1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Thank you vantage on the day. All right when you 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,280 Speaker 1: get out, because you have the game, they can play. 3 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:10,239 Speaker 1: Oh Maca, don't do it? What touchdown? Kansas City the 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Chiefs all right in the thick of a baby. Well, everybody, 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: and welcome to this edition of Defending the Kingdom, which 6 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: holds us with you, Boys to the Chiefs, along with 7 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: Matt Stadt himself, Chief reporter Matt McMullan. And yes, if 8 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: you think we're back in twenty twenty protocol, we are. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: And that's why Matt and are coming to you a 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: via zoom and not in studio. The memo came down 11 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: and over the weekend, Matt, I'm just gonna be in. 12 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: By the way, are Defending the Kingdom podcasts are brought 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: to you by three sixty Vodka, Kansas City's hometown vodka, 14 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: the official vodka the Kansas City Chiefs. Perfect for the holidays. 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: Just be responsible. But Matt, you and I were going 16 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: to chill out this weekend, man, I couldn't wait. Exhilarating 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: victory over the Charger was on a Thursday night. I thought, 18 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm just gonna forget the world. And 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: then Friday, a memo comes down. I'm like boom boom, 20 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: And so that's where we're at. Man, we're in the 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty realm, and that's okay. Well, as coach would say, 22 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: we'll power through it. Yeah, we'll power through it. Never 23 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: a dull moment in the NFL, right, And yeah, amazing 24 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: victory on Thursday. It was incredible you and I couldn't 25 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: stop smiling even until that wee hours of the morning. 26 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: Flying home. I crawled into bed at like four thirty 27 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: in the morning and I still couldn't sleep. I was 28 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: so pumped up after that win. But yeah, we're back, 29 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: you know, in twenty twenty mode for the most part, 30 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: and it's for the best, I think. You know, we 31 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: want to protect our team. This team kind accomplish a 32 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: lot this year, and if it's small sacrifices on our 33 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 1: end of having to be remote and virtual, really no 34 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: big deal. I'm looking right now at gh Fuel the 35 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: Arrowheads Stadium, and that's my view. I'm in the national 36 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: radio booth in the press box, so it could be worse. 37 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 1: So you're doing national radio for this game on Sunday, 38 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: that would be that'd be big news. Walked me through 39 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: some of our folks that have checked in around the 40 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: world that are defending the Kingdom listeners and viewers. Yeah, 41 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: so we got a whole bunch because we didn't do 42 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: a show last week, so we have two weeks worth basically. 43 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: So I'll start with Bill and Ecuador. What's up Bill? 44 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: We have a fan in Germany. We have Andy and 45 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: Agnes and the Philippines. So Andy is from Blue Springs, 46 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: originally met his wife in the Philippines, has since converted her. 47 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: He says that because of the time difference, they can't 48 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: really cheer too loud because it's like four in the 49 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: morning when Chiefs games are on, but you know, when 50 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: the moment calls for it, they cheered pretty loud. We 51 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: have a fan in Mexico, Mark in Canada, and then 52 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,079 Speaker 1: Lamont in Perth, Australia. Then a whole bunch just all 53 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: over the country. So bear with me here, get comfortable, Mitch. 54 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: So remember the two brothers that we've called out in 55 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: Australia and Vietnam a few weeks ago. So they reached 56 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: out to me and they said that they'd be remissed 57 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: if their parents weren't recognized because their parents are huge 58 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: Chiefs fans. So Adrian and Betty and Becky, Adrian and 59 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: Becky Shottenkirk and Ovalan Park. Pretty cool story here actually, 60 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 1: So Adrian was in the Army, so they watched Super 61 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: Bowl four way back in the day in Germany stationed 62 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: abroad while he was in the Army, So pretty cool 63 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: stuff there. In Westfield, New Jersey. His dad had season 64 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: tickets when the Chiefs first moved to Kansas City. Porter 65 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 1: in Iowa, Kevin in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Jeff and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 66 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: He was born in Pittsburgh, Kansas and grew up in Alatha, 67 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: but has been out in Wyoming in Colorado that general 68 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: area for about thirty years now. Craig in Washington, d 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: c jj And Oregon, Tim and Prescott, Arizona. Van in 70 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: Green Valley Lake, California, a fan in Colorado. Springs Paul 71 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: and Leesville, Louisiana. John and Cody, Wyoming. Cody and Taylor, Missouri. 72 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: So he ran into you apparently at the Super Bowl 73 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: last year in the concessions line, and he hasn't forgotten it. 74 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: So Cody remembers you, Mitch. We have Kyle and Shinn 75 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: Chin Kansas, Mason in Northeast Kansas, Shelley and Salina, Kansas. 76 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: We have a fan in Carthage, Missouri, a fan in Hannibal, Missouri. 77 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: Derek listening from about sixty miles southeast of where we 78 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: are right now, a gh field the Arrowhead Stadium, Julio 79 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: in South Kansas City. He travels all over the place though, 80 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: and takes us with him when he travels. And then 81 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: lastly match we have Tristan and San Diego. But he 82 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: grew up in Phillipsburg, Kansas. Oh yeah, what passed that? 83 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: They're all world You know, the Chiefs Kingdom is so uniting. 84 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: Although Pittsburgh is the Pittsburgh Sorry, Phillipsburg the arch rival 85 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: of Smith Center just thirty miles west. You've been to 86 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: Smith Center, you know the geography. But pay we look 87 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: past it and keep repping the Chiefs in SoCal because 88 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: San Diego is where we've gained a lot of fans 89 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: with the Chargers moving to La San Diegan starn't exactly 90 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: fired up about La. So they've adopted the Chiefs, so 91 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: we'll take them. But let's deal with the We got 92 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: a two part defending the kingdom here, and the first 93 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: part is what has been the strong winds blowing throughout 94 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: the Chiefs Kingdom since Monday, quite honestly, and that has 95 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: been the group of folks that have been put on 96 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: the group of players put on the COVID nineteen list 97 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: for testing positive. That's where we're going to start. Now, 98 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: there was some good news now with Defend of the Kingdom. 99 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: We know it's not a live show. It has to 100 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,679 Speaker 1: have a shelf life over several days and sometimes weeks 101 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,479 Speaker 1: and months, but we would tell you we are taping 102 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: this on a Wednesday afternoon. We do know Lagarius Sneed 103 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: is back from his bereavement leave brutal Lee from his 104 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 1: terrible situation in Louisiana right before the game against the Raiders. 105 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: But also Willie Gay Junior and Josh Gordon back from 106 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 1: that COVID list. That's good to have him back on 107 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: the field. How encouraged are you by that news? Well, 108 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 1: it's great news. I mean if you look at yesterday, 109 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: so on Tuesday, when the list just kept piling up, 110 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: all you want is some good news, right, and you 111 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 1: just want to hear news about guys coming back, guys 112 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: getting healthy, guys rejoining this team, because we know what 113 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: this team can accomplish when this team is at full strength, 114 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: hitting on all cylinders like they are right now. I 115 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 1: truly don't think anybody can beat us right now. So 116 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: you want to have all your guys, particularly in the 117 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: home stretch here, so to get Willie Gay back, to 118 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: get Lagarius Snead back, and Josh Gordon back, it's all 119 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: very exciting. Willie Gay has been so good this year, 120 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: just as every down linebacker. He can run laterally, sideline 121 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: to sideline, he can cover with the best of him. 122 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: Had that interception on Daniel Jones several weeks ago against 123 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: the Giants. But he's also good and run defense. So 124 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: having Willie Gay in the second level of that defense 125 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: is so huge going into the Steelers game against the 126 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: guy like Nagie Harris. Getting Josh Gordon back, we don't 127 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: know the status of all our pass catchers, guys like 128 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: Travis Kelsey and Tyreek Hill. So Josh Gordon the last 129 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 1: time he saw him on the field, he scored a touchdown, 130 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,720 Speaker 1: so maybe he can build on that performance after coming 131 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: off the COVID list. And then Lagarius sneed you know, 132 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: this is one of those situations where it's so much 133 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,279 Speaker 1: more important than football. We wanted him to take his 134 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: time to be with his family to do what he 135 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: needed to do. But then it's so great to have 136 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: him back, to welcome him into a team environment where 137 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 1: these guys can support him and lift him up. So 138 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: for him as a person, I'm so glad that he's back, 139 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 1: but also on the field, he's arguably this team's best corner. 140 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: Very excited to have Lagarius Sneed back in the fold. Two. Yeah, 141 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: just a terrible situation for Lagarius and his family. But 142 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: prayers and thoughts as he recovers in his family deals 143 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 1: with the situation in Northern Louisiana. Okay, now we hope 144 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:09,279 Speaker 1: it was the apex of the matter, but as really 145 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: as of Wednesday morning of the week of the Steelers week, 146 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 1: there were sixteen players on that COVID nineteen list, thirteen 147 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: active members and then three members of the practice squad. 148 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: We mentioned two guys come back off that list with 149 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: Willie Gage Junior and Josh Gordon. To me though, and 150 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: that memo that came down this weekend that kind of 151 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: changed the relaxation time. Was the new protocols put in 152 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: place for the most part, and it's complicated. It talks 153 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: about CT levels, but overall to summarize, and I'm going 154 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: to get your reaction to this that it is a 155 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: much easier path to test out to get back onto 156 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:53,280 Speaker 1: the field, meaning basically two decision boxes. Here is a 157 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 1: player symptomatic or asymptomatic. B is a player vaccinated or 158 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: not vaccinated. And if you can check the asymptomatic box 159 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 1: and the vaccinated box, there's a pretty quick path to 160 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: me to get back on the field again hitting the 161 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: right CT levels and doing the proper testing. Yeah, and 162 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: we're not going to pretend to be doctors or scientists, 163 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: but this is where we lean on Rick Burkholder, who's 164 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: of course or vice president of Sports Medicine Performance. He 165 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: knows what he's doing in this space, and he trusts 166 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: the science, and he follows the science, and I trust 167 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: and follow whatever he thinks. And he's actually been one 168 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 1: of the influential figures who have helped kind of construct 169 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: and create what the league protocols are. So we're lucky 170 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: that we have a guy like Rick and his amazing 171 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 1: staff kind of leading this and spearheading this and getting 172 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 1: us through it. And the reality is in the era 173 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: that we live in right now, this was probably going 174 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: to happen at some point, just when it happens. You 175 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: want to have the right people in place, like we 176 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: do with Rick and with our coaching staff and coach 177 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: read to get through it and to make sure it 178 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,440 Speaker 1: doesn't get too crazy and become a situation where you 179 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:59,599 Speaker 1: can't feel the team. The good news is we have 180 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: the staff in place to make sure that doesn't happen, 181 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: to make sure guys get healthy, they get back, and 182 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:05,760 Speaker 1: that when they get back they're ready to go. So 183 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I just trust Rick 184 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: entirely on this. I know you do too, and he'll 185 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,319 Speaker 1: get us through this. And again, it was bound to 186 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 1: happen eventually. I'm glad it happened after a big win 187 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: and you know, and we're going into the home stretch 188 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: here with a little bit of leeway, but just looking 189 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 1: forward to getting past this, getting through it, and we 190 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: have the guys to get us through it. Yeah, let's 191 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,199 Speaker 1: do it with Rick first. It's still our You can 192 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 1: find it however. You find the Finnic Kingdom podcast, whatever 193 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: you used, whether you're on YouTube or Spotify or anyplace else, 194 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: as you can find it. It is archive. Let's just 195 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: you can do a search engine look on YouTube. Let's 196 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:45,959 Speaker 1: say you'll find it. It's called The First Foe. It's 197 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: an episode that if we did with Rick at the 198 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: very beginning of the twenty twenty season before. But we've 199 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: mentioned that the biggest challenge to the Chiefs last year, 200 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: if they were going to repeat the Super Bowl championship, 201 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: get back to the Super Bowl, win another AC championship, 202 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: was not necessarily the opponent's Yeah, they were next in line, 203 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: but it was the coronavirus first and foremus let's take 204 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: it from there. It would be good for those of 205 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 1: those of you that are watching and listening to us 206 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: this on this episode to go back and find that 207 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: episode and watch it and listen to it because it's 208 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: it's revealing. But Matt, I didn't think the biggest challenge 209 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: would be in week sixteen of the twenty one season. 210 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 1: I mean, we're sixteen months after that episode and here 211 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: we are, and I'm with you. Rick is the Chiefs 212 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: Emergency Disease Response Infectious disease emergency Response leader. He's also 213 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: one of the top leaders in this league, as you 214 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: alluded to, in helping with the protocols and trying to 215 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 1: mitigate the coronavirus. But two doctor Sills takes his calls, right. 216 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he's got a big influence and to have 217 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,959 Speaker 1: him in our fort leading the way gives me as 218 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: much comfort as I could possibly have in an uncomfortable 219 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: time and world. Yeah, couldn't agree more. And that's all 220 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: we want, right, I mean, you and I we live 221 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: and breathe the stuff. All we want is for the 222 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: team to be out there and to find success. And 223 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: in order to do that, they have to be out there. 224 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: So to have our crew and our athletic training staff 225 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: not just helping with the coronavirus, but also getting these 226 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: guys on the field after injuries. You know, things like that. 227 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 1: Those are a little hidden things that maybe you don't 228 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: appreciate as much and less things like this is going on. 229 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: But we have a tremendous staff in place that is 230 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: helping us get through this and make sure it doesn't 231 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: get any worse. And that you know, in a couple 232 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,200 Speaker 1: of weeks, they can look back on this and say, hey, 233 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: they really handled that. Well, that's where we're so fortunate. 234 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: I think the other thing, and you mentioned is the 235 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: leadership of coach Read Time and time and time again. 236 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: I've seen him handle flash points I see him handle 237 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 1: he's a trouble shooter, he fixes it. Twenty fourteen oh 238 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: and two start winning season nine and seven, fifteen one 239 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: and five, start ten straight wins, a postseason, first post 240 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: season win, first time in twenty two years. Twenty seventeen, 241 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: six out of seven games, still winning the division. Twenty nineteen. 242 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: We remember parades and confetti and Travis Kelsey bring it 243 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: up the Beastie Boys. We forget how many turns and 244 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: twists they're word of that season, how many weeds there 245 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: were in the garden. And this year, I mean, we 246 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: just have seen him do it time and time and 247 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:20,559 Speaker 1: time again, and here we are again with another one. 248 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: That's several this year that we faced. But I just 249 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: have confidence in him. No matter who's on that list 250 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: and who's not on that list, He's going to try 251 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: to figure out a way to win this week and 252 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:35,680 Speaker 1: keep moving forward forward, powering through it. Montre is not 253 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: just an encouragement to me or anybody else in the Kingdom. 254 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: It's the way he lives his life and leads this team. 255 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 1: And that is the most underrated part of Andy Reid's 256 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 1: coaching acumen. Yeah, any organization it finds success their failure 257 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: based on his leadership. That's just the reality of it. 258 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: Any organization at all, and a football team is not 259 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: immune to that. A football team is completely directed by 260 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 1: its leadership. And to have coach Read in place through 261 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: any kind ofcumstance you mentioned it, you know, losing a 262 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: couple of tough games, or losing some players to injury, 263 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: or a situation like this, When you have a leader 264 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: like coach Read, it gives you an advantage over just 265 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: about everyone else because coach Reads don't grow on trees. 266 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 1: You don't find guys like this. There's a reason that 267 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: the Chiefs are the only team since two thirteen to 268 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 1: have a winning season every single year. Think about that, 269 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: every single year since two thirteen, the Chiefs have had 270 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:25,080 Speaker 1: a winning season. No other team has done that. And 271 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: really you can say, yes, of course it's the players 272 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: on the field, But what's the one constant to that 273 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: entire time. It is coach Read. So he finds ways 274 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: to get through all kinds of challenges. I have no doubt, 275 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 1: zero doubt at all, he will find a way to 276 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: get through this challenge here. All right, let's pivot here 277 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:43,199 Speaker 1: a bit on the second part of this defending the 278 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: Kingdom episode, which is flashpoints in Russian history. Now people 279 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 1: understand me. I want you to understand me here. And 280 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: my brother, by the way, is a expert in Russian history. 281 00:13:56,760 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: He studied the culture most of his adult life. He's 282 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: been involved there in many ways. So I reached out 283 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: to him and said, all right, the Steelers are one 284 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: of the most resilient teams I've ever seen. Like, you 285 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 1: can't get rid of these guys. The Vikings thought they 286 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: were going to blow him out at twenty nine to nothing, 287 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: and they're hanging on to win that game. There is 288 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: And so I compared why we say Russian history to 289 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:25,880 Speaker 1: Rescputant like the famous infamous mystic the last days of 290 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: the rule of zarn Nicholas the second All right, that's 291 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 1: the Russian Revolution. But they couldn't get rid of this guy. 292 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: The people that wanted to get rid of Rescute and 293 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: could not get rid of him. They tried everything and 294 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: couldn't do it. Now, for those three members of the 295 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: Steeler nation who may just be happening to stumble into 296 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: defending the Kingdom, take it as a compliment, because honestly, Matt, 297 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: there has been no team in the NFL tougher than 298 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: the Pittsburgh Steelers for fifty three seasons. This has been 299 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: the way they've lived their life for fifty three years. 300 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: Three head coaches in fifty three years, Chuck Nol, Bill Kawer, 301 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin. There is no rhyme or reason, Matt, that 302 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: the Steelers should come into this game Sunday at seven 303 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: six and one, if you just look at the numbers. Yeah, 304 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: there's a lot to unpack here. First of all, I 305 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: love that people can listen to Defending the Kingdom and 306 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,400 Speaker 1: get a history lesson. How about that you learn some things. Also, 307 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: the Russian analogy works so well because you think about 308 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:23,400 Speaker 1: us last weekend, just a few days ago, rooting for 309 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: the Steelers, like in World War Two. You know, the 310 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: Russians are our friends, and then all of a sudden 311 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: a week later we're playing them. So here the Cold 312 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: War has begun. We're playing the Russians here on Sunday. 313 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: But yeah, they're a tough team that has been this 314 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: way forever. And it got me thinking about how several 315 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: years ago, when Clark count was looking to establish a 316 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: culture here in Kansas City, he directly mentioned the Steelers 317 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: numerous times and for good reason. That's a culture, an 318 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: organization you want to be like. And the beauty of 319 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 1: it is I mentioned all the winning season since two thirteen, 320 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: the Chiefs have established that. Now the Chiefs have a 321 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: winning culture similar to the Steelers. But the Steelers have 322 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: been doing it a very long time. And even when 323 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: they're having maybe a season that isn't quite to their standards, 324 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: they still find a way to fight over and over again. 325 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: So if you look at when they've done this season 326 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: notorious slow starters, in the first three quarters of games 327 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: this year, they're being outscored by ninety six points. Now, 328 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: many teams, when they're being outscored by several touchdowns in 329 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: the first three quarters of a game, they're gonna roll over, 330 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: They're going to be done. But the Steelers they don't 331 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: do that because they have veteran players that have been 332 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: to Super Bowls, that have been to AFC championship games 333 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: and know how to win. They know how to fight 334 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 1: for sixty minutes. They are outscoring teams by forty nine 335 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,760 Speaker 1: points in the fourth quarter. All seven of their wins 336 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: this year have been by one score. In many of 337 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: those games they were trailing and entering the fourth quarter 338 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: four of them. Actually they're trailing in the fourth quarter 339 00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: and went on to win those games. So this is 340 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: a team that it's not always pretty. If you go 341 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: back and watch the Titans game, I know a lot 342 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,800 Speaker 1: of Chiefs fans are watching that game. Not exactly a 343 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: pretty performance, but they found a way in the end. 344 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: And like coach bi Enemy always says, what matters in 345 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: the end, it's the alphabets. It's if you won or 346 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: you lost. No one cares how many file points you have. 347 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: The Steelers don't have a lot of style points this season, 348 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 1: but they're still alive in this playoff funt because they 349 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: find a way. So for the Chiefs in this game, 350 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:12,119 Speaker 1: particularly if you're down some players, got to make sure 351 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: you're playing a full sixty minutes. You can blitz them 352 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:16,479 Speaker 1: early on and have a lot of success, but in 353 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: the fourth quarter, this team will not give up. So 354 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: got to make sure we're playing a full game against 355 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: these guys. So we don't know who will be on 356 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: the field for the Chiefs. We've got to monitor this 357 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 1: really hour by hour. This isn't day by day. This 358 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: is an hour by hour of who's on that COVID 359 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: nineteen list, who's not and who's available to go? And 360 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: if they're not available to go, who takes their place. 361 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: The second part of this is the Steelers are coming 362 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 1: in with a lot to play for. Two. The Chiefs 363 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 1: right now have the one seat in the AFC. We 364 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: all know that the Steelers are seven six and one 365 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,840 Speaker 1: and still have a chance to win the division in 366 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: the AFC North, which is crazy. But to your point 367 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: about the first three quarters. In the last month, the 368 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: Steelers have been outscored in the first three quarters seventy 369 00:17:56,640 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: four to nine. They have no touchdowns in the first 370 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: three quarters for a month. It hasn't happens. It's nineteen 371 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 1: ninety four. So I go back and look at it. 372 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: But you know what, the next year they go to 373 00:18:07,119 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. It's what they are. And then you 374 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:13,040 Speaker 1: mentioned the fourth quarter explosion. So how do they win? Yeah, 375 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: they just do the right thing at the right time. 376 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:17,159 Speaker 1: And last week they did it against the Titans with 377 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: those four takeaways, including a tip pass by Taco Charlton, 378 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: former chief But t J. Watt to me becomes center 379 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: stage in this discussion. T J. Watt lived in the 380 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: shadow of his brother JJ for years. His brother Derek's 381 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: on the team too on the Steelers team, but Matt 382 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,640 Speaker 1: for t J. Watt to have eighteen sacks, four forced fumbles, 383 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: and when he gets a forced fumble they win. They 384 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: won three of those four games. That can completely wreck 385 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 1: a game or flip a game, turn a game on 386 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 1: one or two plays. He really is right now. I 387 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: think the premier pass rasher in this league. T J. 388 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: Watt is a stud and we kind of talked about 389 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: this earlier this week. I feel like a couple of 390 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,440 Speaker 1: years ago he was kind of doing the same thing, 391 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: and for whatever reason, he just wasn't getting a lot 392 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: of credit as one of the best defensive players in 393 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,360 Speaker 1: the league because the Steelers for a lot the last 394 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,719 Speaker 1: couple of years haven't been an elite team. They've been 395 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: hanging around, like we've been talking about, but they weren't 396 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: an elite team. Well last year, I feel like when 397 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: they got off to the undefeated start, he started getting 398 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: a lot of credit. And now he just followed that 399 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 1: up with an incredible season. I mean, seventeen and a 400 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: half sacks this year. In one note that I find 401 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 1: interesting about him is that he seems to make this 402 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: defense better when he's out there, and that seems obvious, like, yeah, 403 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: of course he's getting sacks and making big plays. But 404 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: when he is out there, he makes everyone else better, 405 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 1: which I think is the best compliment you can never 406 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: give a football player or any athlete really for that matter. 407 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: But when he is out there for eighty percent or 408 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 1: more of snaps, this year, Pittsburgh is seven and two, 409 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: it's unbelievable. They find ways to get wins when he 410 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: is out there defensively for this team. Now, he's been 411 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,679 Speaker 1: banged up at times and hasn't always been out there 412 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,400 Speaker 1: for his squad, and when he's not out there, they 413 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: tend to struggle. So t J. Watt is really the 414 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,879 Speaker 1: heartbeat of this team defensively. And look at the game 415 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,320 Speaker 1: last week against the Titans. He had like a ribs 416 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 1: injury or something like. He was injured, but he wanted 417 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: to go back in the game because he witnessed and 418 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: recognized how big of a moment that was. He went 419 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: back in and played to that injury and was a 420 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: huge part of that victory for the Stealers. So t J. Watt, 421 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 1: even though this defense overall for the Stealers has struggled 422 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: for the most part of this season, TJ. Watt is 423 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: a guy you have to always know where he is 424 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: at all times. A couple things here as we close out, too, 425 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: you're thinking, well, offensively, man, big Ben, what's he got left? 426 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: Probably his past year arm the last last year, he's 427 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: got nineteen touchdowns, seven picks. He's just he's also a grinder. 428 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 1: He's the personification of his coach, Mike Tomlindon. Guy's like TJ. Watt. 429 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: But when you look at the categories of third down 430 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: and red zone, both on offense and defense, they're there. 431 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: They're there. And the fact that they have forced one 432 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: hundred seven opponent penalties for almost nine hundred yards, you're thinking, 433 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:50,640 Speaker 1: how did they go seven six and one and don't 434 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 1: have Glitzie stats those two areas they're still hard to 435 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: score on. They'll get their scores if they get a 436 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: shot in the red zone, and they'll force you into mistakes, 437 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,239 Speaker 1: not only turnovers. But you've got to play discipline for 438 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: sixty minutes against these guys. I don't care if you 439 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: get a big lead, it does not matter. Call the 440 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:11,360 Speaker 1: Titans called the Vikings. It called the other teams the 441 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: Ravens that played these guys and have to hang on. Yeah, 442 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: and the Chargers as well. The Steelers almost beat the 443 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: Chargers in their house after the Chargers had a huge lead. 444 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: And you mentioned Big Ben in the offense. Big Ben 445 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: isn't quite what he was when he was winning Super Bowls, 446 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 1: but there's no disrespect to him. I mean, he's thirty 447 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: nine years old. He's still playing at a pretty solid level. 448 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 1: He can move the ball around. It's important to remember 449 00:21:31,560 --> 00:21:33,720 Speaker 1: too that even though the Steelers offense hasn't had a 450 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: ton of success over all this season, They've only scored 451 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: more than thirty points once, they still have playmakers that 452 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: can beat you that are legitimate, bona fide players in 453 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: this league. Guys like Deonta Johnson. He's not just fast, 454 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 1: he's quick. I mean he's not Tyreek Hill, but when 455 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: you're watching him, he's kind of in a way, has 456 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: that kind of skill set where he can turn a 457 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: quick little play into a huge game. He's a thousand 458 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:55,640 Speaker 1: yards and six touchdowns this season. Chase Claypool a lot 459 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,520 Speaker 1: of controversy around him this year for some of his antics, 460 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: but you can't guard what a physical specimen he is. 461 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: I mean he can go up and get a football 462 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: in a fifty fifty ball so they got to know 463 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: where he is at all times. We'll see if Pat 464 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 1: Fryarmooth plays in this game. Excellent tight end at a 465 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 1: Penn State rookie this year, been in the end zone 466 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: a whole lot. He's in concussion protocol. Him not being 467 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 1: out there actually would be a very big deal. But 468 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: then lastly, Nagie Harris. The Steelers don't run the ball 469 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,200 Speaker 1: a whole bunch, but they find ways to get Nagie 470 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: Harris involved. He has thirteen hundred yards from scrimmage this year. 471 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: So the Steelers offense has talent and they have players. 472 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 1: The issue though, all year long for them has been 473 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: their offensive line. That's truly they're Achilles Heal. I think, yeah, 474 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: they're young, and they're kind of there's a real young 475 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: offensive line here. They're kind of redoing it after going 476 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: through the years where they had Castro and Pouncy and Villanueva. 477 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: They were studs, just say, were they were constant, kind 478 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: of like what the Chiefs are building right now on 479 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: the offensive line. The Steelers hope to do that as well. 480 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: And I don't want to leave Cam Hayward out of 481 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: this discussion. That dude is a Mohler at the line 482 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: of scrimmage, and T. J. Watt can thank him for 483 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: a lot of his stuff. But here we go, so 484 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: looking at flash point fixing. That's what Andy Reid does, 485 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: what Rick Brookeholder has done now for sure of the 486 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 1: last two years, and then Russian history trying to get 487 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: rid of Resputin. You Steeler fans, just relax a little bit. 488 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: I'm not saying you're the Russians, but just to give 489 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,840 Speaker 1: you an analogy, you guys are hard to beat. Let's 490 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: just take that as a compliment. But Matt, here we 491 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: go in a game where the Chiefs want to stay 492 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: in that spot to be the one seed and get 493 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: the buy in the AFC playoffs. Yeah, and I think 494 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: it's quickly important to note not to get too caught 495 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: up and everything that's going on right now. How exciting 496 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,479 Speaker 1: a moment this is. To think that the Chiefs started 497 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: three and four and you and I privately and publicly 498 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: just kept saying, just hold on. It's a long season, 499 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: just hold on. We believe in this team. We've watched 500 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: them every day in camp, through OTAs, through everything. We 501 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: believe in this group. And for them to rip off 502 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 1: seven straight wins to be in the position they're in now. 503 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: To have the weekend like Chiefs Kingdom had, where you 504 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:55,199 Speaker 1: already have a win in your back pocket and the 505 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,760 Speaker 1: Patriots loose and the Titans lose, so you move into 506 00:23:57,760 --> 00:24:01,240 Speaker 1: that top seed in the AFC. It is really exciting. 507 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: And to have these three final regular season games as 508 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,000 Speaker 1: an opportunity to lock up the top seed in the AFC, 509 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 1: home field advantage through the playoffs and stuff that if 510 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: we talked about it in mid October, people wouldn't take 511 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: us seriously. But we believe in this team. We knew 512 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:16,560 Speaker 1: that they could do it, and for them to achieve 513 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: it has been very exciting. So we've talked for weeks 514 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 1: now about how it's a lot of fun to go 515 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: fourteen and two, to go thirteen and three, but to 516 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:27,239 Speaker 1: have this season the way it's unfolded. If we can 517 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,439 Speaker 1: accomplish what we know we can accomplish this year, I 518 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: think this is the year we'll look back on and go, wow, 519 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,359 Speaker 1: that was a special one. I can still hear the 520 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 1: ringing of the doorbell. It was Halloween night. There were 521 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: a lot of kids dressed up as Andy Reid. This 522 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,439 Speaker 1: one looked pretty good, going, Hey, what's our chances of 523 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: winning or getting to the playoffs this year at three 524 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: and four. I go well at six percent. But the 525 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 1: reason I believe we're gonna make it is because of 526 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: the guy you're dressed like. So here we are with 527 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: a ninety nine point three percent chance of making the playoffs. 528 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 1: So we'll monitor this COVID nineteen over the next I 529 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,240 Speaker 1: mean really literally hour to hour until game time. But 530 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 1: he's met McMullan. I'm Mitchel. This special thanks to three 531 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: sixty Vodka for being the sponsor of this Defending the 532 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: Kingdom podcast and the official vodka of the Kansas City 533 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: Chiefs and Matt. To you and your family, a kid 534 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:18,359 Speaker 1: you about Montie McMullan, your mom, who might be the 535 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: biggest Chiefs in Matt fan ever. Maybe Tennessee volunteers throwing 536 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: Mississippi State Bulldogs. But to you and your whole family, 537 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: your whole family, and to all of our Chiefs Kingdom 538 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: family around the world, we want to wish all of 539 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: you a very merry Christmas and a happy Holidays. Touch 540 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: down down and the celebration begins in their head.