September 16, 2025 • 20 mins
Matt Williamson and Tom Opferman preview the Steelers upcoming matchup against the New England Patriots.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Steelers fell in their home opener to the Seattle Seahawks
thirty one to seventeen. Matt, I don't know about you.
I still got just like a bad taste in my
mouth on the Tuesday that we're recording this from that loss.
I know it's just one loss, but I don't know.
It just seemed like the Steelers losing in all three
phases like they did it left you a little bit deflated.
Not to say the season's over by any stretch, but
(00:28):
I feel like, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
One thousand percent. I know what you mean.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And I do a podcast basically right after the game,
and usually my emotions are a little higher than and
I calmed down on Monday, of course, right look at
things more analytically and through a wider lens.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
But I had a hard.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Time coming up with things I was happy about, you know, like, well,
I mean, and there aren't zero don't get me wrong,
but every game has seventy percent good, thirty percent bad
or the opposite. I mean, it's never one hundred and zero.
And this wasn't either. But there weren't a lot of
things that I was content with, and I think so
(01:07):
much of it just starts on both lines of scrimmage
that I mean, chucknow would be proud. I mean, this
stuff goes back since the beginning of leather helmets, that
when you win at the line of scrimmage, it just
becomes easier for everybody else.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
And they're not doing that right now.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
No, they certainly aren't. And like you said, since there
was really nothing positive or very little positives to take
away from the last game, sometimes the best thing you
can do as a team is turn the page and
get to that next one. And we'll do exactly that
on this podcast as well. Prep you for New England
Steelers heading up to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the
New England Patriots, who are one and one. They defeated
the New England or they defeated the Miami Dolphins last
(01:44):
week on the road in Miami thirty three to twenty seven.
You can argue these are the two most successful franchises
in NFL since two thousand. Steelers are tied with New
England with twenty seasons with the record above five hundred.
The Patriots won all of their six Super Bowls in
the two thousands, and the Steelers added two to their cupboard,
so each team has six apiece. I mean, these two
(02:06):
really are the marquee franchises, the cornerstones of the new century.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No question, and they're in different places now than then.
This isn't Brady versus Ben or you know, Cower versus Belichick,
and the post Belichick era in the very end of
the Belichick era haven't been great for New England. But
I think they have a quarterback now and I think
they upgraded their coaching staff across the board from a
(02:32):
year ago that I can understand why Patriots fans are
optimistic again.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You know, they were two and six at home last year.
They finished the season with a minus one hundred and
twenty eight point differential that was fifth worst in the league.
They are zero to one so far in New England.
They lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Raiders
in Week one. Matt, this is a stat that jumped
out at me. Before last week, the Steelers had won
fourteen straight games when they had a lead at halftime.
(02:59):
They of course, blown a fourteen to seven halftime lead
against Seattle.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, I didn't know that, and I'm sitting there watching
the game and going into halftime when the announcers is like, well,
they've won fourteen in a row and this is a wrap. Yeah,
I bet I better drop that down for Matt's stats.
But I'm like, h no, that was a kiss of death.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
All Let's take a look a the quick series history
between these two teams before we get to the Patriots
defensively and offensively. The series began in nineteen seventy two,
the Steelers winning the first two matchups and five of
the first six overall, though New England leads nineteen to sixteen,
including five playoff matchups. Pittsburgh only postseason win against the
Patriots was a seven to six victory in the Divisional
(03:40):
round after the nineteen ninety seven season. The Patriots have
won the last three meetings.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Things a little because they've definitely matched a one postseason
win against New England.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I know, and well, when you take that into account, Matt,
they're one in four against New England in the playoffs.
But nineteen and sixteen, New England has the edge of
the regular season. You know, there's regular season success there.
In fact, the Steelers are a better team than them
in the regular season. It's just you can't do it
in the playoffs against them. A lot of that, of course,
was Brady during the last nineteen meetings dating backs, and they.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Don't have a lot of losses in the playoffs during
the Brady year. The Steelers aren't the only team they
losing record.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Good point. You can add a lot of teams in this.
In the last nineteen meetings dating back to December of
nineteen ninety eight, the Patriots are fifteen and four. Again,
that's Brady. That's pretty much against most teams that face
New England in that era. The Steelers have been to
eight Super Bowls. They've won six. Patriots have been to eleven.
They've also won six, which is the most of any
of the thirty two franchises. Mike Tomlin is three and
nine against the Patriots. All right, Matt, let's start with
(04:37):
the defensive side of the ball with New England. First
of all, the Steelers average four point eight yards per play.
There are only six offenses in the NFL that are
worse than that. New England, however, allows six point six
yards per play. On defense, only Chicago is better than that,
or actually they're only better than Chicago. Chicago is thirty
second as far as yards per play allowed as concerned,
(04:57):
and you England give up six point nine yards per
play last week in Miami, so this is ain't exactly
a stout defense.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
The Patriots have no but I think it's a little
misleading because explain, this is going to be the third
week in a row where I tell all of our
listeners that I know you haven't heard a lot about
these defensive linemen in New England or Seattle or the
Jets other than Quentin Williams. But it's a really good front.
(05:26):
And I think with the addition of Milton Williams and
Landry and now Barmore's medical stuff is out of the
way and some other dudes, they can cause problems up front.
And I'm not saying it's a great defense. I don't
think it's as good as Seattle's, don't get me wrong,
but maybe their most important player when we record this.
(05:46):
I don't know what Christian Gonzalez's status is, but he's
been questionable the first two weeks, hasn't played, but he's
to me, is like the next Sauce Gardner. I mean,
I think he's going to be a phenomenal, top five
type corner man guy, And I think that's really important
because we saw the impact of Sauce versus Metcalf and
(06:08):
the Steelers not throwing Sauces away. So I'm curious what
Gonzalez brings to this team. When you get event inevitably
gets on the field, whether it's this week or down
the line, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
They absolutely need him to bring something because it's actually
the worst pass defense statistically speaking in the NFL that
they give up like three hundred and fifteen or even
more than that yards through the air two of three
for three hundred and fifteen last week against the Patriots.
But your point about the pressure that they can get
on quarterbacks as well taken, and it should be for
Steelers fans because that's been a major major problem for
the Steelers offense is Rogers under pressure too much and
(06:42):
Rogers getting hit too much. New England had four sacks
in Week one, and they sacked to five times last week,
so they have nine sacks in just two games. And
last year, Matt, they had the fewest sacks in the
NFL at twenty eight. So they're off to a great
start as far as filling their massive problem that they
had last year. It's almost like a completely new team
from that aspect.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, and I kind of mentioned that they had a
ton of cap space and early picks and they're trying
to re build the entire roster that Frankly, Belichick did
not leave them in good shape at any position really,
but they did have a lot of cap space and
they're starting to spend it. Milton Williams was expensive, and
as you can imagine, Rabel, former Steeler, former Patriot defensive lineman,
(07:28):
basically started the rebuild in terms of spending money on
defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They can get up for the passer.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Harold Landry, as you mentioned, had two and a half
sacks against the Raiders in Week one. Milton Williams had
two sacks last week against TUA and the Miami Dolphins.
Can you attack the middle of the field on these guys?
Though that because I'm seeing Bob Splaine here as their
inside linebacker, I'm very familiar with him as well as
a lot of other Steelers fans and Christian Ellis, you know,
a waiver wire pickup from Philadelphia. Not very impressive as
far as the inside backer tandem.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
No, and I don't think the safeties are great. I
understand why you Peppers isn't back because he's not a
great scheme fit. But still he's better than the guys
are playing with. So I definitely think the middle of
the field is vulnerable. I'm not giving Spolaine a hard time.
A lot of people love him. I just see him
as somebody you can pick on. Yeh, a very limited athlete.
(08:18):
But I know his highlight tape is interesting, and he
is the coach's best friend and all that stuff, but
he's not really for me. I don't miss him in
Pittsburgh and another of the guys they have, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I do too. I don't think Spoleane's anything special. He
you know, has that big hit on Derek Henry. I
think he's kind of living off of that. As far
as the highlight reel is concerned, I would definitely pick
on him. We saw a lot of opposing offensive coordinators
for a few years here pick on him when he
was in the Steelers defense, So now it would be
a good time to return the favor a little bit.
As far as running the football is concerned, Matt, you know,
that's a great way to avoid pressure getting after your
(08:54):
quarterback to avoid Rogers getting hit. It's just establishing a
really good running game, and for a second straight week
they really haven't been able to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
New England only allowed sixty one yards on the ground
last week, and they actually have the third best rush
defense as far as yards allowed is concerned. But Matt,
no one's running on them because everybody can just throw
all over them, like Miami only ran the ball fifteen times.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
You're right, And it's with the bond A Chan who's
a you know, a different type runner than most teams
have too, you know. I mean it's a finesse, speed
little guy.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
And it's interesting, Tom because, like I mentioned before, this
we hit record that we're doing this Tuesday night, and
at this stage of the week I have fewer matchups
to talk about than usual, and I kind of think
that might be good for the Steelers in that maybe
this game is just more about us, you know what
(09:48):
I mean, Like, let's just get our running game going
and let's fix our run defense. And I don't care
who the opponent is or got a game plan around
this guy. And that that sounds disrespectful to pay, I
don't mean it that way. I just don't think there's
glaring heavyweight fight single matchups in this one as much
as most games.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
No, I agree with you. I don't think you're being
disrespectful to the Patriots. If I could pick one guy
that I'm worried about, though, maybe one matchup, one guy
that I want to pay respect to. Let's flip over
to the offensive side of the ball, and let's talk
about Drake May Matt, because I think they have something.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I love him.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think he is a legitimate stud at quarterback. They
had him throw the ball what like forty six times
in a week when he was like thirty for forty six.
They were always chasing that game against the Raiders, but
I never felt like he was overwhelmed by that moment.
And then he comes out next week, Matt, and he
sets a career high as far as completion percentage, just
concidered completing eighty two percent of his past he was
nineteen for twenty three. I mean, I think that this
(10:43):
guy is going to be something really special.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Yeah, and I am a big, big fan. There aren't
many quarterbacks I know. He doesn't have a huge body
of work that I would pick over May in terms
of who do I build my team around. Like if
you could say Steelers could grab someone off anyone's roster
for next year, he'd be really high on my list.
And last year is what really He was my number
one quarterback in that draft over Kleb, over Jade and Daniels,
(11:09):
which I mean, I'd rather have Daniels.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But you know what, though Matt he has had years
from now we might be debating.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
It might not be. I think it's might be more
of a conversation than you think. You know, no questions,
but he had so little around him in New England
last year and they didn't design any runs for him souse.
I don't think they want him to get hurt. It
was like him against the world, and he did enough
for me to be like, Wow, he's really good. And
(11:35):
I hate to say it, but I think there's another
great AFC young quarterback on the horizon.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Woo. You know, another guy that you have to compete
to get the Super Bowl, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I pick him out as the guy I'm kind
of worried about the most in this game. Because Steelers
secondary had its struggles last week. Jackson Smith and Jigbay
and Cooper Cup both had big games, Matt, And a
point that you brought up to me, and I think
that it should be said a lot this week as
we lead into that game, is there isn't a single
(12:05):
member in that game against the last week for the
Steelers who was in that secondary against the Seahawks that
was here last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler because Joey
Deshaun Elliott were your only continuity guys. You're only guys
that turned over from last year and they were both injured.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
They were both injured.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And if only five defensive backs played in that game
and none of them were Steelers last year, and I
assume Peppers will get ah at least a snap and
some run with the defense.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
He did not play any defense last year. He'd make six.
You know, he's the other guy wasn't here and he
got here like a minute ago.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I know. So that's tough. You know, you need to
have a little bit of continuity back there so you
don't have any communication issues. And maybe that's something that
plagued the Steelers throughout that game.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But uh, I feel like that it sounds that's exactly
what I was going.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
That's exactly where he's going. It feels like we're excuse
making but at the same time, mat like Jalen Ramsey
just got to cover Cooper Cup better, Jalen Ramsey can't
get beat by Jackson Smith and Jigua.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
And all those things are true. And you brought them
in because you liked them, and they need to play
better of course, But like like an offensive line though,
continuity and back end is important.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Do I pass this guy off? And when am I
getting help?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
And I and if this is if the same issues
are arising in week seven, week eight, or even a
month from now or a couple of weeks from now,
I'm not going to be like, well, these guys weren't
all on the same team together.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
No, no, no, I.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Mean it's it's they've only but they've only played two
games together, right, the entire secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
That's kind of weird.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Now. Last week, as far as a pass catcher was concerned,
in the Seahawk game, we said, there's really only one
guy you got to worry about, Jackson Smith and Jigba.
We were right about that. He had one hundred yards
again in the game against the Steelers, had a big
catch late in the game that helps steal that victory
for Seattle, but Cooper cup did a little bit more
than you and I were expecting him to do, and frankly,
I don't think you'll see that from him very often
this year. Are the Patriots a little bit similar in
(14:04):
your eyes where it's like Stefan Diggs is really the
guy or they got a little bit better depth than
Seattle did.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I think they're trying to figure that out where First off,
I did not see that coming from Diggs. I basically
thought or from copyright, I thought he was shot. I
hope I'm wrong. To be honest, I hope Kupp goes
on to have a twelve hundred yard season and revitalizes
his career and just ended last year rough, and that
would make me feel better. I didn't love that he
(14:32):
was producing. I assumed Jaysn will, and I think Jaysn
will every week. I think the Patriots are searching though,
like they gave Diggs money. He's the household name, but
if you even look at like route distribution and target
since only two games, he hasn't dominated like Jaysn did.
I mean, I think he's their best guy. Keishaan Boute
(14:56):
is really interesting and he's not a well known player.
But he's and one of these LSU receivers that LSU
thought and everyone thought was the heir apparent to Jamar
Chase and Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
He was like an.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Ultra recruit superstar early in his career and then a
bunch of issues non football related kind of derailed him.
But he's frightening, you know. And like Kyle Williams is
a third round pick that's barely seen the field. But
I love them and so they're trying to figure that
out and we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I don't think
(15:29):
any of them are superstars. Like maybe their first round
pick will be a wide receiver next year, you know.
I mean, like it's they're not loaded at the position.
There's not a Garrett Wilson or a JSN. But it's
a work in progress for them. But there's some guys
that are dangerous.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
They really only have two tight ends. They have Hunter
Henry and they have Austin Hooper. And Henry played ninety
three percent of the snaps in Week one and eighty
five percent of the snaps in Miami. They just not
a tight end offense. Or is Henry really all they need?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think he's just very solid and reliable, and I
think may trust him and he's out there snap after
snap and in a good way. But he's not gonna
like the world on fire. I don't think they play
a lot at twelve. I would have to double check that.
I don't think it's a high percentage. They do have
a pretty high percentage of having two backs on the
(16:17):
field together. And that's not a fullback like last week.
That's like Henderson and Stevenson out there together, you know.
So they're in a way like the receiver situation, they're
kind of searching for who's the best five and who's
the most dangerous guys we could put out there? But
Henry someone that's out there time and time again.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Let's talk about those two running backs that you mentioned there.
Ramandre Stevenson a threat out of the backfield in the
passing game. He had eighty eight receiving yards last week.
That was a career high for him. Henderson had a
thirty nine percent rush share in Week one. Travon Henderson,
the other running back, he only had a sixteen percent
rush share last week, so Stevenson kind of had more
of the touches. But they've been really split in touches
(16:56):
in these first two weeks, and as you said, they're
on the field at the same time sometime, So this
is really a true tandem that the Steelers will face.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, and it's a good one. I've always been a
Stevenson fan.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
He's under.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I think so. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I think he's a high quality player that fumbled too
much last year and kind of a little bit the
shine came off him, but he also had no blocking.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean, there was one of the only they're one
of their only.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Offensive players that was really worth the darn and Henderson
to me is a chance to be really really dynamic
and special.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Also is a return guy.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
It's funny though, and unfortunately Caleb Johnson's a poster boy
for this. But I was doing a fantasy podcast this
morning and kind of dawned on me, like after watching
that Hampton gent game on late Monday night. Yeah, every
rookie running back basically it's started really slow this year.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, maybe that's something that Steelers can be optimistic when
it comes to Caleb Johnson. Yeah, it's a league wide thing.
You got to worry about Drake May as far as
running the football too, Matt, it's not going to be
a design type of thing, like justin Fields in week
one or Lamar when you face him twice man from
week six to we.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
It'll be more than his rookie year. They didn't design
any for him his rookie years. Honestly, it was like
three designed attempts. Now they at least do some.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
He makes most of his hay in the running game.
In scrambling. He had three hundred nine ye scramble yards
week six to week eighteen of his rookie season. So,
I mean that's super dangerous for the Steelers defense. And
I don't want to spy a guy like Drake May,
but you just have to be aware that he can
hurt you if you live absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
I mean he's a.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
And that that week six to eighteen is when he
became the start. I mean week one through five he
didn't play, So he was basically the best scrambling quarterback
in the league, and a lot of it because he
was always under durest and nobody's blocking for him, so
he just take off and run. But you're one hundred
percent right. I mean he's not Fields, but he's somewhere between.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Darnald and Fields. You know what.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I mean, like he's a very dangerous runner that'll probably
end up with five six hundred dard rushing again this year.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Let's take a look at some key matchups before we
get out of here. We just talked about him. Patriots
running back Romandre Steve versus the Steelers run defense. Matt
I venture a guest that no matter who the opponent
running back was this week, whoever we were playing, you
were going to make a key matchup them versus the
Steelers run defense because they just have got to improve
in that area. There's no excuses.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, I wish I had more to elaborate on it,
but that's just the fact, Like it's below the line
and no one has to candy code it. Everyone knows
that the run defense isn't good enough. You can't even
just blame that boy. Fields is really hard to play
against and as an elite runner, and hey, I know
Walker and Hall are really good ball carriers too, but
(19:36):
this is the NFL and you're gonna face guys like
that every week. The run defense has to be better.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
And no secrets. So, I mean, the Patriots know what
they have to do. We know what they're going to
attack the Steelers or how they're going to attack the Steelers.
It's up to the Steelers to punch back. Steelers offensive
line versus the Patriots pass rush. No real surprise here
with this key matchup either, because it's it's like you said, Matt,
maybe this is a game where you just get your
stuff right, where it's just correcting the Steeler and pass
protection and stopping the run are two of the key
(20:03):
areas that they need to improve in.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Yep, Man, I'm gonna throw running the ball better as well.
I mean, these aren't secrets. People aren't listening to this
podcast going, oh, I didn't know that their running game
wasn't good enough. Yeah, I mean, it's pretty obvious that
both phases of offensive line blocking play has been below
the line, and the run defense has certainly been behind
below the line. A lot of the line of scrimmage
(20:25):
stuff isn't going their way so far.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
All right, that'll do it for us this week. Thanks
for giving us a listen Steelers and New England at
one o'clock in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Our local coverage starts at
nine with myself and Matt Williamson. For Matt, I'm Tom Opferman.
Thanks for giving us to listen to the Advanced Scout,
and we'll be back previewing the Minnesota vikings next week
before the Steelers trip to Ireland.
We got some work to do. This is the Advanced
Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Steelers fell in their home opener to the Seattle Seahawks
thirty one to seventeen. Matt, I don't know about you.
I still got just like a bad taste in my
mouth on the Tuesday that we're recording this from that loss.
I know it's just one loss, but I don't know.
It just seemed like the Steelers losing in all three
phases like they did it left you a little bit deflated.
Not to say the season's over by any stretch, but
(00:28):
I feel like, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
One thousand percent. I know what you mean.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And I do a podcast basically right after the game,
and usually my emotions are a little higher than and
I calmed down on Monday, of course, right look at
things more analytically and through a wider lens.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
But I had a hard.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Time coming up with things I was happy about, you know, like, well,
I mean, and there aren't zero don't get me wrong,
but every game has seventy percent good, thirty percent bad
or the opposite. I mean, it's never one hundred and zero.
And this wasn't either. But there weren't a lot of
things that I was content with, and I think so
(01:07):
much of it just starts on both lines of scrimmage
that I mean, chucknow would be proud. I mean, this
stuff goes back since the beginning of leather helmets, that
when you win at the line of scrimmage, it just
becomes easier for everybody else.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
And they're not doing that right now.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
No, they certainly aren't. And like you said, since there
was really nothing positive or very little positives to take
away from the last game, sometimes the best thing you
can do as a team is turn the page and
get to that next one. And we'll do exactly that
on this podcast as well. Prep you for New England
Steelers heading up to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on the
New England Patriots, who are one and one. They defeated
the New England or they defeated the Miami Dolphins last
(01:44):
week on the road in Miami thirty three to twenty seven.
You can argue these are the two most successful franchises
in NFL since two thousand. Steelers are tied with New
England with twenty seasons with the record above five hundred.
The Patriots won all of their six Super Bowls in
the two thousands, and the Steelers added two to their cupboard,
so each team has six apiece. I mean, these two
(02:06):
really are the marquee franchises, the cornerstones of the new century.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
No question, and they're in different places now than then.
This isn't Brady versus Ben or you know, Cower versus Belichick,
and the post Belichick era in the very end of
the Belichick era haven't been great for New England. But
I think they have a quarterback now and I think
they upgraded their coaching staff across the board from a
(02:32):
year ago that I can understand why Patriots fans are
optimistic again.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
You know, they were two and six at home last year.
They finished the season with a minus one hundred and
twenty eight point differential that was fifth worst in the league.
They are zero to one so far in New England.
They lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Raiders
in Week one. Matt, this is a stat that jumped
out at me. Before last week, the Steelers had won
fourteen straight games when they had a lead at halftime.
(02:59):
They of course, blown a fourteen to seven halftime lead
against Seattle.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah, I didn't know that, and I'm sitting there watching
the game and going into halftime when the announcers is like, well,
they've won fourteen in a row and this is a wrap. Yeah,
I bet I better drop that down for Matt's stats.
But I'm like, h no, that was a kiss of death.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
All Let's take a look a the quick series history
between these two teams before we get to the Patriots
defensively and offensively. The series began in nineteen seventy two,
the Steelers winning the first two matchups and five of
the first six overall, though New England leads nineteen to sixteen,
including five playoff matchups. Pittsburgh only postseason win against the
Patriots was a seven to six victory in the Divisional
(03:40):
round after the nineteen ninety seven season. The Patriots have
won the last three meetings.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Things a little because they've definitely matched a one postseason
win against New England.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
I know, and well, when you take that into account, Matt,
they're one in four against New England in the playoffs.
But nineteen and sixteen, New England has the edge of
the regular season. You know, there's regular season success there.
In fact, the Steelers are a better team than them
in the regular season. It's just you can't do it
in the playoffs against them. A lot of that, of course,
was Brady during the last nineteen meetings dating backs, and they.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Don't have a lot of losses in the playoffs during
the Brady year. The Steelers aren't the only team they
losing record.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Good point. You can add a lot of teams in this.
In the last nineteen meetings dating back to December of
nineteen ninety eight, the Patriots are fifteen and four. Again,
that's Brady. That's pretty much against most teams that face
New England in that era. The Steelers have been to
eight Super Bowls. They've won six. Patriots have been to eleven.
They've also won six, which is the most of any
of the thirty two franchises. Mike Tomlin is three and
nine against the Patriots. All right, Matt, let's start with
(04:37):
the defensive side of the ball with New England. First
of all, the Steelers average four point eight yards per play.
There are only six offenses in the NFL that are
worse than that. New England, however, allows six point six
yards per play. On defense, only Chicago is better than that,
or actually they're only better than Chicago. Chicago is thirty
second as far as yards per play allowed as concerned,
(04:57):
and you England give up six point nine yards per
play last week in Miami, so this is ain't exactly
a stout defense.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
The Patriots have no but I think it's a little
misleading because explain, this is going to be the third
week in a row where I tell all of our
listeners that I know you haven't heard a lot about
these defensive linemen in New England or Seattle or the
Jets other than Quentin Williams. But it's a really good front.
(05:26):
And I think with the addition of Milton Williams and
Landry and now Barmore's medical stuff is out of the
way and some other dudes, they can cause problems up front.
And I'm not saying it's a great defense. I don't
think it's as good as Seattle's, don't get me wrong,
but maybe their most important player when we record this.
(05:46):
I don't know what Christian Gonzalez's status is, but he's
been questionable the first two weeks, hasn't played, but he's
to me, is like the next Sauce Gardner. I mean,
I think he's going to be a phenomenal, top five
type corner man guy, And I think that's really important
because we saw the impact of Sauce versus Metcalf and
(06:08):
the Steelers not throwing Sauces away. So I'm curious what
Gonzalez brings to this team. When you get event inevitably
gets on the field, whether it's this week or down
the line, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
They absolutely need him to bring something because it's actually
the worst pass defense statistically speaking in the NFL that
they give up like three hundred and fifteen or even
more than that yards through the air two of three
for three hundred and fifteen last week against the Patriots.
But your point about the pressure that they can get
on quarterbacks as well taken, and it should be for
Steelers fans because that's been a major major problem for
the Steelers offense is Rogers under pressure too much and
(06:42):
Rogers getting hit too much. New England had four sacks
in Week one, and they sacked to five times last week,
so they have nine sacks in just two games. And
last year, Matt, they had the fewest sacks in the
NFL at twenty eight. So they're off to a great
start as far as filling their massive problem that they
had last year. It's almost like a completely new team
from that aspect.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, and I kind of mentioned that they had a
ton of cap space and early picks and they're trying
to re build the entire roster that Frankly, Belichick did
not leave them in good shape at any position really,
but they did have a lot of cap space and
they're starting to spend it. Milton Williams was expensive, and
as you can imagine, Rabel, former Steeler, former Patriot defensive lineman,
(07:28):
basically started the rebuild in terms of spending money on
defensive lineman.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
They can get up for the passer.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Harold Landry, as you mentioned, had two and a half
sacks against the Raiders in Week one. Milton Williams had
two sacks last week against TUA and the Miami Dolphins.
Can you attack the middle of the field on these guys?
Though that because I'm seeing Bob Splaine here as their
inside linebacker, I'm very familiar with him as well as
a lot of other Steelers fans and Christian Ellis, you know,
a waiver wire pickup from Philadelphia. Not very impressive as
far as the inside backer tandem.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
No, and I don't think the safeties are great. I
understand why you Peppers isn't back because he's not a
great scheme fit. But still he's better than the guys
are playing with. So I definitely think the middle of
the field is vulnerable. I'm not giving Spolaine a hard time.
A lot of people love him. I just see him
as somebody you can pick on. Yeh, a very limited athlete.
(08:18):
But I know his highlight tape is interesting, and he
is the coach's best friend and all that stuff, but
he's not really for me. I don't miss him in
Pittsburgh and another of the guys they have, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
I do too. I don't think Spoleane's anything special. He
you know, has that big hit on Derek Henry. I
think he's kind of living off of that. As far
as the highlight reel is concerned, I would definitely pick
on him. We saw a lot of opposing offensive coordinators
for a few years here pick on him when he
was in the Steelers defense, So now it would be
a good time to return the favor a little bit.
As far as running the football is concerned, Matt, you know,
that's a great way to avoid pressure getting after your
(08:54):
quarterback to avoid Rogers getting hit. It's just establishing a
really good running game, and for a second straight week
they really haven't been able to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
New England only allowed sixty one yards on the ground
last week, and they actually have the third best rush
defense as far as yards allowed is concerned. But Matt,
no one's running on them because everybody can just throw
all over them, like Miami only ran the ball fifteen times.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
You're right, And it's with the bond A Chan who's
a you know, a different type runner than most teams
have too, you know. I mean it's a finesse, speed
little guy.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
And it's interesting, Tom because, like I mentioned before, this
we hit record that we're doing this Tuesday night, and
at this stage of the week I have fewer matchups
to talk about than usual, and I kind of think
that might be good for the Steelers in that maybe
this game is just more about us, you know what
(09:48):
I mean, Like, let's just get our running game going
and let's fix our run defense. And I don't care
who the opponent is or got a game plan around
this guy. And that that sounds disrespectful to pay, I
don't mean it that way. I just don't think there's
glaring heavyweight fight single matchups in this one as much
as most games.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
No, I agree with you. I don't think you're being
disrespectful to the Patriots. If I could pick one guy
that I'm worried about, though, maybe one matchup, one guy
that I want to pay respect to. Let's flip over
to the offensive side of the ball, and let's talk
about Drake May Matt, because I think they have something.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
I love him.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
I think he is a legitimate stud at quarterback. They
had him throw the ball what like forty six times
in a week when he was like thirty for forty six.
They were always chasing that game against the Raiders, but
I never felt like he was overwhelmed by that moment.
And then he comes out next week, Matt, and he
sets a career high as far as completion percentage, just
concidered completing eighty two percent of his past he was
nineteen for twenty three. I mean, I think that this
(10:43):
guy is going to be something really special.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Yeah, and I am a big, big fan. There aren't
many quarterbacks I know. He doesn't have a huge body
of work that I would pick over May in terms
of who do I build my team around. Like if
you could say Steelers could grab someone off anyone's roster
for next year, he'd be really high on my list.
And last year is what really He was my number
one quarterback in that draft over Kleb, over Jade and Daniels,
(11:09):
which I mean, I'd rather have Daniels.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But you know what, though Matt he has had years
from now we might be debating.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
It might not be. I think it's might be more
of a conversation than you think. You know, no questions,
but he had so little around him in New England
last year and they didn't design any runs for him souse.
I don't think they want him to get hurt. It
was like him against the world, and he did enough
for me to be like, Wow, he's really good. And
(11:35):
I hate to say it, but I think there's another
great AFC young quarterback on the horizon.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Woo. You know, another guy that you have to compete
to get the Super Bowl, you know.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And I pick him out as the guy I'm kind
of worried about the most in this game. Because Steelers
secondary had its struggles last week. Jackson Smith and Jigbay
and Cooper Cup both had big games, Matt, And a
point that you brought up to me, and I think
that it should be said a lot this week as
we lead into that game, is there isn't a single
(12:05):
member in that game against the last week for the
Steelers who was in that secondary against the Seahawks that
was here last year as a Pittsburgh Steeler because Joey
Deshaun Elliott were your only continuity guys. You're only guys
that turned over from last year and they were both injured.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
They were both injured.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
And if only five defensive backs played in that game
and none of them were Steelers last year, and I
assume Peppers will get ah at least a snap and
some run with the defense.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
He did not play any defense last year. He'd make six.
You know, he's the other guy wasn't here and he
got here like a minute ago.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
I know. So that's tough. You know, you need to
have a little bit of continuity back there so you
don't have any communication issues. And maybe that's something that
plagued the Steelers throughout that game.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
But uh, I feel like that it sounds that's exactly
what I was going.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
That's exactly where he's going. It feels like we're excuse
making but at the same time, mat like Jalen Ramsey
just got to cover Cooper Cup better, Jalen Ramsey can't
get beat by Jackson Smith and Jigua.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
And all those things are true. And you brought them
in because you liked them, and they need to play
better of course, But like like an offensive line though,
continuity and back end is important.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Do I pass this guy off? And when am I
getting help?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
And I and if this is if the same issues
are arising in week seven, week eight, or even a
month from now or a couple of weeks from now,
I'm not going to be like, well, these guys weren't
all on the same team together.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
No, no, no, I.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Mean it's it's they've only but they've only played two
games together, right, the entire secondary.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
That's kind of weird.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Now. Last week, as far as a pass catcher was concerned,
in the Seahawk game, we said, there's really only one
guy you got to worry about, Jackson Smith and Jigba.
We were right about that. He had one hundred yards
again in the game against the Steelers, had a big
catch late in the game that helps steal that victory
for Seattle, but Cooper cup did a little bit more
than you and I were expecting him to do, and frankly,
I don't think you'll see that from him very often
this year. Are the Patriots a little bit similar in
(14:04):
your eyes where it's like Stefan Diggs is really the
guy or they got a little bit better depth than
Seattle did.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I think they're trying to figure that out where First off,
I did not see that coming from Diggs. I basically
thought or from copyright, I thought he was shot. I
hope I'm wrong. To be honest, I hope Kupp goes
on to have a twelve hundred yard season and revitalizes
his career and just ended last year rough, and that
would make me feel better. I didn't love that he
(14:32):
was producing. I assumed Jaysn will, and I think Jaysn
will every week. I think the Patriots are searching though,
like they gave Diggs money. He's the household name, but
if you even look at like route distribution and target
since only two games, he hasn't dominated like Jaysn did.
I mean, I think he's their best guy. Keishaan Boute
(14:56):
is really interesting and he's not a well known player.
But he's and one of these LSU receivers that LSU
thought and everyone thought was the heir apparent to Jamar
Chase and Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
He was like an.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Ultra recruit superstar early in his career and then a
bunch of issues non football related kind of derailed him.
But he's frightening, you know. And like Kyle Williams is
a third round pick that's barely seen the field. But
I love them and so they're trying to figure that
out and we'll see. Yeah, I mean, I don't think
(15:29):
any of them are superstars. Like maybe their first round
pick will be a wide receiver next year, you know.
I mean, like it's they're not loaded at the position.
There's not a Garrett Wilson or a JSN. But it's
a work in progress for them. But there's some guys
that are dangerous.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
They really only have two tight ends. They have Hunter
Henry and they have Austin Hooper. And Henry played ninety
three percent of the snaps in Week one and eighty
five percent of the snaps in Miami. They just not
a tight end offense. Or is Henry really all they need?
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think he's just very solid and reliable, and I
think may trust him and he's out there snap after
snap and in a good way. But he's not gonna
like the world on fire. I don't think they play
a lot at twelve. I would have to double check that.
I don't think it's a high percentage. They do have
a pretty high percentage of having two backs on the
(16:17):
field together. And that's not a fullback like last week.
That's like Henderson and Stevenson out there together, you know.
So they're in a way like the receiver situation, they're
kind of searching for who's the best five and who's
the most dangerous guys we could put out there? But
Henry someone that's out there time and time again.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (16:36):
Let's talk about those two running backs that you mentioned there.
Ramandre Stevenson a threat out of the backfield in the
passing game. He had eighty eight receiving yards last week.
That was a career high for him. Henderson had a
thirty nine percent rush share in Week one. Travon Henderson,
the other running back, he only had a sixteen percent
rush share last week, so Stevenson kind of had more
of the touches. But they've been really split in touches
(16:56):
in these first two weeks, and as you said, they're
on the field at the same time sometime, So this
is really a true tandem that the Steelers will face.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
Yeah, and it's a good one. I've always been a
Stevenson fan.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
He's under.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
I think so. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
I think he's a high quality player that fumbled too
much last year and kind of a little bit the
shine came off him, but he also had no blocking.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean, there was one of the only they're one
of their only.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Offensive players that was really worth the darn and Henderson
to me is a chance to be really really dynamic
and special.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Also is a return guy.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
It's funny though, and unfortunately Caleb Johnson's a poster boy
for this. But I was doing a fantasy podcast this
morning and kind of dawned on me, like after watching
that Hampton gent game on late Monday night. Yeah, every
rookie running back basically it's started really slow this year.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
You know.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, maybe that's something that Steelers can be optimistic when
it comes to Caleb Johnson. Yeah, it's a league wide thing.
You got to worry about Drake May as far as
running the football too, Matt, it's not going to be
a design type of thing, like justin Fields in week
one or Lamar when you face him twice man from
week six to we.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
It'll be more than his rookie year. They didn't design
any for him his rookie years. Honestly, it was like
three designed attempts. Now they at least do some.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
He makes most of his hay in the running game.
In scrambling. He had three hundred nine ye scramble yards
week six to week eighteen of his rookie season. So,
I mean that's super dangerous for the Steelers defense. And
I don't want to spy a guy like Drake May,
but you just have to be aware that he can
hurt you if you live absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
I mean he's a.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
And that that week six to eighteen is when he
became the start. I mean week one through five he
didn't play, So he was basically the best scrambling quarterback
in the league, and a lot of it because he
was always under durest and nobody's blocking for him, so
he just take off and run. But you're one hundred
percent right. I mean he's not Fields, but he's somewhere between.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Darnald and Fields. You know what.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
I mean, like he's a very dangerous runner that'll probably
end up with five six hundred dard rushing again this year.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Let's take a look at some key matchups before we
get out of here. We just talked about him. Patriots
running back Romandre Steve versus the Steelers run defense. Matt
I venture a guest that no matter who the opponent
running back was this week, whoever we were playing, you
were going to make a key matchup them versus the
Steelers run defense because they just have got to improve
in that area. There's no excuses.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Yeah, I wish I had more to elaborate on it,
but that's just the fact, Like it's below the line
and no one has to candy code it. Everyone knows
that the run defense isn't good enough. You can't even
just blame that boy. Fields is really hard to play
against and as an elite runner, and hey, I know
Walker and Hall are really good ball carriers too, but
(19:36):
this is the NFL and you're gonna face guys like
that every week. The run defense has to be better.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
And no secrets. So, I mean, the Patriots know what
they have to do. We know what they're going to
attack the Steelers or how they're going to attack the Steelers.
It's up to the Steelers to punch back. Steelers offensive
line versus the Patriots pass rush. No real surprise here
with this key matchup either, because it's it's like you said, Matt,
maybe this is a game where you just get your
stuff right, where it's just correcting the Steeler and pass
protection and stopping the run are two of the key
(20:03):
areas that they need to improve in.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Yep, Man, I'm gonna throw running the ball better as well.
I mean, these aren't secrets. People aren't listening to this
podcast going, oh, I didn't know that their running game
wasn't good enough. Yeah, I mean, it's pretty obvious that
both phases of offensive line blocking play has been below
the line, and the run defense has certainly been behind
below the line. A lot of the line of scrimmage
(20:25):
stuff isn't going their way so far.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
All right, that'll do it for us this week. Thanks
for giving us a listen Steelers and New England at
one o'clock in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Our local coverage starts at
nine with myself and Matt Williamson. For Matt, I'm Tom Opferman.
Thanks for giving us to listen to the Advanced Scout,
and we'll be back previewing the Minnesota vikings next week
before the Steelers trip to Ireland.
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