Cincinnati awaits: A key matchup this weekend

Published Dec 19, 2023, 2:00 PM
Michael, Jimmy and Dave recap on the Steelers loss in Indianapolis in Week 15. They are also joined by SNR analyst and former Steeler Craig Wolfey, who rejoins the show towards the end of the regular season. With a huge matchup against the Bengals on tap this weekend, the guys also hear from Coach Tomlin and make their predictions ahead of a key game for the 2023 season. You can listen to the Bengals game this Saturday evening on OTBRadio on the island of Ireland, while the game will be live on Sky Sports NFL from 9:30PM. Get involved with the podcast by following us at SteelersIreland on X and Instagram!

Hey, folks, walk them into the Irish Sailors podcast, the podcast for Pittsburgh Steers fans across the island of Ireland. Michael McGrady here delighted to be joined with the flame egos Jimmy English Dave McKee after this mean up, there is no point in shining wetness. It was a disappointing game last week when the Steelers played the Colts, and Jimmy, it's one thing you get a Saturday night game and it's great for us because it's on early. But we can't shy away from this. But there were so many fans in Ireland that obviously remain optimistic and hopeful for the season. But it was disappointing going into Indian losing thirty to thirteen and three games left, three playoff games, which we'll talk about down the stretch. But well, first off, Harry, you have just jumped into the game.

I'm good neck, Thanks, I'm glad to be back after an absence last week.

And you're you're you're dead right.

I was in the wheel chair with some fallows, Theeeters fans and Saturday night watching the game.

It was a tough watch. I mean, there was some promising signs at the start. We had Connor Hayward's block punt which landed right on the right on the one yard line the two yard line and eventually turned into a touchdown.

That was initially ruled.

That fumble recovered by the defense, but they gave us a score up. But now it was it was hard to watch. I mean, you try and be hopeful a week on week, but like sometimes you have to.

Call a spade a spade and said that was just that was just awful.

So look, you know we were we were laying optimistic as optimistic as we can be.

We go in and we faced a division rival next Saturday, another start of that game, which which is great. So yeah, let's just keep plugging on and see what happens.

To quote the Yas song, Dave, the only way is up baby for you mean, like, look, let's see what happens. I just I actually forgot Jimmy and it's great to have you back. I know you weren't all last week. That was great crack last week David with Jeff and we'll hopefully get them out again during a playoff r I'm going to keep the positive vibes it's just just going from what Jimmy said. Nothing it right in that game. And it's funny because the first two quarters were sort of stopped start and indeed pull away towards the end. The prostrating thing for me is we were there, it was just like find a way and couldn't get the run game going at all with Nazi got to look forward.

Yeah, we've just sort of you know, I often say it, but I'm just gonna echo everything Jimmy said. You know, it's it's obviously the only way I can describe it. It's disappointing. And you know, twenty was a twenty seven unentered points minus three turnover the financial you know, we mentioned at the start of the season we were constantly getting out gained in every single game. But we're winning the games. And the reason is because we weren't turning the ball over. Like if you if you're constantly turning the ball over, you're gonna put yourself on a bobs us and you know, the chances are you're probably going to end up losing the game. But just nothing after the second quarter, just nothing went right, and then obviously, you know, just the sloppy playout quarterback that ended up you know, even if Trubisky did have sort of signs that you know, we met Deantay Johnson in a couple of good routes, but just in the end, it's just it's it's really unacceptable to lose to an Indianapolis Coast team that you know, with then they're they're in, they're in the shop with the playoffs. So not only is a loss, it's a it's a massive loss for us, but because obviously they've put that as a bit of like ground distance between ourselves and the name is going to be hard to even get in now. So the any ways, up we've got Cincinnati, you know when this weekend, and again it's it's that you know, domino fact. You know, we're big, we're playing team that's in that battle for a playoff position, and we can come up with when where all of a sudden back in it. But obviously we've still got two massive games after that against Seattle and Baltimore, So it's it's not going to get any easier. You know, this is maybe you know, out of the three games, this is probably the most winnable, but at the same time, we've got a look at it, and you know we're gonna have to take the injuries and the suspension on board as well. But I'll say, you know, if if we can just continue keep pupping the head down, hopefully we'll come out with a when next weekend. That's the best way we can look at.

Us, and there's gonna be positive vibes. I just I need, we need to win this weekend. Let's hear from coach Tomlin first before we get our guessle this week. Lets let's see what you have to say on Monday to the press.

Let's talk about Cincinnati, their group that appears to be trending in the right direction since the last time we played them. They gaining some real traction. I'll start first with their offense. Browning is doing a really good job of taking care of the ball. His completion percentage speaks to that. Their lack of turnovers or their ball security speaks to that. But it's not just him, it's them. They've done some schematic things to really do a nice job of staying on schedule, not being one dimensional, are working to keep defenses off balance, changing law points. Again. He's new to playing, but not new to their program, and I think We talked about that last time, but I think that that is increasingly evident as he's gained more in helmet perspective on play over the last three weeks at running back man, you know, we got to minimize mixing his impact on the game, whether it's run or in the passing game. We got hit on a big screen and the significant moment screens are a big component of what they do, particularly with him. The rookie Chad has come on in recent weeks. That is something to consider also from a running back perspective that might be a little bit different than the last time we played them. U T Higgins is a component of what they're doing. We didn't see tea last time, and so you know, we were able to allocate a lot of schematics towards Chase. When you're when you're dealing with a full arsenal, you gotta deal with T. Higgins and Chase and Tyler Boyd. So ours we got some more schematic challenges in those situational passing moments because he's got a you know, a full repertoire of people to spread the ball around too, and so you know, those are some of the things that have our attention on that side of the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, they're playing really good situational ball, standing up in big moments. Mike Hilton big interception in the red area, I thought really kept that thing in striking distance form the other day. But we know and they're familiar with Mike. He is a big catalyst for them. I think he's third or fourth and tackles for them. He's always had an appetite for the big play. He shows up off the edge in the run game a lot. They're they're bringing some pressure in the run game. They're bringing battle as well at the safety position. They got really good continuity in terms of the things that they do. We're familiar with them, but it doesn't necessarily provide comfort for us. They're familiar with us as well, and I just think that's a texture of divisional play.

Interesting to hear from Coach Fumbling ahead of this game against the Bengals this weekend, which we will look ahead to in a little second. In the meantime, this week, we're delighted to welcome back a guy that we had on just before the season started, a guy that you will hear on OTV radio and across the Staters Nation broadcast. Craig Wolfe joins, it's not just to recap the season so far, but to look ahead and give us some positivity. Happened into the last three games in the season as Christmas comes up this week, We've got a Staters game around Christmas on Saturday Night against the Bengals, and we have an early Christmas present at a time of need for every Staters fan across the island of Ireland and further beyond. We've got Craig Wolfy, obviously part of the States broadcast, former Stater himself, Craig wolf fame on. It's it's great to have you on as always, second time on here. Now you've already hit the record, You've got the most appearances. Welcome in.

How you doing.

I'm doing great. I love it. I finally set a record and something besides some or the food eating contest. You know. Good to see you, fellas man.

Well, Tom, we were talking off there there before. We before we jumped on about how the team must be feeling on the back of the loss of the calls and Saturday to night, and you alluded to a moment in your career back in nineteen eighty eight when you were five and eleven. What can these guys do, I suppose to to somehow get the get their heads up against the crucial game against the Bengals next again.

Not crack under pressure, man, You gotta hold it together. The boys got to stick together. I walked on the plane past Cam Hayward and TJ. Watt, and I could see the miserableness in their faces. They know, they know that that game got away from them. And you know, but those are two of the most important guys that you can have that reload this stuff and pull people together. You gotta stick together. You gotta keep the voices to the outside of the four walls in the locker room and some where from within. It's not gonna be without Chuck Nolan. I'll remember way back in eighty eighty. Also, he warned us back then, there's nobody coming in from the east to save you. You know, this is all about you guys finding out what you need to do. All the answers to all your questions are inside the four walls of the locker room. You guys got to make that effort to find out what it is. And that's what these guys have to do. You know, they started off great, got the block punt, things were moving along, and then things went downhill, and you know, you've got to find out who is going to stand up under the pressure, Who's going to fight to the end. You got three games left and I expect to see nothing but their best foot forward, guys fighting to finish. That's what I expect coming up.

You've mentioned about rough patches and stuff, and you were matching about the tame favor and lab and stuff. You know, who is that guy in your locker room? So you look back on your grit stealert hangs during the eighties and stuff. Who is that guy in your locker room that says, right, we need to start of the ship. We need to get the next Like, who's that guy if you compare to this team right now, Like, who do you think was the guy kicks kicking yourrobots in the place?

Yeah? Easy, In my day it was Joe Green and Jack Lambert. Okay, now you turn around, now you got yourself, Cam Heyward and TJ.

Wyt All.

Right, those are two of the guys that have to lead. Alex Highsmith is another high quality, high energy guy that's got to lead from the front too. And it's the big dogs now that got to step out and put in the superb performances because everybody's looking for their cues from those guys, and those guys are the standard bearers. Those guys are the guys that can carry things forward, and I look for them to be of tremendous resource to all the other guys.

It's funny because you're part of the game day broadcast. And one thing that's changed since we've last spoken, we hadnock starts not too long after you both you or no. You can listen to your Dolcentnes on the radio in Ireland during a game day and you're going global, You're going international. How does that make you, guys feel? Just like I mean, obviously it's really unique. This is happening. I have you been paying much attention to it? Do you think it's pretty cool? Or what's your thoughts? No?

I know, you know the funny thing was I got into this broadcasting business through you know, tud Yillkin many years ago. You know, I had a boxing gym. He used to come into my gym all the time and say, come on, you got to do this. I'm like, now, I don't want to do this. Put the gloves on. We'll go in the ring through a few rounds. You know, whoever bleeds the most has got to pick up the tab for lunch. So, you know, we do that for a while. They hed to go, come back and go. You gotta do this. You got to be the sideline guy. You gotta travel. Because he says, I'm getting bored hang out with you. I'm like, no, I don't want to do this, right. So then finally I do that. And then after the first year, they tell me, oh, by the way, when you turn your microphone on, this is a year after I've already been in it, you know, or maybe a couple of years. Actually, there's like around a million people listening. I said, what you know, I'm like, I think I'm just talking to a couple of people on the microphone, and you're telling me, now there's like a million or two or something listening. I'm going to gad zooks, man, you gotta be kidding me, you know. But the fact is, you know what they are, the Steelers fans, and it's just all one big Steelers nation. I'm just talking to friends, that's all I'm.

Doing talking about Steeters Nation there.

Well, you know, I don't know if you if you saw the turnout we had and built in a couple of weeks ago for the first ever Steeters Irish watch party, were you were you a bit envious over there looking across the pond.

You couldn't join us for a couple of appliants, you know.

It would have been nice.

Brother.

I saw some of that action. I heard about it, I got the reports and it was all everybody was talking about how great it was, what a joy it was, how much excitement and enthusiasm and everything. Congrats to you guys, you know, being part of all that, doing all you can to bring the Steelers war to the great, great country of Ireland. Man, I mean, dad zookes, that's just beautiful stuff.

Way to go, And I as I suppose you're you're a key part of the Steelers organization. You know, you're on the radio broadcast, you've been a player. How does it make you feel when you see the reach that Steelers Nation has across the world globally?

You know, it's fantambic And let me just correct things. I'm just a little small spot, guys. You know, I've been so privileged to be able to be a small part of this organization for a long time. And I'm grateful to the Roonies and all the coaches that Chuck Knowle had drafted me and everything. So it's just a privilege for me to be able to do this. And it's wonderful because I get to meet people like you, right, you got dudes. Yeah, I mean sometimes we're going to hang out together. It'll be a lot of fun. But we all have that commonality of Steeler football and that's what we love. That's what you get your juice from. You know. I can't imagine even you know, another team having as much as you know of the Steelers Nation type of thing as what the Steelers have. So I think it's all good. I remember from the fan to see football camps, you know, way back in the day before COVID, the Steelers had those fantasy football camps up in Saint Vincent College and we got guys from man all over the world. There was just crazy about how many people came. And one was from my Kazakistan or was Bekastan something like that, I mean way on the other side of the world. It was just tremendous to see that Steelers football reaches that far.

It really is. It's crazy when you think of it, and it's it's another one of those were doesn't actually matter, of course, it matters how we're playing, but you know when Lois or Tae, you know, Steelers Nation will always stay loyal and always stick beat or through the rough patches and stuff. So you're spot on there. Just obviously coming back to it. Well for you know, this week, you know, Mason Ridoff he's going to get a chance to come in as a starter against Cincinnati. What do you think he can bring that maybe we haven't been seeing from Mitchell Traubisky. You know, he's a bit of a veteran now, he's been in the league for what six seven years? What is he going to be able to bring it in? But that maybe we weren't getting with Mitch.

You know, I think and I'll say that, yeah, listen, listen. You know for Mitchell, feel bad for him. You know, you know he had some opportunities they just didn't materialize for him. The guy is a is a quality quarterback. But you know you've got to try something now, and Mason Rudolph is a guy he's got a five to four to one overall record as a you know, backup quarterback. This is a guy who in his last outing, if you remember Detroit, one of his last outings, he was like thirty of fifty for over three hundred yards and did a great job on a very you know, snowy, rainy December day when they should have been running the ball and they threw the ball fifty times. He woke up that morning Ben had COVID and all of a sudden he's in the starting lineup. But he's able to come through like that, does a great job securing at least a tie when you know that could have really gone sideways. I think Mason Rudolph is a very capable veteran, a guy who can lead from the front, a guy that has shown that he's capable of it. I know some people you know, don't disagree with me. That's fine. I happen to think very highly of his skills. You watch him. He's got a strong arm. He can run people. People don't think he can run. And i'mber watching in one of the films, you know, he scrambled for almost thirty yards just on one way alone. A guy can run. And the guy is also capable of throwing the air in that ball out like he can't believe. So let's hope and pray that, you know, he gets it together. He has an opportunity, and he's a fighter, you know, and I get hey, give me anybody that's ready to fight, because right now you're looking at three games, man, three games. You better not lay down, You better not give less than your best effort, and ought to all be about coming through and delivering the goods this weekend.

Well, you've been quite fortunate, thought a lot of the games both have even been not prime time, but they've been on TV for us here. So a lot of the games we've seen this season in general fonds I've seen also that continues this week with a game on Saturday night, like I mean, Jimmy and Dievill tell you nine thirty on a Saturday night SUPERB Globule against the Bengals. No, the Bengals have had an up and down season as well. They're still in the hunt. Obviously when a guy that Joe Burrow go was out, you see Brown and come in and do quite well. It just sort of we're recording this earlier in the week. What are your initial thoughts on what this Bengals team brings against the Seders on Saturday.

Well, they are still the Bengals. They are still burrow less. But this kid Browning and we've got a lot of bes going on there, man. But bron has proven himself to be capable. He's gotten better in his performances. Last week against the Colts, I mean, threw for two seventy five, but a buck twenty five of it was through screen passes. There's a you know, they got the mix in, they got a good offensive line, you've got a defense. They can come after you. So it's it's gonna be a good soiree. It's gonna be a good set to you know. I mean, it's a division opponent. What more do you need, dad Zooks. You love division opponents because those are the ones that you never have to worry about a cheap shot, you know, because you're never gonna have to apologize for it. Somebody will start it and you got to finish it, you know. I mean, that's just the way it rolls well to me.

Anyway, there were a couple of areas that were locking in the past couple of weeks for this theaters, you know, the inside linebackers is particularly thin, and now the safety position as well, with the news coming today that Casey has been ruined after the rest of the season, true suspension.

But from your perspective, what is the area that needs to be most addressed ahead of the game? I mean, where is the area that the statis need to focus on most?

How success against the Bengals.

Well, one of them is just what you're highlighting. You're exactly spot on. I mean, you can't lose your first two linebackers, you got your third one, the land and Roberts. You know, you went from a pair and a spare, as Mike Domlin used to call it, to the loan solitaire. That would be Landon Roberts. After you lose Cole Holcombe and On Alexander and then all of a sudden you're down to you know, a young Buck rookie Mark Robinson. So the thing is that you're you're hurting down the middle. You've got a Landon Roberts playing with a pool groin. Which, let me tell you something I've done that it's extremely hard. It it hoists to put it in terms that everybody can understand. But a Landon Roberts is a real man. He's a tough guy. Man, he's out there playing and doing I thought until those last game he had been doing a great job. And everybody on the defense struggled this past week. But a Landon Roberts is one of those guys that keeps plugging away and keeps going. Then you lose your safeties. You know, Mika Fitzpatrick, we're still like, I can't believe that make is down. Mica is just one of those rare NFL talents. That's he's generational. He's one of those guys that, man, oh man, to lose him is that's that's very painful. But you lose Demante Casey, which I'm sorry, I disagree totally. I understand the hits. This is back in my day that hit was celebrated. That would have been on all the TV hot you know, talk shows and everything like that, all that. It would have been great. But in this day and age now they rule that it you know, was he they tossed him out. It's gonna cost him some bucks. I'm sorry for him. Di Monty I thought was going after the ball. But the fact of the matter is, I don't see that. I don't believe he was trying to injure Pittman at all, you know. Matter of fact, I say, why don't they talk to Gardner about throwing a ball that leaves them, let you know, out stretched out in front of a guy that's just that's more his fault than anything. But having said that, you know, we are down at the safety position. We're down through the middle of the football team. So one man's misfortune is another man's fortune, and they're gonna have to step up with the opportunities given to these different individuals that it will take over like Tratton Marshall and I'm sorry Trent and Thompson and so forth. They're gonna have to stay up up and make some plays and be part of it. And hopefully Elijah Rightley might be back this week too, that's a possibility. And you know that kid. I love that kid. That kid is West Point Top.

Yeah, And as you say, well, you know it's already about adopting and next guy up, And if the next guy up plays as well as Trenton Thompson has, then I really don't see how it could be an issue. But just you know, and coming back on as well, you know, one of the positives we have had we have consistently over the past year, as obviously TJ. Watt And you know I said it last week in the podcast. I think he's the most disrespected player in the NFL. Maybe doesn't get as much prospect as the likes of Mayas Gareth and Micah Parsons. Just how important is that key pass rusher on there, you know, our past rusher. Sorry because obviously you know you need good head coach, good quarterback, but obviously the edge rusher as well. How important is that aspect you know for us? And obviously going forward, you.

Know you're exactly on man. I mean, think about it. You've got TJ. Watt. He doesn't. He's not just a pass rush you know. You think about some of the great plays he makes with he's using his Gordon, you know, I mean he drops back, gets his hands up, knocks down a pass, he intercepts a ball. He's just a great player. And this great player he uses his noodle in a way that he's able to accomplish things that maybe a lot of defensive players don't. Because I'm always kidding him about them being brainless and the offensive guys are the ones that are really smart. You know. Of course you go back and forth with him and that's it doesn't fly with him. But regardless, the point of being is a guy like TJ. Watt shows more than just the physical attributes that you see on the field. Well, what's so much fun is when you watch him pass rush and he executes some of those hand trapping techniques. Those are the things you see when you're on the south side every day at practice. You watch him working on it, and I love that because he's kind of like, it's like he's out there with one of his coaches. He's like, I don't know, he's like, we're working with mister Miagi, you know, and the karate kid. You know, he's working his hand trap and uppercut all the kind of things. But he's that good because number one, he's talented and he desires to be great, and the third is he backs it up with great hard work. Same thing for Alex Heismith. You don't think it's inspirational for him at the one end to look over and see TJ. Watt at the other end of the spectrum, And how much of a great advantage is that knowing that they're gonna they've got to pick their poison. Where are you gonna swing your wall? Where you're gonna go with the double team? Who gets the chip? You know, I hated playing tackle. I was a guard, you know. Put me in the phone booth. I like close quartered grappling fighting, you know that type of thing. Put me at tackle, kad zooks. That's a lot of open territory out there. So yeah, I was always like, if I'm at tackle, Ton Jokins at right tackle, give me the wall, give me the tight end, give me the chip, and I'm gonna take the the uh, take the equipment boy, and I'll stuff him in my back pocket and throw it at that guy. You know. I means I want it all, but TJ Watt he picks up all. Let me tell you something, if you watch that film, he's constantly being chipped and double team did that sort of stuff. That speaks to what a great player he is.

I love him. I think like this was this was the exact interview we needed this week. I'm telling him on great, great.

Still gonna do headbutts when we're done here. Okay, we're gonna get all fired out.

Over soon and just finally Craig. Obviously for people and in Ireland you can listen to you, guys, I am on Off the Ball on a TV radio on Saturday. Get the Game is also on Sky Sports NFL in Ireland on the Cross the UK also look three games to go. If you win all three games, you've a seventy seven percent Johnson making the playoffs. Do you still believe?

Oh, I believe. I listen, man, I'm too old to change my ways. You know, ever since I was a player, I believed. I always believed. I never worried about it. You know, playoffs, you leave them in the back of your mind. It's all that matters is the next game, the next series, and the next play. That's it. I don't worry about anything else. When I was a player, people would ask me who you playing in two weeks. I couldn't tell you. All I know is I got a game coming up. I know where that game is, I know what's important about it, and that I got to show up. I gotta be ready to play the game, the the series and the play. I mean, that's it, boa and that's the focus that these guys need. You got to stay ramrod straight with your desire to win that next game, and that's going to come one play at a time.

So you playoff games starting this weekend Saturday nine thirty pm. So if you're in the car driving to your parents or in laws wherever for Christmas.

You have no excuse.

You can hear Wolfie on the team on the TV radio on or you can watch it on TV. Also, Craig, I feek we'll be shotting a hopefully a lot more going into the playoffs as well. I'm going to keep the positive vibes up. Thank you for coming on you you're a very very busy mom on. We will tut to youson Happy Hollidays as well.

Oh, Merry Christmas to everybody and all the good folks there and Ireland Man Steelers Nation, love y'all. Thank you for having me on. I feel very I'm very grateful to be able to spend some time with you guys, So most humbly I say thank you for having me on.

Great to hear from Craig on the Irish series podcasts and you can listen to that game against the Bengals, which is this Saturday, nine thirty Irish time, boys OTV radio and because it's that time. It's on Sky Sports NFL as well. Jimmy, Look, first off, before we talk about the fact that this is the must win game, it's a huge game.

Beautiful, Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

I mean when the schedule came out, make I circle this game on my calendar because it's the day after I finished work for Christmas.

I'm gonna have the fire on.

I'm gonna be in the sitting room having a nice drink, hopefully and hopefully enjoying a victory.

All I want for Christmas is theeter win. So let's see if they can pull it in. Look, it's gonna be another close game, and.

You know, just shotting to Wolfe there, his positivity and enthusy hasn't really really kind of meet me cheer up a little bit. I mean, it was obviously a bit down after the game there the weekend and then seeing the news Occasey had been suspended the rest of the season.

I was in a little bit of a.

Spiral regarding the Steelers hopes for the rest of the season. But definitely good to hear some some positive energy from from wolf It's going to be challenging. I don't think it's going to be an easy game, especially with the Fisher quarterback. But all we can do and all they can do is just keep plugging away and hopefully pull off the win.

That's what I enjoyed so much about the interview. It's like positivity, but it's also it's not shining away from the fact that the last few weeks have been disappointed, been very appointant, because you look at the situation day of where there was three games there there was the opportunity to pull away. We see last week that the Bengals the Ravens both win, as well as the Browns as well in a very close circumstance. And we look at a game this week where the Bengals come into this game hot with a backup quarterback, and that's annoying because we obviously now either bringing a Mason Rudolph Candy's not ready to go yet. There's so many ifs and buds, But I guess trying to stay positive, everything flips if the Seders win this game. Ever, in the flips, you got games against the Seahawks and a game potentially against the Ravens which could potentially be a game of rescue for them. I'm not saying look, you go to win every game in week EID team, but it's there for them and after Saturday night, I'll take that at this point.

No, you just bought on Mike. It's like people were saying about the Ravens. He knows they could have the the FC number one seed wrapped up by then. I think they did it a couple of years ago as well, and the ended up pressing and they end up doing one and done in the playoffs. So they've maybe learned from that. But at the same time, just to sort of gole what both of you have said there, it's just we've got to you know, rense ourselves off, dost ourselves down, and like at the end of the day, it's an opportunity, different mission Rudolph to come in and if he gets to win, then you know, for you know, we flipped the table, as you said, you know, we've we've we've put ourselves back in a strong position, you know. Just on the Bengals, you know, Jake Brewnan, he's been playing, you know, Joe Burrow obviously is completely different level, but he's come in and he's absolutely seems to be fire in a lot of senators, you know, he's not just a drop back, you know, short and stant quarterback, which we we got him and in his first week I didn't look great, but he's had a massive bounce back. So if we can you know, if as say, you know, with the suspension as well as disappointing, it's not obviously what we wanted the city, but even just listening about what Wilf he's speaking about it as well, he's sort of you know, put my opinion on turn the opinion on a head as well. You know, I sort of came in thinking, you know, off England, bad thoughts and stuff like that, but what he was able to cheer me up a bit. So I'm in a different sort of headspace now after but I might hopeful that we can obviously turn it back. And as you know Jimmy said there, I'll be the same Ilb washing it with a paid a Guinness in my hand, and if we can win then I just it's only sort of odd into the experience. So yeah, no, and let's let's just look, let's sort of pop the bar on this behind us and if we can come off, we'll win this weekend, then I'll just say we're straight back in it and.

I enjoyed there.

It's it's definitely gonna be I think the key to this game is going to be defensive ends and defensive line because I think our secondary, particularly safeties, and I look how banged up our safeties are right now.

Mink is Casey's thought. In the season he suspended.

We saw how much are inside linebackers struggled against the run in the especially the last quarter of the game against the cold. So I think we're gonna have to like Wolf, you said the leaders in the locker room, Cam Award, TJ. Watt, They're going to have to step up even more than they have a lead from the front and hopefully lead the charge in this game.

It's funny because going on with Jimmy said and going going through that as well, Dave. One thing that Steelers really struggled with on Saturday night, as we mentioned slightly, is the run game just did not start for ward or for logie. How do you start our How do you start that against a stout Bengals defense. One that will be looking at this team going well, they've won or they've lost so many games out of the row, they're low on confidence. This team's here for and they'll they'll be thinking, this team's here for the take, and so how do we get a run game established on Saturday night?

Sort of like at the start of the season, Megal, we remember how lethargic our run offense was the start, but we managed to turn that around and they ended up for the three four straight weeks. It was our most important aspect. You know, Jalden Warren, he hasn't been you know, the dynamic, tough runner he has. We've wanted him to be in the past couple of weeks. It's been well known, you know, with that Nauja him and they've been sharing most of the stops, and you know, this week we just couldn't get it going against the coach defense that you know, they're not the greatest know orld, of course, but it just seems like, you know, we just couldn't get it going. And you know, just even sort of going back in the coach game, you have to give them a lot of credit. You know, at the end of the day, what Shane Steikin's doing with them, I mean he's potacity, you know, head coaches, you know, the year of a ward if you like. So you know, we can't beat ourselves up too much. We've got a big, massive game. You know, I'm not entirely sure of having looked at the starts, you know where their weakness lays. But the same time, you know we've got to come back and you know, if mission rightof can get us to the win, and that's all the matters, and hopefully before we know what, Canny packet suiting back up so and just at the same way as it was before, just ground and pound. If we can get that wrong game going, it's going to be a massive positive.

Looking ahead to Saturday night, As I said, a game is nine thirty Sky Sports, nfl OTB Sports. Really we're going to have a podcast potentially Christmas eve boarding before everyone was off for Christmas. Can't expect these boys going on to Christmas Day for a pot as much as we love it. And we are going to get if it's not this week going, but the week after, we're going to get a couple of fans all those ball because we want to hear your thoughts not just on the season, but just Everyham as well. So do you reach out to his hashtag selters Ireland of after theaters Areland if you'd like to do that Jimmy home game Saturday night for US primetime, baby, But during the day and the States, I'm gonna take a stout fourteen to ten win the Statters. What's your thoughts?

Not too far off, Nick, Not too far off. I mean, before we talk to Wolfe and before I came on, I really was down in the dumbs. But you know, I'm gonna have fai. They're going to keep the positive vibes going and I'm gonna go Steelers twenty to seventeen.

It's gonna come down to the wire. I think T J.

Watt and the defensive front will do enough to throw Browning off. I think next man up and will take place in our safeties. I don't know what the hell is gonna happen with Mason Rudolph and the receivers. I think that's just gonna be who knows what's gonna happen there. So I think our defense is gonna have to like they've been doing all season. They're gonna have to carry carry the offense. Well, yeah, somehow, some way, the Steers put.

Off a win.

Dave sand this home, are we gonna go flee? You know and just be so positive? This week and just go from there at the plan.

Of course, of course you weren't expecting me to defect us, not Yance, but no, I'm all serious, Yeah, like it's it's it's one of those where it's it's a bounce back position. You know, the bank builds. They're probably due to loss. I don't know how much have won the row now, and if there's a team that can give them a loss over history, it's it's the Pittsburgh Dealer. So I ain't gonna come in. I'm gonna say seventeen sixteen win by a single point, and I think it's going to be a last minute failal from Boswell, believe it or not. So that's that's that's my prediction, and I normally say it. I won't say it well as normally said it every week. Take this under the bank and you're a very rich man if you do follow my predictions, you sit. From from what you can.

Tell, Ozz did have a rare miss though against the Curls, which is not like I'm considering that Lucas Oilfield is indoors.

So hopefully there's no more, no more at that this time around in Boswell, we trust.

Boss we trust well.

We've seen punters kick this week as well, so I'm confident that that comes to will be fine. Lads, like the last couple of weeks, you've got to be back feeling positive again. Just a big thanks everybody listening to this podcast on the Island of Ireland. It's hard to believe we're going in the week sixteen here. I just obviously I hope people enjoy the weekend but also enjoy the holiday season, have a great Christmas, not holloway and we will chat to you is on the other side of the game potentially Sunday morning, so we need your quotes, your comments, everything if you can. Folks, hashtag Steelers Ireland on x and Instagram and on TikTok. We'll chat to you soon. Here we go, lads, Here.

We go, Here we go, Here we go.

Oh Ho ho

The Irish Steelers Podcast

The official Pittsburgh Steelers Irish podcast – emanating from the island of Ireland
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