January 2, 2023 • 39 mins
Missi Matthews, Craig Wolfley, Max Starks, and Bill Hillgrove break down the Steelers win over the Baltimore Ravens.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Point After on w d v E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by Parks Casino. The entire Steelers radio
broadcast team is here to break down the last game.
Here's your host, Missy Matthews. You know, I think the
offensive line those guys were, you know, the surge off
the ball was great and nas and and Jay were
(00:21):
setting the setting the block, so we hit some jets
were kind of getting them running, you know, horizontally and
then you know the basket put their foot in the
ground and get vertical. So I think Coach Canada, you know,
called a great game and how that's kind of doing
different things and um kind of cut them on their
toes a little bit. That was Steelers quarterback Kenny pick
It the first rookie in NFL history to leave lead
a game winning drive and touchdown in the final minutes
(00:44):
and back to back weeks. Everybody, Missy Matthews and Welcome
to the Point After with Bill Hill, Grove, Craig Willflee
and Max Starks. Our first segment tonight is brought to
you by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the
benefits the Steelers getting the sixteen thirteen in over the
Ravens and Billy. It was a good Sunday because two
things that needed to happen prior to the Sunday night
(01:06):
matchup happened. And here we go to Week eighteen, which
is a one o'clock kick at Acquisher Stadium against the
Cleveland Browns. I think they took care of business. They
had to do what they could control, which is certainly
take care of the Ravens. What pleased me was the
fact that they completely reversed the stats and the outcome
(01:28):
and the nature of the previous game on December eleven,
and I think that was the key. And Missy, you
talked to t J. Watt after the game live on
the field and uh, he brought up something that we
had also mentioned in the broadcast that they pad it up.
They boarded up on Friday, which kind of set a
tone for the game. And I think it carried into
(01:50):
M and T Bank Stadium. We did that for twelve years,
that this is now the old man. Well, there's cool.
Just because you walk twelve miles up school. We have
to do it. Tell us life, tell us life and
(02:11):
what it was like before golf carts exactly. Oh my goodness,
we didn't have any of those Gatorade popsicles at training camp.
I guarantee you. Hey, let's listen. Listen. Just because technology
got better, not me, it should it should be absconded. Okay,
you're trying to point out that I'm old, just simply
(02:33):
trying to say that you are seasoned and very well
first in your experience. Well, you are a diplomat, Matt, Max,
let's say, Matt Diplomax. As you can tell everyone's tired.
Oh boy, yeah, exactly. But it's a victory Monday guy.
So it's okay, we'll push through. And Max, we don't
(02:53):
even know where you're at right now, but we know
that you'll make it to Pittsburgh your Saturday. Right between
anybody in Panama. I just I just have a headset
that's just drilled, drilled and attached to my head by now.
I just I have not stopped calling games, even in
your sleep, even in my sleep, I'm calling game. We're
calling dreams. Max. What stood out to you yesterday in
(03:18):
terms of the physicality and the win and you know
what the whole team was able to do. You know,
I think one of the things that really stood out
was the physicality the offensive line, right, I think you know,
the way they were able to establish the run, the
way that they went forward um and also you know
Matt Canada not shying away from calling the run plays
(03:42):
like he was earlier this year, and when he would
get into moments where he's like, no, no, no, we're
gonna do it this way, and they just they stuck
with it. And I thought that was one of the
things that really gave this offensive line a lot of
you know, confidence, and confidence is built throughout the course
of the game as you call their number, third and
fourth and shorts, quarterback dives and sneaks like all of
(04:05):
those things play a role and helping your offensive line
go out there and and fight right that you get
more physical as the game goes on, as you wear
on guys, And I thought that was something that I
enjoyed seeing how it carried over since that last Baltimore game. Right,
it traveled from Carolina to the Vegas game, and now
(04:26):
it traveled to mm T Bank Stadium. We needed to
travel back to Accreasher one more time. And I thought
that's something that when you think about hanging your hat
on something the way Jalen Warren and Naji were able
to run and their physicality at the point they were
getting hit the back, they were making contact at or
beyond the line of scrimmage. That was something that I
was really excited to see and it invigorated me. I mean,
(04:49):
you talk me A couple of times. I jumped out,
you know when I a big play get ripped. That
was just something that you've been waiting for. You always
wonder when it was gonna happen, and then to see
it happened, infuition was a really cool thing that I
was happy we got to see live. Well what did
you take away? Oh? You know what? I love the
explosive place. The chunk plays are back. I mean the
(05:11):
Steelers winning that game last night. They were last in
the NFL with fifteen yard plus chunk place. So then
you got Nagy with a nice fifteen yard run, You
got Pickings, that monster fifteen yard catch, you had moved
with that twenty yard or that he scooped off the
top of his shoes. Then you got Deonte made with
that twenty one yard or and then you got I
think this is what I love. You got Steve Sims
(05:32):
with a hey, oh yeah, that's good. Here, hold my beer.
Watched this yard or down the field and it was beautiful.
And then you got Jalen Warren with the jet sweep
where he got the gunner Guero Shutski. He he gets
a trifecta of Ravens with one block. It was a
pinball effect. It was like picking up a split in
bowling man. He got three for the price of one.
So I love that. That was just great well, and
(05:55):
I think too, you know, you mentioned all those names
pot friar move, especially in that final drive leading to
Naji's touchdown Billy, it was, you know, all hands on
deck and Kenny Pickett didn't have a problem spreading it
around at all, um, and I just felt like, you know,
it was his coach said, two young guys and Kenny Picktt,
Nagy Harris, who are fiercely competitive, very hungry, want to
(06:17):
be the reason why they do good, and they sure
as heck proved it. I think that catch by Sims
as good as it was, and he made a really
great play. I think the throw was better. The throw
was into a tighter window that you won't see, and
Kenny was just cool with that stuff and he delivered
when it was time to deliver. And you know, we're
(06:39):
watching him progress into a really nice rookie quarterback. And
I pointed those stats out yesterday on the airplane when
we were flying back on a very happy charter. Uh,
somebody came up with this while trailing by one score
in the fourth quarter. In this season, Patrick mahomes number
(07:00):
one in pass efficiency rating at ninety five point one,
Kenny Picketts number two at ninety three point seven, and
Joe Burrows number three at ninety two point nine. The
stage is not too big for Kenny Pickett, that's for sure.
Jerry Doolak tweeted out something was pretty cool a three
game winning Uh, you've got three game winning fourth quarter
(07:21):
drives against the Colts, Raiders, and Ravens. His total combined
status are seventeen twenty one, A buck seventy four to
T d S no I N t S, and a
quarterback rating A one. Wow. That's pretty good. Yeah, I
just I just need him to not have a flair
for the dramatic week after week. It would be really
(07:41):
nice to have like a two score cushion with like
two minutes left in the fourth, you know, or formation,
that's what you're looking for just needle it out, you know,
I mean, yes, but no, But I mean I appreciate
that because I think when you're talking about gain, grit
and represisency and experience, um, don't those are just tremendous.
(08:05):
I mean, you can't ask for anything better than that
from from Kenney to have these experiences in his belt
as he's moving forward. So I really I really like
that aspect of it. I'm glad he's building that determination
and that that that stick to witness is, so to speak.
I think also not that this maybe isn't completely obvious,
(08:28):
but the Steelers have now stacked three straight wins and
have gone six and two since the bye week. I know,
week after week we talked about, you know, the changes
and maybe for the better that has happened. But Billy,
it just feels like this team is peaking at the
right time. And of course, you know they have to
win on Sunday. Other things have to happen, but this
is typically what you would like to see if you
(08:49):
are able to make the postseason. Yes, and this team
has won eight games, and I think those folks out
in lost wages. Nevada said before the season that the
over and are on. Their season was seven and a half,
so in that regard, they've already overachieved. But I think
more importantly from a two and six mark and a
lot of elevator music or noises Mike Tomlin refers to it,
(09:14):
they ignored it and got better, and uh, you know,
it's just it's so much fun to see, uh, two
second year guys in Naji and Friarmouth, two rookies in
pickets and pickings, and to see that offensive line just
get better in front of your eyes. It has been rewarding. Max.
(09:34):
I don't want to take away from anything the Steeler's
offense was able to do yesterday, especially in terms of
the run game. You know, the Ravens have not had
a one hundred yard rusher go against them yet this
year until Naji Harris came to town yesterday. Um, but
there was no Calais Campbell, there was no Marcus Peters
who was there and they were impact players in the
first meeting. So did that change things or it was
(09:55):
just the way the Steelers were able to scheme things
up and execute better. I think I think the Steelers
were able to scheme things up. I don't think the
mindset and the way that they attacked this game, it
would have changed much in their approach. I think the
double teams were solid, So whether it was about A
B K or Calais Campbell or Nichols or Project Washington,
(10:19):
they all would have gotten the business. Um by the
way that that offensive line was coming off the ball
and firing off the ball. And then for market Spears,
I mean maybe one or two catches might have been
defensed a little differently. We might have opened the door
for somebody else to have a big play. So I
don't know if those two being missing would have been
such a drastic difference, But at the same time, you're
(10:43):
appreciative when they are. I mean, just like I said,
we haven't seen Lamar Jackson in two games. I'm sure
they would want to say, oh, it would be a
different story Lamar wasn't here. But at the end of
the day, we're three and one against him in the
last two years. Um one, that and and and and
the one win was not because of Lamar Jackson. And
he's always struggled against us. So I mean, everybody's gonna
battle adversity at some point in the year, and it
(11:05):
just so happens that we we we came out tryumph
because we dealt with olive our adversity of the first
half of the season. Uh, Naji Harris is one hundred
and eleven yards on the ground or the most by
an imposing running back versus Baltimore since two thousand and twenty.
Derrick Henry of Tennessee did that to them. And then
in terms of the most by a Steelers running back
(11:26):
against the Ravens two thousand seventeen, you have to go
all the way back to l bell Um. But in
terms of Nagy Wolf his first one hundred yard rushing
game of the season, fourth of his career, is it
fair to say this was his best game or where
do you rank it in terms of how productive he was?
He was just superbly productive. I mean that's as good
as I've seen this horse run. I mean, you talked
(11:47):
about a guy really encapsulating the beast mode and turning
that thing on. I mean, it was not like he
was just running a way for people. He's stiff armed
guy's left and right. He was battling. I love when
he throws guys down. I mean that's just I mean
that that that gets your offensive line. Fire it up.
When you see a guy competing so hard he puts
a stiff arm out there and then bench presses a
(12:08):
guy into the ground and then runs over somebody else
and you've got people hanging onto him. It encourages the
rest of you to get involved. Get downfield, sheriff the pile,
watch over your guy, make sure he's cool, and make
sure that he's protected. He get him up, and then
you go back and you wash Rinson repeat, you know,
and I mean that's what I saw last night. I
saw guys that boy you talk about that inner triangle
(12:31):
of Kevin Dotson and Mason Cole and and uh James
Daniels and then of course you got Chucks and you
got h Danny Moore and that fivesome. Just what a
nice job. When they stretched the outside zone, they stretched it,
when they when they move guys off on inside zones
or gap box. I mean, they did the job. It was.
It was fun to watch because they were very skilled,
(12:53):
very determined and went after it. And it's just the
culmination of what Max and I we've been watching talking
about a Max all through and with you missive talking
about in Billy. You know, the fact is this line
is getting better, and they've gotten better. And you know,
the back makes the line, and the line makes the back.
That's the way it works about a relationship. And one
(13:14):
gets the other right, and one feeds off of the other.
You've got to feed the beast if you want the beast,
the beast. And that's what you saw. I mean, I
felt like it started to lead. You know, I would say,
you know, Naji before this game, I would say that
Atlanta game was probably the best game I've seen Run
as far as sure physical and wanting more. He just
(13:37):
didn't get enough. He just didn't get enough touches. But
this game he got the right amount of touches and
and the payoff was there. Billy also, you know we
have to when you talk about the run game discussed
Jalen Warren also, you know, an undrafted rookie, a young
guy on this offense who has really come alive throughout
and yesterday was another one of those days. Especially on
(13:57):
that jet sweep. He brings his own form of energy.
It's that quickness, it's that Okay, I'm going up I'm
going up field. Uh and and you know that's totally
different from Naji. And as it should be. He's a
different style runner, but I think what he does when
he comes into the game, he kind of gives that
old line some energy too, because you know, this guy
(14:21):
he's got some breakaway capability. Not only that he's shown
it as a pass receiver, but for him to average
six point three yards that carry like he did last
night was absolutely key to the victory. You know, it's
a good thing he's not six three because the fact is,
this is one of the things he does so well.
As he plays peekaboo with those linebackers, you know, he
(14:42):
sees that little glimmer of daylight and he makes that
break and cut like you were talking about Billy, and
you gotta enjoy you gotta love it because he presents
a different obstacle to um Naji Harris and what we're Naji.
You know, you got a good look at him. His
big guy and everything like that. You can see him
with with Jalen. Sometimes they lose track of that dude
and he all of a sudden is onto the second
(15:03):
level guys before they even know he's there. All right, well,
we have much more to talk about the Steelers now
Sitting at eight and eight as we head into Week
eight at home, closing it out the regular season with
the Browns. Will discuss much more about the playoffs and
their performance yesterday. When we return. You're listening to w
d V Back to the Point After, brought to you
(15:23):
by Parks Casino on dv E. How there's a shotgun
snap play action fig big right ft. T J. Watt
sacks him and that's a big sack for the young
man from Wisconsin. Seventies seven career sacks for t J.
Watt is fifth of this year and that ties Jason
Gilden on the all time Steelers list for number two
(15:44):
and coming at the appropriate time in the third quarter
the Steelers winning sixteen to thirteen over the Ravens. Welcome
back to the Point After, everybody and Miss Matthews with
Bill hill Grove, Craig Whifflely and Max Starks in This
segment is brought to you by the Greater Pittsburgh Community
Food Bank and Ons Appliance. For every field goal we
kicked this season, Down's Appliance will donate one thousand dollars
(16:05):
to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That's five thousand
meals each time. Thank you to Don's appliance, and you
can also donate to by texting goals to five zero
one five five and Billy. We talked a lot about
Kenny Pickett in the Steelers offense, rightfully so, but we
have to give the Steelers defense some love for really
clamoring down in the second half and providing the offense
(16:28):
with opportunities to get points. I think it was a
good game plan. Um. I love the fact that Mark
Robinson got probably more snaps than he had in his
entire rookie season prior UH. And I also noticed that Uh,
conspicuous by his absence was number fifty five. I don't
(16:49):
know if that was in the game plan or I
don't know what's going on there, but I can say
this that the eleven people on the field defensively did
a pretty darn good job. They made Huntly even more
one dimensional than he tends to be. Of the twenty targets,
fifteen were the tight ends. And I think if you
(17:10):
can do that, even though Andrews is a great tight
end um and likely, as you know, pretty good receiver,
if you can take their white outs out of the game, uh,
I think you can. You know, you can control what
they do Okay. Uh, you know Dobbins and company average
what four point three as a group rushing the football.
(17:30):
But you know that's fine because the past did not
really hurt the Pittsburgh Steelers. And also, uh interestingly, Desmond Robinson,
I say, Desmond, uh, Mr Robinson was the target on
Menka's interception at sealed the deal, Billy, to give some
(17:51):
stats to back up what you were saying about Mark
Andrews just yesterday, Um, he was targeted nine. He nine times.
He might made nine catches a hundred yards. Everyone else
when they were targeted five for eleven thirty yards. So
to go to your point of what they were able
to do. But will also the fact that after giving
up two and fifteen yards on the ground at home,
(18:13):
the Steelers defense be damned, was not going to let
that happen again. Exactly, So, miss, I mean that was
great fun. That was The trenches were a blood sport yesterday.
I mean they brought in You've got a six to
configuration with two linebackers and you got two end guys
with Watton Highsmith, and you put in four defensive guys
led by Captain Camp great googly mooglie. I mean you
(18:34):
just turn the tape on and just watched the brawling.
You know, Billy, It's it's like one of them pure
six things you're talking about all the time, Billy. You
know guys you know, just flail on about and it
was just a lot of fun to watch. It was
a hard fought game, and those types of games, they're
just when you come out of winning something like that,
I don't know, it just, um, it tunes you up
(18:55):
for whatever is next because it's a hardening process. Each
game is is kind of one of those things that, uh,
kind of gets you ready for something greater down the road.
And uh, for Kenny Pickett, that's just another opportunity to
keep growing as a quarterback, for this defense, to keep
shutting down running games. I mean, um again, Robert Splaine
(19:16):
did a great job and we're starting to see more
and more. I think of t J. Watt being the
reigning defensive Player of the Year well, and I think
also it's you know, it was that intent that they
learned from their mistake. Right, if you're gonna put if
you're gonna put Patrick McCarry, or you're gonna put Patrick
ricard Um in there, we need we we need to
(19:39):
have an answer, and if it does have to look
like a gold line fronts, then we'll bring the extra guy,
bring the heavy right, We'll bring, We'll bring We'll bring
in Isaiah Louder mode we're bringing to Marvin Leal and
we'll we'll we'll go with a four or four front
essentially with the two outside backers walked up, and we
will match your strength of strength because we've field we
(20:00):
can cover Mark Andrews with Terrell Edmunds or a Minka
right to uh, to combat that, and we'll take having
him in front of us versus a guy getting over
the top on us. We're mentioning a lot of rookies
here with Mark Robinson to Marvin Leel as well. Uh,
looking at the snap count this morning. If you look
(20:22):
at all the rookies to Marvin Leel played Mark Robinson
and Billy you were right. He only had seven snaps
on defense heading into yesterday's game. Jalen Warren Kenny pick
at a hundred percent obviously, George Pickings seventy three, Connor
Hayward seventeen talk about a rookie class um and just
being able to jump in and help out as much
(20:44):
as you can in your first season. This is exactly
what you want to see. These young people are coming
to the floor forefront and taking their proper alignment of
snaps and so forth and becoming the productive citizens that
you want. You know, you can only pay rent on
the special teams for so long before Moore is demanded
of you, and especially those who are are superbly gifted,
(21:05):
you know, to see, especially guy like Mark Robinson, who
really was after training camp you didn't hear much of
them at all, and then to see him gradually start
to spark here and there and in different you know,
practices and so forth, and then like you said, seven snaps,
I think you said, that's yeah, prior, I mean, that's ridiculous.
And here he comes to fifty and what a job.
(21:27):
And he really stood out as somebody just sitting there
going Okay, I like what I see so far. I
want to see more. We gotta, you know, see more,
especially in this situation where there's also the opportunity for
pass coverage things in that. But he really, I thought,
acquitted himself very very well. And what I liked was
this rookie class performed and probably the most hostile environment
(21:50):
that the Steelers have faced all year. You could tell
when we walked into that stadium last night that crowd
was ready to feast. They you know, they were smelling
the blood in the water. And you know it didn't happen.
And because young people played very well and basically blocked
the crowd out. And another thing, and I'm going to
(22:12):
get this off my shoulder, I know where you're going.
Well that light show, you know, I mean, okay, it's
one thing to have people hold up their cell phones
or their wrist bands and and do all that, you know,
fancy technical stuff. That's wonderful. But when you start dimming
those stadium lights with the people on the field, I
(22:32):
think they're endangered. And I think the leg has to
step in and say there's a limit to what you
can do with these new led stadium lights. For a second,
I thought we were at a Pig Floyd concert, you
know work we by the way, it's one of the
(22:53):
like best environments, you know, a home team like I mean,
they spare no express, I mean missing And I talked
about that. I mean, you know, because I'm on the
Fiestabo committee and I know we ended up looking at
doing something like that, and I was able to do
it was I mean the amount of money that they
put back into the stadium versus what you know, you see,
(23:13):
I was like it was, it was phenomenal. But you're right,
I mean it does cause the stroping effects of those
that might have issues with that. And of course, if
your team is down and still can't score and they
have to consistently do it, um, you know, it gets
a bit repetitive. But I mean from the first time
they did it with the intros and stuff, like, I
appreciated it from that perspective, knowing what goes into that
(23:36):
production value. Um. But yeah, I mean, you know, you
do want to cap a limit on it. Okay, only
only only three blackouts per game bouts obviously, well none
of the Ftisco and Super Bowl is a different story.
Well no blackouts in the fourth quarter or overtime. Yeah, well,
I agree with Max. I like it during the intros.
(23:58):
You hate to say it, but the Ravens just have
an awesome atmosphere that they create at that stadium with
their fans. We know how much they hate Pittsburgh, whether
it's the players, that coaches, uh, fans, whatever, And it's
kind of like how the Steelers have that home field
advantage In terms of primetime Baltimore is eight in one
under UH coach Hardball and Sunday Night football at home.
(24:18):
And you know, I know, Max gave the fun fact
yesterday that heading into that game, the Ravens were fourteen
and one at home versus a rookie quarterback UM under
coach Hardball. So it's not an easy place to play.
But it was bizarre, Billy, as you pointed out that
it felt like every time the Steeler's offense was about
to take the field, that's when they dipped the lights, um,
(24:39):
and you know, heading into TV time outs and whatnot,
but they are there are rules in terms of music.
You have to shut it off before a certain point
in between plays and snaps and whatnot. So it'll be
interesting to see. But it didn't work. It didn't psych
out the Steelers. I didn't get to do the postgame interviews,
but you certainly did, Missy. Was there much talk about
(25:01):
the penalty on Cam Heyward? I mean, Cam was obviously
asked about it. Manko was also asked about him and Cam,
you know, having having a chit chat on the sideline, Um.
But I don't know about you, Max. When I was
watching the team walk out of the locker room at halftime.
You could tell whatever happened prior to that did not matter,
and those two guys were ready to go and back
(25:23):
on the same page of being leaders of the defense
and the team. Yeah, no, they were locked in when
when they when they left that locker room to go
back and take the field. Um, there wasn't any residual
there was, you know, with anything else. Heat of the
moment and the and and the clutches of combat. You know,
emotions are going to run high, right, I mean, because
(25:43):
both guys care a whole heck of a lot. And
so you know, by the time they walked all the
way to the to the to the locker room, because
that is a longer walk because you gotta take this
left tunnel even though the right tunnel is like right there,
of course, you know, so you had all that extra
time and then all all the way back around whatever
it was. I mean, it's just like anything else, right,
(26:04):
It's like, why did I yell at you again to
your best friend? I don't remember, Okay, alright, we're good.
Just put it on my tab, right, you know, I
think it's healthy, Max. I think it's healthy you think
about it. I mean, you got captain Cam alright, make
is you know, another big, big name on that team.
But you can call a teammate to accountability. There's nothing
there's nobody above reproach. But the fact of the matter was,
(26:28):
I couldn't believe that they flagged Camp for what was absolutely,
in my mind, just ridiculous. Did anybody see Justin Jefferson
nearly whack and knock out a referee when he swung
his helmet against the Packers when Jay Alexander pushed him
out of bounds from behind and he pulled his helmet
off and just happened to you know, pull up and
he hit the back of the referee with his helmet
(26:50):
all right now. The referee said later on that that
Cam there was a touching of the official. Well, if
Can touched the official, all he was doing was coming
to balance. He was trying to keep from Ben Powers
throwing him with the underhook he had on on Cam
over the pile and Cam's just trying to be balance
and get you know, not roll over and and cream anybody.
(27:12):
I just I don't know, for the life of me,
I think that was just a bogus call. Uh, certainly,
Cam is not one. He's you know he is. He
can be a little bit volatile, but that's the nature
of the beast, right, But he's been around to know
long enough to know you gotta pull back and pull
the horns in it at a certain point in time.
I'm sorry, I just disagreed with that that penalty. I
(27:34):
thought Cam was just fine. Well, there was a poll
report done afterwards with referee Land Clark and the reporter
who did it um asked, just wanted to ask about
the personal file that was called him Pittsburgh defensive tackle
Cam Heyward lay in the second quarter. What specifically did
you see from him that warranted that call? He said, quote, Well,
there was some pushing and shoving after the play number
(27:54):
ninety seven. Continue to push after the play, that's why
it was called. The follow up was, well, was it
in the pile that you saw that he's head Quote
it was near the pile, yes, So continuing to push
each other, he said, correct, Okay, each other. So it's
what's about. Excuse me, there's Ben Powers. Hello. You know
he's not that hard to miss. He's about three pounds.
(28:18):
I don't know, Just yeah, We're getting a little touchy
feeling here, I guess, I mean, but I mean and
also I mean, this is where you talk about like
those gray areas with rules. Um, this is something I'm
sure will certainly be reviewed thoroughly. Um, this will come
before the rules rules Committee and looked at, uh with
a more fine to come because like you said, right,
(28:38):
this isn't like this is a normal occurrence. This is
a regular deal. Like think about like in Dominican sue, right,
you know, you know perfect like those individuals like where
you know they have a history of doing this. Yeah,
Cam is not in that same category. So for him
(29:00):
to get flagged and you know, this is a guy
who's just literally talking to the rest like literally the
previous play about something and then this happens, it is
like the refs almost knee jerk reaction kind of throw
the flag at him. I get. And and it's not
like he was trying to put all of his weight
on him and like you said, moving out as he's
trying to come to balance. But I mean, at some point,
(29:22):
as as a as a referee and official, you have
to use better discernment and better judgment. Yeah, and especially
since when the Ravens and the Steelers play it's a
field goal game, and you're awarding them the opportunity to
score a touchdown when they otherwise wouldn't have had it.
So that was my gripe. Yeah, yeah, Well, the good
(29:43):
thing is the Steelers were able to come back from
that in the second half to get the win. And
we're going to talk about that in much more, including
what needs to happen on Sunday for the Steelers to
punch their ticket to the postseason. We'll be right back.
You're listening to the point after back to the point
after brought t Flight Parks Casino on DV. You know
that's this that's this game, and particularly at this level. Um,
(30:05):
they're gonna be challenges. We're gonna be up against it. Um,
it's not about what happens to you, is how you
was spawn to it. Were a group that stays solid
and spite a circumstance, and UM, as long as you
keep bringing that stay solid mentality, UM, you know it's
in front of us. That was Steelers head coach Mike
Tomlin talking about the Steelers playoff hope staying alive after
(30:26):
everything happening yesterday thanks to two other games and their
sixteen to thirteen win over the Ravens. In case you
have not heard, the NFL announced late this afternoon Steelers
and Brown's at Aquasher Stadium will happen on Sunday, January eight,
a one o'clock game, which got raving cheers from this
group of people. But there will also be Billy some
(30:48):
other games at one o'clock on the same time that
the league conveniently set up that would impact the Steelers
postseason chances. That would be the New York Jets at Miami.
You would the Jets to win that game, that would
be number one, and then Buffalo playing New England in Buffalo,
but you need the Bills to win that one. And
(31:08):
of course, uh Steelers taking care of their business. Isn't
it interesting how you can flip from one team to
the other. Didn't we root against the Jets yesterday and
now we have to root for them? And also very
difficult for me to root for Bill Belichick, but I
was rooting for Now you get to root against him. Well,
(31:28):
that that's more natural, that feels comfortable. Absolutely. Look, you
know you got the Jets at Miami. Um. The fact
of the matter is, I think two was hurt. He's
probably not going to play. But I don't see Robert
Sela that the Jets said, coach. I don't see him
sitting down. I don't see him that. He does not
(31:50):
strike me as a guy that is going to tolerate
any less than your best effort. So I gotta feel
they can go down. They could pull they could pull
u a miracle off. But you know, we'll see. We'll
just have to see what happens. Also tonight, the Buffalo
Bills and Cincinnati Bengals are playing, so you know that
(32:10):
will go into next week and what happens on Saturday
when the Chiefs play the Bills on Sunday Max. Because
you know, there is still a fight in the a
f C for that one seed, and a number of
things can happen. And I think that's why the league
waited until the last possible minute to try and set
this schedule, to have, you know, a good grasp of
all the different scenarios that could possibly happen. There were
(32:34):
two things at play. Number one, the fairness part where
people don't get uh, you know, railroaded by the schedule
maker because uh, you know, they're not playing at the
same time as somebody that also is after the same goal,
you know what I'm saying. But also you know, I
think sets in use and the ratings game that they play,
(32:55):
you know, has to factor into their decisions. But I
think in this case, uh, they seemed to be fair
about who is playing. When our third segment Tonight is
brought to you by a clear View Federal Credit Union.
For every turn over the Black and Gold create in
two thousand and twenty two, clear View Federal Credit Union
will donate five dollars to the Light of Life Rescue
(33:17):
Mission clear View, helping people to enjoy a better life.
Visit clear View f CU dot org, slash touchdown and um, well,
you know you can't lay down against the Cleveland Browns.
They know they're eliminated. But I saw all over Twitter
today Myles Garrett already saying, hey, we would love to
ruin things for them. Oh, there's no question you know
(33:37):
that's what's coming. I mean that that was in our
hearts and minds back in the day. And no, Max
would feel the same way. If you're not going to playoffs,
you don't want them going to the playoffs. Whoever them was.
You know, if you could be a spoiler. All let
me be a spoiler because I'm not foot. Professional football
is not about group you know, kumbaya, It's about you know,
(33:59):
if we can't go, then really got the angst where
I don't want anybody to be successful and have fun.
That's just the nature of the beast. Well, you gotta
you got, you gotta play spoiler, and that's that's all
it is. I'm taking my basketball. I didn't get picked
in the park, so guess what nobody's playing because they instead. Yeah, exactly,
(34:21):
I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go two parks over just
to make sure you guys don't tail me. Oh, there's
no doubt about it. Look, you know that it's gonna
be interesting to see how this all folds out. In
the best way you can handle this, you focus only
on what you do, and uh, I think the bigger
story could be could Stephen Kevin Stefanski get fired and
(34:42):
be like the second or third coaches be fired. It's
more than that. Oh yeah, after a final game in Pittsburgh.
I might have to look it up. But they don't
even ride the bus back. I want to say five
ye now that you say that, I'm going to have
that stat Yeah, I I'm pretty sure it's it's higher thing.
Let me know, I'm gonna look that one up for
(35:03):
the for the game broadcast, for sure. That would be
great texts beyond it now here, here's the big factor
for the Steelers in addition to keeping their playoff hopes.
So I've nothing bigger than that. But in the backs
of the player's mind, Uh, the Mike Tomlins streak of
non losing seasons has to be there. Oh sure, sure,
that's the point of pride. Yeah. That that's the other
(35:27):
part of taking my basketball and going home is you
don't want to be that group when there's reunions league
years down the line, like, oh see, y'all of the
asterisks group. I've been hearing a lot about y'all. Do
you mean like tounch and I, Tounch and I when
we led the Steelers in the Decade of Indifference in
the eighties. Oops, Hey, Wolf, weren't you on a team
(35:52):
that butt luggage for somebody? I believe that. I don't know,
you know what, I can't remember. That's part of the ramnee,
you know what I mean? Well, you need to be recognified.
Recognification is important and absolutely well to go along with
the streak of never having a losing season. As you said,
(36:13):
Billy coach Tomlin, in his entire career with the Steelers
as head coach, has only played in one game that
meant nothing where the Steelers were already eliminated from the
postseason um and that was in two thousand and twelve.
I have a piece of trivia for you. It was
the last time Kenny Pickett was at M ANDT Bank Stadium.
(36:35):
Oh see, I know that answer. Okay. December one received
the Golden Arm Awards, the Johnny Uniteds Award imposed in
front of the statue with Johnny's son, and I think
with that performance yesterday, on top of the one last week,
I think John Unitis would kind of smile at the
efforts of Kenny Pickett. I got to meet him one time.
(36:56):
I was at a Retired player's convention years ago with Tontra.
We're hanging out there and all of a sudden, the
elevator door opens and there's Johnny you you know, and
I'm like, oh, oh, I gotta go meet him. He
was one of my heroes growing up. I ran over
and before I got there, the last thing TOUCH said
to me was, don't scare him. I can't run over Johnny. You.
(37:18):
I throw my hand up and he like steps in
front of his wife and steps back. I come back
and touch goes. You scared him, didn't you? Poor guy?
But he was It was great. What are you gonna
do him? I was all excited. Come on, man, he
was one of my heroes. Okay, okay, okay. Did you
(37:39):
did you have like a noteble drinking autograph? Or was
it just like you wanted to hug him? Which one
wasn't it was? It was the hug. Yeah, it was
just kind of Yeah. His wife turned to him and
said that guy should be on a leash. They let
anybody in here. Yeah, exactly, No, boy, what are you
gonna do? So? Macuse I assume the Steelers as they're
(38:02):
playing their game on Sunday will not be scoreboard watching?
Is that correct? As much as probably we all will be,
you know, because they realized that what proceeds all of that,
You've got to win first before any of the young
stuff needs to happen. So it's win the game and
then let everything else fall fall fall as it may.
(38:24):
So I think that's what you have to be seniorly
focused on and I think they'll do a good job
of that, and I'm sure coach will keep them engaged
in that type of manner because this is a team
you also lost to this season, so you want to
go avenge that loss. And we finished three and three
in the division, right and I think that's important too. Yeah,
(38:45):
in Week three feels like it was a hundred years ago.
We want to remind everybody about the Steelers Pro Shop.
It's where you can get up with the latest sideline apparel, hats,
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(39:06):
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shop dot Steelers dot com for Bill Hill, Grove, Craig
will Flee, back Starts, and our producer Tom. Thanks so
much for joining us here on the point after. We'll
see you next Monday.
Welcome to the Point After on w d v E Pittsburgh,
brought to you by Parks Casino. The entire Steelers radio
broadcast team is here to break down the last game.
Here's your host, Missy Matthews. You know, I think the
offensive line those guys were, you know, the surge off
the ball was great and nas and and Jay were
(00:21):
setting the setting the block, so we hit some jets
were kind of getting them running, you know, horizontally and
then you know the basket put their foot in the
ground and get vertical. So I think Coach Canada, you know,
called a great game and how that's kind of doing
different things and um kind of cut them on their
toes a little bit. That was Steelers quarterback Kenny pick
It the first rookie in NFL history to leave lead
a game winning drive and touchdown in the final minutes
(00:44):
and back to back weeks. Everybody, Missy Matthews and Welcome
to the Point After with Bill Hill, Grove, Craig Willflee
and Max Starks. Our first segment tonight is brought to
you by Brian Patton and associates. It's all about the
benefits the Steelers getting the sixteen thirteen in over the
Ravens and Billy. It was a good Sunday because two
things that needed to happen prior to the Sunday night
(01:06):
matchup happened. And here we go to Week eighteen, which
is a one o'clock kick at Acquisher Stadium against the
Cleveland Browns. I think they took care of business. They
had to do what they could control, which is certainly
take care of the Ravens. What pleased me was the
fact that they completely reversed the stats and the outcome
(01:28):
and the nature of the previous game on December eleven,
and I think that was the key. And Missy, you
talked to t J. Watt after the game live on
the field and uh, he brought up something that we
had also mentioned in the broadcast that they pad it up.
They boarded up on Friday, which kind of set a
tone for the game. And I think it carried into
(01:50):
M and T Bank Stadium. We did that for twelve years,
that this is now the old man. Well, there's cool.
Just because you walk twelve miles up school. We have
to do it. Tell us life, tell us life and
(02:11):
what it was like before golf carts exactly. Oh my goodness,
we didn't have any of those Gatorade popsicles at training camp.
I guarantee you. Hey, let's listen. Listen. Just because technology
got better, not me, it should it should be absconded. Okay,
you're trying to point out that I'm old, just simply
(02:33):
trying to say that you are seasoned and very well
first in your experience. Well, you are a diplomat, Matt, Max,
let's say, Matt Diplomax. As you can tell everyone's tired.
Oh boy, yeah, exactly. But it's a victory Monday guy.
So it's okay, we'll push through. And Max, we don't
(02:53):
even know where you're at right now, but we know
that you'll make it to Pittsburgh your Saturday. Right between
anybody in Panama. I just I just have a headset
that's just drilled, drilled and attached to my head by now.
I just I have not stopped calling games, even in
your sleep, even in my sleep, I'm calling game. We're
calling dreams. Max. What stood out to you yesterday in
(03:18):
terms of the physicality and the win and you know
what the whole team was able to do. You know,
I think one of the things that really stood out
was the physicality the offensive line, right, I think you know,
the way they were able to establish the run, the
way that they went forward um and also you know
Matt Canada not shying away from calling the run plays
(03:42):
like he was earlier this year, and when he would
get into moments where he's like, no, no, no, we're
gonna do it this way, and they just they stuck
with it. And I thought that was one of the
things that really gave this offensive line a lot of
you know, confidence, and confidence is built throughout the course
of the game as you call their number, third and
fourth and shorts, quarterback dives and sneaks like all of
(04:05):
those things play a role and helping your offensive line
go out there and and fight right that you get
more physical as the game goes on, as you wear
on guys, And I thought that was something that I
enjoyed seeing how it carried over since that last Baltimore game. Right,
it traveled from Carolina to the Vegas game, and now
(04:26):
it traveled to mm T Bank Stadium. We needed to
travel back to Accreasher one more time. And I thought
that's something that when you think about hanging your hat
on something the way Jalen Warren and Naji were able
to run and their physicality at the point they were
getting hit the back, they were making contact at or
beyond the line of scrimmage. That was something that I
was really excited to see and it invigorated me. I mean,
(04:49):
you talk me A couple of times. I jumped out,
you know when I a big play get ripped. That
was just something that you've been waiting for. You always
wonder when it was gonna happen, and then to see
it happened, infuition was a really cool thing that I
was happy we got to see live. Well what did
you take away? Oh? You know what? I love the
explosive place. The chunk plays are back. I mean the
(05:11):
Steelers winning that game last night. They were last in
the NFL with fifteen yard plus chunk place. So then
you got Nagy with a nice fifteen yard run, You
got Pickings, that monster fifteen yard catch, you had moved
with that twenty yard or that he scooped off the
top of his shoes. Then you got Deonte made with
that twenty one yard or and then you got I
think this is what I love. You got Steve Sims
(05:32):
with a hey, oh yeah, that's good. Here, hold my beer.
Watched this yard or down the field and it was beautiful.
And then you got Jalen Warren with the jet sweep
where he got the gunner Guero Shutski. He he gets
a trifecta of Ravens with one block. It was a
pinball effect. It was like picking up a split in
bowling man. He got three for the price of one.
So I love that. That was just great well, and
(05:55):
I think too, you know, you mentioned all those names
pot friar move, especially in that final drive leading to
Naji's touchdown Billy, it was, you know, all hands on
deck and Kenny Pickett didn't have a problem spreading it
around at all, um, and I just felt like, you know,
it was his coach said, two young guys and Kenny Picktt,
Nagy Harris, who are fiercely competitive, very hungry, want to
(06:17):
be the reason why they do good, and they sure
as heck proved it. I think that catch by Sims
as good as it was, and he made a really
great play. I think the throw was better. The throw
was into a tighter window that you won't see, and
Kenny was just cool with that stuff and he delivered
when it was time to deliver. And you know, we're
(06:39):
watching him progress into a really nice rookie quarterback. And
I pointed those stats out yesterday on the airplane when
we were flying back on a very happy charter. Uh,
somebody came up with this while trailing by one score
in the fourth quarter. In this season, Patrick mahomes number
(07:00):
one in pass efficiency rating at ninety five point one,
Kenny Picketts number two at ninety three point seven, and
Joe Burrows number three at ninety two point nine. The
stage is not too big for Kenny Pickett, that's for sure.
Jerry Doolak tweeted out something was pretty cool a three
game winning Uh, you've got three game winning fourth quarter
(07:21):
drives against the Colts, Raiders, and Ravens. His total combined
status are seventeen twenty one, A buck seventy four to
T d S no I N t S, and a
quarterback rating A one. Wow. That's pretty good. Yeah, I
just I just need him to not have a flair
for the dramatic week after week. It would be really
(07:41):
nice to have like a two score cushion with like
two minutes left in the fourth, you know, or formation,
that's what you're looking for just needle it out, you know,
I mean, yes, but no, But I mean I appreciate
that because I think when you're talking about gain, grit
and represisency and experience, um, don't those are just tremendous.
(08:05):
I mean, you can't ask for anything better than that
from from Kenney to have these experiences in his belt
as he's moving forward. So I really I really like
that aspect of it. I'm glad he's building that determination
and that that that stick to witness is, so to speak.
I think also not that this maybe isn't completely obvious,
(08:28):
but the Steelers have now stacked three straight wins and
have gone six and two since the bye week. I know,
week after week we talked about, you know, the changes
and maybe for the better that has happened. But Billy,
it just feels like this team is peaking at the
right time. And of course, you know they have to
win on Sunday. Other things have to happen, but this
is typically what you would like to see if you
(08:49):
are able to make the postseason. Yes, and this team
has won eight games, and I think those folks out
in lost wages. Nevada said before the season that the
over and are on. Their season was seven and a half,
so in that regard, they've already overachieved. But I think
more importantly from a two and six mark and a
lot of elevator music or noises Mike Tomlin refers to it,
(09:14):
they ignored it and got better, and uh, you know,
it's just it's so much fun to see, uh, two
second year guys in Naji and Friarmouth, two rookies in
pickets and pickings, and to see that offensive line just
get better in front of your eyes. It has been rewarding. Max.
(09:34):
I don't want to take away from anything the Steeler's
offense was able to do yesterday, especially in terms of
the run game. You know, the Ravens have not had
a one hundred yard rusher go against them yet this
year until Naji Harris came to town yesterday. Um, but
there was no Calais Campbell, there was no Marcus Peters
who was there and they were impact players in the
first meeting. So did that change things or it was
(09:55):
just the way the Steelers were able to scheme things
up and execute better. I think I think the Steelers
were able to scheme things up. I don't think the
mindset and the way that they attacked this game, it
would have changed much in their approach. I think the
double teams were solid, So whether it was about A
B K or Calais Campbell or Nichols or Project Washington,
(10:19):
they all would have gotten the business. Um by the
way that that offensive line was coming off the ball
and firing off the ball. And then for market Spears,
I mean maybe one or two catches might have been
defensed a little differently. We might have opened the door
for somebody else to have a big play. So I
don't know if those two being missing would have been
such a drastic difference, But at the same time, you're
(10:43):
appreciative when they are. I mean, just like I said,
we haven't seen Lamar Jackson in two games. I'm sure
they would want to say, oh, it would be a
different story Lamar wasn't here. But at the end of
the day, we're three and one against him in the
last two years. Um one, that and and and and
the one win was not because of Lamar Jackson. And
he's always struggled against us. So I mean, everybody's gonna
battle adversity at some point in the year, and it
(11:05):
just so happens that we we we came out tryumph
because we dealt with olive our adversity of the first
half of the season. Uh, Naji Harris is one hundred
and eleven yards on the ground or the most by
an imposing running back versus Baltimore since two thousand and twenty.
Derrick Henry of Tennessee did that to them. And then
in terms of the most by a Steelers running back
(11:26):
against the Ravens two thousand seventeen, you have to go
all the way back to l bell Um. But in
terms of Nagy Wolf his first one hundred yard rushing
game of the season, fourth of his career, is it
fair to say this was his best game or where
do you rank it in terms of how productive he was?
He was just superbly productive. I mean that's as good
as I've seen this horse run. I mean, you talked
(11:47):
about a guy really encapsulating the beast mode and turning
that thing on. I mean, it was not like he
was just running a way for people. He's stiff armed
guy's left and right. He was battling. I love when
he throws guys down. I mean that's just I mean
that that that gets your offensive line. Fire it up.
When you see a guy competing so hard he puts
a stiff arm out there and then bench presses a
(12:08):
guy into the ground and then runs over somebody else
and you've got people hanging onto him. It encourages the
rest of you to get involved. Get downfield, sheriff the pile,
watch over your guy, make sure he's cool, and make
sure that he's protected. He get him up, and then
you go back and you wash Rinson repeat, you know,
and I mean that's what I saw last night. I
saw guys that boy you talk about that inner triangle
(12:31):
of Kevin Dotson and Mason Cole and and uh James
Daniels and then of course you got Chucks and you
got h Danny Moore and that fivesome. Just what a
nice job. When they stretched the outside zone, they stretched it,
when they when they move guys off on inside zones
or gap box. I mean, they did the job. It was.
It was fun to watch because they were very skilled,
(12:53):
very determined and went after it. And it's just the
culmination of what Max and I we've been watching talking
about a Max all through and with you missive talking
about in Billy. You know, the fact is this line
is getting better, and they've gotten better. And you know,
the back makes the line, and the line makes the back.
That's the way it works about a relationship. And one
(13:14):
gets the other right, and one feeds off of the other.
You've got to feed the beast if you want the beast,
the beast. And that's what you saw. I mean, I
felt like it started to lead. You know, I would say,
you know, Naji before this game, I would say that
Atlanta game was probably the best game I've seen Run
as far as sure physical and wanting more. He just
(13:37):
didn't get enough. He just didn't get enough touches. But
this game he got the right amount of touches and
and the payoff was there. Billy also, you know we
have to when you talk about the run game discussed
Jalen Warren also, you know, an undrafted rookie, a young
guy on this offense who has really come alive throughout
and yesterday was another one of those days. Especially on
(13:57):
that jet sweep. He brings his own form of energy.
It's that quickness, it's that Okay, I'm going up I'm
going up field. Uh and and you know that's totally
different from Naji. And as it should be. He's a
different style runner, but I think what he does when
he comes into the game, he kind of gives that
old line some energy too, because you know, this guy
(14:21):
he's got some breakaway capability. Not only that he's shown
it as a pass receiver, but for him to average
six point three yards that carry like he did last
night was absolutely key to the victory. You know, it's
a good thing he's not six three because the fact is,
this is one of the things he does so well.
As he plays peekaboo with those linebackers, you know, he
(14:42):
sees that little glimmer of daylight and he makes that
break and cut like you were talking about Billy, and
you gotta enjoy you gotta love it because he presents
a different obstacle to um Naji Harris and what we're Naji.
You know, you got a good look at him. His
big guy and everything like that. You can see him
with with Jalen. Sometimes they lose track of that dude
and he all of a sudden is onto the second
(15:03):
level guys before they even know he's there. All right, well,
we have much more to talk about the Steelers now
Sitting at eight and eight as we head into Week
eight at home, closing it out the regular season with
the Browns. Will discuss much more about the playoffs and
their performance yesterday. When we return. You're listening to w
d V Back to the Point After, brought to you
(15:23):
by Parks Casino on dv E. How there's a shotgun
snap play action fig big right ft. T J. Watt
sacks him and that's a big sack for the young
man from Wisconsin. Seventies seven career sacks for t J.
Watt is fifth of this year and that ties Jason
Gilden on the all time Steelers list for number two
(15:44):
and coming at the appropriate time in the third quarter
the Steelers winning sixteen to thirteen over the Ravens. Welcome
back to the Point After, everybody and Miss Matthews with
Bill hill Grove, Craig Whifflely and Max Starks in This
segment is brought to you by the Greater Pittsburgh Community
Food Bank and Ons Appliance. For every field goal we
kicked this season, Down's Appliance will donate one thousand dollars
(16:05):
to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. That's five thousand
meals each time. Thank you to Don's appliance, and you
can also donate to by texting goals to five zero
one five five and Billy. We talked a lot about
Kenny Pickett in the Steelers offense, rightfully so, but we
have to give the Steelers defense some love for really
clamoring down in the second half and providing the offense
(16:28):
with opportunities to get points. I think it was a
good game plan. Um. I love the fact that Mark
Robinson got probably more snaps than he had in his
entire rookie season prior UH. And I also noticed that Uh,
conspicuous by his absence was number fifty five. I don't
(16:49):
know if that was in the game plan or I
don't know what's going on there, but I can say
this that the eleven people on the field defensively did
a pretty darn good job. They made Huntly even more
one dimensional than he tends to be. Of the twenty targets,
fifteen were the tight ends. And I think if you
(17:10):
can do that, even though Andrews is a great tight
end um and likely, as you know, pretty good receiver,
if you can take their white outs out of the game, uh,
I think you can. You know, you can control what
they do Okay. Uh, you know Dobbins and company average
what four point three as a group rushing the football.
(17:30):
But you know that's fine because the past did not
really hurt the Pittsburgh Steelers. And also, uh interestingly, Desmond Robinson,
I say, Desmond, uh, Mr Robinson was the target on
Menka's interception at sealed the deal, Billy, to give some
(17:51):
stats to back up what you were saying about Mark
Andrews just yesterday, Um, he was targeted nine. He nine times.
He might made nine catches a hundred yards. Everyone else
when they were targeted five for eleven thirty yards. So
to go to your point of what they were able
to do. But will also the fact that after giving
up two and fifteen yards on the ground at home,
(18:13):
the Steelers defense be damned, was not going to let
that happen again. Exactly, So, miss, I mean that was
great fun. That was The trenches were a blood sport yesterday.
I mean they brought in You've got a six to
configuration with two linebackers and you got two end guys
with Watton Highsmith, and you put in four defensive guys
led by Captain Camp great googly mooglie. I mean you
(18:34):
just turn the tape on and just watched the brawling.
You know, Billy, It's it's like one of them pure
six things you're talking about all the time, Billy. You
know guys you know, just flail on about and it
was just a lot of fun to watch. It was
a hard fought game, and those types of games, they're
just when you come out of winning something like that,
I don't know, it just, um, it tunes you up
(18:55):
for whatever is next because it's a hardening process. Each
game is is kind of one of those things that, uh,
kind of gets you ready for something greater down the road.
And uh, for Kenny Pickett, that's just another opportunity to
keep growing as a quarterback, for this defense, to keep
shutting down running games. I mean, um again, Robert Splaine
(19:16):
did a great job and we're starting to see more
and more. I think of t J. Watt being the
reigning defensive Player of the Year well, and I think
also it's you know, it was that intent that they
learned from their mistake. Right, if you're gonna put if
you're gonna put Patrick McCarry, or you're gonna put Patrick
ricard Um in there, we need we we need to
(19:39):
have an answer, and if it does have to look
like a gold line fronts, then we'll bring the extra guy,
bring the heavy right, We'll bring, We'll bring We'll bring
in Isaiah Louder mode we're bringing to Marvin Leal and
we'll we'll we'll go with a four or four front
essentially with the two outside backers walked up, and we
will match your strength of strength because we've field we
(20:00):
can cover Mark Andrews with Terrell Edmunds or a Minka
right to uh, to combat that, and we'll take having
him in front of us versus a guy getting over
the top on us. We're mentioning a lot of rookies
here with Mark Robinson to Marvin Leel as well. Uh,
looking at the snap count this morning. If you look
(20:22):
at all the rookies to Marvin Leel played Mark Robinson
and Billy you were right. He only had seven snaps
on defense heading into yesterday's game. Jalen Warren Kenny pick
at a hundred percent obviously, George Pickings seventy three, Connor
Hayward seventeen talk about a rookie class um and just
being able to jump in and help out as much
(20:44):
as you can in your first season. This is exactly
what you want to see. These young people are coming
to the floor forefront and taking their proper alignment of
snaps and so forth and becoming the productive citizens that
you want. You know, you can only pay rent on
the special teams for so long before Moore is demanded
of you, and especially those who are are superbly gifted,
(21:05):
you know, to see, especially guy like Mark Robinson, who
really was after training camp you didn't hear much of
them at all, and then to see him gradually start
to spark here and there and in different you know,
practices and so forth, and then like you said, seven snaps,
I think you said, that's yeah, prior, I mean, that's ridiculous.
And here he comes to fifty and what a job.
(21:27):
And he really stood out as somebody just sitting there
going Okay, I like what I see so far. I
want to see more. We gotta, you know, see more,
especially in this situation where there's also the opportunity for
pass coverage things in that. But he really, I thought,
acquitted himself very very well. And what I liked was
this rookie class performed and probably the most hostile environment
(21:50):
that the Steelers have faced all year. You could tell
when we walked into that stadium last night that crowd
was ready to feast. They you know, they were smelling
the blood in the water. And you know it didn't happen.
And because young people played very well and basically blocked
the crowd out. And another thing, and I'm going to
(22:12):
get this off my shoulder, I know where you're going.
Well that light show, you know, I mean, okay, it's
one thing to have people hold up their cell phones
or their wrist bands and and do all that, you know,
fancy technical stuff. That's wonderful. But when you start dimming
those stadium lights with the people on the field, I
(22:32):
think they're endangered. And I think the leg has to
step in and say there's a limit to what you
can do with these new led stadium lights. For a second,
I thought we were at a Pig Floyd concert, you
know work we by the way, it's one of the
(22:53):
like best environments, you know, a home team like I mean,
they spare no express, I mean missing And I talked
about that. I mean, you know, because I'm on the
Fiestabo committee and I know we ended up looking at
doing something like that, and I was able to do
it was I mean the amount of money that they
put back into the stadium versus what you know, you see,
(23:13):
I was like it was, it was phenomenal. But you're right,
I mean it does cause the stroping effects of those
that might have issues with that. And of course, if
your team is down and still can't score and they
have to consistently do it, um, you know, it gets
a bit repetitive. But I mean from the first time
they did it with the intros and stuff, like, I
appreciated it from that perspective, knowing what goes into that
(23:36):
production value. Um. But yeah, I mean, you know, you
do want to cap a limit on it. Okay, only
only only three blackouts per game bouts obviously, well none
of the Ftisco and Super Bowl is a different story.
Well no blackouts in the fourth quarter or overtime. Yeah, well,
I agree with Max. I like it during the intros.
(23:58):
You hate to say it, but the Ravens just have
an awesome atmosphere that they create at that stadium with
their fans. We know how much they hate Pittsburgh, whether
it's the players, that coaches, uh, fans, whatever, And it's
kind of like how the Steelers have that home field
advantage In terms of primetime Baltimore is eight in one
under UH coach Hardball and Sunday Night football at home.
(24:18):
And you know, I know, Max gave the fun fact
yesterday that heading into that game, the Ravens were fourteen
and one at home versus a rookie quarterback UM under
coach Hardball. So it's not an easy place to play.
But it was bizarre, Billy, as you pointed out that
it felt like every time the Steeler's offense was about
to take the field, that's when they dipped the lights, um,
(24:39):
and you know, heading into TV time outs and whatnot,
but they are there are rules in terms of music.
You have to shut it off before a certain point
in between plays and snaps and whatnot. So it'll be
interesting to see. But it didn't work. It didn't psych
out the Steelers. I didn't get to do the postgame interviews,
but you certainly did, Missy. Was there much talk about
(25:01):
the penalty on Cam Heyward? I mean, Cam was obviously
asked about it. Manko was also asked about him and Cam,
you know, having having a chit chat on the sideline, Um.
But I don't know about you, Max. When I was
watching the team walk out of the locker room at halftime.
You could tell whatever happened prior to that did not matter,
and those two guys were ready to go and back
(25:23):
on the same page of being leaders of the defense
and the team. Yeah, no, they were locked in when
when they when they left that locker room to go
back and take the field. Um, there wasn't any residual
there was, you know, with anything else. Heat of the
moment and the and and the clutches of combat. You know,
emotions are going to run high, right, I mean, because
(25:43):
both guys care a whole heck of a lot. And
so you know, by the time they walked all the
way to the to the to the locker room, because
that is a longer walk because you gotta take this
left tunnel even though the right tunnel is like right there,
of course, you know, so you had all that extra
time and then all all the way back around whatever
it was. I mean, it's just like anything else, right,
(26:04):
It's like, why did I yell at you again to
your best friend? I don't remember, Okay, alright, we're good.
Just put it on my tab, right, you know, I
think it's healthy, Max. I think it's healthy you think
about it. I mean, you got captain Cam alright, make
is you know, another big, big name on that team.
But you can call a teammate to accountability. There's nothing
there's nobody above reproach. But the fact of the matter was,
(26:28):
I couldn't believe that they flagged Camp for what was absolutely,
in my mind, just ridiculous. Did anybody see Justin Jefferson
nearly whack and knock out a referee when he swung
his helmet against the Packers when Jay Alexander pushed him
out of bounds from behind and he pulled his helmet
off and just happened to you know, pull up and
he hit the back of the referee with his helmet
(26:50):
all right now. The referee said later on that that
Cam there was a touching of the official. Well, if
Can touched the official, all he was doing was coming
to balance. He was trying to keep from Ben Powers
throwing him with the underhook he had on on Cam
over the pile and Cam's just trying to be balance
and get you know, not roll over and and cream anybody.
(27:12):
I just I don't know, for the life of me,
I think that was just a bogus call. Uh, certainly,
Cam is not one. He's you know he is. He
can be a little bit volatile, but that's the nature
of the beast, right, But he's been around to know
long enough to know you gotta pull back and pull
the horns in it at a certain point in time.
I'm sorry, I just disagreed with that that penalty. I
(27:34):
thought Cam was just fine. Well, there was a poll
report done afterwards with referee Land Clark and the reporter
who did it um asked, just wanted to ask about
the personal file that was called him Pittsburgh defensive tackle
Cam Heyward lay in the second quarter. What specifically did
you see from him that warranted that call? He said, quote, Well,
there was some pushing and shoving after the play number
(27:54):
ninety seven. Continue to push after the play, that's why
it was called. The follow up was, well, was it
in the pile that you saw that he's head Quote
it was near the pile, yes, So continuing to push
each other, he said, correct, Okay, each other. So it's
what's about. Excuse me, there's Ben Powers. Hello. You know
he's not that hard to miss. He's about three pounds.
(28:18):
I don't know, Just yeah, We're getting a little touchy
feeling here, I guess, I mean, but I mean and
also I mean, this is where you talk about like
those gray areas with rules. Um, this is something I'm
sure will certainly be reviewed thoroughly. Um, this will come
before the rules rules Committee and looked at, uh with
a more fine to come because like you said, right,
(28:38):
this isn't like this is a normal occurrence. This is
a regular deal. Like think about like in Dominican sue, right,
you know, you know perfect like those individuals like where
you know they have a history of doing this. Yeah,
Cam is not in that same category. So for him
(29:00):
to get flagged and you know, this is a guy
who's just literally talking to the rest like literally the
previous play about something and then this happens, it is
like the refs almost knee jerk reaction kind of throw
the flag at him. I get. And and it's not
like he was trying to put all of his weight
on him and like you said, moving out as he's
trying to come to balance. But I mean, at some point,
(29:22):
as as a as a referee and official, you have
to use better discernment and better judgment. Yeah, and especially
since when the Ravens and the Steelers play it's a
field goal game, and you're awarding them the opportunity to
score a touchdown when they otherwise wouldn't have had it.
So that was my gripe. Yeah, yeah, Well, the good
(29:43):
thing is the Steelers were able to come back from
that in the second half to get the win. And
we're going to talk about that in much more, including
what needs to happen on Sunday for the Steelers to
punch their ticket to the postseason. We'll be right back.
You're listening to the point after back to the point
after brought t Flight Parks Casino on DV. You know
that's this that's this game, and particularly at this level. Um,
(30:05):
they're gonna be challenges. We're gonna be up against it. Um,
it's not about what happens to you, is how you
was spawn to it. Were a group that stays solid
and spite a circumstance, and UM, as long as you
keep bringing that stay solid mentality, UM, you know it's
in front of us. That was Steelers head coach Mike
Tomlin talking about the Steelers playoff hope staying alive after
(30:26):
everything happening yesterday thanks to two other games and their
sixteen to thirteen win over the Ravens. In case you
have not heard, the NFL announced late this afternoon Steelers
and Brown's at Aquasher Stadium will happen on Sunday, January eight,
a one o'clock game, which got raving cheers from this
group of people. But there will also be Billy some
(30:48):
other games at one o'clock on the same time that
the league conveniently set up that would impact the Steelers
postseason chances. That would be the New York Jets at Miami.
You would the Jets to win that game, that would
be number one, and then Buffalo playing New England in Buffalo,
but you need the Bills to win that one. And
(31:08):
of course, uh Steelers taking care of their business. Isn't
it interesting how you can flip from one team to
the other. Didn't we root against the Jets yesterday and
now we have to root for them? And also very
difficult for me to root for Bill Belichick, but I
was rooting for Now you get to root against him. Well,
(31:28):
that that's more natural, that feels comfortable. Absolutely. Look, you
know you got the Jets at Miami. Um. The fact
of the matter is, I think two was hurt. He's
probably not going to play. But I don't see Robert
Sela that the Jets said, coach. I don't see him
sitting down. I don't see him that. He does not
(31:50):
strike me as a guy that is going to tolerate
any less than your best effort. So I gotta feel
they can go down. They could pull they could pull
u a miracle off. But you know, we'll see. We'll
just have to see what happens. Also tonight, the Buffalo
Bills and Cincinnati Bengals are playing, so you know that
(32:10):
will go into next week and what happens on Saturday
when the Chiefs play the Bills on Sunday Max. Because
you know, there is still a fight in the a
f C for that one seed, and a number of
things can happen. And I think that's why the league
waited until the last possible minute to try and set
this schedule, to have, you know, a good grasp of
all the different scenarios that could possibly happen. There were
(32:34):
two things at play. Number one, the fairness part where
people don't get uh, you know, railroaded by the schedule
maker because uh, you know, they're not playing at the
same time as somebody that also is after the same goal,
you know what I'm saying. But also you know, I
think sets in use and the ratings game that they play,
(32:55):
you know, has to factor into their decisions. But I
think in this case, uh, they seemed to be fair
about who is playing. When our third segment Tonight is
brought to you by a clear View Federal Credit Union.
For every turn over the Black and Gold create in
two thousand and twenty two, clear View Federal Credit Union
will donate five dollars to the Light of Life Rescue
(33:17):
Mission clear View, helping people to enjoy a better life.
Visit clear View f CU dot org, slash touchdown and um, well,
you know you can't lay down against the Cleveland Browns.
They know they're eliminated. But I saw all over Twitter
today Myles Garrett already saying, hey, we would love to
ruin things for them. Oh, there's no question you know
(33:37):
that's what's coming. I mean that that was in our
hearts and minds back in the day. And no, Max
would feel the same way. If you're not going to playoffs,
you don't want them going to the playoffs. Whoever them was.
You know, if you could be a spoiler. All let
me be a spoiler because I'm not foot. Professional football
is not about group you know, kumbaya, It's about you know,
(33:59):
if we can't go, then really got the angst where
I don't want anybody to be successful and have fun.
That's just the nature of the beast. Well, you gotta
you got, you gotta play spoiler, and that's that's all
it is. I'm taking my basketball. I didn't get picked
in the park, so guess what nobody's playing because they instead. Yeah, exactly,
(34:21):
I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go two parks over just
to make sure you guys don't tail me. Oh, there's
no doubt about it. Look, you know that it's gonna
be interesting to see how this all folds out. In
the best way you can handle this, you focus only
on what you do, and uh, I think the bigger
story could be could Stephen Kevin Stefanski get fired and
(34:42):
be like the second or third coaches be fired. It's
more than that. Oh yeah, after a final game in Pittsburgh.
I might have to look it up. But they don't
even ride the bus back. I want to say five
ye now that you say that, I'm going to have
that stat Yeah, I I'm pretty sure it's it's higher thing.
Let me know, I'm gonna look that one up for
(35:03):
the for the game broadcast, for sure. That would be
great texts beyond it now here, here's the big factor
for the Steelers in addition to keeping their playoff hopes.
So I've nothing bigger than that. But in the backs
of the player's mind, Uh, the Mike Tomlins streak of
non losing seasons has to be there. Oh sure, sure,
that's the point of pride. Yeah. That that's the other
(35:27):
part of taking my basketball and going home is you
don't want to be that group when there's reunions league
years down the line, like, oh see, y'all of the
asterisks group. I've been hearing a lot about y'all. Do
you mean like tounch and I, Tounch and I when
we led the Steelers in the Decade of Indifference in
the eighties. Oops, Hey, Wolf, weren't you on a team
(35:52):
that butt luggage for somebody? I believe that. I don't know,
you know what, I can't remember. That's part of the ramnee,
you know what I mean? Well, you need to be recognified.
Recognification is important and absolutely well to go along with
the streak of never having a losing season. As you said,
(36:13):
Billy coach Tomlin, in his entire career with the Steelers
as head coach, has only played in one game that
meant nothing where the Steelers were already eliminated from the
postseason um and that was in two thousand and twelve.
I have a piece of trivia for you. It was
the last time Kenny Pickett was at M ANDT Bank Stadium.
(36:35):
Oh see, I know that answer. Okay. December one received
the Golden Arm Awards, the Johnny Uniteds Award imposed in
front of the statue with Johnny's son, and I think
with that performance yesterday, on top of the one last week,
I think John Unitis would kind of smile at the
efforts of Kenny Pickett. I got to meet him one time.
(36:56):
I was at a Retired player's convention years ago with Tontra.
We're hanging out there and all of a sudden, the
elevator door opens and there's Johnny you you know, and
I'm like, oh, oh, I gotta go meet him. He
was one of my heroes growing up. I ran over
and before I got there, the last thing TOUCH said
to me was, don't scare him. I can't run over Johnny. You.
(37:18):
I throw my hand up and he like steps in
front of his wife and steps back. I come back
and touch goes. You scared him, didn't you? Poor guy?
But he was It was great. What are you gonna
do him? I was all excited. Come on, man, he
was one of my heroes. Okay, okay, okay. Did you
(37:39):
did you have like a noteble drinking autograph? Or was
it just like you wanted to hug him? Which one
wasn't it was? It was the hug. Yeah, it was
just kind of Yeah. His wife turned to him and
said that guy should be on a leash. They let
anybody in here. Yeah, exactly, No, boy, what are you
gonna do? So? Macuse I assume the Steelers as they're
(38:02):
playing their game on Sunday will not be scoreboard watching?
Is that correct? As much as probably we all will be,
you know, because they realized that what proceeds all of that,
You've got to win first before any of the young
stuff needs to happen. So it's win the game and
then let everything else fall fall fall as it may.
(38:24):
So I think that's what you have to be seniorly
focused on and I think they'll do a good job
of that, and I'm sure coach will keep them engaged
in that type of manner because this is a team
you also lost to this season, so you want to
go avenge that loss. And we finished three and three
in the division, right and I think that's important too. Yeah,
(38:45):
in Week three feels like it was a hundred years ago.
We want to remind everybody about the Steelers Pro Shop.
It's where you can get up with the latest sideline apparel, hats,
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(39:06):
Grove City Premium Outlets, Tanger Outlets, or shop online at
shop dot Steelers dot com for Bill Hill, Grove, Craig
will Flee, back Starts, and our producer Tom. Thanks so
much for joining us here on the point after. We'll
see you next Monday.
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