Patriots Pregame Show 9/21: Patriots vs. Steelers Preview

Tune-in with Kwani, Deuce, Matt and Paul as they preview the Patriots Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They open the show with their keys to the game, highlighting who and what to look out for. Plus, they go behind enemy lines with Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to discuss the game from a Steelers' perspective.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Just throwing.

Speaker 3 (00:09):
Touchdown New England.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
The Patriots Pregame Show is your source for all the
news and information before every game.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
They chuck into the house.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good Ditriots, Thank.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Five, Patriots Nation. Welcome to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled
by Duncan.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good morning everyone, Welcome to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled
Bye Duncan, Matt Smith, Deuce myself, Kwante Lunis. We're here.
It's Week three, the Patriots looking to hopefully get two
in a row against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're here at
Gillette Sadium where they'll also be playing. And you, I'm
sure you're excited. We have the throwback uniforms as well.

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Gotta you know, you gotta represent throwback game. We'll throw
back to the eighties and uh I love it. Love
the red uniforms. I know, like it's the fans going
so yeah, hey, throw it.

Speaker 5 (00:53):
I feel about uniforms, the throwback Yeah, the new ones
not so much, but the throwbacks. And I do think
we should make a quick little mention your Kwanie on
our amigo PFW Paul in transit for the record transit
is not bailing on us. Just wanted to be here later,
so they needed they needed somebody for an opener. So well,

(01:13):
I got loose even with show with surgery a couple
of weeks ago, did some long toss and then did
it a couple more. But I think I might be
able to get a couple of innings. Our Garrett Crochet
is coming in very soon. Done, very shy, well done.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
All right, we're going to talk about all of that
and this whole hour we're gonna spend obviously focusing on
the Steelers matchup. But first let's talk about Drake may
We Obviously last week they're coming off a huge divisional
win against the Dolphins, but he looked very poised in
the pocket versus Miami. Not the perfect game, but still
more comfortable than he did in the week one. What
are some tangible takeaways from you two for him as

(01:48):
he faces this Steelers defense that's also figuring out what
they want to do this year.

Speaker 4 (01:52):
Yeah, I'd start with just getting a win on the
road against a tough divisional opponent. And look, everybody's talked
about how hard it is to win down there, how
hard it was to beat to a tongue bailoa, So
I think i'd start there with just the confidence that
he's going to get from a victory off of that.

Speaker 6 (02:06):
Paul and I.

Speaker 4 (02:07):
Debated this week, you know, was this the you know,
defining game of Drake mays Kerlica was a great game,
but I think, you know, they didn't do a ton
in the second half, so I think there's still you know,
meat on the bone, still a ways for Drake to go.
But I think it was a great game for his
development last week, and hopefully he can carry that confidence
over into this week against a very tough Steelers defense
that I think is going to.

Speaker 6 (02:25):
Throw some new challenges at him.

Speaker 5 (02:27):
And I think most Drake observers would would agree that
last week was his best game as a professional from
start to finish. Not perfect, but it was his best game.
He hasn't played many, so the bar's a little low, okay.
Now we need to see him build on that, okay,
And we need to see him as many coaches like
to say, let's start stringing him together. And I think
one of the best ways they could do that to

(02:48):
help him string it together is again have success on
the ground. They need to remain balanced. That was one
of the keys to last week's win. I think everybody
recognized that through two games, the Steelers defense has been
pretty the leaky against the run. Would be surprised to
see a heavy dose trying to come out to see
if they can establish that so they can get Drafie
feeling comfortable and maybe get up a little play action

(03:08):
in that boot game going.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, And to your point though, why is it so
important for them to get on the ground early, especially
knowing this pass rush is going to be eyeing Drake May.
We need to protect them as much as we can.

Speaker 5 (03:18):
Well, Mike, isn't the old adage with these pass rushers?
And I'll go back to Taylor, even though it's probably
not a great example in Lawrence Taylor, don't you run
at those guys? Yeah, isn't that what you try to do.
Let's see if you can, Let's see what you can
handle it. Let's press the action against TJ. Watt and
see what can happen and try to run at those
guys and see if you can neutralize them that way.
That would be something I would look for, I would
think kind of early.

Speaker 6 (03:38):
On in the game.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
Yeah, the only thing in the back of my mind though,
is every time Josh McDaniels went up against this Pittsburgh team,
it's an aerial assault. And I mean, go back to
the four AFC Championship Game, famous one where they just
go out throwing and trying to use Pittsburgh's aggressiveness against
them with misdirection.

Speaker 6 (03:53):
Totally agree with Matt. They got to stay balanced last week.

Speaker 4 (03:56):
Even when they weren't producing big explosive running plays, they
were staying committed to it and I think that was
ultimately part of why they were able to have, you know,
some success and stay balanced that they didn't do in
week one. So it's going to be an interesting game,
I think in terms of the schematics of it all.
And that's the rub, you know a little bit, because
I think any coach will tell you that if we
can play from ahead, it's going to help us out tremendously.

(04:19):
And I think even though they gave up the lead
last week, I think the way that they came out
fast started early, getting two scores on the board despite
missing the two point after attempts, that gives them a
better chance of trying to play the game the way
they want to play the game and they can dictate
it as opposed to Pittsburgh dictating it.

Speaker 6 (04:36):
I think they're going to want to try to do
that again today.

Speaker 3 (04:38):
And another thing I appreciate. I was watching Patriots on
Filter this week and you had a conversation with Garrett
Bradbury the Center about the offensive line, and he mentioned
how Mike rabral because did little Biasay Sudden played O
line as well. But he's in those rooms, in those meetings.
But what are you hoping that this O line will
do to readjust for Pittsburgh.

Speaker 4 (04:55):
Well, I mean continue on the track that they've been on.
That's one of the underrated parts of the season. And
so far we spent the last couple of seasons absolutely
beside ourselves about the protection and rightly so.

Speaker 6 (05:05):
They were really leaky. Now has it been perfect so far?
Not really.

Speaker 4 (05:08):
They're about, you know, middle of the league. But I
think everyone will take middle of the league right now.
Challenges just keep coming though. Every week there's going to
be a good pass rusher. This week it's TJ. Watt
somehow doesn't have a sack yet He's still been really
effective with the amount of pressure he's been able to
get Without Alex high Smith on the other side of it,
maybe they're able to give him a little bit more attention.
But you know, overall, I think it's going to be
about trying to attack these guys and stay mistake for you.

(05:31):
I think that's the big thing from Drake is just
avoiding those big turnovers, specially down the stretch. They had
a chance to maybe clean you know, to clinch it
last week, put the game away. They weren't quite able to.

Speaker 6 (05:42):
That's the next step for me, fourth quarter close games
out holding the ball.

Speaker 5 (05:45):
Sure, Kwannie, I would ask you, you know, and you
saw in the aftermath of the win last week there's
a lot of people who were getting flowers. I think,
to Mike's point, very underrated is the two kids that
were over on the left side. You didn't hear their
name except for pre snap penalty and they got to
clean that up. But there weren't breakaway rushes. They weren't
you know, runaway trains coming in at them. I think

(06:06):
those guys, they've got to play them is not going
to be perfect, but I think they've shown so far.
It's got to be encouraging for the coaching staff and
for the growth of the team that those guys have
been pretty good. They've just got to continue to improve
along the way.

Speaker 4 (06:20):
Just highlight Matt mentioned and penalties too, So they've got
the second most penalties in the league right at self
inflicted ones. I mean, I think last week you had
a referee unit that was calling it really.

Speaker 6 (06:29):
Tightly both ways. So they get but they've got to
be cleaner.

Speaker 4 (06:34):
They've got to be better with that stuff because those
self inflicted mistakes add up and pretty soon you're in
long yardage. We saw with the Dolphins going against them,
their penalties on the final drives that you know, ultimately
cost them a chance to really have a you know, get.

Speaker 6 (06:46):
In that game right at the end. So clean up
the penalties today, big.

Speaker 5 (06:49):
And I don't think hard Rock Stadium is exactly mile
high from a fan noise perspective, but being here at home,
I would hope would help that a little bit, you know,
from a noise perspective.

Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yeah, I mean, look for I think it's four and
twenty two. Since twenty twenty two, they have the worst
home record in the league. Mike Rabel, the players talked
all week about making this a home field advantage again,
making it a place that's tough to play.

Speaker 6 (07:11):
Got a good opportunity here against the Steelers team today, and.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
We're gonna talk a little bit more about a lot
of the other keys that they'll need for this game.
But before we do that, want to hear a word
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All right, let's pint into the keys of it.

Speaker 4 (07:45):
Before we really get You waited all week for the
whole teams in the locker room right now, just listening
to this, waiting to hear what you're gonna say.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Here are this week's keys to the game. Sorry I
didn't tell you I'm the captain.

Speaker 6 (07:59):
Now you are the captain.

Speaker 5 (08:02):
No, I just the one thing I just wanted to
get out before we drill deeper into this game, which
is obviously very important, but I wanted to give a
shout out to the organization yesterday for anybody that had
an opportunity to be at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
It spanned old and new generationally across the day. And
you know, the Crafts and every other owner are in

(08:23):
this to win football games. That's the most important thing.
And they've got six Super Bowl trophies on their resume.
That's tremendous. But sometimes you can't control whether or not
you win or lose a game. What you can control
is the culture and the atmosphere and the foundation that
your organization is built on. And Mike, I know you're
out and you know enjoying it in the audience a
little bit.

Speaker 6 (08:41):
Yesterday.

Speaker 5 (08:42):
It was a spectacular event, you know, from Bill Parcells,
who's eighty something years old coming back into the womb
and being recognized for his greatness, to Julian Elleman, one
of the toughest players in Patriot history. It was a
great event, and I think everybody who was there kind
of got the feels like, wow, this is really really cool,
and so hats off to the organization.

Speaker 6 (09:03):
It was a great event.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
Were you there for the Patriots dot Com exclusive interview
with Parcels, Well, we're gonna want to make me push it.

Speaker 5 (09:09):
Yeah, we're gonna bump that up maybe a little bit
in the post game show. But I would encourage fans
to know that the boss man Fred Kirsh, and I
had the absolute privilege and pleasure to do a podcast
with Coach Parcels yesterday, Pass from the Past. We had
a special guest interrupt him as well, So that's going
to be coming later in the week. And I would
encourage Patriot fans who are historians and who love the
history of the franchise, you're going to want to tune

(09:31):
into that.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
That's a good TV t Yeah, it's a professional felt
a little cathartic to me yesterday for those of us
who lived through the nineties. I mean, you know my opinion,
you can't tell the story of the New England Patriots
without talking about Bill Parcells, and that was reinforced yesterday
with the impact that he had guys like Teddy Johnson
telling stories about the personal relationships that Bill Parcells built

(09:52):
with his players. I also love that he pointed out
he was here in nineteen eighty, which I wrote an
article this year. If you get to the game. Check
out the game day magazine right in the back. Not
a lot of people realized that Bill Parcells was here
in nineteen eighty. Talked to Steve Nelson about him, said
he was the best coach he's ever had, And it
was really cool to me to hear about how foundational
that experience was for Bill Parcells to say that he

(10:13):
went on then and looked at you know, cornerbacks and
they compared him to you know, Raymond Claiborne and Mike Haynes,
and that was always the comparison that he made. So
for me, it was just really cool to remind people
that it wasn't just about that stint he had here
in the nineties when he came and really instilled energy
and life into this spanochise credibility, felt like we had
a real NFL team again. But it was also part

(10:34):
of the impact that this place made on him when
we first got here. Yeap, nice to see full stuff
and Jules, what can you say, I mean, just embodies
at all. I was in the throes of bloggerdom when
he came about made it, I mean talked right in
week two.

Speaker 6 (10:48):
I remember him.

Speaker 4 (10:49):
Walker was out against the Jets and here's Julian Edelman,
and you know a great example of just a guy
who had to stick around in battle. I mean, he
wasn't Julian Edelman until twenty thirteen. He'd but this, you know,
four years in the league before he really became that guy,
super Bowl hero, clutch performer, tone setter.

Speaker 6 (11:04):
What else can you say about you?

Speaker 5 (11:05):
One more shameless plugged on that. If you weren't able
to get down here to Foxburg yesterday to catch the
ceremony live, it's on Patriot Chuck Hobbing on our YouTube channel.
I would encourage Patriot fans to watch it. It was
really really special event.

Speaker 3 (11:17):
Speaking of Julian Edelman being the hard hitting player that
he was though Mike claim to Fame, NFL Network did
a story on just his resiliency in one season, and
I asked him a question about Matt Slater saying, your Lazarus,
you came back from the dead. So my voice got
to make it in that. But also just like thought,
I heard you like that Boice sounds familiar, but his

(11:37):
great when it comes to when it came to football
was just unmatched for sure. Hello there, all right, we
actually need to get into our keys into the game.

Speaker 1 (11:45):
But.

Speaker 4 (11:47):
Enemy aliones and we don't want to review our keys
to the game, and he's going to go everywhere.

Speaker 5 (11:52):
You might be right to the Steelers lockerroom, doctor coach Tomlin.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
Brian Bacco, thank you for being here with us.

Speaker 7 (12:00):
No, you got an helper exactly. It's an easy one.
No surprises there, thanks sir.

Speaker 4 (12:06):
Thing So, Brian, just to kick it off, I mean,
where with two weeks, where do you see the Steelers
at right now?

Speaker 6 (12:10):
After these first couple of games.

Speaker 7 (12:12):
They're still trying to find themselves, especially defensively. You know,
there have been some some weaknesses exploited, I think on
both sides of the ball, but especially this well compensated,
highly paid, big name defense that was supposed to really
set the tone for this entire team in transition. On offense,
they have not done that.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
They were a little.

Speaker 7 (12:31):
Lucky that their offense propped them up week one against
the Jets, and you know, there was no complimentary football
played last week in the loss to the Seahawks. Even
special teams hurt them. So that is the side of
the ball that I think all eyes are on right
now in Pittsburgh.

Speaker 5 (12:43):
We're talking about one of the best coaches in the
National Football League and Mike Tomlin. Do you get a
sense it's only a two games sample, Brian, Is there
a frustration or is it? Hey, this is a work
in progress. I trust these guys. I mean we're talking
about one of the best defensive players in the league
in TJ.

Speaker 6 (12:57):
Watt.

Speaker 5 (12:57):
Is it just trying to work on things like technique
and make sure that people are doing their jobs and
not drying to too too much because you know that
the horses are really there.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
Aren't they?

Speaker 7 (13:09):
Yeah, I mean on paper at least. You know, if
this is suddenly the year that TJ. Watt and Jalen
Ramsey and Cam Hey, We're gonna fall off a cliff altogether,
then that's going to be a really bad formula obviously
for the group they've assembled. But to answer your question,
I think if there's frustration there, I think they're doing
a pretty good job masking it. And I think it's
partly because he's been in his seat as long as
he has a lot of these players have been around

(13:30):
and seen so much in the NFL that they aren't panicking.
And now there's a lot of panic within the fan
base because you go back to the end of last season,
which ended on a five game slide, including the wild
card playoff loss up in Baltimore where they just got
ran all over by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. But
what's interesting to me is, even though these are persistent
issues from last year to this year, I think if

(13:52):
you're the Steelers, you can argue, hey, we're a new team.
You know, it was a new slate this year. Yes,
there's continuity, there always is with this franchise, but we
also did bring in some new pieces, and these guys
are also trying to kind of figure out how to
play together. So I think they would want the fans
to just say, hey, it's okay, it's two games, it's
not a seven game sample size because last season was

(14:12):
last season and this season is this season.

Speaker 4 (14:14):
I mean, one of those new players, Aaron Rodgers, what's
the experience been like for you watching him come in,
getting a chance to watch him up close in camp
and now into the season.

Speaker 7 (14:21):
It's been good. It's been pretty surreal seeing him in
a Steelers jersey. And not just that, but even walking
the grounds at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA for
training camp, it was kind of wild, just to see
him out there, certainly not something any of us ever
thought we would see. But he's been, I think a
pretty low key leader for this team, and I think
it's been a good presence that the Steelers haven't had

(14:43):
offensively since Ben Roethlisberger retired. You know, they went with
Mitch Drubisky as a quick stop gap. I don't think
he really felt comfortable being that guy necessarily, even though
he had to see on his chest. Kenny Pickett was
a young player coming in, was still trying to find
his way in the NFL, and even last year, Russell
Wilson really good leader and has been around and won

(15:03):
a Super Bowl. Justin Fields, though was in the picture.
I think there was a little bit of tension, not
necessarily between those two, but both guys knew that it
was sort of a prove it situation for them, and
I think it was difficult for either one to really
take the bull by the horns that way. But Rodgers
he's the unquestioned veteran presence on this team, and I
think it's good for a lot of young players on

(15:23):
this offense too, to have somebody who's won at the
highest level is gonna wear a gold jacket and can
kind of hold them accountable while at the same time
being one of the guys in forming those natural bonds
between teammates.

Speaker 2 (15:35):
I think, sorry, go ahead, Quinny, I'm just staying on
the quarterback side.

Speaker 3 (15:39):
Well, it's so interesting when you have a very you know,
very well seasoned vet like Aaron Rodgers, and of course
Drake Mayn his second year saying that he grew watching
an Aaron Rodgers type. But what do you think defensively?
You know, we talk about the bast rush of TJ. Watt,
What exactly will they be looking for when it comes
to the fact that he is such a still new player.

Speaker 7 (15:58):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's crazy, Quinny not he grew
up watching Aaron Rodgers, so did a lot of his
Steelers team. He played against Mike Rabel as a player.
So when you start getting into the longevity of Aaron Rodgers,
there are a lot of just amazing I guess stats
and anecdotes that you can bring up. But yeah, I mean,
you look at Week one, they really had trouble containing
Justin Fields with his mobility, and that's something that they

(16:21):
see twice a year every year in their division. Right
with Lamar Jackson, so that they should have a better
plan now for athletic running quarterbacks. But it puts a
lot of stress on a defense, and I think that,
to me is probably the biggest key for the Steelers
defense that I highlighted for us in our coverage at
the Postcauzette this week is you know, if you can
keep Drake May in the pocket and maybe consider, okay,

(16:42):
Jalen Ramsey can win a one on one matchup with
Kayshawn Booty, or we can kind of take away these
Patriots receivers. But if you let him get out of
the pocket and start extending plays ad libbing, and now
you're asking these dbs to really plaster and cover their
man for an extra second two or three, that's where
I think May can really hurt them. So I'll be
watching that match up closely for sure.

Speaker 5 (17:03):
As a long time Steeler follower. For people who know
the steerers and watch the stealers organizations, one of the
great organizations in the NFL stability the key. This was
an interesting offseason that seemed very unstealer, like the trade
for Metcalf, looking again for the quarterback to try to
can this guy get us over the hump, you know,
Ramsey going out and getting him. As you sat there

(17:25):
close by and seeing it, what were your thoughts as
they were assembling this twenty twenty five team.

Speaker 7 (17:30):
Brian, and you know, they trade away Mika Fitzpatrick, who
was kind of a pillar of the defense and the organization.
So yeah, I mean, I think it does speak to
the impatience or the urgency for them to win their
first playoff game in eight years. They keep getting into
the dance, which of course is the first step, but
they just haven't been able to get over that hump
and elevate really, you know, whether it was the end

(17:52):
of the Ben Roethlisberger era or these new quarterbacks that
they've tried in there. So yeah, I think that they're
shuffling up the roster, They're bringing in some new personnel.
They're seeing if it can click. But ultimately, I think
everybody in the organization knows we're not going to necessarily
be able to get to where we want to go
until we figure out the quarterback position. And Aaron Rodgers

(18:14):
is pretty darn good stop gap solution, especially at the
salary they got him at for one year. But I
think what they're trying to do is from a front
office perspective, Let's accumulate a lot of draft capital, give
us flexibility if we want to go attack this next
year's quarterback class in the draft by a little time, right,
and in the meantime, still put a good product on
the field from Mike Tomlin to coach up and yeah, Bridge,

(18:36):
you know, kind of find the right balance and thread
that needle between being competitive now but ultimately having a
long term vision.

Speaker 3 (18:42):
Well, Brian, thank you so much for your time. We
actually just at the email label with everything you just said,
so I hope it'll help the team today. There we go,
Where you go? Where can we find you online?

Speaker 7 (18:51):
Just my name b R I A N B A
t KO on X and Post hyphen Gazette dot com
slash Steelers. We've got all our coverage there. So it
should be a fun game.

Speaker 6 (18:59):
You gotta pick, Yeah, you gotta pick.

Speaker 8 (19:01):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (19:01):
I picked the Steelers. But I've been telling everybody all
week I think it's a coin flip game. I mean,
I could see this one going either way, and I
picked them by a point. So that was as close
as I could get to just throwing my hands up
and saying I don't know what's going to happen.

Speaker 6 (19:13):
Yeah, awesome, good.

Speaker 5 (19:15):
Stuffy project Rian appreciate it all right.

Speaker 3 (19:18):
I know our viewers are probably mad because we did
this all out of order and now we're gonna actually
have to go to a break, So stick around because
of course you're gonna want to get to the keys
of the game. But before we do that, want a
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Speaker 1 (23:45):
Join the show by calling in at eight five five
ATS five hundred or emailed at podcasts at Patriots dot com.
Now back to the Patriots pregame Show fueled by Dunkin.

Speaker 3 (23:57):
Welcome back to the show, Matt Smith, Goose myself, Kwannie.
We're all here excited for this week three matchup against
the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we're gonna finally get into the
keys of the game. So let's hear that sound, Q
one more time.

Speaker 4 (24:14):
You waited all week for the whole teams in the
locker room right now just listening to this, waiting to
hear what you're gonna say.

Speaker 3 (24:19):
Here are this week's keys to the game. Gotta say
the sound of those keys are kind of weak. They
gotta put more keys on that. Yeah, more jingle jangle,
All right, work that well, affort that for you, Thank you,
Thank you?

Speaker 12 (24:30):
All right?

Speaker 3 (24:30):
Who wants to go first?

Speaker 6 (24:31):
I'll joll go first?

Speaker 4 (24:33):
Just I think I can you know piggyback a little
bit on what Brian was saying, thank you and what
was my key?

Speaker 6 (24:38):
How did I phrase it? Something to beat the blitz.

Speaker 4 (24:40):
Yeah, So I really think this is an interesting game.
To me, Drake May has seen a ton of zone
coverage over the first couple of games. He's the third
most zone coverage, So teams are doing exactly what Brian
was concerned about, sitting back, keeping eyes on the quarterback,
not letting him run.

Speaker 6 (24:55):
But Steelers play a lot of man.

Speaker 4 (24:57):
They played the sixth most man coverage on they the
third high blitz rate, so it's a little bit of
a different matchup. I think for Drake today, I think
he's going to have to deal with some pressure. I
think they're going to try to heat him up a
little bit. I like what our guest Brian was saying,
because that gives some argument for maybe playing more zone coverage,
which I think Drake has looked pretty good against. But
if the Steelers do what the Steelers do, They're gonna

(25:18):
play man, They're gonna send blitzers, and Drake's gonna have
to be able to identify the protection.

Speaker 6 (25:22):
That was an issue that we had last week.

Speaker 4 (25:24):
He was able to you know, scoot around and get
a touchdown out of it, but you had a free
rusher coming in over to overcome those able to overcome
those mistakes.

Speaker 6 (25:32):
But I would say it's going to be today.

Speaker 4 (25:34):
I think Drake understanding the blitz, understanding the front, where's
the pressure going to be coming from.

Speaker 6 (25:38):
I think mentally there's gonna be a little bit more
on him today. So beat the blitz, be able to
identify it and make them pay.

Speaker 4 (25:43):
And if you can back them off with the blitz
and force them to just rush with their four I
think it would be a good formula for success.

Speaker 6 (25:50):
Again, though, TJ. Watts out there, you know he's going
to get going. You got to give him attention.

Speaker 3 (25:53):
Those reps are going to help with Drake grow though.
We talked about these live game reps helping him get
comfortable in the pocket. And this will be hopefully the
perfect instance.

Speaker 6 (26:01):
Just a different challenge.

Speaker 4 (26:02):
And you wonder if the Pittsburgh coaches are looking at
that at this saying, hey, let's man these guys up,
you know, let's try to force him to put put
the ball into tight windows. It also might be more
of a Pop Douglas game. We saw a pullback of
him last week. Last week didn't play as many snaps.

Speaker 6 (26:16):
He's a man beater. I could see him getting more
attention this week.

Speaker 5 (26:20):
First thing first, I want a shout out to you
are looking live at warm ups right now. Shout out
to the great Brent Musberger who's on the CBS pre
game show, and you are looking live at the Patriot
warmups as we're going on, I'm stepping in for mister Perilo,
who I'm going to take his key, which is tightened
up with the emphasis on the defense. And if I

(26:41):
know my friend, I think he's concerned about the leaky
first two games. Aaron Rodgers is not the Aaron Rodgers
of old. He still can spin it, as everybody likes
to say. His four touchdowns in the opener against the
Jets I think masked kind of a meh performance. They
got to heat him up a little bit, don't let

(27:01):
him get outside of the pocket. He doesn't want to
get hit at forty one years old, and they've got
to make sure that they you know, it's the old basics,
stop the run, put Rogers in third and long situations.

Speaker 6 (27:12):
They just got to tighten things up and play better
defense than they have the first two games, it's great.

Speaker 4 (27:16):
I mean, these are two teams that are really highly
ranked in terms of the amount of pressure they're create.
Now it's through two games, so I try not to
like get two carried away with stats in two games
because they'll kind of tell you bad information.

Speaker 6 (27:27):
I don't think the.

Speaker 4 (27:27):
Patriots pass rush was great for three quarters. It was
amazing down near the end when they had to, you know,
close the game out.

Speaker 6 (27:34):
So what's the real story.

Speaker 4 (27:36):
I don't think you can really play zone on Aaron Rodgers.
I think he'll pick you apart. Agreed, You've got to
get pressure on him. Doesn't have the same mobility that
he used to have. So if the Patriots are able
to live up to this, and I mean I'll pull
some of the numbers, I mean, you know, fifth and
pressure rate with less than four or less guys, I mean,
that's really good.

Speaker 6 (27:52):
That's what you want out of a defense.

Speaker 4 (27:54):
If you can get pressure with your front four and
you can have seven guys in coverage, it's a huge
formula for defense. His success, I'm not sure I believe
that the Patriots are quite as good as that number
is right now. I think they're good. I think they've
been productive, but today they've got to prove it. And
not having Christian Gonzalez, I think that really hurts today.
The ideally you'd love to play man. A lot of
teams play man on Aaron Rodgers, you know, force him

(28:15):
to hold the ball a little bit. If you're playing zone,
he's going to pick you apart. So I really think
that the front four can get pressure today. If you're
able to play a little bit of man coverage with
these guys, could be a farmulist for success against Aaron
Rodgers in this offense.

Speaker 5 (28:27):
Only a two week sample size to your point, duche,
but Rodgers have been sacked seven times so far in
two games, So I think the opportunities there.

Speaker 6 (28:35):
You just go, you got to win. You gotta win
with your pass rush.

Speaker 4 (28:39):
Yep, absolutely that's and that's usually the case. And you know,
but just to state the case too, the covers has
got to be better. I thought that there was no
pass rush that was getting home against Tua. You know,
early in the game, he's throwing the ball in two seconds.
It's hard to ask those guys to cause some kind
of disruption. So to Paul's point, the covers has got
to be better. The linebackers have to tackle better, the

(28:59):
safeties have to tackle better. You know, guys like Alex Austin,
you know, need to. It's a game of inches, and
I feel like Alex Austin was a an inch away
a couple of times from you know, pass his defense.
So Carlton Davis like his size, maybe he's a matchup
for DK Metcalf, But overall, the coverage has just got
to be tighter. When they do play zone, it's got
to be in sync because if it isn't, Aaron Rodgers
will pick this team apart.

Speaker 5 (29:20):
Point of emphasis during the week with coach Rabel was
a tackling who he mentioned it several times post the
Miami game and just talking about that the tackling needs
to be better. Hard to do, you know, in practice
in a regular season like that. They're not in full pads,
although he says, you know, we don't need, you know,
thigh pads or anything like that. But I know that
there was time spent and he said that there was

(29:41):
time spent this week on tackling better.

Speaker 6 (29:42):
That's a point of emphasis.

Speaker 3 (29:44):
I believe it a lot of things to work on.
Mike Key was break the steal third week in a
row where I tried to find a pun to use,
but it's kind of a playoff of the Steelker and
obviously the Steelers defense nowhere near the historical one. But
the Steelers allowed the third most yards in the league
as at to this point, actually three to nine ninety
four point five per game, and then fourth most points

(30:06):
in the league at this point. So allowing thinking about
the rushing yards they allowed last week versus the Jets
and even the Seahawks nearly one hundred and fifty yards
per game on the ground at this point. So for
the offense running as much as you can, capitalizing on
the fact that they haven't necessarily figured out their defense
yet on the ground for New England, hopefully in New England,

(30:27):
as we know, needs to drive the ball more efficiently.
And also just finishing in the red zone. We saw
obviously Week one wasn't the most ideal comparison, one in
for three inside of the twenty yard line for Las Vegas.
So figure out ways to get not only get in
the red zone, but stay there and score efficiently.

Speaker 5 (30:43):
Yeah, just to fall upon some of those numbers that
you're saying quantity, I mean, you see the one hundred
and forty nine yards on the ground, again only two
weeks exactly. Those are startling numbers to see for a
Pittsburgh see the defense. The other two that stand out
to me is you're only got a sack and a
half in two weeks, that you figured that it's got
to change. But we were talking about tackling with the Patriots,

(31:03):
the Steelers are the worst. They have the biggest missed
tackle rate in the league right now. Again caveat two games,
but those are really uncharacteristic Steeler numbers. And I gotta
believe as we're talking about point of emphasis for the
Patriots and tackling, that's a big point of inflis emphasis.

Speaker 3 (31:21):
I believe down in Pittsburgh and exploit that if it's
gonna be a trend for them, exploit as much.

Speaker 2 (31:25):
As you can.

Speaker 4 (31:26):
A lot of way these defenses are are very similar
to each other. I mean, Pittsburgh's rank fifth and pressure rate.
Newings ranked sixth in pressure rate. You know, Matt said
they don't have SAC I mean, so they're they're getting pressure,
but it's not telling all the story. And it's so
easy to get fooled by early season statistics anomalies and
a couple of big plays color things a certain way.

Speaker 6 (31:45):
So as we get going, can the Patriots really get
pressure with four? Is TJ?

Speaker 12 (31:51):
Watt?

Speaker 6 (31:52):
Like Brian said, is he are?

Speaker 12 (31:53):
They are?

Speaker 4 (31:53):
These guys starting to slow down a little bit or
they just got a slow start to this season and
they're going to start to kick in. You can't let
them get hot today. But I agree with your point.
The best way to do it stay balanced, stay running. Nope,
don't just let you get down early. They're going to
pin their ears back. They're going to get after the quarterback.
So getting that first score, staying balanced huge key for
the Patriots offense.

Speaker 3 (32:12):
So you wanted to get into some injuries, you want
to get into a little bit more on the Steeler side.
But before we do any of those things, I want
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Speaker 4 (32:50):
Jason Tatum making an appearance you were looking live. Jason
tATu fresh off is with Chilly's rehab. It sounds like
it's going well, so that'll be I know Evan Less
are up in the press box right.

Speaker 3 (33:01):
Now in front of him, by the way, issue with that.

Speaker 6 (33:07):
Very nice. I'm an old duce. We to stick together.

Speaker 4 (33:11):
Well done, but you know, just to jump into the
inactives a little bit, you know, not a lot from
Patriots perspective, Elijah Ponder is out though key On White
missed some time uh this week, last week, and but
he will be back in so Anthony Jennings, key On Waite,
couple edge pieces for the Patriots. We'll see how those
guys are up to contribute. Really liked what I saw

(33:32):
from Anthony Jennings last week.

Speaker 6 (33:33):
He just does what he does. You need somebody to
go out there and set the edge. He's going to
do it.

Speaker 4 (33:37):
We'll see what with Keyon it seems like, you know,
they're they're trying to give key On every opportunity Ken
to to find a role with this defense. I think
you'd love to have a full time third rotational edge
player with Chase On and Harold Landry. I don't know
if anybody's really taken that by the Horns just yet,
but all three of those guys that I just mentioned,
between White and Jennings as well as Ponder and when

(33:58):
he eventually gets back in there, should have an opportunity
to earn that role as the season goes on.

Speaker 5 (34:02):
The Steelers are they're a kid that went down this
week in offensive lineman.

Speaker 6 (34:06):
He's a depth guy though, right, That's great, Yeah, that's correct,
you know a little bit of depth.

Speaker 4 (34:11):
I mean the big pieces that are out that were
ruled out on Friday for the Steelers, High Smith, Deshaun Elliott.
They're starting strong safety as well as Joey Porter, who's
been playing on the outside and allowing some flexibility at
Jalen Ramsey to play inside on the slot.

Speaker 6 (34:25):
So definitely some injuries there for the Steelers that they'll
have to deal with today.

Speaker 3 (34:30):
While we're on the subject of injuries and actives, one
we already knew about Christian Gonzalez. We actually just got
an email about him from Chad in Atlanta, and he says,
I really don't want to be a negative Nancy, but
I seem to remember a narrative surrounding Gonzo before and
after the draft, claiming he was fragile and that's why
he fell to number seventeen. But I played it, paid
it no mind back then because I was in love

(34:51):
with the player. But I mean, what gives should we
be worried? One of the greatest abilities is availability, capital avail,
and he isn't available. I understand, Chad, what do you
two think?

Speaker 4 (35:02):
Yeah, well, I would just say, you know, his first season,
he broke his collarbone. I mean it's not you know,
It's just one of those things that kind of happens.
Hamstrings are touchy, and look, I'd rather have Christing Gonzalez
in November and December than Hunter Jerson out there for
the first couple of weeks.

Speaker 6 (35:17):
No question, is disappointing. I mean again, this I think
was the first day of Pads came on.

Speaker 5 (35:21):
That they had to believe he was going to be
yeah this week. You know, anybody who thought he was
going to just show up Wednesday and play on Sunday.
I don't think the debt helps the team or the
player for that matter by doing that. He needs time,
don't you think. Yeah, And look, we'll see what his
story is going to be.

Speaker 6 (35:36):
I don't know.

Speaker 4 (35:36):
Maybe he'll come back and play the rest of the
season and be fine and back to all pro level.
And then I don't think anybody's going to remember the
fact that, you know, he didn't play in training camp,
but look, it is. It's disappointing. He's the best player,
at least on defense, and maybe you're on your whole team.
He's a huge matchup piece. He allows your defense to
do so many different things. It hurts not to have
him out there. But my hope is that if we

(35:58):
come to the end of the season and we're not
going to be talkalking about how Gonzo missed.

Speaker 6 (36:01):
The first three games and all his careers are ruined.

Speaker 4 (36:03):
So let's just hold our hold our breath for a
little bit, and I hope that he's, you know, back
out there tomorrow or next week maybe, and then when
you get to Buffalo, maybe then he's really ready to go,
because that's a team they need him against for sure.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
All right, well, but let's take a call quickly from
Patty and a good morning Patty, as.

Speaker 6 (36:21):
I if I go with the computer.

Speaker 3 (36:24):
Patty, good morning, y'all, Good morning.

Speaker 13 (36:30):
I am still gating at the stadium.

Speaker 6 (36:32):
All right, great day four. Why don't you just walk
in the crack one for me? Please?

Speaker 13 (36:38):
Bro, I've had like four for you already.

Speaker 5 (36:42):
Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 3 (36:43):
We're living vicarious.

Speaker 13 (36:44):
You four listen. Call it a hunch and the deuce.
This is specifically for you, buddy. Call it a hunch,
Call it a gut feeling. Call it like what I
watched with the players going into the locker room this
past week after the victory. I think this is gonna
be a big game for Roberts Splaine because I've been

(37:06):
waiting for Roberts Blaine to have a big game over
the first two over the first two games, and it
hasn't happened. He's missed a lot of tackles, and I
think he's disgusted with himself, with himself, and I think
a lot of Patriots fans are a little bit disgusted
with him. I'm not I'm just waiting for him to
I'm waiting for that one game for him to settle himself.
And I think this is a game. You know, the

(37:28):
Steelers want to funnel everything to the middle because you
know Rogers, he might test a couple of deeps, but
he's not like Gino. I apologize for the noise for
the helicopter above, but O's fine, all right, But uh,
this this isn't like Week one with Gino. Like Rogers
is not going to test his steep. He's going to

(37:49):
test the middle. And I believe that, like in order
for us to have like a good game and for
Oders to win today, I think Splaine has to show up,
and I think he's pissed off. I'm pissed off with him.
Let's fricking go, baby, let's go.

Speaker 12 (38:05):
Thank you.

Speaker 5 (38:07):
That's a good point by Patty, even if he's four
in talking about Spolaine, who I think is probably pretty
hard on himself, and I think he picked up on
that pretty well. I think the Dolphins did a really
good job last week of getting him in space. I
don't know that that's the strong point of his game.
I think he's more of a deuce what would you
call his guys, a downhill guy that he needs to
come downhill hopefully the guys in front of him are

(38:28):
tying up people so that he's got a clear shot
at trying to get the guy who's you know, running
in between the tackles. I guess is that's where his
place is the strongest. You know, some of those waddle
and hill plays or arcane when he was out in
the middle of space, not exactly. Those aren't great matchups
for Robert s.

Speaker 6 (38:45):
Blaine.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
Now it's one of my biggest surprises of the early
start of the season. And like you said, the video
we showed after the win last week, Mike Frabele giving
a high five to everybody coming off the Roberts playing
was having none of it. He was upset and he knows.
I mean, the guy's had a hundred over one hundred
fifty tackles last time. Your machine, He's a machine. Now
we talk about those guys being are they making plays?

(39:06):
Are they, you know, able to make plays behind the
line of scrimmage, passes defense or are they just cleaning
up the trash? Are they you have sixty yards down
the field and the last couple of years he's been
a playmaker guy, So can he start to do that?

Speaker 6 (39:18):
I know he's hard on himself.

Speaker 4 (39:19):
I assume that the Jalen Warren is going to be
part of the plan sure to try to expose him
as well as Christian Ellis, who both those guys have
had trouble with tackling.

Speaker 6 (39:29):
That's an X factor for me for the defense.

Speaker 4 (39:30):
If those guys start playing well, if they start dispersing
his zones correctly and getting in the right spots, getting
hands on balls, making tackles for loss, I think you
really see this defense start to start to cook.

Speaker 6 (39:40):
Yeah, good point.

Speaker 3 (39:41):
All right, let's hear from Q and Louisiana.

Speaker 2 (39:46):
Hik you Hello, Yes, this morning.

Speaker 13 (39:51):
I have a question.

Speaker 6 (39:52):
Good afternoon, Louisiana.

Speaker 12 (39:56):
H Campbell and the go Pacers is all I wanted
to say.

Speaker 6 (39:59):
You have a all right?

Speaker 4 (40:01):
Thank you, Oh Patriots, And that's Harold Landry. They were
taking a looking now. It's just been all over the place.
You know, big, big, big day for him, I mean
him and Chase on they've been as advertised and hopefully
you know he's gonna be able to have another big
game today.

Speaker 6 (40:15):
Get after Aaron Rodgers quick forcing to make bad bad throws.

Speaker 2 (40:19):
All right.

Speaker 3 (40:19):
The most important development of the day, though, is that
Paul Parrillo is in the house. He made it get
settled in.

Speaker 6 (40:27):
But I want to National Industry has walked in.

Speaker 2 (40:29):
Your voice is here in National with stupidity.

Speaker 6 (40:34):
For this trip.

Speaker 2 (40:36):
Please tell you know Matt was well versed on my travel,
you know, going in, and it was going to be close, right,
So I just said, I don't need it to be close.
I want to up the level of difficulty. I'm going
to leave my credential from Logan to pebty O.

Speaker 6 (40:57):
My god.

Speaker 2 (41:00):
If not, I would have made it on time. You
still made it, But I want to apologize for everybody
for my lack of professionals, which I'm not happy with.

Speaker 3 (41:07):
Your best available ability is your availability for our email.

Speaker 6 (41:11):
We just got your best availability.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
Patrio is what I missed.

Speaker 3 (41:16):
They're playing them three. Matt was kind enough to take
your key to the game and reinvent it for himself,
so you don't even have to you.

Speaker 5 (41:24):
Yeah, I think it's it's an area of concern. After
two weeks, I think you nailed it, and they've got
to be better. I think the head coach knows that
the coaching staff knows that they're not going to be
able to play and and and do the things that
they want to do by giving up the kinds of
you know, Paul, you know it's the ex play.

Speaker 6 (41:42):
Now it's they're the ex play.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
You would have liked it because I got a chance
to listen to a lot of our you know shows
coming in and there was a lot of criticism for
that term.

Speaker 6 (41:50):
So you would have loved it. Love it, yeah, expla.
But so they can't live by giving up a lot
of the X plays, right, you know.

Speaker 2 (41:59):
And that's the way the Stale do like to play.
They use a lot of twelve personnel and thanks Rich,
they have two they have two good tight ends and
Pat Friarmouth and now old friend John Hu Smith. So
that's why I felt like that was an area of
U focus.

Speaker 6 (42:14):
You know, I like to go down these roads.

Speaker 5 (42:16):
They generally don't mean anything, and I think when you
talk to the coaches, they say they don't mean anything.
But you bring up John hus Smith. Juthor also brings
up Arthur Smith, who spent a lot of time with
Mike in Tennessee. Is that just a wash that they
know each other? Arthur knows what Mike wants to do,
Mike knows what Arthur wants to do. What's that what's
that my field?

Speaker 2 (42:36):
You know, we talked about this a little bit during
the course of the week on PU and you know,
I think Rabel's experience, uh, you know in the league,
you know, coupled with you know, the amount of offensive
guys and former head coaches, I think that's a good
that's a good coaching staff the Patriots have with with
Josh and and you know, Todd Downing and Thomas Brown
and those guys. But at the same time, you'll go

(42:58):
on the other side and you have Mike tom One
who's been around for as long as anyone, with a
former NFL head coach, and Arthur Smith. So I do
look at that as kind of a wash. I think
there's some good coaching going on on both sides of
this matchup. I don't think it's going to because one
guy just gets caught completely unaware of what's going on,
but you know, stranger things have happened.

Speaker 6 (43:19):
We'll see.

Speaker 8 (43:20):
Well.

Speaker 3 (43:20):
Time is flying by, So before we get into the over,
UNDERS have a message for Pats fans. Game day is here,
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(43:41):
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(44:04):
Tradition matters. Paul, you came just in time for your
I think favorite part of the pregame show. It's basis.

Speaker 2 (44:11):
It's up there. Any game of nonsense you know that
requires no skill whatsoever, that is usually my favorite.

Speaker 5 (44:17):
Speaking of game of nonsense, how did the Citadel do yesterday?

Speaker 6 (44:20):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (44:21):
I tell you that's tough football to watch, my friend,
that's the second time they've losted thirty eight to nothing
this just no season. That's the second time they lost
Let me repeat that, thirty eight to nothing this season?

Speaker 3 (44:33):
What a score?

Speaker 6 (44:34):
What do you get for that?

Speaker 2 (44:35):
Tough, I think.

Speaker 3 (44:40):
For your availability.

Speaker 2 (44:41):
All right, all right, real quick, Kwani, last week, last week' scores?
Please last week Michael four and two, Tawny three and three,
and the loser that's me two and four.

Speaker 3 (44:54):
You know you are beautiful for this.

Speaker 2 (44:56):
Thank you, thank you. You look really nice. Thank you,
thank you.

Speaker 6 (45:01):
All Right, we only got Mike.

Speaker 2 (45:04):
Wait, is the show almost over?

Speaker 6 (45:06):
I like the out forget how about a half hour?

Speaker 2 (45:10):
I'm just clearing my throat. Mike and Kwannie are seven
and five on the season. Paul's five and seven. So
that's where we stand, like two weeks of action.

Speaker 3 (45:19):
Seven and five, but we need to keep up our streak.
We're going to start now with the over unders. Are
you guys ready?

Speaker 6 (45:26):
Ready?

Speaker 3 (45:26):
Okay, Drake may passing yards two hundred and twenty and
a half yards.

Speaker 6 (45:35):
I go first.

Speaker 2 (45:36):
Okay, I'm gonna go over.

Speaker 6 (45:37):
I'm gonna go over on Drake. Too much history of
the Patriots thrown on the Steelers. I'll go over.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
I'm going to go over as well. I think that's
a pretty modest total.

Speaker 3 (45:48):
Still, he dipped us last week.

Speaker 2 (45:49):
By a half a yard half still bugging me, but I'll.

Speaker 6 (45:52):
Take the over.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
I took the over as well. Do you want to
get on on this?

Speaker 2 (45:56):
I was going to ask, do you want the bull
sanctioned events?

Speaker 6 (46:00):
Do you want the bullpen? Yeah, let's go over.

Speaker 3 (46:04):
Okay, I'm gonna just put slash all aboard on the
board for over all, Right, Aaron Rodgers Passing Yards two
hundred and thirty and a half. I took the under
on this one.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Oh, Kwannie took the under. I'm going to take the
over on that one as well.

Speaker 3 (46:17):
I know I'm gonna myself for that one.

Speaker 6 (46:20):
I'm gonna go I'm gonna go under on this one.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
Yeah, I mean the yards have not been there for
Ron Rogers, so you guys are probably odds on favorite.
Hey Aron, Hey.

Speaker 6 (46:29):
Aron, ladies, first.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
I under actually pre ride all of mine.

Speaker 6 (46:33):
Now, let's go on answer, let's go under doing research now,
I'm really on a show of.

Speaker 3 (46:40):
Over prepared all right up next to DK Metcalf Receiving
Yards that's at sixty and a half.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
So I guess I go first on this one. I
am going to take the over on that as well.
That's another pretty modest total. I think DK Metcalf. I
don't know if you guys just talked about this Uh,
he's had some success against Carlton day Us.

Speaker 5 (47:00):
Just remember last year seeing him, seeing him hit that
slant over the middle.

Speaker 6 (47:06):
And what it was last coverage?

Speaker 5 (47:07):
Yeah blow against the Seattle's seventy yards or something like that.

Speaker 4 (47:10):
Yeah, that's a lot of yards. I remember that one
on one big chunk play. Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna I'm
gonna go over on DK two. I think he'll he'll
break that total, but hopefully they can keep him contained.

Speaker 3 (47:20):
Were the drama I went under. We'll see, We'll see
what this patrio is defense can do.

Speaker 5 (47:25):
An over nonsaction because I fear a slant and a
mistackle and coverage, I can.

Speaker 3 (47:31):
See that happening easily. All right, traveon Henderson rushing yards
twenty five and a half.

Speaker 2 (47:37):
Ooh, and go back to you, Mike.

Speaker 6 (47:39):
I'm gonna go under on that one.

Speaker 12 (47:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (47:40):
I think he's gonna be uh do his damage receiving
remonder to carry him to catch.

Speaker 3 (47:46):
Thanks.

Speaker 2 (47:47):
I will take the over. Steelers have had a hard
time with the run so far. I think there's enough
carries to get a couple of guys over twenty five yards.
I'll take the over.

Speaker 6 (47:57):
I would concur with mister Pirillo over.

Speaker 3 (48:00):
Yeah, I took the over as well for the same reasons,
knowing that they figure their defense on the ground right now.

Speaker 5 (48:05):
I think it's just kind of a sneaky you know.
We talked about the rookies earlier before Rollo came back.
Campbell and the guard's name Wilson underrated, played pretty well.
Crav and Henderson struggled last week. I'd like to see
maybe a little bit of a bounce back week for
them this week, and I think that he'll be a
little bit more involved, maybe has a chance on some

(48:27):
opportunities to produce like that.

Speaker 3 (48:29):
All right, Next up, we have total New England points.
That's at twenty one and a half. I guess you, Corny,
I took the over for the sake of my next answer. Obviously,
he can't tease it, don't he's a surprise.

Speaker 2 (48:46):
I won't even look at him. I'm going to take
the over too, ever so slightly over.

Speaker 6 (48:50):
I'm gonna take the over too, sweet, clean, sweet.

Speaker 3 (48:53):
Yes, we want points. We all want points this week.

Speaker 5 (48:57):
I would say that one of the reasons I'm doing
it is I don't think either of these defenses have demonstrated,
you know, the idea of let's go under on that.
You know, they're both have underperformed so far over two weeks.
Let's you know, you got to prove it to them
before it happens.

Speaker 3 (49:11):
All right, Finally, total score forty four and a half.
I took it over as well, obviously.

Speaker 6 (49:20):
Sugar plumps. I'm I'm under under under on this.

Speaker 2 (49:23):
Yeah, yes, I am under as well.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
That means you both don't have Pittsburgh scoring as much.

Speaker 2 (49:29):
That's right in theory.

Speaker 6 (49:30):
Okay, what about you over over with me over Steelers
under over all?

Speaker 3 (49:37):
Right, let's get to the Sunday six back.

Speaker 6 (49:40):
This is the Sunday six back, So kick back. And
by the way, anyone want to know I don't know.
This is Sunday Stars. I'm down at your Let's stadium.

Speaker 3 (49:53):
Well, I just found out Jay Z's in the house.
In the house, I think he may have brought Jason,
Tatum and Deuce. I'm just gonna make that up. I
did see a picture of them on the internet this
past week.

Speaker 2 (50:03):
So going to ring the bell.

Speaker 3 (50:06):
That would be exciting.

Speaker 2 (50:07):
I did hear a helicopters walking across. Maybe that was together,
Maybe that was Jay When you're close with them, of course,
I'm not close to No, I wouldn't I wouldn't know
be here. So last week there are some changes here.
Oh no, last week Kwannie four and two, whoa led

(50:31):
the way? I was three and three, Mike was two
and four. So the season, uh total should be seven
and five for Kwannie and Mike and Paul tied at
five and seven.

Speaker 3 (50:42):
So he's correcting the people. We're having beef with the producers.

Speaker 2 (50:46):
Guys.

Speaker 3 (50:46):
I think this is going to have to happen later.

Speaker 6 (50:48):
This is what happened. This is always happens.

Speaker 12 (50:49):
This is.

Speaker 5 (50:51):
Because because by the ways, just fitting that we're doing
over unders and Sunday six pack right now is I'm
looking out of the corner of my eye, I see
Brent and Jimmy the Greek on the screen. Just change
the people who invented point spreads on TV Brant and
Jimmy the Greek Classic.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
That's goodness. Did you specifically request the CBS show so
you can watch.

Speaker 3 (51:14):
Comical action? All right, we're running out of time. Let's
get into the six pack. Of course, the one o'clock
games are going to start with Atlanta at the Carolina Panthers.
Atlanta with a negative four point five on that one.

Speaker 6 (51:27):
Under I'll take I'll take Atlanta.

Speaker 2 (51:30):
Taking Atlanta, taking Atlanta by four and a half. Carolina, Yeah,
I don't know what's going on in Carolina. I'm going
to take the points. I'll take Carolina to cover.

Speaker 3 (51:41):
I took Atlanta as well.

Speaker 6 (51:42):
Flackens.

Speaker 3 (51:43):
The Flackens is taking the Flackens. All of us took
the Flackens, all right, l A Rams at the Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 5 (51:51):
That's at game of the day, right, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
Not happy with that. You know, cuts into my red zone.
I might have to do the post game show today
because you know, obviously I didn't do that. Should show
for that, I should do a little lecture for that,
right an hour?

Speaker 6 (52:09):
What if you do five to six by yourself?

Speaker 2 (52:11):
It wouldn't be the first time I've carried the show.
Eagles by three and a half, Mike, I'm going to
take Philadelphia to UH to cover that spread. I like
Philadelphia at home.

Speaker 6 (52:24):
Yeah, I was gonna I was gonna get a little crazy.
I'm gonna go the ROMs with an upset on the road.
Matthew Stafford, one last hurrah.

Speaker 2 (52:31):
Maybe you know that's what I'll be rooting for because
I do like Matthew Staff's right, that's why.

Speaker 6 (52:34):
So I can yell at you and you'll feel shame.

Speaker 2 (52:36):
He might be right.

Speaker 3 (52:37):
I'm gonna take Philadelphia as well.

Speaker 5 (52:39):
Tough to pick against the Eagles with the way they've
been playing. It hasn't been you know, lights out or
anything like that. But that's a good football team.

Speaker 3 (52:45):
That's going.

Speaker 6 (52:45):
That's a good football team.

Speaker 5 (52:48):
Any was there any talk this week about the tush push.

Speaker 6 (52:50):
I didn't. I didn't.

Speaker 2 (52:52):
They're gonna call it, call it tight, call it like, so,
I understand the whole thing, not to derail this into
it toush poys. I understand the whole thing about started
you know, fumbles or you know hard because it's a
pile of humanity. You can't really say it like should
it be that much more difficult to call a fall start?

Speaker 8 (53:09):
No?

Speaker 2 (53:10):
Why is that so hard?

Speaker 6 (53:11):
I don't know? And I could understand constantly it would
be pissed that he was.

Speaker 2 (53:15):
Yeah, okay, all right, everyone picked up.

Speaker 3 (53:18):
Next, we have Indy versus Tennessee Indy with five and
a half.

Speaker 6 (53:26):
Yes, I'll go, I'll take I'll take Indy on the road. Now,
I'll lay the points. Divisional games, I mean Daniel Johnson's
playing mine right now. No one saw that coming. I
think it continues against the Titans.

Speaker 2 (53:39):
I will take Tennessee to cover five and a half
division game road. That's a that's a big spread on
the road in a division game. I'll take Tennessee to
keep it close, keep it fair, keep it fair.

Speaker 6 (53:50):
Like it's Daniel Jones, it's the Indianapolis Cults. Let's settle down.

Speaker 5 (53:55):
Oh my god, I like the home team getting in
that situation.

Speaker 3 (53:59):
Okay, all right, up next we have something. Oh sorry,
I didn't even say I took the Colts as well.

Speaker 2 (54:05):
My bad. Okay, see that's why they don't.

Speaker 3 (54:06):
Just skipping myself. It's my fault. I'm sorry, guys, you
got that I do, all right? Our historian? All right,
Kansas City Chiefs versus guess who the New York Giants
Kansas City on that one.

Speaker 2 (54:21):
I don't know. Favored by six on the road.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
Isn't that insane? You guys know who I'm taking?

Speaker 2 (54:28):
No, you'll take the Giants, Chiefs getting the Giants, Yes,
because you're back.

Speaker 6 (54:31):
The Giants blue.

Speaker 2 (54:32):
I think I'm gonna take the Giants as well. I
think the Chiefs will win the game. But I can't
lay six points with the Chiefs in good conscience. I'll
take the Giants to cover wise move.

Speaker 5 (54:43):
You know what I'm gonna I'm gonna just make it fun.
I'll take the Chiefs all later point the monster game
for the Chiefs. You know, zero to two hasn't happened before.
I think the Giants are gonna play them tough. I
think they'll play them tough at the Meadowlands. I don't
know they're gonna win the game, but I think they'll
cover that number, all right.

Speaker 3 (54:59):
And then second and last, we have the Detroit Lions
at the Baltimore Ravens. This was a hard one.

Speaker 6 (55:05):
That's a really good game.

Speaker 2 (55:08):
Ravens by four and a half can be red zone, Paul,
that's Monday, Monday, n come.

Speaker 6 (55:15):
I'll take I'll take the Ravens. I'll lay the points.

Speaker 3 (55:19):
I wanted to take the Ravens, but I went with
Detroit for the drama and the plot. We'll see how
they can.

Speaker 2 (55:26):
I'll take the Ravens too. The Lions need to win
a game like this before I pick them in it.
They seem like they lose these kinds of spots. They
got blasted the last time. They were in Baltimore.

Speaker 6 (55:35):
A couple of start for Meathead continues.

Speaker 5 (55:37):
I like the Ravens in this game, and if the
Eagles aren't the best team in football, the Ravens might be,
although Buffalo would have something to say about that.

Speaker 3 (55:46):
Of course.

Speaker 2 (55:46):
All right, last week picking Patriots games, just pick everything,
only three settle.

Speaker 3 (55:51):
Dows alright, best for last guys, Steelers at Patriots right
here at jiu Lette Stadium, Pittsburgh with one and a half.

Speaker 6 (55:59):
I'll jump in first. I got the Patriots today. I
like how this is lining up.

Speaker 4 (56:03):
They've got to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers though, force
him into mistakes, stay balanced again. I think the game
boils down to Drake May's ability to handle the pressure,
to be able to fit the ball into tight windows. Steelers,
I expect, will spin the dial on him and try
to make it tough and take advantage when you can
to run. That's the one thing when you catch them
in man coverage and everybody's going downfield, don't hesitate to

(56:24):
tuck and run and pick up some key key downs
that way. So I'm going to take the Patriots a
twenty three to seventeen, not easy battle, right down to
the end.

Speaker 3 (56:31):
Yeah, I'm also taking I'm gonna take the Patriots, I
think mainly because mainly because both of these teams have
yet to figure out their identity on defense, and so,
like you said, it's a great opportunity for Drake May
to continue to figure out his offense scheme in general,
but also run the ball get the points so that
you can get hopefully against Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2 (56:52):
I'm going to continue my fraud on the ways and
have a pick on Monday and then change it by
the time we get to the end.

Speaker 6 (56:57):
Of the week of the Monday.

Speaker 2 (56:59):
No, I'm back to thets. I opened with Pittsburgh on
Monday on our shows, and the reason for that is
I thought the defense would be better at the time,
truth be told, I got caught being unaware. Didn't realize
that Stills were missing five starters on defense. So I'm
going to take the Patriots twenty three to twenty clean sweep.
Please see, it's a big boy game for the Patriots.

Speaker 5 (57:19):
Last week was a big boy game. Now they got
to do it at home. They got to try to
build some momentum and carry a little bit of that
from Miami. Clean up the pre snap penalties, play tight
don't turn the ball over and they can come away
with a win.

Speaker 3 (57:32):
All right, we're hitting the time, but I think we
might have time for a call with Nelson and La
Hi Nelson?

Speaker 13 (57:40):
What no, guys, how y'all doing today?

Speaker 3 (57:41):
We're feeling good. Don't hang up on me now, I won't,
but you you're running close on time.

Speaker 13 (57:48):
Twenty eight, twenty eight the twenty one. Okay, girl, she's
a stinger class and she said she's blowing twenty one.
She's going the same way twenty eight to twenty one.

Speaker 3 (57:58):
Good luck to the relationship. It all right, you know what,
Let's get to Ray in Atlanta. Ray, keep this short, please, Hey, how.

Speaker 12 (58:07):
Y'all doing today?

Speaker 6 (58:09):
Fantastic?

Speaker 12 (58:10):
I'm gonna keep this short. And all I want to
see is them be very effective on both sides. Look,
offense needs to run the ball. Run the ball, run
the ball.

Speaker 1 (58:22):
They just need to do that.

Speaker 12 (58:23):
Just run the ball and I get it. But run
that ball and be effective at that defense. Keep on
doing what you're doing. Sack City, you know, knock them
out the park, you know, knock them down like bulling
ball pins. That's all. That's all I gotta say. Great
game today, Thank you so.

Speaker 3 (58:40):
Much ray, run the ball, Run the ball, final thoughts,
before we know what's gonna actually happen.

Speaker 4 (58:47):
I mean, the base focus is the home game, getting
back on track at home, and that's what I think.
We spent all last week talking about howd it is
to win in Miami, what a challenge it has been
down there, and your bigger challenge has almost been at
home over the last couple of years. So I know
this has been a big part of Mike Rabel coming
in here wanting to host home playoff games.

Speaker 6 (59:07):
They got to start winning at home.

Speaker 4 (59:08):
They got to start playing their best football at home,
and hopefully they're able to close it out at the end.

Speaker 6 (59:13):
What I'd really love to see today is just really great, sharp.

Speaker 4 (59:16):
Performance from the offense at the end, especially the ability
to close the game out if they have the opportunity.
But that, to me is my focus with Drake, finding
that clutch close the Steelers out if you have the chance.

Speaker 2 (59:26):
Today, got to find a way to get after Rogers
make him uncomfortable. He doesn't want to get hit anymore.
He's not going to hang in the pocket hold onto
the ball. He's just either going to dump it off
or he's going to take the sack. I think that's
the key to shutting down Pittsburgh's offense. Win it home,
win at home, got to start, all right.

Speaker 3 (59:43):
Before we go, I just have to quickly read this email.
They said, did they really make grims drive all the
way home? How long have you been working there? I
just needed to leave you on that note. But I
think this person was on your side by the way.
All right, So before we go. Nothing says football season
like firing up the grill in the backyard and having
a cookout. And the best cookouts have the best looking lawns,

(01:00:03):
the lawns that are cut with Aaron mower. Aaron's the
official more lawnmower of the New England Patriots. It's proud
to help Patriots fans get back to football. You can
visit www dot errand dot com to find your errands.
Thank you all for watching the Patriots pregame show for
Matt Induce and the Pulparilla who made it. I'm Kuannie Lunaez.

(01:00:25):
We'll be back here right after the game with all
your postgame analysis. Thanks for watching.

Speaker 2 (01:00:32):
Hey, this is Evan. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

Speaker 14 (01:00:34):
If you really want to help us, make sure to
like us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get
your podcasts. Also make sure to fall on the New
England Patriots YouTube channel see this show and everything else
we do here at the Patriots. Thanks a lot,