Drive10.30.26Hr2: Predictions, Picks

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Good evening, Steelers Nation. How we doing? Well, that's good. Us too.

Hour number two as we are fired up for a big weekend on the North Shore and a big week eight across the National Football League.

It got going last night, Matt. The Packers, I... Think they're for real. I think they're legit.

Especially with Parsons looming out there.

That's about as good of a trade deadline acquisition as we can get.

By the way, we were off.

Trade deadline is next Tuesday.

It's not a couple days from now. I'm glad you brought that up. But I screwed that up.

So we will have plenty of time to talk more trade deadline stuff.

There's two games between trade deadlines.

Yes.

Correct.

Only one for the Steelers.

Right.

Because they have the bye week, but that might work out well.

That might work in your favor. Right. Get somebody in here in the bye week without having to play. Perfect.

Exactly. But we will, again, we will talk about that plenty next week.

I hadn't thought about that. That is definitely an advantage.

I think so.

Getting the buy at the trade deadline, which I should notice that when I do like scheduled release show.

And it gives you, you know, time to kind of assess. If you do go out and identify someone, it gives you more time for them to get their feet wet.

Yeah, there's more practice time before they're actually on your field. And all that stuff.

Yeah, absolutely.

But the Packers move to 5-3. The Panthers fall to 3-4 last night. The NFC South continues to be wide open in anybody's best guess.

And the Panthers fired their defensive coordinator this morning, too, which is a little harsh to me, to be honest with you. I mean, they're working with, like, fourth and fifth string cornerbacks and have injuries galore. Real quick on the Packers. Their O-line's bad still, but it's a little better than it was. They have no running game whatsoever, although Jacobs looks like And he looks like himself. There's just nowhere to go. But Love is playing incredibly well.

Incredibly well. He looks great despite the drops. I mean, they lead the league in a wide margin in drops. But I think their defense is legit, better than I thought. I think they're a contender in that really tough division. Carolina was really frustrating to watch. I mentioned Green Bay's O-line was bad, but Carolina's was horrendous. And it's injuries, and you feel for them in a way. And Bryce Young's not going to be able to just put that team on his shoulders without any blocking. It's like Chuba Hubbard's the only guy who can get yards for it.

That's it. I mean, it's it, right?

Ted McMillan just looks frustrated.

Yeah, those two good receivers, they make a play here and there, but they can't hold the ball long enough to get them open. It's rough, man.

It sure is.

Man, it is amazing how it's such a week-to-week league, like we say all the time. But Packers, rightfully so, feeling good. Good time to be in Milwaukee and Green Bay there with everything going on.

Between the baseball diamond and the football team.

So my co-host, I think I tend to agree with him. We were chatting about, cause he does, he's locked on Niners guy.

Yes.

And his show, they were talking about, they were kind of power ranking the NFC, especially after the trades, you know, Seattle added a guy, Chicago added a guy.

Niners.

I think it's pretty safe to say that the best seven teams are from two divisions. I mean, it's everybody but the Cardinals in the West and North.

It's certainly not the South.

Yeah, it's no way in the South. The East is junk. I think everybody from the playoffs could end up from two divisions. Except for the two division winners. Right, yeah, yeah.

It's hard to disagree with that right now. You definitely don't see two coming out of the South.

No, I'm shocked at the East.

Maybe you could see a scenario where the Giants and Dallas, but you've got.

To squint to see that scenario.

Yeah, it's rough.

Matt, Sunday.

Sunday.

It will be November by the time games kick off on Sunday. We're getting into the real stuff here now, folks. It's always that time of year that we talk about where you're starting to become who you are. Yes, teams are obviously going to improve and get better from this point, but everything's on tape, and now you play with what you got, and there are some big games both in the AFC North and otherwise to keep an eye on on Sunday as the calendar turns to November. Matt, perhaps maybe the biggest one from a Steelers perspective to keep an eye on happens at the same time, 1 o'clock.

Just a few hours up, 79 there in Buffalo, where the 5-1 Bills host the 4-3 Ravens. It does sound like Lamar Jackson is going to play.

Yeah, I think DJ Moore should be back.

DJ Moore should be back for Buffalo.

This is one that I think a lot of people had circled on the calendar before the season started. Buffalo, a three-point favorite. Matt, you know I use this line sometimes, and I think it rings true for Baltimore this week. It is probably still too early to say that this is a must-win for the Ravens.

It means a lot to them.

Starting to feel like a little bit of a can't-lose.

They would be 4-4 if they go up to Buffalo and fall to the Bills.

And then they play the Jags.

Their schedule, I think we went over that maybe.

Tuesday or something.

But it's rough. Their schedule is really tough.

The next couple of weeks are tough for the Ravens.

I mean, they still get the Bengals again. They got the Browns again. They got them and they had four bunch of division games.

They have to go to Houston.

Do that.

They got to play the bucks who suddenly are showing some life.

But like losing three in a row would be problematic. Yes, it would. I'm taking the bill.

All AFC. I know.

I mean, just tiebreakers and all that too. I mean, they're, they're far from guaranteed a playoff spot. I'm taking the bills. Coming off a bye, which isn't always a good thing, but it's still getting DJ more healthy and all that I think definitely pays off. And the Ravens are a unique offense to game plan for, and it gives them two weeks to do that. No one likes hearing this.

Nobody likes when I praise Lamar or Garrett or anybody that was in a division that's a great player. But folks, Josh Allen versus Lamar Jackson is about as good a quarterback matchup in the history of the league. Not that we could have today, This is like Manning versus Brady.

I knew you were going to say that.

You know what I mean? Like, it is. I mean, these guys are, I know on the list of, you know, here's the best quarterback that ever lived, those two should be climbing rapidly. And I know they don't have Super Bowls, but in the history of any of you watching the game, how many quarterbacks would you rather play against than Allen or Lamar? I mean, they're really high on the list of guys I don't want to play against.

Yes, especially if they're able to.

It's a treat to watch this as a fan.

Especially if they could add some Lombardis to that resume. Hopefully the guy in Buffalo. We don't want the guy in Baltimore adding any Lombardis to his resume.

They got MVPs and, you know, a lot of, I mean, they're phenomenal players.

Yeah, no, you're absolutely right.

And I know a lot of that's gotten kind of swallowed up in this Mahomes era.

Right.

And we are we are still in that category, too.

And we are still kind of on the back turn of just the golden age of quarterbacks with the two that you mentioned, Brady and Manning and Rogers and Roethlisberger and Breeze and on down the line.

But you're right.

I mean, this is for a lot of different reasons. This is a fun one. I'm laying the points with with Buffalo, too. That's just that's such a hard place to play. It's the second most expensive get-in price of this.

I'm sure it's not one, but I'd have to think.

Well, number one is Monday in Seattle, Bears-Seahawks.

I'm sure you got all those Chicago transplants out on the West Coast who are excited about seeing their team.

This Ravens second half stuff is worrisome. Yes, it is.

And I think you're right. Sometimes coming off of a bye, you do show a little bit of rust. But we know that rest advantage thing is so real.

In your own building.

In your own building. And there could probably be some rust for Lamar, too, as he's missed the last couple weeks.

Yeah, yeah. And I've heard it might be a high ankle. He may not be the same all year.

Matt, that one is the highest over under of the weekend. Tied for the highest over under the weekend with Cowboys and Cardinals.

54 and a half. Bills and Cowboys are two teams that are always super high no matter who they're playing.

Lions too, although the Lions are playing the Vikings this week, so that's kind of a clash in styles. So we're both laying the three points with Buffalo. Other AFC North opponent foe to keep an eye on the Bengals are at home. They host the Titans. Matt, largest spread of the weekend. Cincinnati, a 12.5 point favorite over Tennessee.

I think they wiped the floor with them, but I can't lay 12.5.

I've taken 12.5 all day. And like we've said, It wasn't a very high bar to clear, but the Titans' last two games have been their best two games of the season.

Now they just trade their best players, we all know. But still, I think the offense is at least showing some signs of life.

Maybe they're down 17 and they score a touchdown late and end up losing by 10. But I'm just almost never going to lay 12.5 points.

Yeah, I don't think the discrepancy in the team is that big.

Cheapest get-in price of the weekend, Matt, is actually at Jerry World in Arlington, Texas, where the Cowboys host the Cardinals tonight. Dallas desperately needs this one to get back to 500 and start feeling like, okay, we're really going to play some beautiful football down the stretch. They are a seven-point favorite at home against the Cards.

From a Dallas perspective, I love that they rededicated themselves to the run last week. They have a good line. Javante's a fine back. I just heard this on the way here. I might be a game or two off, but the Cardinals, you know how the Steelers can't beat the Eagles? The Cardinals are like, Jason Voorhees to the Cowboys for whatever reason. They're like one in eight against the Cardinals in the last eight or nine games or whatever.

I mean, like the Steelers going to Philadelphia.

Yeah.

I mean, just, if you know a team, sometimes those things stick out. Like I was on national podcast today and I mentioned the Browns losing streak in Pittsburgh and my co-host was like, really? Yeah. I can't believe that. Like, yeah. So no, unless you're really down into a team, I'll still take Dallas. What did you say the spread is? Seven.

I'd like it a lot more if it was six and a half.

I'm going to take the points. I think Dallas wins.

Are you?

That's a lot of points.

I'll lay the points.

I think the Cardinals will move the ball. At some point, we've got to see it from the Cowboys.

They are better.

I don't know if they're a true contender or not, but they are better than they've shown through seven games.

They absolutely should be.

They at least absolutely should be.

In Detroit, speaking of another high, this is an awesome clash of styles.

Yes.

This is like Nick Saban, Alabama against prime Oklahoma.

One wants to win 20-17. The other wants to win 45-42.

That's the only way they can win.

The Lions in their high-flying offense. The Vikings in their lockdown defense. A big one in that division. And if the Lions win this, that division is wide open. Detroit is a three-point favorite at home. Do they hand Minnesota their first loss of the year?

I think so. And again, I probably said the same thing just last week or the week before the Vikings just don't seem like a 10 and O team 11. Yeah.

Water finds its level.

Exactly. You know, the Niners got a loss. I mean, they're a good team or they is powerhouse, but they lost in Atlanta. Okay. That's you trip up here and there I could, and this is more of a trip up in Atlanta. This is a tough, you know, they're, they're a dog in this game. Um, This is semi-unrelated, but can you do me a quick favor and just click on the Vikings schedule?

I sure can.

Because I have great, great respect for what Flores is doing, and they've been the best defense in the league.

Oh, man, it gets tough for them here the next month.

But that's what I was about to say. Just from a defensive perspective, their last three games, I think, were Miami, New Orleans, and the Colts.

You are correct. You are correct, yes.

I mean, you should do well against them. They've been wiping the floor with teams. But look at their next, like, four offenses.

The Detroit Lions.

Yeah.

The Buffalo Bills. The Green Bay Packers. And the San Francisco 49ers. Have fun in November, Detroit.

Yes.

I mean, like, no, that's the Vikings.

Or Vikings.

Yeah.

Have fun in November, Minnesota.

Like, as great as Flores looks right now, I would sell that stock. Like, it almost has to go down. You know, you play those four offenses and put that on tape. Shanahan and, you know, I mean, like, just the coaches and quarterbacks. It's going to be tough to win.

And you know.

And then after that, you know what?

They have the Falcons, who are no slouch on offense whenever Penix is healthy.

But this next month, it's going to be really tough to win games in the teens or under 10 points per game. 21 to 20. Yeah, right. I mean, so I think that starts in Detroit, where at least you see some kinks in the armor. Chinks in the armor. I don't know. What did I say wrong?

Gambit. Notre Dame.

Notre Dame.

I'll take the points with Minnesota, but I think Detroit wins. But I could see a I could see a 28 to 27, you know, a 24 to 23.

I still think Minnesota can get there in those type of games.

Kyler's not playing well.

No, he's not.

And he might any minute now. Don't get me wrong. It could be a Jonathan Taylor team or something like that.

This could be one of those games that the Lions win 45-17. I don't know if they can get to that number.

They can get to anybody.

They haven't done it as much lately as they did at the beginning of the day in Camel Arrow when they still had Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and if you gave them an inch, they would beat you by 30.

And Flores is definitely that guy, like, if you're Goff, you at least know what you're getting into. I've played against him twice a year for a while now, and I think they've had pretty good success against the Vikings.

Matt, a matchup between two teams that might not have much to play for the rest of the way. The Jets host the Raiders. Jets off a really frustrating loss to Miami at home. Raiders looking to snap their four-game losing streak and get back in the win column.

Tight one. Jets a one-and-a-half point favorite at MetLife.

I'm going to take the Raiders. I don't love the cross-country thing, but one coaching staff I'm excited about, one I'm not, and that's the Raiders.

I do think you're going to get the Jets to sit up in their chair this week after kind of an embarrassing loss at home, and they're not going to want to lose two in a row at home to teams that are below.

500.

I'm going to lay the points with the Jets.

Okay.

I'm going to lay the points with the Jets. I'll tell you what, though.

It'll be fun to watch those old two QBs and cousins and Geno going at it.

Yeah.

Potentially one last time for those two, and if the Raiders lose this one, it could be Mendoza time. It could be Mendoza o'clock here as we roll into November. Speaking of the NFC South that we were talking about a few minutes ago, suddenly, especially with Carolina's loss last night, a lot of implications in Tampa, Matt.

Yeah, this matters.

Where the Bucs host the Falcons. Tampa Bay at home, a two-and-a-half point favorite.

I'm definitely taking the points. I think there's an equal chance Atlanta wins or Tampa wins. I don't think Mayfield coming back is necessarily a great thing. Not that he's not better than the backup.

He is.

He didn't have to do anything last week. Tampa is pretty clear to me. and this kind of reflects well on the Steelers, there's maybe only three defenses I'd take over Tampa's right now. Maybe four. I mean, it's that good right now. But they win games, and it was so true last week, when they win both lines of scrimmage.

Doing that against Carolina is a lot easier than doing that against Atlanta right now. So you are... I'm taking the points.

You're taking the two and a half for Atlanta, but the Bucs win.

Atlanta's a dog, right?

Atlanta's a dog, yes.

I don't know who wins. I just want the points. I think it'll be close.

I think I'm going to lay the points.

Okay.

Because I think you're right.

I don't think that the Falcons are going to be able to do what they've done on offense to a lot of teams on the road in Tampa. I know that we wouldn't call that a hostile environment by any means, but.

They are still on the road.

Division rival.

And I think you're right.

I think that Bucs defense is really hitting its stride, and I think they're going to make it a frustrating day for that Falcons offense. I'll lay the two and a half with Tampa to win a close one.

I'm taking the Falcons.

Matt, second biggest spread of the weekend is down in Jacksonville. Another inter-division matchup. There's a few of those this weekend where the Jags host the Colts. The Jags, 10-point favorites over Indy. This might be the rare time where I lay the double-digit points.

I'm going to.

You're the Colts.

I said this to you, remember, about the Eagles when they were getting on the flight to London, and all of a sudden there's no Lane Johnson and there's no Cam Juergens.

That's exactly what I was going to go with.

You're the Colts.

You're flying tomorrow, sometime on Saturday, you're getting on a plane to fly to Jacksonville.

That he knows better than you.

And there's no DeForest Buckner. There's no Quentin Nelson.

They're coming off a bye.

Our two leaders on both sides of the ball.

That's what I was going to say is the leader thing, too. It's like... Kind of like if you traded Cam Hayward.

Who's the one who stands up in the locker room and says, you know, bleep this. I know things aren't going well, but over our dead body, are we going to roll over and die?

The Niners in Seattle got high character and well-established, excellent players, too.

I think this is one of the rare times that I will live.

I don't know that I'd take the Colts against anybody. Mojo has to be bad.

I don't think so at all.

Maybe Jonathan Taylor gets traded the next 24 hours.

Maybe.

Maybe he doesn't make the trip. Who knows, you know?

Or Downs.

If they are seriously shopping him, I would be hard-pressed to see a way that he plays on Sunday.

Yeah, right, right.

If they're having some conversations and you're not going to want to send him out there.

Yeah.

So that's for the 1 o'clock slate into the 4 o'clock hour here. Matt, the Battle of L.A. This was another one of... I feel like we had circled at the beginning of the season.

This will be a blast.

This will be a lot of fun.

Uh, you've got the own six chargers against the three and four Rams Rams.

Another one that, you know, I, I will not say yet.

This is a must win, but it feels like it can't lose particularly considering how bad the chargers have been.

Yeah.

The Rams are six and a half point favorites there at SoFi stadium. And they are technically the home team. Yeah.

Um, I'm open to the... The Chargers are the worst team in the league. They'd be 32nd in my power ranks. You know, we just did that yesterday or whatever. That being said, coming off a bye, can Harbaugh get them to not being the worst team in the league? You know what I mean? Like, he's not going to go down without a fight, just knowing how that dude operates.

And they do have good players. I mean, Herbert's a good quarterback. I wish I had a better feel for, like... I don't know what Alt and Slater's Are they out for the year? Are they ever coming back? Are they coming back off the bye? I mean, like, I don't quite know that. I just didn't pay attention to how serious those injuries are. I'm going to take the points.

I just don't know where the Rams are at, but no.

No.

The Rams could win this game by 40. If everything I said is wrong, they could win this game by 40.

If it was over a touchdown, I'd think about it for a second.

But the fact that it's under a touchdown.

That's the exact same thing that crossed my mind.

I'm laying the six and a half. If you're the Rams, this is kind of your get right. Okay, let's remind.

Everybody who we are.

They don't have Adams. They probably can just run the ball and still win. Throw it to Puka 20 times.

Matt, stop me if I've said this already, but another big interdivisional showdown here as the Broncos.

It is a good slate.

The Broncos host the.

Chiefs 5-2 versus 5-1, first place in the division on the line. Kansas City a one-and-a-half point road favorite there at mile high.

I'll take the Broncos. I think they have a legit home field advantage. I know Kansas City, my home, and Reed have been there a million times, but it's still not an easy place to play. I keep hearing all this, you know, Seattle created this blueprint to shutting down the chiefs. I don't really believe that. I mean, that's Seattle's defense is just really good, but Denver's is awfully good as well.

I don't think Walker's going to run all over them. And I think they're going to make their weapons through the air, beat them. And I don't think they're capable. I think Sertan came back for this one and I'm not a huge Bo Nix fan, but I think it's, I think he's better than he showed the first month or so. And he's starting to kind of give us glimpses of being okay.

I feel like we're disagreeing this week, Matt, more than we have maybe at any point in the year and a half that we've done this together.

I could all see KC bouncing back pretty strong.

You referenced our buddy Merrill Hodge in the first hour of the show. I'm going to reference Merrill Hodge here in the second hour of the show. Merrill has a saying from time to time that he throws out there that never underestimate a professional athlete who was embarrassed the previous week.

Especially a Mahomes.

And especially a.

Mahomes and an Andy Reid and Jones and all those guys that have won so much and had so much success there.

There's something to be said for that.

If it was a bigger spread, I would take the points with Denver. but at just one and a half, I'll lay them with Kansas City.

Who's favored?

Kansas City by a point and a half.

That made me feel better about it.

Dolphins host the Patriots, Matt. This one is also another interdivision game, but not nearly as sexy as some of the others that we've covered. 425 down there at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

New England, a seven-point road favorite.

They're the better team. May's playing great. I'm taking the points.

Are you really?

I think Miami's pretty scrappy, and I think they can run the ball, and their offense is kind of respectable now. Maybe it's a little warm. I don't know.

It's Ollie Gordon left, Ollie Gordon right.

Yeah, short in the game. I just still think, I don't think A.J. Brown's close to being right, and I don't think the Patriots have a lot of weapons.

I would love this if it was six and a half instead of seven. Cause I can see this as a game that Drake may just down, you know, end of the game, takes them down the field. They score a touchdown and win. I'm going to lay the seven with new England. Look at this TV. I mean, we're going, we're going off so many of these. I just, I know they're off their first win of the year and probably feeling as good of them about themselves as they had and heading back home. And it is supposed to be 80 and sunny. But I'm going to take this is another one of those kind of like I said about the Rams. If you're the Patriots that people think you can be, this is the week that you go out there and it's November.

We're hitting our stride. This is who we really are.

I have some real doubts as a Patriots, as a contender.

I do, too.

Yeah, I do, too.

But I think if they are any semblance of one, they go down there and comfortably beat Miami. And then last, Matt, but certainly not least, Sunday night. Another interdivisional showdown. This is one that maybe we would have thought could have been some fun when the year started, but it's two teams that are.

Oh, yeah.

I was thinking this is the game in Seattle. This is a junko game.

It's the.

This is the one they talked about putting Steelers-Browns in, maybe.

Yeah, and thank God. Can I just say, thank God they did it.

Oh, I'm sure you're thrilled, yeah.

The last thing I wanted after a week in Paris and finally feeling back to myself yesterday was to have to be up till 3 a.m. Sunday night into Monday for a Steelers-Browns game that was supposed to be at 1 o'clock.

I'm selfish.

If I was just a fan drinking my iron, I'm sure I would want it flexed into the evening. But we're all selfish at the end of the day, aren't we? Matt, they used to call this the, it's not really an official nickname for it, but kind of how like Steelers and Ravens was called Armageddon for a while in the Troy and Ed years. When I was in Philly, they used to call this the Amtrak game sometimes because both teams just take the train from Philly.

Do they really?

Well, I know the Eagles do. I'm not sure about the Commanders. But the Eagles, a lot of times, like I'd be, I.

Mean, they're not next to like civilians.

It's, it's this, it's a, an almost an easier train ride than it is to get on a bus.

Yeah.

Because the traffic in that corridor, that I-95 corridor of the country, which is some of the worst traffic in the country. philly baltimore dc there it's a disaster okay a lot of times the eagles they put all their equipment on there they charter a train i'm sure they take an equipment bus yeah yeah but they charter a train and they get their own am track and.

They it's like i didn't know that it's.

Like a 40 50 minute train ride.

I knew it was great for like me and you but i didn't realize i didn't realize the whole team did that yeah oh that's cool.

I took the train from philly to dc a couple times when i was living in philly once i'll.

See a show or once for a manchester.

Once for a manchester united uh barcelona game once for a cold play concert some other some other stuff like that uh the amtrak game.

Cool to go see the white house and whatever you.

Know you go the right time of year yeah dc.

Is amazing like the cherry trees or two yeah.

You go and you go in the springtime it is fantastic uh and you know this about me i love a good walkable city and dc is a good walkable city.

The commandments and all that kind of stuff.

Yeah. And just the water and it's, you know, it's all laid out very nicely. Uh, the commanders at home, six point favorite over the Eagles. Well, I'm taking the points in this one.

Cause I don't know. I don't know who's going to win or show up, but I'm taking the points.

I'm going to take Washington off a buy. I don't feel good about it at all. I just think the Eagles might've really cashed it in. So the way their defense is playing.

You're laying the point tells me things are not going well.

In that building.

Yeah.

I'm going to take Washington.

We might have to revisit this next week.

I have no faith in Washington either.

I don't have any faith in either of these teams.

Yeah, make a note. Monday, let's try to remember who we picked.

Yeah, it's my week. We'll have plenty of time.

We probably could end up 50-50 still, but someone might be like 90-10.

Sure.

Obviously a really fun Monday night game in Seattle between the Bears and the Seahawks, but we will talk about that when we return.

What's super cool is Nelson and Vince Simmons. They're going to line up against each other.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, and they used to twice a year in the division. They played against each other a ton.

That's a great call.

Two of the big names.

Oh, I'm sure on the broadcast.

That's a blast.

They'll be building that up on the broadcast all Monday night. That's a great call by you. We'll talk about that game plenty on Monday whenever we get there. When we come back here, we have injury reports for the Pittsburgh Steelers to get to, a couple other numbers for Steelers and Browns that I want to make sure we get out there as we'll start to head down the homestretch of this week and of this show.

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Matt, we have.

Injury reports hot off the presses for both teams here. Final practice injury reports heading into Sunday, and here is what we know currently. For the Steelers, you can rule out Brandon Echols and Danico Slaughter, both with hamstring injuries that they've been nursing.

Not surprising.

Ben Skronic, after missing some time here with that calf, he is listed as questionable for Sunday.

So we've seen some of the special teams return stuff.

I think it'd be good to get Skro Dirt back out there with his special teams acumen.

He may actually play some third receiver for you, too.

And he might play some receiver, too.

Especially in a muck it up, heavy grind game, you know, get out there blocking. He's at least done more receiver snaps than the guys who have been trotting out there as their third receiver anyway.

Yes. There were some questions about Alex Highsmith and his groin. There were some questions about Jalen Ramsey and that wrist, but those guys have been full practice participants and have no injury designation for Sunday.

All in all, pretty clean.

On the Brown side of things, no one has been ruled out, but three are listed as questionable. Titus Howard, the tackle that we kind of discussed earlier, who's still in concussion protocol. That one strikes me as if you've been in concussion protocol a week and you haven't practiced.

It might have changed over the last year, but it used to be you had to check this box, then this box, then this box, then this box. And by Friday, if he hasn't checked any boxes, I don't know.

I thought one of those boxes was getting a practice in and making sure you didn't have any reoccurring symptoms.

It definitely used to be. You could rule him out now because he hasn't done the stuff you had to do to get to the stuff you have to do, you know?

But some of the guys for the Browns that have been dealing with stuff have been a little questionable this week. Jared Verst with that knee, he's been cleared. Grant Delpit with his neck, he's been cleared. Carson Swechinger dealing with an ankle injury, he's been cleared. And Mason Graham, Matt's favorite, with an ankle as well. He also has no injury designation.

So pretty good news for both teams.

I mean, Steelers didn't have to deal with Graham. I didn't love him as a prospect, but he has been good and he's a challenge.

Yes.

Their defense is basically totally healthy.

Yeah, and like I said, I think for both teams, that's pretty good news for both teams.

Samson returned last week, and people are actually coming back.

Matt, one last Steelers-Browns key number, key indicator to keep an eye on. The Steelers versus the Browns man coverage round two.

I don't love this.

You sent this to myself and Rob King last night. So here's the gist. This is a bonus, Matt's stats here.

Yeah, I didn't write it. I just cut and pasted it. I forget where I got it from.

No, you wrote it. You authored it. You did all the research. I'm giving you all the credit.

Cleveland played man coverage 73% of the time that Pittsburgh dropped back against the Browns in week four.

That's a huge number by today's info. That's a massive number. Over 50% is a ton, even for a man-heavy team.

That's almost three out of four snaps.

There, basically. I mean, it frankly is a disrespectful number. We know you guys can't get away from us.

And also, as you and I have said, it's much easier to get away with that when you don't have a Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen quarterback Oh, you want to play man?

You want to turn your back to me?

Fine.

I'm going to run for eight yards.

Every single time. Steelers are going to get man, right?

Yep.

The Steelers have faced man.

42% of the time that Aaron Rodgers drops back to throw. That is the highest rate in the NFL through seven weeks since 2020.

So, I mean, 40% is a huge number. I mentioned over 50 is a huge number. Over 40 is a huge number by the league's standards, let alone the 73 that the Browns played. Again, that's a lack of respect for your receivers. and running ability of your quarterback.

And Cleveland does really well when they're in man coverage. Teams have just a 30% drop back success rate against Cleveland's man coverage. That is 6% lower than the league average. Steelers offense ranks 26th.

You're going to get just as much of it.

Although I do think the Steelers.

Receivers, with all respect to Pittman, he was one of the problems, is better getting open versus man now than they were in week four or whatever.

And to allude to that, Matt, Steelers offense ranks... 26 of 32 versus man coverage in terms of EPA per drop back. But it's been much better since week one and week two where the Steelers were horrendous at it against Atlanta and New England.

Well, week one and week two, any stat you talk about the Steeler offense are massive anchors on their year-long stats. I think I posted a chart where I just cut those two out. And the offense is well, well above average. But if you count the year-to-date stuff, it's still well below average. It's like the 22nd-ranked EPA. But if you cut out week one and two, and it's not just because of the right side of the line, but that has something to do with it, of course. Some of it's beating man coverage. Some of it's just getting to know each other better, play-caller quarterback, weapons, knowing each other better.

They didn't play well in the first two weeks on offense at all. They're lucky they were 1-1 in that situation.

No doubt.

As poorly as their offensive numbers were.

And Matt, I think the final kind of piece to add to that is you mentioned how infrequently Cleveland likes to take a defensive back off the field.

I think it's a huge key. I hope the Steelers just get huge.

And so if you get huge and you run the football and you're able to punish those guys and you're able to string together drives and you're able to make the Browns have to counter by trying to get big themselves, that will help you out, obviously. That's the cyclical– or not the cyclical nature. That's the kind of just a complementary football that we talk about If you want the Browns to have to move off of what they do so well a little bit, it starts with moving them back in the trenches.

I think everything you've brought up this segment is so relevant to this game in that you want to avoid the man coverage because they're great at it and you're terrible at it. That goes without saying, even if you do take week one and two out of it from the Steelers, but you can counter it by being big and running the football and And the Steelers still, you know, the short passing game is going to be there versus man or zone in terms of trying stuff, the screen game and the picket fence stuff they do and all that.

But that's also why I brought up the Missy, too, or just sort of brought it up a little bit. The Browns' inability to start fast also plays in your hands to stay big and play slow and physical. I don't want to be down 10-0. Right, right, right.

Let Aaron Rodgers do what he does at the line of scrimmage and take his time and milk that clock.

And then bring Anderson off the bench and bring Washington off the bench. And if they're not going to sub, I'm just going to keep bringing big people in. And, you know, that's my plan. But you can't do that if you're down 14-0 in the third quarter.

No doubt.

So the fast start thing is big to me.

So there's the blueprint, folks. We've laid it all out. Easy for us to say. Now all the Steelers have to do is go out and execute it.

I think it's going to be a real challenge. Predictions times, obviously, next segment. But I think it's going to be a very close game and a good game.

I'm a little worried, too, because I've got to go first this week on our predictions.

Oh, baby.

Before we get to break and get to our final just thoughts and a prediction for Sunday's clash on the North Shore, Matt, that was a few minutes, an extension of Matt's stats.

Yeah, yeah.

Can I give you a minute or two extension of around campus from this week as well?

Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Our buddy, I say our buddy like we know him, Mel Kuyper Jr. released his latest top 25 big board. So this is not, this is just his top 25 draft prospects. No positional value, none of that, right? Not a mock draft, just the big board.

Yep.

Super quick on Mel. I don't think he knows who I am. Maybe he does.

I don't know.

But we were at ESPN together for 10 years. I was at a dinner or two with him, but I know a lot of people that know him, and I have great respect for him. You still have all his blue books from the 80s? Yeah, I mean, he helped me learn the draft as well. But Mel's big on— his sources are what people tell him more than grinding. Some guys are like tape grinders. He has great connections in the league. So his big board's usually pretty accurate through league sources. Everyone has their own process.

Because it's not just his own... A lot of people... Listen.

He may fall in love with somebody. Every draft pick does.

He did it with Shador Sanders a couple years ago.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

A lot of people, Matt.

When.

I say they've got their agendas, I don't necessarily... a lot of times has a negative connotation.

To it i want to get more twitter followers or you know or.

Just if you're if you're a draft evaluator you have an agenda i love the tape on this guy he i'm right on him you know um i i think mel uh the a lot of times the other side and there's a lot to be said for that for guys that grind the tape oh yeah and build their agenda in their narrative they're not just shooting in the dark they're not playing pin the tail on the donkey But for someone like Mel, who is more just acquiring information and inside sources.

Keep an eye on this guy. No one's talking about him.

Holy cow, that guy's an unbelievable prospect. Holy cow, that guy's going in the top five and then formulating it that way. It's good to have the balance of both.

Yeah, yeah.

Here's where I'm going with all this. Obviously, we know Jeremiah Smith is number one. There's going to be no doubt he's going to be one of the most consensus number one overall on the big boards I think that we've ever seen.

The only way a guy like that could not be No. 1 on the big board is if there's an unbelievable quarterback. And there's not an unbelievable quarterback.

I'm glad you said that, too, especially for being a non-quarterback. He might be the most consensus No. 1 big board guy, non-quarterback, that we've seen in decades.

I'm not trying to ruin your thing. I think more of the corner from Notre Dame will be consensus top couple, too.

No.

2 on his big board is Drew Mestemaker.

Is it really?

So this is where I'm going with this, obviously.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

He's got seven quarterbacks in the top 25.

Don't be really. Seven in the top 25.

Even if only five declare.

Mestemaker, two. Mensa, four.

Four?

Four.

Who's three?

I'm just curious.

Is it more?

Trinidad Chambliss. He's seventh overall.

No, who's third overall?

Third overall is Leonard Moore.

Okay, okay.

He's at the corner from Notre.

Dame that you mentioned. We don't need to go through everybody. I am clear about that.

I just wanted to mention the quarterbacks. Mestemaker, two overall. Darian Mensa, four overall. Trinidad-Chamberlain, seven overall. C.J. Carr, 10th overall. So four.

The four that I told you I'd be confident first-round picks traded for the Steelers right now are all on his top 10 big board. Austin Simmons, the Southpaw from Missouri that I told you really like, but he's like Ty Simpson, so few starts and so much good, so much what are you doing?

He's 12th on Mel's big board.

We agree he's the least likely of those five to come out.

Yes.

Okay. Yes.

Of the, of the four that I previously mentioned. Yes, absolutely. And then Matt at the back of his list, 24th and 25th.

More Manning.

Arch Manning and Dante Moore.

I think you have to have him in your top 25.

I think you have to.

I don't know the other positions well enough, but I mean.

Seven out of the top 25 are quarterbacks, folks. Step into the batter's box and take a swing. That's my agenda. That's my narrative here.

Oh, I get it.

Yeah.

The upcoming NFL draft.

You might not have to trade up or barely, or I might just take your third round or to get, you know, four or five spots or whatever.

Exactly right. Exactly right.

So it depends on how many games you win between now and then too.

That obviously plays a big role in it.

Hopefully we're looking at it and saying the Steelers are going to have to trade up because they end up going on a run in January. One more segment to go on the other side before we wrap this thing up, before we close this week down and close down the month of October in the process. It's Steelers-Browns, 1 o'clock on Sunday. We'll give some final thoughts, and we'll give our predictions before we get out of here. Euler, Williamson, it's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

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.

I'll figure it out.

Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light.

Stock up now.

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Louis, Missouri.

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And after what went down in.

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

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

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Bruh.

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

Steelers Nation Radio.

All right, Matt, we have discussed it.

We've gone around the league and talked about the other games. But now it is time for.

The main event.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Are you ready to rumble?

Steelers, Browns, 10 wins between these two teams as the calendar will turn to November on Sunday at Accresure Stadium.

The Steelers out for vengeance.

The Browns out to do something that they haven't done since 1988, and that is sweep the Steelers in the regular season. Pittsburgh at home three and a half point favorites, Matt Williamson.

And I think you're first.

Yeah.

I'm first.

I think it's also important to note. This is the lowest over under. Is it of the entire NFL?

I'm picking a low scoring game, but I always intentionally don't look at the Steelers over under before I come up with my score. Okay.

I like that. I dig that. I think.

We talked about this a little bit earlier with the Minnesota Vikings that water finds its level. I think water's going to find its level on Sunday. I will tip my cap to the Cleveland Browns. I'll never tip my cap to the Baltimore Ravens, even when they're really good. Cause I just, I just hate those guys, but Cleveland, I dislike those guys. I'll give them credit. Todd Munkin has done a great job here in year one. They have turned that Deshaun Watson albatross and found a way to win some games doing it. And as you and I have laid out, they, unfortunately we think of drafted pretty stinking well. the next two years, they might be one more good draft away from really opening up a window for themselves. Now I need to go take a

shower having said all that. But Matt, I believe water finds its level. I think this Browns team is a little too far over their skis. And I think they did a stupid disservice to themselves this week by poking the bear.

By yapping.

Just shut up and show up and play. Why are you giving this?

The Steelers already lost to you in an embarrassing fashion.

Right.

Why do you want to give them any extra motivation in a game with first place implications and in their own house, a Steelers team that's feeling itself too, rightfully so, after three straight wins.

Yeah, a lot of good things going on.

24-21, black and gold, get it done.

Wow, okay. I also don't have the Steelers covering. It's three and a half, that's what I saw earlier today.

So I guess I do technically have the Steelers covering. 24-21, it's three and a half, the Steelers are favored. That's a three-point spread.

Wait, no, sorry, you're right. Listen, maths, maths, maths.

Do you not know what covering means?

Pronunciation and maths are not our strength on this show, all right?

I have it even closer, but I do have a Steeler win. I think it's a very losable game. I think you agree with me there as well. And there are some things this team does well that does not play into the Steelers' hands. Short passing game, you know, just keep hitting... I don't know what Concepcion's over-under reception total is, but I'd probably go over. I think they're just going to pepper him. I don't love the man coverage and the style of their defense against the Steelers.

But I also think the Browns are not a AFC North division winning team at Halloween. You know what I mean? Like a November winning this division type of team. And frankly, I think Watson... might kind of turn into a big orange-brown pumpkin.

Oh, yeah, baby.

I think he's living on the edge of being... There's some highlights there. There's some two-minute stuff. Blah, blah, blah. I just don't think it's super sustainable. I think he's going to make... I feel very confident he'll make more mistakes than Rodgers. Okay.

And that could be the difference in a close game.

The turnover-worthy stuff. Now, both of them might get sacked a fair amount, but that aside, fumble... tip balls, push something he shouldn't. And I think it's going to be a tight game. And I do think the Steelers will run the ball well and be more physical and be bigger. I got him 17-16. Tight one.

Low scoring and tight.

Yeah.

Just like last week in Petty. Hey, if it ends like it did last week in Petty, I don't care what the score is. I don't care if it's 55-54 or 9-6.

Get it done. Over my dead body, Cleveland, or you.

Sweep in the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Fun show today. I thought it was fun shows this week, man.

It was.

I think the weather lifted our spirits and we were.

Very jovial and had ourselves some fun shows this week. I hope everybody at home enjoyed listening as well. Big thanks, as always, on a Friday to Missy Matthews for joining us. and a shout-out every day to intrepid video producer of this program, Mr. TV, Tyler V. For Matt Williamson, I'm Wes Shuler. Enjoy the Halloween tomorrow, and let's go kick some Browns booty on Sunday. As always, we will be back on Monday. Win, lose, or draw, Matt. We'll be here to break it down with Steeler Nation. You know where to find us. It's on your 24-7 home of the black and gold. Steeler's Nation Radio on the Steeler's Audio Network.

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.

I'll figure it out.

Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean, crisp taste of Bud Light. Stock up now.

Bud Light.

Louis, Missouri.

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

Get 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios, because when it comes to your team, it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-833-VERIZON to switch today.

Get that hot dog costume ready.

Bruh.

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