January 6, 2025 • 29 mins
This is it, the NFL Playoffs are finally upon us. Michael and Jimmy look ahead to the Steelers Wild Card game this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens on the road. They hear from Coach Tomlin ahead of the matchup and discuss how the Steelers can stop their four game losing streak at a vital time. This is a huge game - you can watch it on Sky Sports NFL, NFL Game Pass on DAZN and you can listen to the game on OTB Sports Radio. Go Steelers!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Everybody, Welcome into the Irish Theaters Podcast. We have made
it to the NFL playoffs. It is that time of
the year, the regular season over and we are just
a few weeks away from the super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Let's hope our Pittsburgh Steelers are there. This is the
podcast for Pittsburgh Seeterspans across the Island of Ireland. Michael
mcquid delighted to be joined back again after a little
(00:27):
absence last week. Jimmy English on the podcast Dialog is
currently in the check of Republic. Hopefully he's writing the
checks for Baltimore this weekend. Jimmy Goodnes seem alimals crack.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Nick, it's good to be back after the Christmas break, fitting, refreshed, feeding, rejuvenated.
Twenty twenty five. I don't know where the time is gone.
I read somewhere recently that the old get the faster
time goes, and that is definitely the case for me.
Twenty twenty four Over in a blur. Twenty twenty four
NFL regular season over in a blur as well. I
cannot believe we're at the postseason already, but excited to
(00:59):
see what's in store for our Steelers this weekend, Super
Wildcard weekend against the against the Baltimore Ravens, a massive,
massive opportunity to write I suppose what's been going wrong
for us the past a couple of weeks and yeah,
hopefully we make a deep playoff run. But no, it's
a great, great exciting time to be to be a
Pittsburgh Seeder. As part of the minute, I think.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
A lot of people and I'm sure people listening to
this will definitely relate to this. Whether you're in Europe
or if you're listening in the US, you're very very welcome.
It does just seem to fly in those those eight
team weeks. We have a different situation where we have
the chance and it's great like obviously go to like London, Germany,
we've both been over for again in Pittsburgh this season
as well. I actually sat watching the game, which we'll
(01:44):
talk about in the week second on Saturday night, thinking
in the South CUD. I can't remember the last minute,
sat down and watched the game, which is not a
bad situation to be in. But it really really does
go very very fast, and we have obviously it's a
massive year ahead of us now in twenty twenty five,
and it's crazy because as quick as this is going
to go, the offseason is going to fly in very
very quickly as well.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the prospect of facing
months and months without football. It's been so nice having
my weekends filled with college football in the NFL, and
it's going to be very strange now at the at
the end of January, start of February, when football is
no more, I don't know what I'm going to do
with myself. To be honest with you, my entire personality
over the past few months has been football orientated. But
(02:28):
hopefully we can squeeze as much joy out of it
before it finishes. And like you said, I mean fingers
crossed that our Steelers are in New Orleans down there
in a few weeks time for the Super Bowl. It
will be fantastic to have another another Super Bowl ring
number seven there. So yeah, look, lots to look forward
to still, So let's just make the most of it
for what we can.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Let's jump into let's all starting the negative note, but
I guess we can't avoid the fact that it's funny. Jimmy,
You're own beating with Pittsburgh at home in Pittsburgh, and
I'm not so that you go, you're you're you're one
up in me already here. But look, I said it
the Davog before the final but or just before the
just before the last podcast, I said to you, now,
(03:10):
when you're losing games in the bounds, it's it's not great.
I guess you know. For me, first off, it's now
four games on the bounce that we have lost. I
said that the Dovevog as well, Jimmy, I think we
always sort of knew when we done that preview podcasts
actually in Belfast earlier in the year with Calvin Austin
as well there and Connor Howard, we knew that there
(03:31):
was going to be a moment where when we had
those stretch of games early late December, that you know,
there could be slip ups. I really genuinely fought at
the time that, yeah, there could be a couple of
losses there, but I thought we might have crawled out
a couple of performances. And I don't get me wrong,
I know and I'm obviously talking about the Bengals game
of the weekend, folks, where the Staders lost nineteen to seventeen.
(03:55):
I know the Bengals were playing for their lives and
their seasons actually over nine. Of course, they're obviously gonna
be playing like it's like their lives depending on so
many big players in that team actually may not play
together again, so it meant so much to them. But
also as well, I really feel like the defense really
does job on Saturday Night, and we will talk about
(04:16):
this going into the Ravens and just down the stratch here,
but this defense, I feel is primed to give a
good playoff run if we can get past this weekend,
which we'll talk about in a bit. Certainly, Like for me,
I think we have to see improvements on the offense. Look,
George Pickens out of this appointant game. We really are
relying a lot on fire move, which, look, it's not
(04:38):
a bad thing, but there's only so many times you
can rely on him. As well, we need to see
more from the running game there as well and picking
holes here. But one thing that Troy Yekman talked about
in Saturday Night and I thought it was really interesting,
Jimmy was Russell Wilson, not just with his time in Pittsburgh,
but his time in his career he seems to struggle
a little bit on short yardage passing situations, where he's
(04:59):
seen to be more I guess he's more complete when
it comes to midror long passing ranges. It just didn't
seem like the fluidity was there at certain points and
Saturday night against the Bengals when we had that seventy
at nine yards to make plays, and really, I think
it would be fair to say this, I really feel
(05:20):
like this was one that we flew away because a
win would have given us a game against the Texans
and we're not in a situation where we are on
the road to the Ravens. And look, every playoff game
is is not easy, like it's a final for every team.
We're seeing a fourteen win team in the NFC go
out on the road to the Rams next week. Nobody
has it easy in the playoffs, apart from the teams
(05:42):
that have a bye week this week. But certainly it's
it's disappointing, but at the same time, we have to
move on and we certainly have to find a way
this week. We can't go back in time and change it.
I'm conscious it's been a couple of weeks since we've
had you in the podcast what sort of things would
you like to see improved on Jimmy, but also these
sort of positive that you've seen as well over the
last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah, just you mentioned our season preview there, Michael, back
in Belfast in the summer where we had the pleasure
of meeting Calvin Austin and Connor Hayward. That seems like
so long ago now, such a beautiful summer's day or
spring day up there with the Belfast Trojans previewing the
the possibilities were boundless ahead of the season, and looking
at that that post bye week stretch that we had,
(06:25):
We had the Ravens, we had the Christmas Day game
against Kansas City, we had Baltimore Philadelphia before, and I
mean that was always going to be a tough, tough stretch.
And you look at it now that the Chiefs of
the or the number one seed in the AFC and
the Eagles of the number two seed in the NFC,
And I think those games could have gone anyway anyway,
(06:47):
really if we had have had a better performance. But look,
that's in the that's in the past. Now. The Bengals
game was definitely winnable. That was a really really back
and forth game. Obviously, you know, not having your startide
receiver playing to the best of his ability certainly limited
limited us to what we could do on offense. And
massive shout out the path for Army for stepping up
(07:08):
and becoming Russell Wilson's target there. Mike Williams had a
great catch twenty five yard gainer on the sideline for
a toe tap, a couple of mice rushes as well.
But overall, like you said, it's defense. The offense has
been letting us down recently. And I, like you say,
I hate to pick holes, but as the time was
winding down towards the end of the fourth quarter, Russell
Wilson chose to run instead of throwing it, which ran
(07:31):
time off the clocks and that's not ideal. And look
and then on the flip side, obviously, our defense has
struggled a little bit recently with with injuries. Joey Porter
Junior was out injured, Dante Jackson had an injury. They're
all back now and healthy, which is great for a
deep postseason run hopefully, But I think our defense is
always has really has really stepped up and has done
(07:53):
its part, even against the Bengals there on Saturday night
being the bshop had a fantastic but I think it
was a turn or fourth interception of the year off
of Patrick Queen forced force fumble. So you know, things
like that are there's definitely positives. You know, one thing
that coach Tomin has picked up on recently is not
is a not capitalizing on loose balls. You know, where
(08:16):
the defense will force a fumble or a pass break
up and that there is a live ball. We're not
getting on those balls, so we're not capitalizing on these
potential takeaways. And then when we do get our hands
in the ball on takeaways, we're not capitalizing with points.
I think these are all the small margins that are
going to win games for you. I mean, we only
lost to the Bengals by two points, and you know
(08:36):
all those kind of things where we're kind of critical,
little critical mistakes that kind of snowballed into into bigger issues.
So I think in terms of improvements and what needs
to be cleaned up if possible ahead of the game
this weekend is our offense just needs to be just
needs to do better, needs to be more on points,
needs to George Pickens needs to actually contest balls. He
needs to try and catch. I mean, he is our
(08:58):
star player for a reason. He just needs to start
acting like it. I'd like to see some bigger runs
and you know, Nagie Harrison, Jayden Warren, but I'd love
to see him get going more and defensively. TJ. Watt
needs to get loose. He needs needs to get loose
and needs to start causing havoc in the backfield. Nick
Herbery had a nice sack there against the Bengals last weekend.
(09:21):
Need to see more out of our guys and just capitalize,
you know, when when the ball is loosing the ground,
just be the first person on it, jump on it,
and overall the entire team's performance just needs to be elevated.
I think that's in fact, I know it's a lot
to ask, but that that's the only thing but I
can really think of that. It's going to get us
across the line and get us a wildcard run against Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, I think I think like a lot of what
you're saying there is very very fair. At the end
of the day, it's always difficult to try and pick up,
especially when you have a few losses. I don't get
me wrong, some of those teams that we have played,
like the Eagles the way that they've played the Chiefs
as well. I actually thought that it was going to
be a lot more of a struggle on Saturday Night.
(10:04):
And I know we didn't win the game, but certainly
there was a lot of opportunities there. And I didn't
think the opportunities were going to be there because I
thought Cincinnati, We're going to come out all guns blazing,
which they did, but I thought they'd even be up
to a different level. I like what you said there, Abu.
The one game, it definitely needs to improve. But you know,
for all the negativity that we're seeing around, whether it's
fans or the internet in regards to the performance from
(10:27):
guys like Pickings, where you expect them to make certain catches,
and that's that's what you expected what I receiver to do.
We're always going to see players that can struggle in
different games. But what a great opportunity for him to
go into Baltimore and try and right the wrongs there.
And that that's the way that I see it. I mean,
this is a situation from a Steers team that will
failed to score more than seventeen points in their final
(10:47):
four games, and this is it. Now we're all oh
and oh again, we need to find a way to
win this. Before we hear from coach Tomlin. I think
this was asked on Sports Center right off of the
game on Saturday night. But you know, look me and
you don't have done an experience of being in an
NFL locker room. How do you think the recep over
the next few days is generally like it mentally is
(11:08):
almost as difficult physically Jimmy, as well as trying to
regroup and resep. But the reality is it doesn't matter
if you had fifteen sixteen wins. We go in Saturday
and it's it's winner gone, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, And that's the nature of playoff football. Make obviously
it's winner go home. And I would really hate to
see the Steelers go out be one and done it
again in the playoffs. And look, last year it was
the Bills. I mean, fair enough, that's the Bills. But
this year it's just as hard with the Ravens. I
think the Steelers need to play for themselves, if that
makes sense. I think they need to block out all
(11:39):
the noise, block out the media, blockout fans, if that's possible,
and just play for themselves, play for pride, play for
the city of Pittsburgh, play for the Black and Gold,
and just go out and play play football. Don't overthink.
I try and do your best. I mean, obviously, individual
players efforts needs to be improved. We all know who
(11:59):
are to talking about here. I'm not gonna name it.
I'm not gonna name names again. And just the little
things that I mentioned there, making you know, jumping on
loose balls, scoring points off turnovers, Russell Wilson connecting with
his receivers, you know, the offensive line, making holes for
our running backs, and just a general improved team performance
(12:20):
and play play for each other. But this has been
a great team. It's been a great season so up
until a certain point, given the amount of uncertainty I
think that we had at the start of the season
how things were gonna go. You know, Russell Wilson came in,
Justin Fields came in. There was no real kind of
certainty a quarterback. There's a lot of change going on,
and so I think as a team can just block
(12:42):
out all that, like you said, we're oh and oh,
and just go out and play play football as simple
as that.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We're gonna have a little look at the three evens
game in a week second, but before we do that,
let's hear from coach Thomlin ahead of this game in
the wild card run this weekend.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I think several weeks ago, Andrews broke a franchise for
receiving touchdowns, and that's also reflective of that relationship. On
the perimeters, Zay Flowers is a matchup issue. He's good
with the ball in his hands. He's good in terms
of run after, he's quick to speed. He's got really
good top end speed. Bateman has emerged in a big
(13:17):
way this year while staying healthy. He's provided a lot
of splash form. He's bend down the grass. Guy has
made some significant plays, particularly and weighty moments, some two
minute moments, particularly of late in terms of making some
splash one on one plays for Lamar in Company. But again,
if you're talking about these guys, it's about minimizing their
(13:38):
run game and the uniqueness of their run game. They
got a downhill runner who's a challenge himself alone, but
you couple that with his own red component of what
they do in the in the special Talents of Lamar.
That is a full time job. We got to be
prudent about how we distribute our schematics. Certainly, when you
(13:59):
play a group like this, it's about shedding blocks and
making tackles. There's no substitute for that. Oftentimes, when you
face quarterback design runs, it becomes a mathematic game of
eleven on eleven and so someone has to whoop blocks
and make tackles. That's just the reality of it. And
so we'll focus our energies on some fundamental things this
week in preparation for that, while at the same time
(14:21):
working hard to find a schematic advantage in some of
those scenarios as well. They got big time continuity and
special teams they have for a long time. They got
a motive operation there. I would imagine the special teams
component is gonna be big in a game like this.
It was the last time we came together. We had
(14:41):
a ball on the ground I think very early in
the game in the punt game that we didn't recover.
We had one later that we did recover and gave
us an opportunity, and so we got to be on
the top of our ear game there and look to
find an advantage if we can in that space. Got
a lot of respect for the environment going to Baltimore,
(15:02):
particularly in playoff football, It's something to be respected.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I expect it to be a hostile environment. I welcome that.
To be quite honest with you, it's important that we
smile in the face of that. As a collective. It's
just simply a tax to pay for not winning the division,
and we pay that. But we're excited about the playmaking
the tangible things that we decide the outcome of this game.
(15:27):
And we realized we got a short amount of time
to prepare, and we're preparing with it edge and we
look forward to pitting our skills versus the Ravens on
Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Ready to hear from coach Salmon on the Irish Series podcast.
As we already it feels like we were talking we
won five minutes ago. We're in wild card weekend and
for everybody listening, you can watch this game. It's Saturday
night early Sunday morning. It's on NFL Game Posts on
the Zone, and it's also on Sky Sports, OTV Sports
Radio on our shoutout to our friends over at Talk
(15:57):
Sport Radio as well. They have the dB coverage in
Northern Ireland, so do feel free to tune in and
then as well, and a lot of places to watch
or listen to. This game to me as funny because
you know, as much as we've struggle over the last
few weeks offensively, we have quite an interest in history
against the Ravens, both in the playoffs and just generally
so for people that maybe are new to an extent
(16:20):
with this league, you know, and don't really understand the
history of the Ravens and expansion teams. The Steelers and
the Ravens have not played each other that much in
regards to different teams. And it's funny because the Steelers
are actually twenty one and twelve against the Ravens in Pittsburgh,
but they're fifteen and fourteen overall Recordly against the Ravens
(16:40):
in Baltimore, they've won four of the past five and
six of it. Sorry, they've won four of the past
five and six of the past eight games at M
and T Bank. Obviously that doesn't matter for Saturday, but
certainly there's some examples of us playing against Baltimore in
recent history, going back even to javisand two, when the
Ravens were in the initial years of their existence. The
Stedars beat them in the divisional round that previously heins
(17:03):
Field and chosing the nine in the AFC Championship in a
memorable game. Where the Steers came out in top divisional
round in twenty eleven as well where that happened as well,
And we've seen examples even as far as this season
where the Staders have beaten the Ravens. I guess the
obvious thing, and I'm sure you'll say to me as well, Jimmy,
is world up against a team that know how to
(17:25):
play well, especially on the offense, and they've got some
absolutely amazing pieces of talent on their offense. They have
an MVP candidate in Lamar Jackson, a guy that many
people see as the favorite for that role. But they
also have an efficient running game as well. But we
we have beaten them this season, we know how to
beat them. We haven't beat them at home or we
(17:47):
haven't beat them on the road. Certainly it was a
far closer game in Pittsburgh. But just firstly, how much
do you think we can take from that experience? Jimmy
on the role against the Ravens, and we've obviously go
back thirty four to seventeen loss, literally two weeks ago.
It feels like a long time ago actually from now.
But you know, that's a game where Russell had another reception,
(18:10):
our defense calls Lamar to have one as well. It
just feels like like we say every week, but it
really does feel this week like we're gonna have to
get out there and really get on them early in
this game.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah, I mean, let's not kid our sales, Michael. Look,
the victory against against Baltimore was entirely down to Chris
Boswell and the amazing season that he has had. I mean,
six field goals in that victory, the narrowest the victories,
and as amazing as a Wizard of Bozz is. They
don't think it's going to cut it in this game.
(18:43):
He didn't cut it in the last game. We're gonna
have to score actual touchdowns early and often. I could
be incorrect here, I'm fairly sure that the Steers have
not scored an opening drive touchdown all season long. That
needs to change. This is different now, this is the playoffs.
We have to go out there. Russell Wilson has to
be on point. He has to find, you know, make
big trunks earlier on hit friar Moute handed off to
(19:05):
Nagi for for for big runs. Hopefully George Pickles will
be able to shake off the Bengals game make some
of those those circus catches that we just come to
and you know, fair enough, I think we have just
come to be expect it from him because he just
makes those kind of catches look easy. So I think
it's kind of acceptable for us to just expect that
he'll that he'll do that and those kind of contested
(19:26):
catches or even not so much contested catches, you know,
fairly simple mid range passes. He should he should be
hauling in with the level of talent that that that
he has and we're gonna have. So that's defensively, then
we're going to have to have a game of our
lives on the defensive line. I mean, we have three
top tier talent edge rushers and Alex heismanth t J.
(19:46):
Watt and Nick Krbig. The interior that defensive line is
phenomenal with Cam Hayward and and Keanna bent In there
who had a great game against the Bengals as well,
but with a nice couple of tackles. So our defensive
line needs to play out of their minds. Cornerbacks need
to be sharp. One thing I won't question is the
fact that Corey Trice is literally just back from the injury,
(20:07):
was covering Jamar Chase one on one on Saturday night.
That just seems like absolutely lunacy to me, with no
safety help on that touchdown. So that's something that I
would that I would like to see. And obviously, I mean,
what are you going to do? You have You have
t Higgins on the other side, so it's kind of
much of a mushless But Jamara Chase is one of
the best wide receivers, if not the best wide receiver
(20:27):
in the league. So that was that was a questionable
decision for me. But yeah, I mean, like defensively, it's
just cleaning up kind of small things. I think, get
on those loose balls. Defensive backs need to be locked down.
I think Save Flowers might have picked up an injury
in the last outing, so he might be questionable against
against Pittsburgh against US now on Saturday night. But still
(20:49):
Mark Andrews to being a massive weapon. And then of
course Derek Henry, I mean we shot him down in
the first game. He got the better of us in
the second game. So and look, it is going to
be tough. But if we have a good start and
we do play to the best of our ability, are
they played to the best of their ability we have
we have a fighting chance. And I know the next
(21:10):
the next segment is We're going to pick our picket
game winners. And I'm not looking forward to it because
I'm torn between my head and my heart.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
And just before we do that, just a couple of
things to mention your banging on the regards to open
and drive. We have not scored an open and drive
touchdown this season. So I'll tell you what. I just wait,
I'll be texting early Sunday more than when we hopefully
do it. And if people are if Dealers fans, remember
back to the last time we play the Ravens in
(21:39):
the postseason. There was a third and nineteen play. And
it's all about these big moments. It's all about these
standout moments, because yes, the Ravens have got some fantastic
players on their team. We've got some good players on
on on on our team as well. Excuse me, at
the time we're recording, zeph Flowers is questionable. He's They're
(21:59):
not sure if he's going to on Saturday night. But
I really feel like we've seen Derek Henry in Week
sixteen run over US one hundred and sixty four yards
on sixty two yards on twenty four carries. That needs
to stop the key to this game for me, and
it might seem obvious to people, but the reality is
we need to stop Derek Henry and Lamar Jackson. If
(22:22):
we're stopping the run, then it's on the mar to
throw the ball, and we know we can throw the ball,
but if we're putting that much pressure on each down
that the Ravens have the ball on the offense, we
have to have a chance because I feel like this
defense matches up very well against the Ravens offense on
its day. I'm not saying that we need to wrap
TJ Watton cotton all over the next few days, but
(22:43):
certainly we need to find a way, and I know
that this team has an idea of how to keep
Lamar Jackson contained and more often than not, TJ really
can make impact plays against the Ravens. For me, it's
very much, and if we want to rule into this
next segment, for me, it's very much. Jimmy about keeping
this Ravens team in check. If they are if they're
(23:05):
in front by three to seven points, let them be
in front by three to seven points. But stay in
the game. When you get the ball, make the right decision.
Like I liked going for it in fourth and one,
I liked it. Keep doing that. Have the confidence, have
the ability. This is play win or go home football.
(23:25):
If you're in with thirty to forty yards of the
Ravens end zone and it's a fourth and one or
fourth and in just play you go for it because
you might not get the opportunity again. There will be
times on Saturday night. I can tell you straight up
right now, and I'm sure you'd agree. I'm sure people
listening to this podcast will agree. There will be times
(23:46):
on Saturday night that it will not go warway. We
need to bounce backs, not whether that's first half or
second half. There will be times where Lamar Jackson can
run for fifty yards. We reset, we keep going. If
we can keep them within seven to ten points. I
think this is gonna be a close game. I think
it comes into the field goal. Give me Chris Boswell
to win it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'll say this now Jimmy, We've won some really good
games this season, and for as much as this team
has struggled in the last three or four weeks of
the season, this is still a team that won ten
games upwards to the middle of December. The team can
find itself again. I know they can. But yeah, they're
gonna have to find it very quickly. And I know
for national the national media, for people are the theaters, fans,
(24:30):
people might not see that at the minute because they've
lost so many games over the last few weeks. And
that's fine. That's not gonna matter when the ball is
on the field on Saturday night. So give me Boswell
to win it. Very very briefly. Dvog's not here. I
told him to text me a scoreline. He said, Stayers
twenty four, Ravens twenty two. In the history of this podcast,
(24:50):
are you gonna say that there's gonna be a loss here?
Which I'm really interested to seems we'll look at your
fields and they're like, oh, this.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Is so hard. Look anyone who knows me and that
I believe black and Goal they always have this. This
just the four games, the four games slid. The way
will be being on has just taken the win out
of my sales a little bit. I think what makes
it even more frustrating because the fact that we have
like it's like you say, we have the pieces, The
talent is there, it's just that hasn't been clicking recently,
(25:18):
especially on offense. And I think given how much of
a monster this Baltimore team has turned into, you have
to Lamara Jackson in line for I think it might
what might be his third league m v P. You
have Derrick Henry, who still is you know, King Henry,
and like you say, he ran overs in the in
the last encounter, and I just, defensively, I'm not that concerned,
(25:40):
to be honest with you. Defensively, I know that we're
if they were that we'll be able to contain both
boys on their runs. Defensively, I know we can contain
their receivers, and I know we can contain Mark Andrews
if we play the proper scheme and if if everyone
plays to the level of their capability and the level
of their talent. And it's just the offense worries me.
(26:03):
And if we start playing from behind, I mean, we
never let it. We never led against again Cincinnati. I
don't think we I don't think we ever let in
any of the pass for defeats, to be honest with you,
And if you'sh you're when you're playing from behind, you
you don't have the momentum. It gets harder, the teams
go up and it gets harder, and I just think
it's it's gonna be a struggle. So if we're gonna
(26:25):
have a chance, offense has to come out absolutely swinging,
and Russell Wilson has to connect on on on those passes.
We have to get into the ends on early on. God,
I've been kicking the Steeers all season. I'm not gonna
change now. I'm gonna be optimistic. I'm gonna say the
Steelers are We're gonna somehow pull off a win. I
don't know how we're gonna do it. It's gonna be
(26:45):
Steelers twenty four Baltimore twenty one, and I see a
Steelers victory in the in the box score. So there
you go. I'm going against my I'm going against my
gut and I'm gonna pick the Steels because I've been
doing it all season long and I'm not going to
change now.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Been the key number you've mentioned, there's twenty four. I
think you know, and I'm sure coach Hamill will tell
a team that as well. Obviously, you want to go
out and score as many points as you can. I
think the minimum here is twenty four to twenty seven's
on the chance, and I'd be saying the same thing
against Cancers that he was saying. I think that has
to be the minimum. You can't.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We cannot go out there on Saturday night and put
up your team nine. It's not going to happen. It
needs to be twenty four, twenty seven, thirty points. And
if we can do that, we're definitely in with some
way of the chance when it comes to the fourth quarter,
and I think history will reveal itself and hopefully we're
laughing on someday more than on a podcast.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, I mean, look at look at the Bengals game, Mike.
I mean, we had the ball last, We had the
opportunity to score last, and it just it didn't work
out because of that decision to run instead of trying
to even an incompletion there would have would have been
more beneficial than Russell Wilson trying to gain the first down.
Like I've been saying, all season in Bozz. We trust
the Wizard of Bozz. His right leg should be a
(28:00):
national treasurer in this in the state of Pennsylvania or
the city of Pittsburgh at least, so I think, and look,
there's no lie. He has been our best player all season.
I'm one of the best players in the NFL and
we are truly blessed to have him because I'd hate
to think what our season would have been like if
we didn't have Chris Boswell as a kicker. So look,
(28:20):
we'll see what happens, and in the wee hours of
Sunday morning here in Ireland.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We will indeed. Folks, hope you enjoyed this game this weekend.
It's on an NFL Game Pass on the Zone, also
on sky Sports NFL among OTB Sports Video as well.
If you do want to listen to it Big game,
it's winner go Home. This could be the last game
of the season. We don't think it will be. Hopefully
it's not. No matter what. We'll be back at some
point over the next few days to recap in the
game as well. You can follow all the social media
stuff over at social You can follow all the social
(28:48):
media stuff over at Steers Ireland on x, on Instagram
and on TikTok and we want chatty soon.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Here we go.
Everybody, Welcome into the Irish Theaters Podcast. We have made
it to the NFL playoffs. It is that time of
the year, the regular season over and we are just
a few weeks away from the super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Let's hope our Pittsburgh Steelers are there. This is the
podcast for Pittsburgh Seeterspans across the Island of Ireland. Michael
mcquid delighted to be joined back again after a little
(00:27):
absence last week. Jimmy English on the podcast Dialog is
currently in the check of Republic. Hopefully he's writing the
checks for Baltimore this weekend. Jimmy Goodnes seem alimals crack.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Nick, it's good to be back after the Christmas break, fitting, refreshed, feeding, rejuvenated.
Twenty twenty five. I don't know where the time is gone.
I read somewhere recently that the old get the faster
time goes, and that is definitely the case for me.
Twenty twenty four Over in a blur. Twenty twenty four
NFL regular season over in a blur as well. I
cannot believe we're at the postseason already, but excited to
(00:59):
see what's in store for our Steelers this weekend, Super
Wildcard weekend against the against the Baltimore Ravens, a massive,
massive opportunity to write I suppose what's been going wrong
for us the past a couple of weeks and yeah,
hopefully we make a deep playoff run. But no, it's
a great, great exciting time to be to be a
Pittsburgh Seeder. As part of the minute, I think.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
A lot of people and I'm sure people listening to
this will definitely relate to this. Whether you're in Europe
or if you're listening in the US, you're very very welcome.
It does just seem to fly in those those eight
team weeks. We have a different situation where we have
the chance and it's great like obviously go to like London, Germany,
we've both been over for again in Pittsburgh this season
as well. I actually sat watching the game, which we'll
(01:44):
talk about in the week second on Saturday night, thinking
in the South CUD. I can't remember the last minute,
sat down and watched the game, which is not a
bad situation to be in. But it really really does
go very very fast, and we have obviously it's a
massive year ahead of us now in twenty twenty five,
and it's crazy because as quick as this is going
to go, the offseason is going to fly in very
very quickly as well.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the prospect of facing
months and months without football. It's been so nice having
my weekends filled with college football in the NFL, and
it's going to be very strange now at the at
the end of January, start of February, when football is
no more, I don't know what I'm going to do
with myself. To be honest with you, my entire personality
over the past few months has been football orientated. But
(02:28):
hopefully we can squeeze as much joy out of it
before it finishes. And like you said, I mean fingers
crossed that our Steelers are in New Orleans down there
in a few weeks time for the Super Bowl. It
will be fantastic to have another another Super Bowl ring
number seven there. So yeah, look, lots to look forward
to still, So let's just make the most of it
for what we can.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Let's jump into let's all starting the negative note, but
I guess we can't avoid the fact that it's funny. Jimmy,
You're own beating with Pittsburgh at home in Pittsburgh, and
I'm not so that you go, you're you're you're one
up in me already here. But look, I said it
the Davog before the final but or just before the
just before the last podcast, I said to you, now,
(03:10):
when you're losing games in the bounds, it's it's not great.
I guess you know. For me, first off, it's now
four games on the bounce that we have lost. I
said that the Dovevog as well, Jimmy, I think we
always sort of knew when we done that preview podcasts
actually in Belfast earlier in the year with Calvin Austin
as well there and Connor Howard, we knew that there
(03:31):
was going to be a moment where when we had
those stretch of games early late December, that you know,
there could be slip ups. I really genuinely fought at
the time that, yeah, there could be a couple of
losses there, but I thought we might have crawled out
a couple of performances. And I don't get me wrong,
I know and I'm obviously talking about the Bengals game
of the weekend, folks, where the Staders lost nineteen to seventeen.
(03:55):
I know the Bengals were playing for their lives and
their seasons actually over nine. Of course, they're obviously gonna
be playing like it's like their lives depending on so
many big players in that team actually may not play
together again, so it meant so much to them. But
also as well, I really feel like the defense really
does job on Saturday Night, and we will talk about
(04:16):
this going into the Ravens and just down the stratch here,
but this defense, I feel is primed to give a
good playoff run if we can get past this weekend,
which we'll talk about in a bit. Certainly, Like for me,
I think we have to see improvements on the offense. Look,
George Pickens out of this appointant game. We really are
relying a lot on fire move, which, look, it's not
(04:38):
a bad thing, but there's only so many times you
can rely on him. As well, we need to see
more from the running game there as well and picking
holes here. But one thing that Troy Yekman talked about
in Saturday Night and I thought it was really interesting,
Jimmy was Russell Wilson, not just with his time in Pittsburgh,
but his time in his career he seems to struggle
a little bit on short yardage passing situations, where he's
(04:59):
seen to be more I guess he's more complete when
it comes to midror long passing ranges. It just didn't
seem like the fluidity was there at certain points and
Saturday night against the Bengals when we had that seventy
at nine yards to make plays, and really, I think
it would be fair to say this, I really feel
(05:20):
like this was one that we flew away because a
win would have given us a game against the Texans
and we're not in a situation where we are on
the road to the Ravens. And look, every playoff game
is is not easy, like it's a final for every team.
We're seeing a fourteen win team in the NFC go
out on the road to the Rams next week. Nobody
has it easy in the playoffs, apart from the teams
(05:42):
that have a bye week this week. But certainly it's
it's disappointing, but at the same time, we have to
move on and we certainly have to find a way
this week. We can't go back in time and change it.
I'm conscious it's been a couple of weeks since we've
had you in the podcast what sort of things would
you like to see improved on Jimmy, but also these
sort of positive that you've seen as well over the
last couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Yeah, just you mentioned our season preview there, Michael, back
in Belfast in the summer where we had the pleasure
of meeting Calvin Austin and Connor Hayward. That seems like
so long ago now, such a beautiful summer's day or
spring day up there with the Belfast Trojans previewing the
the possibilities were boundless ahead of the season, and looking
at that that post bye week stretch that we had,
(06:25):
We had the Ravens, we had the Christmas Day game
against Kansas City, we had Baltimore Philadelphia before, and I
mean that was always going to be a tough, tough stretch.
And you look at it now that the Chiefs of
the or the number one seed in the AFC and
the Eagles of the number two seed in the NFC,
And I think those games could have gone anyway anyway,
(06:47):
really if we had have had a better performance. But look,
that's in the that's in the past. Now. The Bengals
game was definitely winnable. That was a really really back
and forth game. Obviously, you know, not having your startide
receiver playing to the best of his ability certainly limited
limited us to what we could do on offense. And
massive shout out the path for Army for stepping up
(07:08):
and becoming Russell Wilson's target there. Mike Williams had a
great catch twenty five yard gainer on the sideline for
a toe tap, a couple of mice rushes as well.
But overall, like you said, it's defense. The offense has
been letting us down recently. And I, like you say,
I hate to pick holes, but as the time was
winding down towards the end of the fourth quarter, Russell
Wilson chose to run instead of throwing it, which ran
(07:31):
time off the clocks and that's not ideal. And look
and then on the flip side, obviously, our defense has
struggled a little bit recently with with injuries. Joey Porter
Junior was out injured, Dante Jackson had an injury. They're
all back now and healthy, which is great for a
deep postseason run hopefully, But I think our defense is
always has really has really stepped up and has done
(07:53):
its part, even against the Bengals there on Saturday night
being the bshop had a fantastic but I think it
was a turn or fourth interception of the year off
of Patrick Queen forced force fumble. So you know, things
like that are there's definitely positives. You know, one thing
that coach Tomin has picked up on recently is not
is a not capitalizing on loose balls. You know, where
(08:16):
the defense will force a fumble or a pass break
up and that there is a live ball. We're not
getting on those balls, so we're not capitalizing on these
potential takeaways. And then when we do get our hands
in the ball on takeaways, we're not capitalizing with points.
I think these are all the small margins that are
going to win games for you. I mean, we only
lost to the Bengals by two points, and you know
(08:36):
all those kind of things where we're kind of critical,
little critical mistakes that kind of snowballed into into bigger issues.
So I think in terms of improvements and what needs
to be cleaned up if possible ahead of the game
this weekend is our offense just needs to be just
needs to do better, needs to be more on points,
needs to George Pickens needs to actually contest balls. He
needs to try and catch. I mean, he is our
(08:58):
star player for a reason. He just needs to start
acting like it. I'd like to see some bigger runs
and you know, Nagie Harrison, Jayden Warren, but I'd love
to see him get going more and defensively. TJ. Watt
needs to get loose. He needs needs to get loose
and needs to start causing havoc in the backfield. Nick
Herbery had a nice sack there against the Bengals last weekend.
(09:21):
Need to see more out of our guys and just capitalize,
you know, when when the ball is loosing the ground,
just be the first person on it, jump on it,
and overall the entire team's performance just needs to be elevated.
I think that's in fact, I know it's a lot
to ask, but that that's the only thing but I
can really think of that. It's going to get us
across the line and get us a wildcard run against Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, I think I think like a lot of what
you're saying there is very very fair. At the end
of the day, it's always difficult to try and pick up,
especially when you have a few losses. I don't get
me wrong, some of those teams that we have played,
like the Eagles the way that they've played the Chiefs
as well. I actually thought that it was going to
be a lot more of a struggle on Saturday Night.
(10:04):
And I know we didn't win the game, but certainly
there was a lot of opportunities there. And I didn't
think the opportunities were going to be there because I
thought Cincinnati, We're going to come out all guns blazing,
which they did, but I thought they'd even be up
to a different level. I like what you said there, Abu.
The one game, it definitely needs to improve. But you know,
for all the negativity that we're seeing around, whether it's
fans or the internet in regards to the performance from
(10:27):
guys like Pickings, where you expect them to make certain catches,
and that's that's what you expected what I receiver to do.
We're always going to see players that can struggle in
different games. But what a great opportunity for him to
go into Baltimore and try and right the wrongs there.
And that that's the way that I see it. I mean,
this is a situation from a Steers team that will
failed to score more than seventeen points in their final
(10:47):
four games, and this is it. Now we're all oh
and oh again, we need to find a way to
win this. Before we hear from coach Tomlin. I think
this was asked on Sports Center right off of the
game on Saturday night. But you know, look me and
you don't have done an experience of being in an
NFL locker room. How do you think the recep over
the next few days is generally like it mentally is
(11:08):
almost as difficult physically Jimmy, as well as trying to
regroup and resep. But the reality is it doesn't matter
if you had fifteen sixteen wins. We go in Saturday
and it's it's winner gone, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah, And that's the nature of playoff football. Make obviously
it's winner go home. And I would really hate to
see the Steelers go out be one and done it
again in the playoffs. And look, last year it was
the Bills. I mean, fair enough, that's the Bills. But
this year it's just as hard with the Ravens. I
think the Steelers need to play for themselves, if that
makes sense. I think they need to block out all
(11:39):
the noise, block out the media, blockout fans, if that's possible,
and just play for themselves, play for pride, play for
the city of Pittsburgh, play for the Black and Gold,
and just go out and play play football. Don't overthink.
I try and do your best. I mean, obviously, individual
players efforts needs to be improved. We all know who
(11:59):
are to talking about here. I'm not gonna name it.
I'm not gonna name names again. And just the little
things that I mentioned there, making you know, jumping on
loose balls, scoring points off turnovers, Russell Wilson connecting with
his receivers, you know, the offensive line, making holes for
our running backs, and just a general improved team performance
(12:20):
and play play for each other. But this has been
a great team. It's been a great season so up
until a certain point, given the amount of uncertainty I
think that we had at the start of the season
how things were gonna go. You know, Russell Wilson came in,
Justin Fields came in. There was no real kind of
certainty a quarterback. There's a lot of change going on,
and so I think as a team can just block
(12:42):
out all that, like you said, we're oh and oh,
and just go out and play play football as simple
as that.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
We're gonna have a little look at the three evens
game in a week second, but before we do that,
let's hear from coach Thomlin ahead of this game in
the wild card run this weekend.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
I think several weeks ago, Andrews broke a franchise for
receiving touchdowns, and that's also reflective of that relationship. On
the perimeters, Zay Flowers is a matchup issue. He's good
with the ball in his hands. He's good in terms
of run after, he's quick to speed. He's got really
good top end speed. Bateman has emerged in a big
(13:17):
way this year while staying healthy. He's provided a lot
of splash form. He's bend down the grass. Guy has
made some significant plays, particularly and weighty moments, some two
minute moments, particularly of late in terms of making some
splash one on one plays for Lamar in Company. But again,
if you're talking about these guys, it's about minimizing their
(13:38):
run game and the uniqueness of their run game. They
got a downhill runner who's a challenge himself alone, but
you couple that with his own red component of what
they do in the in the special Talents of Lamar.
That is a full time job. We got to be
prudent about how we distribute our schematics. Certainly, when you
(13:59):
play a group like this, it's about shedding blocks and
making tackles. There's no substitute for that. Oftentimes, when you
face quarterback design runs, it becomes a mathematic game of
eleven on eleven and so someone has to whoop blocks
and make tackles. That's just the reality of it. And
so we'll focus our energies on some fundamental things this
week in preparation for that, while at the same time
(14:21):
working hard to find a schematic advantage in some of
those scenarios as well. They got big time continuity and
special teams they have for a long time. They got
a motive operation there. I would imagine the special teams
component is gonna be big in a game like this.
It was the last time we came together. We had
(14:41):
a ball on the ground I think very early in
the game in the punt game that we didn't recover.
We had one later that we did recover and gave
us an opportunity, and so we got to be on
the top of our ear game there and look to
find an advantage if we can in that space. Got
a lot of respect for the environment going to Baltimore,
(15:02):
particularly in playoff football, It's something to be respected.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Man.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
I expect it to be a hostile environment. I welcome that.
To be quite honest with you, it's important that we
smile in the face of that. As a collective. It's
just simply a tax to pay for not winning the division,
and we pay that. But we're excited about the playmaking
the tangible things that we decide the outcome of this game.
(15:27):
And we realized we got a short amount of time
to prepare, and we're preparing with it edge and we
look forward to pitting our skills versus the Ravens on
Saturday night.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Ready to hear from coach Salmon on the Irish Series podcast.
As we already it feels like we were talking we
won five minutes ago. We're in wild card weekend and
for everybody listening, you can watch this game. It's Saturday
night early Sunday morning. It's on NFL Game Posts on
the Zone, and it's also on Sky Sports, OTV Sports
Radio on our shoutout to our friends over at Talk
(15:57):
Sport Radio as well. They have the dB coverage in
Northern Ireland, so do feel free to tune in and
then as well, and a lot of places to watch
or listen to. This game to me as funny because
you know, as much as we've struggle over the last
few weeks offensively, we have quite an interest in history
against the Ravens, both in the playoffs and just generally
so for people that maybe are new to an extent
(16:20):
with this league, you know, and don't really understand the
history of the Ravens and expansion teams. The Steelers and
the Ravens have not played each other that much in
regards to different teams. And it's funny because the Steelers
are actually twenty one and twelve against the Ravens in Pittsburgh,
but they're fifteen and fourteen overall Recordly against the Ravens
(16:40):
in Baltimore, they've won four of the past five and
six of it. Sorry, they've won four of the past
five and six of the past eight games at M
and T Bank. Obviously that doesn't matter for Saturday, but
certainly there's some examples of us playing against Baltimore in
recent history, going back even to javisand two, when the
Ravens were in the initial years of their existence. The
Stedars beat them in the divisional round that previously heins
(17:03):
Field and chosing the nine in the AFC Championship in a
memorable game. Where the Steers came out in top divisional
round in twenty eleven as well where that happened as well,
And we've seen examples even as far as this season
where the Staders have beaten the Ravens. I guess the
obvious thing, and I'm sure you'll say to me as well, Jimmy,
is world up against a team that know how to
(17:25):
play well, especially on the offense, and they've got some
absolutely amazing pieces of talent on their offense. They have
an MVP candidate in Lamar Jackson, a guy that many
people see as the favorite for that role. But they
also have an efficient running game as well. But we
we have beaten them this season, we know how to
beat them. We haven't beat them at home or we
(17:47):
haven't beat them on the road. Certainly it was a
far closer game in Pittsburgh. But just firstly, how much
do you think we can take from that experience? Jimmy
on the role against the Ravens, and we've obviously go
back thirty four to seventeen loss, literally two weeks ago.
It feels like a long time ago actually from now.
But you know, that's a game where Russell had another reception,
(18:10):
our defense calls Lamar to have one as well. It
just feels like like we say every week, but it
really does feel this week like we're gonna have to
get out there and really get on them early in
this game.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Yeah, I mean, let's not kid our sales, Michael. Look,
the victory against against Baltimore was entirely down to Chris
Boswell and the amazing season that he has had. I mean,
six field goals in that victory, the narrowest the victories,
and as amazing as a Wizard of Bozz is. They
don't think it's going to cut it in this game.
(18:43):
He didn't cut it in the last game. We're gonna
have to score actual touchdowns early and often. I could
be incorrect here, I'm fairly sure that the Steers have
not scored an opening drive touchdown all season long. That
needs to change. This is different now, this is the playoffs.
We have to go out there. Russell Wilson has to
be on point. He has to find, you know, make
big trunks earlier on hit friar Moute handed off to
(19:05):
Nagi for for for big runs. Hopefully George Pickles will
be able to shake off the Bengals game make some
of those those circus catches that we just come to
and you know, fair enough, I think we have just
come to be expect it from him because he just
makes those kind of catches look easy. So I think
it's kind of acceptable for us to just expect that
he'll that he'll do that and those kind of contested
(19:26):
catches or even not so much contested catches, you know,
fairly simple mid range passes. He should he should be
hauling in with the level of talent that that that
he has and we're gonna have. So that's defensively, then
we're going to have to have a game of our
lives on the defensive line. I mean, we have three
top tier talent edge rushers and Alex heismanth t J.
(19:46):
Watt and Nick Krbig. The interior that defensive line is
phenomenal with Cam Hayward and and Keanna bent In there
who had a great game against the Bengals as well,
but with a nice couple of tackles. So our defensive
line needs to play out of their minds. Cornerbacks need
to be sharp. One thing I won't question is the
fact that Corey Trice is literally just back from the injury,
(20:07):
was covering Jamar Chase one on one on Saturday night.
That just seems like absolutely lunacy to me, with no
safety help on that touchdown. So that's something that I
would that I would like to see. And obviously, I mean,
what are you going to do? You have You have
t Higgins on the other side, so it's kind of
much of a mushless But Jamara Chase is one of
the best wide receivers, if not the best wide receiver
(20:27):
in the league. So that was that was a questionable
decision for me. But yeah, I mean, like defensively, it's
just cleaning up kind of small things. I think, get
on those loose balls. Defensive backs need to be locked down.
I think Save Flowers might have picked up an injury
in the last outing, so he might be questionable against
against Pittsburgh against US now on Saturday night. But still
(20:49):
Mark Andrews to being a massive weapon. And then of
course Derek Henry, I mean we shot him down in
the first game. He got the better of us in
the second game. So and look, it is going to
be tough. But if we have a good start and
we do play to the best of our ability, are
they played to the best of their ability we have
we have a fighting chance. And I know the next
(21:10):
the next segment is We're going to pick our picket
game winners. And I'm not looking forward to it because
I'm torn between my head and my heart.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
And just before we do that, just a couple of
things to mention your banging on the regards to open
and drive. We have not scored an open and drive
touchdown this season. So I'll tell you what. I just wait,
I'll be texting early Sunday more than when we hopefully
do it. And if people are if Dealers fans, remember
back to the last time we play the Ravens in
(21:39):
the postseason. There was a third and nineteen play. And
it's all about these big moments. It's all about these
standout moments, because yes, the Ravens have got some fantastic
players on their team. We've got some good players on
on on on our team as well. Excuse me, at
the time we're recording, zeph Flowers is questionable. He's They're
(21:59):
not sure if he's going to on Saturday night. But
I really feel like we've seen Derek Henry in Week
sixteen run over US one hundred and sixty four yards
on sixty two yards on twenty four carries. That needs
to stop the key to this game for me, and
it might seem obvious to people, but the reality is
we need to stop Derek Henry and Lamar Jackson. If
(22:22):
we're stopping the run, then it's on the mar to
throw the ball, and we know we can throw the ball,
but if we're putting that much pressure on each down
that the Ravens have the ball on the offense, we
have to have a chance because I feel like this
defense matches up very well against the Ravens offense on
its day. I'm not saying that we need to wrap
TJ Watton cotton all over the next few days, but
(22:43):
certainly we need to find a way, and I know
that this team has an idea of how to keep
Lamar Jackson contained and more often than not, TJ really
can make impact plays against the Ravens. For me, it's
very much, and if we want to rule into this
next segment, for me, it's very much. Jimmy about keeping
this Ravens team in check. If they are if they're
(23:05):
in front by three to seven points, let them be
in front by three to seven points. But stay in
the game. When you get the ball, make the right decision.
Like I liked going for it in fourth and one,
I liked it. Keep doing that. Have the confidence, have
the ability. This is play win or go home football.
(23:25):
If you're in with thirty to forty yards of the
Ravens end zone and it's a fourth and one or
fourth and in just play you go for it because
you might not get the opportunity again. There will be
times on Saturday night. I can tell you straight up
right now, and I'm sure you'd agree. I'm sure people
listening to this podcast will agree. There will be times
(23:46):
on Saturday night that it will not go warway. We
need to bounce backs, not whether that's first half or
second half. There will be times where Lamar Jackson can
run for fifty yards. We reset, we keep going. If
we can keep them within seven to ten points. I
think this is gonna be a close game. I think
it comes into the field goal. Give me Chris Boswell
to win it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'll say this now Jimmy, We've won some really good
games this season, and for as much as this team
has struggled in the last three or four weeks of
the season, this is still a team that won ten
games upwards to the middle of December. The team can
find itself again. I know they can. But yeah, they're
gonna have to find it very quickly. And I know
for national the national media, for people are the theaters, fans,
(24:30):
people might not see that at the minute because they've
lost so many games over the last few weeks. And
that's fine. That's not gonna matter when the ball is
on the field on Saturday night. So give me Boswell
to win it. Very very briefly. Dvog's not here. I
told him to text me a scoreline. He said, Stayers
twenty four, Ravens twenty two. In the history of this podcast,
(24:50):
are you gonna say that there's gonna be a loss here?
Which I'm really interested to seems we'll look at your
fields and they're like, oh, this.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
Is so hard. Look anyone who knows me and that
I believe black and Goal they always have this. This
just the four games, the four games slid. The way
will be being on has just taken the win out
of my sales a little bit. I think what makes
it even more frustrating because the fact that we have
like it's like you say, we have the pieces, The
talent is there, it's just that hasn't been clicking recently,
(25:18):
especially on offense. And I think given how much of
a monster this Baltimore team has turned into, you have
to Lamara Jackson in line for I think it might
what might be his third league m v P. You
have Derrick Henry, who still is you know, King Henry,
and like you say, he ran overs in the in
the last encounter, and I just, defensively, I'm not that concerned,
(25:40):
to be honest with you. Defensively, I know that we're
if they were that we'll be able to contain both
boys on their runs. Defensively, I know we can contain
their receivers, and I know we can contain Mark Andrews
if we play the proper scheme and if if everyone
plays to the level of their capability and the level
of their talent. And it's just the offense worries me.
(26:03):
And if we start playing from behind, I mean, we
never let it. We never led against again Cincinnati. I
don't think we I don't think we ever let in
any of the pass for defeats, to be honest with you,
And if you'sh you're when you're playing from behind, you
you don't have the momentum. It gets harder, the teams
go up and it gets harder, and I just think
it's it's gonna be a struggle. So if we're gonna
(26:25):
have a chance, offense has to come out absolutely swinging,
and Russell Wilson has to connect on on on those passes.
We have to get into the ends on early on. God,
I've been kicking the Steeers all season. I'm not gonna
change now. I'm gonna be optimistic. I'm gonna say the
Steelers are We're gonna somehow pull off a win. I
don't know how we're gonna do it. It's gonna be
(26:45):
Steelers twenty four Baltimore twenty one, and I see a
Steelers victory in the in the box score. So there
you go. I'm going against my I'm going against my
gut and I'm gonna pick the Steels because I've been
doing it all season long and I'm not going to
change now.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Been the key number you've mentioned, there's twenty four. I
think you know, and I'm sure coach Hamill will tell
a team that as well. Obviously, you want to go
out and score as many points as you can. I
think the minimum here is twenty four to twenty seven's
on the chance, and I'd be saying the same thing
against Cancers that he was saying. I think that has
to be the minimum. You can't.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
We cannot go out there on Saturday night and put
up your team nine. It's not going to happen. It
needs to be twenty four, twenty seven, thirty points. And
if we can do that, we're definitely in with some
way of the chance when it comes to the fourth quarter,
and I think history will reveal itself and hopefully we're
laughing on someday more than on a podcast.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Yeah, I mean, look at look at the Bengals game, Mike.
I mean, we had the ball last, We had the
opportunity to score last, and it just it didn't work
out because of that decision to run instead of trying
to even an incompletion there would have would have been
more beneficial than Russell Wilson trying to gain the first down.
Like I've been saying, all season in Bozz. We trust
the Wizard of Bozz. His right leg should be a
(28:00):
national treasurer in this in the state of Pennsylvania or
the city of Pittsburgh at least, so I think, and look,
there's no lie. He has been our best player all season.
I'm one of the best players in the NFL and
we are truly blessed to have him because I'd hate
to think what our season would have been like if
we didn't have Chris Boswell as a kicker. So look,
(28:20):
we'll see what happens, and in the wee hours of
Sunday morning here in Ireland.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
We will indeed. Folks, hope you enjoyed this game this weekend.
It's on an NFL Game Pass on the Zone, also
on sky Sports NFL among OTB Sports Video as well.
If you do want to listen to it Big game,
it's winner go Home. This could be the last game
of the season. We don't think it will be. Hopefully
it's not. No matter what. We'll be back at some
point over the next few days to recap in the
game as well. You can follow all the social media
stuff over at social You can follow all the social
(28:48):
media stuff over at Steers Ireland on x, on Instagram
and on TikTok and we want chatty soon.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Here we go.
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