1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Drive. I am Dale Walling. He 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: is Matt Williams seed and well, Matt, we are almost 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: through week thirteen here. Tonight's game is in NFC games. 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: We don't care about that. Plus an NFC South team 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: I don't need to see. I don't want to see 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: more NFC South way too much, way too much. So. 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: If the playoffs started today in the a f C, 8 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: the playoff teams will be. Buffalo is the number one seed. 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: The number two seed would be Kansas City. Kansas City 10 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: was one before this they were. Yeah, Buffalo's got the 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: head to head win against them. The three seed would 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: be Baltimore based on a head to head against the 13 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: the Bengals. They're currently first in the division. Right. Tennessee 14 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: is the four seed. Yeah, they're in trouble. Yeah, I 15 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: mean the team that doesn't it doesn't. Yeah. The five 16 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: seed is the Angles. That's a strong five seed. Yeah. 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: The sixth seed is Miami. The seventh seed is the Jets. 18 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: This is the problem for the Steelers teams. But the 19 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 1: problem is that you lost the Jets some Dolphins and 20 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: they're there. They're the two teams that are sitting there now. 21 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: Both those teams lost, but I don't think either one 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: is falling off a cliff either anytime soon either. Well, 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: let's take a look at that. Because you got the 24 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: ESPN playoff machine here, we can actually pick the winners 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: in each game to see how things play out. So 26 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: let's just do this for the A f C A 27 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: right by week. So I'll just pick the relevant A 28 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: f C game. So we got the Raiders and teams like, 29 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: the Raiders are playing better too that the Raiders and Chargers. 30 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: Is that the the Raiders and Rams play next week? 31 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: I take the Raiders, okay, So you take the Raiders. 32 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: The Jets are at Buffalo Bill okay, the Browns are 33 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: at the Bengals, be okay, Shawn Watson was bad. Houston 34 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: at Dallas, Dallas wins at We don't need to worry 35 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: about Minnesota and Detroit where the Eagles and Giants. Ravens 36 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: at Steelers. Let's I'm gonna put the Steelers in the 37 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: win there. Okay. I don't think Lamar plays. That's not 38 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: my prediction for the week. I mean, but you know, okay, 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: we have to do it for this exercise. Let's pick 40 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: one Jaguars at Titans. Let's see I guess Okay, he says, 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 1: with no conviction. Kansas City at Denver at Denver Cacy, Okay, 42 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: we don't worry about tamp that one. We don't worry 43 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: about that. When Miami is at the Chargers, that's he's 44 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: kind of interesting. Yeah, I will take the Dolphins, okay, 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: and then you've got New England at Arizona. Let's give 46 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: the Pats a win there. Okay, that gets us through 47 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Week fourteen. That doesn't change. Oh, that does change something. 48 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: Now New England is the seventh seed, the Jets are out, 49 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: the Bengals move up to the three seed, and Miami 50 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: bumps down to the five seed, with Baltimore now the 51 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: sixth seed. Okay, that's how that changes things. Okay, So 52 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: moving on the week fifteen, So Baltimore loss would hurt 53 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: them bad. Absolutely. Uh. Colts at Vikings, Okay, that pretty 54 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: much eliminates the Colts after the second half last night, 55 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: they should be Baltimore at Cleveland. That's a sad game, 56 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: just got moved to Saturday. Cleveland. I think Cleveland win. Zellen. 57 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say, DeShawn Watson looks like a good quarterback. Okay. 58 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: Miami is now at Buffalo Bills. This is why things 59 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: are interesting. It's very interesting. I mean, I'll probably put 60 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: the Bills to win out, but they won't. Okay. Uh, 61 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: the Steelers are at Carolina. I'm taking the Steelers in 62 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: that one. I'm gonna make sure they split with the Ravens. 63 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: Want to be too dealer centered. Uh. Kansas City at Houston. 64 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: To take Kansas City there, that's pretty safe. Dallas at Jacksonville, Dallas, Okay, 65 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: that's good. Detroit at New York m that's a off game. 66 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: That's a tough game. I'm hoping they get in in 67 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: the NFC. They still have a chance. They absolutely have 68 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: a chance. If they win that. That's a game, that's 69 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: a that's a swing game. Mind you. They've also already 70 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 1: played at the meadow Lands once this year. They played 71 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: the Giants. Who there. I was just about to ask, 72 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,200 Speaker 1: you just give me the home team because I don't 73 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: know you want the Jets, and I guess, yeah, I 74 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: didn't know where it was. Okay, Uh, you got the Colts. 75 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: We don't need to worry about Denver. Denver in the 76 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: Colts were not worth talking about. The Patriots are at 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 1: the Raiders. I think the Raiders are better than that. 78 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 1: I think the Raiders are better than the Patriots. And 79 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,160 Speaker 1: it's in Vegas. Yeah, talk about team that's changed the 80 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: the outlook of their season. How about this game Titans 81 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: at Chargers. Wow, Derrick Henry, I'm going with the coach there. 82 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: Give me the Titans Bengals at Buccaneers. Since okay, and 83 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: that is it then for the NFC or the a 84 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: f C matchups. So that moves the Jets back into 85 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: the seven and see Miami still the fifth seed. Nothing 86 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: changes with the Patriots and Jets flip flop out of 87 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: that spot. So moving on to week sixteen. Okay, by 88 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: the way, the Steelers would then be seven and seven 89 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: at that point. Now all of a sudden there and 90 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: they're a game out of playoffs. Could fumble this thing away. Okay, 91 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 1: So you get Week sixteen Jacksonville at the Jets. Jets, Okay, 92 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: I don't know what's going on, is uh um? Lawrence? 93 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: Lawrence got hurt yesterday. It was ugly, but he came 94 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: back in the game. Okay, so I guess he's fine. 95 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: But it was not a good a good visual. Falcons 96 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: at Ravens Ravens bad Birds. Uh don't deal in that 97 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: game will last an hour. Buffalo at Chicago, Buffalo Saints 98 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: at Brown's, Brown's okay in their building. Seahawks at the Chiefs. 99 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: Chiefs Okay. I mean, I'm gonna pick the Chiefs and 100 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: Bill win every week, but they won't, you know what 101 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: I mean. Bengals at Patriots, since I'm picking the Bengals 102 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: win every week. Houston at Tennessee, I don't think they 103 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: win another one. I don't think they do either. They're miserable. 104 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: Raiders at Steelers Raiders. You're picking the Raiders Saturday night game. 105 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: Do you really think Mike Tomlin is losing that game. 106 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: I just don't think they're gonna win five in a row. 107 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: I just picked them to win. You know, well, you 108 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: already said you're not picking You're picking them to split 109 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,039 Speaker 1: with Baltimore. They're not gonna win five in a row. 110 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: I'm gonna have them lose the Raiders and Raid Okay, 111 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 1: we can switch that up if you're gonna make it 112 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: more fun. I mean, I just think that they're gonna 113 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: win that game. I said at the beginning of the season, 114 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: that's one game that they're not going to lose. I 115 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: felt a lot better about it a month ago, do 116 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: I hear you? I hear you. I still don't think 117 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: the Raiders defense is very good, and nor is their 118 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: offensive line, and what might be great by then? I mean, 119 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: of course they can win that gamp. Green Bay is Miami, Miami, Okay, 120 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 1: Denver at the Rams really doesn't matter the Rams now, 121 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: and then the Chargers are at the Colts Chargers, Okay. 122 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: I think we've been hard on them. That keeps everything 123 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: pretty much the same there. Moving on to week week seventeen, 124 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: You've got Dallas at Tennessee, Dallas. Kay. You've got Steelers 125 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: at Ravens. Ravens. You've got Jacksonville at Houston. Take Jacksonville, 126 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 1: Denver at Kansas City, if you take Kansas City, Miami 127 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: at New England at New England in December, New England. Okay. 128 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: We've been hard on the Patriots, been nice to the Miami. 129 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: The Colts are at the Giants Giants, doesn't matter, It 130 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. Yeah. Uh, Cleveland at Washington, Washington, Okay, Structure, 131 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: San Francisco at Oakland, San fran Vegas. I should San 132 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: fran The Jets are at Seattle. Let's say the Jets. 133 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: I think the Jets move cross country. Don't feel great 134 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 1: helping on my little thing here. Oh but I'm trying 135 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: to be honest. You think the Jets, Jets are gonna 136 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: go to Seattle one? Seattle is a brutal place. That's 137 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a cross country trip, tough place to play. 138 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 1: I think Mike White, baby, I think Seattle. That one, Uh, 139 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: that one doesn't matter. Rams Chargers matchup, Wow, Chargers. Who's 140 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 1: the home team there? The Chargers? And then the big 141 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: matchup Buffalo at Cincinnati Bengals. You're saying, you were saying 142 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: before that, I'm want to give the Bengals a loss, 143 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: but their schedule is really hard. But it's not as 144 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: hard as that bumps. That bumps that changes things dramatically. 145 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 1: That bumps Buffalo down to the three seed. Cincinnati is 146 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: now the two seed. Kansas City is the one very possible. 147 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: I can see that the wild Cards have not changed. 148 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: You've got Miami at tenants six, Baltimore ten and six, 149 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: I don't know if they get to ten and six, 150 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: they're playing. And you've got the Jets at nine and seven. Okay, 151 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: moving two weeks though a couple Moving to week eighteen, 152 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: you've got New England at Buffalo Bills. Yes, Baltimore at 153 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: Cincinnati since but I really don't believe they're going to 154 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: go undefeated. You've got Houston, a culture that doesn't matter. 155 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: The Titans are at the Jaguars Tennessee. Okay, that makes 156 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: them in eleven win teams. Here's where it gets really interesting. 157 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: Jets are at Miami. Mm hmm. If it was in 158 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,200 Speaker 1: the Jets building, I was back to back road games, 159 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: going cross country and back and forth. Okay, you've got 160 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: Brown's at Steelers Pittsburgh. Okay, you've got Chargers and Broncos. 161 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:32,680 Speaker 1: Take a Charger and that chiefs and Raiders chiefs. I 162 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 1: think I picked them to go and defeat it. And 163 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: that's probably and that is it for the a f 164 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: C games. So if all that happens, as we just 165 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: picked up it really does, we'd be crushing. So the 166 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: Steelers would finish eight and nine. According to that, I 167 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: think eight or nine wins is going to be the case. Yeah, 168 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: I think so as well. If they had if they 169 00:10:55,720 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: win against the Raiders against the against the Ravens the 170 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: second time around, now they're nine and eight, the Ravens 171 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: would have an extra loss or the Raiders would have 172 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: an extra loss. If that happens. Let's go back and 173 00:11:09,559 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: real quick standing the final standings would be Kansas City 174 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: is the one seed at fourteen and three, Cincinnati in 175 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: the thirteen and four. Of the two seeds Buffalo are division. 176 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: The more I think about it, Buffalo at thirteen and 177 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: four is the three seeds top three. The four seed 178 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: is the Titans at eleven and six. Then you have 179 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 1: the five seed is Miami at eleven and six. Baltimore 180 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: at ten and seven would be the sixth seed. The 181 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: seventh seed would be the Jets at nine and eight. 182 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: If the Steelers would happen to sweep the Ravens, yeah, 183 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: they would then own the tiebreaker against Baltimore. Baltimore would 184 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: then be nine and eight. The Steelers would be nine 185 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: and eight, and guess what happens then the Jets would 186 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: go up with the Jets would go up a spot. 187 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: The Steelers would be the seventh seed if the Steelers 188 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: would happen to beat that's including with the loss of 189 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: the Raiders on Christmas. Right, this is what I'm saying 190 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: with all that, it's not beyond the realm of possibilities. 191 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: The teams are gonna lose given the schedules that are 192 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: going on here, then they're gonna be in the mix. 193 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: Like are the Jets. I think they're going to maintain. 194 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: But is their quarterback. I don't know what's going on. 195 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 1: I don't know what's going on that quarterback situation, you know. 196 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 1: I mean, was something exposed with the Dolphins yesterday. They're 197 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: playing the Bills this week. Something could get exposed real quickly. 198 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: A couple of losses in a row, rookie head coach 199 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: goes back. We got to go back to Zack Wilson here. 200 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,319 Speaker 1: This isn't working. I was talking about Miami. I see 201 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: what you're saying. The Jets, Yeah, they could crumble here. Um, 202 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: I think Baltimore is an obvious contender. I mean, I 203 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: wish they had one more. If they had lost that 204 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: one yesterday would have been huge ex hue. So clearly 205 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: the Steels are closer to the playoffs than the top 206 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: five pick. Yes, I mean one of those is possible, 207 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 1: the other probably isn't. Now are they are they uh 208 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: quote unquote playoff team? Look, people will say, you know, 209 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: if they would happen, and I'm again I'm not saying 210 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: this is going to happen. But if they would happen 211 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 1: to get sneak into the playoffs, nine and eight team 212 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, people, so they don't deserve to be there. 213 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: If you get there, you deserve to be there, right, 214 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: That's why they played the games here. I thought there 215 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: was four teams that didn't really have a shot, including 216 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: the Steelers, But that doesn't diminish from you know, getting Kenny, 217 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: the playoff appearance and all those good things. Right now, 218 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: well right now, I mean, so if you go in 219 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: as the seven seed, well right now, you would get 220 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,120 Speaker 1: the Bengals. No matter what we're looking at, how we're 221 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: going to Buffalo, the City or the Bengals. Well, kids, 222 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,680 Speaker 1: one of them you have a buy, I mean, but 223 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: one of those top three is probably where you'd go. 224 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: But you've also played the Bengals twice this year, and 225 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: the point in differential in those two games was my 226 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: it was minus four. They beat him by three, they 227 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: lost by seven. Because of familiarity, how much or who 228 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:02,080 Speaker 1: the best team in the a f C is right now, 229 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: But I'd much rather play the Bengals than go to 230 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: Buffalo or Kansas City. Yeah, just a familiar yeah of it. 231 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: And you have a lot of success in that building, 232 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: and you know all those things that we're way getting 233 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: ahead of ourselves. Yeah, we're not yet. I'm not saying 234 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: this is gonna happen, and we're not saying this is 235 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: gonna happen. But they have won three out of four games. 236 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: I mean what we just laid out there, I don't 237 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: think it's crazy talk in terms of in fact, I 238 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: think they're gonna beat to the Raiders, and I got 239 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: no problem saying there you're gonna lose in Baltimore. That 240 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: being said, they've won four in a row against Baltimore, 241 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: and they play Lamar Jackson better than anybody else does, 242 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: and the Ravens could collapse just like last year this 243 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: week the week thing. That doesn't mean he's playing a 244 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: week from now. And even when he's back, can he run? 245 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: Can he be like? Can he beat Lamar when he's back. 246 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: I was I don't even know what was his injury 247 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: is at a lower body injury, it's spring knee. I 248 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: was very low on their offense before yesterday. I think 249 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: Patrick Queen got carded off. I mean, they get they 250 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: got issues. I mean, as the Niners just found out, 251 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: like you mentioned, or the Ravens last year. Two of 252 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: these teams that we've referenced, and it was might be 253 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: one of them. You know, it's gonna end the season 254 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: on a bad note. You know what's his face? Mike 255 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: White's going to turn into a pumpkin or there. The 256 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: Dolphins gonna realize they can't block anybody like yesterday, or 257 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: bad things are gonna happen, Jimmy gets hurt, you know 258 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: that type of thing. So, I mean that's why they 259 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: play the games. That's why they played the games. And 260 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: as I said last week was six six weeks left 261 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: in the season. It's we're in the December and we 262 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: got yeah you know right right, I mean it's almost 263 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,400 Speaker 1: half the year. Really, if we got a third of 264 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: the season, you have to play here. Yeah, yeah, I 265 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: mean there's still there's there's still a long way to go. Yeah. 266 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: If you look at the Bengals after the first couple 267 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: of weeks season, like, oh man, they're gonna be a 268 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: disaster after doing the Super Bowl last year, things get 269 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: corrected and not funny how that works, Like the Rams 270 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: are the disasters and the Bengals are figuring some things 271 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: out in a big way. I'm a big believer to 272 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: at the second that pretty much December on or Thanksgiving 273 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: on is really about coaching because you're you're holding things together, 274 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: you have a really good pulse of your team, you're 275 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: not bringing in new people. And I think the Seewers 276 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: having advantage over much of the conference that way. Yeah, 277 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: I would agree, been they're done a thing, it really is. 278 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 1: So you know, that's why again I was not ready 279 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: to throw the talent on this season and start looking 280 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: at draft picks or anything like that. Let's let's see 281 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: where this thing goes. Still in that mode here, Um, 282 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: what do you think of Kenny Picketts play yesterday? I 283 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 1: think as a whole, I'm very impressed with his consistency 284 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: and consistently getting a little better every week. Because usually 285 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: the timeline of a rookie quarterback is five steps forward, 286 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: eight back, one step forward to back. I'm not if 287 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: you play well, for example, like Mac Jones last year 288 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: and then about mid November he at a wall. Yeah, 289 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: and it's the picture that's been through the league at 290 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: a time a little bit and all those type of things. Um, 291 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: my biggest complaint with them, which I don't understand, is 292 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:15,120 Speaker 1: why does he miss four or five open throws badly, badly, 293 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: and I don't care. I always use this reference with Lamar, 294 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: and I think he's a better passer and accuracy guy 295 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: than Lamar. But there's a misnomer about Lamar that he'll 296 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 1: never be accurate enough because when he misses, he misses 297 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: so bad and it feels like they're in the third rowd. 298 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: That was our thing with Rabisky, like you know, Josh 299 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: Allen and some of these guys they missed so badly 300 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: just looks terrible and in completions and incompletions and incompletion 301 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 1: at the end of the day. But it still shocks 302 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,159 Speaker 1: me that he misses really open guys as much as 303 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 1: he does. But overall, I'm very happy with him. Yeah. 304 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: In fact, I thought Mariota had a couple of those 305 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: yesterday that he missed so badly on if they were 306 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 1: if they had been on target, they would have been intercepted. 307 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: There was one he threw in a double triple coverage 308 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,399 Speaker 1: that was so high that that on like if he 309 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: throws that decision and if he threw that where he 310 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: wanted to throw it, there were one of those three 311 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: guys was picking it off. Yeah, I know exactly what 312 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: you're talking about. He was pretty poor. Yeah, right, but 313 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: that's I don't know why that is with pick It. 314 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: I don't remember that in his scouting report or watching 315 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: him at pit that. Wow, how do you miss that 316 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: one so bad? Some of that could be one of 317 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: it could be one of those situations where you know, 318 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: you know where you want to go with the football, 319 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 1: and then as you're throwing it, you go and just 320 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: kind of flinching. And I don't know that guy's clothes 321 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: on because you just not used to see in those 322 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 1: windows closed as quickly as they do. I don't know, 323 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,120 Speaker 1: but he makes some throws like he had the throw 324 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: to fire with a fire move turned into the fifty 325 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: seven yard catching run. Was between two guys. One of 326 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: them is was twenty four. Their best corner Terrell. He's 327 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 1: one of the guys that's right there. He guns the 328 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: ball in there. Um how about that? They had Terrell 329 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: on several occasions on distances to key down to distances. 330 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 1: I thought Friar Mooth had a great game. It was 331 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: open even more than the stats showed. But it shows 332 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: we're gonna put our best guy on the tight end. 333 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: The league's catching on this guy is pretty good, you know, yeah, absolutely, 334 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 1: but real quick, my theory on why he misses and 335 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: it's a total shot in the dark. But it worries 336 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: me about his small hands, you know what I mean. 337 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: It was they're not gonna get any bigger. They're not 338 00:19:27,560 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: getting bigger. But I guess they could keep stretching. Keep 339 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: I mean, he'll get more used in the NFL ball. 340 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: Like Lamar after his rookie years said, I'm really a 341 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: hard time at the NFL ball. I mean, that's an 342 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: underreported thing no one ever thinks about. Like if you 343 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: brought a picture up from the majors and said three 344 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: three bigger circumference, yeah right, Or the hoops you shoot 345 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: on or a little smaller like that, that would be 346 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: really hard until only support that happens. Or this puckaways 347 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 1: a pound more. Wow, you know, like even if it 348 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:58,840 Speaker 1: was an ounce, it would be different anything. Or the 349 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 1: laces are different on a bay small or you know 350 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 1: what I mean. Golf ball is bigger the whole smaller. 351 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: You know, in this sport, they give you a totally 352 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: different ball than you've played with your whole life. And 353 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: I think we get different uprights too, So well, yeah, yeah, 354 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: but I mean, I think the quarterbacks struggle with that 355 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: more than people know. I wonder if after his rookie 356 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: year he says that was a little bit of an 357 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: issue for me, and the small hands thing doesn't help. 358 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: But as you continue to get older and stronger than 359 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: any of that, Yeah, I just totally guessing you get 360 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: older and stronger, you get you know, he can work 361 00:20:26,119 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: on your grip and things of that nature, get stronger better. Yeah. Um, 362 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: so yeah, I don't think that's any kind of long 363 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: term And he's shocking to me. Five years from now, 364 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 1: he's missing five open throws a game and we're still 365 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 1: talking about a guy that's completing like his passes right 366 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,720 Speaker 1: right right now, which is perfectly fine. I think he's 367 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: a good pastor of football. Yeah, we really do. Yeah, 368 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: it's unexplainable to me right now. The biggest thing that 369 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 1: I see is that nothing has been too big for him, 370 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,639 Speaker 1: not at all. And you know, even when uh, you 371 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: know you're on the road or uh you know, something 372 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: doesn't right, Uh, he just comes. He just keeps playing 373 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 1: and again, the moment isn't too big for him. Um, 374 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: we haven't seen a ton of rookie mistakes like you know, 375 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: oh boys, you know he's taken lines up behind the 376 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: guard or or you know you see this with these guys. 377 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 1: You know you hear these guys. Well, I was seeing 378 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: ghosts out there and like it hasn't been an issue. No, no, 379 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: it hasn't. Or can't get things you know completed, or 380 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 1: you know, you gotta call a bunch of time outs 381 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: because he's not getting out getting right right, or a 382 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: blitzer comes free and he had no clue. You know, 383 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: that stuff happens every rookie. That's the one thing I 384 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,680 Speaker 1: wanted to mention to you. His numbers against the blitz, 385 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 1: I bet they're good. They're outstanding. They're like the best 386 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: in the league, the best in the league. I mean, 387 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: there's a couple of quarterbacks and I'm not comparing him 388 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:51,800 Speaker 1: to the Homes, but Brady Mahomes the elites that you 389 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: just don't blitz them anymore. And once that book is written, 390 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: well then you start playing called play calling accordingly, we're 391 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: not gonna see blitz, right, so you know, people start 392 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: dropping eight on you and stuff like that. So, yeah, 393 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: he's a great sign. His blitz numbers are outstanding. He's 394 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,920 Speaker 1: been better against his zone than he has man that's 395 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: not all like that crazy. He's like his receivers aren't 396 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: great man beaters at this point besides Jante. Yeah, you know, 397 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,920 Speaker 1: Pickens is who I'm signing on right in the third guys, 398 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: but being good against the blitz earlier in your career 399 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: is very positive. I mean the red zone stuff. And 400 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: he's improved clearly. But that's not uncommon at all. That's 401 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean Trevor Lawrence is still struggling with 402 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: a Yeah, we're gonna take another break. He is Matt Williamson. 403 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,880 Speaker 1: I am Dale Lally. You're listening to the drive here 404 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: on Steelers Nation Radio, and you can listen to Steelers 405 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: Nation Radio anytime anywhere through your smart speaker. Just say Alexa, 406 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: play Steelers Nation Radio from my heart. Alexea will take 407 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,920 Speaker 1: care of the rest. He's Matt Williamson. I'm Deal Lally. 408 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 1: When we come back, it's time for the Fantasy for Focus. 409 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: We'll do that right after this