1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: Good afternoons, Stealer Nation, and welcome to Super wild Card Weekend. 4 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:29,320 Speaker 2: It is the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network. Queshuoler 5 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 2: of Matt Williamson with you here for the next two 6 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 2: hours as we are charged up, ready to go. Matt, 7 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: this is what we've been waiting for. This is what 8 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: we play for. 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 3: Baby playoffs. 10 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 2: Let's roll, playoffs, Let's roll. And obviously things are getting 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 2: underway Saturday and rolling into Monday night, when the Pittsburgh 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 2: Steelers will close down, close down the regular season at home. 13 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:52,520 Speaker 3: I guess you will close down Super. 14 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 2: Wild Card weekend at home, and what will be the Steelers. 15 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 3: Closed on the Divisional round at home, close AFC Championship. 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: Let's do it, Let's do it. Let's get started here today. 17 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: But yeah, Matt, let's actually let's let's jump in right 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 2: there for a second, because I did find this interesting. 19 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: I was talking with our buddy Chad Tyson, and this 20 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 2: just kind of dawned on me. In a organization like 21 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 2: the Steelers, it's hard to make history. 22 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 3: Right, There's been a lot written already, it's hard to 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 3: surpass it. Or there's reords or you know. 24 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 2: Right, six time Super Bowl champions and more division titles 25 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: than any other franchise in the NFL, and Hall of 26 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: Fame coaches and Hall of Fame player after Hall of 27 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: Fame player after Hall of Fame player and MVPs and 28 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: defensive Defensive Player of the Years, and like just. 29 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 3: Funny, like oh, Marky's Pouncy gets elected to the Hall 30 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 3: of Fame in twenty thirty and like, oh, that's their 31 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: third center, Like oh great. 32 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a privileged place to be as an organization. 33 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: If you're a New York Yankee, it's tough to make history. 34 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 2: If you're a Boston Celtic, it's tough to make history. Yeah, 35 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: but we're going to make some history. Monday Night Steelers 36 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: first time hosting a playoff game on a Monday. That's 37 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 2: pretty cool. 38 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 3: It's pretty cool, especially with their record on Monday that 39 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 3: is really awesome. 40 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: The backdrop of how dominant they've been on Monday nights 41 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: at home. I know it's technically not Monday Night Football 42 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 2: the same way that streak is, but it's close enough. 43 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: We're gonna count it. 44 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 3: Like I'm dreading or I really hope that in Week 45 00:02:18,639 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 3: ten next year, Matt's stats doesn't say the Steelers are 46 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 3: twenty three and oh hosting a Monday night game during 47 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 3: the regular. 48 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: Regular little aster on you know, absolutely absolutely, I'm with 49 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 2: you on that. I do not like the weather driving 50 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: in here today. It's nice the first time the windows down, 51 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 2: probably the first and the only time in my life 52 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: I will complain about nice winter weather in Pittsburgh in January. Yeah, 53 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, it's windows down. It's sixty five degrees 54 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:48,399 Speaker 2: in sunny out there right now. 55 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 3: I stopped at a drive through beer distributor on the 56 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 3: way here, and the beers aren't even cold. 57 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 2: Come on, man, I was thinking like I should go 58 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 2: outside and wash my car again, even though I did yesterday. 59 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: It goes out beautiful, it is. I don't like that. 60 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 2: I wish it was seventeen degrees. And those domers from Texas, 61 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,639 Speaker 2: those that Houston Texans, the playing a dome down there, 62 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: had to come up into freezing snowy conditions. It won't 63 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 2: be quite this wary by Monday night. But Matt, as 64 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: we get closer and closer to this one, I'm real 65 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: excited for a bunch of reasons, but I think the 66 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 2: biggest one is just this feels like a legit coin 67 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: flip game. This feels like and I don't want to 68 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 2: pooh pooh the Steelers teams of the past two years 69 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: and especially the quarterback situations of the past two years, 70 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: but this group feels different heading into the playoffs this 71 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: year they won. I think hosting the game always feels 72 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: different than going on the road this time of year 73 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: without a Buffalo right and and Baltimore and you know 74 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: in that crowd that gets all jacked up there and 75 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: just what we know Steelers Ravens, and in the history 76 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: and the rivalry and the energy that's behind that. And 77 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: let's also not kill ourselves too. When you were rolling 78 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 2: into Buffalo with Mason Rudolph, it felt like you were 79 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: kind of happy to be there, but you were running 80 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 2: into a buzzsaw. 81 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, went uphill climb. 82 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: When you went to Baltimore last year with the way 83 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: that Lamar and Henry were playing with the Steelers defense 84 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: that had kind of been worn down and like half 85 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: of their starters were dealing with the flu in some 86 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: type of sickness, and Russell Wilson was trending the wrong way, 87 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 2: it didn't. It felt like you were kind of, you know, 88 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 2: backed into a corner last year wild Card weekend too. 89 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 3: Going into play Mahomes the year before that one. 90 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 2: Going into playing Mahomes. Times you are absolutely right, is 91 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 2: the Chiefs were really coming off the super Bowl and 92 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: looking starting to look like that Chief's juggernaut. 93 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 3: That they absolutely I mean, those three quarterbacks in their 94 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 3: buildings clearly superior teams at the. 95 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 2: Time, without a doubt. 96 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: And we said that on the drive. 97 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 2: Then superior teams, superior quarterbacks on the road. That's a 98 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 2: tough cookie to crack. That's a tough nut to crack. 99 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 3: So I was listening to the Athletics podcast on the 100 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 3: way here, and they I had a good way of 101 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 3: putting it too. They were they were really breaking down the 102 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 3: Steeler defense and they're like, man, usually about this time 103 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 3: of the year, I feel like this defense is holding 104 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 3: on for dear life. You know, like people are starting 105 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 3: to run on them. They're a little older, they're not 106 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 3: the most schematically diverse group out there, but they're like 107 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: now they're putting new wrinkles in on defense, and the 108 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 3: defense is getting better, and they've made more changes than 109 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 3: they usually do late in the season and there was 110 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 3: basically they were saying the same thing from a national 111 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 3: perspective of I feel a lot better they were focusing 112 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 3: on that side of the ball, but like, I feel 113 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 3: a lot better about this defense being able to hang 114 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: at least fifty to fifty with the opponent. And I you, 115 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 3: I'm sure are super confident that the D line is 116 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 3: a major advantage over Houston's OH line. 117 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it was hard. 118 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,559 Speaker 3: To find advantages in some of these other playoff games. 119 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And it'll let. 120 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 3: Lamar and Henry go for two point fifty on the 121 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 3: ground together, Like that's. 122 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: Not a goal, you know, exactly right, And it might 123 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 2: be a little bit of a challenge to find clear 124 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: cut advantages for the Steelers in this one because there's 125 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 2: a lot of fifty fifty toss ups. I think he's 126 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: just really good, absolutely, I really do, particularly on the 127 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: defensive side of the football. But you're right on offense, 128 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 2: their offensive line, that run game, that is I think 129 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 2: where the Steelers really have to flex their muscle and clearly, 130 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: you know, dominate that track after twelve rounds. They need 131 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: to be the one with their hand raised in the 132 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: in the ring by the referee in that regard and 133 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: the other. 134 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 3: Your opponents just beat to a Paul Tko. 135 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,520 Speaker 2: Exactly right, And Matt, that does kind of set up 136 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,240 Speaker 2: an interesting backdrop to this one too, from the perspective 137 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 2: of both defenses. I sent this to you and Tyler 138 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 2: earlier today. It was from our buddy Cody Alexander of 139 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 2: Love Match Quarters, who you and I months ago kind 140 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: of discovered that we were both We stumbled into discovering 141 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 2: that we were both fans of his. 142 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 3: That comes from there. 143 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 2: You follow him from that perspective for a while. He 144 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: used to work on the defensive staff at Baylor. I 145 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 2: know I've told you this before, So we've had him 146 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 2: on the WVU show that I do a couple times 147 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 2: over the years to talk Baylor defense, his Big twelve 148 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 2: defenses exactly right. So we're both like, oh, yeah, Cody Alexander, Yeah, 149 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 2: I know him. I know he's a good dude. 150 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 3: I just stumbled into him this year and does good work. 151 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 2: He put together research from this entire season regular season 152 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: now that it's in the books NFL defensive scheme diversity. 153 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 2: So basically, how often a defense is static and we're 154 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: gonna do what we do and and you try and 155 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 2: move the ball on us versus how often a defense 156 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,000 Speaker 2: is adapting and changing schematically? 157 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 3: Yes, and before you start the Steelers the last five 158 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 3: years were one of the most statics and that's our 159 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 3: guys are better than yours. Statics not always bad. No, 160 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 3: it's not, because we'll get to it. 161 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: The most static defense in the league this year, by 162 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: far is the Houston Texans. 163 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 164 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, and a scale of one to one hundred matt, 165 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 2: they are a one in terms of scheme diversity on 166 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: defense through seventeen games via The next closest is Green 167 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 2: Bay at twelve point nine. 168 00:07:58,640 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 169 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: And I don't know how he I saw you sent that. 170 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 3: I didn't dig into what his criteria was for the diversity. 171 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: I think it will sub packages and substitutions, and. 172 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 3: That's what I was going to say. You know, like 173 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,559 Speaker 3: they've played I think three snaps of dime all year. 174 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 3: I mean it's one, it's it's it'sero point three percent. 175 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 3: I mean it's probably. 176 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 2: Barely registers on the Richter scale. 177 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,679 Speaker 3: I assume that it was like when they're playing against 178 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 3: a team, it's gonna throw a hail Mary, you know, I. 179 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: Mean something that it's the end of the second half 180 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 2: or the first half, and you know they're just gonna 181 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 2: chuck one something like that. 182 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, they've played some goal line, as every team does, 183 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 3: you know, like, but other than that, it is heavy 184 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,720 Speaker 3: heavy nickel and some bass, you know, and they're comfortable 185 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 3: with both, but they want to be a nickel, So 186 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 3: I think the Steelers will try to get heavy to 187 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 3: at least make them play bass. But they still back 188 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 3: to like the diversity thing. They really only play like 189 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 3: thirteen human beings on defense too, right, you know, like, 190 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:56,959 Speaker 3: and they're good ones. 191 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,199 Speaker 2: Very good. Yeah, they're the best defense in the NFL. Yeah, 192 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 2: and you're right there. There's a lot of similarities of 193 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 2: the Steelers being that at points in the past. 194 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. 195 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 196 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 2: There's also been times recently though, where the Steelers Mike 197 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: Tomlin and Tarrell Austin in particular, have gotten crushed for 198 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 2: being too static, I think particularly last year down the 199 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: stretch and at times early this year. Oh yeah, yeah, 200 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: good news for those people that think the Steelers have 201 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 2: been too static. They were the seventh most diverse defensive 202 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 2: schematically unit in the NFL this year. So if the 203 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 2: Houston Texans had a one out of one hundred percentage 204 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 2: of scheme diversity. Yeah, the Pittsburgh Steelers eighty three out 205 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: of only six defenses in the NFL quote unquote, more 206 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,079 Speaker 2: diverse than the Steelers won this season. That's a drastic 207 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 2: difference between these two units. Yeah, And that's a drastic 208 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 2: difference from I think where the Steelers have been for 209 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 2: the large majority of the time that you and I 210 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: have covered and been around the team. 211 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. And it makes me crazy, big picture, 212 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 3: this organ is a should never changes. They're so stuck 213 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 3: in their ways. This said coach has been there forever. 214 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 3: They've been doing the same thing exactly for nineteen years. Like, no, 215 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: they haven't. I mean they just haven't. I mean, I 216 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 3: mean Dale used to use this example all the time too, 217 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 3: Like they went like fifty years trading their first round 218 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 3: pick when they traded it for Maca, you know, I mean, 219 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 3: like and then trade it for Bush, you know, Like 220 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 3: they do change. But just off the top of my head, 221 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 3: Steelers defensive diversity. People probably like, what are you talking about? 222 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 3: It seem like the same guys, blah blah blah. They 223 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 3: play at three to four. Not really, I mean they've 224 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 3: incorporated a third inside linebacker. They've incorporated a third outside linebacker. 225 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 3: They went from heavy single high from the Menka days 226 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 3: to since Sanders has been there, Sanders Ramsey has been there. 227 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 3: They play a lot more too high safeties. You know, 228 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 3: they've gone they want They start a season saying, we 229 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 3: want to man up with these corners. We paid and 230 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 3: they're not really capable of doing that, so we're gonna 231 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 3: play in more zone. They started up blitzing heavy, thinking 232 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 3: our corners can hold up first blitz, that's what we 233 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 3: paid for. Well they can't, and we don't really need 234 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 3: the blitz. Get home, you know. So they've changed a 235 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,319 Speaker 3: lot throughout the course of the year. 236 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 2: That they have and that that really kind of drove 237 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 2: it home to me, and I think that's a big. 238 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 3: This will some more injuries on defense, mostly because they've 239 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 3: been in the field so much. 240 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 2: In some ways their hand in some ways their hand 241 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 2: was forced there. 242 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: We gotta put Pierre in, didn't know he was going 243 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 3: to be good, and he was. You know. 244 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 2: One of my one of my favorite sayings in life 245 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: is adapt or die. It's like from from Moneyball, when 246 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 2: you know Brad Pitt plays Billy Bean, the guy who 247 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 2: was seen is crazy at the time, the open athletics 248 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 2: general manager, and he's there's that scene in the Moneyball 249 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 2: movie where Brad Pitt's standing in front of his scouts 250 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 2: and they're all calling him crazy and why are you 251 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 2: doing this and why are you ripping up what we've 252 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 2: been doing for hundreds of years And he puts his 253 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: arms up and he goes adapt or die. Right, the 254 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 2: Steelers have had to adapt or die this season, and 255 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: they have not died died. They've thrived. 256 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, and another saying I'm going to say it wrong, 257 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 3: but what is it? Necessity is the mother of invention, 258 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 3: you know, like, well we don't have it, Corners, or 259 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: we don't have a safety. Hey, Jalen, you don't play safety, 260 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 3: you know, like we don't have a choice. Yes, And 261 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 3: singer swim you know. 262 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 2: Exactly right. And then another interesting backdrop to me before 263 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 2: we get the Missy Matthews here in a couple of minutes, 264 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 2: Matt that I was just kind of kicking around driving 265 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: in here. The Houston Texans have a group that has 266 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 2: had a little postseason success, ye still looking to break through. Yes, 267 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 2: a very similar nucleus of Stroud and Nico Collins and 268 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 2: and a lot of the guys on that defense, Will Anderson. 269 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 2: They've been there now, this is their third year at 270 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: it together. They've won a playoff game right each of 271 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 2: the past two years, and then and then faltered in 272 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: the divisional round. They kind of have a group that 273 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 2: has been to this point together and is looking to 274 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 2: break through, whereas the Steelers have a group that really 275 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 2: hasn't been to this point together. I mean some of 276 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 2: them have obviously, but when you consider Aaron Rodgers and 277 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 2: Jalen Ramsey and DK Metcalf and Kenneth Gainwell a ton 278 00:12:57,520 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: of new pieces. 279 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,839 Speaker 3: I'm even thinking, like Cam Hayward Watt, like Houston has 280 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 3: a I think Houston's a better team than Steelers. But 281 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 3: there's not someone you said, oh, that's a Hall of Famer, 282 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 3: you know, like the Steelers have dudes that are different portions. 283 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 2: That's what I mean here. You know, Houston, what these 284 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 2: two teams are about to do Monday night, Houston. This 285 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 2: group of the Houston Texans has done that more together 286 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 2: than the Steelers have. 287 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, but the Steelers schedule. 288 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 2: The Steelers have Rogers and Ramsey and say Amalu and 289 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 2: guys that have achieved the ultimate goal, just albeit with 290 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 2: a different team. So what's kind of the better leadership 291 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 2: spot to be in To be with a group where 292 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,079 Speaker 2: you've done this together you just need to break through, 293 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 2: or to be with the group where there's a lot 294 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 2: of new parts and many of whom have broken through. 295 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 2: I just find that interesting too. 296 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:44,719 Speaker 3: I just said this earlier in the week, but it's 297 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 3: real quick. Kind of the history here of the Texans 298 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 3: is this time of year, they're like the worst team 299 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:55,120 Speaker 3: in the league. They hired Damikia ryans Hot, you know, 300 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 3: defensive coordinator from the Niners who had tons of success. 301 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 3: He was one of the guys everyone knew was going 302 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 3: to be a head coach. He takes the job knowing, well, 303 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 3: you get the second pick in the draft, Rice Young 304 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 3: and Stroud are the two quarterbacks. I'll get one of 305 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 3: those two, and but my roster's horrendous. I mean, they 306 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 3: just traded Watson and it was a highly dysfunctional group 307 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,839 Speaker 3: in Houston for a while. The year before they did 308 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: had a really unique approach where they just signed like 309 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 3: thirty dudes in free agency to one year deals and 310 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 3: just creating competition like people nobody wanted, you know, and 311 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 3: kind of tanked that way because but they found two 312 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 3: or three pieces that that's a keeper. We they threw 313 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 3: every hint the fan, but anyways, he takes over his 314 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 3: job and they had another high pick. It must have 315 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: been from the Browns and the Watson deal. It was. 316 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 3: It was so they draft Strout to too, and I 317 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 3: think they preferred Stroud to Young, So they were happy 318 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 3: Young went. That's kind of a well known, not secret, 319 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 3: and I think they moved up from like five to 320 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 3: three and then will Anderson right, and it's like, that's 321 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: both sides of the ball. That's exactly what the plan is. 322 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,680 Speaker 3: And the both worked out and they went to the 323 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 3: playoffs that year, and they have every year since, and 324 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 3: they've gone to the division round every year since, you know. 325 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: And so they are thinking, we are right where we 326 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: want to be. We've been knocking on the door. It's 327 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 2: time to kick that thing in and break through. Whereas 328 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 2: the Steelers, it's like we it's time for us to 329 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: kind of reassert that we can win some postseason games 330 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: and we belong in these conversations and getting back to 331 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 2: being what people of you know, what the Steelers have 332 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 2: been in the twenty first century for so many years. 333 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 3: It's such a foreign thought for Steeler fans to be 334 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 3: in that situation when Demiko Ryans look. 335 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 2: Over totally right, totally and it's worked out for them. 336 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: I know a lot of people say, see, we could 337 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: do the Houston texts. We get worked out for them, 338 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 2: But there's a lot of others who have still been 339 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 2: trying to play that game and have not had any success. 340 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: So it's a it's a big one. It's a fun one. 341 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: Air's a ton of storylines that we are getting into. 342 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 3: Streaks that they're so many they're going to get broke, 343 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 3: so many broke. 344 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: This is this is one with a whole bunch on 345 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 2: the line. It obviously is and time. It's a playoff game, 346 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 2: but this feels massive for both franchises in the type 347 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: of year that they have had. We will get the 348 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: view from the sideline with Missy Matthews and we return 349 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 2: on the other side, and then we'll start talking some 350 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 2: matchups we've kicked around some of these Nicocollins and Derek 351 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 2: Stingley's and Anderson and Hunter and some of these big names. 352 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 2: We'll talk matchups too. You know here as we roll 353 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 2: along today, so so much to get into. It's West Shuler, 354 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 2: Matt Williamson The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio on the 355 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 2: Steelers Audio Network. 356 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 1: Your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to seven 357 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: home of the Black and Goal. Steelers Nation Radio. 358 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 2: Back on the Drive here as all eyes are on 359 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 2: Super wild Card weekend and of course, from our perspective, 360 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: the biggest game of them all Monday Night between the 361 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 2: Steelers and the Texans. Joining us now to discuss the 362 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 2: queen of the sideline Steelers Sideline reporter. You hear her 363 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 2: on the call with Rob King and Max Starks. It's 364 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 2: the great Missy Matthews. Missy, thank you for taking the 365 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 2: time for us. Is always on a Friday, And you know, 366 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 2: Matt and I were kind of discussing in the opening 367 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: of the show there in our first segment just about how, yeah, 368 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 2: you know, the Steelers have been in this this wild 369 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 2: Card position here recently, you know, the last two years 370 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 2: Baltimore and Buffalo and then before that Kansas City, and 371 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: how those ones with kind of the quarterback mismatches having 372 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:48,120 Speaker 2: to go on the road felt much different as opposed 373 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 2: to hosting this one, being divisional champions and of course 374 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:53,479 Speaker 2: having the future Hall of Famer, one of the greatest 375 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: ever do it Aaron Rodgers on our side this time. 376 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 2: I gotta imagine you agree. Like we've been excited, we've 377 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:01,200 Speaker 2: been hopeful going into the play off these last handful 378 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 2: of years, but this one seems a little different, seems 379 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 2: a little more optimistic. 380 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:09,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. Absolutely, I think number one, not going on the 381 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,760 Speaker 4: road is huge, and I just I really feel like 382 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 4: Aaron Rodgers has made everybody by in this season believe 383 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 4: that they can win games, believe that they can make 384 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 4: the postseason. And even after the Cleveland game, he's like, Okay, yeah, 385 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 4: we played that today. I played that we're gonna go 386 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 4: home next week and we're gonna win. Like it was 387 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:35,239 Speaker 4: immediate confidence. We talked about that last week, and I 388 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 4: feel like that has carried over to this week as well, 389 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 4: especially you know the way they were able to come 390 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 4: back being down ten nothing at one point in that game, 391 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 4: not getting any points at the end of the first half. 392 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 4: It just felt like everything that could have went wrong 393 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:52,719 Speaker 4: went wrong, but they were still able to overcome the adversity. 394 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 4: And I think that's like the true test of a 395 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 4: real team, and it just it feels like they're checking 396 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 4: those boxes and of course playing good football at the 397 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 4: best time of the year and like last year where 398 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 4: it felt like, Okay, we haven't won in a while, 399 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 4: but like we're in the playoffs, Yay. It's just it 400 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 4: feels totally different. 401 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 3: So I'm sure the last time the Steelers hosted a 402 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 3: Monday night game, I asked you the same question of 403 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 3: why do they always always always win knock on wood 404 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 3: home Monday Night? And I don't think anybody has any insight, 405 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 3: adds Labs this yesterday. He's been watching Steelers since before 406 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 3: I could crawl. Is it cross your mind anymore? And 407 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 3: how much does that add to your optimism of this 408 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 3: specific game or even just hosting the game as opposed 409 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 3: to going to Baltimore, Buffalo, Kansas City. This seems so much, 410 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 3: you know, more optimistic. 411 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 4: As we said, Yeah, I mean, I just feel like 412 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 4: playing at home you always feel better, right Like, it's 413 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 4: the advantage of having the home crowd behind you, and 414 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 4: early at times this year the home crowd has not 415 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 4: been behind the Steelers. But Sunday night, man, that I mean, 416 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,960 Speaker 4: that was just one of those games that you'll never 417 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 4: forget if you were there, because it was so much 418 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,359 Speaker 4: different than if you watched it on TV. It's like 419 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,479 Speaker 4: hard to almost explain. But I do think if Labs 420 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 4: can't put his finger on it, then there's a reason 421 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 4: why the rest of us can't put his finger on it, 422 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 4: because he's clearly seen the twenty three game winning streak 423 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 4: on Monday nights at home. And it was funny. I 424 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,719 Speaker 4: saw Bill Kauer was on a show this week and 425 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 4: he's like, Hey, I just want to let everybody know, 426 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 4: like that last loss on Monday night at home, that 427 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 4: was Chuck Nole, like Coach T and I are the 428 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 4: ones who haven't lost, like we've we we started the 429 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 4: streak and we've kept it alive. And when he said that, 430 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 4: You're like, wow, like crazy, Chuck Nole was here like 431 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 4: he was the head coach when that happened, and the 432 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 4: only thing and I think I said, right, like the 433 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 4: only thing that I can think of. And I think I, 434 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 4: you know, kind of said maybe it's as simple as 435 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 4: it's an extra day. I don't know how else to 436 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 4: explain it. And I know Labs even tried to ask 437 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 4: coach Tomlin about it before that Miami game for his 438 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 4: radio show, and it was kind of like, I don't 439 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 4: I don't know, it's the only game, you know. 440 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 3: Coachmlin does have a history of being much better the 441 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: longer he has to prepare. I mean, Thursdays haven't been 442 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 3: his friend. Mondays have been his friend. Bye Week's ben 443 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 3: his friend. 444 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 4: You know, yes, totally agree. Yeah, having the nine days, 445 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,000 Speaker 4: nine plus days whatever you want to call to prepare, 446 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,679 Speaker 4: like you said, even after the bye week. So maybe 447 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 4: it is that. But you also have to again remember, 448 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 4: like Coach Cower was part of this time. I don't 449 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 4: know all of his numbers, you know, off the back 450 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 4: of my hand, like I do some of Coach Tomlins. 451 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 4: But it's definitely very interesting to say the least. 452 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: Oh you know what he always says the secret sauce 453 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 2: is there is no secret sauce. He just got there. 454 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: You just go out there and get it done. Missy 455 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 2: Matthews with Drew, I mean, I think only McDonald's has 456 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 2: the secret sauce? Or is that the maxim I digress Missy. 457 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 2: Last Sunday a winner go home game against the Ravens 458 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 2: and the team gets a I think much needed boost 459 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 2: with TJ. Watt back in the locker room and running 460 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,439 Speaker 2: through that tunnel in a moment that you kind of 461 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 2: you know needed him. Superman you know, busting out of 462 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 2: the phone booth with his cape on. Now the offense 463 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,399 Speaker 2: gets that lift, gets that boost with DK Metcalf back 464 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 2: into the fold. He's had two weeks to rest up. 465 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 2: He talked about that feeling a little more energy, a 466 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 2: little more juice in his legs after some time off 467 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 2: late in the season. He's also a guy historically four 468 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 2: playoff games in his career, so not a massive sample size, 469 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 2: but not just one or two either, enough of a 470 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: sample size has been outstanding in the postseason. This feels 471 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 2: like a real you know, wild card on on on 472 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 2: Wild Card Monday of DK Metcalf, how well rested he 473 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:55,199 Speaker 2: can be a chip on his shoulder, and how he 474 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 2: can help elevate this offense that has has clearly missed 475 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 2: him in his absence, no doubt. 476 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 4: And I was just watching My boys will not stop 477 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 4: rewatching the Sunday night game because we weren't allowed to 478 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,199 Speaker 4: stay up for it, so you know, we have to 479 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 4: watch it a million times to ask a million questions. 480 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 4: But it's just been funny watching TJ's interception and you're like, 481 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 4: how did that happen? And I know at recess and 482 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 4: elementary schools, the popular saying is bald out lie, and 483 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 4: that is what they say to each other, and I 484 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 4: feel like that's accurate when it comes to TJ and DK. 485 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 4: As you said, you can tell that the fact he 486 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 4: couldn't watch the second half of the Cleveland game. He 487 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 4: was so excited when the Steelers beat the Ravens. When 488 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 4: Tyler we missed. 489 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 5: That field goal, he literally jumped in his car and 490 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 5: tried to go through traffic to get to his teammates. 491 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:51,280 Speaker 5: That was his first thought and was unsuccessful, unfortunately, But 492 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 5: just the response he got when he returned to the facility, 493 00:23:56,119 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 5: I just liked how he answered questions. Yes, he takes responsibility. 494 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 5: What he did was not good. It got him a 495 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 5: two game suspension that. 496 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 4: Hurt his team clearly, But at the same time, he 497 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,119 Speaker 4: had belief in his teammates to get them where they 498 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 4: needed to go. And now he's back and as you said, 499 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 4: four playoff games but five touchdowns, so more TVs than games, 500 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:19,959 Speaker 4: not a bad thing, and averaging like one hundred and 501 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 4: twelve receiving yards per playoff game, so I think it's huge. Clearly. 502 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 4: I'm sure you've talked at nauseum about the Texans defense 503 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:32,120 Speaker 4: and how well they play the physicality that they bring, 504 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:34,960 Speaker 4: and it's almost a mere image of you know, how 505 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 4: the Steelers like to do things, especially on defense. 506 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 3: So you mentioned how he was received coming back to 507 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:45,879 Speaker 3: the facility. Did you get the impression it was open arms, 508 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 3: all's forgiven, you know, let's go, let's go, We're a 509 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 3: team again, one hundred percent. 510 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 4: I mean I saw when Cam Hayward had one of 511 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 4: the social team from NBC Sunday Night Football's camera they 512 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 4: were having him do you know, like the selfie walking 513 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 4: over off the field and Aaron Rodgers popped over and 514 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 4: Cam's like, he doesn't usually do this, but we're AFC 515 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,880 Speaker 4: North's chance, you know, so like he's gonna do it, 516 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 4: and you know, Aaron's kind of like, I don't want 517 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 4: to be here, Cam, but I can't say anything bad. 518 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,719 Speaker 4: We're live. And then the last thing Cam said was 519 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:21,239 Speaker 4: and we get DK back this week. Like that was 520 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 4: you know, coming from Cam, you know, not Aaron who 521 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 4: probably missed DK more than anybody, but Cam Hayward. That 522 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,680 Speaker 4: was like one of the first things he thought about. 523 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:33,120 Speaker 4: He was not even at like the fifty getting off 524 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 4: the field to go to the locker room. So I 525 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:39,640 Speaker 4: think it's very clear that they all like him. I 526 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 4: just from my personal interactions and just the way that 527 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 4: the team embraced him. I just feel like, you know, 528 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 4: maybe the outside perception of what DK is or has 529 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 4: been as similar to the Aaron Rodgers that they then 530 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 4: got to know. DK has been, you know, just an 531 00:25:55,640 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 4: outstanding teammate player. I think I told you a story 532 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 4: about how the one game he was kind of like, guys, 533 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 4: I don't know if I can block anymore, you know, like, 534 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,200 Speaker 4: but he'll do the grunt work. He played gunner when 535 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:12,399 Speaker 4: Ben Skernick hurt his hand and wasn't able to go 536 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 4: out there. So he thought in Baltimore, like, he's just 537 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 4: he's that team player guy who wants to win. 538 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 2: And those are the guys that you need to get 539 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 2: you over the line this time of year. Certainly, Missy, 540 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 2: thank you for the time as always, great stuff. And 541 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 2: uh and we'll see you here in a couple of days, perfect, 542 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 2: and we'll. 543 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 4: Talk next Friday. 544 00:26:31,359 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 2: Right, that's exactly right. We'll keep this thing humming divisional round, 545 00:26:34,840 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 2: whether we're going to New England or Denver, wherever it 546 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 2: may be. We'll catch up with you then. Thanks Missy. 547 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 4: All right, thanks guys. 548 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 2: There she goes the queen of the sideline, the great 549 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:47,360 Speaker 2: Missy Matthews. Matt good news across the timeline here. 550 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 3: Oh yeah. 551 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 2: Jalen Warren back at practice today after missing yesterday with 552 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 2: an illness, So hopefully, like we kind of talked about, 553 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 2: you never know. 554 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 3: Maybe something's. 555 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 2: Maybe something's not going there, sixty five degree leather today, 556 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 2: the sun came, the sun came out and said enough 557 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 2: with that, we ain't going around anymore huge and we 558 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 2: kind of yesterday. We're hoping like it's not a debilitating illness. 559 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,320 Speaker 2: He's not like laying in bed, Oh yeah, struggling, just maybe. 560 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 3: Simes an NFL playoff history where a whole team gets 561 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 3: hit this time a year. 562 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 2: Happened to the Steelers last year going into Baltimore. The 563 00:27:24,440 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 2: defense was was decimated with flu stuff. Yeah, it's it's 564 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 2: a real thing this time of year, particularly when you 565 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 2: play in you know, some Northeast colder weather climates where 566 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 2: those things tend to go around a little bit more 567 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 2: than other places. But Jalen Warren, after a day off 568 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,239 Speaker 2: yesterday due to illness, back at practice today, so that 569 00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 2: is good news. Also just announced the the AP All 570 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,120 Speaker 2: Pro teams for the NFL come out tomorrow morning, Saturday 571 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:52,879 Speaker 2: morning at nine am. Okay, so we'll know. We'll know 572 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 2: if any Steelers. Cam Hayward, like we were talking. 573 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 3: Hayward's the only one that I think has a legit shot. Yeah, 574 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:03,120 Speaker 3: I mean, Fraser's maybe a top two center. There's only 575 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 3: one that goes. 576 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,119 Speaker 2: Still too early for Fraser and Falton, who like I 577 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:08,719 Speaker 2: think they'll get them. I think they'll get it at 578 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 2: some point in. 579 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 3: Their but i'd be shocked if like Falton, who can 580 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,159 Speaker 3: beat out Penny soool? Right? I mean, I guess there 581 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:18,360 Speaker 3: is three teams though in Fraser with two. Okay, well, 582 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 3: maybe Fraser's a second team center. Maybe it's gonna be 583 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 3: Cam's the one. If he's not one of the four, upset, 584 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,400 Speaker 3: I'll be upset. I mean, he'd get a Pro Bowl completely. 585 00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 2: He did not get a Pro Bowl, which is crazy, 586 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 2: but I think he'd rather have an All Pro and 587 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 2: the All Pro means a little bit more. It'd be 588 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:36,400 Speaker 2: pretty cool to see Joey Porter Junior get one as well. Yeah, 589 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 2: we have to wait and see. 590 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 3: That's I don't think he will. 591 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 2: I don't think he will. 592 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 3: It wouldn't blow me away. I mean, I think he's 593 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 3: reasonably deserving. Yes, that's the highest of honors. 594 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 2: It absolutely is, because hey, making the Pro Bowl still matters, 595 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 2: but all pro a little more, a little more credentials 596 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 2: required behind those behind those. 597 00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 3: Voting, you know, right, and it's a whole league. 598 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 2: Exactly right. Let's take a break here. When we return 599 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 2: on the other side, we will dive back into Steelers Texans. 600 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 2: You want matchups, we got matchups, little five Star Friday. 601 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 2: When we return, West Ruler Matt Williamson, it is the 602 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 2: Drive here on Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio. 603 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: Network, your tunes about Drive on your twenty four to 604 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 1: seven home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 605 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 5: It's a five star matchup because. 606 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 4: We're in. 607 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 2: Now. We play that sounder just about every week on 608 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 2: the show here, Matt, but we really meet it this time. 609 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 3: This is Oh yeah, there's some great matchups in this one. 610 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 2: This is a five star matchup between two five star 611 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 2: teams here on Monday night at Akrosher Stadium. So let's 612 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 2: get into it, Matt. We're gonna talk from both sides 613 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 2: of the football, you know, Steelers offense versus the Texans 614 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:20,360 Speaker 2: defense and vice versa. But let's start there, because I 615 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:25,200 Speaker 2: don't know how much the average Steeler fan knows about Houston. 616 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,640 Speaker 2: They know CJ. Stroud, and they know the defense is 617 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: really good, and the defense is really good, really good, 618 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 2: best scoring defense in the National Football League this season, 619 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,440 Speaker 2: their top three, top five or six in pretty much 620 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 2: every major statistical category that you would look to run defense, 621 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 2: pass defense, scoring defense, turnover, sacks, time of possession, all 622 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 2: that stuff. So we know some big names, the edge rushers, 623 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 2: the bookends, and Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson junior. Of 624 00:30:55,760 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 2: course Derek Stingley junior, who's rounding into one of the 625 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 2: best defensive backs in the entire National Football League. So 626 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 2: where do you want to start when you evaluate the 627 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,320 Speaker 2: Texans defense from a matchup standpoint? Where's it begin? 628 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 3: I guess it starts with those edge guys, I mean, 629 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:13,360 Speaker 3: those defensive ends. I mean, it's just to me, the 630 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 3: Steelers are the only team that rival the defensive end 631 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 3: edge room and the Steelers having her big is huge. 632 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 3: But if you only can put two out there, which 633 00:31:22,480 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 3: is often the case, Houston's better. I mean, I think 634 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 3: they're pairing is better than any pairing the Steelers can 635 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 3: put out there. But that's not they'll play against ch 636 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 3: Ollers to who cares, you know, But you got a 637 00:31:33,400 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 3: block them, and they got a block our guys. You know. However, 638 00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:42,640 Speaker 3: I don't know that the Miles Garrett's and Hutchinson's and 639 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 3: these guys are in that neighborhood. Trust me, Will Anderson 640 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 3: to me would be Defensive Player of the Year if 641 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:49,320 Speaker 3: it wasn't for Miles Garrett. I mean, I think he's 642 00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 3: clearly the number two guy in that voting. And Hunter 643 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 3: has more SAX than him, and he's I think he's 644 00:31:53,560 --> 00:31:56,120 Speaker 3: gonna go to the Hall of Fame someday. He's playing phenomenal. 645 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,479 Speaker 3: But the Hutchinson's and Garretts don't disturb the Steeler passing 646 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:04,040 Speaker 3: game as much as most teams. The ball comes out quick. 647 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 3: Now some of There's something I wanted to mention before 648 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 3: you talked about the defensive diversity we always talk about, 649 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 3: Like when they play Flores, you know, Rogers will handle 650 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 3: that better than most. Now, do you have as big 651 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 3: of a mental advantage in this one? If everyone the 652 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:25,040 Speaker 3: planet knows what they're doing, or does he get it 653 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,640 Speaker 3: to the point where they only run two or three coverages? 654 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 3: I know what's coming all. 655 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 2: The time, maybe much like we saw Sunday. By the 656 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 2: third quarter, those puzzle pieces start to come together, right. 657 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:40,200 Speaker 3: And I mean a couple things here too, is you know, 658 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,600 Speaker 3: dominant edge rushers don't disturb the Steelers as much as 659 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 3: other teams because the ball comes out so quick and 660 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 3: they throw to the flats and all that stuff. But 661 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 3: I also think, I know Houston's great against the short 662 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 3: passing game. They're great against those dump offs because they 663 00:32:55,680 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 3: get so many dudes to the ball and they play viciously, yeah, 664 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:05,160 Speaker 3: and ferocious. I mean, I love the lt on the 665 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 3: sidelines in the eighties. It's go out there like a 666 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 3: bunch of crazed dogs. Yeah, this defense goes out there 667 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 3: like a bunch of crazed dogs. But the edge guys 668 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 3: start things. And I wonder too, like I don't think 669 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,440 Speaker 3: this is a huge secret, and it was true for 670 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 3: Brady and Frankly Ben and dudes have played late in 671 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 3: their quarterbacking career. I don't like getting hit so much, sure, 672 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 3: But if you're Rogers, might you say this might be 673 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,560 Speaker 3: my last game? You know, like maybe I am going 674 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 3: to hold it for three point one and drive the 675 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 3: ball on a deep in breaking route to Metcalf thirty 676 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 3: yards down the field. 677 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 2: It's not the middle of October. October. Live to fight 678 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,040 Speaker 2: another day, right right, right, right day. If we don't 679 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 2: fight two days, right. 680 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 3: And a big thing. And I bet coach Tom will 681 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 3: tell us us if he were here, like, we don't 682 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 3: want Rogers taking hits because of his age. But also 683 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 3: I don't have a chance without him. We gotta keep 684 00:33:56,200 --> 00:33:56,760 Speaker 3: this guy healthy. 685 00:33:56,760 --> 00:33:59,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely. We saw how the one game the Steelers had 686 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 2: to go without him win. Yes, it was not great. 687 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 3: So I wonder will he be more apt to hang 688 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:08,439 Speaker 3: there knowing, hey, even if Cook and Foltanu and help 689 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 3: or are doing well against these edge guys, I'm probably 690 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,359 Speaker 3: gonna get hit as I throw his ball or are 691 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 3: they going to keep this attacking? Get out, get out, 692 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:19,239 Speaker 3: get out? And probably depends how successful the latter is. 693 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:25,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, certainly. And you know, even even with that, though, 694 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:26,439 Speaker 2: if he is able to hang in there a little 695 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 2: bit longer, stand in the pocket, make some throws. 696 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 3: The Texans have given up some big plays the last 697 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:36,240 Speaker 3: month or so, some explosives, Yeah, yeah, because they're pretty aggressive. 698 00:34:36,280 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 2: You know, they are aggressive, and it pays off for 699 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:39,920 Speaker 2: them more times than it does. Of course, but you 700 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,319 Speaker 2: can they can still also be had. If that's going 701 00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 2: to be the case for the Steelers, I got to 702 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:46,400 Speaker 2: imagine that centers around DK metcalf. I would think, do 703 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 2: you think he sees exclusively Derek Stingley Junior mostly Derek 704 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 2: Stingley Junior. How do you think they deploy that secondary 705 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 2: in Houston against a Steeler's wide receiver corps that clearly 706 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:00,439 Speaker 2: has one straw that stirs that, you know, want one 707 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:01,200 Speaker 2: home run hitter. 708 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:05,839 Speaker 3: I bet, and I don't know this for sure, I 709 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 3: bet that they play it pretty straight up in terms 710 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:12,080 Speaker 3: of we're not going to follow. Because one of the 711 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:15,479 Speaker 3: things about the simplicity of their defense that they love 712 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,720 Speaker 3: is then they play even faster. Nobody has to think. 713 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 3: And Dale and I used to talk about this a lot, 714 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:23,879 Speaker 3: and we'll talk about it like when Porter, Like if 715 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:28,880 Speaker 3: Porter follows Nico, well, it's easy on him. I just 716 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,920 Speaker 3: I got you. I walk around, if you walk over there, 717 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 3: if you go in the front row, I go with 718 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 3: you. You know, I mean whatever. But the other ten have 719 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:41,080 Speaker 3: to adjust accordingly. So if you can avoid following, why 720 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 3: bother Because both their corners are both really good and 721 00:35:46,480 --> 00:35:48,960 Speaker 3: the other ten don't have to worry about adjusting when 722 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,799 Speaker 3: Metcalf goes in motion or first thing, if you come 723 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 3: out as a strong safety, He's like, where's Metcalf? Okay, 724 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 3: I have to align accordingly. Well, now I can eliminate 725 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 3: that step. But what I know is going to be 726 00:35:59,719 --> 00:36:05,400 Speaker 3: true is and this is the biggest argument really for 727 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 3: the Steelers. A second receiver. He gets so much attention, 728 00:36:09,239 --> 00:36:11,480 Speaker 3: you know, like even if it is Stingley, who's awesome, 729 00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:13,800 Speaker 3: and both their corners to me are Pro Bowl level. 730 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:17,480 Speaker 3: The free safety Bullock, who is a total ballhawk by 731 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 3: the way, is probably gonna lean Metcalf side no matter what. 732 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 3: I mean. I'm sure Damiko Ryans and his staff is 733 00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 3: going if THEELIN and MVS and Austin can beat us 734 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 3: and can get us get out to get the twenty 735 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 3: four points, I can sleep at night on that, you know. 736 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 3: I mean, teams don't respect those guys. I mean, when 737 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,319 Speaker 3: you watch all twenty two coordinators tell you who they 738 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,120 Speaker 3: respect and who they don't, and they don't respect the 739 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:43,399 Speaker 3: other steel receivers. You got to make them, you sting 740 00:36:43,440 --> 00:36:45,600 Speaker 3: them with that. But that's the approach everybody would take 741 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:46,279 Speaker 3: against Steelers, you. 742 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 2: Know, absolutely, Yeah, And so obviously, I gotta imagine big 743 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 2: part of that being the tight ends too, to try 744 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 2: and command in some space. 745 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:59,439 Speaker 3: And then Clearlyon's playing a lot more man, so they've 746 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 3: adjusted some to the second half of the seat. During 747 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:05,800 Speaker 3: this wind streak, their man percentage went up drastically. Because 748 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 3: it's It's funny. I was asked the other day, like, 749 00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 3: are they just a zone team? But Stingley could be 750 00:37:09,560 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 3: so good in man. I'm like, they can do whatever 751 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 3: they want, but they zone is simple. You know, we're 752 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:16,920 Speaker 3: not going we fly to the ball. 753 00:37:16,960 --> 00:37:17,920 Speaker 2: We've got guys everywhere. 754 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:20,400 Speaker 3: We get guys everywhere. We're not gonna blow any coverages. 755 00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 3: But they have played more man, which Steelers haven't been 756 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:26,600 Speaker 3: as good against man. No, they have not, you know, especially. 757 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:30,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, they've only had one of those guys to do 758 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 2: that consistently. I And this obviously is a huge part 759 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 2: of every Steelers game from an offensive perspective. But how 760 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:42,560 Speaker 2: do you think Jalen Wore and Kenneth Gainwell, the Steelers 761 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:46,000 Speaker 2: offensive line fairs running the football not, you know, just 762 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,880 Speaker 2: against those talented ed rushers against the entire front of 763 00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:49,920 Speaker 2: Houston there. 764 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:51,960 Speaker 3: And those guys are good edge setters too, Yes, I 765 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,600 Speaker 3: mean they're not just one dimensional, you know, they're they're 766 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 3: every down quality players. Will Anderson in particular, it is 767 00:37:58,680 --> 00:38:03,280 Speaker 3: really hard to move off as spot Anderson. Assuming history 768 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:08,040 Speaker 3: shows holds up, Hunter will mostly get Cook, Anderson will 769 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:11,200 Speaker 3: mostly get Faltonic. It's almost like a three to one 770 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:15,279 Speaker 3: ratio seventy. So they will move them just not yeah, 771 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:18,719 Speaker 3: but they they're more comfortable with left righting it. And 772 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 3: I'm not sure what advantage it gets even moving them 773 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:23,319 Speaker 3: because they're both good, right, not. 774 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,040 Speaker 2: Like you're best matchup. No, it's not like when they're 775 00:38:26,040 --> 00:38:27,160 Speaker 2: both two of the best at what they. 776 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:31,160 Speaker 3: Do moving Garrett around or whatever. But that's a good question. 777 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 3: I mean, I do think their linebackers are really interesting 778 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:38,720 Speaker 3: because they're so fast. I mean, how how I crushed 779 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:39,240 Speaker 3: that poor. 780 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 2: Guys they was I was about to say, they've got 781 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 2: some guys on their defense with tough names to pronounce it. 782 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:48,240 Speaker 3: Yeah and Shirl, those guys are two of the fastest 783 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:51,160 Speaker 3: linebackers in the league. They do a pretty good job 784 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 3: protecting them. They basically have a three man defensive tackle 785 00:38:55,120 --> 00:39:00,919 Speaker 3: rotation with TOGII is basically your your early down guy. 786 00:39:01,239 --> 00:39:05,680 Speaker 3: He's the hard to move nose ish type player that 787 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 3: won't be out there on third, medium, sure, and longs, 788 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 3: So they go three deep basically in the defensive tackle group. 789 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:14,600 Speaker 3: It's not the best group in the world, but they 790 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:15,319 Speaker 3: do their job. 791 00:39:15,560 --> 00:39:15,759 Speaker 4: You know. 792 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:19,200 Speaker 3: They're not high impact pass rushers across the board, but 793 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:23,360 Speaker 3: they're quite good and they keep those linebackers pretty free. 794 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:25,839 Speaker 3: You know, but you gotta think mostly you're gonna get 795 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,759 Speaker 3: nickled with these guys and they're five defensive backs four 796 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 3: to the five or exceptional? 797 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:34,040 Speaker 2: Is it too simplistic, Matt? As you know, we continue 798 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:35,640 Speaker 2: to talk this thing out like we've been doing for 799 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:41,120 Speaker 2: the last few days, that who whichever offense runs the 800 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:45,839 Speaker 2: ball more successfully or whichever defense limits the opposition run 801 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:48,480 Speaker 2: game successfully, is gonna have a good chance to win 802 00:39:48,520 --> 00:39:50,760 Speaker 2: this game because it feels. 803 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,800 Speaker 3: Like, I think less than a lot of games. Okay, 804 00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 3: we've definitely brought that up on a. 805 00:39:54,080 --> 00:39:57,600 Speaker 2: Lot and listen, that's football one on one. Yeah, and 806 00:39:57,680 --> 00:39:59,919 Speaker 2: turnovers are going to be a key factor in this game. Yeah, 807 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:01,600 Speaker 2: you just landed on the moon. 808 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 3: Then exactly. We're not breaking news. 809 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 2: Here, right, but when we were going over when we 810 00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:06,440 Speaker 2: did our. 811 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,440 Speaker 3: Exercise, I don't know that the Houston run the ball well. 812 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:10,680 Speaker 2: And when we were going over our exercise earlier in 813 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 2: the week where we talked about the one pitfall or 814 00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:16,160 Speaker 2: however we won fatal flaw for each of these fourteen 815 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:18,600 Speaker 2: playoff teams. For Houston, it was the run game in 816 00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 2: that offensive line. 817 00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:22,200 Speaker 3: It's what they do worst. If you ranked all their 818 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:24,959 Speaker 3: strengths and weaknesses, it's their biggest weakness for Shure, and. 819 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:27,480 Speaker 2: So for me that feels like, okay, that's the department 820 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:30,360 Speaker 2: that the Steelers. You know, again, if it's a twelve 821 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:33,400 Speaker 2: round fight and the referee standing there with the two boxers, 822 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,160 Speaker 2: you better have your hand raised at the end getting 823 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:39,400 Speaker 2: that decision. You better limit them and really win the 824 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:41,759 Speaker 2: run game when you're on defense, and you better be 825 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,560 Speaker 2: able to establish something there to make your life easier 826 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:45,000 Speaker 2: on offense. 827 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:45,400 Speaker 4: Yeah. 828 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:48,040 Speaker 3: So, like Rob and Missy and I do that preview show, 829 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:51,320 Speaker 3: and a big thing was eliminate the run as a 830 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:52,040 Speaker 3: key and