Drive10.2.26Week4: Week 4 Preview

0:00So, who's up for dessert? Ah, tempting, but I should check my balance first. Don't worry, I got it. No, I'll good. Desserts on me. Ever hesitate before making a purchase? What if you could always know? You can with S&T's mobile banking. Check your balance, pay friends on the spot, track your spending any time, anywhere, all from your phone. Visit STbank.com to learn more and download our mobile app today. S&T Bank, member FDIC. You're tuned to the drive on your 24-7 home of the Black & Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

1:00Growing along here down the home stretch of this week and of this show, we will have more on the back end here of Browns and Steelers. And of course, we'll have some rewatch thoughts and some final thoughts and stuff like that on Monday. I want to get into some more of that special team stuff that Matt was talking about in the first hour of the program. But it is still a fresh. Tomorrow will be kind of a weird week for us too, because we're not going to recap a steeler game Monday. It's kind of like a by-week. It is. We will have Mike McCarthy's press conference right before we go on air on Monday. So that's the same. He's still Monday. I think other than the day that the Steelers are in Jacksonville for Monday Night Football, I think all his press conferences will be Monday. It doesn't matter if it's a Thursday game or a Black Friday game or whatever the case may be. That'll be good for us, because we'll have Mike McCarthy leading right into the show. We'll be able to get all his thoughts on the game.

2:00I'm sure he'll talk a little bit about maybe the Joey Porter Jr. trade as well. Yeah, yeah. So we'll have, and we should probably revisit that a little bit more on Monday. I guess that happened since we got together. Yeah. Lots, lots happened since we got together. I want to throw one thing out there about the Porter trade. Okay. That I know people aren't thrilled that it's a second two years from now. But if we operate under the assumption, I find it funny that everyone in the Pittsburgh media operates under the assumption that the Steelers are going to pick 20th. You know, they could pick fifth or 30 seconds. I mean, it's a chance. They could. Just because they always pick 20th doesn't. Also nice season two, you know. So I'm just saying, if they do pick 20-ish, and their goal still is to get the quarterback, having two seconds, two years from now, makes trading that future first. Yeah. So much easier. That had to be part of the good. Sure it was. That was my first thought too. It's going to cost you your 20th overall pick and next year's first to get in the conversation. Or whatever. Yeah, but depending on for you to move and all this stuff. But if that's the way it goes,

3:01makes it a heck of a lot easier to deal that future first. Yes. I just hope that that's the plan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hope it pays off in April. Yeah. I mean, it's not, I mean, you. If you end up with Mesta Maker and he's your next bend, no one's going to. No one's going to get an air and I one bit. Exactly right. Yeah. So if you don't, then it might be like, okay, we traded a 26 year old, you know, our number one corner. Yeah, yeah. And did we, you know, did we get much better from it? No, no, that's all to be determined. All TBD and I know I'm this way too, man. It's an instant gratification league. You want it and you want it right now. I also wouldn't be shocked. Maybe it's the six round pick they got back, which I just realized is theirs. They got back or fifth. They could be and they could add a player. Like it wouldn't shock me if they traded for a wide receiver or a corner or maybe even a safety between now and the safe now and the dead. That'll certainly be something to keep an eye on. Yeah. They got a lot of picks. Matt, let's run the gambit here of week four NFL Sunday in folks.

4:02We got a 9 30 AM game. Oh, yeah, over there, cross a pawn in London. It taught them hot spustadium. Colts, commanders, 9 30 AM East Coast time. That's a 6 30 start if you're over there on the way. I guess. Yeah. Indie. Oh, and if you're, you know, yeah, yeah, California Seattle, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Indie, four and a half point favorites. Seems like a lot. No, it feels like those, those Europe games are always close. Yeah. We're scoring. I usually think who's going to run the ball better on the road? What travels? And that would be Jonathan Taylor. But Washington's coming off a decent performance and Mario does no slouch. I mean, I would take the Colts to win, but I'd take the points. Yeah, I agree with you. That that that that numbers two and a half. Maybe it's a different conversation. Maybe we're gaining. Weird games, weird spots. I usually take the point. Yes. Correct, especially when it's more than a field goal. I don't think Washington's terrible. No, I don't either. Yeah. And as you just as you said in the last segment, I think Marcus Mario,

5:03to might be the best, you know, true backup. Yeah. Not including Mendoza or any of those guys, like you mentioned, kind of the true, the best true backup. He'll do more than just hold down the fort. Yes. I think that's a big place. He's won some games over the last year or two up in Buffalo. The three and O bills looked to remain undefeated at home against their arch nemesis, the New England Patriots, Patriots going to be down a couple of Christians on defense. Buffalo on a Sunday. Yeah. If only they knew a church to help them out with that. I think it's a blowout. The bills are seven point favorites. And you know my thoughts on laying more than a touchdown. But I think I'm going to lay in here with Buffalo. I just think they're in two different places. And I think Buffalo is going to put up a lot of points with those two injuries. And I'm a Drake may apologize, but he's playing poorly and he's throwing to like Mac Hollins and Hunter Henry is his best option. That's not a formula for keeping up with Josh Allen. No. This won't surprise you Matt. There's three games this weekend that have very expensive get in prices. And this is one of them.

6:03You're going to need to spend about $250 to sit in the nosebleeds at New High Mark Stadium. Speaking of which, the most expensive get in price of the weekend is in Chicago. Tickets about 280 bucks for the cheapest ones there. It's so Joe so Joe so Joe so Joe pardon me field. That fan base is wowed up with this new coach quarterback combination. Yeah. Long time. It's a stick. All right. Bears host the jet Chicago only three and a half point favorites at home. Saiyan's Caleb Williams obviously. So these are the two giants or lions coordinators. And now head coach that they should know each other really well. And Ben Johnson. I'll take the points. I'm assuming it's going to be Keenum and I think they'll try to run the ball a lot. I think the jets are okay though. Your boy Geno is playing pretty well. You don't write is maybe. He's not bashful either. This is this. He's never been. He's never been shy of his skill set. That's for sure. This is one of those if it was four and a half. I would love jets plus four and a half.

7:05Three and a half makes me a little nervous, but I think I'm with you. I will still take the points. The Chicago wins by a field goal in a close one. I wish that was four and a half though, because I'd be leaning towards the jets. In Cincinnati, Matt, this might be honestly the game of the week. The Bengals. I agree. The Bengals host the Jags. One of these teams is going to be three and one. The other's going to be 500 like how did that happen? Yeah. Cincinnati at home is a two and a half point favorite against Jacksonville. I still think Jacksonville is a slight tear above. I think the quarterbacks are almost equal at this point. I think the weapons are almost equal believe it or not. I mean, Parker Washington and those guys are really good. I think a huge key to me is. I think the Jags D is noticeably better than Cincinnati's and I know we talked up since and I just need to know and. I go back on that a little bit. I feel like if you can get their front blocked. They're linebacker safety problems from a year ago or still linebacker safety problems. And I don't think the Jags O lines great to get texture in those guys blocked.

8:06But if you're going to give me points and I think they're the better team. And a better coach team. I'm taking the Jags there. I think I'm with you. I don't want to dismiss Cincinnati head and back home. Kind of wounded and vulnerable and you know, we had such a positive start to the season. We don't want to drop two games in a row. But I think I think Jacksonville is not quite on that, um, you know, tier one AFC list. But I think they might be at the top of tier two. Yeah. And you know, I don't know if they're quite buffalo. And if I don't know if they're quite like Denver and Houston. If both of those teams are firing on full cylinders, but he's just looking for their first win of the season. Um, with you, I'll lay the points with with Jacksonville two and a half. Or I'll take the points part of me with Jacksonville plus two and a half. Matt cheapest get in price of the weekend is in East Rutherford, New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, where the Giants host the Cardinals about 50 bucks can get you into that one. A lot of wind out of the sales for the Giants.

9:06Big time. Yeah. And Arizona's a two and a half point favored on the road. I think I'll take the Giants to win. Yeah. I just, I think that I don't know if they're going to be favorite on any of them in the road. Exactly right. I mean, they've done some good things. Maybe if they're playing Miami at home, you're right. Arizona should be favored. Can the Giants just hand at the Scataboo a million times and get this in close? You mean, I'll take the Giants at home with points. I will as well. That to me just doesn't make much sense. Arizona's a little bit healthier, certainly, but yeah, they got a travel across long road trip that proverbial one o'clock west coast team one o'clock on the east coast as well. This was in Arizona. I might take it with those things, but I mean on the road. Another potential game of the week, Matt in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles host the Rams. A big one for both of these teams. Yeah, kind of is kind of a statement game. Eagles got embarrassed. And they're trying to stay at the front of the vision. They got embarrassed on Monday night in Chicago. The Rams, my goodness, everyone's darlings. Could they fall to one in three?

10:07The Rams are three and a half point favorites in Philadelphia. I don't know who's going to win, but I'm taking the points. Okay. I think that's a brutal place to play. Although if things go poorly for the Eagles, they could get a good job. They could get boober and bad. I would also say though, over like the last four years, I think the Eagles have hosted the Rams there three times and they've won all three. I know it's been tough on the Rams going there. It's been a house of horror for the Rams. Stafford's still playing really well, but like his numbers when pressured are really bad. The former reception is already. Yeah, and I do think that they will get after him. I think that's a good pass rush and a good defense. The Kua comes back and that's huge. I'm going to take the Eagles, getting points at home. I'd probably say that against any if Seattle was going there, Buffalo was going there. You're going to be three and a half filly at home. Yeah, this doesn't quite add up to me. Saying I just I can't pass that up. No, especially when you'll get a kind of a, I think, well, both of these teams will be desperate to be fair. Tampa Bay speaking of desperation there, Oh, and three. They host the Packers one and two.

11:08Green Bay trying to get back to 500 against a wounded Tampa Bay Bucks squad in Raymond James stadium there. And Tampa, the Packers are a three and a half point road favorite. The Bay of Pigs game because Birmingham, you should call it. I want to I want to bet against both these guys. Yeah. But I can't bet on Tampa right now. I'll just take Jordan love. Yeah. I say the better quarterback. Yeah. They signed three offensive linemen that are all going to start this week. Mike, I backed in Zitler. I forgot, but I backed in with somebody else that was they plucked off a practice squad. Green Bay's own lines that bad. And they just anybody they can play that has a pulse. So I don't care what you are that they they're adding to the team. Jordan love got speed soldier. Matt, the biggest spread of the weekend takes place in Baltimore at MNT Bank Stadium where the Ravens host the Titans, Baltimore is in 11 and a half point favorite at home. I'm taking the points. I mean, if Stanley's questionable and Hendrix not going to go and I'm totally taking the point. I've told you before when it's that big of a number of them.

12:09It's over 10. Yeah. I mean, he's still got a block Simmons and I'm not ready to count out ward that he's incapable of moving the football and he's showing a little bit of progress. I'll think the points in that game. I'm with you. You might even I've lmarset now the series or so at the end and they backdoor cover it. Sure. Easily. That one's also pretty cheap to get into 57. Really. In Baltimore. Matt, the battle of Texas down in Houston as the 0 and 3 desperate Texans against the one and two desperate cowboy. Funny use of word desperate because we did a six pack two days ago of the six most desperate teams. These would both be on the list. They both are on the list and it's not the six worst teams. It wasn't the Titans and Miami. It's teams like Green Bay and the chargers that we thought could be good Dallas Houston. Like it's desperation time. Nico comes back. But I think he's going to get shadowed by Porter or at least they're going to battle it out. It's the other side of the ball. It's so interesting to me though.

13:09It's like Houston's D isn't. Close to living up to expectations yet, but I think they will. I'm taking the better quarterback and Dallas is getting points on the road. Getting three Houston's a three point favorite Dallas. That a better you in Houston so far. I agree with that. Matt, I'm taking I'm taking the Texans and I'm laying the points. I just don't that this is a team that was in the same spot last year. They started off way slow last year and then they were able to win, you know, like eight of nine or nine of 10 or whatever to get into the playoffs and ultimately win a playoff game in Pittsburgh. I just think that Houston team is way too good to go. Oh and four. No, I realize they've had their issues on offense and the defense has been good, but not great. But I just I can't see. This is kind of a playoff elimination game for Houston. You can't it almost is you can't drop to own four man. I mean like they end up with like an eight percent chance or something crazy and making a playoffs. I mean, just own four teams across the I mean you a league basically have to go 10 and three in your final 13 games if you're Houston to have a shot.

14:13You're going to have to win 10 games to be a wild guard. Yeah, you'd have to go 10 and three in your next 13 to have a shot to have a shot and then probably need some tie breakers and stuff. And Matt, they would be o and three at home. Like wow, this is a there. This is their they started o and two at home and then lost on the road and other back. If you're o and four and three of those games are at home, good luck. I know it's so far from scientific, but sometimes I just say I can't imagine this team being o and four. Same. You know what I mean? Like sometimes you got to throw all the analysis out the window. Right. It's on o and four team. It's not an o and four team. But I'm taking points. I don't think the Cowboys are really a one in three team, but I don't blame you taking the points, but I just feel like this is a spot where in the last couple years we've seen Houston respond. And I I expect them to do it again. So I don't know if you noticed this and I'm care if anyone follows me on Twitter or not, but I just found it extremely interesting is Sam Hoppin does really, really good analytic work. I, I, a subscriber to his sub stack.

15:14So I had nothing to do with this. I just cut and pasted a chart of all the ed rushers in the league. And I know charts are hard to follow, but one axis is your run defense and one axis is your past rush. And a lot of good guys are all on there and you want to be in the top right. Will Anderson is in a stratosphere ahead of every other edge rusher in the league times a million on this chart, like it is startling. Like all I put on the tweet was will Anderson exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point. And I was talking to a co host today. I'm like, why don't you put will I and it's on I can't find him like yeah, because he's in the top right by himself. He's on Jupiter. I mean, like all these other great guys, both so what, etc are in the top right, but they're nowhere close to what he's doing. I just thought it was extremely no worthy speaking of no worthy, Matt. I might have to change my pick on the Eagles.

16:14Zach Bond, Hollywood, Brown, Marcus Epps, Dallas, Goddard, Devonta Smith, all rolled out for Sunday. Oh, don't want to Smith out. I'm changing my tune. Bond's a big one. I could live with that. But then you said Smith. Listen, there's nothing less in the world that I care about than anybody else's fantasy football team. Nothing less in the world that I care about than anybody else's fantasy football team. But I mean, Devonta Smith is a big loss for my fantasy football team this weekend. Wow, I didn't know he was fighting anything. He's out. I don't know where they're passing game codes then. I think I'm taking the Rams. I think I'm taking the Rams. Devonta Smith out with a hamstring. Zach Bond out. The other one's like a love. Dallas, Goddard. Yeah, not great. Not great for Philly Philly. Matt into the four o'clock slate of games. The three and O Vikings against the O and three dolphins. The movable object meets the what's that line TV. I don't remember. I messed it up. You get what I'm saying. A movable object in the unstoppable force. Well, one of these is a very movable object and not a difficult to stop force in the Miami dolphins.

17:15Second biggest spread of the mat of the weekend. Matt for the Vikings at home. They are 10 and a half point favorites against Miami in a game where the over under is only 38 and a half. I'm taking 10. I'll take the points. Did we really rolled out Justin Jefferson? Justin Jefferson's out. I mean, Vikings D could score twice. They sure could. You know, like that's how they handle. I'm never I'm never going to. I'm never going to lay that many points. I'm just not not in the NFL. The Vikings aren't that good. No, the Vikings win, but I'll take the 10 and a half. I would stay away from this one. I wouldn't touch it. No, me either. I mean, I can't imagine putting money on Miami in any way right now. But if I have to pick the game, you're going to give me over 10. I'll take good point by TV. A little bit of a revenge factor there for Brian Flores as always lining up against the Miami dolphins. But I'm not laying 10 and a half points. He has a lawsuit against them as we speak, right? I think it's probably still going on. I think so. Yeah. You know, I'm one thing that I don't know much about the legal world. But one thing that I do know is it takes about 37 years to get a verdict on any of these things. You think he's in a thousand blitzes when they're up 20? Yeah.

18:15Just a few. Matt, another one of these games. That's a real good boy. Another one of these game of the week potentials. There's some good ones this weekend. 425 in Viva Las Vegas. Second most expensive get in price of the weekend. Really? About a lot of KC fans are going. We all saw this coming. The three and O raiders against the three and O chiefs. Adiligent stadium there at the end of the Vegas strip. I'll be there next August for an oasis. Nice. I'm going to take the chiefs and lay the points. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think I'm going to take the chiefs, but I'm going to take the points. Okay. I have respect for the raiders. Super well coach. Rewinded an hour. We talked about all their hidden yardage stuff. Yeah. And they forced 10 fumbles. They didn't recover them all. But I mean, they are punching them all out like crazy through three games. Things like that. I just think the chiefs are two tears ahead of them. Agreed. Yeah. But I don't know. I don't know. I think we have a lot of redness. I think the raiders can hang around.

19:17I just. Maybe a fun story if they can take them to the wire. Boy, would it. I'll take the I'll take Vegas plus four and a half Kansas City wins, but I don't know if they win by more than three or four. Another great one in that kind of 430 window. Matt, the three and O nineers host the two and one Denver Broncos in Santa Clara. Levi Stadium, San Fran, a three point home favorite. I think that's a perfect number. It's a perfect number. San Fran's been unbelievable on off. Unbelievable, but they have a way to play. They played anybody. They played anybody. And Denver's been so roller coaster up and down. But it's maybe the week where they stabilize a little bit. I don't know. I guess I'll take Denver with the points, but I don't feel good about that at all. I would stay away from San Fran's got some injuries as always. I think you're right. I think taking the points with Denver is the smart play here, but the smart play might just be leaving it alone. Yeah. It's also supposed to be a really good game. Also supposed to be in the 90s in the hot. I heard it was really, really hot. Yeah. Supposed to be in the 90s. So that could play a factor lower scoring. Keep it close.

20:17Maybe you take the plus three with Denver. Matt, speaking of desperation, last one in that four o'clock, 430 window, the reigning Superbowl champion Seattle Seahawks back at home to host the O and three L.A. Chargers. Another one that we all saw coming Seattle a touchdown favorite at home against the Chargers. I don't think it's enough. I mean, I think an angry Seattle team that let one get away from that they might have been a better team in Washington. I think the Chargers are I think the Chargers and Bucks are broken. Okay. They're the two teams that I did not like Dolphins are like, no, no, you should be a lot better than this. Right. Like things are off the rails and might not ever get back on. You coaching staffs and those places this off season, Tampa, I think definitely. I think that seats on fire. I feel like Harbaugh would probably get another. I would think he gets another year. Tees. Coaches and quarterbacks on teams that are drastically under performing. Could they become available or fired or I'm not saying you could trade for Herbert or

21:21Drake May if you're the Steelers, but weird things happen to this league. I've been given some thought like what are the Chargers end up with a fifth overall pick? And it's like we could trade Herbert the Steelers for three first round picks and draft archmanning or or how about they trade Herbert to the Steelers for that sixth round pick. We just got back from Dallas. All right. We'll call it. You know what I mean? Like if you're picking the top of the draft and you have a quarterback, I will also say I want to cash them out for arch. I think it's a very interesting conversation. Maybe one that we could have on Monday or Tuesday next week. But if someone like Herbert or May is going to be available on the market, Stroud, Stroud, they didn't have the type of year where I'm giving up three first round pick. The thing that they have to be the team has to be terrible. I might give you a first round pick, but I'm not giving you multiple for a guy that's coming off of a bad season. Can you buy those guys at 80 cents on the dollar or I don't know. I'm just saying there's other quarterback options in a fourth or yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know. Then I'd be interested, but not if it's like this guy is coming off a bad year and we

22:23still want to ransom for him. No chance. Houston's own four. Stroud really hasn't been in the problem. I'm just throwing this out there. If they end up five and 11 and there's a quarterback sitting there and like should we pay Stroud 60 million or should we draft Arch? You probably draft Arch probably, you know, probably, but then again, then it becomes there. You have no leverage to trade CJ Stroud to somebody like, oh, we're not going to pay him this and we're going to take the other quarterback. But here you go guys. I know. Give us some type of return and pay him a contract. I just think it's interesting that there's some stable organizations that could pick a lot earlier than you think in what it might might be a rich quarterback draft. Matt all I know is you need to just work that equation. Goodwill hunting on the board of how Drew Mestemaker ends up as a Pittsburgh stealer. We found that. I think you've convinced me. I think I'll lay the points with Seattle. Although I don't know. I could see the chargers not go. Seattle's offense is great. Not going quietly into the night.

23:25And then finally Sunday night football, the Panthers host the lions there at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. And there's a Detroit three and a half point road favorite. Both of the Carolina corners are out. JC Horn and Jackson. Yeah. And Detroit can give up some points, but they can score them too. Yeah. Both these teams kind of have to win shootouts. Yes. And they've been able to to some degree. I just think the lions are better at it. Okay. Three and a half. I'll let him know if that gets up to like four and a half, then I would think about it. But I'll take Detroit to win and cover. I still knew of runners high in that game. 50 and a half, which is one of the highest. I think the second highest, second highest of the weekend. Bengal Jags. The highest. The highest of 51 and a half. Look at you. Look at you, Matt Williamson. Of course, we will talk about Monday night football between the Saints and the Falcons when we return on Monday. But that's our thoughts here on a busy and an intriguing week for slate across the NFL

24:25this weekend. Let's get to our final break. We'll cross some teas, dot some eyes, maybe answer some questions, comments, concerns and reactions before we get up out of here for the weekend. You'll learn Williamson. It's the drive. Steelers nation radio on the Steelers audio network. So who's up for dessert? Oh, tempting, but I should check my balance first. Don't worry. I got it. No, I'll good. Desserts on me. Ever hesitate before making a purchase? What if you could always know you can with S&T's mobile banking? Check your balance, pay friends on the spot, track your spending any time, anywhere, all from your phone. Visit STBank.com to learn more and download our mobile app today. S&T Bank. Remember FDIC.