Reports of TE Jonnu Smith and WR Gabe Davis coming to Pittsburgh are noticeable but how much help would those two provide given the hole of a true WR2 still missing on the roster. Eric Edholm ranks the 12 teams who have never won a Super Bowl who is most likely to win their first Lombardi this season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
We talked a ton of quarterbacks today. Well, let's get
to the weaponry surrounding that position. John new Smith popped
up on everybody's radar because of Adam Schefter last week.
About mid last week, Steelers, Steelers, and Dolphins engaging in
talks with each other about potentially sending Johnny Smith to Pittsburgh.
I don't think that this is going to materialize. To
(00:33):
be honest with you, I don't see John Smith. I
know that he wants money. I know that that's a
big part of this. Maybe this is a leverage play.
If he does come to Pittsburgh, then that's more money
that you're gonna have to hand out, just like you
did with DK Metcalf when you made a trade for
him at the beginning of this offseason. But I don't
think that the John Smith thing is going to materialize.
(00:54):
And I think he's a good player, He's a good
tight end. But do you get getting him?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You need you don't have a wide receiver too, and
this guy is such a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Heavies kind of tight end.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Everything you say is correct, But that's why I want
to get a wide receiver too.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I get that.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Oh, I totally get that, but it doesn't seem like,
given the other guy we're gonna be talking about, Gabe Davis,
it doesn't seem like they're going out and getting a number.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
A real wide receiver. Two.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Well, my thing that I've been asking and I was
on with our was hosting Mark last week and I
asked to Fabo this, and I've been I asked some
callers this, and one caller called in and I'll tell
you his take, and I think it's wrong. But to
what you were saying with well, maybe this is the
best available, Like, yeah, you want a wide receiver too,
but this tight end is actually better in your mind
as a pass catcher as a weapon in our offense
(01:47):
than any of the names that are out there for
wide receiver too. But I just want to know, like
why Keenan Allen isn't being signed, or why Amari Cooper
isn't being signed. And it's not just for the Steelers.
I said that too. It's like I'm not throwing that
out there just as a Steelers thing. There are other
teams that need help in the wide receiver room, maybe
even at number three spots, and it's like, why are
they not being signed by teams in the NFL. Those
(02:08):
are the two top free agents that are remaining at
the wide receiver position. Keenan Allen had a very fine
year last year, and I can't seem to think of
or find any real significant injury problems with either of
them at the end of their seasons. I know Cooper
didn't play well in Buffalo, and that's kind of an
eyebrow raiser. Why didn't it work with Josh Allen and
the MVP if Amari Cooper is indeed that good but
(02:31):
or still is that good, but he's better than anything
you got right now. And Keenan Allen's the one that
I've been circling for a long time. It's just like,
just get a deal done, one year deal with this guy.
You'll have to pay some money, but it's pretty much
going to be a low risk, potential, all reward type
of deal. So I'm just begging anybody to tell me
what I'm missing, Like that's how I framed it, Like
(02:51):
what am I missing here? Why are these two still
on the market? Why not them? Why not bring them
in for a visit. And that's kind of where I
went with the John new Smith thing. It's like, sure,
good tight end, you could run three tight ends out there.
Darnell basically becomes a blocker. At that point, you get
another weapon for your offense. Arthur Smith loves those tight ends,
(03:11):
basically got a fetish for him. Now he can really
lean into that fetish.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Because he's got three really good, two real playmakers and
then just a specified human being. Behemoth is so great word,
So it would really serve him well, and maybe it
works for the Steelers offense. But when I saw that,
I just kept wondering to myself, why not Alan or
(03:35):
even if those guys are done injured past their prime,
why not call Green Bay and see what's going on
with their wide receiver room a lot?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Why not call the Saints and see what the deal
is with Chris Olave. Why not if you're going to
pursue trading for somebody and you don't like the free
agents that are available, and you think Johnny Smith's a
better option, why not get somebody from like a Romeo
DoBeS from Green Bay. I mean, they've got a surplus now.
Jalen Reed is the number one, and they just drafted
Matthew Golden and another one, and you got Christian Watson
(04:07):
coming back, Like Green Bay is sloaded at that position,
They're gonna have to move on from some of these
guys at some point. Why not get ahead of if
they potentially move on from them after training camp and
make a trade for them. But instead it's John new
Smith and the guy who called in when I was missing.
Somebody said, here's what you're missing. Keenan Allen's adiva and
(04:29):
Keenan Allen is a bad attitude. Have you ever heard
that Keenan Allen? That's what I said when he called.
I was like, I've never really heard that about Keenan Allen.
I've never heard about character issues with Allan.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
And even if he was, it ain't as bad as
the guy that was just here and that you got
rid of.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So I am still asking for somebody to give me
a real reason as to why not him? And again
not just for the Steelers, for other teams that need
help at that position too, Why not him? Why is
he still available? You're not going to know the answer.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Either, No, but I'm trying to think.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I just I just don't understand why you go this
Johnny Smith rout. You bring in Gabe Davis, which we'll
get to in a second. I don't know why you
don't even bring him in right at least work them out,
at least kick the tires on him because you want
an exorbitant amount of money from where he is in
his career. Maybe, but now aren't we getting to the
point now with those type of guys that they can
(05:27):
look in the mirror and realize, Hey, Keenan, I maybe
need to take a step back here as far as
my demands are concerned, because I want to play football
this year. Right, well, it's mini camp time and no
team has me on their roster. Sure, I have a
nice month ahead where I can wait out until training camp.
But I don't know, Maybe it's time to pull back
(05:50):
a little bit on the money that I'm demanding. And
maybe it's not even an exorbitant amount of money. Maybe
it's just a reason that we're not seeing that teams
don't want to engage with him or Cooper. But I
would do that over John new Smith or the guy
Gabe Davis who is supposed to come in to visit
with the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, I mean we're again, we're talking about people who
could collectively become a wide receiver two or put up
those kinds of numbers, but we're not talking about an
individual that can do that. And that's where I had
the issue, Like as far as an individual that can
(06:34):
like Keenan Allen or Cooper like they've they've shown you
in the past they are wide receiver one and maybe
at this stage they're wide receiver two, but they've shown
you what they can do.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
At an individual level.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
We're talking about Gabe Davis coming in or John new
Smith coming in and contributing to wide receiver two numbers,
not doing it all on their own.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, to be part of the collective.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So to me, it's just more of the same of
the discussions that we had last season because we were
saying we create the wide receiver two in the aggregate.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I see what you're saying. Now, it's it's the yeah,
we can build him through guys, and this will just
add to that equation. But like you said, last year,
we thought that that might be able to be the
case with the Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin and Roman
Wilson before he got hurt, And a big part of
that was is going to be the tight ends too,
and that Pat Firemuth is going to carry kind of
(07:26):
that load, and you didn't see that play out. So
I think it's fair to be a little skeptical with Oh,
you bring in John new Smith and you can use
him and Pat Friremouth and the tight ends to kind
of be your de facto wide receiver too. Well, last
year's another year where that needed to be the case
and it didn't really come to fruition. Now you upgrade
with John new Smith as far as the pass catching
(07:48):
ability is concerned of that room. But then I'm going
to have to see them really use the tight ends
a lot and kind of center the offense around in
order for it to be worth it for them to
be that wide receiver too. And here's another thing, Like
I they kind of want to be greedy here a
little bit in my team building and have both and
not have to have, you know, my tight end room
be really good with filled with playmakers that it's a
(08:09):
de facto wide receiver two, but have a one and
a two that are individually great at the wide receiver spot,
and then also have a tight end room that's pretty
ass kicking and puts up a lot of rivers. That's
how you have offenses that are oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean,
look at the Niners when they were at the height
of their powers. They had Ayuk and they had Deebo
Samuel and of course McCaffrey's a weapon in the passing
game as well. And then you have Kittle that can
(08:30):
just do damage as a tight end. So I mean
they have legit one, legit two wide receiver and the
tight end who's a legit number two wide receiver tight
end who's quite frequently for them, is a wide receiver
one as far as targets are concerned in those games.
So yeah, you can build in the aggregate, but I
want to have that balance. I want to have, of course,
(08:51):
is that individual, Yeah, that can put up the wide
receiver two numbers, and maybe there is just no one
out there right now for the Steelers that piques their interest.
But I will also say this, Jacob, Yeah, say you
go through this free agent cycle that's going to be
coming up after Mini camp ends and training camp starts,
and you're signing Gabe Davis or you don't do anything. Really,
(09:14):
they need to be willing to give draft capital up
this year at the trade deadline or in the week's
approaching the trade deadline to get a number two wide
receiver in here, because last year you saw the price
tag for some of those guys that were moving was
not expensive fourth round picks, and you've got a lot
of capital with compensatory picks that will be rewarded to
(09:36):
you and your own picks, Like, don't be afraid to
throw a third round, fourth round pickout if you see
the trade updated with the legit number two wide receiver
that you could see being here for a year or
two or three and is definitely going to fill that
hole that has been on your roster now for almost
like four hundred and sixty days, a little bit of
(09:57):
time there where it was fixed with George still being
on the t.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yeah, but then it's not remind me when Deonte was trade?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Was that like month?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
It was March of twenty two, twenty four.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yes, wasn't that early into the off season, was You're right?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
It was, because then we spent the entire offseason last
year saying, okay, well, now.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
You can go out and get Ayuk.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Right, he's gonna come here, Right, He's definitely gonna come here.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
You're right. We spent the entire officeason last year talking
about Ayuk.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, it's that's I think that's the biggest the most
frustrating part of this is that since letting go of Deontay,
which it's hard to tell if that was the right
move in hindsight, because overall we know Deontay is not
a great team player. Oh his numbers don't certainly support
(10:48):
his actions off the field either, But he's capable. And
were you really better off without him for your offense?
I don't know, Like you strug last year on offense
your receivers. You look at the games in which George
Pickens was injured at the end of the season, and
look how poor your offense played because you didn't have
(11:10):
a guy, a go to guy. Deontay could have been
that go to guy for you.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So they bring into Gabe Davis today. Let's see if
they actually have officially brought him in yet. I don't
know if they have or not. But he was injured
last year with Jacksonville, coming off of an injury and
never really put up numbers that Buffalo was satisfied with.
Told him to take a hike after his rookie contract
was up. Yeah, and now he's back on the market again.
(11:40):
Just not very I'm not very overwhelmed with the numbers
that I see here.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
No, I don't think you should be.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
No, so gave Davis is a direction that the Steelers
are potentially entertaining and heading, and we will keep you
updated on that as that moves forward. Here's this list
I was mentioning from NFL dot Com from Eric Edholme, So,
I think an interesting little wrinkle in the NBA Finals
this year is the fact that they're there's going to
(12:06):
be a new champion. There's going to be a team
that has not hoisted the trophy winning this year ever,
between Indiana or Oklahoma City. So they have ranked Eric
Edtholm has the most likely from one to twelve to
win their first Super Bowl in the twenty twenty five
NFL season. So there are twelve teams that currently lack
(12:28):
a Lombardi Trophy in this beautiful, beautiful League of ours,
and he went from twelve to one on their likelihood
to ending that drought. At number twelve is the Cleveland Browns,
so he has them a team that worst chance to
win a Super Bowl out of the teams that have
not won a Super Bowl yet. Cleveland, of course so
funny and so interesting because they have dominant runs of
(12:51):
AFC or AFL championships. Excuse me, pre merger, pre Super Bowl.
They are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL.
Well they were because they're technically the Ravens now but
they saw the Super Bowl era begin and have been
(13:12):
plagued pretty much ever since. Sure, they had some nice
runs in the eighties and the nineties, then the team
left and ever since the expansion Cleveland Browns have become
a thing and they have had a few good seasons,
and that is it. So the Browns at number twelve.
They went three and fourteen last year and they just
have no idea who their quarterback is going to be.
So I think that's an easy one to put at
(13:33):
the very bottom of this list. Doesn't seem like it's
going to be anytime soon for Cleveland finally getting that
first Lombardy. Number eleven is the team that just had
the number one pick on the in the NFL Draft,
the Tennessee Titans cam Ward three and fourteen record in
twenty twenty four. Titans so close, so close, Dyson stretch
(13:55):
away if he was born with Mike Jones just born
with a little bit bigger wingspan, Mike Jones his number
that in the end zone and Jeff Fisher and the
Tennessee Titans win a Super Bowl and you know, their
problems getting in a Super Bowl goes back. And I
think this actually might include this because they merged the
teams together as far as history is concerned. But it's
(14:16):
not just Tennessee, it's the Houston Oilers as well, who
right always came up short.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And this is always a great topic of conversation and
will always pounce on it whenever we get the chance.
Should the Titans be wearing the Oiler jerseys or should
the Texans be able to take those back?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Warren Moon's number technically retired by the Titans too, but
he's never played for the Tennessee Titans. Cam Ward gave
or had to get his permission to wear it. Yeah,
but Oilers a team that the Steelers plagued a lot
back in the day, a team that the Steelers were
a thorn in the side of in their potential success.
(14:55):
So yeah, Houston slash Tennessee still looking for that first
franchise or for that first Super Bowl trophy, And so
is Houston, by the way, which we'll get to and
we'll get to it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, number probably a much higher up on the list.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Number ten is that.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I wonder how sorry to cut you off there. I wonder, like,
how big of a leap does Tennessee take after this
year's great if if he just shows signs.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Maybe take a couple of leaps over these next couple
of teams.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Number ten is the Carolina Panthers. Yeah, who showed signs
of life last team? You know what, they've been there,
they have had chances. Yeah, Jake Dolom had a chance
different and they're a young franchise.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
They and I were buying the stock of Bryce Young
at the end of last season.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Like as far as their life as a team in
the NFL is concerned, you don't have a ring, but
two NFC championships, it's pretty good, right, Like they have
a pretty good successful.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
And Adam feelings still on that wide receiver thinking who
else is there? I, oh, it's what's a legend? It's
Xavier Like I can't really speak, Nope, or you can't speak,
but it's very thick fixing honestly, Tuba Hobber, we we've
talked about this. He's a borderline top ten running back
right now.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, they got che True McMillan too.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Oh right out of Arizona.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Yeah, leg it, Jalen Coker. They got a deep backfield,
they got Bryce Young. They're good. They're gonna be a
good team this year.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
People are gonna you know, they play in the South.
It's a it's a winnable division to win.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Yes, So Carolina comes in at number ten. I might
put them ahead of this next team, Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I put them ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
They came in at the same time, Carolina and Jacksonville
in the same expansion. Carolina more successful franchise than Jacksonville
has been. Sure, they've been really bad at times, like
both of them have been. Yeah, right, both have been
really good at times too. Jacksonville almost immediately Jacksonville.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Was they got to the AC championship, remember to the
Titans the year that Jared Dion.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
But the Tom Coughlin Jaguars were like immediately great, like
immediately a real football team, and they needed that in
that market to like be good immediately or else it
was probably gonna be tough sledding for them.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
But they've had an up and down type of history.
They have never even won an AFC championship. Whereas the
Panthers have won two of the NFC. But Jacksonville comes
in at number nine on this list, number eight.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
And sorry really quickly before we move on to number
eight about Jacksonville Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Is this are we are we approaching make or break
for Trevor Lawrence?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Well, they gave him all that money.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, right, so I guess technically no, but you're gonna
start thinking, oh, was that a bad move?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Yeah? Yeah, So it's a big year of pressure for him.
It's crazy to think new new young head coach too,
and how.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Many people are recognizing when you're putting his numbers next
to Janiel Jones and they're nearly identical.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It just seemed like they had something for at least
a couple of years with Doug Peterson and that just
fell so far or so flat on its face last year,
right when Jacksonville was looking like they were going to
be the AFC South team to beat for years and
years to come, and it just didn't. I think it
(18:09):
lasted like one year, two years? Yeah, yeah, all right.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Atlanta Falcons coming in ever won, Well clearly not Jacob.
They're on this list. No, No, No, A division the Falcons. No,
the Jaguars, Yeah, back in the Coffin.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Days, but even in the Trevor Lawrence era, they haven't.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Right, No, they did win the division in the Trevor
Lawrence ara because remember they hosted the Chargers in that
playoff game the Bills. No, it was the Chargers or whatever,
the Justin Herbert.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Game where Lawrence where he threw in the first round,
So they have one.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Do you remember that game? Though?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
It was Bill's Jacks in the final score is like
six to nine before Trevor Lawrence, Right, that was like
Rex Ryan Bill's era.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Tyrod Taylor was on the No, that was McDermott, but
that was early. McDermott was like first year McDermott. Taylor
is the Bills quarterback and Jags won three Nothing.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Was that game in Jacksonville?
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Was the game before Jacksonville came.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Came to Pittsburgh?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Right?
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Was that game in Jacksonville?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Was in Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, not a lot of home playoff games for the Jaguars,
is the point I'm trying to make.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
All Right, the Falcons getting to them.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Now, yeah, I mean like.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
They were very very close.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
One of the most plagued franchises in all of sports.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Probably the one franchise on this list where you should
you can say they should have a Super Bowl championship. Yeah,
if not for one of the most epic collapse of
all time, they're off this list. They have their ring
also went to a Super Bowl and lost to the
Denver Broncos and John Elway back in the late nineties.
So they've been there a couple of times and have
(19:41):
fallen short both times. But that second time, I mean,
that's that was their trophy. I mean, that is Atlanta's
super Bowl. It really was. There's just it's inexcusable to
blow that lead.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
I mean, what's the name the owner was down on
the sidelines. They still unbelievable that they in the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Yeah, I can't believe that they twenty eight to three,
that they blew that the Patriots come back and win
that Super Bowl Solan. Out of all the teams on
this list, that fan base has to feel like we've
let one slip through more than I I maybe the Bills.
Maybe the Bills have a claim to that.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I also take umbrage putting the Falcons that much higher
over a team like the Panthers, like what do we
know about Michael Pennix that we don't know about Bryce already?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah. No, I think this swath of teams you could
make that argument for and number seven we have a
lot to do with this one.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Seattle.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
No, they won a Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Oh, you're right, Arizona then, yes, Yeah, the Cardinals eight
nine record last year.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
This is such a big year for Kyler Murray. Yeah,
they talk about maker brig.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You can't frame it any other way than you were
all in on Cayler Murray last year.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You're still kind of in on the Cardinals this year. Yeah.
They loaded up on defense in the draft.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Last year. They were not a fun team to have
to play against.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And you're assuming Marvin Harrison will.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Play better, play better, right, didn't play terribly either, No,
but it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Was pretty disip I mean we were talking about offensive
Rookie of the Year potential for him last year and
he didn't come anywhere close to them. No.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean he wasn't even the best receiver. My guy
was betj as you like to call it.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Well, Oh, and I thought you were just saying on
the team because Trey McBride was the best receiver team.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, but still the best receiving option.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
They still have Connor. They have a really good offensive line.
I mean, they're they're going to be able to play
good offensively, and I think Murray's gonna have a chance
to be a really good player. Is the defense going
to catch up to the offense?
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Now?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Kind of close that gap?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Like I said, they loaded up on the draft on
the defensive side of the football. No, I think it's
an exciting year, but I think it's more I think
the question mark more lies within Kyler than it does
can the defense step up?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
But I think if you're a Cardinal fan, you're you're
excited about this. Ye, sure you got something.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
But again, this is another team that I wouldn't put,
like definitively higher than some of the teams that we've
already named.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
A right number six is the La Charges.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
So now I think we're entering it sounds like teams
that deserve to be this high.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Probably well, I mean, yeah, I guess Chargers maybe make
a case could be higher as far as team that
this year. I remember that, Ye they got the coach
that got the quarterback eleven and six last year.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Joey bo says, not there anymore. It's just Koalio Mack
who is good? The guys, Irwin James.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Still, Yeah, I forgot Joey Buffs in Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Buffalo crazy, but he's already hurt.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
He's already injured in o t A. Their receiver room
is still something to of course be upgraded for. I
think the Chargers to be legitimate threat, even them, Like
why not just get Keenan right like back? Why not
just bring the.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Band I forgot they brought back Mike Williams.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Just bring the band back together? At this point?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Who else is there? Receiver wise? Is it pretty much who?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
He's okay? And then I think he was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Josh Palmer, Right is Josh that guy talking about bus
But I'm not even saying, but you know.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
What Harball is gonna do.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
He's gonna run the hell out of the football, right,
He's got they got, He's got guys.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Just pound the rock. Number five is the Houston Texas
Like I might put the Charges in front of Houston
absolutely swamp.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't think you can do that.
I don't think that's fair.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Maybe it's not fair, But that's the thing we're not
talking about last year. We're talking about moving forward and turning.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Remind me the last time the Chargers won a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah, it's fair. I mean the Texas and they do
it to the NFC or the AFC South, the Jags
and the Texans just keep beating the Chargers. So Houston
comes in at number five.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
C J.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Stroud needs to have a big year in year three.
D of wash himself the ref of that sophomore. He's
a wonder type of player. Number four was the Bungles
of Cincinnati oh and three and Super Bowls. UH had
a narrow loss against the Rams. UH four Februaries ago.
(23:46):
As this article puts it, they went nine and eight
last year, but they signed their dudes to a two
big time contracts to Higgins and Jamaar Chase still got
to figure out Trey Hendrickson. But yeah, I think the
Bengals maybe a little bit low on this list than
I expected.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, they're number five, number four, four.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
But I'm okay with them being here and zero and
three in Super Bowls two to the Niners. Just couldn't
beat Joe Montana. That damn Joe Montagna right, just had
the Bengals number and then of course to the Rams,
so the West Coast is playing Cincinnati when it gets
to the Super Bowl. Number three is Minnesota, and I
think I would flip flop Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I would.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I would put them moa way further down on this list,
like you would put Minnesota above Houston and LA.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, this really they went fourteen and three last year.
You're doubting JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
You're right, you're right. Maybe McCarthy's even better than Sam
Donald's last year.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
You would be right.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
But if I'm right, then then how far.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Down would you put them on this McCarthy stinks. Yeah,
probably towards the the It's definitely after the Chargers, the
teams that happened the Texans. Yea, maybe even after the Cardinals, because.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
It's like if if if.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
But the rest of the team is, oh, yeah, it's
there and they have They have the best DC in
the game right now and Brian Flores.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
I think they have maybe the best offensive mind in
the game to coach. Number two is the Detroit Lions
fifteen to two record. They haven't even been to a
Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
They're too so I'm just blanking on who would be won.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
But okay, we'll get to them. I guesses you should
figure it out, just keep thinking. But they've never been
to the Super Bowl. They reached the NFC Championship game
in TWI three, and it's kind of getting to the
point now where it's like are you peaking? Like was
this the peak of your windows past? Well?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
How about what's his name? Retiring your center?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, listen, that's what I'm wondering, Like, Okay, the Lions
have been the wonderful story in the NFL. Right, they
came on strong three years ago and they knock the
Packers out of the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers' last game
as a Green Bay Packer. Then they had their kind
of coming out party the year after, Right, they go
to the playoffs, they go on a playoff run, they
(26:14):
get to the NFC Championship game. They had the Niners
on the ropes in that NFC Championship game and then
they lose it.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
And then then this last year was the year, right,
like you put it all together, you're fifteen and two,
you're the one seed. There is no going to San Francisco.
They come to us. Now, it all goes through Ford
Field and then this damn rookie out of nowhere Jayden
Daniels comes into the league, and he comes into ford Field,
and he drops a forty piece on our heads. And
(26:43):
now it is in that area of now we have
our center retiring, and it kind of gets to that
point where it's like.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Windows in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Can be so short. We miss it in these past
two years. Was last year really the peak? Maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe they'll go fifteen to two again and win the
Super Bowl. I mean, yeah, they got the coach, they
got they they've kept all the pieces on offense except
for rag.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Now they're gonna get hutched back.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
It looks good, but we'll see if they did indeed
miss their window or not. And then number one team,
it's Buffalo is the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
So would you confidently put Buffalo ahead of Detroit?
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I think De Troy would probably be higher.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I think it's easier to get out of the NFC
than it is the AF right. I think that's a
factor too. Like the NFC, you're worried about Philly, and
that's it, right, Like there's other teams.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
There are teams that could be thorns, but Philly, like Washington,
show me again. But I could be Washington or green Bay. Yeah,
I could be green Bay, even though they just lost
to Washington.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Talking about Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, I own them. They're
in my division. If I'm from Detroit's perspective.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
San fran they're kind of you can get back there.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Philly is the only team that you really here in
the NFC. You got the Ravens, you got.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Obviously Pat, You've got the Bengals, Bengals with Burrow who
have beaten you in the playoff.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So, I mean it is definitely a much tougher hill
to climb to get out of that AFC conference than
it is to get out of the Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
I mean, it's you know, it's funny. It comes down
again to the quarterbacks. Like we were saying, we've said
for a couple of years now, there's a mount rushmore
of modern quarterbacks in the league. In the twenty twenties,
it's Burrow, Alan, Mahomes, and Lamar And then we were
debating who's that fifth guy, and we kind of figured
it out after the Super Bowl. Jal and you said,
(28:30):
if you're Buffalo, you got to go through Kansas City, Baltimore,
and Cincinnati. Your whole path is and The only team
that's scary in the NFC if you're the Lions, is
the team with the other quarterback.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It's Jalen Hurts in the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Your whole path through the playoffs potentially in the AFC
is through Mount Rushmore. I have to go through every
single one for any team.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, even if you're one of those four teams, you
got to play.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
The other three other guys. Yeah, the other three heads
that are on the mountain with you. We'll be back
later this week. He's Jacob tom. We have a ton
of otia covered chapping In on Steeler Nation Radio today,
tomorrow and Thursday. The Drive is down there and I
think Wes is there with them as well, So give
that a listen. It's great stuff. And again we'll be
back on Thursday with more Steelers Standard on Steeers Nation
(29:11):
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
We talked a ton of quarterbacks today. Well, let's get
to the weaponry surrounding that position. John new Smith popped
up on everybody's radar because of Adam Schefter last week.
About mid last week, Steelers, Steelers, and Dolphins engaging in
talks with each other about potentially sending Johnny Smith to Pittsburgh.
I don't think that this is going to materialize. To
(00:33):
be honest with you, I don't see John Smith. I
know that he wants money. I know that that's a
big part of this. Maybe this is a leverage play.
If he does come to Pittsburgh, then that's more money
that you're gonna have to hand out, just like you
did with DK Metcalf when you made a trade for
him at the beginning of this offseason. But I don't
think that the John Smith thing is going to materialize.
(00:54):
And I think he's a good player, He's a good
tight end. But do you get getting him?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You need you don't have a wide receiver too, and
this guy is such a wide receiver.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Heavies kind of tight end.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Everything you say is correct, But that's why I want
to get a wide receiver too.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I get that.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Oh, I totally get that, but it doesn't seem like,
given the other guy we're gonna be talking about, Gabe Davis,
it doesn't seem like they're going out and getting a number.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
A real wide receiver. Two.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Well, my thing that I've been asking and I was
on with our was hosting Mark last week and I
asked to Fabo this, and I've been I asked some
callers this, and one caller called in and I'll tell
you his take, and I think it's wrong. But to
what you were saying with well, maybe this is the
best available, Like, yeah, you want a wide receiver too,
but this tight end is actually better in your mind
as a pass catcher as a weapon in our offense
(01:47):
than any of the names that are out there for
wide receiver too. But I just want to know, like
why Keenan Allen isn't being signed, or why Amari Cooper
isn't being signed. And it's not just for the Steelers.
I said that too. It's like I'm not throwing that
out there just as a Steelers thing. There are other
teams that need help in the wide receiver room, maybe
even at number three spots, and it's like, why are
they not being signed by teams in the NFL. Those
(02:08):
are the two top free agents that are remaining at
the wide receiver position. Keenan Allen had a very fine
year last year, and I can't seem to think of
or find any real significant injury problems with either of
them at the end of their seasons. I know Cooper
didn't play well in Buffalo, and that's kind of an
eyebrow raiser. Why didn't it work with Josh Allen and
the MVP if Amari Cooper is indeed that good but
(02:31):
or still is that good, but he's better than anything
you got right now. And Keenan Allen's the one that
I've been circling for a long time. It's just like,
just get a deal done, one year deal with this guy.
You'll have to pay some money, but it's pretty much
going to be a low risk, potential, all reward type
of deal. So I'm just begging anybody to tell me
what I'm missing, Like that's how I framed it, Like
(02:51):
what am I missing here? Why are these two still
on the market? Why not them? Why not bring them
in for a visit. And that's kind of where I
went with the John new Smith thing. It's like, sure,
good tight end, you could run three tight ends out there.
Darnell basically becomes a blocker. At that point, you get
another weapon for your offense. Arthur Smith loves those tight ends,
(03:11):
basically got a fetish for him. Now he can really
lean into that fetish.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Because he's got three really good, two real playmakers and
then just a specified human being. Behemoth is so great word,
So it would really serve him well, and maybe it
works for the Steelers offense. But when I saw that,
I just kept wondering to myself, why not Alan or
(03:35):
even if those guys are done injured past their prime,
why not call Green Bay and see what's going on
with their wide receiver room a lot?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
Why not call the Saints and see what the deal
is with Chris Olave. Why not if you're going to
pursue trading for somebody and you don't like the free
agents that are available, and you think Johnny Smith's a
better option, why not get somebody from like a Romeo
DoBeS from Green Bay. I mean, they've got a surplus now.
Jalen Reed is the number one, and they just drafted
Matthew Golden and another one, and you got Christian Watson
(04:07):
coming back, Like Green Bay is sloaded at that position,
They're gonna have to move on from some of these
guys at some point. Why not get ahead of if
they potentially move on from them after training camp and
make a trade for them. But instead it's John new
Smith and the guy who called in when I was missing.
Somebody said, here's what you're missing. Keenan Allen's adiva and
(04:29):
Keenan Allen is a bad attitude. Have you ever heard
that Keenan Allen? That's what I said when he called.
I was like, I've never really heard that about Keenan Allen.
I've never heard about character issues with Allan.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
And even if he was, it ain't as bad as
the guy that was just here and that you got
rid of.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
So I am still asking for somebody to give me
a real reason as to why not him? And again
not just for the Steelers, for other teams that need
help at that position too, Why not him? Why is
he still available? You're not going to know the answer.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Either, No, but I'm trying to think.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
I just I just don't understand why you go this
Johnny Smith rout. You bring in Gabe Davis, which we'll
get to in a second. I don't know why you
don't even bring him in right at least work them out,
at least kick the tires on him because you want
an exorbitant amount of money from where he is in
his career. Maybe, but now aren't we getting to the
point now with those type of guys that they can
(05:27):
look in the mirror and realize, Hey, Keenan, I maybe
need to take a step back here as far as
my demands are concerned, because I want to play football
this year. Right, well, it's mini camp time and no
team has me on their roster. Sure, I have a
nice month ahead where I can wait out until training camp.
But I don't know, Maybe it's time to pull back
(05:50):
a little bit on the money that I'm demanding. And
maybe it's not even an exorbitant amount of money. Maybe
it's just a reason that we're not seeing that teams
don't want to engage with him or Cooper. But I
would do that over John new Smith or the guy
Gabe Davis who is supposed to come in to visit
with the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, I mean we're again, we're talking about people who
could collectively become a wide receiver two or put up
those kinds of numbers, but we're not talking about an
individual that can do that. And that's where I had
the issue, Like as far as an individual that can
(06:34):
like Keenan Allen or Cooper like they've they've shown you
in the past they are wide receiver one and maybe
at this stage they're wide receiver two, but they've shown
you what they can do.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
At an individual level.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
We're talking about Gabe Davis coming in or John new
Smith coming in and contributing to wide receiver two numbers,
not doing it all on their own.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah, to be part of the collective.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
So to me, it's just more of the same of
the discussions that we had last season because we were
saying we create the wide receiver two in the aggregate.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I see what you're saying. Now, it's it's the yeah,
we can build him through guys, and this will just
add to that equation. But like you said, last year,
we thought that that might be able to be the
case with the Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin and Roman
Wilson before he got hurt, And a big part of
that was is going to be the tight ends too,
and that Pat Firemuth is going to carry kind of
(07:26):
that load, and you didn't see that play out. So
I think it's fair to be a little skeptical with Oh,
you bring in John new Smith and you can use
him and Pat Friremouth and the tight ends to kind
of be your de facto wide receiver too. Well, last
year's another year where that needed to be the case
and it didn't really come to fruition. Now you upgrade
with John new Smith as far as the pass catching
(07:48):
ability is concerned of that room. But then I'm going
to have to see them really use the tight ends
a lot and kind of center the offense around in
order for it to be worth it for them to
be that wide receiver too. And here's another thing, Like
I they kind of want to be greedy here a
little bit in my team building and have both and
not have to have, you know, my tight end room
be really good with filled with playmakers that it's a
(08:09):
de facto wide receiver two, but have a one and
a two that are individually great at the wide receiver spot,
and then also have a tight end room that's pretty
ass kicking and puts up a lot of rivers. That's
how you have offenses that are oh, yeah, absolutely. I mean,
look at the Niners when they were at the height
of their powers. They had Ayuk and they had Deebo
Samuel and of course McCaffrey's a weapon in the passing
game as well. And then you have Kittle that can
(08:30):
just do damage as a tight end. So I mean
they have legit one, legit two wide receiver and the
tight end who's a legit number two wide receiver tight
end who's quite frequently for them, is a wide receiver
one as far as targets are concerned in those games.
So yeah, you can build in the aggregate, but I
want to have that balance. I want to have, of course,
(08:51):
is that individual, Yeah, that can put up the wide
receiver two numbers, and maybe there is just no one
out there right now for the Steelers that piques their interest.
But I will also say this, Jacob, Yeah, say you
go through this free agent cycle that's going to be
coming up after Mini camp ends and training camp starts,
and you're signing Gabe Davis or you don't do anything. Really,
(09:14):
they need to be willing to give draft capital up
this year at the trade deadline or in the week's
approaching the trade deadline to get a number two wide
receiver in here, because last year you saw the price
tag for some of those guys that were moving was
not expensive fourth round picks, and you've got a lot
of capital with compensatory picks that will be rewarded to
(09:36):
you and your own picks, Like, don't be afraid to
throw a third round, fourth round pickout if you see
the trade updated with the legit number two wide receiver
that you could see being here for a year or
two or three and is definitely going to fill that
hole that has been on your roster now for almost
like four hundred and sixty days, a little bit of
(09:57):
time there where it was fixed with George still being
on the t.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Yeah, but then it's not remind me when Deonte was trade?
Speaker 2 (10:04):
Was that like month?
Speaker 1 (10:05):
It was March of twenty two, twenty four.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yes, wasn't that early into the off season, was You're right?
Speaker 3 (10:15):
It was, because then we spent the entire offseason last
year saying, okay, well, now.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
You can go out and get Ayuk.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Right, he's gonna come here, Right, He's definitely gonna come here.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
You're right. We spent the entire officeason last year talking
about Ayuk.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Yeah, it's that's I think that's the biggest the most
frustrating part of this is that since letting go of Deontay,
which it's hard to tell if that was the right
move in hindsight, because overall we know Deontay is not
a great team player. Oh his numbers don't certainly support
(10:48):
his actions off the field either, But he's capable. And
were you really better off without him for your offense?
I don't know, Like you strug last year on offense
your receivers. You look at the games in which George
Pickens was injured at the end of the season, and
look how poor your offense played because you didn't have
(11:10):
a guy, a go to guy. Deontay could have been
that go to guy for you.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
So they bring into Gabe Davis today. Let's see if
they actually have officially brought him in yet. I don't
know if they have or not. But he was injured
last year with Jacksonville, coming off of an injury and
never really put up numbers that Buffalo was satisfied with.
Told him to take a hike after his rookie contract
was up. Yeah, and now he's back on the market again.
(11:40):
Just not very I'm not very overwhelmed with the numbers
that I see here.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
No, I don't think you should be.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
No, so gave Davis is a direction that the Steelers
are potentially entertaining and heading, and we will keep you
updated on that as that moves forward. Here's this list
I was mentioning from NFL dot Com from Eric Edholme, So,
I think an interesting little wrinkle in the NBA Finals
this year is the fact that they're there's going to
(12:06):
be a new champion. There's going to be a team
that has not hoisted the trophy winning this year ever,
between Indiana or Oklahoma City. So they have ranked Eric
Edtholm has the most likely from one to twelve to
win their first Super Bowl in the twenty twenty five
NFL season. So there are twelve teams that currently lack
(12:28):
a Lombardi Trophy in this beautiful, beautiful League of ours,
and he went from twelve to one on their likelihood
to ending that drought. At number twelve is the Cleveland Browns,
so he has them a team that worst chance to
win a Super Bowl out of the teams that have
not won a Super Bowl yet. Cleveland, of course so
funny and so interesting because they have dominant runs of
(12:51):
AFC or AFL championships. Excuse me, pre merger, pre Super Bowl.
They are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL.
Well they were because they're technically the Ravens now but
they saw the Super Bowl era begin and have been
(13:12):
plagued pretty much ever since. Sure, they had some nice
runs in the eighties and the nineties, then the team
left and ever since the expansion Cleveland Browns have become
a thing and they have had a few good seasons,
and that is it. So the Browns at number twelve.
They went three and fourteen last year and they just
have no idea who their quarterback is going to be.
So I think that's an easy one to put at
(13:33):
the very bottom of this list. Doesn't seem like it's
going to be anytime soon for Cleveland finally getting that
first Lombardy. Number eleven is the team that just had
the number one pick on the in the NFL Draft,
the Tennessee Titans cam Ward three and fourteen record in
twenty twenty four. Titans so close, so close, Dyson stretch
(13:55):
away if he was born with Mike Jones just born
with a little bit bigger wingspan, Mike Jones his number
that in the end zone and Jeff Fisher and the
Tennessee Titans win a Super Bowl and you know, their
problems getting in a Super Bowl goes back. And I
think this actually might include this because they merged the
teams together as far as history is concerned. But it's
(14:16):
not just Tennessee, it's the Houston Oilers as well, who
right always came up short.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And this is always a great topic of conversation and
will always pounce on it whenever we get the chance.
Should the Titans be wearing the Oiler jerseys or should
the Texans be able to take those back?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Warren Moon's number technically retired by the Titans too, but
he's never played for the Tennessee Titans. Cam Ward gave
or had to get his permission to wear it. Yeah,
but Oilers a team that the Steelers plagued a lot
back in the day, a team that the Steelers were
a thorn in the side of in their potential success.
(14:55):
So yeah, Houston slash Tennessee still looking for that first
franchise or for that first Super Bowl trophy, And so
is Houston, by the way, which we'll get to and
we'll get to it.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Yeah, number probably a much higher up on the list.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Number ten is that.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
I wonder how sorry to cut you off there. I wonder, like,
how big of a leap does Tennessee take after this
year's great if if he just shows signs.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Maybe take a couple of leaps over these next couple
of teams.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Number ten is the Carolina Panthers. Yeah, who showed signs
of life last team? You know what, they've been there,
they have had chances. Yeah, Jake Dolom had a chance
different and they're a young franchise.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
They and I were buying the stock of Bryce Young
at the end of last season.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Like as far as their life as a team in
the NFL is concerned, you don't have a ring, but
two NFC championships, it's pretty good, right, Like they have
a pretty good successful.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
And Adam feelings still on that wide receiver thinking who
else is there? I, oh, it's what's a legend? It's
Xavier Like I can't really speak, Nope, or you can't speak,
but it's very thick fixing honestly, Tuba Hobber, we we've
talked about this. He's a borderline top ten running back
right now.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Oh, they got che True McMillan too.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Oh right out of Arizona.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
Yeah, leg it, Jalen Coker. They got a deep backfield,
they got Bryce Young. They're good. They're gonna be a
good team this year.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
People are gonna you know, they play in the South.
It's a it's a winnable division to win.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Yes, So Carolina comes in at number ten. I might
put them ahead of this next team, Jacksonville.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I put them ahead.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
They came in at the same time, Carolina and Jacksonville
in the same expansion. Carolina more successful franchise than Jacksonville
has been. Sure, they've been really bad at times, like
both of them have been. Yeah, right, both have been
really good at times too. Jacksonville almost immediately Jacksonville.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Was they got to the AC championship, remember to the
Titans the year that Jared Dion.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
But the Tom Coughlin Jaguars were like immediately great, like
immediately a real football team, and they needed that in
that market to like be good immediately or else it
was probably gonna be tough sledding for them.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Huh.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
But they've had an up and down type of history.
They have never even won an AFC championship. Whereas the
Panthers have won two of the NFC. But Jacksonville comes
in at number nine on this list, number eight.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
And sorry really quickly before we move on to number
eight about Jacksonville Trevor Lawrence.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Is this are we are we approaching make or break
for Trevor Lawrence?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Well, they gave him all that money.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Yeah, right, so I guess technically no, but you're gonna
start thinking, oh, was that a bad move?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Yeah? Yeah, So it's a big year of pressure for him.
It's crazy to think new new young head coach too,
and how.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Many people are recognizing when you're putting his numbers next
to Janiel Jones and they're nearly identical.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
It just seemed like they had something for at least
a couple of years with Doug Peterson and that just
fell so far or so flat on its face last year,
right when Jacksonville was looking like they were going to
be the AFC South team to beat for years and
years to come, and it just didn't. I think it
(18:09):
lasted like one year, two years? Yeah, yeah, all right.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Atlanta Falcons coming in ever won, Well clearly not Jacob.
They're on this list. No, No, No, A division the Falcons. No,
the Jaguars, Yeah, back in the Coffin.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Days, but even in the Trevor Lawrence era, they haven't.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Right, No, they did win the division in the Trevor
Lawrence ara because remember they hosted the Chargers in that
playoff game the Bills. No, it was the Chargers or whatever,
the Justin Herbert.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Game where Lawrence where he threw in the first round,
So they have one.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Do you remember that game? Though?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
It was Bill's Jacks in the final score is like
six to nine before Trevor Lawrence, Right, that was like
Rex Ryan Bill's era.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Tyrod Taylor was on the No, that was McDermott, but
that was early. McDermott was like first year McDermott. Taylor
is the Bills quarterback and Jags won three Nothing.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Was that game in Jacksonville?
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Was the game before Jacksonville came.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Came to Pittsburgh?
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Right?
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Was that game in Jacksonville?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Was in Buffalo?
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Well, not a lot of home playoff games for the Jaguars,
is the point I'm trying to make.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
All Right, the Falcons getting to them.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Now, yeah, I mean like.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
They were very very close.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
One of the most plagued franchises in all of sports.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Probably the one franchise on this list where you should
you can say they should have a Super Bowl championship. Yeah,
if not for one of the most epic collapse of
all time, they're off this list. They have their ring
also went to a Super Bowl and lost to the
Denver Broncos and John Elway back in the late nineties.
So they've been there a couple of times and have
(19:41):
fallen short both times. But that second time, I mean,
that's that was their trophy. I mean, that is Atlanta's
super Bowl. It really was. There's just it's inexcusable to
blow that lead.
Speaker 3 (19:50):
I mean, what's the name the owner was down on
the sidelines. They still unbelievable that they in the third quarter.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Yeah, I can't believe that they twenty eight to three,
that they blew that the Patriots come back and win
that Super Bowl Solan. Out of all the teams on
this list, that fan base has to feel like we've
let one slip through more than I I maybe the Bills.
Maybe the Bills have a claim to that.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
I also take umbrage putting the Falcons that much higher
over a team like the Panthers, like what do we
know about Michael Pennix that we don't know about Bryce already?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah. No, I think this swath of teams you could
make that argument for and number seven we have a
lot to do with this one.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Seattle.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
No, they won a Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
Oh, you're right, Arizona then, yes, Yeah, the Cardinals eight
nine record last year.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
This is such a big year for Kyler Murray. Yeah,
they talk about maker brig.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
You can't frame it any other way than you were
all in on Cayler Murray last year.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
You're still kind of in on the Cardinals this year. Yeah.
They loaded up on defense in the draft.
Speaker 1 (20:46):
Last year. They were not a fun team to have
to play against.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And you're assuming Marvin Harrison will.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Play better, play better, right, didn't play terribly either, No,
but it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Was pretty disip I mean we were talking about offensive
Rookie of the Year potential for him last year and
he didn't come anywhere close to them. No.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I mean he wasn't even the best receiver. My guy
was betj as you like to call it.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Well, Oh, and I thought you were just saying on
the team because Trey McBride was the best receiver team.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, but still the best receiving option.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
They still have Connor. They have a really good offensive line.
I mean, they're they're going to be able to play
good offensively, and I think Murray's gonna have a chance
to be a really good player. Is the defense going
to catch up to the offense?
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Now?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Kind of close that gap?
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Like I said, they loaded up on the draft on
the defensive side of the football. No, I think it's
an exciting year, but I think it's more I think
the question mark more lies within Kyler than it does
can the defense step up?
Speaker 1 (21:36):
But I think if you're a Cardinal fan, you're you're
excited about this. Ye, sure you got something.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
But again, this is another team that I wouldn't put,
like definitively higher than some of the teams that we've
already named.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
A right number six is the La Charges.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
So now I think we're entering it sounds like teams
that deserve to be this high.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Probably well, I mean, yeah, I guess Chargers maybe make
a case could be higher as far as team that
this year. I remember that, Ye they got the coach
that got the quarterback eleven and six last year.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Joey bo says, not there anymore. It's just Koalio Mack
who is good? The guys, Irwin James.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Still, Yeah, I forgot Joey Buffs in Buffalo.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Buffalo crazy, but he's already hurt.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
He's already injured in o t A. Their receiver room
is still something to of course be upgraded for. I
think the Chargers to be legitimate threat, even them, Like
why not just get Keenan right like back? Why not
just bring the.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Band I forgot they brought back Mike Williams.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Just bring the band back together? At this point?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Who else is there? Receiver wise? Is it pretty much who?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
He's okay? And then I think he was pretty good.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
Josh Palmer, Right is Josh that guy talking about bus
But I'm not even saying, but you know.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
What Harball is gonna do.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
He's gonna run the hell out of the football, right,
He's got they got, He's got guys.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Just pound the rock. Number five is the Houston Texas
Like I might put the Charges in front of Houston
absolutely swamp.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I don't know. I don't think you can do that.
I don't think that's fair.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Maybe it's not fair, But that's the thing we're not
talking about last year. We're talking about moving forward and turning.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Remind me the last time the Chargers won a playoff game.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah, it's fair. I mean the Texas and they do
it to the NFC or the AFC South, the Jags
and the Texans just keep beating the Chargers. So Houston
comes in at number five.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
C J.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Stroud needs to have a big year in year three.
D of wash himself the ref of that sophomore. He's
a wonder type of player. Number four was the Bungles
of Cincinnati oh and three and Super Bowls. UH had
a narrow loss against the Rams. UH four Februaries ago.
(23:46):
As this article puts it, they went nine and eight
last year, but they signed their dudes to a two
big time contracts to Higgins and Jamaar Chase still got
to figure out Trey Hendrickson. But yeah, I think the
Bengals maybe a little bit low on this list than
I expected.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Yeah, they're number five, number four, four.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
But I'm okay with them being here and zero and
three in Super Bowls two to the Niners. Just couldn't
beat Joe Montana. That damn Joe Montagna right, just had
the Bengals number and then of course to the Rams,
so the West Coast is playing Cincinnati when it gets
to the Super Bowl. Number three is Minnesota, and I
think I would flip flop Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I would.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
I would put them moa way further down on this list,
like you would put Minnesota above Houston and LA.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Yeah, this really they went fourteen and three last year.
You're doubting JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
You're right, you're right. Maybe McCarthy's even better than Sam
Donald's last year.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
You would be right.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
But if I'm right, then then how far.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Down would you put them on this McCarthy stinks. Yeah,
probably towards the the It's definitely after the Chargers, the
teams that happened the Texans. Yea, maybe even after the Cardinals, because.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
It's like if if if.
Speaker 3 (25:01):
But the rest of the team is, oh, yeah, it's
there and they have They have the best DC in
the game right now and Brian Flores.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
I think they have maybe the best offensive mind in
the game to coach. Number two is the Detroit Lions
fifteen to two record. They haven't even been to a
Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
They're too so I'm just blanking on who would be won.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
But okay, we'll get to them. I guesses you should
figure it out, just keep thinking. But they've never been
to the Super Bowl. They reached the NFC Championship game
in TWI three, and it's kind of getting to the
point now where it's like are you peaking? Like was
this the peak of your windows past? Well?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
How about what's his name? Retiring your center?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, listen, that's what I'm wondering, Like, Okay, the Lions
have been the wonderful story in the NFL. Right, they
came on strong three years ago and they knock the
Packers out of the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers' last game
as a Green Bay Packer. Then they had their kind
of coming out party the year after, Right, they go
to the playoffs, they go on a playoff run, they
(26:14):
get to the NFC Championship game. They had the Niners
on the ropes in that NFC Championship game and then
they lose it.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
And then then this last year was the year, right,
like you put it all together, you're fifteen and two,
you're the one seed. There is no going to San Francisco.
They come to us. Now, it all goes through Ford
Field and then this damn rookie out of nowhere Jayden
Daniels comes into the league, and he comes into ford Field,
and he drops a forty piece on our heads. And
(26:43):
now it is in that area of now we have
our center retiring, and it kind of gets to that
point where it's like.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Windows in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Can be so short. We miss it in these past
two years. Was last year really the peak? Maybe I'm wrong,
Maybe they'll go fifteen to two again and win the
Super Bowl. I mean, yeah, they got the coach, they
got they they've kept all the pieces on offense except
for rag.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Now they're gonna get hutched back.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
It looks good, but we'll see if they did indeed
miss their window or not. And then number one team,
it's Buffalo is the Buffalo Bills.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
So would you confidently put Buffalo ahead of Detroit?
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I think De Troy would probably be higher.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I think it's easier to get out of the NFC
than it is the AF right. I think that's a
factor too. Like the NFC, you're worried about Philly, and
that's it, right, Like there's other teams.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
There are teams that could be thorns, but Philly, like Washington,
show me again. But I could be Washington or green Bay. Yeah,
I could be green Bay, even though they just lost
to Washington.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Talking about Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, I own them. They're
in my division. If I'm from Detroit's perspective.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
San fran they're kind of you can get back there.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Philly is the only team that you really here in
the NFC. You got the Ravens, you got.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Obviously Pat, You've got the Bengals, Bengals with Burrow who
have beaten you in the playoff.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So, I mean it is definitely a much tougher hill
to climb to get out of that AFC conference than
it is to get out of the Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
I mean, it's you know, it's funny. It comes down
again to the quarterbacks. Like we were saying, we've said
for a couple of years now, there's a mount rushmore
of modern quarterbacks in the league. In the twenty twenties,
it's Burrow, Alan, Mahomes, and Lamar And then we were
debating who's that fifth guy, and we kind of figured
it out after the Super Bowl. Jal and you said,
(28:30):
if you're Buffalo, you got to go through Kansas City, Baltimore,
and Cincinnati. Your whole path is and The only team
that's scary in the NFC if you're the Lions, is
the team with the other quarterback.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It's Jalen Hurts in the Eagles.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Your whole path through the playoffs potentially in the AFC
is through Mount Rushmore. I have to go through every
single one for any team.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yeah, even if you're one of those four teams, you
got to play.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
The other three other guys. Yeah, the other three heads
that are on the mountain with you. We'll be back
later this week. He's Jacob tom. We have a ton
of otia covered chapping In on Steeler Nation Radio today,
tomorrow and Thursday. The Drive is down there and I
think Wes is there with them as well, So give
that a listen. It's great stuff. And again we'll be
back on Thursday with more Steelers Standard on Steeers Nation
(29:11):
Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.
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