HR 2 - Power Rankings, Season Predictions

Tom Opferman and Chris Adamski share their power rankings to start the season and make predictions for the NFL season before it starts tonight.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Well, since the NFL season is upon us, it's only
right that we do something incredibly original on this show.
You never see this out of radio or columnists ever,
but it's time for our first official Steelers Blitz twenty
twenty five power.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Yeah, it's extra powerful because it's the start of the
season that I got to work up my vocal. Course,
they get to that point the only one that does
the vocal frame. Okay, all right, I can't compete with that.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
We'll usually do this on Wednesdays during the Blitz, that
makes sense, but since this is our debut show here
on Thursday, we'll do it today. Teams one through ten ranked.
We start with, of course, the highly technical JDQMTC or
the teams that just did not quite make the cut.
I got number eleven, the LA Rams, I got number twelve,
the LA Chargers. I got Houston at number thirteen, fourteen Cincy,

(01:01):
and at number fifteen, rounding out the jdq MTC, I
got your Pittsburgh Steelers. So those are my teams that
are just on the outside.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
I okay, I'm sort of glad you do that, because
I was going to open up my my what is
a JD I needed JQMD Okay, very good. See here
you just say I was. I was just little roll
off the time. Eventually get so I have number eleven,
the you're here, we go here, You're Pittsburgh Steel a
number eleven right outside the top. I figured Aaron Rodgers
said they're in that ten to twelve range. I had
to put them in there, put right in them back
in the middle of the tender. You know, don't go against him.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Know.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Number twelve a team that I don't have projected making
the playoffs, but still number twelve. None of the last the
Minnesota Vikings, I still think. I mean they went fourteen
and three last year. We don't need explanations for the
j d Q JB.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Doesn't have my chex. Guys, you can have some though,
I mean you all right.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Number thirteen the Denver Broncos, which might be a little
bow now that I think about it, because I do
have them, but I just think we're you get pretty
high down. Yeah, I'm higher on them probably than that represents.
But I still have them there because I just it
was hard to rank. I mean, there's a lot of
good tea that is there. Ever, fourteen the Houston Texans
and fifteen. The San Francisco forty nine ers are.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
The Niners kind of being slept on by a lot
of people this year, including me, because I didn't put
him anywhere in my top ten.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
GDQ, Wow, you even have them there, so I thought
maybe you were gonna say they're slept on. You had
him like eighth or something.

Speaker 1 (02:13):
The only team I actually had from the NFC West
was this number eleven l A.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
Rams.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
Oh, okay, I'm nervous about that. They let me tell
you this too. They'd be higher in my rankings if
Stafford's back wasn't so messed up.

Speaker 2 (02:23):
That's a decent point. Yeah, although I felt like, although
you never know, I mean, it seemed like that clarified
itself for the past week or so, that that was
all starting but three or four weeks ago on that
You're right, definitely it's back. You never know that fact
that could go right, Yeah, but not really he's three
years when starting run back, so we should maybe we
should say that. But yeah, I mean, I think the

(02:44):
Rams are really good, right, I mean, we'll we'll if
we get to the outside of the JD.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
You have them in your top ten, so I have
them there so well, let's start with our top ten.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Number ten.

Speaker 1 (02:52):
For me, I'm gonna go with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
To be going back and forth with number ten, Yeah, Bacane,
that's why we're such good hosts. Sorry, Chris, one of
one of wavelengths.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
You know, it's funny with Tampa Bay. They have not
lost this division in the NFC South since since Tom Brady
got there. Yeah, uh, they trans I thought they were
gonna be miserable after Brady. The roster was fine, like
they still had some dudes, especially in the defense, but
like I just thought, you know, you lose Brady, you
lose Arians. Like that was kind of the engine to
this whole thing. Is that kind of mind meld that
they had. Todd Bowles didn't have a very successful run

(03:27):
as a head coach's first time out doing it, so
I was skeptical there. But they transitioned from Arians to
Bulls real smooth, and Brady to Mayfield extremely smooth, and
they have not relinquished the NFC South.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
You're exactly right, because you thought good Brady and by
definition when he was forty five or forty three or
whatever you're going to put together. I mean, they had
those one year guys they had the the Gombak nsue,
like the those type of guys that were holeyt A B.
So you felt that's right. So you felt like they
were were going to fall off a cliff, especially because
the last season with Brady wasn't even that good. They
would nine and eight sneaker, they were nine and eight. Yeah,

(04:01):
and they got blown up by the Cowboys and had
Dak Prescott in Campa Bay. Yeah, when you lose the
Cowboys in the playoffs, it's not a but.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Yeah, they only got in because they won the South South.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Kind of like again like it the top of your
head because it's the stench of the Browns is like
Baker Mayfield flamed out with the Browns, which was a
again going back to house mistake by the Browns. But
the time, you're like, he couldn't cut up with the
Browns and this is their answer. Just kind of like
this is like their you thought. But there they go
and they have a really good run. Yeah, I think
they are. I think we still kind of think of
them as being like it's still Baker Mayfield. I don't know,
like the Browns reject sort of kind of cloudy, a

(04:33):
little bit.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
I've kind of come all the way around on Bakers,
like Baker's, Baker's he's the man. He's a French top
ten quarterback, and I think so he just wins. Yeah,
And it's extra hilarious that the Browns actually got it
right and then didn't want them.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
Like they got it right. He is worthy of the
number one overall pick.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
He is now a franchise quarterback somewhere.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
And it was like that was like their six or
seven shot over a decade or whatever. Man taken first
second round quarterback. They took the Kaisers, the the Weedons,
you go to the list.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
This is like he showed the signs that he was
right during it. He broke the rookie touchdown passing record
before Herbert came in and broke it. The next year,
he beat the Steelers in a playoff game. What more
do you want, Cleveland?

Speaker 2 (05:10):
Can you imagine that he came to Hinesfield, I'm called Heinesfield,
then beat the Steelers in a player their big rival,
the Browns in a playoff game the first time in
thirty years. Oh that didn't in Pittsburgh and then it
would have been what eleven months later, after an injury
riddled season that was underachieving. But again this is the
Browns were talking. What they go. I mean, they went
like five and eleven. That's the brown that's a good
year or whatever it was. And Mayfield was hurt and

(05:33):
he was playing hurt and they gave up on him.
Deshaun Watson they signed him less than a year after
take it. Remember he would he probably out played Mahomes
the next week he did almost beat the Chiefs.

Speaker 1 (05:45):
Remember what's his face? I can't remember the backup back
then for the Chiefs.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Chase Daniel No, No was chasing. There's so many of
those guys.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Let's just say it was Chase standing as a place.

Speaker 2 (05:55):
Might as well be whoever it was. Career had to.

Speaker 1 (05:58):
Come in and pick up a big first down in
that game, and he did it, and that's why the
Chiefs were able to win. Like Mahomes was knocked out
of that football game, it was a dangerous, dangerous proposition
for Canabis.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
So they were within seconds of beating the steel their
biggest rival in the in the Goliath in the NFL,
in the playoffs and then in a matter of championship game. Yeah,
and ten months later they benched Mayfield. It's hilarious. And
he goes on and becomes a perennial Pro bowler with another.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
Team, And now we got him as the favorite to
win the South yet again with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All right, Number nine, I got the Minnesota Vikings. I
know you don't have them in your top ten. Who's
your number.

Speaker 2 (06:34):
Nine is the aforementioned La Rams. Rams have a very
good roster, and if Stafford, I think they're kind of
almost slept on anymore. To a point, they just won
a Super Bowl four years ago, and I know dove
roster's turned over a lot, but I think.

Speaker 1 (06:46):
They've done a masterful job of turning it over. Yes,
that's my front office that I'm most envious of. I
think that's the front office that's really just clicking on
such a high, high level right now. Not to say
that the Steelers aren't themselves. We don't have a badfront
office here, But I just look at what the Rams
have been able to do.

Speaker 2 (07:02):
They should be bad.

Speaker 1 (07:04):
In the wake of giving up all those picks that
was Super Bowl, but they're not.

Speaker 2 (07:08):
And they know whether that now. They have had like
extra draft picks here that a couple of years third
and fourth round picks on defense are good players. Yeah, yeah,
yeah they've they've they've done it. I mean they might
you know, verse might be a deepoy candidate this year
and everything. And it is sort of like, uh, I
just think, yeah, that that right. I think I picked
them to win that that division, which I guess. I

(07:28):
guess they won it last year. It's not going to
a limb or anything like that. By like the forty nine.
People talk about the Seahawks some and but I don't
know why people are talking about the Seahawks some. I don't.

Speaker 1 (07:36):
I think the Cardinals might be the one that's maybe
the sneaky one there. Cardinals offense was really strong last year.
They just need to stop a nosebleed on defense.

Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, yeah, that's true. The Cardinals probably are. I didn't
even really consider them as a league.

Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I wouldn't think of them as winning it. Plus,
I mean they got a great running back, went to
a great call. There you go, all right, my vikings
at number nine, this team could be a top five
team in the NFL.

Speaker 2 (07:59):
They won fourteen game last year.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Their defense is amazing and it's led by a great
defensive coordinator. Their weaponry on offense is fantastic. I thought
the move to get Teland was really well done to
kind of fill that void with another pick guy being
out with his dui sentence, Jordan Addison missing the first
four games. But when Addison comes back and now you
have Jefferson Addison thlen. I mean, that's an unbelievable group

(08:21):
of pass catchers. It's just the unknown of McCarthy, like
that's the hang up. But I think it speaks a
lot of where we think the Vikings are as a
roster that I have him at number nine, you had
him just in your JDQMTC even though we have no
idea what this quarterback is going to look like, like
that speaks volumes to how good the overall team should be.

Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yeah, and you think about it though last year at
this time, well, we probably did have a good idea
of what we thought Sam Donald would look like. And
Sam Donald thought it would be like eight wins seven
on fourteen. Yes, and McConnell I think, I don't say
it's quarterback proof, but I mean certainly he's earned the
benefit of the doubt. Even if even McCarthy might not
be totally it that they'll be above the average and competitive.
But the problem is that division right now for them

(09:01):
is in terms of like I have them, it's the
third best team of the division. I think it's the
toughest division of football probably, Yeah, I mean it was
last year. I think for all three or three teams
made the player. I think the Bears are better this year.
And I think the Bears are or not not not
or a competitive bunch. So it is that that that'll
be that's of now I have. We'll get to that later,
I guess, but I have how the playoffs, even though
I think they are a fringe, you know, top ten team.
Little this is tough.

Speaker 1 (09:22):
Spot being in that NFC North number eight for me,
this is going to get a lot of disagreement.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
I have the Chiefs here at number eight, you know,
I have them higher as I'm not teasing a way
that they're not out of my JD coming up here. Yeah,
but I if I was doing it more and we'll
get to this too, And I'm probably doing another thing
that I hate the AP voters do, where I'm kind
of you'll see when we get to the top, I'm
kind of like rewarding you know, success. Yeah, yeah, And

(09:49):
I'm kind of like doing chalk, sort of like if
you gave me true, sir im, and if I didn't
rank the NFL teams, you know, I might not be eighth,
but it wouldn't be far off far Yeah, because number
eight my number is the Washington Commanders.

Speaker 1 (10:02):
I got them coming up a little bit higher too,
So we're a little flip flop maybe there. My thing
with the Chiefs, I just feel like they won what
was in eleven games last year by one score. That's
just not gonna happen. That's just not a sustainable thing.
So they're gonna lose more games. Like do you remember
the Denver game last year where Denver had them beat

(10:22):
and then they blocked an extra point or a field
goal to win the game. Like it was just it
really was it work. It seemed like there was witchcraft
involved a little bit. But I don't think that helps
them this year. I do think the Chiefs still get
into the playoffs. I also just think that the what's
different from this Chief's dynasty to like the Tom Brady Patriots,
is the division has risen up around Mahomes now, the

(10:45):
division has contenders now. Brady and Belichick just cruised through
the Aps like every once in a blue moon, a
Chad Pennington Dolphins would show up or a Mark Sanchez Jets,
but like there's no threats, there's legitimate every other team
I think is a legit threat this year Raiders are
my fourth team, But I still look at them as
like a that's gonna suck to play, Like they're not
gonna be.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Kind of like you talked about the Bears earlier that
yeah they're thorn in the side. Yeah they're they're not.
They're not a last place team. You know, they wouldn't
be a last plus seven a lot of exactly, and
they probably are in this one.

Speaker 1 (11:13):
So like the division catching up to them them kind
of teetering on that knife's edge last year two with
the one score games, I just think they're I feel
like maybe ten and seven, maybe eleven and six is
in the cards this year.

Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, and I'm probably I'll probably eat this. I just
feel like the Chiefs to me, if that was any
other team, if any other team had that season last year,
like what would say that was whatever the Buccaneers or
I don't know, but I don't want to if another
team had had that where they won that many games
in the last possession or one one score games. I
would have like, this is regression, Like I'm big on that,
you know, the nerdy type stuff like that where I'm like,

(11:46):
there's no way that's to say it though, But the
fact that it is the the standard dynasty of quote
unquote right now in the league, and they had won
the previous two Super Bowls, like like maybe I'm maybe
I'm you know, talking myself into or whatever. But it's like,
I feel like that wasn't a coincidence that did They've
they've established that, whether it's mahomes read, whether it's just
the you know that I don't know culture, or however
you want to put it, that they were doing that.

(12:07):
I don't think it was a total coincidence, and I
think so part of me thinks that was almost there.
What's the how do you say that N A D
I R. I Like, I like, this is one thing
where now I'm talking for for you know, for for
a gig. Whenever I usually type I don't have to
learn how to pronounce it NAT. Or is that the
way in the year you know, you know what I'm
talking about with the bottom of a of a you
know what the word is I'll look it up here.

(12:30):
I think it beans like the Valley. I'm trying to
say the Valley like that. I don't think you're talking
about that. They were red. They're the word the Green Party.
I don't know, but so in some ways it sounds
weird to say they went fifteen to two and lost
in the Super Bowl. I think that might have been
kind of their quote unote down years what I'm getting
at because the fact that they played all those toast games,

(12:50):
and I think I think Mahomes, you know, he hasn't
had an elite type statistical years now. Yeah, And is
that is that a side of where he's at catch
up to them now? Yeah? So I could definitely see.
I don't just agree nastily where you are, but it's
kind of like this. I picked the Chiefs when the
playoff stared lest year to make the Super Bowl, and
people I thought I was in it again the fifteen

(13:10):
to two. It was not in a limb, but it
was like to do that again.

Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (13:14):
I just feel like I feel like until somebody beats them,
they kind of have to be there because it's gone
on for what six years in a row now. Other
than the Bengals one time in the playoffs and a
couple of Super Bowl.

Speaker 1 (13:23):
I mean he's lost to two active quarterbacks when it counts,
Hurts in the Super Bowl and Burrow.

Speaker 2 (13:28):
In the AFC Championship Game.

Speaker 1 (13:30):
And the only other quarterback in the history of the
NFL to beat him in the playoffs is Brady, who
did it once in the AFC Championship Game and once
in the Super Bowl. So yeah, there's three guys ever
to beat Mahomes when it counts.

Speaker 2 (13:41):
So like I said, I wouldn't want to bet against them.

Speaker 1 (13:44):
I agree with you there, and I do think they're
going to make the playoffs. We'll get to the commanders
when we get to my spot with them number seven,
right in front of the Kansas City Chiefs, I have
my AFC West winners, the Denver Bronco.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
Who's your number seven? And it's fun now and this
is where I get Okay, my number seven is the
Detroit Lions. Oh okay, so you're little. I actually have them.

Speaker 1 (14:05):
Just to spoiler, I have them at number six form there.

Speaker 2 (14:07):
So we got the Lions right around there were.

Speaker 1 (14:09):
Rapid but Denver to start with the Broncos. It's really
a lot riding on bon Knicks having a good second season.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Their defense. Their defense is.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
Probably comparable to the Steelers as far as if if
you're trying to find teams to debate on who's the
best defense in football? And I have the Steelers, if
you came to the table with the Denver Broncos, I
think you'd have a pretty strong case as well.

Speaker 2 (14:33):
They're stacked at every level.

Speaker 1 (14:35):
They have the reigning defensive Player of the Year on
that defensive side. Sean Payton's a great offensive minded coach.
Clearly still has it as far as getting the team
to buy in, because I did not think they were
going to be a playoff team last year. They really surprised.
I think they can run the ball well. I think
that they have decent pass catchers. It's just about was
it a flash in the pan with Boon Knicks. Was

(14:56):
that a mirage or is this a real franchise level
quarterback can I think he's in the right hands again
with with Sean Payton, I mean that's a guy that
knows how to shepherd quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
And I I'm really high on R. J. Harvey, the
rookie run I think the Peyton that could be the
next like Kamara type.

Speaker 1 (15:12):
That's the thing, like he's you think of Peyton offensively
and it's like, yeah, he's got Drew Brees and they
throw to Michael Thomas all the time and they throw about.
But Peyton and those Saints teams could run it down
your throat too and are a lot of creative ways
with a lot of skill out of the back of
the past can bring to the table as well.

Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, so I think that that could be one of
the you know, if I had to, you know, offensive
rookie year, I think he will be in the conversation.
I think it's just again Peyton's track record after we
saw last year with with with the Broncos, you know
over tee when everybody thought and bo next is a
big part of that and and it is weird, and
I know it doesn't make sense, but sue me whatever.
Like I said, I I have my Broncos in my

(15:48):
queue blah blah with the Ford and I gotta I need,
I need a sign up the other O, t Q
whatever other teams receiving votes or whatever you your your
acronym was, But I have the Broncos and in that area.
But I am picking up and the Chiefs. We haven't
got to them. Yeah, I still haven't picking the Broncos
to win the division. We are picking them in the
last yea. It doesn't make any sense. I know, I
get it, but but like I said, I have to

(16:09):
see somebody beat the Chiefs before I before I'll predict
their rank them that way. But I guess I am
gonna I think the Broncos are gonna be I mean
they made the playoffs last year.

Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, exactly. So you had the Lions at seven, eye
the Lions at six. Who's your sixth place team.

Speaker 2 (16:22):
The AFC North Cincinnati Bengals. That's spicy. Yeah, that's I
I agree. Here's my rational offer. Yes that is high.
But my rational with this is right, they had offensively
last year. They were elite last year, right, maybe the
best offensive football. Yeah. So it's almost as if I say,

(16:42):
and I know they didn't do much the defense, and
they and their best player didn't you know that they
kind of I was gonna say, mess around with him
for a little bit there and uh and you know
didn't show up until.

Speaker 1 (16:54):
It turned out to just be all drama. Yeah, that
was a contract. I was like, this is all the
way around.

Speaker 2 (16:59):
So I get it might not be a lot way,
but here's my rationale is that the defense probably can't
be worse than it was last just by almost like
throw a coin to the defense will be better just
by it can't be worse. And maybe the offense is better. Yes,
and the offense won't have the bad start if they
didn't have the bad start. Remember, if you go, you
go from what wherever it is week ten on. Last year,

(17:20):
the Bengals may have been the best team in football.
No one wanted to play them in the playoffs. So
if they can avoid their their sleepy stars and I
know they're trying to do things different there. If that happened,
then they have to avoid that this year. I don't know.
I don't want to play the Bengals no matter who
you are. And I mean the Steelers lost the Bengals
and a lot in their most recent regular season game.
You know, they weren't whatever you want to talk about
motivation and that maybe not, but but yeah, I if

(17:41):
I had to pick my my Like overall NFL, I
don't know if they're sleeper or not. They made the
Super Bowl recently. They have a really good quarterback, but
they you know, like you call it spicy, so apparently
think it was my.

Speaker 1 (17:51):
I had them at number fourteen, so yeah, that is
pretty spicy to me because of that defense. I do
agree with you on the offense thing. The side of
things though, like that probably gonna be the best offensive football.
And I have the Bengals making the playoffs this year.
We'll do our division kind of predictions next segment or
maybe no promises. Okay, how about that. But I see

(18:14):
him throwing for fifty touchdown passes this year.

Speaker 2 (18:15):
He threw for forty three last year.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
That was the high watermark as far as touchdown passes
last season.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
I can see him getting seven more. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (18:23):
I just feel like we're about to witness a Peyton
Manning Denver Broncos esque season. Remember when he opened up
against the Ravens and had six touchdown passes in that.

Speaker 2 (18:33):
Game first season? Yeah, yeah, and they didn't have That
was a year in the well. The Broncos defense wasn't
as bad as the Bengals was this year. I don't
think any last year.

Speaker 1 (18:39):
Yeah, but yeah, but their defense wasn't the reason why
Denver was.

Speaker 2 (18:43):
But in some ways that tells they turned. But two
years later that defense was maybe the best in the league,
and Denver von Miller won them a super Bowl on
their back and Peyton wasn't Peyton at all by the
end of that. So yeah, And if you're talking about
a quarterback and I think that's total, I think most
people would it's not. I'm gonna maybe fifties a lot
to predict, but I certainly would not be surprised whatsoever
if that happened. You're gonna buy a mistake. You know

(19:04):
what your defense is, You're gonna you're gonna be a
double digit win team and then you're in the playoffs
and you go from there.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
I don't see fifty touchdown pass quarterback not winning at
least ten games.

Speaker 2 (19:14):
Yeah, and ten's gonna get you, so no matter how
bad the defense is, And I think that, Yeah, again,
if they didn't start slowly last year, if as bad
as the defense was, they still would have made the
plaoffs and they still would have been a team no
one wanted to play.

Speaker 1 (19:24):
All right, when we come back, we will get into
our top five for power rankings, and then we will
start making our predictions for the twenty twenty five season.
So keep it right heres. Next on the Steelers, Blitz
with Tom Opferman and Kris A.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
Damski. Tom Offerman and Kris.

Speaker 1 (19:45):
Adamski back on the Steelers Blitz on Steelers Audio Network.

Speaker 2 (19:49):
We are into our top five for percord while an
extra segment that must be special.

Speaker 1 (19:59):
We lovely got all they gagged around in that first segment.
We had too much great analysis to give you on
every team.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
That's what it is. We couldn't pass it up. We
couldn't sharing our wisdom.

Speaker 1 (20:08):
Of course, starting at number five for me, the big
dogs here to start the season.

Speaker 2 (20:14):
I got the Green Bay Packers at number five. I mean,
you don't have to do the Oh I don't, okay,
I feel bad. You're pushing buttons and I'm kind of
just sitting here. I don't have but.

Speaker 1 (20:24):
There's no buttons pushing the laser just had.

Speaker 2 (20:28):
We're trying to get fixed at the cosmic nose that
I don't want to do it power rankings. I was
gonna don't. I would have had to see you're this
is what this is? Why the stake with tanks Because
you talk about the Packers, I have the Packers still coming.
Should I break down the Packers? I didn't break down
the Packer and now I had the Packers. I'll say this,

(20:51):
this is as of last week, like last middle of
last week, I picked the Green Bay Packers to make
the Super Bowl. And that was before Time's end of
the day that too, And that was they acquired what
essentially effectively well their highest paid but you know, well
he's probably not paid higher than Jordan Love, but whatever.
The quired the second best defensive player in the NFL. Yeah,
so next to TJ. There you go. So if I couldn't,

(21:16):
I probably put him higher. I guess if I had
that much confidence in him before getting Yeah, I don't know,
but but that's where I have. I am at four
right now again because afore I mentioned you gotta beat
him till but I mean I was kind of it's
crazy to say what. They finished eleven and six last year,
and they made the playoffs.

Speaker 1 (21:31):
Yeah, but all of their losses were to the Vikings twice,
the Lions twice. I think they actually lost five games
last year. There was another one in there, but they
got swept by the two top teams in their division.
Like they just couldn't beat the top dogs.

Speaker 2 (21:44):
And that's what it because it almost was another one
they lost the sas. Yeah, you do that. It almost
felt like almost the disappointment, Like I like, I thought
last year was the Packers year where I'm like, oh,
because they were so the year before and they had
that really young roster and came on strong and yeah,
at the end of the season, I thought it was
the perfect like, oh, this is this is it? They
finished and that it siks their division. They finished third

(22:05):
place in their division, of course, and what the Vikings
did last year, the good lines have been. But so
they were a sneak. I mean they were the seventh
seed last year and they took a sledgehammer to Dallas.

Speaker 1 (22:14):
I mean they went into Dallas and just destroyed them
last year.

Speaker 2 (22:18):
That was two years ago, excuse me, to the playoffs,
but that but that's why going into that last year,
you thought they were so good and they were a
seven seed last year and then they lost to the
Eagles last year. That's what happened last year. Yeah, so
I really and now getting Parsons and we'll see. I
don't want to say love Plateau last year, but you know,
I was expecting a bigger step after the way you
finished twenty twenty.

Speaker 1 (22:36):
I think you're gonna get it this year, Chris, I do.
I'm high on Love too.

Speaker 2 (22:39):
And I think Golden's a really good rookie receiver and
they already had it pretty good. It's really good already. Yeah,
we have a good player position core as it is.
So yeah, I'm really bullish in the Packers. I'm bullish
on the Packers too. Uh.

Speaker 1 (22:51):
We'll do our Super Bowl prediction next segment or at
the end of this segment, but I I kind of
think I have them in the NFC as well. Not
to spoil anything, but yeah, I love Jordan Love a lot.
I love Jordan Love. Actually, it's the better way to
put it. And I see them beating the Lions this year.
For the NFC North, I think Lines and Vikings might
be your wild cards, but I think the Packers are
going to be the division winner.

Speaker 2 (23:11):
All right. Who was your number five team? Number five
team again to AFC North Baltimore Ravens. I see them.
We talked actually last week when when I was a
mere guest.

Speaker 1 (23:21):
Yeah, that's pretty love if you're probably right, But I
love the Ravens.

Speaker 2 (23:25):
Hate you're taking to the Steelers audio network so well, Chris,
there it is right, Well, I had to. And I'm
I've teasing a few times on my top two teams
are and I wanted I stuck with them as the
top two, and my two super Bowl teams are three
and four, and and I guess maybe I'm playing both
sides of it and it's not making it's not making
any sense, which fine, whatever. But because the Ravens again

(23:46):
roster rise, I just made them, I'm predicting kind of
the end of the season maybe, And I don't picked
them at the super Bowl, so couldn't pick him up
with my two super Bowl teams or last year super
Bowl team. So that's why that's what I slotted at
number five. But we talked about it last week some
about the Ravens. You go with the roster and who
they have, and man, it's the hold to find a hole.

Speaker 1 (24:04):
Yeah, yeah, number four for me, I'm gonna stick it
in the DMV. This is where I have the Commanders
coming in. A lot of people are saying that Washington
might take a step back this year. I don't think
I see that. I think they'll probably be about the
same as they were last year. I mean, they won
like twelve games last year. Yeah, So I mean is
a step back, winning eleven, Like, that's still a really
good team.

Speaker 2 (24:25):
I see them as a playoff team.

Speaker 1 (24:26):
I don't know if I have them catching the Eagles
for the NFC East crown, but I think they're one
of the top seven teams in the NFC for sure.

Speaker 2 (24:34):
Yeah, I don't. I don't know if there's much you know,
you would think the era is pointing up from them
for you from last year.

Speaker 1 (24:41):
And I'm excited to see this running back Chris the
seventh rounder who they literally traded Brian Robinson away because
they were like, this guy's our guy.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
Now he's a seventh round pick. Yeah, like this guy
must be real good. Yeah, Yeah, he's fascinating and yeah.

Speaker 1 (24:53):
Ackler two, so it's not like he has to just
do everything.

Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yeah, but and you still have big mcloral. Course. I
think they turned him right, and they the defense is
so there. I have I actually do and again one
of the nonsensicals that I do have the winning division
even though having blow Yeah, and that's partially based on
I mean, it's been twenty years and somebody's repeated as
the NFC East champion, and I think this is gonna
be the year. So yeah, It's hard to pick against that,
but I just feel like where the Commanders were last

(25:17):
year the NFC Championship, right Copper Championship, so they were
playing their best ball down the stretch there and then too,
I think, you know, I mean that the Steve remember
the Steelers went to Washington beat him, probably pound for pound,
the Steelers best win last season, I would say, so yeah.

Speaker 1 (25:31):
I mean that was a Final four participant in NFC Championship.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Team the room after a buy and everything, and still
Mike Williams making the big play only one Yes, he's
only played for the Steelers. The only played one target,
one touchdown there it was and that's hey, one of
a game. If he was talking about that trade and
he didn't do much the rest of the year, but
it wasn't for him being there. I don't know. With
all due I don't know if Calvin I like I
guess they were saying that play was run to Kalvinaugh
for some reason, I couldn't see a five foot eight

(25:55):
receiver on the way that play was designed, the way
that play was executed, I should say, I guess maybe, but.

Speaker 1 (26:00):
Us Wilson hard count too to end the game. That's right,
We're going to see that a lot this year. I
guarantee you that a lot more than rusted your number four.

Speaker 2 (26:08):
My number four is we agree to a package a
number four. That's number four, all right. So we got
the Packers at four. Number three for me is I got.

Speaker 1 (26:16):
The Buffalo Bills. Look at that, that's that's our second. Like,
we got Buffalo at number three. So who's your number
two team? Then you can't say Chief's number two.

Speaker 2 (26:25):
We'll keep them at number two.

Speaker 1 (26:26):
I'm gonna go to the defending Super Bowl Chaps at
number I'm gonna go with the Birds there.

Speaker 2 (26:30):
So I'm guessing the Birds are number one. They're my
number one.

Speaker 1 (26:32):
Just defaulted there, very uh predictable, Chris, number one and
number two are the super Bowl participants.

Speaker 2 (26:39):
I don't know, but I feel like they both. I
mean you certainly again, no one's gonna call you an
idiot from put the Chiefs. Yeah yeah, I mean the
Chiefs and again until they I mean, what is it
five and a six years in the Super Bowl? Prove
it to me? And the Eagles can't not, I mean,
you can't put to me like I say, what kind
of idiot? When? But the Eagles one. But if you didn't,
I don't want to go.

Speaker 1 (26:58):
So I also put the Chiefs eight, So I I
am a pretty big idiot.

Speaker 2 (27:01):
My number one team.

Speaker 1 (27:02):
Though, is they are Baltimore Raves. I just think that
they're the best roster in football. And I also kind
of like billing them up this way because then if
they fall short, it's hilarious and it's like.

Speaker 2 (27:13):
Oh, you guys were the best.

Speaker 1 (27:15):
Like I'm gonna say, like, this is the best football
team in five decades. We've never seen a football team
this good. It would be a huge failure if they lose,
and then hopefully they.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
Lose, and then when the Steelers get a couple, get
a call, because again, the Steelers have them. Even though
the Ravens have had, you know, better rosters in recent
years here, the Steelers have beat them or at least
once a year, and you know, more than that on
a lot of occasions. And of course, the bitter taste
in the mouth of the Pas the last two games
the last year kind of.

Speaker 1 (27:39):
Yeah, the pendulum might have swung back in the other
direction there.

Speaker 2 (27:42):
But but you know, again, those games are going to
be they always are late in the season. I mean
that that's what December and January again, I mean ever
so stupid. I don't you don't get the Ravens earlier.
You would think they do it at least just to
change it up, maybe a little bit at them, And
I get it. It's especially when you have the Browns
in the Browns and Division. You don't want them playing
a marquee. If you're a TV network, you know what

(28:02):
I'm saying, So you gotta eliminate them from playing it,
I guess. I mean the Steeers last year actually finished
with the Bengals, which was which was a change of pace.
But back to the old Week eighteen, probably a Saturday again,
flex to whatever channel does the Saturday games these days.
I can't keep it straight anymore. For that last game
and probably for they'll be stakes right always Steelers, right,
I mean the final game, whatever it is, we might

(28:23):
I might be one team playing for home field advantage,
one team whatever it might be, but.

Speaker 1 (28:27):
It might be a one way street, maybe one team's
resting starters, but somebody's going to be playing for their
playoff life for that game.

Speaker 2 (28:32):
I can guarantee you that.

Speaker 1 (28:34):
All right, that's twenty twenty five's Week one.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Here on the blitz. I gotta work on that. Don't
don't have to.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
Be all right, Let's get to some predictions. I got
pretty much chalk as far as the divisions are concerned
in the AFC. The West is the only one that's different.
Bill's repeat, Texans repeat, Ravens repeat, and Broncos take the West.

Speaker 2 (29:01):
And then I think that there's going to be two
wild cards out of the West.

Speaker 1 (29:05):
I think the Chiefs get one, and I'm going to
put the Chargers in there too, and then my last
wild card is going to be the Bengals. I think
they're going to finish second, and I put the Steelers
probably around nine to eight third place in the North
and that eighth seed first team looking in. So I
got three wild cards Bengals, Chargers, and Chiefs, and I

(29:26):
got the Broncos, Ravens, Bills, and Texans as my division winners.

Speaker 2 (29:29):
In the AFC. I'm with you on three of the
four division winners. And my I guess my out on
a limb, as you alluded to, was the Bengals winning
the AFC the North. So I haven't liked that. So
then I put it this way.

Speaker 1 (29:40):
I think that since the Ravens are the defending champion,
the kind of the team that everybody's chasing. I think
the Bengals have a better chance to chase them down
than the Steelers do.

Speaker 2 (29:49):
It's probably, Yeah, the Bengals have The Bengals have a
high ceiling, I think higher ceiling. Yeah, and they they
have a lower floor too, for sure. I thank you.

Speaker 1 (29:57):
That's a good point. Yeah, like they could be a
lot worse than the Steelers.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah, I could see them bottoming out two and so
I see that. But so maybe it's just me trying
to try to do something to stand out. But I
have the so I had to have the Chiefs in
the playoffs, have to have the Ravens in the playoffs,
and I will put the Pittsburgh Steelers in there sneaking
in the playoffs there probably as the seventh seven, so
that would probably match them up. Looking at that might
be a trip to Cincinnati if I if I had

(30:22):
I didn't do the seating, then go that far with
it in the first round. But you know, I probably
have the Bills as the top seed if I had
to do those right now, maybe Bengals, the two Broncos, three,
Texans four, So maybe that would be it. But Uh yeah,
it's it's uh it almost under underscores and the Steelers
making the playoffs these past few years, that because I'm
leaving the Chargers out, I want to get the Chargers

(30:42):
Chargers out. Yeah, and I had to, you know, maybe
I leave the Steelers. I don't know who. I didn't
know who to leave out. And I wanted to get
the Bengals in there for sure, and I couldn't leave
the Chiefs and Ravens out of the playoffs. I see
the Broncos again this sort of almost because like it's
it's the Chiefs one of these years are gonna have
a DOWBN. They're just not going to run roll through
the division right now. They have a worthy worthy challenger.
So that's why I gotta put the Broncos there. And

(31:03):
so then I leave the Chargers out. So I don't know,
but I feel like the Chargers are a playoff caliber team.
They're one team that kind of burned me to leave.
It's an eight team league.

Speaker 1 (31:11):
I think like I think eight teams in this league.
I think eight teams are playoff caliber teams and one
of the one of them is gonna have to miss
out on things. And then after those eight teams, though,
I mean, there's really not anybody there that worries me.
I'll give you three kind of sleepers. I think Vegas
could be a sleeper with Pete Carroll. I think the
Raiders could make some noise. I think that New England

(31:32):
could be a sleeper. I think that they're the only
team in the East that can really do anything to
threaten the Bills even slightly. I just think I think
Miami is going to take a step back this year,
and then I expect Tyry Kill be moved too. That's
gonna be I think one of the bigger trade deadlines.

Speaker 2 (31:45):
I could see that I could see I mean, I'm
predicting it, per Sae. I could see them be like
three and four. There is a total dumb disaster.

Speaker 1 (31:50):
I think they're going to sell a lot off at
this trade deadline. And then in the South, I'm keeping
an eye on Jacksonville. Yeah, I think you have to
do that. But I'm the point where that Folly wants
for me twice, like I get that, but also that
I don't know about the Texans, like how good are they?
The division is weak enough I think for Jacksonville and

(32:11):
if Travis Hunter is really good. Like I was talking
to Matt Williamson last night for countdown to kickoff, and
he is under the impression that Hunter is going to
be like the best receiver in this class, and he's
going to be one of the best receivers in football.
And they already have Brian Thomas Junior. If that's the case,
then they expected to be and the supposed to they
have those two, then they could for sure compete with Houston.

(32:32):
But I think they might be a thorn in the side.
But I don't see them making that much noise. So
you talk me into it, and I was. We talked
about those eight things. I couldn't even think who the
ninth team was really if I had to pick one,
maybe Jacksonville, right, yeah, it might be Jacksonville.

Speaker 2 (32:45):
I mean maybe it's just you just talked to You're
a real good sell job there, I was. I don't
know where I had didn't even have it because I
had after my others receiving.

Speaker 1 (32:52):
Blubb bu selling someone on the Jaguars an art I
should get like an award for top salesman there.

Speaker 2 (32:57):
You're right, You're tough to sell that. It's like selling
what the QB the Eskimo or whatever they say or whatever. Yeah. Yeah.
If if you're selling me the Jaguars being a good
team and I'm buying it, you must have really done
something there for me.

Speaker 1 (33:06):
NFC, as we kind of mentioned during our I've got
the Packers taking the NFC North this year. I've got
the Eagles repeating in the NFC East, which would be
like the first time in twenty years that that's happened.
As you mentioned, I've got the Bucks taken the South again.
It's boring, but I just feel like that's what happens.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
The West is the one that's so up in the air.
For me.

Speaker 1 (33:30):
I'll go with the Rams and just hope that Stafford
stays healthy enough, because if he does, I think they
are clearly the best team in the West. I think
the Niners will be better than they were last year.

Speaker 2 (33:39):
But I'm not a.

Speaker 1 (33:40):
Huge Rock Party fan. I can't lie. I don't think
he's that great, and I don't think that as the
team starts to have less and less weaponry around him,
I think you'll start to see his true colors come out.
I'm not saying he's terrible, but he's just I think
an average quarterback. So I got the Rams one in
the West, and then my wild cards in the NFC

(34:01):
Vikings and Lions for sure, and then I'll go with
the Commanders as that seventh one.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Yeah, like I said teas earlier, I had the Commanders.
And again it's probably just because I just feel like
something will happen, Like you know, I think the Eagles
are I still had the Eagles in the power Akings.
Like I said above them. I just think something will happen,
and just quirky and the Commanders, but the Commanders are
worthy to like, I think the Commanders are going to win,
you know, twelve or thirteen games. And if i'm you know,
if the Eagles, I mean that should you know something

(34:28):
there was an injury at the Eagles, whatever it is
is a little bad luck. I think they'll win the
division the Rams because I don't know, I just can't
you the forty nine Ers, I had the forty nine
as of a playoff team. Still that they're one of
my wild cards. And just like in the in the
AFC with the Chargers, I had to leave. I left
the Vikings out. I didn't want to, and I talked
up the Vikings a little earlier and I like the Vikings.
I just feel like I didn't know I had to

(34:50):
get the Eagles in. I wanted to get the Lions
in for sure. And I think the forty nine ers.
Every time the forty nine ers you think they're done,
they kind of bounce back. And they still have a
good coaching staff, they still have pretty It's weird Actrician
is really hit that roster. I don't know if there
was there was there, cap management not good. I don't
know what's going to happen where they had this like
great roster, and they've kind of been chipped away at
over and over over the last couple of years. But
I still think they're a playoff team. I thought they

(35:11):
had some bad luck injury things last year that affected
them so And yes, the Bucks, because there's really no
alternative in the South, even if you didn't believe in
the Bucks, Falcons are the only one. But yeah, I
just I don't see that right first.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
Year head coach, I don't know, or second year head
coach now after Arthur Smith last a couple years.

Speaker 2 (35:26):
Ago, and the Packers as they went in the AFC
North of my my wild Cards, the Lion's eaglesn't forty.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
Nine ers, Lion's Eagles forty nine ers. I think that
the NFC might be a bit deeper than the eight
teams we said are playoff contenders in the AFC, because
I could I could definitely spin Dallas into being a
playoff contender. I think you could probably talk yourself into
Atlanta being a team that confirmed they almost did last year,
and I think you couldn't see them flirting with playoff contention.

(35:53):
And then in the West, like like you mentioned the Niners,
I did not, So there's another team. I think the
Cardinals are going to be a solid full ball team
this year too. So I think the NFC has maybe
like nine or ten teams that you could look at
and convince you.

Speaker 2 (36:05):
Yeah, and if the Bears they have to play their
schedule playing their own divisions.

Speaker 1 (36:09):
Yeah, maybe the Bears become the eleventh team or something.

Speaker 2 (36:11):
I could sneak them into being a playoff contender too.
So yeah, I think you're right. Because i AFC, I
felt like there was the top eight and there's kind
of the a gap, and you know, some of those
teams could have sent in surprise, like the Patriots and
the Raiders, like you talked about but I felt like
there was a solid top eight and if you go
in the NFC, yeah you could the Vikings for sure.
I felt, I'm like, I wanted to sneak them in somehow,
but I didn't really have a path to sneak them

(36:31):
into the playoffs and my playoff predictions and yeah, I
mean if the if the Cardinals are even the Seahawks,
the Cowboys, those teams, I wouldn't be surprised. I feel
like if I was buying stock on the because I
feel people are so down to the Cowboys right now.
They are and it's and I get it, But I
also I mean, they just traded their best and they
got loo can at that some other time about the trade.

(36:51):
I think the trades are not as bad as people
are saying. But either way, it's for the future. The
first round picks aren't going to help you this year.
So they made themselves worse than twenty twenty five, no
matter how you slice it. But I also think that still,
I mean Dak's coming back. I still think it's a
good roster. They won the division a couple of years
ago one with twelve or thirteen games, So I think
the Cowboys by Stoff. People are so done. I'm gonna

(37:11):
I laugh laughing it when I get it. I'm totally
on board with all that. But I also think as
a team in twenty twenty five, they're a team that
I think will be better than people are saying right now.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
I too, I think they're I don't have them in
the playoffs, but I think they're a playoff contender. We'll
get our first look at Dallas tonight they play the Eagles.
We'll talk about that game next. We'll share our super
Bowl prediction. Maybe did partone to the water when it
comes to like MVP and stuff like that as well.
It's a Steelers Blitz on the Steelers Audio Network, Tom

(37:52):
Opferman and Chris Danski on the Steelers Blitz. Chris, before
we get to our super Bowl prediction this year and
looking at Cowboys Eagle tonight.

Speaker 2 (38:00):
In the NFL opener, do you have.

Speaker 1 (38:03):
A strong feeling towards an MVP right now as we
sit here mere hours away from kickoff of twenty twenty five?

Speaker 2 (38:09):
I have a very clear one. Okay, well, I guess
we previously talked about it. So if you got to
throw a fifty touchdown pasta there we go. So, yeah,
Joe Burrow, I mean he probably well I don't know
if he should have won the MVP, but if if
they would have, Bengals would have made the playoffs last year.
I think he makes it. I think he steals it
from Josh Allen. Yeah. Yeah, So if you go by

(38:29):
his stats alone, everything else, we could talk about whether
it matters of winning and all that stuff. I mean,
you could say he was the best quarter certainly down
the stretch, even if you take away the loss and
whatever mistakes you'd made early in the season and in
the Steelers game, wasn't his best game in the first
Steelers game, they still scored. Not to think it was
the best game. They still scored what forty points or
whatever it was. They lost the Steelers at home. But yeah,
I think, yeah, I forget to pick that. If I'm

(38:51):
doing what I'm doing with the Bengals, pick him and
win the division, go to you know, he better be MVP.

Speaker 1 (38:54):
Yeah, I have him as a wild card. But yeah,
I still think he's gonna as long as they get
to ten wins an r a playoff team, he's gonna
put up the numbers that I think are gonna get
him that award. He was the best thrower of the
football last year. He had the most touchdowns, he had
more passing yards, and he was right there as far
as completion percentage was concerned. He almost won the damn
triple crown if you want to invent that into a

(39:15):
thing for quarterbacks. With the percentage and that he's the
career leader in completion percentage career no.

Speaker 2 (39:22):
One in the NFL's history right now.

Speaker 1 (39:24):
Like if you go to his Pro Football Reference page,
you go down to the career section, it's got that
little gold highlight over completion percentage. He's the active NFL
not active, he is the all time NFL leader sixty
nine percent. Like it's absurd how efficient he is. Like
I know this isn't a thing, but it almost feels
like he's next, right, Like he's up next to win
the award. Alan got his has to Mahomes has too,

(39:46):
Like it's Burrows turn.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
There's always that big four runners the era win right now.
And that's and I didn't realize that because it's it's
not as if always completion percentage you can almost doctor
that if you if you're just dumping things off over
and over and but I mean that's not necessarily what
he does time. I mean, he's he's taking shots and
I know he has Jamar Chase and covers up in t. Higgins.
Then we cover up a lot of maybe maybe you
know a little off target throwers or whatever, but or

(40:08):
make plays for you. But that's saying something with that
offense is dynamic. And the completion percentage over a career
these past five years. And yeah, I just think if
he if he was in a if he wasn't with
the the stens of the Bengals brand sort of almost
you know what if he was drafted by the Chiefs
or or you know, I don't know, or yeah, but
he's a guy that it doesn't matter.

Speaker 1 (40:26):
Yeah, exactly, Like he's so good that there is no
stench foul enough to keep him down.

Speaker 2 (40:31):
He's made the Bengals a contender every year. Yeah, yeah,
he has. Right then you talk about Turner, you know,
like again talk about you know your quarterback right away,
and he was number one overall pick.

Speaker 1 (40:40):
He won the national title and things like that, and
sometimes they don't pan out immediately.

Speaker 2 (40:43):
He pan out him. Yeah, exactly knew you knew quickly
with him he was and he has Mane.

Speaker 1 (40:47):
Look, I'll just be honest with you, and the listeners
know this, if they've listened to me on the Steelers standard.
He's my favorite quarterback, probably my favorite player in the
NFL right now. I mean just he is kind of
like the perfect player at that position. I feel like
just I don't know, it's hard to describe. I'm in
awe of him, Chris. I have these quarterbacks throughout my life, though,

(41:07):
Like I had man crushed quarterbacks like no one will
ever top Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck was the best quarterback
I've ever seen. He was so much fun to watch
and just something about him and the way he went
about playing the position. I just I was enthralled by it.
Manning was a lot like that too, as a kid
with the omahas and change and everything in the laestcamer
you know what else was a lot like that when
he was in his prime. Cam Newton was a lot

(41:28):
of fun to watch. Command and offense, like he had
that like he had that really strong cadence and like
he just had that swagger to him. So I'm a
bit of a mark for quarterbacks and Burrows my latest.

Speaker 2 (41:41):
I just I love the guy particulate. Luck is only
thirty five years old, retired forever, and he could still
be I means older than him, He'll still be top
ten quarterback in the league. I mean it's wild and
he's kind of sad what happened to him and he
I guess he lost the love because of the injuries
and everything. But yeah, he sader for what happened to
the cults, well Indie fans. God, you talk about revolving
door quarterback. We talked about the Steelers have made the

(42:03):
playoffs every year with this trying to find the guy,
and the Colts have have gone through. I made it
once with the Rivers. Other than that, they've been kind
of bouncing around to these guys and haven't found I mean,
you know, the same you know they had what uh Yeah,
they've They've bounced around it a whole much. Yeah, Matt Ryan,
they had to come in and it's like, you.

Speaker 1 (42:21):
Know, Carson Wentz was Gardner, Minshew was a starter, Daniel Jones. Yes,
they're angling for one of these quarterbacks in this draft.

Speaker 2 (42:29):
They have to be. Yeah, I mean, there's just no
way about it.

Speaker 1 (42:31):
That's why you start Daniel Jones or Richardson both guys
will get you the same result.

Speaker 2 (42:35):
Honestly, Super Bowl prediction.

Speaker 1 (42:39):
I'm going Bills to finally ultimately circle the wagons and
win their first Lombardy and that curse if you will. Again,
like we said with Joe Burrow, it just feels like
he's it's his turn. It's gotta be the Bill's turn now,
it just has to be. So I got the Bills
winning it, and maybe they get a little two thousand

(43:00):
five Steelers luck where a Jake Plumber takes out Tom Brady,
maybe a Joe Burrow takes out of Mahomes or something
like that, and then you only have to beat the Bengals.

Speaker 2 (43:08):
Aaron Rodgers takes out one of them. Talking now we're talking,
but maybe you get a little help, maybe you don't.

Speaker 1 (43:13):
Maybe you just actually beat the Chiefs for a change
in the playoffs. But I got the Bills in the
AFC and winning things, and they will take on the Packers.
I got the Packers out of the NFC. Bills Packers,
Bill's winning.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
And we didn't we didn't discuss this earlier, and I
had Bill Packers. This is why I found it a
week ago, yep. And so this is even before they
acquired my Well that's yeah, no, nobody reason so you
would have folded me there, but no, yeah, I had to.
You're right, that's a great way of porting it. It's
crazy too because Josh Allen's on the Bills, and and
and the Bengals have made the Super Bowl. The didn't

(43:44):
win it, but they made the super Bowl with Joe Burrow.
But it's Burrow's you know, turn is because it's almost
amazing he hasn't wont an MVP yet and it's it's
amazing the Bills haven't made a super Bowl yet in
this era with how good they've been year after year,
and it's just like, yeah, you feel like it's that time.
So yeah, Bills and Packers, which is kind of a
fun if you think about it, fun super Bowl frash.
It feels good. Yeah, they're still in the Packers of course,

(44:06):
traditional old time teams, both brands that people like. They're
always on primetime games and everything. Both those teams. They
get them in there. And I don't hate the Chiefs
like a lot of people do. I get people they're
getting old, but it's just it's time for something.

Speaker 1 (44:19):
It's time for somebody to take them out other than
Burrow and the AFC side of things. Tonight, we got
the Eagles and the Cowboys. They kick things off on
NBC at eight twenty. It's an eight and a half
point spread for Philadelphia. That's too much. I mean a
division game shouldn't be that high. Anyway, Dallas isn't bad either.
I think there's a lot of maybe Vegas being like, oh,

(44:41):
the public thinks Dallas is a train wreck right now
because of the Parsons trade, so they'll probably fade them.
And it's easy to bet on the defending Super Bowl
champions too, So maybe we'll just put a lot of
points down and hopefully people will just lay the eight
and a half.

Speaker 2 (44:53):
No worries. I would not.

Speaker 1 (44:55):
I think Dallas will keeps us in a touchdown tonight.

Speaker 2 (44:57):
Yeah. What I was saying, like, I'll buy stocking the
Cowboys now because people are so down on them, and
there's been so like everybody point laugh at the Cows
and yeah, and I think they're a better roster than
people give them or thinking that, and they're kind of
forgetting that and forgetting last year was so injury riddled,
didn't have a quarterback, that kind of thing. So and
these Thursday night games. We've seen it and you never
know kind of the emotions of it and all that.
It is your right. The division game, Yeah, eight and

(45:18):
half is too many. I got Eagles will probably still win,
but the eight and a half points, that's that's hard
to pass out.

Speaker 1 (45:23):
They're not gonna blow out Dallas tonight. It's gonna be
a close game. I'm excited to watch it. We'll talk
about it tomorrow on the show and Previews Steelers and Jets.
He's Chris Sadanski. I'm Tom Aferman. Back again tomorrow on
the Steelers Blitz on the Steelers Audio Network.