Drive9.9.26Hr2: Division Predictions - AFC

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1:01How are we doing? Well, that's good. Us too. Can you feel us smiling through the microphones here? Because in just a few hours, it will be the Seahawks hosting the Patriots and the season opener, of course, a rematch of last season's Super Bowl game. Super Bowl final, Super Bowl game, Super Bowl championship, just Super Bowl. I guess you don't have to put another adjective on it there. I think this one will be more competitive. I think so. I certainly think so. And Matt, why don't we start in the AFC East with the defending AFC champion division, New England Patriots? Yeah, the bills, you got the patch, you got the jets, you got the dolphins. I think this is a tale of two candidates here in this division pretty clearly. Clearly. I think there's a kind of a clear cut line of the top half and the bottom half of this division. The jets and cardinals are my bad teams that are going to be better than you think, but not win a lot of game teams. Okay. You know, like I think they'll be, they're going to upset somebody with a young

2:02seeker. I like that. I think they'll be competitive. I'll pick jets and titans for my two. Okay. I think both of them are also really set up well to insert high drafted quarterback jets and cardinals. Miami's four for that reason too. I mean, there's, they may run the ball and stay competitive, but they have some position groups. Like I'm not sure in their corners are make the stealers. Yeah. I mean, one or two of their receivers, the rookies are intriguing. We're desperate for some wide receivers around these parts, but like there's some really rough position groups, especially on defense. And I'm a Willis fan, but therefore, and I actually think they're probably my pick to get the first pick in the draft. The number of the brunt. Miami. Yeah. They just some of their position groups are just really thin. I tell you what though, if they got the first overall pick and they feel confident Malik Willis is their guy. Oh, I love that. I've been saying that about the Raiders too. Maybe the heck of a same with the Raiders that maybe the Titans to be, you know, right, and go take and you could take Jeremiah Smith or you could trade it for a hall of picks. Yeah. I say that's a great spot. Even if they're second or third and they love Willis, Mike still get Jeremiah Smith.

3:05You know, right? Yeah, exactly, right. Right. So there are dolphins or four. I heard Jetsu three. I'm really warming up to the bills. They're going to be my pick in the east. I think they gave a chance to the best offense in the league. I really don't like a lot of their defensive moves. And frankly, I don't love their front office overall, but they kept Jim Leonard, who's a defense coordinator that I really have respect for. I think he can get more out of that defense. And I don't love betting on first time head coaches, but I'm betting on Josh Allen. He is a first time head coach. He's been with the organization though. Yeah. That helps. It's a little different than Jesse Menter for example. Matt, what was it? Glass ceiling principle? Correct. Ple�se glass. Plexiglass. Yeah, you bounce right off it. Bounce back to reality. I don't think it's going to be commanders' esk like we saw. But I think the Patriots are taking a step back. I think a little bit too.

4:05The defense worries. The one kicker to that would be if Drake May is a bonafide, you know, tier one, third, fourth, fifth, best quarterback in the world. He's at least to my worries. Yes. But can he be that high tide that really raises all ships? That's asking a lot. It's asking a lot. Yeah. And I think they've been top two in MVP ballad to as all of sudden done. Yeah. I think the offensive line is improved, but still a big question. Yeah. I know they added some weapons at wide receiver, but I don't know. Like the fun digs at a really good year there last year. Yeah, yeah. They lost themselves too. Yeah. Yeah. They really get that much better. Running back despite Travion Henderson not being ready to go tonight. I'm picking the Buffalo Bills to win that division. I do think the Patriots are the clear cut, obvious number two. And I don't think they'll be picking in the top 10 next year. Like the commanders did after going to the NFC championship. No, I don't either. But I think they will take a noticeable step back. I don't think they'll be a real super bowl contender in any capacity.

5:08I don't either. I mean, like their edge rushers are very, yeah. I mean, Gonzalez is a really good player, but the rest of the back sevens. OK, you know, then I have a lot of star power on defense either. Right. And so again, Drake made could be good enough that a lot of that stuff doesn't matter. And they win 11 games and they're right back in the playoffs. Yeah. But I think that's man, them in Buffalo is going to be could be maybe. That's some of the Buffalo falling off a cliff. I mean, Buffalo's just always in it. And they might have they want a lot of games since Josh Allen got good. They sure they sure had a lot of division titles more than they used to as well too. There. Yeah, I just I have some questions about Buffalo's ultimate ceiling, but I think I think their floor is very high. Very high. I mean, that guy is just a super human. Yes. So we're we have the same order here, Buffalo, New England, New York, Miami. Let's go from the east to the south. Another one, Matt. I mean, this is going to be a very competitive division.

6:08The Houston Texans, the Jacksonville Jags, obviously the Titans, even though I think they're going to surprise people this year, I do still think they're not a real threat to win that division. No, I think they're forth. And then can Indianapolis get back to some type of the really good form that we saw last year? Yeah. And it's possible. That is C's four for me though. I think it's a two horse race. I think Indies right in the middle, but that's third for that division. Some of their injury stuff right now, I'd like to see in practice first Pierce and Jones and all these guys. But their offense has a chance to be quite good and they do get some defensive pieces back. I don't think they're by any means to push over and if Colts end up in the playoffs, I'd get it. I'm really high on the Jags offense, but Houston's my pick. And I think they could win the Super Bowl. I mean, based off if you look at the last two Super winners, I mean, Philly two years ago and Seattle last year, they're basically top two defenses with adequate to above average

7:08offenses. That's Houston. You know, yeah, any stabilization for stride. Yeah, give them a little bit of a running game. You know, I think Nico's a blow up candidate this year. I'm pretty high on Houston right now because their defense actually got better. Yes, they started it. They got never safety. They had to the defense attack a lot of Ohio State. McDonald. Yeah. They had a top three defense last year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And might have gotten even better this off season. I'm with you. So far, not a lot of, now I think our wild card teams here in the AFC. Yeah, that's actually my hardest thing to pick and all this is the wild card teams in the AFC. It would not surprise me one bit of Jacksonville won the South. No, me neither. I think Lawrence could take a step. Lawrence is feeling like feels like he might have fully rounded that corner. Yeah. Hey, he's never going to be the potential dynamite all time great that some thought he could be coming out of Clemson. But he's a really good starting NFL quarterback clear cut, you know, top half of the league, top 12 type guy as you like to say from time to time.

8:11I selfishly wish he was playing more offense, but I think Travis Hunter could be a shut down pro bowl corner too. And they didn't really get that part of it. I mean, they remember what they gave up to get. I was just going to say that's the big kind of, I think, under the radar story, like the field is, is they had a really good year last year and barely got anything out of Travis Hunter and they gave it the world to go up and get it. Yes, they did. And so what if this year he turns into that, you know, that top five pick, everybody thought he was thinks he catches 30 passes, but they're big ones and he's a big time corner. Exactly. That could be enough exactly right for a, you know, for a team that went to the playoffs last year and had a lot of success. And then they get a guy like that. Yeah. That's certainly they didn't do much else. They didn't do much. It's kind of run it back. I am there is part of me, Matt. I'm not going to predict it. I've got the same, the same for order as you because I think the cults just as you liked outline, they are what they are. They're like the most average team in the NFL. I don't know though. I could see the Titans finishing third in that division. If a lot of the health stuff for Indianapolis doesn't get back to where they want it to

9:16be as quickly as they want it to be. Another note, Jags O'Line is kind of questionable. They work around that well through scheme, but it's not a very talented group. Like I bet their first round picks on offensive linemen this year. Next year. Yeah. Tennessee's just looked horrible. They have. I'm such a cam ward believer, but like Tate and Ward in the preseason. And we shouldn't over. I mean, pick it was awesome in the preseason. It's not get crazy. Yeah. But I wish I had a little bit better vibes coming out of Tennessee. Defense could be good. Tate's questionable for this weekend too. Is he? I think so. And I do like what they have in Sala and Dable and kind of the balance of those two on each side of the ball. I think they're defensive fronts good and, you know, sevens and, you know, I think I think the ideal scenario for Tennessee is they show some life this year. And then this time next year we're talking about the Titans could be a wildcard team. The Titans could contend for that. Yeah, right, right. Like they might just be a year away from being a year away. That's possible. They're aligns also highly questionable. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. We will have the, the same for Houston, Jacksonville, Indy and the Titans there in the south.

10:20Let's go out to the AFC West, another one with three very viable candidates, Matt, can the Kansas City Chiefs get back to what they were? Can the Broncos take another step forward after being in the AFC championship game and the chargers if they have a healthy offense, Mike McDaniel in the fold. I think you've got three real viable candidates out there in the West for the division and for playoff spot. I think we agree the Raiders are fourth. Absolutely. Yeah, and they absolutely could get the first pick the draft again. I mean, I think they're kind of a distant fourth almost like the NFC West with Arizona. Like pretty big gap from three to four. Who are your top three? You want me to go first on this one? Sure. I'm going chargers one. Okay, we're different. Pick the L.A. Chargers to win the AFC West. I do have some questions about the defense, but with both of those tackles back with Omari and Hampton with Mike McDonald, people think of, I think I made this joke last week to you, Matt, on air.

11:20People see, people see him and they see the capris. What he looks like in the funny glasses. He doesn't look like Dan Campbell. He looks more like he'd be on the sideline in the English Premier League coach in a soccer game. Right. Exactly right. Exactly right. But what a lot of people, and so a lot of people think that that's, you know, that's Tyree Kill and that's Jalen Waddle and this air the ball out kind of high speed speed speed speed. Little got a lot of Lamborghini's everywhere. Yeah. You like to say every year that he was in Miami, they finished with a top 10 rushing offense. Oh, and they play with full backs and heavy personnel and they bring in like Charlie Colors or started tight end the block and Harbaugh is not going to play for Ness football. I think with what Harbaugh, what we know that he brings to every team he coaches at every level, he's a winner with how I think that offense is going to take a step forward. I know Herbert is oh, and three in the playoffs and has not bathed himself in glory in those three games. That's all we're talking about. But that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about the regular season where he's been very good.

12:23I'm picking the chargers to win it. Okay. I'm picking the Broncos. Second, chiefs third, Raiders fourth. Okay, we're similar, but I have Denver won. I think they are kind of waddle away and from really being a super bowl contender. And frankly, I think they go to the Super Bowl if Nick doesn't get hurt. The game. I completely agree with you on that. I'm worried about the chiefs. I think the defense can be better, but I don't know where the weapons are. The O'Line's got a couple holes. The Holmes is phenomenal, but he's coming back from injury, which that part doesn't even worry me. I just don't know if anybody can get open first man coverage. Like they face more man coverage than anybody in the league and they don't do anything to rectify it. Now I think they'll run the ball better. I think Walker will have a nice year. I think Kansas City. I think the run is over. You and I before we were recording today, we were looking because Bill Barnwell, who we both like of the VPN, he posted his division predictions and wild card predictions and play

13:27off predictions today. He not only has the chiefs winning that division, he's got the chiefs winning the Super Bowl. Yeah. And I see where he's coming from because I know Barnwell's back well round. He was a football sideers. That's dude. And there's some stuff. They were O and nine in one score game. You played that out. They were super. Feel a lot. I don't know. Things like that. I just don't think they have great players. I mean, especially the guys catching the ball. Again, I when you have the court about Tyree, you can you Chelsea. I give you a lot of benefit of the doubt there. Yeah. If the chiefs were in a different division, maybe it's a different conversation. Yeah. But I just I think they're the third and less mahogans is superhero mahogans, which I definitely would never dismiss would never dismiss. But maybe it takes till October before we see that mahogans and they're already in a little bit of a hole in that division. That's hard to dig out of. And wouldn't shock me if his career kind of goes like Brady's where there's one section of kind of a dynasty. And there's a quiet ear there. And then you pick early a couple of times in a row and you find a couple more weapons and

14:29my homes at age 35. Sonic free agents. Yeah. It throws a couple more rings on his finger like that wouldn't shock me. No, absolutely not. So give me your give me your or I'm going to chargeers Broncos chiefs Raiders. You're going to I have Denver and chargers for lift. I've Denver win. You have Denver winning it, but you do have Kansas City finishing third third as well. Yeah. Okay. So so far a little a little difference, a little difference here between us. And in terms of our AFC selections. So I go chargers. You go Broncos. We both pick Houston. We both pick Buffalo when we come back on the other side. All right. Matt and I are going to get into the AFC North. And then obviously we will give you our wild card predictions for the AFC as well. I'm excited for this next segment, baby. Looking forward to it. Our number two, you know where to get at us with your predictions, West Mueller, Matt Williamson. It is the drive Steelers Nation radio on the Steelers Audio Network. And now a word from our sponsor Bud Light.

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16:46All right, Matt. This is what the people want. This is what the people came for. It is the final division for us to predict in the AFC before, of course, we will give our wildcard teams here as well. Of course, our very own AFC North. Last year, Steelers first, Ravens second, Browns third. And as is their birthright, Matt, Williamson, the Cleveland Browns and fourth. I think we can start there. I think we're both picking the Browns last. Yeah. I was just going to say, unless you're throwing a real curve. No, no, we can get that out of the way. And I'll take you even a step further. I trust, percent, Gino, Mendoza and Ward willess. I'm talking about like the teams are projected to be the worst in a league. I can't. I mean, it probably won't. You take all of them over the Browns quarterback room.

17:48Easily. Yeah. I mean, easily. I think there are a distant 30 second as it stands right now. Like I bet we see tail and green start a game and we, 15. I almost do. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? It would be malpractice for Cleveland if they didn't. Yeah. Now, I do like a lot of stuff that that organization's doing. I think some of their trades, including the Garrett one and their drafts, all are setting up nicely for that. They are starting to build a nice little. Yeah. And they got a lot of future picks, but I just think quarterbacks are too important and there's a bad. Yeah. I mean, once all said and done, someone will get hurt and no of worst quarterback play in the Browns. But as it stands right now, I would take 31 other rooms easily over what I'm expecting from the Browns quarterbacks. And that's too much to overcome. Especially the tough division. Especially the tough, then a tough division. Yeah, absolutely. And the other teams don't have that. You know. Who's, all right. So we agree on that. Who's going first here, Matt? I'll do it, I guess. So I know what I'm picking this segment in terms of the top three in the North. And I assume we'll do a C wild cards in the segment.

18:48Yes. Yes. But I'll be honest. I mean, I know my answers, but this is going to be one of my hardest segments of radio that I can remember because I just can see so many angles for the three wild card teams and the top three in this division. I'm picking the Ravens to win it. I'm not as high as Vegas is on them. I would definitely take their over or under win total. But I do trust. I don't trust him in her. I think he's a good hire. I don't like betting on rookie coaches. But I think he will help that defense significantly. Their own line and their weapons scare the heck out of me. But I do trust the organization top to bottom. They know how to win football game. And I expect Lamar to have a very high quality. A much better than he was last year. Yeah. Yeah. I have a Steelers 2. We talked about Steelers for enough.

19:49Yeah. They just talk about them for a minute. Yeah, they come up here and there. I definitely do believe Rogers is the third best quarterback in the division. And that worries me whenever you're battling, Sinsi and Lamar. Because those two are awesome. And that's not a Roger's knock. Because it's those two are awesome. Even with Cleveland's Albatross, it might be the best quarterback division in the NFL. Maybe. I mean, it's the best stop too. Alan and May are tough to beat. But I don't think there's a third strongest. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. What do you think through it? You might be right. Maybe the AFC West, if you're saying like, Bonyx is the third best quarterback. But I don't know if it's down to just one game. I would might still take Rogers over Bonyx at this point. Yeah. I mean, Caleb Goff, love Murray. That's a pretty good. It's not a star studded, but it doesn't have weaknesses. You know, it's a pretty good one. And I'm taking Sinsi third. I absolutely should see a path where the Bengals win a division. Yeah. I think their defense is better, but not enough better.

20:52I know he's the only incumbent head coach in the division. I'm up low and away by him and his staff and his scheming and nothing's really blown me away from their coaching staff since he's been hired. He does a fine job. But Barrow could win MVP. Chase is a monster. I think their offense could be number one in the league. But if you're going to tell me which organization do I trust, the Ravens or the Bengals, no, it's always the Raven. No doubt. We've been around a lot. You know, if you're talking about trust and organizations in that division, yeah, it's the two Ohio teams in the bottom half of the division. Exactly. And I'm going to kind of go with that. All right, Matt. Williamson, it's about it's about stinking time. We have some differences here. Okay. I thought we might. Last night when I was laying awake deep into the night thinking about this exercise, I told you, I spent a ton of time in my mind thinking about the NFC North. Yeah. Because I think all four, I think that's maybe the, that is the only division where you

21:52could make a legitimate argument for all four teams. Right. You have. This one's not much different than that's three instead of four. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. And just I told you, I was kind of like I was thinking, you're doing the, all right, does he think that I think what he thinks? Does he know that I know? And I'm like, I'm going to, I'm going to catch Matt off guard. It's what picking the packers to finish last in that division. He'll never see it coming. I wouldn't even be surprised if Matt green beta win that division. Yeah. I know he loves Jordan love. And then we both picked them. Nailed that. Exactly the same. But obviously the other one that I was thinking about most was the AFC North. It's tough. But I'll tell you here is I also have the Steelers finishing second in the division. Huh. I bangles when I just, I think yes, it is a, it is a new coaching staff. Mike McCarthy is so experienced in this league. Yeah. And he knows what it's like to coach milestone landmark franchises in this league where you not only have pressure in your home, home town in your own city, but you also have

22:54pressure from across the country because you've got a fan base from across the country. Expectations. And all that. I also think the Steelers are deep in terms of with standing the rigors of the season. I also think and now, hey, this is with Joey Porter Jr. in mind and some other things, but I also think the Steelers roster got better than it did than it was last year. Oh, I definitely believe that. And that was some, you know, wider sea versus corner. There's some key positions. The offensive line. If it takes any monochrome of step forward, I think that this, I think that this team is going to win double digit games once again. But I have the Cincinnati Bengals and I almost want to throw up as I say that. Yeah, I get it. Winning the AFC North. And I think honestly, mad at what a lot of what you just alluded to, I think that it's going to take Jesse Mentor a year. It's it might. It's not it's not his, it's not a new head coaching job for him. It's his first head coaching job for him in a market where I'll kind of a lot like Joe Brady and Buffalo.

23:55I don't envy those two. If you don't win the Super Bowl or at least go there really good head coach has got let go because they couldn't win the Super Bowl. Now the new guy has to win the Super Bowl. Exactly right. That's tough. It's, I mean, it is, you know, it's, uh, it's when you get hired at Alabama or when you get hired at Ohio State. Yeah. And you lose the Michigan three times a row. Yeah. A nice 10 win season is great. But if you're not winning the national championship, nobody really cares. Yeah. If you're in Buffalo and if you're in Baltimore, anything shy of, I think probably at least getting to the AFC championship game is going to be considered a colossal failure. And Cincinnati, I'm with you. I don't love Zach Taylor as a head coach, but he has taken his team to the playoffs before. Yeah. He's taking his team to a Super Bowl. Yeah. He knows what it takes. He's the lone one in the division with continuity. And I just think we have heard, I go back and forth on, do I think Burrow or Lamar will have a better year because I think that's a big part of this conversation too. Yeah. I don't know the answer. So much of what we've heard the rhetoric, if you will, from Joe Burrow over the last

24:58couple of years is like, I don't have time to be patient. I, yeah. In this lead, it could be a total blow up year for him. It could be a 50 touchdown. And I think finally, for the first time since they were in the Super Bowl six years ago, or five years ago, whatever that was, I think Joe Burrow looked around and he saw his organization really push some chips in. That Lawrence move is not their style at all. I mean, they seem to give like boy a moth, a 20 million dollar thing like the things like that. I think Joe Burrow has preached urgency from that organization for the better part of two years now. And I think this off season, he finally got it a little bit. I think that they know that we better put up some results on the field this year or this organization, this roster, this locker room could look drastically different than it did last year. I also think their schedule is a little bit easier. Help. I just, again, I couldn't get away from it. I was not going, maybe this is just hand up. This is me wearing black and gold glasses.

25:59I was not going to pick the Ravens to win the division with a first time head coach. I was obviously not going to pick the Browns to win the division. Yeah. So that kind of left it to me as a tiebreaker. And I'm going to give Cincinnati. I'm going to give them the slight edge this year. I am, I can't believe I'm doing it, but I'm picking the Bengals to win the AFC North Steeler's second Ravens third Browns, of course, where they belong in the basement. I think the Bengal ceiling is winning the whole thing. I don't know if the defense is good enough to win the whole thing. Yeah. But I think they could certainly make some noise. Yeah. Yeah. I can't fight you on the Bengals in any way, shape or form. If Dexter Lawrence is one of the two or three best interior defensive linemen in the league and Cassius, how has a great rookie season and some of those things, DJ Turner, who you and I both like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, they're stepped forward. Then maybe I'll change my tune on Cincinnati's ultimate ceiling. I think for them, it could crash and burn in the postseason, but I think they're going to get there. I think I think they're going to be champions of the AFC North. Yeah. I totally get it. Again, I can make a strong case for all three. The Ravens might be the most volatile of the three.

27:01I think they are. I mean, like what if Zay flowers could turn? Who's catching the ball? I mean, like there's a couple things like that that I look at the Ravens. You know, what if Kyle Hamilton or Trey Hendrixson misses time? I know. And you can say they've got all teams, of course. So we're not saying like Barrow gets hurt. I'm just talking about like a good player, not, you know, what if Matt and bouquet is not back or you know, Derek Henry takes a step back. I think they're already on like their third center since Linderbone. Yeah. Like there's some things there that are fragile. Matt, since you went first there, do you want me to go first with the wild card teams? Sure. We wound out this exercise. So real quick to recap the AFC. Matt has Bill's Houston, Buffalo, Houston, Denver and Baltimore is his four division champions. We have Buffalo, Houston, LA and Cincinnati. So we do have, I like that some differences in our division winners. Matt, my three playoff teams, two of them were very easy and kind of like the NFC. The third one took me some time and some contemplation, but I'm picking the Broncos, of course, to go back to the playoffs. Okay. Yeah.

28:01I think they have a, I think they're in a Super Bowl window right now and they could certainly win the division even though I picked LA, but I'm definitely picking the Broncos to go back to the playoffs. I'm also picking the Jacksonville Jaguars to go back to the post season again. And then my third and final team, your Pittsburgh Steelers into the playoffs as the seventh seed and as the wild card and year one of the Mike McCarthy era. Minor similar. I also have Jacksonville. I think Jacksonville can be 10 level wins. Yeah. I also took the West number two. I'm taking the chargers. Okay. I just think carbon knows how to win games and they have a really good quarterback. Then I took the Patriots slightly over the Steelers. Okay. You know, but Patriots were a tough one for me to leave out as much as I think Plexiglass with them a little bit. I think that they will take a step back. I don't think they'll take five steps back. Now, I'm going to come in tomorrow and be like, why did I pick the Patriots? They've blown up my Seattle again. You know, that's like subject to change tomorrow, 22 hours.

29:03Switch that. And frankly, like if you asked me, which so many people do, Matt, do you think Steelers are going to make playoffs? Yeah. I think they will. But I mean, Matt, if you ask me with the chiefs, do you think the chiefs are going to make playoffs? Yeah, probably. But there's like 10 teams in the AFC that all have pretty strong cases. Matt, I have the Patriots, the Ravens and the chiefs all missing the playoffs. Two of those teams could be in the AFC championship game. Yeah. I mean, we just talked great things about the Bengals. I didn't have them in either. You know, I mean, the Colts could sneak in. So you left out Steelers and Bengals as as and chiefs as you're kind of big name ones out. I left Patriots, Ravens and chiefs. And again, this segment of radio is one of the ones that I feel most unsure of what I'm saying. So so your wild cards again were LA Jacksonville and New England. All right, Matt, it is written in the notes app and we will revisit. Part of the New England theory was if you can get four wins against the Jets and dolphins,

30:07you know, and maybe end up with five in your division split with the bills. Hard to keep you out. You get five. It's hard to keep you. Yeah. So let's recap here real quick before we go to break. We'll hit your reaction to get us out of here. You have a super role prediction. Oh, did you not do that? Do you want to go? We can do it tomorrow. We could. We could see how Seattle and New England look tonight. Now, I feel like if we're going to do that, I feel like we have to do it now. I know mine. Go ahead. Give me a second to think about it. You go ahead. I'm picking the Rams. I know that's boring over the Texans. I was torn. I went with Denver. It came down to Denver, Houston, or Buffalo. I thought this might be Josh Allen's year. And I was really torn. I was Houston all along. I still know if they can run the ball well enough. I went with Denver. But I don't feel strong about the AFC. I don't either. I do ever go. Point. Yes. Is it chalk of all chalk to pick the Rams? Totally. Yeah. I also. Why not?

31:07Why not? Right. Matt, ask me who I think is going to win the World Series. The Dodgers. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's just that's who I'm picking. Um, I am going like the Dodgers. They have the best players. I am. It must be a Southern California thing. I am going Rams. Beat the Buffalo Bills. Okay. I could definitely see us being the bills here. And for, for whatever reason, that, not for whatever reasons. A new head coach to a lot of questions. I don't think this bill's team is as strong as some of the bills teams of the last three or four years. Especially on defense. But I just, you know how sometimes it's weird in sports. Obviously it's not always the best team that wins. And for whatever reason, Buffalo's been knocking on that door. Lot of playoff experience. So long. Right. Eventually, eventually they got to kick that door in. And I think the AFC is wide open this year. I do too. And so for that reason, why not? I'm going to pick the bills to represent the AFC. Maybe Kansas City is the only one that could compete with this. They are a real wild card in this equation. But I think the bills are the team you want to travel to least in the AFC playoffs.

32:11Totally. I mean, playoff time in Buffalo, again, stadium where there won't be as much snow. I don't even care about that. I still think that's the case. Playoff tested with a massive quarterback, all kinds of home field advantage. And a rabbit crowd. I mean, who would you, who's the team? The Pittsburghs in the conversation, but who's the team you'd least want to travel to in the AFC championship game? I think the address was Buffalo. Buffalo. Yeah. Matt, now that the New York Knicks have ended their championship drought, the bills, the bills might have the fan base in all of North American sports who's starving for it the most. And frankly, stealer love aside. I'd like to see him get one. I would too. Yeah. I mean, they deserve it. It's a fan base. You're under your head. The stealers can't win the Super Bowl this year. Who wins it? I think I'd say. I'd feel really happy for Detroit if they ever got over that hump too. But I, especially because it would piss off those Bostonians so much if the bills finally got one. I just, for whatever reason, it's like, it's so often in sports, it feels like when

33:12people start to write you off and they're going to take a step back, that's when you can really kick in that door and get it done. I saw that in 2018 when I was in Philadelphia. Everyone thought the Eagles were done when Wents went out and they went on and won the Super Bowl. I mean, I think there's countless examples of the Washington capitals when they finally won their Stanley Cup. Everyone thought that they were going to blow up and fall apart that year and Ovechkin finally got his ring. Like I just, I think sometimes when the chips are down in a little bit of the, not a lot because again, Buffalo's expectations are still through the roof, but they're not the proverbial favorite like they've been for a handful of the past years. You can make a case for a lot of others. Absolutely. And hey, maybe there's something to be said that for Kansas City too, where the pressure's off a little bit. But I just for whatever reason, I'm going to go Buffalo getting there, but ultimately falling to the Rams. Okay. I hear you. They were, they were very much. I'm like, is that fair? Maybe the most, maybe the most starved fan base in North America for, I don't know the other sports well enough, but definitely in the NFL. So many of those long trades similar in the last decade, right?

34:13The Cubs finally busted their streak. The Red Sox did it before that. The Knicks have done it. The Eagles finally got there for Super Bowl eight years ago. My, my, the Buffalo Bills might be the fan base that's most of the thing is they go, they're, they're not like the Browns. You know, like they're, they're at least close a lot. A lot. I'm old enough to remember we're going four straight two rolls, which is just insane. Yeah. One more segment. So there's our predictions. You've all been asking for it. Jones and for it of how Matt and I think this thing will play out here in the 2627 NFL season. We will wrap up the show when we return by getting to your questions, comments, concerns and reactions. You'll learn 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.

35:13I'll figure it out. Sounds good to me. Anything for the clean crisp taste of Bud Light. Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Enjoy responsibly, type your 82026 and has your 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 drafts 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. 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, Austin Reddy. Bra. You're tuned to the drive on your 24-7 home of the Black & Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

36:17Final segment of the day. Final segment before we get to some NFL football tonight. God bless America. Let's get to your questions, comments, concerns and reactions before we get up out of here. Adam says, Oh, by the way, Matt Statz is in the books too. You guys will be getting the final copy this evening. That'll be live on Steelers.com tonight or tomorrow morning with the timing is, but sometimes soon. They're due on Wednesday nights. I send them to friend to show Brian backo and I wrote him a nice note. I'm like, sorry, this is your job this year, but I sent him yesterday. I need to send him in by Wednesday evening. I don't know when though. They might go but they early just because I had so much time to work on this one. I worked on for three months. At a 4,000, 5,000 word, dossier by Matt every single week. That's more than any paper. I think I ever wrote in college. Oh, me too. And I was a creative writing major. I was a broadcast major. So at least I did more talking, not as much writing.

37:17Adam says, do you guys think, you know, sitting out all the vets or most of the vets for the preseason will have any effect on week one? Yeah. Sure. No question. And but they're far from the only ones that'll be in that book. Right. I, I, I've really warmed up to it being the smart approach. Health to me is super important. Mental sharpness, which I think they've gotten a lot of reps, even though they're not banging, but fatigue and being, quote, in football shape is a massive issue in week one for every team and every game you watch that Australia game could be so weird. You know, I mean, especially the 10 a.m. Let's start. But I mean, if you play in Miami or Tampa or Jacksonville or Denver and week one or two, I'm betting against you. I mean, it's just, you gotta have a rotation. We're talking about this for this Niners game tomorrow too. Like their defensive lines really thin right now. I need a deep rotation at the line. I don't want Cam. Hey, we're playing 90% of the snaps. Even if he's the best player in the field, not in week one.

38:17No, absolutely. So I do think the Steelers are in good shape to rotate dudes in and out. Yes. But they also might not be as sharp with their combo blocks and their route. Action. And it's a brand new defensive coordinator and staff. There's a different language in there passing off routes deep down field. Yeah, there's going to be problems. This is a good one from Jeff. How many pass attempts per game would you feel comfortable with for Aaron Rogers this season? That's a good question, Jeff. Hello. I wonder what it was last year. Yeah, I was thinking that too. I was gonna say 27 something like that. So last year he had nearly 500. He had 498 pass attempts, which to be fair was down 86 from 2024. When he was 98 when he was in New York, he played 16 games. That's 31.1. I would want that a little lower. I was going to say 27, 28 and a half, 27 and a half, 28, something like that. Yeah.

39:19But Steelers also ran one of the fewest amount of offensive plays in the league. So if you can run 15% more plays over the course of the year, that's another 100 throws, maybe. You know what I mean? And I need that time possession to come up, which means more time. And I tweeted this yesterday, it's in Matt stats. McCarthy's five years as a cowboys had coach. They were I think top eight. I could find my tweet in plays run on offense, where Steelers were the bottom of league last year. So can't have both. Yeah, you know, I'm sure I don't think they're going to be run, run, run, run and only ask Aaron to do. You know, like end of career outweigh, you know, where it's TV is the is the offense. I don't think that's how they'll be structured. I do think they'll be balanced. And he does have a knack for coming to line. It's your image and checking into a throw. Yeah.

40:20He's trying to for years and it's worked out quite well. So maybe about the same as this next is last year, 31, 32, originally was thinking 25, 26, but. I want them to run more plays. I'm going to go 28 and a half per game. Maybe the better question and I don't have it in front of me, but run past ratio. Yeah. You know, because it take a person. I want the pie to be bigger. I also though hope some of that is you've got some more leads in the fourth quarter and run the ball and run game leaning on the opposition defense. Absolutely. Steel curtain says along the lines of the ongoing Joey Porter saga. Let's say there's a scenario where Joey plays out this year. Then he gets franchise tagged. And then the Steelers want to extend him and the salary gets even higher. Could you make an argument where it would be better off for Pittsburgh to get it done now? Sure. Sure. Unless you think that Joey Porter, Jr. Isn't the right fit for this defense or what he did last year was, was the as good as it gets for him.

41:20Like, unless you don't believe in the player in this system, the price is only going to go up yesterday's price. Yeah. Is never today's price inflation is rampant in the NFL. Of course. Now you get him an unbelievable bargain for this year. But you don't need him in unbelievable bargain this year. You already got everybody under the cap and you know, your roster set next year franchise money is the average of the top five salaries. So that's 30 plus. I mean, they'll come out with the exact numbers. But it's similar to what he's going to be asking for anyways. I mean, he's not going to be a bargain next year on the franchise tag. He's done have to give him up for a money. Now he could have a bad injury. In the next two years and then all of a sudden, you don't want to you're not interested in, you know, a lot can change between now and then. And unless you're certain or champ Bailey or Rodwoodson, that position does have some volatility year to year more than just about any other, which could be some hesitancy to give any corner. Three, four year deal because.

42:21Yeah, I mean, it's a reactionary athletic position. And if you lose a little bit of that athleticism, which everybody does, you can fall off a cliff or take a step backwards quicker than other positions. So yes, it would definitely cost more doing what they said. But you might come to conclusion a year or two from now. We'll go with what's up now. It could work either way. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it can end up it can end up being the right decision. And hindsight it can end up costing you a lot of money in hindsight. I mean, it had been cheaper if you signed them three months ago. Sure. And he says, thanks for getting us through another off season. I know it isn't always easy, but you guys make it fun and interesting. We appreciate you. Well, thanks, Annie. That's cool. And you know what though? Part of part of us getting through another off season has been all the excellent questions and participation from you good people consistently. So we thank all of you for that. And we say this all the time. Our jobs are hard. I draw comes easy to me. And it's, you know, if I did anything else, it'd be hard.

43:21I'm not a lay in brick or swing in a hammer on a roof. So I'll take it. RJ says, what do you guys think will be the biggest or who do you guys think part of me will be the biggest surprise performers for the Steelers this season? Surprise. I don't know if he qualifies or not, but maybe say he's too good already. But breakout. Keanu Benton. I think he could go. It's a good one. I think he could be like a top 10 interior past Russia. That's a really good one. And be a real. I'm not saying stuff on to it, but I, you know, a real force. You see a lot of single blocking with those maniacs around him. I would probably lead to a surprise. I would, I mean, he did just get a nice contract, but I would probably lean towards someone on that defensive line. Maybe YA Black as well. Okay. I don't think I can say Zach Frazier, right? I think that ship said, oh, it's out of the barn. There's no surprises there. One of the offensive tackles, first round tackles in terms of.

44:22Could Max be. Really, really good already. Yeah, by week 10, are we talking about him going like, he's not far from being a pro bowl player. Maybe an exercise. Maybe the ship sailed because it's already in season, but one thing we could have done was. Who got, I mean, if we put every stealer in. Bad average good. Great. Okay. If you have to go, if they all go in those boxes. Who has a chance to move up a box? What about Pat Fryer, or move up two boxes, go from bad to good. What about like another, I'm going to have these guys in the bad category, but what about Moose or Darnell? Yeah. Go from good to great. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What about Matt? What about DK Metcalfe? If there's, you know, Pittman Jr. does his job and the tight ends do their job and you've got to solve. It was a down year for his career. He could easily get back to what we saw in Seattle, especially as a downfield player. I think those are some good candidates. Yeah.

45:23Smooth Dave says, is it harder to find a running back than everyone says or maybe have the stealers just missed on some in the draft? James Connor left. Yeah. You found Jalen Moren in UDFA, but you've also drafted Jalen Samuels, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarlane, Najee Harris and Caleb Johnson. Najee's not like the others though. I mean, he cost a lot more than the others to the first round pick, but he was, he was a fine NFL starting running back. There's other guys or misses. I don't know. Is it harder to find a running back than you think? Maybe slightly. I think there's this misconception that they're just walking around the streets and you can just grab anyone and they're all the same. That's not true. And it's definitely not true to find the elite ones. No, no, no. Jeremiah Love prospects. You know, say Quan Barclay. Yeah. Jameer Gibbs. But all in all. Beijon Robinson. I think the hit rates are pretty good at that position across the league.

46:23Matt says, can you see any final narrative that the Steelers end up losing to the Falcons other than Beijon Robinson strictly taking over? I mean, it is week one as we've outlined crazy weird things happen in week one. They do. But unless it's like the Steelers turn them all over five times. Yeah. You know, a lot of injuries or something weird. I would, I'd be hard pressed to a way that the Falcons win it as opposed to the Steelers losing it other than Beijon Robinson taking over. Yeah, especially with their quarterback situation. I think he's going to get a ridiculous number of touches. I mean, both in the past and run game. Beijon I'm talking about. Yeah. I mean, I can't think like boy at land this past rush was just too overwhelming. Like their secondary is really good. But I don't know that Rogers are going to throw three picks. Yeah, I mean. He keeps ball at harm's way pretty well. Maybe Steelers don't run the ball well. There could also be a scenario where Joey Porter Jr. doesn't play and Drake London has himself a day.

47:27That's very possible as much as we're both really down on two. I think that's a possibility. I thought about this today too. I was like, if Porter doesn't play, I have no, I, someone asked me do you think Porter will travel with London? And my answer was I have no clue because I just don't know what this defensive. Yeah. I mean, after week one, we'll have a much better clue of is it is going to left right it every snap or they're going to move corners all over the place. But it did dawn on me. Jamile Dean is playing against London a lot in the NFC South. He's going to be very familiar with him and his style of game with his size matches up reason. Who else London? Who's a great player, by the way? I think we've discounted how good he is. Yes, I don't think he's in that tier one dynamite wide receivers. No, but I think he's pretty high in the tier two group. Seven or eight. Yeah. Yeah. Matt last one of the day to have some fun here goes to TJ who quite simply asks if you could only use one utensil for the rest of your life. Would it be a knife, a fork or a spoon?

48:27Not a knife. See, I think I'm going knife. I guess you could put, well, you can't eat soup. Soup would be the one thing, but I can, I can pick up the soup ball and eat it. And then my knife. You're allowed to use your hands. Like I'm thinking, how am I going to, how am I going to cut a rib eye with a fork or a spoon? I'll just use the knife and stab it. You could just wolf it and grab it. Now I could do that just like a soup. I could do that too. I mean, that's not the best way at a nice restaurant on your anniversary. Pasta, pasta would be very difficult with anything, but a fork, I feel like. I think fork's your answer. I mean, I don't, I think spoons my last pick. Yeah. Because the only thing. I mean, you can even ice cream with a fork if you have it. Absolutely. You can go get some mush. Absolutely. Absolutely. Or just milk. Yeah, it's a fork. Now this doesn't count for like a real steak or something you need a sharp knife for, but it takes me a lot to pull a knife out of the drawer. Because if I can just cut it with my fork, you know what I mean? I just muscle it with my fork and break it up. You know what I mean? But so many of the great things in life, namely steak, you need a knife for us.

49:29You're eating like a caveman. I think it's fork. It's a good question. I definitely, I'm picking spoon last, but knife or fork, you could make compelling. I mean, it goes that same. We've, everyone's used these utensils, but putting a knife to your mouth. Now that's a very good point. That's a dangerous proposition. All right. All right. It's fork. All right. You're just like spitting out blood to your whole, you're good at it. I mean, either you're just lips become very cast. Right. I mean, and it doesn't hold much and you know, you can't put much on a knife. All right. You're right. It's fork. It is fork. That's super overrated. That's cheap. They're disoverrated. That's cheap. Good. You can't stab anything with a fork really either. You can't, I mean, fork with a pasta. No, it takes forever. It takes forever. Right. One noodle at a time. Fun show today. And I'm looking forward to a lot of fun shows down the stretch of this week and all throughout this fall. Of course. But we will be excited to watch some football tonight. We'll break that down tomorrow. We'll talk about the Australia game and we'll have more to get you ready for Steelers

50:29and Falcons on Sunday. But that will do it for us today. Big thanks to Mr. TV Tyler V. As always for producing on the video side for Matt Williams and I'm West Mueller. Take care everybody. And we'll talk to you soon. 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 Steelers 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? She's going to start banking from S&T Bank. She gets budgeting tools, scholarship opportunities. And can send money using Zell. Wow. I guess college is about getting smarter, right? Give them financial independence and yourself peace 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.