Drive10.2.26Hr2: Sunday Slate

0:01 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

0:06 Steelers Nation Radio.

0:21 Good evening, Steelers Nation. How we doing? Yeah, us too. It's a bummer, but it is a Friday. We'll lick our wounds this weekend and we'll get back to it.

0:29 Enjoy your weekend, folks.

0:31 Get back to it next week.

0:32 They're 2-2. 1-1 in the division. Got a long week. Beatable opponents on the horizon. Try to look at it at full.

0:39 Somebody did. I saw that in our mentions. Who was that? Someone, Mr. Steel City, said, as much as that game hurt, the next four games are very winnable. Let's get hot. Head into the bye week. See what happens.

0:50 Mini bye. Then a bye. The four-game stretch could be pivotal.

0:54 Could be worse. And you've got some things, you know, you've got a Colts team that I think is still struggling to kind of recalibrate itself after all the injuries that they picked up.

1:04 I know, by the way, you got a three game rest advantage and they're playing in London the more and more.

1:09 They're playing in London.

1:10 Yeah.

1:10 And then they got to go on the road after London.

1:11 That's tough. That's tough.

1:13 I was shocked to see that.

1:13 You get a Tampa Bay team that is not going to have Baker Mayfield.

1:16 I think they're really bad.

1:17 I mean, there's, I think they're broke. there is some, some clear skies ahead. There's been some turbulence to this point, but there are some clear skies ahead, but now the onus is making sure that you could take advantage of that and be ready for the opportunity.

1:30 Yep.

1:31 Matt, uh, I wanted to go through some NFL news here with you in our number two, as we get rolling, it is kind of hard speaking of recalibrating to remember that this is a Friday show and we've got a kind of full, full slate of weekend action. I laid it out for you on Wednesday. I think it was, and we did around campus, some really fired up, um, You got Pitt and Virginia Tech down in Blacksburg tonight.

1:53 You also have Penn State at Northwestern. It's Northwestern's first game at their brand-new kind of palace there outside of Chicago. Northwestern's new stadium only holds, I think, 38,000 people, but it looks really cool, and it's intimate, and I'm sure it'll be a good atmosphere. So some fun ones tonight.

2:10 Great college football slate on Saturday and a big NFL slate on Sunday that we will get to here in this hour. but kind of all the news and the notables of the day. Matt, let's start with our buddy Max Starks, who we actually saw here in studio earlier. We don't get to see Max in the studio very often, but he rode the bus home with the Steelers last night because he's flying up to Buffalo tonight because he's calling Bill's Patriots on Sunday for ESPN Radio. And with that, the Patriots, I tell you what, not a good time to be losing some guys on defense, but they are going to be without Christian Gonzalez. and Christian Barmore against the bills. That's tough.

2:50 There are two of the top three. I don't want to lose with Milton Williams and Gonzalez to be number one on that list. And I would imagine he.

2:56 Would down to Christians on Sunday. That's never a good place to be.

3:00 That's well done, dude.

3:01 Sometimes I have a good one.

3:04 That was, that was inspired. Um, I assume he would follow DJ more. They're in a bad place as an organization. The offense.

3:13 Oh, what a shame.

3:14 Yeah.

3:14 Uh, I, Buffalo wins that game, which they're a pretty big favorite, and now these two are out. That almost locks up the East already.

3:23 It really does.

3:24 In October 2nd or whatever. I mean, I can't imagine New England coming back and catching Buffalo.

3:29 I can't either.

3:30 They could maybe sneak in the playoffs or something. Their season's not over.

3:34 I mean, you'd need the Bills to lose three out of four games or something bad like that. Still no starter named for the Bears. Obviously, they will be without Caleb Williams again.

3:45 I can't imagine not playing Keenum after the way he played.

3:49 I understand. I think they have a ton of respect, and rightfully so, for Tyson Bajan and that organization.

3:53 I think they're both loved.

3:54 Yes.

3:55 The way Case Keenum just played on Monday Night Football, I think you've got to run that back.

3:59 And I assume T-Bag has something still wrong with him.

4:02 I would think so.

4:03 Yeah.

4:04 Yeah, because he wasn't healthy Monday night. Trey Hendrickson, surgery on his finger. He will be out against the Titans.

4:12 Didn't know that.

4:13 An important kind of early season injury to keep an eye on here for the Bears, Matt. Or for the Bears, pardon me, for the Ravens. We were just talking about the Bears. So he had surgery on a broken finger on his right hand that he broke in the season opener. He played with it the past two games, but they thought that it was time. To get it fixed moving forward long term.

4:35 But that says we can beat the Titans without him.

4:37 Basically.

4:39 Yeah, that's what we're reading. It sounds like he's not going on IR or anything. This is the perfect week for you to get that finger fixed, right? Because we'll beat the Titans without you.

4:47 Yes. Looks like Ronnie Stanley is also questionable. He's been limited this week with a foot, with a toe injury.

4:54 I know we'll pick games, but I'd love to see the Titans pull that upset. I just don't know how that's going to happen. Agreed. Henry against his old team, too. Agreed.

5:01 Speaking of quarterback situations, Jane Daniels ruled out again by the commanders, so Marcus Mariota will be the one starting in London.

5:09 In London. I think Daniels made the trip.

5:12 I would think so.

5:13 I'm pretty sure he did, because there was a little bit of optimism. I'm almost ready to anoint Mariota as the best backup in the league.

5:20 Yeah?

5:21 I mean, he's... Like, I'm not counting Mendoza or people that are just, like, waiting their turn.

5:24 Sure.

5:25 I mean, like, a guy that's clearly the number two when everyone's healthy. He's pretty darn good.

5:31 Sure is.

5:32 I mean, he's... I don't know if he'll ever get a chance to be a starter again.

5:34 He's won some games for them the past two years.

5:36 Yeah.

5:37 No doubt. And then, Matt, for the Rams, good news, bad news, as Puka Nakua will return against the Eagles this weekend. But Aaron Donald has been ruled out on Sunday with a back injury. Hmm.

5:50 I didn't know there was anything wrong with him. Coincidentally, is this back injury.

5:57 Oh, now listen, don't.

5:59 Is that just like I'm getting back in the shape type of thing? I'm not trying to use the word back over and over, but like backs are hard to track if he happens to know that.

6:07 Maybe he's angling himself for a trade to the Dallas Cowboys. Let's just get all the bad jokes out there.

6:13 Joey's supposed to play. I guess his back's feeling better.

6:17 That's amazing, Hal. I hear they've got great back doctors in Texas.

6:20 Yep, yep, yep.

6:23 He took some vicious blocks from Quinn Miners last week, and I wonder if some of that's just.

6:27 Getting your body back. I didn't mean it in a nefarious way, to be honest with you. I just meant like, I have a lot of aches and pains trying to come back from being on the couch for the last couple of years. Maybe I should sit this game out.

6:39 This is another one of those, maybe we, I mean the collective we, I think basically everyone in football, we're bad analysts of just assuming that Aaron Donald, as much as he is one of the freakiest football players we've ever seen in the history of the game, was just going to come off the couch from two years gone.

6:54 And be this unblockable freak. And just dominate, yeah. And he's been fine.

6:57 He deserved all the credit, or he deserved all the, I don't know if credit's the right word, but he deserved all the maybe... benefit of the doubt.

7:05 Yeah if anyone can do it type thing but that's sure it's a tall task for anything yeah but maybe it's going to take a little longer we thought or maybe he's not going to be the best player in the league.

7:13 Sure sure um let's see deandre swift with the knee is off the injury report and will play on sunday versus the jets okay uh vikings wide receiver justin jefferson out on sunday versus the dolphins oh.

7:26 I thought that was gonna go in the right way.

7:28 Same and maybe that's another one of those kind of like what you just said with the ravens and uh and Trey Hendrickson of, hey.

7:35 You say they're playing Miami?

7:36 They're playing Miami. If this was a playoff game or a division game or a gotta have it, Justin Jefferson probably could play. We're playing the Dolphins. We can handle this one.

7:45 We'll probably handle it. Let's run the ball along.

7:46 It's early in the season. Keep yourself healthy. Miami's really bad.

7:50 They are.

7:51 They are bad. Yes, they are. Yes, they are. Other than that, Matt, I think from an injury standpoint, I mean, Brees Hall has been ruled out. But that news, I think, did that break yesterday or earlier today? I don't know.

8:05 When he got hurt, they basically said it's going to be a week or two at least. Yes.

8:09 So some big names out here early in week four. Daniels is starting for.

8:11 Tampa, which is weird.

8:12 Who is?

8:13 Daniels, the backup.

8:14 Yeah, Jalen Daniels.

8:15 Instead of Baker.

8:16 Not J. Den Daniels. Right. J.

8:18 Lind.

8:19 Daniels they actually played against each other at arizona state and kansas i believe at one point that would have been that would have been fun for the broadcaster right jaylen daniels and jayden daniels is your as your two quarterbacks but yeah i think um i think that's i think that's it kind of the gambit there matt for um for different news and notables and injury updates around the league some some big absences already in the yeah there are um.

8:40 It's getting to that point in the season too where we say this all the time i mean So much bad stuff happens to every team in the season, and a lot of it is just who has the least amount of bad stuff happen to them amongst the contenders.

8:53 Without a doubt.

8:54 But it's to that point. You know, like, nobody wants to hear about your woes and your sorrows. Oh, you know, Jamel Dean's out. Yeah, okay, well, we don't have a starting quarterback or left tackle. You know what I mean? Everybody has something going on.

9:06 It's like the last head coach used to say, Matt, people in the league don't care that you have problems. In fact, they're probably happy that you do. Exactly, right.

9:13 And everybody has them, and yeah.

9:15 Deal with it matt i wanted to share this before we go to break jackson smith and jigba on pace and now i realize it's still very early in the season but this isn't i can imagine this isn't after just one week right you see this sometimes jackson smith and jigba on pace for 153 receptions 2295 receiving yards wow and 34 touchdowns all three of which would be nfl single season records I don't.

9:44 Know that 2,000 yards is nuts for him.

9:46 He was pretty close last year, wasn't he?

9:47 Yeah, I think.

9:48 He was at like 19-something, I think.

9:49 I'm not exactly sure. I don't know if he was that close. I'll look it up. I said some dumb things.

9:55 After last year. He was at 1,800 last year.

9:57 Okay, okay. I mean, his target share is so high. I mean, the ball goes to him over and over and over and over and over, and he's an unstoppable force. And I don't regret saying it, but I did say something after last year, like, that'll probably be his best year ever. Because it was an awesome year. I mean, if that's anyone's best year ever, you should be super proud.

10:17 Two years ago will probably be the best year Saquon ever had. Right, right.

10:21 I mean, if you're Offensive Player of the Year, that's probably your best year ever. He might be better. Even just the tape's even a little bit better. He's really, really.

10:31 And while he's become even more of a focal point for that offense, too, which is a crazy thing. Everyone around the league is game planning to slow this guy down.

10:38 Especially with Walker gone, their skill guys not named JSN are way below average. Way below average.

10:45 That is one man driving the ship there.

10:48 If anyone has a case to be on the Jefferson chase here, I'm not talking about fantasy, I'm just talking about the real world. I think JSN... is on that tier now.

10:56 He's your mvp right now forget offensive player of the year he's league mvp right.

11:00 Now there's a lot of really good cases i.

11:02 Know but when remember remember we had this conversation before the year of like it kind of bugs me because i think it should be most outstanding player yeah yeah but if you're going true who's the most valuable to their team right now it's jsn he's with a backup quarterback definitely putting up huge numbers yeah.

11:17 I mean they would be in really bad shape without them they would be yes like in terms of who can't get injured around the league, he's right on top of the list.

11:24 It's him and all other quarterbacks.

11:26 Josh Allen.

11:27 And he's doing it with a backup quarterback.

11:29 Yeah, now you're right.

11:30 When you consider the context around it, I think there's little doubt that he's your September MVP.

11:34 Yeah.

11:35 While there are obviously some other deserving candidates.

11:37 But that's remarkable extrapolation of what his numbers could be like.

11:41 30-some touchdowns.

11:42 Good boy.

11:43 Can't imagine having that guy in fantasy football. Let's get to a break here. Let's run the gambit of the.

11:49 There are some people that took jsn at like nine and then kenneth walker in the turn like pretty good you're doing real nice if that if you're that person.

11:58 You're in a nice place to be here so far early on in the season although the one thing i'll say is championships aren't won in september nope let's get to a break here and when we return matt let's run the gambit of these week four games across the nfl and then on the back end we'll finish with some kind of final thoughts from yesterday not final thoughts but thoughts of the day from yesterday maybe hit a couple tweets as well. Matt Williamson, Wes Shuler, our number two of the drive here, Steelers nation radio on the Steelers audio network.

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12:57 I used to have cable internet, but I'm a 100% kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% of the NFL draft live with ultra low lag.

13:08 And after what went down in.

13:09 The first round, still getting video calls from my best friend, rubbing it in that he called all the picks.

13:14 I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet.

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13:25 Get that hot dog costume ready.

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13:31 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

13:35 Steelers Nation Radio.

13:36 We'll be right back. Rolling along here down the homestretch of this week and of this show. We will have more on the back end here of Browns and Steelers. And, of course, we'll have some rewatch thoughts and some final thoughts and stuff like that on Monday. I want to get into some more of that special team stuff that Matt was talking about in the first hour of the program.

14:27 But it is still a Friday show.

14:28 Tomorrow will be kind of a weird week for us, too, because we're not going to recap a Steeler game Monday. It's kind of like a bye week.

14:34 It is. We will have Mike McCarthy's press conference right before we go on air on Monday.

14:38 So that's the same. He's still Monday. I thought he might do it today.

14:42 I think other than the day that the Steelers are in Jacksonville for Monday Night Football, I think all his press conferences will be Monday. It doesn't matter if it's a Thursday game or a Black Friday game or whatever the case may be. So that'll be good for us because we'll have Mike McCarthy leading right into the show.

14:55 We'll be able to get all his thoughts on the game. I'm sure he'll talk a little bit about maybe the Joey Porter Jr. trade as well.

14:59 Yeah, yeah.

15:00 And we should probably revisit that a little bit more on Monday.

15:03 I guess that happened since we got together, right?

15:05 Yeah, a lot has happened since we... since we got together.

15:08 I want to throw one thing out there about the Porter trade that I know people aren't thrilled that it's a second two years from now, but if we operate under the assumption, I find it funny that everyone in the, in the Pittsburgh media operates on the assumption that the Steelers are going to pick 20th, you know, they could pick fifth or 32nd. I mean, there's a chance, you know, just cause they always.

15:30 Pick 20th season too, you know?

15:32 So I'm just saying if they do pick 20 ish, And their goal still is to get the quarterback. Having two seconds two years from now makes trading that future first so much easier. That had to be part of the.

15:44 I'm sure it was. That was my first thought, too.

15:46 Because it's going to cost you your 20th overall pick and next year's first to get in the conversation.

15:52 And maybe like a third or a fourth or something.

15:53 Or whatever, yeah. But depending how far you have to move and all that stuff. But if that's the way it goes, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to deal that future first. Yes.

16:02 I just hope that that's the plan.

16:04 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

16:06 I hope it pays off in April.

16:08 Yeah. Because it's not, I mean, you, if you end up with Mesta maker and he's your next Ben, no one's going to, no one's going to bat an air and I one bit.

16:16 Exactly right.

16:16 Yeah.

16:16 But if you don't, then it might be like, okay, we traded a 26 year old, you know, our number one corner.

16:22 Yeah.

16:22 Yeah.

16:23 And did we, you know, did we get much better from it?

16:26 Oh no, that's all to be determined.

16:27 All TBD. And I know I'm this way too, man. It's an instant gratification league. You want it and you want it right now.

16:34 Um, I also wouldn't be shocked. Maybe it's the six-round pick they got back, which I just realized is theirs. They got back. Or a fifth. They could add a player. It wouldn't shock me if they traded for a wide receiver or a corner or maybe even a safety between now and the deadline.

16:52 That'll certainly be something to keep an eye on.

16:54 They got a lot of picks.

16:55 Matt, let's run the gambit here of week four NFL Sunday. And, folks, we got a 9.30 a.m.

17:01 Game.

17:02 Oh, yeah, over there across the pond in London. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Colts Commanders, 9.30 a.m. East Coast time. That's a 6.30 start if you're over there on the West Coast.

17:13 Is it really?

17:13 I guess so, yeah.

17:15 Indy, like if you're, you know, California, Seattle, Nevada, Washington, Oregon. Indy, four and a half point favorites.

17:24 Seems like a lot.

17:26 It feels like those Europe games are always close and lower scoring.

17:31 I usually think who's going to run the ball better on the road, what travels, and that would be Jonathan Taylor. But Washington's coming off a decent performance, and Mariota's no slouch.

17:40 I would take the Colts to win, but I'd take the points with Washington.

17:42 Yeah, I agree with you.

17:44 If that number's two and a half, maybe it's a different conversation.

17:49 Weird games, weird spots, I usually take the points.

17:52 Yes, correct, especially when it's more than a field goal.

17:54 I don't think Washington's terrible.

17:56 No, I don't either. And as you said in the last segment, I think Marcus Mariota might be the best true backup quarterback, not including Mendoza or any of those guys like you mentioned, kind of the best true backup quarterback.

18:08 He'll do more than just hold down the fort. He'll make plays.

18:10 He's won some games over the last year or two. Up in Buffalo, the 3-0 Bills look to remain undefeated at home against their arch nemesis, the New England Patriots. Patriots going to be down a couple Christians on defense. On Sunday. On a Sunday.

18:24 Yeah.

18:24 If only they knew. A church to help them out with that.

18:28 I think it's a blowout.

18:29 The Bills are seven-point favorites, and you know my thoughts on laying more than a touchdown, but I think I'm going to lay them here with Buffalo.

18:34 I just think they're in two different places, and, man, I think Buffalo's going to put up a lot of points with those two injuries. And I'm a Drake May apologist, but he's playing poorly, and he's throwing to, like, Mack Hollins and Hunter Henry as his best options. That's not a formula for keeping up with Josh Allen.

18:53 No.

18:54 This won't surprise you, Matt. There's three games this weekend that have very expensive get-in prices, and this is one of them. You're going to need to spend about $ 250 to sit in the nosebleeds at new Highmark Stadium. Speaking of which, the most expensive get-in price of the weekend is in Chicago. Tickets about 280 bucks for the cheapest ones there at Soldier, pardon me, Field.

19:16 That fan base has wound up with this new coach quarterback combination. They haven't been good for a long time.

19:22 Bears host the Jets. Chicago, only three and a half point favorites at home. Sands, Caleb Williams, obviously.

19:29 So these are the two Giants or Lions coordinators and now head coach that they should know each other really well.

19:36 Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson.

19:37 I'll take the points. I'm assuming it's going to be Keenum, and I think they'll try to run the ball a lot. I think the Jets are okay, though. Your boy Gino's playing pretty well.

19:45 Darn right he is baby uh he's not bashful either this he's no he's that's he's never been uh he's never been shy of his uh his skill set that's for sure um this is one of those if it was four and a half i would love jets plus four and a half three and a half makes me a little nervous but i think i'm with you i will still i'll take the points The Chicago wins by a field goal and a close one.

20:09 Okay.

20:10 I wish that was four and a half, though, because I'd be leaning towards the Jets. In Cincinnati, Matt, this might be honestly the game of the week. I agree. The Bengals host the Jags. One of these teams is going to be three and one. The other is going to be 500. How did that happen?

20:24 Yeah.

20:25 Cincinnati at home is a two and a half point favorite against Jacksonville.

20:29 I still think Jacksonville is a slight tier above. I think the quarterbacks are almost equal at this point. I think the weapons are almost equal, believe it or not. I mean, Parker Washington and those guys are really good. I think a huge key to me is I think the Jags D is noticeably better than Cincinnati's. And I know we talked up Cincinnati's D to no end. I go back on that a little bit. I feel like if you can get their front blocked, their linebacker safety problems from a year ago are still linebacker safety problems.

20:59 And I don't think the Jags O-line is great to get Dexter and those guys blocked. But if you're going to give me points and I think they're the better team and a better coach team, I'm taking the Jags there.

21:11 I think I'm with you. I don't want to dismiss Cincinnati heading back home kind of wounded and vulnerable. And, you know, we had such a positive start to the season. We don't want to drop two games in a row. But I think I think Jacksonville is not quite on that, you know, tier one AFC list. But I think they might be at the top of tier two.

21:32 Yeah.

21:33 And, you know, I don't know if they're quite Buffalo. And if I don't know if they're quite like Denver and Houston, if both of those teams are firing on full cylinders, but Houston's still working, looking for their first.

21:43 Win of the season.

21:45 I'm with you. I'll lay the points with Jacksonville two and a half, or I'll take the points part of me with Jacksonville plus two and a half. Matt cheapest get in price of the weekend is in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium where the Giants host the Cardinals about 50 bucks can get you into that one.

22:01 A lot of wind out of the sails for the Giants, folks.

22:03 Big time. Yeah.

22:04 And Arizona's a two and a half point favorite on the road. I think I'll take the Giants to win any points.

22:09 I just, I think that's... I don't know that Arizona should be favored on any point on the road.

22:12 Exactly right.

22:13 I mean, they've done some good things.

22:14 Maybe if they're playing Miami at home, Arizona should be favored.

22:18 I mean, can the Giants just hand it to Scataboo a million times and keep this in close? I mean, I'll take the Giants at home with points.

22:25 I will as well. That to me just doesn't make much sense. Arizona is a little bit healthier, certainly, but they've got to travel across that proverbial 1 o'clock West Coast team, 1 o'clock on the East Coast as well.

22:37 If this was in Arizona, I might take it with those things, but on the road, eh.

22:42 Another potential game of the week, Matt, in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles host the Rams. A big one for both of these teams.

22:51 Yeah, it kind of is.

22:52 It's kind of a statement game. Eagles got embarrassed. And they're trying to stay at the front of that division. They got embarrassed on Monday night in Chicago. The Rams, my goodness, everyone's darlings. Could they fall to one and three? The Rams are three and a half point favorites in Philadelphia.

23:07 I don't know who's going to win, but I'm taking the points. I think that's a brutal place to play. Although, if things go poorly for the Eagles, they could get boo-burned bad.

23:18 I will also say, though... Over the last four years, I think the Eagles have hosted the Rams there three times, and they've won all three.

23:25 I know it's been tough on the Rams going there.

23:26 It's been a house of horrors for the Rams.

23:29 Stafford's still playing really well, but his numbers when pressured are really bad.

23:34 He's done four interceptions already.

23:35 Yeah, and I do think that they will get after him. I think that's a good pass rush and a good defense. Nakua comes back, and that's huge.

23:42 Big.

23:44 I'm going to take the Eagles getting points at home. I'd probably say that against any. If Seattle was going there, if Buffalo was going there, you're going to be three and a half Philly at home. That just doesn't.

23:52 Quite add up to me. I can't pass that up.

23:54 No.

23:55 Especially when you'll get a kind of a, I think, well, both of these teams will be desperate, to be fair.

23:59 Mm-hmm.

24:01 Tampa Bay, speaking of desperation, they're 0-3. They host the Packers 1-2. Green Bay trying to get back to. 500 against a wounded. Tampa Bay Bucs squad in Raymond James Stadium there in Tampa. The Packers are a three-and-a-half-point road favorite.

24:16 The Bay of Pigs game, as Berman used to call it. I want to bet against both these guys.

24:21 Yeah.

24:22 But I can't bet on Tampa right now.

24:23 I'll just take Jordan Love.

24:25 Yeah. I'd say the better quarterback.

24:27 Yeah.

24:28 They signed three offensive linemen that are all going to start this week. Mekhi Becton, Zeitler.

24:33 I forgot Bakai Becton was still out there.

24:34 And I think somebody else, they plucked off a practice squad. Green Bay's O-line's that bad. Anybody that can play that has a pulse, I don't care how old you are, they're adding to the team.

24:45 Jordan Love, Godspeed, soldier. Matt, the biggest spread of the weekend takes place in Baltimore at M & T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens host the Titans. Baltimore is an 11.5-point favorite at home.

24:58 I'm taking the points. I mean, if Stanley's questionable and Hendrick's not going to go.

25:03 I'm totally taking the points. I've told you before, when it's that big of a number, I'm taking the points almost every time.

25:08 Yeah, I mean, you still got to block Simmons, and I'm not ready to count out Ward that he's incapable of moving the football, and he's shown a little bit of progress. I'll take the points in that game. I'm with you. You might even have Lamar sitting out a series or so at the end, and they backdoor cover easily.

25:24 Sure.

25:26 That one's also pretty cheap to get into, $ 57 there in Baltimore. Matt, the Battle of Texas down in Houston as the 0-3 Desperate Texans against the 1-2 Desperate Cowboys.

25:39 It's funny you use the word desperate because we did a six-pack two days ago of the six most desperate teams.

25:44 These would both be on the list.

25:45 They both are on the list. And it's not the six worst teams. It wasn't the Titans in Miami. It's teams like Green Bay and the Chargers that we thought could be good. Dallas Houston, like it's desperation time. Nico comes back, but I think he's going to get shadowed by Porter or at least they're going to battle it out.

26:04 It's the other side of the ball. It's so interesting to me though. It's like Houston's D isn't close to living up to expectations yet, but I think they will. I'm taking the better quarterback and Dallas is getting points on the road, right?

26:19 Three Houston's a three point favorite Dallas had a better year than Houston so far. I agree with that, Matt, but I'm taking, I'm taking the Texans and I'm laying the points. I just don't, this is a team that was in the same spot last year. They started off way slow last year and then they were able to win, you know, like eight of nine or nine of 10 or whatever to get into the playoffs and ultimately win a playoff game in Pittsburgh. I just think that Houston team is way too good to go. Oh, and four. No, I didn't realize they've had their issues on offense and the defense has been good, but not great. But I just, I can't see, this is kind of a playoff elimination game for Houston.

26:54 It almost is.

26:55 You can't drop to 0-4, man.

26:57 I mean, like, they end up with like an 8% chance or something crazy of making the playoffs. I mean, just 0-4 teams across the league.

27:04 I mean, you would basically have to go 10-3 in your final 13 games if you're Houston to have a shot. You're going to have to win 10 games to be a wild card.

27:12 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

27:13 You'd have to go 10-3 in your next 13 to have a shot.

27:17 To have a shot. And then probably need some tiebreakers and stuff.

27:20 And Matt, they would be 0-3 at home. Wow. They started 0-2 at home and then lost on the road another back. If you're 0-4 and three of those games are at home, good luck.

27:32 I know it's so far from scientific, but sometimes I just say, I can't imagine this team being 0-4. Same. You know what I mean?

27:39 Sometimes you got to throw all the analysis out the window.

27:42 It's not an 0-4 team.

27:43 It's not an 0-4 team.

27:45 But I'm taking points.

27:45 I don't think the Cowboys are really a 1-3 team, but. I don't blame you taking the points, but I just feel like this is a spot where in the last couple years we've seen Houston respond, and I expect them to do it again.

27:57 So I don't know if you noticed this, and I don't care if anyone follows me on Twitter or not, but I just found it extremely interesting, is Sam Hoppen does really, really good analytic work, and I am a subscriber to his sub stack. So I had nothing to do with this. I just cut and pasted a chart of all the edge rushers in the league. And I know charts are hard to follow, but one axis is your run defense and one axis is your pass rush.

28:27 And a lot of good guys are all on there and you want to be in the top right. Will Anderson is in a stratosphere ahead of every other edge rusher in the league times a million on this chart. Like it is startling. Like all I put on the tweet was Will Anderson, exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point.

28:49 And I was talking to a co-host today. I'm like, why'd you put Will Einerts on? I can't even find him. I'm like, yeah, because he's in the top right by himself. He's on Jupiter. I mean, like all these other great guys, Bosa, Watt, et cetera, are in the top right, but they're nowhere close to what he's doing. I just thought it was extremely noteworthy.

29:08 Speaking of noteworthy, Matt, I might have to change my pick on the Eagles. Zach Bond, Hollywood Brown, Marcus Epps, Dallas Goddard, Devonta Smith all ruled out for Sunday.

29:17 Oh, Devonta Smith's out. I'm changing my tune. Vaughn's a big one. I could live with that. But then you said Smith.

29:23 Listen, there's nothing less in the world that I care about than anybody else's fantasy football team. Nothing less in the world that I care about than anybody else's fantasy football team. But, I mean, Devonta Smith is a big loss for my fantasy football team this weekend.

29:35 Wow, I didn't know he was fighting anything.

29:36 He's out.

29:37 I don't know where their passing game goes then.

29:39 I think I'm taking the Rams.

29:40 Ooh, I see that.

29:41 I think I'm taking the Rams. Devonta Smith out with a hamstring. Zach Bond out.

29:45 The other ones I can live with.

29:47 Dallas Goddard.

29:47 Yeah, yeah.

29:48 Yeah, not great. Ooh. Not great for Philly Philly. Matt, into the 4 o'clock slate of games, the 3-0 Vikings against the 0-3 Dolphins. The movable object meets the... What's that line, TV? I don't remember. I messed it up. You get what I'm saying. A movable object and the unstoppable force. Well, one of these is a very movable object and not a difficult-to-stop force in the Miami Dolphins.

30:12 Second biggest spread of the weekend, Matt, for the Vikings at home. They are 10.5-point favorites against Miami in a game where the over-under is only 38.5.

30:21 I'm taking the points. We ruled out Justin Jefferson.

30:25 Justin Jefferson's out.

30:27 I mean, Vikings D could score twice.

30:29 They sure could. That's how they handle things. I'm never going to lay that many points. I'm just not. Not in the NFL.

30:37 The Vikings aren't that good.

30:38 No, the Vikings win, but I'll take the 10.5. I would stay away from this one. I wouldn't touch it.

30:42 No, me either. I mean, I can't imagine putting money on Miami in any way right now, but if I have to pick the game, you're going to give me over 10, I'll take.

30:49 Good point by TV. A little bit of a revenge factor there for Brian Flores, as always, lining up against the Miami Dolphins. But I'm not laying ten and a half points.

30:57 He has a lawsuit against him as we speak, right?

31:00 I think it's probably still going on.

31:01 I think so, yeah.

31:03 I don't know much about the legal world, but one thing that I do know is it takes about 37 years to get a verdict on any of these things.

31:08 You think he's going to dial up some blitzes when they're up 20? Just a.

31:13 Few.

31:14 Matt, another one of these game of the week potentials. There's some good ones this weekend. 425 in Viva Las Vegas. Second most expensive get in price.

31:25 Of the weekend. I bet a lot of KC fans are going.

31:28 We all saw this coming. The 3-0 Raiders against the 3-0 Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium there at the end of the Vegas Strip. I'll be there next August for an Oasis concert, baby. Kansas City, four and a half point road favorites.

31:42 I'm going to take the Chiefs.

31:44 And lay the points? Yeah.

31:46 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

31:46 I think I'm going to take the Chiefs, but I'm going to take the points.

31:49 Okay. I have respect for the Raiders. Super well coached. Rewind an hour. We talked about all their hidden yardage stuff. And they forced 10 fumbles. They didn't recover them all. But, I mean, they are punching the ball out like crazy through three games. Things like that. I just think the Chiefs are two tiers ahead of them.

32:06 Agreed.

32:07 Yeah.

32:08 But I don't know. Probably going to be a lot of red in the stands.

32:09 Four and a half. Yes, absolutely. But I think the Raiders can hang around.

32:14 I just, that'd be a fun story if they could take them to the wire. Boy, would it?

32:17 I'll take the, I'll take Vegas plus four and a half Kansas city wins, but I don't know if they win by more than three or four. Another great one in that kind of four 30 window, Matt, the three and oh niners host the two and one Denver Broncos in Santa Clara, Levi's stadium, San Fran, a three point home favorite.

32:35 Wouldn't touch it. I think that's a perfect number.

32:37 It's a perfect number.

32:38 San Fran's been unbelievable on offense.

32:40 Unbelievable, but they haven't played a team like Denver.

32:41 They haven't played anybody like that.

32:43 And Denver's been so rollercoaster up and down, but is this maybe the week where they stabilize a little bit? I don't know.

32:50 I guess I'll take Denver with the points, but I don't feel good about that at all.

32:56 I would stay away from this one.

32:57 San Fran's got some injuries, as always.

32:59 I think you're right. I think taking the points with Denver is the smart play here, but. Smart play might just be leaving it alone.

33:04 Yeah.

33:05 It's also supposed to be a really good game. Also supposed to be in the 90s and hot.

33:08 That has to be really, really hot.

33:10 Yeah.

33:10 Supposed to be in the 90s. So that could play a factor. Lower scoring. Keep it close. Maybe you take the plus three with Denver. Matt, speaking of desperation, last one in that 4 o'clock, 4.30 window, the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks back at home to host the 0-3 L.A. Chargers, another one that we all saw coming. Seattle, a touchdown favorite at home against the Chargers.

33:32 I don't think it's enough. I mean, I think an angry Seattle team that let one get away from them, that they might have been the better team in Washington. I think the Chargers and Bucs are broken. They're the two teams that I.

33:44 And not like Dolphins or like... No, no. You should be a lot better than this.

33:49 Right. Things are off the rails and might not ever get back on.

33:55 New coaching staffs in those places this offseason? Tampa, I think definitely.

33:59 I think that seat's on fire.

34:00 I feel like Harbaugh would probably get another year.

34:02 I would think he gets another year. Tease. Coaches and quarterbacks on teams that are drastically underperforming Could they become available or fired? I'm not saying you could trade for Herbert or Drake May if you're the Steelers, but weird things happen in this league. I've just been given some thought.

34:24 What if the Chargers end up with a fifth overall pick? And it's like, we could trade Herbert to the Steelers for three first-round picks and draft Arch Manning.

34:32 Or how about they trade Herbert to the Steelers for that sixth-round pick we just got back from Dallas? You know what I mean?

34:39 If you're picking the top of the draft and you have a quarterback... I will.

34:43 Also say, though, I think it's a very interesting conversation, maybe one that we could have on Monday or Tuesday of next week. But if someone like Herbert or May is going to be available on the market, Stroud, they didn't have the type of year where I'm giving up three first-round picks for them.

34:59 That's the thing. The team has to be terrible.

35:02 I might give you a first-round pick, but I'm not giving you multiple for a guy that's coming off of a bad season.

35:09 Can you buy those guys at 80 cents on the dollar? I don't know. I'm just saying.

35:12 There's other quarterback options. Second and a fourth.

35:15 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know.

35:16 Then I'd be interested, but not if it's like this guy is coming off a bad year and we still want to ransom for him. No chance.

35:22 You know, like Houston's 0-4. Stroud really hasn't been the problem. I'm just throwing this out there. If they end up 5-11 and there's a quarterback sitting there and like, should we pay Stroud $ 60 million or should we draft Arch? you probably draft.

35:38 Arch probably, you know, probably, but then again, then it becomes very, you have no leverage to trade CJ Stroud to somebody like, Oh, we're not going to pay him this. And we're going to take the other quarterback, but here you go, guys, give us some type of return and pay him a contract.

35:55 I just think it's interesting that there's some stable organizations that could pick a lot earlier than you think. It might, might be a rich quarterback draft.

36:05 Matt.

36:05 All I know is you need to just work that equation. Goodwill hunting on the board of how Drew Mestemaker ends up as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

36:12 I'll be fine with that.

36:13 I think you've convinced me. I think I'll lay the points with Seattle. Although, I don't know.

36:17 I could see the Chargers not.

36:20 Going quietly into the night. And then finally, Sunday night football. The Panthers host the Lions there at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Detroit, three and a half point road favorite.

36:32 Both of the Carolina corners are out.

36:35 J.C. Horn and Jackson.

36:36 Yeah.

36:36 Yeah. And Detroit can give up some points, but they can score them, too.

36:41 We know that. Both these teams kind of have to win shootouts. Yes. And they've been able to to some degree. I just think the Lions are better at it. Agreed.

36:49 Three and a half, I'll lay them. If that gets up to, like, four and a half, then I would think about it. But I'll take Detroit to win and cover.

36:56 I assume the over-under is high in that game.

36:58 Fifty and a half.

36:59 Meh.

37:00 Which is one of the highest.

37:03 I think Bengals.

37:04 Second highest of the weekend.

37:05 Bengals-Jags the highest.

37:06 Bengals-Jags is the highest at 51.5. Look at you. Look at you, Matt Williamson. Of course, we will talk about Monday Night Football between the Saints and the Falcons when we return on Monday. But that's our thoughts here on a busy and an intriguing Week 4 slate across the NFL this weekend. Let's get to our final break. We'll cross some T's, dot some I's, maybe answer some questions, comments, concerns, and reactions before we get up out of here for the weekend. Euler and Williamson, it's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

37:41 And now a word from our sponsor, Bud Light. There's nothing better than the clean, crisp... There's nothing better than the clean, crisp. Uh, what if we just got out of here and grabbed some Bud Lights? But man, we're on air for four more hours.

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38:11 I used to have cable internet, but I'm a 100% kind of fan, so I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber internet that's super reliable. So I streamed 100% of the NFL draft live with ultra low lag.

38:21 And after what went down in.

38:22 The first round, still getting video calls from my best friend, rubbing it in that he called all the picks.

38:28 I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet.

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38:38 Get that hot dog costume ready.

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38:45 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

38:49 Steelers Nation Radio.

39:16 Down the homestretch of this show of this week, it was a little bit of a rough one to get through here on this Friday, but we'll regroup over the weekend. We'll lick our wounds and hopefully have a little bit of time to breathe and take in some of these other games across the National Football League and get a long week of rest ahead of returning home against the Indianapolis Colts, a team that's going to be returning from London.

39:39 That sets up pretty well, and I'm sure that's something we'll talk about plenty next week.

39:42 It's crazy there's a month already in the books.

39:44 It happens fast.

39:45 Yeah, yeah.

39:45 It happens real fast. I mean, yeah, we were in week four in the NFL already week five in college football already. I mean, that's October like Pitt and Virginia tech after they play tonight, Matt, they'll have seven games left in the season. That's it.

39:58 Wow.

39:59 By the time, by the time everyone goes to bed tonight, Pitt will have seven games left in their season. Like it, it happens very fast, man. It always does. Let's see a couple of tweets here to get us out of here before we go. And I'm sure no one will be surprised, but from about, From about halftime last night until today, Matt, I think we've gotten seven dozen tweets from people.

40:19 I'm not super surprised yet.

40:21 I would just like to remind people that Matt and I do not call plays. We do not make draft picks.

40:25 I don't block or tackle anyone.

40:27 We don't make a depth chart.

40:28 It does amaze me. Sometimes people get mad at me during games. You know something that doesn't change my life one bit? You can call me all kinds of bad words. And a lot of.

40:38 People, too, always tweet us like, oh, I can't wait for you guys to try and put a positive spin on this one. I listen, Matt and I, we both put our hands up. We know we do the show on the team's network.

40:49 Yeah.

40:49 We know who signs our paychecks, but I also don't think that Matt, there's a lot of people in this town that carry a lot more water than Matt. That's all that I'll say.

40:58 Yeah.

40:58 I just try to bring it as honest as I possibly can.

41:00 We're never coming in here and MF and anybody and fire that person and this person to Saturn. But I don't think that we handle it with kid gloves either.

41:08 No, I wish Aaron Rogers could run better. I mean, that's how we kind of, you know, like there's things that are wrong.

41:13 Yeah.

41:15 I wish we all could run better, Matt, but that's just father time, unfortunately.

41:19 No, I could never run well. That's okay.

41:22 You had the size. You were built for endurance, not for speed.

41:27 Oh, yeah.

41:27 Matt tweets us and says, hey, guys, well, that was something. Do you think the offensive line was bad because of communication issues or was it just a down performance? Should we start getting worried about Chris Boswell? Even on some of the kicks he's making, they don't look good.

41:41 It's a good point about it. They don't go down the middle.

41:43 They don't go down the middle.

41:45 And again, you've... I have no idea how to analyze that. I wouldn't even try. I'll just trust his track record that he's really good. But everybody gets old. There's going to be a day that he's not a great kicker.

41:55 Sure.

41:55 I hope it's not now.

41:56 Same here. Same here.

41:57 Three and 40 games is concerning. I mean, I'm just looking at results.

42:01 Especially for him. He's one of the best of his generation.

42:04 Of everything we've worried about in the last 10 years in Steelers history, him and Cam Hayward are the ones who just don't. What?

42:10 They're like crockpots. Right, right, right. You just set it and forget it.

42:13 So I don't know. but it's something to keep an eye on. And we had a long kicker special team conversation about an hour ago. Um, what was their first part of that question?

42:23 Uh, was it just a bad performance of the, you worried about some of the communication issues? I do think they had some communication issues with how loud it was in that building.

42:31 And I think Max might've been over his head with that stuff too, on a short week, blah, blah, blah. Um, Again, that's what I'm going to watch that tonight, individual O-line stuff, just to see because.

42:42 How often are they looking around like, what was that?

42:44 Yeah.

42:44 Trying to get the call.

42:45 Because they run blocked well. I mean, I don't know. I'm betting when I come back here Monday, I'm not going to be like, oh, man, the O-line was terrible. I think individually they won a lot of their battles, put some people on their backs. I think there were some communication stuff.

43:01 Average five and a half yards per Jalen Warren carry.

43:04 Yeah.

43:04 I'll take that every Thursday and Sunday and Monday.

43:07 Absolutely.

43:07 And their sacks, I guarantee, happened late in the down. They were not immediately got beat. Broderick Jones didn't get a hand on anybody type guys. And Warren was beat once in protection, from what I remember, which is unusual. But not everyone's perfect.

43:23 Joel says, can you guys do me a favor and just always bet against and pick against the Steelers on your show, even if you think they're going to win?

43:31 Our record hasn't been great. Because I picked the Bengals to win pretty big.

43:36 We both picked the Bengals to win. I picked the Bengals to win by like 21 to 20 or something like that.

43:41 I picked the Steelers in New England.

43:43 I did pick the Patriots.

43:45 Did you? Okay. And we both picked the Steelers on the road here.

43:48 We both picked the Steelers on the road. So, yeah, we'll do our part, Joel.

43:50 Don't worry.

43:51 Don't worry. We got the Falcons, right? So I'm one and three.

43:56 You're one and three. I'm two and two.

43:57 And that's not even against the spread. That's just straight up wins and losses.

44:00 Jeff says that's a disappointing loss. Poor tackling. Poor tackling.

44:05 We should talk about that more and more and more. Talk about a reason you lost.

44:08 Poor tackling. Capital bold letters right there. Shredded by the Browns in the screen game in the first half. Felt like a lot of miscommunication in the secondary. Given up almost 30 points in each of the last two games. Wide receivers. Not getting separation. What's your concern level? All right, Matt.

44:26 Six out of ten.

44:26 Calm.

44:27 Calm. We'll shut down the show today doing, you know, let me bust out one of my favorite exercises for you.

44:33 Calm.

44:34 Nope.

44:34 Concerned.

44:35 Worried.

44:36 Panicked.

44:37 Worried.

44:40 I guess it would depend on, I'd say.

44:41 Not panicked.

44:42 I'd say, no, it's.

44:43 Not calm.

44:44 I mean, it's barely October.

44:45 Yeah.

44:46 And not calm. And so I would say it would depend on, like, if you ask me about the offensive line, I might even lean towards calm.

44:54 D-line, calm. Calm. but back seven secondary to beat man coverage receivers running game. Calm tight ends. Boswell call tackling slightly concerned.

45:08 I don't know about that.

45:08 I may be concerned.

45:09 I think I'm worried. And I might even be looking over into panic's yard over there to see what kind of landscaping they got going on.

45:15 I was looking through it in the lens of, Short week Thursdays, tackling's always bad.

45:19 No, that's a great point.

45:20 It's not like it's been horrible all year.

45:22 And we're always hyperbolic with this stuff. Again, it's not... It's not a normal game, folks. I don't care who's playing. It's not Pirates Nation radio and we get to watch them play six games a week. It's not Hockey Nation radio or basketball and they're playing two or three times a week. We get... so fired up and so hyper-focused on every single little pedantic detail on game days in the NFL. That's why we love it so much.

45:45 That's what's awesome about it, yeah.

45:46 But it is such a week-to-week sport. It is.

45:49 No excuses. I just hate Thursday night football, and I think it's weird. And I think it's not, it's kind of like, not to the same level, but I didn't care that the Rams lost in Australia. I didn't care that the Jags lost week two in Denver. I'm not holding that against them at the time. This is different.

46:05 This is the Browns. This is not a great team that they played. Thursday night football is not the same product. I've said that no matter who plays.

46:12 It doesn't seem like we always get it on the road, too. I mean.

46:16 That could stop. Schedule makers, how about a year we do? The Steelers don't go to Cleveland on Thursday night. That'd be great.

46:22 Matt, I'm sure I'm probably forgetting one, but you know this is my ninth year with the team now. I think the only home one has been that Titans one a couple years ago where you got Will Levis to come to town on Thursday night and the Steelers won. Other than that, it feels like it's always Cleveland or Cincinnati on the road.

46:37 Yeah, not great.

46:38 Don't love it. Don't love it.

46:40 Everyone in the– I don't know if we talked about this enough. I know the Steelers don't have any wins in Cleveland. They don't have any wins on Thursday in the division on the road. But the whole division is really bad at Thursday Night Football against one another on the road. This is not just a Steeler thing. They just happen to be the worst of it because they're zeros.

46:57 But the whole division loses division games on the road in this division. And probably in all divisions, but this one's the most.

47:03 We're kind of upset about that, but you know what? Next week... When it's Sunday and I see our buddy, the Colts broadcaster, Matt Taylor, in the booth.

47:11 Yeah, yeah.

47:12 He's going to go, can you believe we were just in London and they got us back here on the road? That stinks. It ebbs and flows. Sometimes it bites you in the butt, but then you've got to take advantage of it when you've got the opportunity. And the Steelers are one that have that opportunity.

47:26 Not only do we have to go from London to a road game, you guys get three days rest.

47:29 Three days extra rest.

47:30 Right, thanks.

47:30 And we're on the road in a different country.

47:32 Right.

47:33 So it quite often balances itself out, but you've got to take advantage of it when it does swing.

47:37 Yeah, yeah. Don't let opportunities go away.

47:40 We'll talk about all that and more next week. We'll recap week four across the NFL, and hopefully we will have some positive injury updates from Mike McCarthy.

47:51 On Monday as well as a couple of those guys.

47:53 Harmon and Dean. A couple of those guys we'll be keeping eyes on. But that'll do it for us.

47:57 There probably won't be any news over the weekend.

47:58 I wouldn't think so.

47:59 There's no reason to be.

48:00 Yeah, there's no– There's nothing going on really until Monday. Lick your wounds, get over it, and next week we turn the page and we move forward. That'll do it for us today. Big thanks, as always. A shout-out to Mr. TV, Tyler V, on the video side of the equation for Matt Williamson. I'm Wes Shuler. Take care, everybody. We'll talk to you soon. As always, you know where to find us.

48:22 It's on your 24-7 home of the black and gold. Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.