers were doing really well in terms of forcing
sacks and forcing turnovers. But now after quiet I mean,
I know, they got six sacks last week against the Browns,
but for the turnover conversation after a quiet each of
the last two weeks they fall into around toward the
top ten instead of the number two, sacks around top
(06:01):
five or top six instead of number two as well,
so obviously want to see them get back into the
top the very very top of those lists.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Looking at the NFL leaders through seven weeks of the
regular season here in twenty twenty five, let's start with
passing wise, Jacob, who do you think is number one?
We have another new number one.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I'll give you that, oh man, because I finally remember
it was Stafford from a couple of weeks ago, but
I guess it's not.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And before that it was Daniel Jones for the first
part of the season. But neither of those, is it?
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Sam Donald, Well, you're kind of close.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
It's Justin Herbert, right, it's a West coast Cardal's now
on the West coast. Right, he's with Seattle just a
little bit further south on the west coast you go
to the Chargers. Yeah, Justin Herbert is now your NFL
passing leader over nineteen hundred yards passing. Then dak is
second with one eight hundred and eighty one. Stafford is
third with eighteen sixty six eighteen hundred. Evenly for Patrick Mahomes,
(06:54):
who now breaks into the top five for the first
time this season for passing in Daniel Jones number five,
just over seventeen hundred yards passing one thousand, seven hundred
and ninety Actually he's closer to eighteen hundred, I should
say running wise at the top of the rush list,
No change there now, j T. I'm sure Jonathan Taylor
from the Indianapois Colts. He's held that position three pretty
(07:15):
much the entire season. Six hundred and ninety seven yards
rushing through seven weeks. Javonte Williams my guy from Dallas second,
still five hundred and ninety two yards. Rico Dawdle from
Carolina five hundred and fifty one yards. He's now number
three in the league for rushing. James Cook from Buffalo
is fourth with five hundred and thirty seven and Jamar
Gibbs with five hundred and twenty six yards rushing from
(07:38):
the Detroit Lions rounds out your top five for rushing
receiving wise, no change there as well. This guy's been
there the last couple of weeks. And you want to
guess Jacob jay is N, Yeah, yeah, JSN from the
Seattle Seahawks. Jackson Smith and Jigba eight hundred and nineteen yards.
He's now held that spot the last few weeks. Jamar
Chase after his big game against the Steelers, now second
(07:59):
in the league with receivers six hundred and twenty nine.
Puka Nakuka six hundred and sixteen yards. Number three Nkua
comes in to play there, and how about number four
George Pickens up from the Dallas Cowboys six hundred and
seven yards receiving, and then Saint Brown from Detroit has
five hundred and thirty eight yards receiving. So Pickens now
(08:20):
in that top five. Nkua number three, Chase number two,
and ns R JSN Smith and Jigbuff from Seattle number one. Yeah,
any thoughts on the offensive leader.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Would love to see DK Metcalf enter that conversation, but
it's probably going to be a while until he does.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Defensive leaders quickly, I'll run through him. No changes here either.
Jordan Brooks from Miami, of all places, for what it's worth,
leads the league in total tackles with seventy five. Bobby
Wagner is number two from Washington with seventy three. Sherwood
from the Jets that we saw earlier this year in
Week one is third with seventy sacks. Wise, Brian Burns
(08:59):
number one now from the New York Giants with nine sacks,
and Byron Young from the Rams is tied with him
with nine. Your guy from Denver, Benito, is now third
with eight sacks on the season. So there's your top
three sack players. And again you look at TJ. Wats numbers.
He's usually in that top three each and every year.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
He has four so.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Far this season, and the leader Brian Burns and Byron
Young from the Rams, each with nine so far this season.
Interceptions wise, Byron from the Bears has four, Devin Lloyd
from Jacksonville has four, and Jamel Dean from Tampa Bay
has three interceptions this season. So there's a look at
your NFL leaders so far this season. And now it's
(09:40):
time for Jacob and I to jump into our NFL
Power rankings for Week eight. Last night a good one
in the NFL. Yeah, very good matchup the early game
against with the Lions and the Bucks, but the Lions
ran away with it. They defeat the Bucks last night
on Monday Night Football, the first of two Monday Night games,
twenty four to nine. The Lions had controlled this game
(10:02):
pretty much throughout, and then the later game, the late game.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
If you stayed up for it, good for you. I
did not. I know you definitely didn't.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Nope, the Seahawks defeat the Texans, no surprise there, twenty
seven to nineteen. Seahawks now five and two, Texans now
two and four, Lions now five and two, and Buccaneers.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Fall to five and two. Yep.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So with that, I just want to set that up
because especially the Seahawks, Lions, and Bucks would impact our
top ten power rankings, the top three on the outside
looking in that abbreviation that I write down every week
and then I go home and I want to retype
it up for next week, but I throw it away
and then I don't remember.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
So the ADQMDC that just didn't quite make the cut.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Just didn't quite make the cut, right. Do you want
to start with your three?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So I have Denver at number eleven. I have Patriots
at number twelve. I have the Chicago Bears, who won
four in a row at number thirteen.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So you go Denver, Patriots, Bears on the outside looking in. Okay,
I'm gonna go Bear at number thirteen. At four and two.
I'm gonna drop the Buffalo Bills down to twelve at
four and two on the outside, loall for not playing
one game. They drop all the way outside of number twelve.
They do for me because they got that four win total.
You gotta get to that five the crack the top.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
Well not really. I got another team.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Up there, and the Steelers four and two after the
loss against Cincinnati, are now number eleven on my list.
I got the Bears at thirteen, Bills at twelve, and
the Steelers at eleven. I was gonna flip flop the
Bills and put them at eleven and put the Steelers
at twelve. But a little bit of home cooking being
a Homer that am so I'm gonna go Bear or
Steelers at number eleven at four and two. All right,
(11:40):
let's dive into our top.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Ten, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Yeah, and I'm going to start with the team that
I just talked about moments ago, the Seattle Seahawks at
five and two. They're my number ten team in my
top ten. There again, five and two now on the season.
Nice win last night at home against the Texas, but
they took care of business. I mean, I don't think
very many people at all thought maybe this Seahawks would hiccup,
especially at home, right if they're on the road, maybe,
(12:04):
but they have now won two in a row, defeating
the Jaguars and now the Texans. Losses on the season
to the Bucks and forty nine Ers. They beat the Steelers, Saints,
and Cardinals. So for me, I have the Seahawks at
number ten.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
My number ten team. It's a four win team, so
you're not gonna like this. I had the Kansas City
Chiefs in my top ten. Hard to ignore what the
Chiefs have been doing. I know they played the Raiders,
but they did what they were supposed to do, unlike
the Steelers.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They blew them out.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
I know that game was rather in Kansas City versus
the Steelers who had to play on the road, but
still we talked about how the Raiders had made it
competitive against the Chiefs in both of their matchups last season.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
That wasn't the case here.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
So they follow up the Chiefs do an impressive win
against the Lions with a blowout win against the Raiders,
and the Chiefs right now they've won fourth to their
last five.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Lookout for Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
You know I flirted with the Chiefs on this list
yesterday and I had a hard time figure it out.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So they're not anywhere on your list. They are not
on my at the worst. They're number fourteen for you,
well exactly they are.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
And I flirted with putting them at number ten where
you did, or in the outside looking in, just didn't
quite make it category with the Steelers, Bears.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
And Bills.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I know I got you right now with the Bills
in Chiefs, I'm like on the rope and we're in
a boxing match and Jacob's ready to go for the
TKO that I did include the Bills or Chiefs.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
In my top ten.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
But I will say this, I think it's just a
matter of time at least for me, that maybe even
as early as next week, that the Chiefs will definitely
be in my top ten. I mean they are, They're
on the rise, right They're going, They're doing what the
Chiefs typically do with Patrick Mahomes and company. So yeah,
maybe another week or so and they'll be in my
power rankings in the top ten. Okay, So I got
Seattle ten, you got the Chiefs at ten. Let's move
(13:45):
the number nine. I'm gonna go with the Steelers opponent
this upcoming week the Green Bay Packers at four to
one and one. The pack for this upcoming week, we'll
travel to Pittsburgh, as we know, to play the Steelers
on Sunday night. But the facts are fact, Jacob. They
only have one loss on the season. They do have
that tie, which will irk us throughout most of this season.
(14:06):
But Green Bay for me, number nine.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
My number nineteen, this is where I have your number
ten team. This is where I have the Seattle Seahawks.
I mean really impressive. We talked about this yesterday in
our Week seven recap episode.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
How good the NFC West is.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
They have three teams at five and two and including
the Seahawks. I think it's hard to ignore what they're
doing offensively. Sam Darnold, a lot of people were saying
he's not going to be as good in Seattle because
he didn't have Kevin O'Connell as his coach, he doesn't
have Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Well, I mean, look at what he's doing right now
in Seattle.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Jackson Smith and Jacob, as you've referenced, has been the
number one leading receiver in the league for the past
couple of years or years weeks so far, they have
one of the best scoring offenses in football.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
They just really with this quarterback.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Have clearly made the right decision because if you look
at where Gino Smith is with the Raiders, he just
got benched last week for Kenny Pickett. So I clearly
think that the Seahawks made the right decision here for
this year. They're five and two. They're a dangerous team.
I have no idea who's gonna win the West this year.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Well, and you look at their upcoming schedule. I was
just looking at why you were you were going through
all that. Other than two games against the Rams, their
act hand full games are not too bad. They go
to Washington to the Commanders, not getting that's cross country,
but it worked out last time when it came here
to Pittsburgh. So and the Commanders with especially they're reeling
a little bit the last few weeks. So a winnable
game for sure for them. Tough to go into Washington
(15:33):
to win.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, I mean, but Jawn Daniels didn't come back from
injury in that last game that the Washington Commanders played
this past week against Dallas, So if that's a sign
that he won't play this week, the Seahawks should win
that game, should win against Arizona the week after that
and proved to seven and two. Then you got a
show down between the Rams and the Seahawks in mid November.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
That'll be a very good game to watch.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
Then at Techs at the Titans, and then they host
the Vikings and at Falcons for the Colts and Rams again.
So a couple of tough games in there with the
Rams twice in the Colts, but other than that, some
winnable games ahead for Seattle. Okay, number eight on my
list is one of those teams we just referenced the
La Rams at five and two.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I also have the Rams number.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
There we go, so now we can both talk about
the Rams in a lot of positive feedback for the
Rams as they both come in at number eight on
our list. Yeah, I mean, this is a team that
I think that has been getting better each and every week.
And I'm just gonna pull up their schedule real quick here, Jacob,
is my computer freezes of course every time you're trying
to get to us, so.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I'll get to it.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So the Rams were able to go into London last
week and put up thirty five on the Jags. I
mean that Jags offense. Remember we were praising the Jacks
just a couple of weeks ago, thinking that if they
were able to stack enough wins, they could challenge the
Colts for the number one seed in their division. Well
that hasn't been the case for the Jags, and the
Rams took advantage. You remember they were playing that game
without Puk and Nakua. It did not matter. So that
(16:58):
allowed the combination or the connection between Matt Stafford and
DeVante Adams really flourish and Kyra Williams, who's been a
force ever since he's coming to the league, one of
the best running backs in football. It's a really well
balanced offense. It's really good young defense as well. I mean,
look at the last couple of weeks. They've allowed a
combined total of ten points in the last two games.
(17:20):
So the Rams are seriously someone that you should be
considering if you're in the NFC side, just looking at
the wildcard race, just because you know it's most likely
that you're gonna see three teams out of that NFC
West Division because right now they're all five and two.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Here's the point I wanted to make, and then my
computer unfreezed, is the two losses very close games against
the Eagles thirty three to twenty six on the road
in Philadelphia, game on which they led pretty much the
entire game, and then the forty nine Ers twenty six
to twenty three loss a few weeks back. Other than that,
they are you know, they've won every other game that
they've played. I've been impressed with the Rams so far
(17:55):
this season, and as you mentioned, Jacob, an impressive win
against the Jaguars.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And you have to remember two they handed Indianapolis that
are only lost of the year. Indy is five and
one with that one loss, or I'm sorry, six and
one with that one loss coming against the Rams.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Next up on our list number seven for me, a
new one on my top ten, and they come in
at number seven, the New England Patriots, who have now
won four straight games in a row at five and two.
I don't have many AFC teams in my top ten,
but this is I think one of let's see here,
I'm gonna do my math real quick.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Just three.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I have three of the top ten from the AFC,
and this is my first of those three with the.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
New England Patriots.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
As we said, we talked about this yesterday and we
were going around our renegade review of Week seven results.
Mike Rabel has this team playing at a high level
right now. Now. Granted, you can also make the argument
that the three of their last four wins have beginning
been at home against the Panthers, the Saints on the road,
and the Titans on the road, but they also went
into Buffalo and One, so three straight road games in
(18:58):
which they won all three. And remember, in the NFL,
I don't care what team you're playing or where you're playing,
it is hard to win on the NFL, let alone
three straight away games. Now they get three of their
next four at home in Foxborough against the Browns Falcons,
then they go to Tampa Bay, then the Jets. The
Patriots have talked about stacking wins. They've put themselves in
a very good position at this point in the NFL season.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Yeah, definitely, my number where we're at, my number seventeen.
This is where I have another NFC West team. I
had three NFC West teams in a row.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
There.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
We have the San Francisco forty nine ers, and I
was really kind of crapping on the Niners as the
season was progressing, just because I said they're hanging on
by a thread.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
They're getting more and more injuries week after week.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
But if anything taught, if you learn anything from this
past week, it's a good thing comes from those who wait.
George Kittle finally returns to the lineup, and you get
Christian McCaffery his best game of the season so far.
He's had a phenomenal season overall, but this was his
best game by far or now, averaging totally over two
hundred yards from scrimmage against the Falcons, who we thought
(20:01):
could be a fun team to keep on people's radars,
but the Niners just silence that crowd, got a good
win against the Atlanta I think even if, or even
despite all these injuries, the Niners clearly, considering they're at
a five and two record, they need to be on
everyone's radar because they're doing all this with all these
injuries in mind, And even if they get Brocked Party back,
(20:25):
I think they'll still be or when they get brock
Party back, rather, I think they'll have to be considered
even more of a serious threat. And then remember, too,
Brandon and a Yuk will be returning to the lineup shortly.
He was projected to come in around the halfway point,
which we are approaching very quickly. We're at week eight already,
So you get George kittleback, you get Brandon and I
(20:45):
Yuke back, you get brock Party back. All of a sudden,
this Niners team is a real threat.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I have my second AFC team at number six in
our power rankings here for week eight.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
For me, it's the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
So the Broncos, and I think i'd have to go
back and look at last week's kings, Jacob. I think
that's the first time I've put the Broncos in the
top ten as well.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
You're number seventeen and number sixteen.
Speaker 3 (21:05):
They were both my GDQMTC, the Pats and the Broncos.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah, at least I have at least I do not
have them in my top five. Then you'd be really
throwing something at me.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, I'll be throwing something after you. If you kept
the Steelers in.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Your top five, you thought I was gonna go that
home or pick this week. I know you did still did,
because you still put my number eleven. I don't have
them even in my top thirteen.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
You know, you don't even have them on the outside
looking in. Yeah. Come on, man, this is the.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Steelers Nation Radio. You gotta at least throw them a
little bit of love, throw them something now. I hey, listen,
after that loss against Cincinnati. You know, it's a lot
of people have them out of their power rankings in
the top ten.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Hard to believe. Last week.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
What did I have them last week? Number five? I
think I think they were four four. I mean I
had them up there. I had them I think at
six or seven. Let's talk about the Denver Broncos, who
I have at number six this week. They've won four
straight games, beating the Bengals, at the Eagles, Jets, and
that crazy comeback win against the Giants this past week
thirty three to thirty two led that charge on Sunday.
(22:02):
He's a big reason along with that defense that's very
good as well for Denver. For me at least, Jacob,
that has them at this top spot. You know, when
do they play the Chiefs. Let me look here real quick.
They play them in a few weeks, So they go
Cowboys at home, at Texans, Raiders at home, and then
the Chiefs. So November sixteenth, that's the date the circle
if you follow the AFC West Chiefs Broncos. That'll be
(22:26):
a huge one coming up, as long as they can
take care of business. He's next three, which they get
the Cowboys at home, then at Texas and the Raiders
at home. They should, I mean going into that game,
they should be eight and two, but we shall see.
Anything can happen on any given Sunday. Yeah, impressive what
they've been doing. My number sixteen, this is where I
have her. I believe your number twelve team or number eleventeen,
(22:47):
there's where have the Buffalo Bills. Didn't punish them for
taking the week off. They did, but I do think
though if they lose another game they're coming back from
the bye.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
This week they're playing at Carolina. Remember Carolina is a
tough opponent. They've won four to their last five. If
they lose that game, then the Bills are officially in
a free fall. And then you look at what they
have coming up after that. They have Kansas City, which
is one of their biggest, if not their biggest rivalries
since Josh Allen came into the league.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
They gaint Miami, so that's a breather.
Speaker 3 (23:14):
But they have to go play against the Buccaneers in
Baker Mayfield, that's not gonna be easy for them at all.
So if they lose this game against Carolina, they could
easily lose what you could say, three of their next
four with the Chiefs and Bucks still coming up, So
it'd be a pretty panicking situation in Buffalo. But I
think they get back on track against Carolina. But still,
(23:35):
even if they do, it's not the most promising it's
not the most reassuring win for them either.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
I struggled with the Bills this week.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
They probably should be my top ten I have on
the outside looking in, but I don't know. That's just
again I like at this point, but at this point
the season, I still like the rank them based on
number of losses. But we are starting to get to
that point halfway through, almost now here in the next
couple weeks where that's going to kind of start to
go away, right, because some teams that have less losses
than others may just clearly be better and more and
(24:02):
these are power rankings, more powerful and should be ranked
ahead of them, And I'm starting to do that a
little bit. Jacob, you should be proud of We have
the Packers with only one loss. They're number nine on
my list. So I'm starting to, you know, get rid
of that equation that I use a lot during the
early part of the season.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Let's get to our top five. For me.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
At number five are the Tampa Bay Bucks, who were
number one all for you, Yeah, last night losing. I
thought that game against Detroit would kind of define their
season and what they've done so far. They've been impressive.
We talked about them yesterday. I think if they if
they beat the lines, they are clearly still number one
or at least number two on our list for this week.
So I haven't fallen a little bit, but not too far.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
They're not out of the top five.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Just down to number five are now the five and
two Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
My number five team is that team you just for instance,
where I had the Green Bay Packers sitting at four
one on one, the Steelers upcoming opponent this Sunday night.
Like I said, they have a really good defense. The
offense is doing just enough to keep them afloat. Remember
they scored forty points in tie, but still that offense
can score when they need to. I think the pack
are a dangerous team. I think everyone kind of jumped
(25:07):
the gun when it came to expectations for the Packers
after that Week one win against the Lions. But still,
like you said, they're only a one loss team through
seven weeks so far, you have to respect that.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Again, and you know, when we were going through through
this list, the Packers only one loss, right, They're only
one of two teams with one loss.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
And I have them at number nine.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
So for you putting them into the top five, it
makes complete sense to me as well, because like I said,
they do have that tie against the Cowboys, but only
one of two teams so far this season with only
one loss. Okay, Number four on my list are the
San Francisco forty nine Ers, So I have them ranked
for higher than you do, but they come in at
number four on my list. Forty nine Ers are one
of those teams I just can't figure out. I feel
(25:48):
like in my gut that they're not really that good.
They're they're not reflective of a five.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
And two team.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
They've beaten really, they've beaten the Seahawks, the Saints, the Cardinals,
they lost to the Jaguars, they did beat the Rams,
they did beat a good Falcon team.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Yeah, so I think those two loss or those two
wins are kind of glossing over. They have wins. They
have tie breakers right now over both the Rams and
the Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
So the West out in the West. Yeah, yeah, maybe
maybe you're convincing me to feel a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
I mean, you have them at number fours or at yeah, at.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Number four, there's no disrespect. You shouldn't be you shouldn't
be second guessing your decision. How about you number four?
Speaker 3 (26:21):
For you my number four teams, so I still have
some big names here my number four team, I still
have Indie not yet quite cracking that top three for me.
I have to respect them though, because they got the
win against the Chargers. But as we all know now,
the Chargers are in a free fall. You remember they
started off three to zero and they went to three
(26:41):
and two, and they got to win against the one
win Dolphins at the time, and then they followed it
up with a real dud against the Colts.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So I have to respect the Colts for what they're doing.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
It's real offensive juggernaut in the NFL so far, and
it's going to be your problem for the Steelers when
they match up in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
You know, you and I for the most part throughout
this season, once we get to our top five, we've
been maybe a spot or two off. But I feel
like this week and this wee kind of all over
the place. We're all over the place, and I think
our top five is gonna be all over the place
for the first time.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
But that's okay. It makes it mix for good radio.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
For you and I both go back and forth on
disagreeing where we are. So, yeah, you got the Colts
at number four. Let's get into our top three. Now, Yeah,
let's do it quick because we're up against it. I
see that I'm gonna go. I'll give you all three
of mine and then you give me your three. How
about that?
Speaker 2 (27:29):
All right? Three for me?
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Philadelphia Eagles at five and two, number two and one
and two. I debated back and forth early they could
be in either spot. But I got the Lions at
number two at five and two and the Colts at
number one at six and one. Is the true best
team in the NFL right now. So I did the.
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Conservative thing by putting Indie outside of my top three.
The top three teams have not ventured far from these
rankings all year for me, so I have affiliate number three.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Three.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
I have the Bucks at number two and.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I have the Lions at number one, so you still
have so for me, the biggest difference between us, because
I have the Lions up there of the Eagles as well,
are the Bucks I have with them. I had them
follow to number five and you have them at number two.
I mean, yeah, top five team, and I have the
Lions at two and you have them at one. But
where'd you have the Colts? You had the Colts at
(28:22):
number four? Okay, so really our top five are the
same five teams for the most part.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Other than what did you put the Packers?
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Yeah, that's I was gonna say, that's the Niners. You
also including your top five I have not do that.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Those are the two that we have different.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
I have the Packers at number nine, you have them
at number five. I have the Bucks at number five,
and you have the Bucks at number two. Okay, well
we're your You go Lions, Bucks, Eagles, Indie Green Bay.
I go Colts, Lions, Eagles, forty nine Ers Bucks.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So one thing is clear, Jacob.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
We have a lot of NFC teams, but not a
lot of AFC teams, and only one and I would agree.
Through through eight weeks of the season or seven weeks
we have Week A coming up, the NFC has been
better and arguably they have one of the best divisions.
We talked about this yesterday about who has the top
division out there, and we both said the the NFC West,
(29:13):
and we just showcased the West on that as well. Well,
that's going to do it for the Steelers Standard for today.
Those are our power rankings here for week eight. As
we begin Week eight, Jacob and I will be back
on Thursday and Friday this week to start previewing the
Steelers Packers game for Sunday night.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
At Akushore Stadium.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
It is the Steeler Standard with Ed Troop and Jacob
Brett here on Steelers Nation Radio, part of the Steelers
Audio Network.
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