Drive9.18.26Hr2: 5 Star Friday - Week Two

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1:22Good evening, Steeler Nation. How are we doing? Well, that's good. It's our number two, the last hour of the drive before all eyes turn to Foxboro on Sunday. Waschuler Matt Williamson, time for a little five star Friday here to get you ready. It's our matchup segment. Can I just say Matt? Yeah. Has there ever been a more intimidating dude with a less intimidating voice than Troy Polymoll? Troy Polymoll, right? It always cracks me up. Like that's the most one of the most intimidating, especially if you go pound for pound, guys and football history. Yeah. That's a good one. Five star matchup because we're in. I mean, just think if you didn't know who he was or you're an opposing team and you're watching him in his prime and you're like, oh, man, is that a good football player we're playing against? But my favorite team, I'm a casual fan of the cowboys or raiders or bears or whatever. Fools or whatever. Steeler's come to town like holy smokes. I wish that guy was on our team. And then you're watching it and, you know, sideline reporter put some like in his face. Like, that's the same guy. That's the same guy. Right. He's like, he's like, sign it himself and, yeah, praying after every snap and very soft

2:27spoken and it's fantastic. I miss that dude, man. I think he was like your all-time favorite, right? He's, yeah, he's my all-time favorite. Yeah. Yeah. I totally get that. Joey Porter, Joey Porter senior would be in the conversation. There'd be a couple other guys in the conversation, but it's, it's Troy Polymoll. I mean, just in terms of like, safeties I've ever watched. He might be the most fun. Maybe he's not the best safety I've ever watched a planet, but he has a, he has a case. And I think I told you this when we were doing some of our, you know, search for content in the off season in the summer. If I'm building my all-time NFL starting 11s on each side of the ball, the first thing I'm doing, Troy Polymoll, Ed Read. Do you imagine him playing together? Because they're so different. No. It's so perfect for each other. Now, the second thing I might do is go raw and deon on, on, on, on the corners, but they had the same kind of thing going on. The first, the first, and they're just juxtaposition of styles too with all those guys. But if I'm, if I'm jotting down a starting 11 all time on either side of the football, the first thing I'm doing, Troy Polymoll, Ed Read, it's safety. All right. That's done.

3:28Now let's think about that. I'm playing against those two. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, he's fucking. I'll get havoc. He can certainly, you know, the heat causes and turns into ed read picks in deep middle field. You know, forget about it. Forget about it. Matt hoping for some of that same havoc from the Steelers defense on Sunday against Drake May and the Patriots. Yeah. So let's start there. Okay. Let's start with the Steelers defense against the Patriots offense. No, AJ Brown and you and I are kind of starting to lean with Joey Port of junior, not going to be available for the Steelers either. I haven't seen the latest practice report, but it doesn't. I mean, since we got together last, I don't feel any more confident that he's going to be on the field. So maybe we start talking about the Steelers edge rushers against some of the suspect nature of that Patriots offensive line. I think that's a, we, I don't think we've talked about that enough. Morgan Moses has had a very good career. Yeah. He's a solid pro. He's a hall of really good. Yeah. I mean, he's, you're happy with him. But the reason they drafted low move in the first round is because he's not on his last

4:32legs, but he's not going to a long term solution. He's not Trent Williams or Lane Johnson or any of those type of dudes either that have had unbelievable careers and still are always going to be good. So he's okay. He's going as what? You know, like that's a tough, tough matchup for anybody and what clearly has an advantage. I'm a bash and a dude, but I never would have taken Will Campbell that early in the draft. I didn't love him as a prospect. You would have taken Mim's, right? Mim just way better to me. Yeah. He's been in it's time close. Really good. Yeah. And I do think Campbell could be a good guard, partially because of the arm length thing and blah, blah, blah. But he didn't play well down the stretch. He's in a tough time with Heismith and I think Campbell can lose with power. Heismith can go through people or around them and he mixed in her big. Their tackles are okay, but you wouldn't use the first round pick on a tackle if you loved your tackles. You know what I mean? No, absolutely. Yeah.

5:33Absolutely. And I think the series have a nice advantage there. A conversation I have with my pursuit on the Thursday show we do and I didn't fight with them necessarily, but he was real. One of his big keys is limit Drake May's legs almost to like a lemon and it's a good one. Almost to a Lamar like level and I didn't fight him on it. I'm not disagreeing with him, but he thought the Steelers should kind of mush rush, keep him in the pocket. I don't know that I want to do that. I still think you've such an advantage there. Okay, maybe he breaks free a couple times and hurts you and maybe I'm just flat out wrong. But I just want those edge guys screaming. I don't want them slow playing it, you know, or some, maybe it's depending on down and distant or you believe or you know, all those type of things too, you know, that is an interesting call from pursuit because Drake May, he's maybe more, he's maybe the most underrated. Everyone talks about how Josh Allen can kill you with his legs and his arm. Everyone talks about how Lamar Jackson can deal with his legs and his arm.

6:35Drake May doesn't really get brought up in that same conversation. And maybe he's not quite to the extent as those two absolute unicorns. Right. But he can absolutely hurt you with his arm and his leg in a big way. But I would, I'm with you. I would be more interested in getting after him early. I want to hit him and rattle him. I want to rattle him. I want him thinking about it every time that he drops back. And I think the Steelers have a great opportunity to do that against this questionable offensive line. It doesn't mean it would neutralize the advantage we just talked about. If you did kind of mush rush them, et cetera. But I really want to maximize that when I want to come screaming. And again, if he gets free, okay, you know, I mean, we might have to have some spy situations. Spy situations don't work as well as people think, by the way, you know, they typically don't. Yeah, sometimes that sometimes we've seen it have success. But at this level, teams will find a way to work past it. And it's hard for that linebacker, whoever to the spy is to have an angle. It's not like you just mirror them, you know, speaking of linebackers, Matt, what are we looking at for Patrick Queen and Peyton Wilson, both in terms of limiting that from Drake

7:35May and making sure that that two headed monster that they have in the backfield doesn't get going. Yeah. And I think that's legit. I mean, I wasn't blown away by Travian Henderson's rookie year. But if he gets to the second level, he's very dangerous. He can hit some home runs. He's very much a home run hater. And tackling needs to be better. That's probably true for 32 teams. But you miss a tackle on him. I think Stevenson is the better player. You miss a tackle on Stevenson. It might cost you five to 10 yards. You miss a tackle on Henderson. It could cost you a touchdown. So I think that falls on those guys. Hunter Henry doesn't scare me, but I was just good player. He had eight receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns last time. It was just about a year ago, 51 weeks ago, whenever they played and Eli Raird and caught a touchdown in week one for them too. So your linebackers are also going to have to be very conscious of their tight ends. That to me is no AJ Brown, some questions with the other one receivers. Where would you go with the ball if you were the Patriots?

8:37I would think you could look to Henry at least. You run your run game and Hunter Henry, who made the screen game a little bit. Eight receptions, 90 yards and two touchdowns last year. And he had himself a day. Let's not let him have a day again. Yeah, he's a good player. I mean, he's not couching his prime or anything. You know, if you give him the space, he'll make you pay for it without doubt. So that I think is kind of the need to know. Four, one, one on Steelers defense against Patriots offense. Unless I'm missing anything, Matt, you want to spend the block? They're wide outs. Don't worry me a ton. So I wonder how much help do you have to give your corners? You know what I mean? Does that allow you to do more spying? More blitzing if needed. You know, we'll see. But again, it'd be be more comfortable if Porter was in the mix. Yes, it would without question. Yes, it would. So let's go to the other side of the football here. There's two that are really standing out to me, Matt. I think the first one is obvious. The second one might be as well. But we got to talk about, especially if Michael Pittman, Jr. doesn't end up playing on Sunday.

9:38I wonder how that works. Then I would think DK Meckalf is going to see a lot of Christian Gonzales. Almost exclusively. Almost exclusively. Yeah. And this staff has moved DK around more, but he's still not going to do a lot out of the slot. Gonzales had a lot of snaps against Smith and the Jigba. And it wasn't like just because they lined. They happened to line up on the same side. Gonzales start was on the Gonzales will play right or left. I don't think he'll align in the slot. That doesn't mean if there's a man coverage call and the wide receiver moves to the slot that he won't still be responsible for him. But there when he shadows, it's not going to be man on man defense and basketball. But I think Gonzales will definitely be skiing even with Pittman, but especially without him, we'll be skiing to be on DK more often than not. More often than not without question. And that's a tough match up. It's a tough match up. And this is because his length also is can hang with DK's size, you know what I mean?

10:39And if you and I were to go through the schedule and say, what games would you guarantee clean bill of health for DK Meckalf and Michael Pittman, Jr. This one might be at the top of the list. Yeah, because it's like Christian Gonzales can take one of them away, but then you got the other one. And there we even talked about, you know, we haven't seen today's practice report, but their second corner is on it, Davis. And he's a pretty quality number two. I would say he's kind of the level of like a dean. Okay. You know, so if Porter's on one side, Dean, you're really happy with the two. They're set up sort of similar. Jones, their slot is different though. He's a smaller type slot. I also wonder if Pittman doesn't play. I don't know if they view Roman Wilson as an every down dude or is he really just a slot all the time guy to do with Jeremy Bernard. Yeah. Would scoronic get out there some just because he has the, I mean, I'm sure you play a lot of double tight and sets, but still you need a number two receiver. I'm curious how that snap count would go. I hope that we don't have to cross that.

11:40I know I don't love how it fits. I'm playing, but I'm with you. I wouldn't love because Bernard's a lot more like Pittman than Wilson is. Yes. If you could say Jeremy go do the Pittman stuff, go do the Pittman stuff and Roman, you keep doing what you've been doing and which was 30 some snaps in itself. You know, but that would be, I mean, that'd be a big jump up for Bernard after his week, one usage to week two. That's three snaps to every set. Three snaps. Yeah. 30, 40 some that would that, that's certainly a big storyline to keep an eye on for Sunday. I would like to see it out of the rookie though. Like, remember, we had this conversation. I mean, there's 10 rookies that they kept that they drafted. Plus another defensive line and really didn't ask anything out of your rookie class. Yeah. Again, that's, to me, I'm excited about that part. I mean, if you can add the rookies to what you didn't week one, great. Matt, the other matchup that I'm really looking at from a Steelers offensive perspective is the interior of that offensive line against guys like Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. That's a really good defensive tackle pairing, particularly, you know, my guy's

12:41Zach Frazier and the two guys on his side, Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson. I think there were some, I think there was some a gap miscommunication between those guys and what's fair, which can happen? Yeah, yeah. You've got one side of the offensive line that's completely switching from right to left. You've got the other side that is new. I think week one, it was, it was fair to expect, you know, some bumps in the road, but week two, you better be buttoned up in that regards better beyond your assignments because these two will make you pay. Yeah, well. So to me, this is less about the Steelers and certainly less about Frazier than it is more about the Patriots. Like if you're doing Patriot, if you were doing the, the tie law, instead of Troy Paul, I'm all the keys to the game every week, it might be like, can they block our defensive tackles? You know, and I think the Steelers are as equipped as any because I think they have a great center. I trust McCormick. I think he's a good player. Right guards, not as strong, obviously, but those two present problems every week. Yes, they do. Yeah. And I tell you what, if you are, you know, if you're Zach Frazier and you really want to take

13:45that step forward this year and everyone in the league starts to sing your praises and pick up on how good you are, this is a good week to start, get to start right in that narrative. It is. And he's written right in it since he stepped on the field with the steel. No doubt, no doubt. Any others, Matt, that stand out for you for the Steelers offense against the Patriots defense? Two, I don't love their edge guys, but the right side line, particularly right tackle has not been a strength. If Cook struggles, could he get pulled against not great edge dudes? I would hope that overall the edge guys don't present major problems for you in the passing game because they're fine. They're just not great. And then one thing we talked about earlier in the week that I've been thinking about more and more, if Pittman plays or if we just talked about Bernard, your Pittman now, do they make the Roman Wilson and Washington couldn't be any more different?

14:47Obviously, they walked in the room. You wouldn't think they play the same sport. You know, but that's the obvious substitute in or out. Let's say Pittman's out there every snap, Metcalf's out there every snap. And some snaps, you pull out Roman Wilson and you put in Washington for a team that loves to stay in nickel and nickel can mean three safeties, three corners. You know, it doesn't you can do they sub when you sub. I guess I defense a back. Yeah, it's right. Defensive backs. It could be 170 pound Jones or it could be a 220 pound safety. It's you're still in nickel. But do they sub when you sub, Washington goes out, Wilson comes in or vice versa. You would think most teams would sub for that. I mean, there's again, as you mentioned, you can it might be a hundred pounds difference. It'd be tough to come up with a two two. Right. We'll just see that. They are so so drastically different in their body types and the way they play. And then Roman Wilson and Darnell watching. I mean, if when he goes out and Curry comes in, I probably shouldn't stay in my

15:47saying five. I mean, if you, uh, you know, if you're swap it, yeah, that's a good one. That's a good one. Yeah. If you can, that's a wonderful advantage. But yeah, that's kind of what happens. That's every defensive coordinators dream, right? To be able to just stay static and it doesn't matter if you bring in a 300 pound tight end or a hundred pound. Why do he let you do that kind of stuff? Right. But there's not many of those guys walking around. No, no, no, football league. Matt, finally, uh, do you see and quite often in games like this that we anticipate are going to be close and tight margined and, you know, minimize errors and all that. Do you see either side having a distinct special teams advantage? I don't know. I haven't given it any thought. Traditionally, but this is Tom Lennon Belicech. Sure. There are always two of the better special teams teams out there side note. I was listening. Mike's, we've referenced Mike Sandole a lot. I consider him a friend. We see him at the owner's meetings and combine, et cetera.

16:50I guess Mike did a camp tour is a lot of those dudes often do. And he has this huge document that he's been working on. I remember that. Yeah. About special teams and why teams are better at special teams and others. And I really need to dig into that. I can't, I don't know if he published that on the athletic at some point or will he? Because I heard him on a podcast, the athletics podcast just two days ago. And he went into detail about a lot of things we talk about. Some teams will went on final roster cuts. They'll go to the special teams coach and say who your three favorites. You can have them. Some teams are like, this is who we're taking. You'll get the scraps. Yeah. Or we're never using any draft picks on those guys or a big thing Mike did too. Is he looked on game day? Who's active and who isn't? Let alone who makes the roster. It's a big part of it too. How much do you invest in your kicker and long snapper? How much do you pay your special teams coach? You know, things like like that.

17:51And traditionally the Steelers and Patriots over the last two, three decades of being two decades of being very good football teams. We're on the high end of special teams investment. I think they still are. I think it's kind of an organizational thing and Vabel has ties to both teams actually. Of course. So I don't know. But I'll take boss over their kicker. I think I know that much. Well, continue. I think we're just going to be good. Yeah. You know, but I don't know who their guys are. Matt, in your report for your Pittsburgh Steelers. Outside note. How I cheat whenever you ask that question 10 weeks from now is I go to football outsiders or FTN and where they ranked in TV away. Okay. You know what I mean? I'm not going to watch. Just being smart. Yeah, or I go to PFF. I mean, after there's more data one week, I'm not going to be like, oh, they stink. Oh, special teams with their greatest special. Yeah, especially from a Steelers standpoint. With new coaches. Yeah. Lot of new. Other than boss is a lot of new faces. Yeah. Matt, here we go. Joey Porter, Jr. ruled out for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

18:53He is not going to play Michael Pittman, Jr. for the second straight day did not practice. Okay. He's listed as questionable. I'm not putting this out in the stratosphere, but I'm going to be honest. When I watched that game last night, if the lot, if there is a trade possibility for Porter, the lines. Could you say the lines were interested as rumors have said. Maybe the price went up after watching them play defense. You know what I mean? Maybe it did. Yeah. You and I like to say in all facets yesterday's price is not today's price. No, they could sure you a lot of teams could use them. They would have some wide receivers. I'd be interested in getting back and return to. There wouldn't be a bad team deal with another conversation for another day. I don't know if he's even any chance of getting moved. I'm not trying to throw that out there. I'm just saying from the Lions, I would be more interested now than I was two days ago. Joey Porter, Jr. will not play Sunday against the Patriots. It's a bomber. Michael Pittman, Jr. missed the last two practices. He's listed as questionable officially. Better news here. Troy Faltanu, after being limited earlier in the week, he was a full participant today.

19:55He still listed as questionable, but good news that he was a full participant today. I would say I don't feel great about Pittman. I feel and better about Faltanu me to wait and see for Sunday. I'm really happy about that news. Am I a terrible person for thinking a sti-niest portion of me wouldn't amount. I'm reminded Faltanu missing this game against not such great edge ruckus. So you could get Max in there. So I could get Max in there. And then maybe he'd never leave again. Matt listen folks, Matt's got an agenda. He hasn't he hasn't been hiding at all. His agenda is to get big mad Max. The Honiturer on the field as soon as possible. I'm feeling if he went out there and played every snap, he may never leave the field again in his deal of career. I don't know what you're saying, but I don't want to do it at the expense of Faltanu. I got pretty high hopes for him too. Tiny little part of my lizard brain wanted that to happen. That weird world of Matt Williams, but your 10 foil hat on when we return. When we return, it's time to go around the league with our weekly NFL picks. We will go through all the other games across this NFL weekend and tell you how we

20:58think they're going to play out. And then of course at the end of the hour, our Steelers Patriots prediction. A lot more to get to before we get up out of here on this Friday, you'll learn Williams and 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. What if we just got out of here and grab some Bud Lights? The 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. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly, copyright 2026 and has a Bush Bud Light beer St. Louis Missouri. 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% at 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 pigs.

21:59I 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 1-3-3 Verizon to switch today. Get that hotdog costume ready. Vra. Week 2 on the horizon. It is time to run through the gauntlet here of these games and tell you how we think they're going to play out. Matt, let's start in the NFC South Atlanta. My second favorite stadium in the National Football League. Mercedes Benz, where the Falcons host the Panthers.

23:00No panics. I was kind of hoping for their sake. They could get their hands on panics for the year and see where he's at. But I guess he's getting close. Do we do this with spreads? Yes. Yes. Yes. Matt, I'm shocked actually. Carolina, two and a half point favorites. That's the last I saw it too. I'm like the absence of, you know, return of Cooper Rush would make that a little bit greater. Yeah. That, to me, seems a little, I'm taking Carolina all day long. I'm sure some people are like Carolina just let up 59 points or whatever it was. I'm like, okay, but I don't think Cooper Rush is going to do that. Defense in football. Yeah. That's getting it. They're not playing in Kansas Caleb Williams this week. I'm sure Ben Johnson ate on that opposite side line. Right. No, I like Carolina and that one by more than a field goal with you too. And I don't know if this just hasn't quite updated because the, but I would think, I mean, you know, I'm like, you know, I'm like, you know, I'm like, you know, I'm like, you're just spreads and lines update. He's not like burrow coming back either. I mean, no matter who their quarterback is, it's a questionable situation. Speaking of Chicago, dub bears, they host the Vikings, a big one at soldier field in a early season

24:03divisional clash. Chicago, four and a half point favorites at home. I'm taking the points. Are you? Yeah. Yeah. Even with Carson Wentz. I think he's a professional quarterback. I mean, I don't love and last night's a good example. A team that's hot is could be one and no. And now they have their home opener. It just seems like you're walking into orange nest. It's true. But I think Minnesota with a decent defense can keep that within a touch within a field goal. I think I'm going to lay the points. I think I'm going to take Chicago minus four and a half. I just think that that offense is humming. It really is. And there'll be at home. There'll be huge massive, you know, home opener, crowd excitement bears are the best they've been in a long time. Oh, it'd be fun to be a bearer fan right now. Most expensive get in price of the weekend, by the way. You know, I mentioned that sometimes. I can see that. Yeah. 22 dollars just to get into the nose. Yes. I bet there's some Viking fans trying to get in at what is one of the. And don't it. It's different than like the commander stadium and some of these others.

25:03Hold your fields a bit of a dump. It's a historic dump, but it's just so old. It's old. Yeah. I want to use the bathroom there. It's going to take you a half an hour. So hold it or go before the game starts in music city. Nashville, the Titans host the Eagles, where the Eagles are seven point road favorites. I don't think the Titans will get to 10 points in this game. They might. They may not get to one point in this game. I think they're a disaster right now. And I know just one regular season game. I know bad in the preseason. Everything's been bad since that's coaching staff took over. I feel like they're ruining cam. Ward. He doesn't look like he's at all comfortable. There's no way I could pick them. One thing that could be an equalizer, Matt, is it's supposed to be like sunny and in the mid 90s for this game. Really? So it could be one of those. It's hot. The sun's down early in the season. Both teams are exhausted. I can buy that. Maybe the Titans are able to hang around a little bit longer because of that. But I still I would lay the points with the Eagles to win by more than a time. I'm really pretty good.

26:04Yeah. In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the surprising one and O Jets host the Packers in the Aaron Rogers X's bowl here. I guess New England versus Green Bay, Green Bay, only a three and a half point favorite on the road there against the Jets. If I would have told you that at the start of the season, you would have like what the heck happened on. What do we want? Um, and I'm a bounce back. I'm worried that I'm a victim to just one games worth of data. Yeah. I pick the Jets to win the outright. Are you? I love it. I'm Williamson. I might look really dumb on Monday. Jordan loved my throw for 400 against these guys. But that's the only thing I like about the Packers right now is their passing game. I really like their receivers. And I really like quarterback from the desk of intrepid video producer slash statistician who I was. The last time the Jets were 2 and 0 was 2015. 2 and 0 not 3 and over 4 and that's not that much that I was still in Ohio working for the hockey team.

27:05I hadn't even started working for the Eagles yet. Good Lord. I don't know man. Who you taking? I think I'm taking the Packers. I'm just I'm not ready to bail on Green, but even though we both picked them to finish last in the division. Uh, Jets are hard to trust. Jets are hard to trust. I still think the Packers will win eight or nine games, not be a disaster. I do really like Jordan love. I'll maybe I should take the points. I'll take the points. I'll take the points, but I'll take the Packers to win Jets to cover. Okay. Matt in one of the bigger spreads of the weekend. Second largest, I think actually other than San Francisco, the Bucks host, the Browns, the Bucks, I think need this one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And then one of the big ones, a mess. Tampa's at eight and a half point favorite at home. I guess the only question is are you are you taking the points or you lay in the points? I think I'm taking Tampa. Two reasons. Northern team playing in Florida this early, I think is really difficult from a conditioning

28:06standpoint. And I bet Baker wants to run the score up. Yeah. Oh, I didn't think about that. Have anyone like that's going to hold a garage. Hold on. Baker may feel there's a lot of things, but I don't know if Petty is one of them. And when we when we need a late score for the cover, I think he's going to provide it for it. That's a great call. Laying the points with Tampa Bay. This is the Super Bowl for Baker Mayfield. The Ravens back at home after a hot start. They host the Saints. Another one of those teams. It's probably not going to want to fall to 0 and 2 that divisions wide open, but still mad. I'm a little surprised. I understand Baltimore being a heavy favorite, but eight and a half. That's a big. That's a big number for a against a team in New Orleans that in their own right can score some points. We did go over some injury stuff. A lobby popped up on the injury report. And I think he would be really hard to replace. But the fact that we didn't wherever you were reading it from, he wasn't on. I guess Boads well. That's enough for me to take the Saints if he plays.

29:07If he doesn't, I don't know where the points come from. With Tyson being out. Yeah, it's a good call. That's a very good call. I'm going to take the points with New Orleans as we stand here now. Yeah, but I'm going to assume he plays. If Olaway misses, that is a real monkey wrench because where's New Orleans going to hang their hat on offense? Yeah, I think Baltimore playing played very well. Matt in the, the game, maybe that I wish I could watch the most this weekend. Texans, bangles, in Houston, one o'clock. I will be keeping an eye on it, but obviously I'll be watching the Steelers and doing my job and all those things. But this might be the matchup of the weekend. I think it is Houston, a two and a half point favorite at home is they look to avoid going o' and two to start the season. Yeah, and I, I'm not worried about them. That poor that we know their defense is awesome, but bangles and then bills before that. I mean, that's a tough chore for early season defense. I'm going to leave this one this way. You said it's two and a half plus two and a half for the Bengals, right?

30:10They're the dogs. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm definitely taking the Bengals with the points. If Nico plays, I'm picking the Texans to win. If Nico doesn't play, I'm picking the Bengals to win. Okay. Side note, I know that our listeners who I love you guys, but they hate whenever I get infatuated with exactly somebody in the division, I think is good. I'm allowed to do that. Apparently one of my new crushes, I'm arias mims. I just mentioned him a few minutes ago. You loved him coming out of college and you take keys on the fast track to become one of the elite player. And I think he can handle Hunter or Anderson reasonably well as well as anyone can. And then you can double the other guy. He's getting to that point of having a big time tackle. I was going to say I can't see Houston start knowing too, but didn't they start owing three last year? I think they started really slow last year. Is that a Houston thing? I don't know. Houston, do we have a problem? Yeah.

31:10I'm going to take the points. I think Houston wins. I'm going to take the points. Yeah. But the Nico Collins is a big one to keep an eye on. That really worries me because I mean, there are other weapons, just a lackluster at this point. Matt in Denver, mile high. This is another really good match up to keep an eye on where the Broncos host the Jags to certainly play off caliber teams. Denver looking to avoid to go looking to avoid starting the season. Oh, and two Jacksonville with an opportunity to start the season two and oh. The Broncos are two and a half point favorites at home. I don't want to bet against the Jags. I am a believer. I'm a Lawrence fan. I think they're pretty darn good on both sides of the ball. And I'm a little shocked Denver's favored. I thought this might be a pick them, but I trust Denver to not look like they did in week one. There's going to be one or two of these teams where I'm just going to go with my off season indications on, especially because I know their head coach knows what he's doing. I have a rule. I never bet against the Broncos at home in week one or two.

32:14You're going to sound away. It's going to bring that up. Yeah. I think they have like an 80% winning percentage in their building the first two weeks of season. And it's like 70 the first month of the year because you can't get your oxygen. Yeah. I mean, it's a simple solution. I mean, it's, it's a huge advantage. I would love it if that number was three or three and a half. And if I were to lay some cheddar on this game, I would probably buy an extra pointer and extra half a point. Mm hmm. I'll take the Broncos to win, but give me the points with the Jags. I mentioned earlier in the show. I mean, the Broncos gave up well over 200 yards just off mistakles. Just off mistakles. Now they're not going to make every tackle, but that's going to get better. I mean, it's a good defense. Better. Yeah, it was historically bad in terms of tackling. Another inter division showdown, the chargers host, the Raiders, chargers and other one of those teams that's going to be desperate to, to wash away their weak one. Rose Raiders seemingly, we won't know for sure, but doubtful is Brock Bowers.

33:18Chargers six and a half point favorites at home. Maconkey's another question, one that's really important. Yeah. A lot of a Nico Maconkey. Some big ones early on. They're all big ones in there. Michael Pittman, Jr. Yeah. The three I mentioned though are clearly the number ones on their team. And there's a pretty big drop off. I mean, the receiving correlates a lot different without Maconkey and Alave and Nico. So I wish I knew that. I do trust Harbaugh to get it right. I think I'm taking the points though. I think the chargers are flawed. Yeah. They're at home. They aren't home. They're not much of a home field advantage anyway. They don't. That's true. There'll be a lot of silver and black there. Yeah. I'm going to lay the points with the chargers though, Matt. Okay. I picked them to win the division before the season started. And that was kind of my big curveball in our prediction picks. I'm going to stick with them. I'm not going to abandon ship just after one week. I think they'll find a way to win by a touchdown or more six and a half. If that number was seven, seven and a half, I think I'd take the points with the Raiders. I know. I wish this was over a touchdown. Six and a half. I'm going to stay with the chargers. I mean, I'm not much of a better, but I mean, I would pay attention to this one to see if

34:22you could get it over a touchdown. Maybe at some point it has been or will be maybe the line moves a little bit. I think Herbert's getting a little too much heat for him. Play great in week one. Okay. He wasn't the only player that didn't play great. Everyone just loves. He's one of those guys now that everyone just loves the pilot. Kind of a lighting rod guy. Yeah. Because he's a West Coast guy. He's pretty. He's engaged to Madison Beers. Has it won a playoff game? Has it won a playoff game? It hasn't looked very good in the process. Cowboys at home against the commander. Someone's going to start O and two here. And I don't think it'll be Dallas, but they're four and a half point favorites. I thought that number might be a little bit chunkier. Someone's going to be O and two in a division. Yes, they are. They both were a weak one division game. Very good call. Would you say the number was four? I don't think they're all going to have. I thought it'd be more like five and a half. Yeah. I'll take the cowboys and the cowboys too. I'll lay the points on that one. I don't think they're defense was so bad. I don't think it'll be as bad. I mean, their own coverages and stuff like that too. And their offense was all over the place. And a lot of miscarried. I'm not worried about that. I think they'll put up a lot of points. Cheapest Get in price of the week, Matt, is in Arizona where the Cardinals host the

35:25Seahawks about 60 bucks can get you into that game. I mean, say that a couple times a year. I bet you that is the case. Certainly at a state form stadium, one of the five remaining NFL state five or six that I have not been to yet. State Farm Stadium out there in Glendale, Arizona. Seattle three and a half point road favorite. Drew Lock. Drew Lock. Hmm. I guess I'll take the Hawks, but I think the Cardinals are a legit difficult team to play against. Versett played well. Seattle's D is just legit. They have the big long rest advantage. Yeah, like that part. It's not a road trip that they're on a custom to if it was four and a half, I might take the points with the Cardinals, but at three and a half, I'll take Seattle to win by four or more. It's one of the ones I feel least confident about. I would stay away from it. I'm chatting. Yeah, yeah, especially with the no Sam Darnold for Seattle. But in three and a half, I think the Seahawks can win by four. Yeah. In San Francisco, Matt, the biggest spread of the weekend, pretty, pretty sizeably 13 and

36:28a half points. The Niners are favored against the dolphins at home at Santa Clara Stadium in Santa Clara part. Another rest advantage team. Yep. Long road trip for Miami. But coming back from from from down on the for the Niners. Right. So they do have the rest advantage, but they had to travel pretty, pretty, pretty extensively in there, but you're right. It's a big road trip for the dolphins. I don't think I can bet on the dolphins. But that's a massive number. I would not. This is one of those I wouldn't the Grinch, right? Wouldn't touch you with a 39 and a half football way to never betting on a two touchdown spread in the NFL. Me either. I mean, this could be 30 to three though. It could be. I will say though, if you made me, you know, feet to the fire, I would take the points with the dolphins. But it's that moats thing. You know, like what do you think a blowout is or what after however he phrased it, it sticks with me though. That's a big. That's a big win. I would never lay more than a touchdown in the NFL. It's the national football league. I'm certainly not laying two touchdowns.

37:29I think San Francisco wins comfortably, but I would stay away from any spread action on this one. I just can't put my money on Miami if I have to right now. I have to make a choice. And then last one, Matt in prime time. Once again, the Kansas City Chiefs, they host the Colts Sunday night football at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, six and a half point favorites. Terrible place to play at night. It almost reminds me like going to LSU at night. Yeah, it just has like that college feel to it. I'm not happy with where the Colts are at. But I'm not convinced that Kansas City is fixed and they're going to win the next three Super Bowls either, but I will take the Chiefs at home. I am to if that number stays at six and a half, I will lay the points. If it gets up to seven, I'd probably start to lean towards Indianapolis. Yeah. But I just I don't love where the Colts are. I don't either. Last week was maybe a little bit of a false dawn for the Chiefs. Just I was not going to be that easy. They're not going to go back to being that juggernaut. I thought this number would be higher for that reason.

38:31Everyone the planet watched every snap of that game and all the chiefs are back. They're going to roll everybody. I don't think that's where they're at. But when you said was under seven, I'm like, that's enough. I think they're I think Vegas is trying to get some people to buy this one. I know the Colts are never this team. I always thought about them the most average team. The league. Things could go south. The five or six win season and you don't have your first round pick. Don't have your first round draft. Everyone gets fired and you look around like we didn't have a quarterback and we traded two first round picks. And now Jonathan Taylor's pushing 30. Yeah. And then you're trading him to the Eagles or some way. You know what I mean? Like he's like, yeah. And I think Indy could be in for some good teams like we'll take Jonathan Taylor off your hands. You need picks. Yeah. When we get to the combine in February or March, whenever it is this year in Indianapolis and we're talking to all Matt Taylor and all of our Colts buddies. This was not a good year. And each of your vegetables stretch for the Colts. Yes. A little bit volatile ownership situation there too. Yeah. Yeah. Monday night football. Of course, we will talk about on Monday Rams and Giants.

39:31That's an interesting one. That is a good game. But we'll preview that a little bit on Monday show. But when we return final segment, you know what that means? Steelers, Patriots, New England, five and a half point favorites. How's it all play out? Matt and I will discuss to close this thing down on the other side. Cooler and 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. What if we just got out of here and grab some Bud lights? The man, we're on air for four more hours. I'll figure it out. Sounds good to me. The clean, crisp taste of Bud Light. Stock up now. Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly, copyright 2026 and has a bush Bud Light beer St. Louis, Missouri. I used to have cable in and out, but I'm a 100% kind of fan. So I switched to Verizon Fios. It's 100% fiber in and out.

40:32That's super reliable. So I streamed 100% at 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 pigs. I told you they were building their own line. I win the bet. I'm 100% fiber internet with Verizon Fios because when it comes to your team, it's 100% or nothing. Call 1-E-3-3 Verizon to switch today. Get that hot dog, costume ready. Bra. All right, Matt, here we go. Just a few minutes left in the week. And that means that it's time for us to pick the most important game of them all. Steelers at Patriots, 1 o'clock, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where Matt going to be a little unseasonably overcast, I guess is probably the way to get a lot

41:36of these games. You see this is a football weather game. This is like I think what you would expect if it was the first or second week in October. Okay. It's going to be low 60s overcast. I don't think there's supposed to be any rain or weather elements like that. But it's going to be a little bit chillier than you might expect this time of year. Like a bowl of clam chowder to one of the nice bowl of clam chowder. I'm going to, you know, I think I'm going to have to actually pack some slacks for this game, Matt, not where and not wear shorts. Um, so it won't be one of those sun beaten down upon you type early season games, but it won't be a disaster. Otherwise low 60s, little chilly. And honestly, those guys might welcome that type of weather this time of year. I let the sun beat down upon your face. Catch me was playing as I walked into down upon my face. I'm up, right? I think I went first last week. So you go first this time. That's at least what video producer Mr. TV has told you. Yeah, he's usually on top of such things. Five and a half points. I think that number is crazy. Me too. I, I am not super worried about the Patriots as this juggernaut as we talked about.

42:38I understand that they're a good football team and then it's all that. And I have great respect for me and I don't think these last five games are who Drake May is anymore. And I don't want to be his slump buster. But I think the steel D is quite good. And they're really light on weapons. And I think the Steelers are better in the trenches on that side of the ball. So I don't see a lot of Patriot points. I don't see a lot of points. Period. I don't ever look at overunders. I don't know what the number is, but I bet it's a reasonably low. Okay. It's on the lower end of games this week, not the lowest, but it's on the lower end. I definitely fear that I am looking at this game through black and gold color glasses. I mean, I, because I don't think the New England's all that great. And why they favor by five and a half. I have the Steelers went in 17 16. I expect to be a tight game. And I think Rogers can handle that situation in terms of not making the big mistake. I'm not saying he's a better quarterback than May. I don't believe he is. But in terms of who's not going to lose it for you, I'm trusting Rogers all day.

43:40Long over May. This has been a tough one for me to pick. A lot of the reasons you just outlined. I keep coming back to though for New England, the rest advantage. I don't love that. And just home field advantage. Missy said that it, they are pretty darn good fans. I never thought of them at that. A kind of the proverbial wounded animal back into a corner. And I know that sounds crazy for a week too. But I just, this is a team that was just in the Super Bowl. And the Super Bowl team going to be Owen too. And I realize, hey, I'll put my hand up. I picked him to miss the playoffs in our in our in our preseason predictions. But I just, I have a hard time picturing this team starting Owen to losing their home opener for the sixth straight year. Yeah. That doesn't seem like that with this organization's all about. And maybe as you mentioned, I know I view everything through black and gold glasses too. And so sometimes it swings the other way where I'm like maybe trying too hard to be objective. Yeah. Yeah. What am I missing here?

44:40So I'm just going to take the other, take the other team. But I think this is a close kind of ugly, low scoring. Similar to you, but I've got the Patriots 21 to 20. Okay. Is my final score. I mean, I think we both would definitely take the five and a half. Absolutely. That seems extremely high. It seems crazy. Right. Well overfuel gold. That, that seems crazy to me. I don't know. I think Cedar D is going to be quite good in this game. I do too. I'm a little worried about the Michael Pittman Jr. potential absence. Yeah. And what that means for the Steelers passing attack, you got to get the run game. That's not worried about the run game too. I said it in our opening segment, Matt. I'm not landing on the moon here. I'm not uncovering any uncharted territory. This is about as basic a football analysis as you can get. But I think it really starts for both teams establishing the run, stopping the other teams run and what you're able to do from there. And I just think both running games are works in progress. They certainly are. I think New England just at home and a little more desperate is going to find a way to eke out a low scoring close tight contest.

45:43When you compare the run games, especially if this was, you know, Patriot Nation radio, I would just say, well, Steelers didn't run against a bad front. Didn't land. We didn't run against the Super Bowl champion defense. That is awesome. And our number two running back wasn't available. Yep. You know, like I could definitely paint the picture where their running game comes back before the Steelers does. Yes. That scares me too. Yes, it does. So Matt, I hope you're right. I hope I'm wrong. And we're back here on Monday talking about a two and a Steelers team heading into a couple of divisional clashes and a Patriot's team that's oh and two and suddenly behind the eight ball. Not that our predictions are gospel or we know better than anybody else. But I think I took the Patriots to get in as the last wild card team just over the Steelers. And I think you took the opposite. Yes. The head to head win could really matter when we're talking about December Tigers. Yeah. By the time we get to Christmas, this game could mean a lot when we're pretty good right now at the bills are going to win that division.

46:45Yes. So if you're fighting for wild cards, yeah. We didn't talk a lot about that game, but Buffalo is pretty good last thing. And as we've talked about, you know, Kansas City LA Denver, you know, only one of those teams can win their division. Even if you think one's way overrated Houston and Jacksonville, only one of those teams can win the division. Yeah. There's these these types of Baltimore look pretty good. I mean, these tie breakers are going to matter. So this is a early season big one. And and let's hope that when we're back here on Monday, we're talking about a two and a steelers team that's heading into like I said, a couple divisional matchups here early in the season. But that'll do it for us today. That'll do it for us this week. Big thanks. As always to Mr. TV for producing on the video side of things. Thanks to the Queen of the sideline, Missy Matthews for joining us in the first hour for Matt Williamson, I'm West Euler. When lose or draw, we'll be back to break it all down with you on Monday. As always, you know where to find us. It's on your 24 seven home of the black and gold Steelers Nation radio on the

47:46Steelers audio network. So we heard Amanda is off to school. Yeah. Big step more independent. She's not going to call every week asking for more money for books. Is she with smart start banking from S&T bank. She gets budgeting, tools, scholarship opportunities and can send money using sell. Wow. I guess college is about getting smarter, right? Give them financial independence and yourself piece of mind. Stop by your local branch. Call 835 2265 or visit STbank.com to send money with Zell. Both parties must have an eligible checking or savings account terms and conditions apply S&T bank member FDIC.