1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,119 Speaker 1: This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: on Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio. 3 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Drive. I'm Dale Ali, he is Matt Williamson, 4 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 1: and uh well, the conference championship games in the NFL 5 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: are now set. They will all be played or there 6 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: won't be any played at a net. Yeah. Um, the 7 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,239 Speaker 1: Eagles will host the NFC championship game. They beat the 8 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: Giants thirty seven. That game was just utter destruction. Destruction. Yeah. 9 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: Thets hold off the Cowboys nineteen to twelve. So that's 10 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: your NFC matchup. Over in the a f C, the 11 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Chiefs beat the Jaguar and the Bengals just match the 12 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: Bills to ten in the snow in a very impressive fashion. 13 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,120 Speaker 1: So I don't know if you agree with me, but 14 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: it's some takeaways, you know, and some of them are 15 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: Steeler related, and you know, obviously the goal was to 16 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: get to this point next year going forward for the 17 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,839 Speaker 1: Steelers too. Is when we woke up Sunday, I thought 18 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: the six best teams in the league were still alive. 19 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: You know that, with all respect to the Jags and Giants, 20 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: they didn't quite match up to the other teams in 21 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: this round, and I'm not even sure we should lump 22 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: the Giants and Jags together. The Giants don't have very 23 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 1: many good plays better than noticeably noticeably, and they're trend 24 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: in the right direction. They might be in the hunt 25 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: for a while. The Giants just don't have very many 26 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: good players, and that showed, and good for them. They 27 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: out kicked their coverage this year. But I also thought 28 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: since he well, since he handled the Bills, and I 29 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: didn't quite see that, since he handled the weather better 30 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: than the weather, the physicality that might might take take 31 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: away from those other six teams. And we talked about 32 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: this all the time. We mean, playoff games is really hard, 33 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: and you're if you have a flaw, you're not gonna 34 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: mask it. It's gonna show up. You still may win 35 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: the game. But when Paullard went out and Buffalo, I 36 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 1: thought it became very obvious they didn't have enough weapons, 37 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, it builds that other problems. But 38 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, and Buffalo in general, I think has some 39 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: issues where they need to rethink of how how they're built, yes, exactly, 40 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: because they either can't or won't run the football, and 41 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: they've little backs. You know, like Alan's their power back. 42 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 1: You know, it's not a good recipe for thee they 43 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: where they live at yeah, or for winning super Bowls, 44 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: you know, I mean you're gonna go on the road 45 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: to Kansas City or wherever. And even their defense, like 46 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: their pass rush numbers minus von Miller when he got injured, 47 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:57,519 Speaker 1: were really really bad. And they've drafted D Lineman after 48 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: D Lineman, but they're not DJ Reader or Hendrickson. They're 49 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: not particularly physical. They're all a bunch of finesse athletic guys. 50 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: And as we always talk about the Bills, they live 51 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: in Nickel, Well, you gotta bring some You're bringing a 52 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,519 Speaker 1: sword to a gunfight a little bit here late in 53 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: the season. You gotta be a more physical football team, 54 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: and you do have the quarterback to do it. But 55 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 1: they have some holes there. The way they play. They 56 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: need Josh Allen to be Superman every game, and if 57 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: he's not Superman, they can't win. They can't win, and 58 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: often he is, and for stints he always is. But 59 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: Superman's not doing battle with Lex Luger now, I mean 60 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: he's doing battle with the Hulk and iron Man and 61 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: other superheroes. And you start to get exposed crossing each other. 62 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: But right, but yeah, I mean, like all of a sudden, 63 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,840 Speaker 1: you that that formula is faulty, and when you get 64 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: to this level, you get exposed and they beat up 65 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: pretty bad. Yeah yeah, um, so be the the champion 66 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: Chip games are set. The tight ends met Yeah, him 67 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: with the tight ends. Kittle, Kelsey, Dawson, Knox led the 68 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: Bills and receiving in that game. Not Stefon Diggs. Uh. 69 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: You know, you could go up and down. Goddard was 70 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: a weapon for the Eagles in that game. I mean 71 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: Hurst made a play and you know, I mean everybody 72 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: right up and down. You know. I think that the 73 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: if you start looking at these four teams now you 74 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: look at the Chiefs, Eagles, Bengals, the Bengals would have 75 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 1: the I mean, Hayden Hurst isn't on the same level 76 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: with other guys, but you can make they go three 77 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: deep at receiver, you know, like none of these teams. Again, 78 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: that was the theme to me, and we've been saying 79 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: this for a long time with the Bills is let's 80 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: stay with the Bills just for a second, and I 81 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: want to talk tight ends. Alan and Diggs are tremendous, 82 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: but Dave Davis isn't a great player. I mean there's 83 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: slot guys. They've been searching and looking. They've been looking 84 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: for playmakers at running back, flirted with McCaffrey, drafted Cook, 85 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: but they're ofteness guys too so and by no means 86 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,080 Speaker 1: am I saying the Steelers offense is close to as 87 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: good as the Bills. It's not right now, but the 88 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:08,719 Speaker 1: only two Bills starters that I know would start for 89 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: the Steelers offense are Diggs and Allen. I mean maybe 90 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: Dawkins and left tackle. There's maybe Morris the center, but 91 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: it's not that I know, it's not right. If you 92 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: put the best eleven out there of Steelers and Bills, 93 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: there's at least seven Steelers. If the Bills have Nagi 94 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: Harris yesterday exactly exactly, then it's not that hard to 95 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: find that type of dude. You know, they need to 96 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: take a step back. And you know, is it is 97 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: Dorsey part of the problem to the the offensive coordinator 98 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: because day ball is running the ball with the Giants, 99 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: you know, I mean, um, they went all in. You 100 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: know the Allen's a fifty million dollar is it a 101 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: philosophical thing? And that's that's how they want to do things. 102 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: Because when day Ball was in Buffalo, they Ram. There's 103 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: pretty much the same offense, right right. They don't run 104 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: the football, No, they don't run the football. Man. Again, 105 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: the defense is very for ness. It's a good defense, 106 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,040 Speaker 1: but when you already pushed around by mixing in a 107 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,279 Speaker 1: backup line that is all big maller types. At Oliver's great, 108 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: but at Oliver two pounds. You know what I mean? 109 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: I mean, who's the where's the DJ reader? You mean 110 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: the one line was physical and the other one isn't. 111 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: And their problem is much like many of these teams 112 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: up against Cap and they went all in, and they 113 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 1: were The Browns went all in, the Raiders went all in. 114 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: The Rams have gone all in, but they at least 115 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: got the ring for it. So I was asked, I 116 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: did stay I stand Savereign Show hit on Stan Savereign 117 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: Show today and he asked me, you know, the Bengal 118 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: is gonna be a problem for a long time. I said, well, 119 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: Burrow is gonna be there for a long time. The 120 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: problem becomes and I've already saw a story this weekend. 121 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: They're going to talk contract extension immediately with Burrow. This offseason. Well, 122 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: now Burrow becomes a fifty million dollar a year player, 123 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: and now you can't afford to keep Tee Higgins, you 124 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: can't afford to keep DJ Reader, and you're gonna pick 125 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: in the twenties and I can get the next mar Chase, 126 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: you know, Jesse Bates bye bye. Oh yeah, no question 127 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: about it. And a couple injuries set in and you 128 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 1: don't have the depth and all those things. Can he 129 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: raise all ships? You know, like Dallas is dealing with 130 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: that a little bit, Like we both think Burrows better 131 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: than Dak. But that's great if he's thirty million dollar 132 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: cap hit, But when they're fifty million dollar cap hits 133 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: and you've got to elevate everybody else, and all of 134 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: a sudden, Tyron Smith and Zeke are getting old that 135 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: you were counting on and it's now your show. Well, 136 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: that's a hard that's a hard formula. I mean, I 137 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: trust Burrow and I would give him anything he wants. 138 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 1: He's tremendous, but you still need to block for him 139 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: and build a defense. And you know you gotta have 140 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: some luck to Yeah, you absolutely do, and and and 141 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: things have to break exactly right for you when you've 142 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: got that quarterback taking up such a big chunk. At 143 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: the same time, you almost have to have the quarterback 144 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: right right right, you know, it's it's a catch have 145 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: four big time quarterbacks still alive that. I don't think 146 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: that's an accident. We've got four really well constructed three. 147 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: Yeah right, I'm not Folks, don't buy into this brock 148 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: Purty stuff. He's Devlin Hodges. Yeah he's He's a much 149 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: more He's a slightly more talented Devil and Hodges. He's 150 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: in a tremendous situation. Yeah yeah, But I mean their 151 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: offense is elite, not because of the quarterback, no, I 152 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: mean someone the throws he was making yesterday, like you 153 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: could have timed the ball with just with a yeah 154 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,719 Speaker 1: it right. But he fits that system well. They're hard 155 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: to play against. He didn't hurt them. That hurt. The 156 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 1: more film that gets out there on brock Purty, I expect, 157 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say it right now, the Eagles are gonna 158 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: beat I tend to think so too. I mean, I 159 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 1: think that both those defenses are really legit. I can't 160 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: see a ton of points, but the Eagles can just 161 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: do so many more things. Yeah, I mean Eagles ran 162 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 1: all over the Giants, but they can probably throw it 163 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: all over them too. They just after after, right. Yeah, 164 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: so I expect that, you know, And that's what I 165 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: said all along. He's gonna get exposed at some point 166 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: in the playoffs, and you're gonna they're gonna be going, Ok, Well, 167 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: he got us in the championship game, but then he 168 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: went you know, twelve d two yards in the championship game. 169 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: That's what's gonna happen. I didn't think he hind Dallas's 170 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: defense played extremes. They played well. Both those defenses played 171 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: really well to me. But Purty maybe, I mean, I 172 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 1: guess some of a feather in his cap. He didn't 173 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: make the big mistakes. Dallas dropped a couple of intercept 174 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: but he also got I mean, Digs should have had 175 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,679 Speaker 1: that one pick. Have all guys to drop an interception? 176 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: The guy that's that's all he does, his intercept passes. Yeah, 177 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,559 Speaker 1: that's his claim to fame. You mentioned it before we 178 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: were on the air. I mean, the big play to 179 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: Kittle was not a great quarterback play. I mean, the 180 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:49,719 Speaker 1: mismatches that McCaffrey and Debot create are phenomenal, and if 181 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,599 Speaker 1: he has to drop back and throw out routes to 182 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: from the opposite hash and kywain't having that. I mean, 183 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: that's not gonna be there. That's not going to be 184 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: what they do. So yeah, Kansas shiit with with the 185 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: Mahomes injury is uh troublesome. Troublesome, I mean so hard 186 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 1: to believe. Kansas City has the worst weapons left in 187 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 1: the in the in the dance, I mean, it's Kelsey 188 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 1: at fourteen passes and as an uncoverable monster. But is 189 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: Patty gonna need a little more help from his guys 190 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: if he's on one wheel? Is my point, you know. 191 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you can elevate everyone to know, no end 192 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 1: they're a really good team though, I mean there's if 193 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: he's right, they're really hard to beat. But since he's 194 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: beat in three in a row, yeah, I can't see 195 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: it being four. I mean that's just my feeling on 196 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: him when initially when the game ended, I'm like they've 197 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: beating him three times because they're flash sincer that he's 198 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: beating Kansas City, Like are you gonna beat that guy 199 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: in his building four times in a row? But if 200 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: he's not very mobile, I mean I guess news today 201 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 1: is better than you thought. I have a feeling he'll 202 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: be mobile enough. Different obviously when you get it halfway 203 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: through the game and have to go get it checked 204 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: out and adjust that way. Um, he played well after, 205 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: but he wasn't. He looked like he wasn't the same. Yeah, 206 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: he couldn't do some of the things that long stretch 207 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: handoffs and things like that, you know, I mean, and 208 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: he'll be fine with that stuff, I'm sure on Sunday. Yeah, 209 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: I would think that they they could do some things 210 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: to alleviate that. But Bengals, Uh, they have the you know, 211 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: they have the feeling of invincibility to a certain degree, 212 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: and they have that swagger. It's gonna be up to 213 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: Kansas City to knock that swagger off of them. And 214 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: if anybody can, it's certainly my home, without a doubt 215 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 1: in that building. I mean, I think that's gonna be 216 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: a very fair fight, assuming Mahomes is close to being 217 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: the player he has been. Um. I do the Bengals 218 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: aligned some credit though, I Mean, that was my only 219 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 1: concern with that matchup, three backups, But you also had 220 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,479 Speaker 1: all week to prepare those guys too, and I think 221 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 1: I think the snow really slowed down the pass rush. 222 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,199 Speaker 1: That's a good point too. But they are physical to line. 223 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: I mean they even when the Bills are When the 224 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: Bengals got pressure on Alan, it was defensive back blitzes 225 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: and things of that nature. Wasn't defensive linemen necessarily beating 226 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: because I don't think the big guys get off the 227 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: ball very well in in the snow, right. I think 228 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,040 Speaker 1: that's actually the biggest problem with whether is the get 229 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 1: off you know. And and they are built different, like 230 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: you said, the Bills, they're built like a dome team. 231 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: I mean, they were built like they should be playing 232 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: in Arizona and not to the opposite end of the country. Yeah, 233 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: so it's gonna be interesting to see in the Bengals 234 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: are in North team and the Bengals are should handle that, 235 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, that travels. So it's gonna 236 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: be interesting matchups. And we'll hear all about those. Uh. 237 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: I saw that that the the betting odds on this stuff. 238 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: They've ran all the computer modules and and like there's 239 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: no clear favorite to win. The lines are small, yeah, 240 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: but there's no clear favorite even to win the Super 241 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: Bowl at this point with all four of those teams like, 242 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: if you're betting right now, I think their longest odds 243 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:58,319 Speaker 1: are like three to one, so they are all pretty 244 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: much equal almost and that adds up. Yeah. I do 245 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: like the Eagles chances. I do as well. Yeah, the 246 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:07,360 Speaker 1: more I think about that more I like that place 247 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,839 Speaker 1: is going to be. Well, that's gonna be you know. Okay, 248 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: so let's talk about this. So the conference championship stuff, 249 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: um in the neutral site. I see more and more 250 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: national writers writing about this. Well, they're just testing the 251 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: waters here on this. They're gonna do this. It takes 252 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: twenty four votes from the owners to say we're gonna 253 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: have now our conference championships at neutral sites. Do you 254 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 1: think twenty four owners are going to agree to give up? 255 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 1: That's the first I've heard this is so they're thinking, 256 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: like like called the SEC Championships that people say they 257 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: want to do that kind of stuff just to sell 258 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: I'm worth. I'm sure it's a it's a it's a 259 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 1: money thing because they could you know, if if if 260 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,360 Speaker 1: Buffalo had won that game, the game was gonna be 261 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 1: in Kansas, Kansas City, Buffalo game was going to be 262 00:13:51,679 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. Well, they had sold fifty tickets, like in 263 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: five hours on Friday, and then they can also sell 264 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: all the love three boxes and things of that nature. 265 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,439 Speaker 1: They can control the whole venue. Think about all the 266 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: hotels and bars and parking. They don't even care about that. 267 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: They're talking about the town. Yeah, but is that money 268 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,439 Speaker 1: that you're going to make out of that, off of that, 269 00:14:16,559 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: is that going to offset? Is that going to convince 270 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,480 Speaker 1: enough owners to say, you know what, I don't care 271 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 1: if my city ever hosts another championship game? I mean 272 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: the Bills are Bengals or Steel or whoever, isn't getting 273 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: that much right and they earned it to men getting 274 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: eight owners, particularly from the cold weather cities, who aren't 275 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: going to then get the host conference championship. Yeah, because 276 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: you're not gonna have everything. You're not gonna have in 277 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 1: Green Bay, You're not gonna have it in Cleveland, You're 278 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: not gonna have it in Buffalo, You're not gonna have 279 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: it in New England. You know you could. I could 280 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: go on down the list and come up with pretty 281 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: easily with eighty eight spots where it's not going to 282 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 1: be getting those owners to say, no, well we're good. 283 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: We never we want to have we never want an 284 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: opportunity to host a conference championship game. Again, he's not gonna. 285 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: I don't care if it puts five million dollars in 286 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: their pocket. I mean you'd have to have some sort 287 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: of revenue sharing thing like, well, yeah, it would have 288 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: to Yeah, well I think they already they already do 289 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: because the league. What happens for a conference championship game, 290 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: And I've covered enough of these things over the years. 291 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: The league takes over the conference championship games, credentialing, all 292 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: that stuff, all that stuff. Yeah, um, but you hosted 293 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: at your venue, so you're still getting parking, you know, 294 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: all the answers, all the ancillary stuff. Now they get 295 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: all the tickets and that kind of stuff. Um, but 296 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: still bodies in your seats equals money. Yeah, you know 297 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: for the home team, without a doubt. And one of 298 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: the reasons why you want to host those things. Think 299 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: about how excited And again I've covered a ton of 300 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: conference AFC championship games here in Pittsburgh. The excitement that 301 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: that brings to your city. It's like it's like hosting 302 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, right, you know, that's the biggest game, 303 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,720 Speaker 1: that's the biggest game. If you're in Pittsburgh. That's the 304 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: biggest game you can host. If you're in Green Bay, 305 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 1: that's the biggest game you can host. You're never gonna 306 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: get a super Bowl. And if it is, it's not 307 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: your team probably right, right, it's not your guys, Right, 308 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: that makes sense. Why would you give that up? Why 309 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 1: would you give that? And then you're right about the 310 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: cold weather teams. Owners aren't gona be like, oh, that 311 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 1: sounds like a great idea. Now maybe you could talk, well, 312 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: we'll have one in Detroit because they got it. Well great, 313 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 1: so maybe Detroit goes along with it, but you try 314 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 1: scheme of things. You know, Chicago is not going to 315 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: you know what, Yes, no, I know, Dan, Dan, they 316 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: brought to some years and years and years now that 317 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: they want to do this. Dan Rooney was adamantly against it. Yeah, 318 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: I don't blame them. I mean you earned that right, 319 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: right and this year in the FCS odd obviously, but 320 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: the Eagles were the best team in the NFC that 321 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 1: shouldn't be in Indian thing. And think about how this 322 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: all works out now with the with the buys and everything. 323 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: So if they did neutral sites every year, the team 324 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: that got the number one overall see we'll get one 325 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 1: home game every year every one, whereas the other teams. 326 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 1: You'd be better, you know, the other teams would make 327 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: more money because they're getting too. Yeah, the Niners at 328 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:19,480 Speaker 1: two or whatever, Right, that makes sense. I'm gonna lose 329 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: my a f C North Steeler fan card here, but 330 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: I will say the only perk I see of it 331 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: is I don't want the NFC Championship being decided in 332 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,360 Speaker 1: minus twenty weather in Green Bay. I know it's football, 333 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: it's great, but if Aaron Rodgers can't throw, I mean, 334 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: and I know that just goes against everything we have 335 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: said about Buffalo. But extreme extreme weather, to me, the 336 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: best team doesn't always go to Super Bowl, you know, 337 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: but how oft how often do we see that? Though? 338 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: Not all that, even that weather in Buffalo yesterday, that's 339 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: that's I'm not talking that. I was just I'm talking 340 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 1: about a couple of weeks ago when it was minus twenty, 341 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 1: the Ice Bowl or you know, the rare, rare ones 342 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 1: part of the beauty of the NFL. I'm not a 343 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: big fan home field advantage in the regular season. I 344 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: don't care the side who goes home. And if that's 345 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: the case, the force everybody to get a dome. H 346 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: I was wondering not to, like Buffalo supposedly building a 347 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: new stadium, should they build a dome? They're not and 348 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: they're not going to, but should they should? The NFL say, 349 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: would be better if you build a dome. It's a 350 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: lot more expensive. Is the NFL gonna help pay for it? 351 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 1: Put a roof over that is not cheap? Not cheap? 352 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: Good point, So they'd be better at playing a dome. 353 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: They're not built for their own no, but that's again 354 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: that goes into your team building. Oh yeah, you know, 355 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: you better build a team that is capable of competing 356 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: in the weather that you're going to competing not just 357 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: in September but in December and January. So along those lines, 358 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: I was listening to Miche Lombardi on the way here, 359 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: who was the GM with Belichick in New England, and 360 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: he said flat out said he's like, we had the 361 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: utmost respect for the Colts, the Manning Brady era, but 362 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: if they had to come here, they were they were 363 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: built for the dome. You know, Freny and Mathis aren't 364 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: rushing the pass or in New England this time of year, 365 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: and Manning could handle it. But Marvin's not the most 366 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: physical guy, and you know, like they're built to win 367 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: the a f C South, and he's like, that was 368 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: our biggest advantage over those if they would have done 369 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 1: they did manning a little bit of a disservice. It's different. 370 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: It just is. And that's part of the get the 371 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: home field all the way through. Yeah, to me, that's 372 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:26,879 Speaker 1: a big you know, if you look at New England 373 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: even you know during the Brady Belichick era when they 374 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: had home game when they had a buy, they were 375 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: really tough to be when they didn't have a buy 376 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: and they had to go on the road, not so much, 377 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: and they weren't great playing in a dome because they 378 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: were mcginnist and heavy bangers or even Parcels type that 379 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: they were always built to win best of luck. Yeah. 380 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: So I I just think it's it's it's interesting, um, 381 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: but it's also steel irrelevant. I mean, as they build 382 00:19:57,240 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: their team, I don't think you want to go suits 383 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 1: for nests. I don't think it's a coincidence. When you 384 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: look at the Steeler running backs, the last three that 385 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: they've drafted have been starters. You go from Levy on Bell, 386 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: who was a two pound guy. Yeah, now he dropped 387 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: down to two pounds. Two pounds is a big back 388 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: back to James Conner, to now Naga Harris. They're not 389 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: Devin Singletary and James Cook. No. People may talk about, well, 390 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 1: you know, I wouldn't take Nagy Harris in the first round. 391 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: And I see that for what the Steelers do and 392 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: how they wanted, how they want their running backs to 393 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: play different. Right, Yeah, he's the back that he was 394 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 1: the perfect style of back for them. I'm not talking 395 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: about both sides of my mouth here too, but as 396 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: what you know, watching like the Niners d they played 397 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: so much zone and all their guys are long and fast. 398 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: They all have little waste. There's no bad guys, there's 399 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: no neck roll linebackers that are just bangers. And as 400 00:20:57,160 --> 00:20:59,560 Speaker 1: I'm watching that, not thinking about weather and things, I'm like, 401 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: if I was building Steelers, I would really stress length 402 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: and speed, you know. I mean, it's such just all 403 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: the passing lanes are so much more narrow and but 404 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 1: not at the expense of physicality either. I mean, you 405 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:18,359 Speaker 1: want everything, but it's yea ideally, ideally you get a 406 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,680 Speaker 1: guy at six pounds and can run, but he goes 407 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: second overall. I want to leven Michael Parsons, but well, yeah, 408 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 1: that's not exactly how Yeah, you get. Subscribe to s 409 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 1: andr's newest podcast, The Godfather of Pittsburgh sports is talking 410 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: nothing but Steelers. It's Severeign on Steelers. New episodes drop 411 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe today. They're available on the 412 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: Steelers mobile app, the I Heart Radio app, and wherever 413 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. He is Matt Williamson. I am 414 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,159 Speaker 1: Dale Lali. You're listening to the Drive. You're on Steelers 415 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: Nation Radio. We'll be back with more right after this