HR2: Chiefs Week

Published Dec 23, 2024, 10:00 PM
After the fantasy focus, the guys continue to talk Steelers Chiefs as we already are two days away from the game.

At least he's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold cast in Steelers Nation Radio.

And we are back.

I am Dale Lolly, he is the Matt Williamson and it is now time just kick off our number two of the drive here with a little fantasy football focus. Yeah, it's crunch time man once again.

Matt.

We finished in the money, Yeah, one hundred and fifty six point eight four points lead.

Though we'll get to that. I'll get to that big news people have probably already heard.

I mean it's probably been splashed on front, you know.

Out ESPN.

Right.

Uh so we had Aaron Rodgers at four point four percent ownership.

That wasn't great.

He got us thirteen point eight four points only he had two hundred and fifty six yards passing but only one one touchdown.

One touchdown. That was That was the rough part. Uh.

Jamior Gibbs, Well, everybody had sixty six point seven percent ownership. That might be every three players had him in the lineup. And he was not cheap, No, he was not. But he gets your twenty eight point four points. Yeah, he kind of needed him in the lineup unless you really pivoted to it. Like another guy that I wanted, James Connor had a monster day.

Yeah, he's hurt, but he's hurt.

I don't have any running backs left. No, everybody else was hurt yesterday.

Ty J. Spears, that was a good one.

Four point four percent ownership. Did nothing in the first half of that game. Scored two second half touchdowns because well, Paullard, we're getting blown out. You don't need to be Indy J. Spears is in there and gets twenty one point six points. I don't care when it comes its garbage time points.

They can't storm it back. They did come back game, right. I wonder when they announced Paulard being active or that he was going to play the old Yeah, I bet they did.

I bet they did two and again, and that dropped out ownership to four point four percent, which is how you win these things. Yeah, Mike Evans seventeen point five percent ownership. We got eleven point nine points out of him. Not a great They really went another way to take him out of the equation. Yeah, and which is pretty effective.

Worked. They won. They won.

Jackson Smith and Jigba thirteen point two percent. Ownership and he got us twenty four points. That's like every week with him though, Yeah, didn't get the hundred yard receive. There's a little bonus hefter that, so we didn't get that, but that's still that's worth like twenty four. My Keenan Allen call. Yeah, he scored right, Baby, did he have himself a game?

Two touchdowns.

He had nine catches for one hundred and forty one yards in a touchdown in that game. Fourteen point nine percent ownership for fifty three hundred dollars. Yeah, got us thirty two point one points in the game. That was our high score for the week. He just lights up the Detroit Lions.

Yeah, that was big.

We've got to remember that this week slot receivers against the Lions.

Yeah. I assume Branch not being in there as a lot.

To do might have something to do with that. Yeah, Brenton Strange, it didn't work out. He was used in forty three percent of lineup though, down at thirty five hundred dollars, and so it didn't kill us because he got us three point two points, but more than half, almost half the lineups had him in there. Okay, My DeVante Adams call, he got the those down we were talking about. Yeah, seven for sixty eight and a touchdown, so he had nineteen point eight.

Take it.

Aaron Rodgers is going to throw the ball to his guy. Yeah, Yeah, much to the chagrin of Garrett Wilson and Garrett Wilson owners. In fact, that was a little bit of a consternation after that game.

That will How did he complain a little bit?

Yeah, because I think he got like two targets before the final the final drive, and then he got like four on the final driver, but he got six or seven targets, so yeah, but it was all in garbage time at the end.

Yeah, that's a messy situation. But he's too good for that. Yeah.

I would trade for him in a heartbeat if he's once out of there.

I was thinking the same thing, and I've heard some rumblings that that might be. Don't be shocked if he's not a jet I'm not like breaking.

Would you trade your first round pick right now?

Yeah? For Garrett Wilson? Oh yeah? Would you give more than that? Talk about Steelers right yeah? Oh yeah, yeah, definitely the first The only thing I hate about it is him and Pickens with like the exact same age. Yeah, you know, and just in contract wise, you get the Higgins Chase.

Thing going, you know, but with Wilson you get the fifty year on. I get one more year to mess with that. I'll gladly give you the one after that.

What's you got? I mean he has two years or one year and then the fifth year I believe, So yeah, okay, well he's pickings age, so yeah, yeah, I mean I'm just saying contract wise, that's why I might not give you more than a one. Yeah. On the jats, I need all the ones I can get.

Oh, absolutely, they're not doing anything next time.

I love the player. Yeah.

We had the Steelers defense in their seven point nine percent ownership. They got us two points and uh well one fifty six point eight four.

There's a cheap play though.

Yeah.

They were twenty five hundred bucks so that worked out. Well, that's a winner. Moving on to we know it's a winner even it's a winner. Yeah, ok, because we only did the we did the sour Monday games. We didn't Monday wasn't involved in that one.

Uh.

Looking at this week's leaderboard, the top two quarterbacks happened to be the quarterbacks on your and yours and my fantasy teams over there which we both won our semi final matchup show and yeah the league we're in. Matt and I are now squaring off next week in the championship game.

Huge, huge, massive, and what's crazy? Watched my wife chagrin. We got football Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. So yeah, you better know who's playing. It's a weird fantasy week, it really is. You want to play someone now, if someone's questionable on Monday night or you know what I mean, there's some balancing going you gott to you got to figure those things out.

Uh So, the quarterback leader this week was Jared Goff three thirty six and three touchdown passes. Right behind him was Caleb Williams with three thirty four same game, three thirty four and two touchdown passes. They were both Fantasy Gold. Williams ran a little bit more than I pulled Daniels out of the lineup for golf at the last minute, just thinking, to be honest, my opponent last week wasn't very strong, no, and I'm just thinking.

Who is the hot who?

I thought I was the number one seed going into this thing. I thought I would get the sixth seed coming out, but not the strongest roster for he Mar and that's all he has.

Pretty much it. Yeah, so I was like, I'm just gonna take the player at the higher floor. I think that's Goff as opposed to Daniels versus Eagle. You better bring it this week. You don't have to worry about that.

Geno Smith three fourteen and three touchdowns, two interceptions, and that get lost to the Minnesota Vikings. They're kind of a pass funnel as well.

Yeah.

Bruck Perty had three thirteen and two touchdowns in the loss to the Miami Dolphins. They only put up seventeen points in that game. They're kind of shot.

Yeah.

Baker Mayfield had three zero three and two touchdowns with an interception again and the loss of the Cowboys. On the other side of that, Cooper Rush two ninety two in a touchdown hardly was using.

I mean, ceedee Lamb was a shell of himself out there too. I mean, after we know he's been battling a shoulder for a while, crashed down on it I think in the second quarter, and Rush still put up points. Yeah, Dallas playing hard. I mean they're I don't think i'd make coaching changes there.

No, I don't think I would either. Justin Herbert had two eighty four and two touchdowns with an interception and the win over the Broncos Bo Nicks. On the other side of that one two sixty three and two touchdowns and the loss to the Charger.

You're seeing a lot of, Yeah, the dueling quartering quarterbacks here at this point.

Drake May two sixty one and two touchdowns with an interception in the loss to the Buffalo Bills, and then number ten.

Was Patrick targeting May next draft.

Yeah, I can tell you that they're going to least draft or receiver.

You'd think maybe two three side note on him, I mean his numbers in this game were like worst than the league versus man, best in the league vers zone, which is a wide receiver stat.

Yeah, they don't have anybody to beat anybody.

Yeah.

Mahomes had two sixty in a touchdown in the win over Houston ten and Ransom. Yeah, Jade and Daniels just missed out in terms of yardage. He had two fifty eight and five touchdown passes with two interceptions. It was a monster. He had like a fifty point game in our league?

Was that that high? Yeah, probably should have went with him, but that was all. The results were fine.

Uh Ad and O'Connell was fine. He had two fifty seven, didn't throw a touchdown pass.

So I'm gonna get a dash of Daniels this week.

Yeah.

Burrow had two fifty two and three touchdown passes.

He looks tremendous too. He's really really playing well.

Sam Darnold had two forty six and three touchdown passes.

Is this crazy talk? If the Bengals make the playoffs, I think I'd vote for Burrow for MVP. Yeah, I know he talk. I think he's been the best quarterback in the league.

I get I hear you, but I know if he can get there a long lay lab shot to get it.

Yeah.

Looking at this week's leading rushers, there are nine one hundred yard rushers this week, led by Jonathan Taylor.

Thanks Jonathan.

It cost ever, it cost everybody all season long. You go off for two eighteen and three touchdowns and everybody's loser bracket this way.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean if you if you're playing against him, you lost. If you had him, you won. You know, one of those deals.

Yeah, Derrick Henry won sixty two did not score against the Steelers.

So it was a big game, but wasn't a monster fantasy. Yeah right, he was, like he's catching a ton of passes either.

Chewba Hubbard one fifty two and two touchdowns. He had to walk off game winner against the Arizona Cardinals.

He's real, Yeah, yeah, he solid.

Sakwon Barkley had one fifty and two touchdowns.

On my roster. Yeah, long one too.

Yeah, he had a sixty eight yarder. Kiren Williams had one twenty two in a touchdown. His long run was thirteen yards, so it was it was consistent. Yeah, that was it.

Hurt Minakua and cuping those guys. Yeah.

Uh.

Devin ah Chan seventeen for one to twenty in a touchdown against the forty nine ers.

He had like one hundred catches though.

Yeah, he had a fifty yard run in that one as well. James Connor fifteen for one to seventeen in a touchdown.

Also caught a bunch of passes and then got injured and then got hurt. Wonder if his season's over considering their seasons over.

Yeah, they just resigned him to a new deal.

So yeah, Benson, that's why his turn now.

Yeah, uh, he's hurt too.

Yeah, and Demcarter has something.

Everybody was hurt. Yeah, I mean Connor was like they had to bring up uh Carter, the guy from the Jets, now, Michael Michael Carter. That was he was the backup in that game off their practice squad. He is not in every down back. Jamior Gibbs had one oh nine in a touchdown. His long run was twelve yards, so it wasn't like he blew.

Up, you know, or something.

James Cook had eleven for one hundred and a touchdown. You don't like to see the eleven.

Though, No, that's kind of the deal with them.

The page are kind of playing keep away from them a little bit, especially in the first half of that game.

Buffalo didn't. Their run defense was a bit of an issue. I don't think their pass defense is great either. Yeah, it's a receiver. B Jeon Robinson just missed with ninety four yards and two rushing touchdowns. Yeah you got Jerome Ford went for eleven for ninety two in a touchdown. I bet he was highly owned in DFS, probably.

Chase Brown at eighteen for ninety one, but did not score or eighty yeah, ninety one. Jade Daniels had nine for eighty one running the ball in that game. They have clinched a playoff spot now, right, I don't know. I believe they had thought so I know that.

Yeah.

I think they because they eliminated some other teams.

Okay, like the Cardinals, I think got eliminated, and some of the West teams are in trouble now.

Anthony Richardson had nine for seventy in a touchdown. My the reason I bring those two guys up and Bryce Young was next with five for five for sixty eight in a score. I wonder if the Commanders, now, knowing that they've clinched a play layoff spot, these guys, hey, yeah, don't run so much here, just throw the ball. Yeah, they still win division, but still Indianapolis on the other side of it's like, hey, we need, we need. We're gonna win these last two games to get in. Anthony, you run at will, I.

Would think so. I thought that going into this game that it would be a heavy Richardson run game. I mean, Taylor stole the show, but it still kind of was.

Looking at the receiver leaders only seven one hundred yard receivers this week. So leading the way was Justin Jefferson with ten for one forty four and two touchdowns, So you're going to see him this week. He was unbelievable. Jamison Williams five for one forty three in a touchdown.

I think it like one eight though, but that's what he did. Eighty two yarder.

Yeah, but he still had sixty one yards on his other four catches.

All right, No, he's been good.

Keenan Allen nine for one forty one in a touchdown. Aforementioned Brian Thomas nine for one thirty two in a touchdown.

It doesn't really matter, it's he knows it every week.

George Kittle had eight for one oh six but did not score.

That was their matchup, but they liked.

Cede Lamb had seven for one oh five.

Despite hardly playing the second half, and then Zay Flowers had five for one hundred. Like you wouldn't hesitate to put Lamb back in. No, they had nothing to play for and his shoulders bad, but he got us. They're still playing hard. Yeah.

Just missing was Brock Bowers with eleven for ninety nine.

Yeah.

PPR Tank Dell six for ninety eight in a touchdown, but the touchdown was a there's.

One of the low points of the weekend, if not the low point, because he's not going to play again this week this year.

I'm sure he made he's not gonna play again to start next season.

It's yeah, and again that's another huge injury. Stroud was basically in tears. I mean it. I'm not saying they would have won the game, but they pretty much cash it in at that point. It was the air out of the balloon in a big way.

Aj Brown at eight for ninety seven in a touchdown. Jamar Chase had six for ninety seven in a touch down, Deebo Samuel seven for ninety six in a.

Touchdowns kind of encouraging. Yeah, not quite dead yet, you know.

Jackson Smith and Jigba eight for ninety five in a touchdown. So a lot of guys got close to one hundred yards and they quit get there. Kayshawn Bute five for ninety five in a touchdown against the Bills.

Do we think he's their number one or fantasy relevant? I mean might be their number one, I don't know about fantasy relevant.

Yeah.

They were talking on the broadcast about how the Buffalo defensive backs needed to do a better job of getting their hands on the bute. Yeah, Lad McConkie six for eighty seven didn't score. Darnell Mooney had a strong game this week with the with the quarterback change, five for eighty two.

For the ball. Well, yeah, move kind of what you wanted to see from Chicken kwonk woe. He's been hot lately.

Nine for eighty one. That might be a Mason Rudolph thing could be.

It's always been a talented player. Yeah, he's just not an in line tight end and maybe the coaching staff taking a while how to figure him out, how to use them. He could be on the waiver.

Wire, he could still be out there. Ridley, on the other he had three for seventy eight with a touchdown. He had a thirty eight yarder in there, So Mason Rudolph kind of unlocked.

Mm hmm.

Some of those guys, of course, they were gonna catch up.

The way a lot of it was kind of garbage, timish, but they've turned it into real time.

For Washington. Olamade Zekias had five for seventy and two touchdowns.

I'd have to look where he's Noah Brown out. Yeah, because the week before Denaomie Brown took a lot of the low Brown stuff. I assume a zaky Is is stepping up now. McLaurin got a touchdown, but there everyone's really focus on taking out mclaur Yeah, for sure.

No other real standouts are I guess Xavier Worthy did have seven for sixty five on the score.

He might still be out there on some Yeah, maybe he's looking a lot better.

And well Calvin Austin for four for sixty five. Yeah, and if he catches that one down the middle of the yeah, Yeah.

I thought a little late.

I thought Wilson was a little late with the v throws it a little bit earlier. It's probably a touchdown.

Yeah, could have maybe got a flag. Was also pretty nice defensive play, but I think the ball has come out a split a second earlier. I would have had a one hundred yard game. Yeah. He's been good. He's been one of the most improved Steelers in my opinion.

Yeah.

So that's your fantasy football focus there for this week. And yeah, I mean there's not gonna be much on the waiver wire at this point in the season.

There just isn't. No I've brought up Benson in the backs with the Cardinals. That's the one or two waiver wire articles I've clicked on there, like at the top of the list. I mean, sometimes you can find a quarterback that's got a good matchup that got dropped because teams are only keeping one. But I wouldn't think like you're going to solve all your tight end problems or anything like that for your Super Bowl at this point.

Yeah, to your point, Penis was pretty good. Then it was the interception. Wasn't his fault? That was on Kyle Pitts.

Yes, badly, badly, but he was He moved around well, he threw the football very well, and they're fun again.

Yeah, did he run it all in that game?

I'm looking here, not a ton? I think he he made plays with his feet though from what I saw.

Yeah, he's not a big runner. No, that's not necessarily his game.

He didn't to wash it hardly at all. Yeah, I was blown away. He ran into four fours of his pro day, which or the combine. Yeah, he doesn't play like.

That's not Yeah, that's not necessarily who he is. He had a long run of five yards, so yeah, but but he.

Was a lot more nimble than Cousins. Yeah, they have this week. I don't even know. I think they need to win somewhat tough game. Yeah, one of their Now, I thought they had the easy schedule going down the stretch. Tampa's was easier. I think they're the ones a little harder. I think they have Carolina to end it. I don't know. It's in New Orleans. They're playing Division. I'm not sure. I'm not sure.

Yeah, yeah, well, yeah, we'll get to that tomorrow when we Yeah, one of those days.

Yeah, I forget.

We got anyways, that's going to do it for the Fantasy Football focus. He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale Lolly. You're listening to the Drive Matt, and I'll be back with more right after this.

At least he's the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven Home of the Black and Gold Steelers Nation Radio.

And we are back. I am Dale Lolly. He is the Matt Williamson and Matt we have the Chiefs injury report here. Oh wow, good they had three dnps today. That would be Tamari Connor, who's one of their backup defensive backs, but they play a lot of this a lot.

Yeah, he's out there quite a bit.

In fact, he has two interceptions this season, which is second most on the team. DJ Humphreys, who we mentioned he's still dealing with that hamstring injury.

That seems unlikely. Seems highly unlikely.

Yeah, a guy that's been with the team for two weeks and injured his hamstring the first week he was there is not going to play in this game. And mister Chris Jones with that calf injury.

Wow, first off, all we're talking tackles. I guess Taylor did participate that limited limited Okay, so he's unnecessarily out of the woods. Jones is so important. You're a one loss team trying to threepeat. I'm not putting him in harm's way.

I wonder if they take the same tact with Taylor.

Except there's just so little.

I mean, yeah, he's not the player that Jones.

Is, But I don't want to put my homes in harms.

Pretty darn important to what they you know, I know, and you wonder too. This is a guy who often tries to get a little quick start on stuff. That might be one of my guarantees for the game.

If he plays.

That, the Chiefs get called for at least two to three false starts because he starts early. Wat kidding me, he's gonna want to get out of there.

He might.

He might have a being a sprinter stance backwards to the line of scrimmage.

I haven't thought about this much, but I'm hoping, because there's gonna be so many eyes on this game that they don't that they let that stuff get away. Yeah, I mean, because they they I mean they're in a flying V. I mean, it really is far off more than any team, more than any team in the league.

They stretched that yes week in and week out.

Yeah, I hope that there's an early flag or two. Saying that's not You can't bother me to know that.

Yeah, it really is, because a couple of years ago it was a point of emphasis for the league to the point where I had to set to sit down and learn the rule. The head of the tackle, Yeah, at the at the center of the waste of the center, and most of the time he's not even close.

When we were kids or ten years ago, offensive lines didn't look like a V. Didn't No, I mean, they weren't straight across. But I mean you went a little bit. You didn't know that wasn't that extreme this, right? I just think that's you know, one of the root problems of the league is the linean are so much better. No lineman, theyre leting them go away with it well, and you see more guys lining up nine and stuff like that.

You know, you would think in a lot of cases the offensive tackles would want to be a little bit closer to the to the guy who's rushing against him as opposed to being farther back because you can get you more time, you get your hands on him quicker.

But yeah, I get both sides of it. I mean, I mean it's so much quick game. And the Chiefs are a perfect example. If it's coming out in two point five and one or one point five that I can do without touching anybody as a tackle whatever that is.

You know, like, but you're giving that guy like a running start, Like right, he's gonna he's got six steps before he gets to you because you're back.

Back or catching you know, no, I hear what you're saying. I mean, dealing especially with a really heavy Miles Garrett type, you know, like it's two eighty that already has four or five steps coming straight at me. Yeah, but that'd be a key to this game. No matter what, no matter who plays tackle for them, it's still a disadvantage. I hope that they do flag these guys and don't put it away just because they don't want to turn off viewers on Christmas blah blah blah. But it's a big advantage.

Call Caltaway is supposed to be called yeah yeah, also on their injury report, but his full participants Creed Humphrey dealing with a shoulder, didn't know you anything wrong with yeah, Patrick Mahomes with the ankle, Justin Reid with a back.

He's pretty right right, solid safety.

The other thing that they do with him is they use him on kickoff.

He kicks off sometime, yeah, because they say he's good at it. Well, I want now maybe that changes now with Buker back, he's go. He's really good at it.

Yeah, as kickers going not so much right. Butcher's back though now though, So I wonder if they just have Butker. He was doing it when they had Matthew Wright and I got there not a big.

Leg yeah anyway, And they experimented with it when the rule change because we need one more tackler in this crazy kickoff rule. We don't know how it's going to go, so we'll have a safety out there and have eleven guys that can tackle instead of that. Yeah, but I'd rather just kick it out of the end zone, which Butler can do easier than these guys.

Why do you see Nico Remigio? And I had to look to see pronounce that name. They've had nineteen different guys catch passes this year, none of which are named Nico Remigio tells me he might be a special teams guy.

Maybe he's a gonner. Yeah, I'd have to look into It's day one of Chiefs prop he's dealing with a knee.

Josh Williams, who's one of their starting legit corner for him, Yeah, dealing with ankle and elbow issues.

Those are not connected, No, No, okay, that one's something to keep an eye on.

Yeah.

And then Xavier Worthy dealing with an ankle, the first speed guy.

Yeah.

Now, they were all full participants. I don't know if this was a walk through today. I know yesterday's was a walkthrough.

Okay.

They were expected to do a little bit more today than they did yesterday because this was the last day of practice that they had.

I would imagine even Chris Jones, if he doesn't practice all week, I mean, yeah, he could still play. Who knows. I mean, I would imagine Reid would be like, yeah, we just needed on third downs. I don't know, we'll know that answered.

He'll know he's on the wrong side of thirty now and it's a calf issue.

Ye.

Yeah, Like they may be in a situation where they look at this kind of the same way that the Steelers looked at Russell Wilson. Hey, Chris, we're gonna sit you down these last three. You're not playing these next two games. Hopefully we still get the buye and you'll have three weeks off before we need to.

Have have you come back. So what's their situation? I know we don't have a ton of time, but do they just have to win one of their next they have to win one? Yeah, i'd be I know, Denver's their last game, which they want something to play against, and but still I like my chances to get one out of two.

Yeah, And that's the situation now coming out of the last yesterday's games, I should say Kansas City at fourteen and one, leads the AFC. You get the Bills now at twelve and three, So one more Kansas City win or tie and the Bills, though, yeah, they can't finish, tie, but they've got a.

Two game lead with two to go.

You've got the Steelers sitting in the third spot based on the best win percentage in conference games seven and three. The Ravens are six and four. But even if the Steelers lose this game to the Chiefs and the Ravens lose a game, the Steelers still stay Let's say the Ravens would lose to the Texans. They've got two conference games left as well.

So if there's two losses this week, nothing changes, nothing changes, of course. Yeah, yeah, gotcha.

But the Steelers still have the tiebreaker over the Baltimore Ravens. You got the Texans sitting in fourth place in the AFC.

But if they beat the Texans and the Steelers lose the Chiefs, do they clinch the division?

No, because they could still lose. Yeah, last week of the season to the Browns. They both split, doesn't do them any good. They would have another division game. Yeah, yeah, they have to finish ahead of the Steelers. Yes, Houston at nine and six is the four seed right now, You've got Baltimore as the five seed. They have clinched. Two spots remain open. You've got the Chargers at nine and six, and you've got the Broncos in the seventh spot at nine and six as well. The Chargers have the tiebreaker based on beating the Broncos twice.

Yeah.

Yeah, and those other three teams are still alive, right.

You have the Colts at seven and eight, Yeah, the Dolphins at seven and eight, the Bengals at seven and eight. If they all went out.

They all won this week.

Yeah.

If all those teams went out and all finished nine and eight, the Colts.

Go, oh okay, so since the and Miami needs other things to happen.

To Yeah, the Colts right now have the tiebreaker based on better win percentage in conference games.

If they get past that.

And everybody finishes tied in the conference. Right now, Miami's five and five, Cincinnati four and six.

Yeah.

Yeah, So for that to happen, the Bengals would still have six conference losses.

They would be eliminated, and all life teams are playing each other down the stretcher.

Yeah, you know, but the Colts, if you look at it, they're kind of in the driver's seat if Denver does stumble and loses their last two, which they could. They play Cincinnati in Cincinnati this week, and then they host Kansas City. But the Colts are at the Giants, and then they finished with the Jaguars at home.

I know their schedule was remarkably easy. Yeah, now anything could happen.

They did lose to the Jaguars thirty seven, thirty four earlier in week two or a week earlier this season because they never win in Jacksonville. But I think they always beat Jacksonville at home.

I think so too. I think that's how that's traditionally gone.

Yeah, So that's just how things line up right now. So Cincinnati is still a very much long shot to get in. They would need they would need to win out and have I think both of those other teams at least lose one.

Yeah, and Miami still has left on their schedule.

You're still looking at at the Browns this week, might be Jamos back in there because Thoms Yeah, Dorian Thompson Robinson is hurt, and then they're at the Jets. Are still two cold weather games for the Miami Dolphins. That does not bode super well, but that's what the situation is right now in the.

Afcay A lot can be happening on Christmas.

Too, absolutely, But if the Steelers win these final two games, they're AFC North champions and there's nothing the Ravens can do about it. Yeah, they need some help, and you're probably gonna end up hosting the Chargers.

I'll take it. You don't going to Houston either, to be honest, No, I don't. I wouldn't either.

I think I think both AFC North teams win their first.

Round games, lean that way strongly. Yeah, just better teams. And I say they're a really bad matchup for through the Texans eyes the Steelers in particular with their pass rush.

Yeah.

So anyways, you know, let's get to another break.

Uh.

He is Matt Williamson. I am Dale, Lallie.

You're listening to the drive here on the Steelers Audio Network, and well we got a little player interview coming up here in the next segment. Mat, I won't tell you who it is until we get to that segment. How about that a little surprise right after this? Don't you go anywhere? And remember you can hear the Drive every Monday through Friday from four to six pm, except for the well Wednesday this week because Chris Game Day, game Day, it's game Day, let alone Christmas, it's game Day. Yeah, so we'll be back well shows Tuesday, Thursday, Friday this week. And you can also download the Steelers a mobile app and get the show there, or you can watch it on YouTube, where you can also leave your comments. But Matt now will be back with more right after.

This is the Drive with Dale Lolly and Matt Williamson on your twenty four to seven home of the Black and Gold in Steelers Nation Radio.

Welcome back.

I am Dale Lolly, he is the Matt Williamson and this is the Drive on the Steelers Audio Network. And Matt earlier today got a chance to catch up with Russell Wilson again. It's one of the only good things about these weird time games. You actually get to hear from the quarterback a little bit earlier in the week than then. Normally Rush usually talks on Thursdays and well, we.

Don't know them do as much good before the game Thursday, right, but talk Thursday again. Yeah, I wouldn't think they probably get outway a little bit.

I think the league rules mandate that they when you have a Wednesday or Thursday game, you have to have a couple of days off coming out of that. So okay, yeah, and they could use it. Yeah, they could certainly use it. But he met with the media today, including myself, and well, here's right, Russell Wild here's what Russell Wilson had to say.

You've prepared for these guys twice in each of the last two years.

How much is do you fall back on some of that this week?

Yeah, for sure.

I think you definitely studied what you've done it beat them last year. You know, I think that it's portunate. Throw a few touchdowns on them, and they're really good defense. They don't give up much. They do a really good job. They're well on the top defense in the national public. You got to be ready to for our best game, and we respect who they are and what they've done that they you know, obviously won two super Bowls and and you know, and uh, it's it's real, two super Bowls in the last a couple of years.

What is it about the the Blitz package that's Fags.

Yeah, I think Spags is one of the all time great defensive coordinators. You know, you think about the things he's been able to do. Have so much regard for him. You know, I've gone I've gone against him a lot of a lot of the years, you know, and I remember even when I was in Seattle and against.

Him when we played the chief and all that.

He just does a really good job of mixing it up and challenging the defense, you know, to blitz us a lot and and to do different things, and it makes it really challenging for us as an offense.

And we got to do our job.

And you see how the Chiefs have won won fourteen games, But when you see how they've won close games, how much does that get you just keep putting struck in distance and have a chance at together.

Yeah, I I think that a lot of the nation fullet League games are always close. But they've done a really good job this year in particular of winning these close games. You know, even when the game hasn't gone their way the whole game or whatever it is, they find a way. Ances what championship teams do, they find a way throughout the season. And I think that you know, for us, you know, I think it's getting to the fourth quarter, understanding that we got to be rock solid in the fourth quarter.

Half rons has been you know, has been a it had been on a three game touchdowns week before the last game. Are there things that you guys need to do to get him the ball war? Is it all kind of just the pace of play As far as when he gets his targets. I think anytime Pat touched the football for us is a good thing.

You know, he helps us, you know, really attack the attack the field, vertically attack it and the edges just he you knows how to have you know, get first downs for us. He did a good job getting picking up some big first downs last week, and so you.

Know we trust them in every way.

As he's been in the league a long time, you've seen pretty much everything. When you get to this point in the season where things matter even more and you hit a rough patch, what what do you kind of lean on your experience and what do you tried part upon the rest of the team. Yeah, I think the exciting part is this, you know, we're right where we want to be in the sense that you know, we got a chance to come home in front of our own fans and play in front of the best fans in the world, and I think that opportunity to play, you know, on Christmas Day, you know play you know, you know the thinning world champs and who they are and what they've done.

You know, it's a great opportunity for us, and he really is a testament to who we can be.

I think that that the ability to respond in the right way. And every great team I've been on, there's been ups and downs. There's a lot more ups throughout the season. We've had a lot of ups this year. There's always a speed bump in the way. And without that adversity, without those challenges, you don't grow, you know. I think part of part of you know, the harvest of it all, you know, is the's got to be all of rain in the midst of it all. And so I think that we're going through it and in a good way, and I believe that we have a great opportunity to respond in a great way.

And so we're excited about it.

We're excited about the opportunity to play just the game that we love.

The joy of that is is one of the best things too, and we're excited about the opportunity we'll get a chance to ask you this last week you need too.

But after the Eagles game, Jealen Hurts approach to you and he said, like he's like he looked up to you because you opened doors for him and people like him. What when, you know, what else did you guys talk about and what did that mean to.

You to get that at that moment with him?

You know, I I think coming into the National Football League in twenty twelve, and there's only a few you know, young black quarterbacks. You know it was Cam Newton, myself, Uh, Robert Griffin, Yeah, Tyrod.

Taylor was one of them. Uh, Colin Kaepernick.

You know, there wasn't many of us, to be honest, we I define definitely won't many short short ones. Yeah, you know, I think Michael Vick was you know a guy who was you set the tone? I know, a guy from Virginia for the shorter guys. I think obviously guys I watched growing up down with a mc nab and and you know so many others Ranall Cunningham and just some great quarterbacks, Dante Culpepper and just guys that I really admired growing up.

You know, I did it before me.

And there's guys before them, and so I think that just to be able to be a part of the history of this game, you know, to be the second black quarterback to ever won a Super Bowl as a as a as a real dream come true, you know, just to just to win the Super Bowl, but also the history behind it also, you know, when everybody tells you you can't do something, to be accomplish it is real.

And so you know, for me, I just that's why I love just trying to.

Help other guys and lead them in any way, whether it's you know, justin or different guys across the league that I've gotten to know and try to inspire, no matter what your skin color, but just you know, it is it is, you know, it is you know uphill battle sometimes, especially when I came to the league, you know, and so I hadn't been done for before besides Doug Williams, you know. So I think just seeing guys like Patrick and other guys too that that have you know, created pass as well alongside others is really a blessing.

Does your role change now or us that you're who you are? Does your role change? What's your what's your job now? With this thing kind of hanging in a bout to go win. That's it. That's all I'm focused on.

As a as a peer, ustic, What do you when you see Patrick play?

What do you appreciate about him?

You know, I think his ability to make extend plays is really remarkable. You know, I think gotten to play him over the years and just some of the things he's been to do. I remember the first time I played him in Seattle. You know, we were going back and forth, me and him, and just on the field, he he made a playout of making a play vice versa, and just it was just a remarkable game back and forth. It was one to watch and experience, and so just I just remember that, and I remember, you know, all the things he'd been to do over the years, and you know, he's a special player.

He's a high character guy, guy who works.

His tail off, and so I gotta I hold him in high regard obviously, not just because of what he's done on the field, but because of who's who he is off the field.

And I really respect that.

And not get caught up into a one on one battle, but how much does playing again against a guy like that where you go back and forth make a big play make you kind of try to elevate your game.

And yeah, yeah, you understand that.

You know, when he's gonna make plays, you know, we have to make them too.

We've got to find.

Ways to make them and do different things that I'm excited about who we are. It's not just one versus one, No, it's it's eleven verse eleven. That's a great part about this game. That's part of that I love more than anything else. And you know, we have we have to respond great and all three phases. You know, they're great in all three phases. We are too when when we're on our stuff, and so we're excited about that opportunity to do that in front of our fans, right you're straight way.

That you know, Jalen Hurts came up to you after that game, the fact that you played him, Lamar and now, Patrick, what does it kind of mean to you to see that not only are there more black quarterbacks in the league, but you're a part of these battles with the kind of the next generation coming.

Up that all. Yeah, it's it's it's cool to see, it's cool to experience, it's cool to be in the midst of it. I think that when you you know, when it's all said and done for me, hopefully five to seven years from now, hopefully seven, when we get to look back at it, you be you're able to say, you know what this was, This is one of the coolest parts of of my life. Uh, to see the growth of the game, you know, the growth of the game for black quarterbacks, you know, the growth of the game, the continued growth of the game of guys.

Who've been before us, you know, and just yeah, it's just cool to see, you know.

And I also, you know, love seeing guys, you know, become head coaches too, obviously, guys like Michael Phak and others, and just it's a it's a real thing, you know. And just I'm just grateful for the opportunity to play the game that I love every day were here. How would you describe the impact George makes?

Uh, that's your fo.

Yeah, I mean, George is a special player, man. He's been special for us all year. In my opinion, He's one of the best receivers in the National.

Football League without a doubt.

The things that he can do with the football and catching and his catching grates is remarkable. So I think The best thing that he brings is he strikes a fear in that defense. We got some guys, you know, I was, I was talking to coach Tom Arth, you know a little bit, you know, on the side of the practice of dams, like you know, one of the you you try to find the light and everything, and uh, I was saying to him, you know, one of the best parts is really seeing the guys that we do have. You know, watching Calvin Austin just become this you know, star studded receiver in front of our eyes, and he's continued to grow, He's continued to work is really special. Seeing guys like Van continue to make plays for us. You know, the scene ball he ran, guys who stepping in like Vin, Scaronic and and obviously Scottie Miller's been clutch for us. Mike Williams has been clutch for us in key moments. So there's a lot of trust that's been built with receiver room and because of the time and or tension that we put into work. And George is obviously the lead candidate of that of all that, you know, he just does a He does a tremendous job.

Of getting the extra work come aside, and he loves the game.

And there's only there's only so many people in the world, you know, when you can count him one hand, I can do what he can do.

As of that, he's missed the first three games of his career. Have you tried to coach him up a little bit, help him through that?

Yeah, for sure.

I think big part of his his his his treatment habits. He's done a good job of that. I think that the training room has done phenomenal job of getting him back. I think also too, you know, I think that the best thing about.

George he he loves ball.

He you don't have to worry about him being around football and then him being.

On the sidelines and engaged. You guys have seen it and talked about it a few times.

Uh, he's been he's been great in the midst of of of his little trial here over the past few weeks. And so he's he's We're excited to have him back, you know, if that's the case, fully.

And and let him do his thing all right, and he got.

That was Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson with the assembled media, including myself, earlier today over at the upmc renny Sports Complex. And you're gonna shake this thing off and I'll bring back into it.

Yeah, you got to move on. I mean, there's a lot of professionals on this team and leaders, veterans that have been through hard times understand what it's like to lose a tough game or to a good opponent and what needs fixed, you know, So you got to do it quick. I mean it's crazy.

Yeah, you don't have much time to wallow in your sorrow as it were.

Time to get after it and beat the chiefs at home and go from there.

One thing that is out of time is this show, Matt ah and we are out of time for today. So for my partner Matt Williamson, for Justin Miller here on site running the Justin Miller hotline and the soundboard for us, and for Tyler Viittmeyer making sure our video gets out there on the YouTube. Check that out there. I am Dale, Lollie. We thank you for listening to this edition of that. Happy holidays, all, happy holidays. We'll be back again tomorrow. Yeah, I know that's christ Christmas Eve. Yeah, but I'm Dale, Allie. We thank you for listening to this edition of the Drive on the Steelers Audio network

SNR Drive with Matt & Dale (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Dale Lolley and Matt Williamson tackle the days topics regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers each aftern 
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