Drive9.25.26Hr1: Bengals Preview

0:03 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

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0:24 It's a five-star matchup because we're in it.

0:28 Five-star matchup!

0:30 Anybody we play.

0:31 It's a five-star matchup!

0:34 Good, we're in it!

0:37 Good evening, Steeler Nation. How we doing? Well, that's good.

0:40 Us too.

0:40 It is hour number two of the drive, the final hour of the week, as all eyes are on Sunday, Steelers and Bengals, 1 p.m. at Accresure Stadium. And Matt, it is time for a little five-star Friday.

0:52 All right.

0:52 Our matchup segment here. And I've got to imagine a lot of this conversation on both sides of the ball is going to be around the trenches.

1:00 Yes. Even though, I mean, there could be two premier corners if Porter dresses. There's two premier receivers for sure on Cincinnati's side. There's some tight end issues that Cincinnati needs to deal with. But really, the trenches, I think, are the focal points.

1:15 Let's start with a couple matchups there.

1:17 Okay.

1:18 And some of these you actually also highlighted in Matt's stats, so it works out really well. Let's talk about TJ Watt, who is just gangbusters to start the season.

1:26 He's been great.

1:27 Against Amarius Mims, probably the young offensive lineman that Matt Williamson likes the most in the NFL right now.

1:33 Yeah, I almost asked Missy to give us a report, and maybe you can do it too. Like, when you see him in person, I think he's going to be one of those rare human beings that you don't quickly forget.

1:43 Like, first guy off the bus type dude.

1:45 I mean, Orlando Brown Jr. is a giant. They have the biggest set of tackles in the league, which is probably not an accident. But Mims has, like, 39 inch arms, you know, like 34 is a cutoff, you know, the cutoff for tackles or whatever. I mean, like just rare, humongous hands, six, seven, not even like a fat dude, but I mean, just a huge human being.

2:04 Chiseled out of rock.

2:05 Oh man. So, I mean, I'm curious, you guys will see him live. What's he look like in person when you walk past him?

2:11 Yeah.

2:12 That's one of my favorite parts with the Browns is just kind of walking around. pregame you know like i remember walking.

2:17 Past like oh it's unbelievable like a cartoon character yes they look like you're like wait if i'm a human being what is that guy.

2:24 Yeah and quick story on that when i was with the browns we were terrible and the ravens were really good and they were in cleveland and there was it was well before the game and there was like a powwow of just like five ravens and you really got the impression that not just anybody could walk over there because it was Ed, Ray, Ogden, Woodson, and I think Suggs was with them. You know, like Joe Blow practice squad guy wasn't like, hey, guys, how's it going today?

2:50 You know, like I was like, you know, I almost I just kind of walked past him like, well, I wonder what they're talking about. Yeah, it's a big dude.

2:58 Yeah, I'm sure he is. He's a physical specimen without a doubt.

3:03 But Brown has really struggled on the left side. Yes. You know, like. I think it's comparable to use the Texans edge guys. I mean, because they have two really good ones like the Steelers.

3:14 Will Anderson Jr. and Daniel Hunter.

3:16 They may not have the third guy like them, but it's as good an edge pairing as you'll see ever, really.

3:20 It's probably the best in terms of one and two in the NFL right now.

3:23 But those guys flip sides, too. But Watt's mostly going to line up against Mims. They didn't help Mims hardly at all. I mean, against Anderson or Hunter. And the other one caused Brown a lot of problems. So they are playing more. 12 personnel, and I think those tight ends are going to help. A P. Ryan or a Brown's going to have to help Brown. But I think Mims, I think they trust him enough. It's like, you've got TJ all day long, and that could go a lot of different directions. It sure could.

3:52 There could be a decisive win by TJ. There could be a decisive win by Mims. I think it's probably more likely that they.

4:00 Exchange body blows throughout the course of the afternoon over three hours. Down after down, just those two. Because, I mean, Barbaro's been getting hit a lot.

4:11 A lot.

4:12 He's getting blitzed a lot, and his numbers under pressure aren't as good as usual. But it hasn't been Mims' issue.

4:19 Matt, let's spin the block. Other side of the ball. Zach Frazier against Sexy Dexy.

4:24 Yeah.

4:25 This is the one for young Zach Frazier.

4:27 Now, they're not a strict 3-4 where it's Hampton over the center all the time.

4:30 There will be some moving around, and there'll be some guard stuff.

4:33 There, too, of course. For sure. And if they find a matchup they'll like, Certainly if the Steelers make a change at right guard, I'm sure they would test that immediately. And Allen's no joke either. Allen's more of a three-technique, up-the-field type guy.

4:46 He's been very underrated the first two weeks of the season.

4:49 Lawrence is listed as a nose, looks like a nose, but plays pretty much any way you want. But yeah, he'll mostly be Frazier's problem. And he's going to be a problem. And he's the guy I trust most to deal with Lawrence. But that's another really good battle. I'm sure there'll be many reps where Frazier's alone with him, much like Mims and Watt.

5:10 I would think that that would be the case. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to see otherwise. Really, I mean, Matt, you and I could do match-ups, and I think we could talk the— Both ways. We could talk the entire Bengals front against the entire Steelers front.

5:23 Yeah.

5:24 And then we could talk the entire Steelers offensive line against the entire Bengals defense.

5:28 Like we even mentioned, you know, Cam Hayward. I mean, not that their interior line's bad, but Cam Hayward and Benton and Harmon, those guys definitely have an advantage over their guard center guard.

5:36 No doubt.

5:37 Yeah.

5:37 And it's not like, you know, Zach Frazier is the only one with a tough assignment.

5:41 No, not at all.

5:42 All four of those guys are formidable.

5:43 Absolutely.

5:44 As we've highlighted over the course of this week and the last two days.

5:47 I think Cassius Howell has a really good chance if I were putting a chip down for the best payoff for offensive rookie of the year or defensive rookie of the year, I think Howell's got a chance. I mean, he's a really, really good pass rusher.

6:00 And he's got some teammates around him that are taking some attention away and making life a little bit easier.

6:04 They can play for a lot of leads this year and, you know, really tee off. I mean, he could be a closer.

6:10 Matt, let's talk some eligibles here in this matchup segment. Let's start. We'll start with Cincinnati on the offensive side of the football. We, we know the, uh, We know the challenge. We know the task. There is no lack of familiarity with Burrow, with Chase.

6:26 I think Burrow has only faced the Steelers a couple times, though, strangely.

6:29 I think this is like only his fifth time. Does that sound right?

6:32 He's thrown a pick, I think, in every game.

6:34 I believe he has. I believe he has. He's also 3-1, though, as a starter, I'm pretty sure, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matt, how do you go about, and obviously some of this, there's the Joey Porter Jr. conversation. Yeah.

6:49 But I even think you have to have a great pass rush.

6:52 You got to have a great, you have to, that's well said.

6:54 You got to start.

6:54 Yeah.

6:55 You got to have a great pass rush. And I think a big part of this, and we saw this last year when chase Brown ran wild, you can't let chase Brown run wild. You have to at least make them one dimensional and you have to limit their run game. And you have to know that burrows dropping back to throw to those talented eligibles, because if they, if chase Brown goes for 120 yards or whatever it was like he did last year, that's how they score 35, 38 points.

7:17 But we also saw was it two years ago that, Jamar Chase caught like 18 passes against the Steelers, whatever it was. It was like 20 or 21, whatever. He just was just pitch and catch all over the field, and he's capable of doing that too. I really think this is an offense you're not going to stop. You may... Contain. Yeah, you may deal with the damage a little bit, but they're going to do something. I mean, I don't think this game's going to be played They're going to get to 14-plus points every week, probably 20-plus every week, even against the best defenses. We just mentioned Houston. We're hoping the Steelers' D is as good as Houston's. Maybe Houston's took a step backwards without us knowing, but I bet

7:59 they didn't. I bet they just got a lot of points and yards allowed to Cincinnati and Buffalo and Allen and Burrow. So can the Steelers get to that Houston level of defensive play? I think it's possible, and they've outplayed Houston through two weeks. But if that's what they just did to the Texans a week ago, they're probably going to do something similar and score 25-plus when it's all said and done. There's a lot of ways they can attack you. There's not a lot of answers.

8:27 They're multiple.

8:28 Yeah, yeah.

8:29 They're versatile. They're multiple. They've got, obviously, the big-name wide receivers, but they've got some talented tight ends and Chase Brown as well. They've got a lot of ways to beat you, and that is why– This is early season from just a 30,000-foot view. This is a great test for Patrick Graham in that defense.

8:46 Oh, absolutely. And that's actually what I was going to say next is it's kind of widely known now that they played zero man in the first week. And then they stepped it up quite a bit. It's 40-some percent or whatever. I bet it's closer to week one, even if Porter plays. I think you want to keep everything in front of you, tackle the catch, a variety of different zone coverages. That just doesn't mean they're all spot-dropping and everyone knows exactly where they're at. But another thing Graham does really well that we've mentioned, but he'll do things like, here's a small example, is when Ramsey's in the slot to Watt's side, he'll often rush, with everyone on the planet knowing that they're going to either chip

9:28 Watt with a back or a tight end. So it sounds simple, but they bring a four-man rush, one of whom is Ramsey, and then it allows Watt to be one-on-one.

9:37 Sure.

9:38 You know those chippers are there. So Graham's done a really good job of isolating his pass rushers one-on-one, not always bringing blitz either.

9:47 Getting his best guys one-on-one matchups.

9:48 One-on-one matchups, yeah. I think that's where he's really excelling right now with the pass right.

9:52 And that is certainly something that i think goes hand in hand with coaching.

9:55 Oh absolutely i mean peppering and who's coming who's not you know a lot of four-man rushes but you don't know which four it's.

10:03 Uh it's been exciting through two weeks and i'm excited to see it against this high-powered offense at home and then finally matt other side of the equation You talked a little bit about Cincinnati's linebackers yesterday.

10:15 Yeah, I think they're vulnerable.

10:17 How they were a disaster last year, maybe the worst tandem in the league, you said. But this year they've gotten a little bit better, and they're getting a lot more help in front of them with that front four, obviously. I'm still attacking them like crazy. Is this the Pat Fryer move in Darnell, Washington? It's time to go out there and make some hay?

10:35 Yeah, I think absolutely, and I'd even take it a step further that When you, you know, you can take Warren and move him, like Gainwell would be great for this. Move him to the slot and you see a linebacker follow him, which usually means man coverage. I'm attacking those guys. You know, like you see McCaffrey doing those type of things all the time. Even crossers, you know, Metcalf going across the formation or Bernard or Pittman if he plays.

10:59 I guess we haven't gotten knowledge on that one. But just like guys crossing their face in coverage. I mean, I would just be throwing over the middle a lot.

11:11 I think this is the week.

11:12 They're also a really poor tackling team last year. I don't know... I don't think it's been great this year, but it's been better.

11:19 Okay.

11:19 Well.

11:20 They were the worst tackling team in the league last year by far.

11:22 They... Absolutely. Absolutely. It's a lot to chew on.

11:26 There's a lot of matchups, yeah.

11:27 Um.

11:29 I guess the last kicker has been really good. I was just going to say, do you think he has a distinct special teams advantage? That's always hard to tell through two weeks.

11:35 I say, I don't usually go down that road.

11:37 We say that all the time. We're not sitting there and watching the gunners and every single special teams rep and all that stuff.

11:43 But I did go to like a DVO a and the Steelers are low right now. They're like 27 where, uh, since he's right around 15, 16, they're right in the middle. So, uh, their kicker's, good and accomplished and has hit a couple of big ones. McPherson, like he was actually drafted. He kind of has a little bit of pedigree. I mean, I would always put Boz ahead of just about anyone in the league, but thus far through two games, their guys had a better year than Boz.

12:11 And it's to be fair to Boz, right? His misses are like 56, 50 some yards.

12:15 I'm not worried at all about him, but he's missed two kicks in two games.

12:18 He was bionic for so many years and just didn't miss anything, whether it was 60 yards or 26 yards.

12:24 Maybe this would be a game that you need a Ouijan.

12:28 A real field-flipping return or something like that.

12:30 Hey, we used a mid-round pick on you. I don't need you just fair-catching and getting five yards on punts. I need you doing some stuff.

12:36 Yep, and hey, maybe a couple big plays from Jeremy Bernard in this one. Maybe he's an X-factor.

12:43 Special teams, too. We mentioned this earlier in the season, but please, everyone, keep an eye on Spears Jennings. He's been unbelievable on special teams.

12:50 Seven tackles so far. to lead the National Football League by a little bit of a wide margin.

12:54 It helps us cause that the Steelers also have the most punts in the league. But if you have a lot of punts, you don't have a lot of kickoffs.

13:01 That too.

13:01 So I guess it kind of bounces each other out a little bit there.

13:04 I put that on Twitter. I was like, well, because they lead the league in punts. I'm like, yeah, but they don't have many kickoffs because they haven't scored many touchdowns.

13:11 Oh, man.

13:12 It's always a lot to ponder. That whole kind of ecosystem of football. That's why we love it. And we're going to get a third... And very crucial data point to that whole equation on Sunday afternoon. Matt, let's get to a break here in hour number two. There's our matchup segment. Those things that you should be keeping an eye on for on Sunday that will help determine the outcome of Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Let's run the league table when we return. Take a look at all the other games around the NFL and give some thoughts and predictions for how a big week three across the NFL is going to play out this weekend. Hour number two, Euler and Williamson. It's The Drive, Steelers Nation Radio on the

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14:22 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. 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.

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14:56 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

15:00 Steelers Nation Radio. The Drive.

15:25 Penultimate segment of the week here as we roll along. And if you're watching on YouTube, a little bit of a wardrobe change.

15:31 I was going to say, what happened over there?

15:32 Hey, you know, someone's got to host the Hall of Honor, so I had to throw a suit on here.

15:37 I feel underdressed.

15:39 What's that they say about fake it until you make it? You know, it's funny. I was joking with you guys before we came back to this segment. At a college, when I worked for the hockey team that I worked for in Ohio for two years, I had to wear a suit for every game.

15:53 I didn't think about that, but yeah, it makes sense.

15:54 We played a 60-game season, so there were a lot of games.

15:58 Like dry cleaning's an issue.

16:01 Yes, yes.

16:02 And so I used to wear suits often for work and for all that. Now it's only once or twice. It's like a wedding.

16:09 I've got a wedding coming up and I've got to go look. I'm not sure what's going to fit me nowadays. I've lost a few pounds.

16:14 You see me wearing a suit.

16:15 It's like once a year for me.

16:16 It's wedding, it's funeral, or it's the Steelers Hall of Honor. It's the only time I'm wearing a suit, baby. It's the only time I'm wearing a suit. How do you feel about ties? Are you a tie guy? I don't like the ties. I've gone away from them.

16:29 I prefer not. And I'm an embarrassingly bad tie-tier.

16:34 Are you?

16:34 No. Hilarious.

16:36 I used to be good because I used to have to do it three times a week.

16:40 My son goes to Kentucky and pledges authority.

16:43 Very preppy school.

16:44 Very preppy school. That was part of it was while they were pledging, they would shut the lights off and they'd give them like 30 seconds to tie a tie in the dark. So I'm glad he's going to the wedding with me because he'll tie my tie for me and I'll just leave a tie hanging in the closet for years.

16:58 See, 10 years ago, 10 years ago, if you would ask me to do that, I bet you I could have done it.

17:02 Yeah.

17:02 Now, no chance.

17:03 Oh, I'm so rusty too.

17:04 No chance. I haven't put a tie.

17:07 It's pathetic. It's bad. It's real bad. Mike, yeah, you got to treat me like I'm the son here and do my tie for me, Mike.

17:13 I'm going to have to go on YouTube and look again at a video of how to tie a tie. Matt, it is week three in the NFL. It happens quickly, and there are already... It's a pretty good slate. It's a really good slate.

17:24 Yeah, yeah.

17:24 I love the college football slate tomorrow, and I love the NFL slate on Sunday. It's feeling like a fall weekend, baby. And there are some big games here already early on in the calendar. As we've said, it happens very quick, and you only get 17 games. And Matt, a big one of those is, of course, in Orchard Park, New York, at new Highmark Stadium, where the 2-0 Bills, who are flying...

17:48 Host the 0-2 Chargers who are struggling. Buffalo is a seven-point favorite. Full touchdown.

17:55 Didn't see that coming two weeks ago.

17:56 If you would have said to us before the season, hey, week three, Buffalo is going to be a full touchdown favorite of the Chargers, we would have been.

18:02 Like, no chance. You know how you can bet on any game even in June. I wonder if this opened probably two or two and a half or something.

18:08 I was just going to say about two and a half, which is like the home field advantage. Yeah. Is about two and a half points.

18:13 And some of it's a compliment to the Bills because they're just.

18:14 Crushing right now. And they have been rolling, certainly.

18:17 I can't.

18:17 Take the Chargers, though. Tough place to play. Cross-country road trip. So real quick on the Chargers. We talked about their next seven games are the worst things you've ever seen.

18:25 They're like all playoff teams and a lot of them on the road.

18:27 And a ton of them on the road. I mean, the two games they lost to, quote, bad teams were home games. And it's not like they have a great home and field advantage anyway. It's like every game's on the road.

18:36 If there's any team right now that wishes they had some hay in the barn, it's the L.A.

18:39 Chargers.

18:40 I mean, if they're 1-8?

18:41 I would stay away from the spread.

18:44 It is pretty beefy.

18:46 I might, I might take the points with LA, but I, I just, I, I don't see a scenario where they win this game. That's just such a tall task.

18:54 I know everyone's super excited about the bills as am I. I think Josh Allen's the runaway MVP at this point, but I don't think their defense is close to being fixed. No, you know what I mean?

19:03 No, no, that's a good point.

19:04 Yeah.

19:04 If Herbert has a good day and they start putting it together.

19:07 Right, right, right.

19:07 They could, we could be in for a little bit of a shootout here. And it is one of the higher over-under totals of the weekend. So that makes sense. Matt, this is the first Sunday proper game at that new Highmark Stadium.

19:19 I was thinking that, too. It's not the best environment to walk into right now, I have a feeling.

19:22 Cheapest get-in price?

19:23 I saw that, actually.

19:25 $ 252 for a nosebleed ticket.

19:27 For the worst seat in the house. That's by far number one, right? I think so.

19:30 I don't know.

19:32 They kept that stadium small for that reason, they were saying, at least on the air.

19:36 The only other one that's in the stratosphere is Chicago on Monday Night Football against the Eagles.

19:40 Okay.

19:42 So, yeah, that's a tough one for LA.

19:44 I'm going to take Buffalo.

19:45 I'm taking Buffalo to win. I'm probably staying away from that spread because of the number. The Carolina Panthers travel to Cleveland. The Browns at home against Carolina. The Panthers are a two and a half point road favorite.

19:59 I don't think what Cleveland did to Tampa was as fluky as people think. It wasn't because of the goofy rain delay. I think they played well and are turning a corner. And I think their coach is good. But I also think that might be the best game Watson plays ever as a Brown. And it wasn't like he was Burrow. I mean, but it was his best game yet.

20:15 I'm going to take the Panthers here, but not a ton of faith in them to go on the road in a AFC North environment and get a win.

20:23 Matt, you and I, you know, sometimes like, I think for the Steelers, this applies on Sunday. It's a real narrative game. If you win, you're two and one. You struggled out of the gates a little bit, but your head's still firmly above water. and you're just fine, and you're going to continue to get better and improve.

20:40 Trending.

20:40 If you lose, the sky is falling, and it's getting late, early. Right. This is a narrative game for both of these teams. Because if you're the Browns, and you win at home, and you're 2-1, and Todd Bunkin, and Deshaun Watson looks decent.

20:52 Steelers are coming down in a couple weeks, a couple days.

20:55 And then we got a home Thursday game with the hated Steelers.

20:57 And they just lost to Cincy, and we're going to crush them too. You're right.

21:01 If you're the Panthers... You've been really good on offense through the first two weeks of the season.

21:05 This could take the wind out of your sails in a big way.

21:08 It's for both of these teams. If they win it, they're going to be 2-1, and they're going to be feeling good. If they lose it, it's like, okay, what we saw in week one and two, how real was that, and who are we really?

21:18 Yeah, like if Bryce Young is a below-average starter, you're like, eh, that was a cute first two weeks. We forgot all about that.

21:25 If Deshaun Watson looks good this week, it's like.

21:27 Okay, might there be something there?

21:30 He's not going to be an all-pro again, but maybe he'll be a serviceable quarterback.

21:33 And just because Miles Garrett's gone, that doesn't mean the defense in Cleveland's terrible. I mean, I know Schwartz has gone too, but they've been like the best defense in the league over the last three years.

21:42 There's still a lot of components. Maybe the 10th best defense now.

21:45 Yeah, right.

21:45 I mean, they're not as good, but it's not a joke. And we'll get to them, obviously, Monday.

21:49 I think Carolina finds a way to win, but I would, man, I'd like Cleveland.

21:53 I'm just not super confident in Carolina being road favorites yet.

21:57 Exactly.

21:57 You know what I mean? This game was in Charlotte, different conversation.

22:00 Yeah, yeah, yeah. In Detroit, Matt, the Lions host the Jets, another battle of one-on-one teams where the winner will be feeling pretty good about themselves. The Lions, six and a half point favorites at home.

22:12 It's a little too much for me.

22:13 I think so.

22:14 Especially with the head coach going back to Detroit, knowing that team well. You know, probably has some things to attack off with.

22:21 I think Detroit wins, but I'd take the points.

22:22 I do too. Detroit's D's bad, man.

22:24 They've been giving up a million and a half points.

22:27 Jets are competitive. I'll take the points.

22:30 That one, I think, has the potential to be a sneakily fun game.

22:33 Did you say six and a half?

22:34 Six and a half. I'll take the points with the Jets, but I think the Lions win.

22:37 I'd like to really keep an eye on it if it gets to seven.

22:40 Yes.

22:40 Or seven and a half. Yes. Sign me up. Then it's a different conversation. But still, six and a half is a pretty good number. I think they'll run on them. Brees Hall will have a good day.

22:48 Matt, maybe it's still very early, but could this be an AFC South elimination game between Houston?

22:58 0-3 would be really difficult for either.

23:00 One of these teams. Between Houston and Indianapolis, they are both 0-2.

23:04 I don't think you're going to get Nico. I'm still taking Houston.

23:08 For the Texans, too, those two losses both came at home, a lot like the Chargers.

23:11 Yeah.

23:12 Houston's a one-and-a-half point favorite.

23:14 That's it. In Indy, right?

23:15 Yeah, that.

23:16 Is that a little rat poison? That seems too good to be true.

23:19 In favor of Houston, you mean?

23:21 Yeah, I understand they're on the road, but I would have thought that would have been more like three and a half or four and a half, not one and a half.

23:26 I think it screams that Nico's not playing. I mean, they're weapons without him or lackluster, to say the least. Can they stop Jonathan Taylor? I don't think Daniel Jones looks great. Pierce is out for that game. I think Houston wins.

23:39 I think Houston wins.

23:39 Yeah. Again, I don't think they're an 0-3 team.

23:42 Vegas is good at this stuff.

23:43 They are.

23:43 That one I would think would be more like 3.5 or 4.5.

23:45 Yeah, I see where you're coming from.

23:47 But it is on the road, and as you mentioned, Houston is kind of trying to figure it out on offense. I'll still take the Texans to win and start to get right. Miami, the Dolphins at home against the Chiefs. Matt, there's going to be some weather, but it's supposed to be in the 80s. It's not going to be like that decimating, sometimes September heat down there. There's a lot of games in Florida. Just outside of South Beach there are, yeah.

24:10 The Dolphins at home against the Chiefs. Chiefs, 10.5 point road favorites.

24:16 I can't take Miami against anybody right now. I mean, they're really a JV squad, and they'd probably even admit that. But I don't like that that's over 10.

24:24 I don't like that. I don't like that number.

24:25 No, I'm sure they'll run, run, run, run, run, play small ball, get out of there, business trip. I don't know if that's an over 10 point win.

24:32 But they could be up 17 and cruising, and then Malik Willis hits a touchdown pass with two minutes left.

24:37 Scrambles for 30 yards for a touchdown.

24:39 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

24:40 I don't like that 10.5 number.

24:41 I don't love the number.

24:42 I obviously like the Chiefs to win, but I would stay away from that spread.

24:46 Me too.

24:47 The Giants, Matt, life getting a lot more difficult with them. Sands, Jackson, Dart, they are back home to take on the Titans, and they are two-and-a-half point favorites, Big Blue, against Tennessee.

25:00 I'm definitely taking the points. I hated how Winston looked. I mean, he looked like he was not throwing the ball well at all.

25:07 And maybe this is the week for Tennessee where a couple things start to come together.

25:11 Last week was a little better.

25:13 Maybe they take a little bit of a step forward and that's enough to hang around.

25:16 They had a reasonably good defense. But the big thing I keep harping on with the Titans is they have so much giant familiarity. They signed like five giants in the offseason and hired their former coach. Like, I think they're going to know a lot about New York.

25:29 I think so, too. That's a great point.

25:30 Yeah.

25:31 Wandell robinson and on and on you know.

25:33 I think that one's going to be close a real kind of yeah i'll take the points i will take the points too and what could be an ugly it's the lowest this i don't think will surprise you matt but it's the lowest over under of the week does not surprise me in our nation's capital well technically landover maryland because that's where our stadium is the oh and two commanders who are also reeling and dealing with some key injuries they host the two and oh undefeated defending super bowl champion seattle seahawks Matt, remember, Seattle historically has been.

26:00 Great in these East Coast games.

26:03 They are such a historical anomaly.

26:06 It's weird.

26:06 Where they win at a high rate as the West Coast team coming to the East Coast for a 1 o'clock game, where normally it's like a 30-something win percentage for those teams. For Seattle, it's been like close to 80% they win, I think.

26:18 And it wasn't just a Pete Carroll thing. It wasn't just a Russell Wilson thing.

26:21 It's continued. Seven and a half point road favorites are the Seahawks.

26:28 I'm still taking Seattle. As backups go, Mariota's pretty high on my trust list. Yes. But I don't like their O-line without Tunsell against this group at all. Sounds like there's a chance Darnold's.

26:39 Back for this one. I was going to say, that's the kicker for me.

26:41 Yeah. I just think they'll play more aggressively and have a better chance of covering seven and a half if it is Darnold. You know, throwing the ball down the field as opposed to playing small ball.

26:50 Mm-hmm.

26:51 Seattle's just a bad matchup for Washington.

26:53 They are. Seven and a half's a big number.

26:55 It is.

26:56 If Darnold's back, I'd feel comfortable with him. If not, it's like, could Drew Locke come back down to earth a little bit on Sunday and they have to scratch and claw for a four-point win or something.

27:06 I do think that East Coast Seattle thing, though, is real. It's too much sample size.

27:11 It's been like 15 years now.

27:14 Right.

27:15 There's lies. As Craig Wolfley would have said, there's lies, there's dang lies, and then there's just statistics. In Florida, another one of these games in the sunshine state. Slow down, Euler. Say it properly. This is another kind of narrative game early in the season, Matt, where the Jags host the Patriots.

27:33 One of these teams is going to be 2-1 and feel like, all right, we're still in great shape. The other is going to be 1-2 and feel like they're chasing it a little bit. Jacksonville a three-point favorite at home against the Pats.

27:42 This is one of my favorites. I'm jumping all over Jacksonville here. We did a lot of Patriot homework. and then obviously studied that game to no end, I'm still not blown away with them, especially without A.J. Brown. I think May has made some mistakes. And the biggest thing is just I am not going to hold the Jags losing against a desperate Denver team in Denver all that much against them. And they played them super tough. We saw how good Gonzalez is. And maybe he eliminates Parker Washington.

28:13 But they have so many other weapons that it's not like there's one guy to take away. that I think Lawrence can get things done even if his top guy, whoever they choose it to be, isn't catching up on the ball.

28:24 They might have the best wide receiver depth of anybody.

28:26 There's a lot of good ones, yeah.

28:29 I'm with you. I like the Jags.

28:31 Not to mention the cold going hot. I don't know how hot it'll be, but they're not going to love it.

28:35 Mid-80s.

28:36 It's sunny. I think Jacksonville, too. They were very tough to beat at home last year, and I think they can continue that this year.

28:43 I think they're pretty good.

28:45 Pretty good. The Niners, one of the bigger spreads of the weekend, I think actually second largest after that Kansas City. Whoever Miami plays every week is basically going to be.

28:56 Oh, I know. It really is.

28:57 Unless they're playing like the Jets or somebody like that. So Miami, Kansas City is the largest spread. But this is the second biggest. The Niners, eight and a half point favorites at home against division foe Arizona.

29:09 So.

29:10 I was talking on this with my co-host, who's a Niners guy, that Nick Bosa is out for this game and for a little while.

29:16 And for a couple weeks, right?

29:16 Yeah.

29:17 And I kind of brought it back home that it's only two games, but I threw it out on Twitter that I think Dexter Lawrence has been the best defensive player in the league. Like if I was giving... Oh my gosh, Matt Williamson always loved it.

29:28 It used to be Miles Garrett. Now it's Dexter Lawrence.

29:31 Can't like anyone in the division. I'm sure I'll hear about Mims as well.

29:34 People were coming at you for that in the comments. Someone said I was looking chunky in the comments. I mean, that's why I had to put on a suit today and look good. Come on, man. I'm still under 160, all right? Don't tell me I'm getting fat.

29:48 But I do think Watt would be my runner-up. I think Watt is really competing with Lawrence. I think Bosa's next. He's been unbelievable. He just doesn't have the stats like Watt does. He hasn't scored a touchdown in four sacks, but he's been an unbelievable force for them. Super important. That's enough for me to take the points. Division foe.

30:05 It's a big number.

30:06 It's a big number.

30:07 The Niners and Shanahan have a pretty good track record of covering those big numbers. I'm with you.

30:13 It took me a long time to believe in Purdy, but I believe in Purdy. He basically pitched a perfect game last week.

30:19 I'd like this a lot more if it was seven or seven and a half instead of eight and a half. But I think I'll still lay the points with the Niners. They've proven that they're.

30:26 Niners' run D isn't great. And I would think you could start leaning on love a little bit.

30:31 All you need is love.

30:33 All you need is love.

30:34 Another one of these teams that is reeling in desperate for a victory this weekend, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You're right. All the Florida teams are home this week. In Tampa, 85 degrees, Raymond James Stadium, the 2-0 Vikings against the 0-2 Bucs. Minnesota, a slight road favorite, one and a half points.

30:52 I love the Vikes in this one.

30:53 Do you?

30:54 I'm not big on North going South this early still, even into week three. Kyler comes back. I think that's for better, not worse, but who knows? I just hate how Baker Mayfield's playing right now. I forget what podcast. I think it was the one on The Athletic, Robert Mays does. You know how cats get the zoomies? That's how Baker Mayfield's playing quarterback. And I stole that from them.

31:18 My daughters get the zoomies, too.

31:19 I bet they do. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

31:21 But you're right. Cats definitely do.

31:22 Yeah. And he just is so frenetic right now. And I think against Flores, that's the worst thing you could be. You need to be cool, calm, hold your water, find the crazy 80% blitz where it's coming from. I think it's a terrible matchup for them. I'm kind of out on the box right now.

31:40 Yeah.

31:40 They don't have a lot going for them.

31:42 No.

31:43 I think you've convinced me. I was feeling like Tampa at home. This is the spot where Baker usually bounces back. But I think Flores might have him in hell.

31:50 Yeah.

31:53 It's only one and a half. All right, I'll lay the points.

31:54 Who's favored, though?

31:55 Minnesota. Yeah, okay, I thought. I'll lay the points and ride Minnesota with you there. Matt down in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. How many more soccer chants can I pull out of the ether? the Cowboys and the Ravens down in Rio, Baltimore. This one, there's not really a home team, right? It's kind of one of those neutral site games, Baltimore three and a half point favorite. So a lot of points for Dallas. I'll tell you that for sure.

32:24 I am too. I'm torn, but I guess the field conditions are a major talking point right now that.

32:32 Which is interesting because I mean, it's a soccer stadium where they always have the real grass and the, but, I don't know.

32:39 Maybe it's just not built for big people.

32:41 Rain season as well. That too. Good call. So the type of grass they use and all that is different.

32:46 I was just thinking, I'm like, so if the, if the field conditions are compromised, who does that help? I'm like, probably Derek Henry.

32:53 Probably the team with the stronger run back and run game.

32:56 Yeah.

32:56 And my co-host Brian Peacock made something, made something that cracked me up too. He's like, and Lamar. I look at Lamar and the bad surface is like, One of those bugs that can float on the water and not sink. Why doesn't he sink? Between either him or Henry, he's going to be fine on the turf. I just think Dallas keeps it close.

33:16 I do too.

33:16 Yeah, I mean, no Jay Flowers. They might run all over Dallas. I expect them to. I'll take three and a half with Dak.

33:23 I was going to say, I don't have a strong feeling which way this game goes, but if you're going to give me, as long as that Cowboys offense is healthy and you're giving me three and a half points, I'll take that pretty much every week.

33:33 I would think there's more Cowboys fans than Baltimore. I don't know.

33:37 That's a good question.

33:37 Closer? I don't know. Dallas probably travels well.

33:41 Someone who knows the fan demographics of Brazil.

33:44 Yeah, I have no clue.

33:47 I mean, there's more Cowboys fans scattered everywhere than there are Ravens fans.

33:50 That's my point. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's kind of a stealer effect. You're right.

33:54 It's not that either flight is easy, but it's a little bit easier from Texas, I would imagine.

33:58 I think it's like a 12-hour flight from Baltimore.

33:59 Oh, I don't think it's that.

34:01 It's going to be quite the road trip.

34:02 I have a buddy who is a big skier, and him and his brother last year flew to Chile to ski, which is right there with Argentina and Brazil.

34:11 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

34:12 And he was like, the flight was brutal.

34:15 It's brutal.

34:16 And I actually think he flew Pittsburgh to Dallas to wherever it would have been in Chile that they flew to. But yeah, so he talked about how rough that flight was. It's not as close as you think with just North America and South America.

34:30 So quick AFC North nugget here. I think this will be Matabike's inaugural game back. He has not played the first two weeks.

34:40 Oh, that's right.

34:41 Yeah, yeah, yeah.

34:42 I totally forgot about that.

34:42 I don't know how much he'll get out of them, but I think they're starting to get his feet wet.

34:48 In New Orleans, the 1-1 Saints in the 2-0 Raiders, Matt. Tell you what, if the Raiders win this one.

34:57 I know. That's a real statement game if they win this one.

35:00 That's a real statement game if they win this one on the road in the Superdome. New Orleans a three-point favorite at home. This one.

35:08 is properly lined i almost on the podcast we picked it earlier i'm like i might just pick a a tie that the saints win by three and i would look at this one for the next 48 hours or whatever and if it gets to two and a half i'm taking the saints because the three and a half i'm taking the raiders i think it's a perfect perfect line and i trust that both teams are legit i have to pick it at three i'm taking the home team i just think it's a tough place to play.

35:35 It is a tough place to play. They've got a kind of rejuvenated energy. The Saints might be a legit team for the first time in a while. I don't think. I will lay the points with New Orleans at three, but I'm with you. I'd like it a lot more if it was two and a half.

35:49 It could be some lathered up Saints fan in a dome. It could be loud.

35:52 Oh, yeah, baby.

35:54 And then Sunday night in prime time, a very intriguing matchup. And two teams that if they win, they're going to feel great. And if they lose, they're going to look in the mirror and go, how the heck are we one and two? The Broncos host the Rams.

36:07 Yeah. I bet a lot of people picked this as a Super Bowl matchup.

36:10 That was certainly a popular one. Mile high field.

36:15 I'm taking Denver.

36:15 Two and a half points. The Rams are favored.

36:17 I know. I think Denver wins outright.

36:20 Yeah.

36:20 I don't feel great about it, but if you're giving me two and a half as a Denver at home early in the season, I'm doing it. My rule is the first two weeks, I always take Denver, no matter what the spread is. You've laid that out. But the third week's... In the same ballpark. The Rams were in Australia and home, and now they're in Denver. That's been a little bit of wear and tear. No Myles Garrett.

36:40 I don't expect Puka to play. And we saw Adams go insane, but I think he'll get Sertain every snap if he's the only show in town. I think that pass rushing at the Stafford. I do think the Rams are really good. I just think this is asking a lot. Man.

36:58 I was all gung-ho to pick the Rams.

36:59 Are you?

37:00 But your point of Puka likely not going to play.

37:03 I don't think he's going to play. I'm sure he's a game-time decision, but it hasn't been great news yet.

37:07 That's a tough one. That's a real tough one.

37:10 I think McDuffie will do a lot against Waddle. I could see us being kind of lower scoring. Lower scoring.

37:14 Yeah.

37:15 I think I'm going to stick with L.A.

37:16 Okay.

37:17 I just haven't loved the vibes around the Broncos to start the season. Although, granted, they haven't been great around the Rams either.

37:22 No.

37:23 But these are two teams that could absolutely see each other again in February in the big dance.

37:28 Donald might show up a little more after game one.

37:31 That's a real interesting wrinkle, too, to kind of keep an eye on. So there's our Sunday pick-em. Of course, we'll preview Monday Night Football when we're back here on Monday. Matt, final segment on the other side. We'll give our Steelers predictions. We'll also go through the injury report for both teams with all the latest information. Euler and Williamson, one more segment to go. All Steelers, all Bengals on the other side.

37:53 It is the Drive Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.

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38:30 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. 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.

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38:58 Get that hot dog costume ready.

39:00 Bruh.

39:04 You're tuned to The Drive on your 24-7 home of the black and gold.

39:08 Steelers Nation Radio.

39:09 Oh, great googly moogly. Was that a beautiful moment?

39:31 We're looking for a beautiful moment Sunday, one o'clock at Accresure Stadium as the Steelers host the Bengals. First division game of the year, Hall of Honor weekend. And of course, a massive early season matchup. Matt, I said it at the start of the show, and I'm going to repeat it again now for those who might have missed it.

39:49 This is about as big of a game as you can get for the Steelers here in week three.

39:53 As week three games go, yes.

39:54 If you win, you're two and one. And yeah, it was a little bit of a, you know, as Mike McCarthy said, September football is a little bumpy. But you're still head above water and you're doing just fine.

40:03 Yeah.

40:04 If you lose, it's like, oh man, that's two AFC losses. It's just the beginning of a slide.

40:08 And now we have to go on the road to Cleveland.

40:09 Right.

40:10 You start telling yourself you beat Cooper Rush and that's it.

40:14 And just because if you win on Sunday, that doesn't mean everything's all gravy moving forward. If you lose on Sunday, that doesn't mean your season is sunk.

40:20 Of course.

40:21 But it's a big one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, for Mike McCarthy, for Aaron Rodgers, for that defense.

40:27 It can get late early.

40:28 And for everyone involved, I do not want it to get late early. I already know pretty soon here. When Matt and I leave this studio every day, it's going to be dark outside.

40:37 I know.

40:37 That's always a depressing feeling. We were in this studio with no windows. You walk out, it's like, dark already? Yep.

40:43 Yeah.

40:43 It's why that seasonal depression thing is real around these parts. It's why every time when we're out in Arizona or somewhere like that, I'm like, man, why don't I live here? Am I an idiot or what?

40:53 My buddies that come back home are like, I wonder if everyone's sick here. No one's ever sick at where we live in San Diego or wherever.

40:59 Yep.

41:00 I would never change it for the world.

41:02 No, I wouldn't either. I love it here. I love my hometown, but I do wish sometimes we had a little bit of better weather and geography and all that good stuff.

41:09 Who went first last week?

41:10 I believe you did.

41:14 I think I went first week one.

41:17 Okay, so then I went first last week.

41:20 Want me to do it?

41:20 Yes, but before you do, injury report.

41:22 Oh, yeah, please.

41:22 Final Friday injury report.

41:23 I want to hear this first. Maybe I'll change my tune.

41:25 For Cincinnati, pretty thin. We already knew Yoshavosh has been ruled out. BJ Hill, the defensive tackle who we've seen a lot of in the past but is now kind of a six-man off the bench. He is listed as doubtful. He has not practiced all week.

41:39 Okay.

41:40 That's it for Cincinnati.

41:43 That's not nothing.

41:43 Dexter Lawrence was listed today, but rest related.

41:46 He's playing.

41:47 Yeah, he's playing. So, Yoshavash out, BJ Hill doubtful. Here it is for the Steelers.

41:55 A little lengthier.

41:56 A little lengthier. Ruled out, Rico Dowdle and Jennings Dunker.

42:00 Okay.

42:02 One of those. I don't think Dunker would have been activated. I don't think you were going to be looking for him, but Rico Dowdle has been ruled out.

42:08 Okay.

42:09 And then Matt, Michael Pittman Jr., Jalen Warren- Jamel Dean and Joey Porter Jr. All listed as questionable.

42:17 Okay. From what I remember, Dean returned to practice. Now, we never know exactly how much they did under the new regime. I mean, those things are closed. Warren scares me. That doesn't seem like it's going to go away.

42:29 Warren being questionable. I don't love that.

42:31 I don't love that. Porter's its own creation. Was Ramsey the other one?

42:37 Ramsey is not. So he was a full participant the last two days. So earlier in the week.

42:42 Oh, Pittman was the fourth question.

42:43 Pittman was the real question one. He's been limited all week and he's questionable for Sunday.

42:47 They could use them.

42:48 So.

42:49 Okay.

42:49 Jalen Warren and Pittman, both questionable. Joey Jr. and Dean, both questionable. Don't, don't love that.

42:55 Don't love that. Maybe get two of the four, something like that. All right. I guess I'm up.

43:00 Hopefully three of the four.

43:01 Yeah. Um, I don't love this one. I'm going to take the Bengals. I think there's three really strong units of the four with the Steelers offense being the exception. I think they're really working through some things. I do expect O-line changes, and I'm excited about that. But that rarely goes well right off the bat. I mean, that's a long-term investment to more so than short-term gains type of situation. If they're down Pittman or Warren, that's one less playmaker than they can afford at the moment. Defense is playing really well. I still think the offense is trying to find itself. I think points are going to be tough to come by. I hope they run the ball more. I expect them to run the ball more.

43:52 I think they'll throw to the middle of the field, get tight ends a little bit more involved. I do think I did some more research on DJ Turner. He does follow, and I think he'll be with Metcalf every snap. which it's not as bad as Gonzalez, but it's not great. Other side of the ball, I think, will be very competitive.

44:10 I just fear Steeler defense will be on the field too long, and the dam will start to break.

44:15 Since he hits a couple explosives, and that's the difference.

44:17 Yeah, I mean, I'm sure that Steelers are fully aware of it, and I don't think their fourth quarter defense is going to be bad like it was. But if they're having a hard time getting first downs against Lawrence and company, and they only have 25 minutes of time of possession or 27 minutes, and all of a sudden it's like these guys have been out there too long on defense. Burrows, they're too dangerous to keep them down that long. So I do think they'll keep them. I got 24-10. Oh.

44:45 Oh.

44:48 Matt, I.

44:49 Since he's playing very well.

44:51 They are.

44:51 Yeah, and I don't think we've seen the best of Burrow. I'm not sure it'll happen on Sunday, but I still think that he's got more meat on the bone.

44:59 I spent the whole day today basically convincing myself the Steelers were going to win this game. And I know it's a different head coach and a different era and all that, but this just at home feels like the game the Pittsburgh Steelers have won my entire life, even back in the Bill Cowher days, even before Mike Tomlin.

45:17 Circle the wagons, make it ugly, lean on your defense, get it done. That injury report that we just read really scares me.

45:24 I don't love it.

45:25 I mean.

45:27 If you're asking me the two guys on the defense that I would want a complete clean bill of health in this game, I might say Dean and Joey Jr. And they're both questionable.

45:34 Joey would be one of the two. Probably pick an edge rusher.

45:37 Maybe, but at least you got a lot of options there. And even if Joey Jr. plays, it's going to be his first action of the year.

45:45 So if both don't play, would it be Samuel and Everett? Yes. I assume they won't have Echols outside.

45:53 I wouldn't think so.

45:54 I wouldn't think so.

45:56 Maybe a couple times situationally.

45:58 Yeah. I mean, he hasn't seen the field a lot this year. And the couple snaps Deans missed, Everett has been the replacement. Yes, yes. So I assume that's what they'd be. Don't love that against that pair of receivers.

46:11 The whole day today I've been like, I'm picking the Steelers. I'm picking the Steelers. I'm picking the Steelers. I picked the Patriots last week. I can on the Steelers audio network pick us to lose two weeks in a row. 21-20 Cincinnati.

46:22 Yeah.

46:25 I mean, it's not a very Cincinnati-like move to come to Pittsburgh as a favorite. My co-host asked today, how often does Cincy go to Pittsburgh as a favorite?

46:32 Probably a couple times in the 21st century.

46:34 Not much during the Tomlin era, the last 10 years or so. I bet it's very rare. But they deserve to be. They do. They certainly do.

46:42 And again, if that injury report was a little more encouraging for the Steelers, you could be down both of your running backs. You could be down Pittman. You could have some real.

46:50 You're hurting for playmakers as it is.

46:52 And then your defense, which has been so stout, if you've got some guys out in the secondary, this is the last team you want to face.

46:58 Outside corners is not what I want to be short on.

47:02 I don't like it.

47:03 And even if Porter plays, I don't think he's going to be.

47:06 A full-time player.

47:07 No, no.

47:07 You have to be reasonable about that.

47:10 And he might not play well. He hasn't played football in a long time.

47:12 I've got to pick Cincinnati. As they say in Cool Hand Luke, I don't lack it any more than you, man. 21-20. Hide my head in shame walking out of here. Going to be a lot of fun tonight as our guy Craig Wolfley and Kevin Colbert and J.J. Thomas go into the Hall of Honor. If you're going to the game on Sunday, I get it. I know what halftime is.

47:34 It's time to get another beverage and use the bathroom and all that stuff. But maybe stay in your seat and make some noise for the Wolfley family that will be out there representing Craig.

47:43 And Tom and I will be at Stage A.E. you know, from nine to 11. So stop by if you want.

47:49 Heck yeah. The whole cast of characters down there at stage AE getting you ready for game day, but that will do it for us today. Thanks to Missy Matthews for joining us in our number one and a huge shout out as always to Mr. TV, Tyler V for producing on the video side of the equation for Matt Williamson.

48:05 I'm Wes Shuler. Take care, everybody. Have a great weekend and win, lose, or draw. We'll be back on Monday to break it down with you. As always, you know where to find us. It's on your 24-7 home of the black and gold. Steelers Nation Radio on the Steelers Audio Network.