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Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, ladies and gentlemen, degenerates, gamblers, Pittsburgh Steelers fans, fans of the NFL Shield, NFL Betters, fantasy football players, anyone I may have left out for and wide. Welcome in to episode number 114 of the Talking the Line Podcast, special shout out to Luna Ru of the Siddity Boys Chicago based group for that heater of an intro on our countdown. Wouldn't you know it? The name of that song is actually called normal Illinois hashtag rollbirds.
There is actually a attended I issue for a few years there as well. So shout out Luna Ru. If you like that song, we will drop the link in the description. It is off of his new album Night Watch.
Definitely go check that out. But to you guys, thank you as always for stopping by today's show on this beautiful August 31st 2021. Last day of the month, let's quote, close it strong. But before we do, please take a few moments to smash that subscribe button on whatever platform you are currently ingesting the talking line podcast on if you are watching it watching on YouTube, you might as well hit that notification bell over there as well.
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You got a couple extra seconds to do so. Hey, hit that like button, leave us a comment, leave us a rating, hop on over there in the live chat. If you are watching live, we can't tell you how much we appreciate it when you do. And it only helps us make TTL sports media bigger and better for reaching every one of you.
Last, but certainly not least, head on over to this episode's description where you will locate the talking the line link tree within that link sure you'll find the talking the line dot com website, all of the TTL crew social platforms and our additional content. So you can consume that all however, and whenever you please. Ladies and gentlemen, beautiful people joining us on episode number one 14 I am your humble host Colton coal 45 Soroka. And once again, thank you so much for choosing to stop by the TTL pod today.
Can't tell you how much we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Well, I keep saying we are the crew, but I'm the only guy talking so far. So I need to bring in the second half of the talking the line sports media crew. My man sits to my left on every show may soon be sitting to my left on a new show, but maybe not in the same location as me who's to say who's a man that is elated that his white socks are coming off a solid weekend against my cubbies and now draw the pirates at home in the south side for a nice three game series and two game series I apologize and he's very excited to see his Green Bay pack go pack go in nine short days.
Well, actually, it'll be 11 short days either way 12 short days either. No problem. Let's bring him in the man the man the degenerate gambling legend himself, Mr. Riley R.
Max, Maguson order how you doing over there today, pal? My man, I am doing fantastic nine days 11 days 12 days. It doesn't matter. The clock is ticking and we are getting very, very close to some real life NFL football and I cannot wait.
We've got a hell of a show tapped up for us today. And you know, we've got a hell of a week tapped up for us as well, but I'm excited for today. My man, we've got a nice little team here to talk about that. You know, I've got some personal thoughts on I don't know about you, but a lot of interesting aspects for this team here.
We got today. Well, I would imagine we both have some personal thoughts on them as to why we would be doing the show on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I like where you were going with that. However, I would agree with you a hell of a week ahead for us and days are just counting down for the NFL season near my friend.
Also, don't forget this Friday is a college football special edition will be hammered and picks all this week. We got a game tomorrow and then half a dozen games on Thursday and then Friday is Saturday. It is back to it, ladies and gentlemen. So Friday we had to set aside, take a break from the NFL special editions and dive deep into some college football for you guys.
So that all being said, we have a loaded NFL special edition on tap as always Pittsburgh Steelers. I know you read the title, but it's time to tell you what's coming up. As always, we got four segments on tap. We got the team breakdown.
We got the schedule breakdown full betting preview and then Oh, hey, we'll give you our best fantasy advice and start stash or pass as well. All of that concludes with our mag sidebar. Right. Little bit of banter between the crew.
We have some announcements to tell you guys about. I suggest you tune into that. Do not skip that because very, very important stuff. I told you I was gonna let you know on Wednesday, but ah, fuck it.
You know me. It's time to let the cat out of the bag. I confirmed some stuff late last night. So let's get after it.
But you'll have to stick around to the end of the show if you want to find out what I'm actually talking about. All that being said, can't forget you guys need a little extra inspiration motivation, get you about the rest of your day and on into Wednesday until I see you again, got my motivation minutes for you as always. But gonna do a little continuation on from yesterday, had a little extra stuff on my heart in addition to that and it kind of formulated another motivation minutes. So if you were around for yesterday's, you're definitely gonna like today's but if you didn't hear yesterday's, you definitely like today's too.
So maybe it'll encourage you to go back and listen to yesterday's motivation minutes. All that being said, cut all the nonsense, cut all the drama. Oh shit. I forgot before we cut everything completely.
Da da da da da da. Huge news of the morning. Maybe the biggest news of the NFL season so far preseason regular season coming up, whatever the hell you want to say. I was like, Cam Newton released from the New England Patriots.
Very, very, very surprising. Both of me, my partner's jaws hit the floor this morning. And you know, Riley, I will say it because I don't know if you were gonna have the Gumption to say it on the pod. But I'm right there with you.
We have a nice hot take. We would like to dish out that quite possible it might happen. Would you like to say it? Is it the hot hot take that we're talking about here?
Oh, Mr. Watson. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Not an actual take, but you know, this hot take. It's a hot take. Deshawn Watson traded for Mac Jones question mark, Bill Bell check has his connections to figure out if he's on Watson's situation is all good. And the Texans would be fucking stupid to say no to that.
I'm not saying. They've got until the afternoon or they gotta do it in the middle of the season. But hey, 2 p.m. maybe Deshawn Watson is a New England Patriots.
That would be wild, man. That would be wild. I would be shocking. I think they've got the outside.
I think they've got the faith in Mac Jones. But you know, if it happens, you heard it here. Hey, you heard it here first, but we also talked about where does he potentially go? Maybe the Eagles, but they just picked up Garda Minshew.
Not really an option. They also have Joe Flacco. And then you kind of can go across the board. Maybe the Lions if something were to happen with Jared Goff, who knows, but there are so many like if he situations, it just doesn't seem like him is going to get picked up.
Denver is one that I was thinking about not saying he starts over Teddy Bridgewater. But if something happens to Teddy, that's a pretty similar like that. They like to do lock enough. He'd be weak one starter though.
That's kind of where I'm thinking with that. So I don't know, man, that's also true. Who knows? But now you know, Cam is no longer a Patriots and we'll have to see if he's going to get picked up before the deadline or maybe into 2021.
What are you thumbing me? Just find Gilmore on the PUP list. The public sees out at least the first six weeks for the Patriots as well. Goodness gracious.
All right. Well, things are getting worse for the Patriots by the day here. All right. We're by the second as it goes now.
But it's got all that nonsense. We'll talk about that later on in the show. We'll get into today's NFL special edition, the 25th on tap with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steel City. Whatever you want to say, they play out of Hinesfield.
I still believe it is nowadays. I don't know if they changed it. It is still Hinesfield question marks. Yeah.
In a few areas. Sure. But there shouldn't be so many question marks with them pretty much returning the exact same team outside of the offensive line. Sure.
Offensive line being mentioned, that's actually one of my biggest question marks. So I'll save all of that. We'll get into everything here very, very shortly. I'm shopping at the bit.
I know you are too. Let's get into the first segment of the day. All right. Full team breakdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As always, we'll kick things off offensively. Talk about the key losses and additions and 2020 numbers and then give you the overall outlook for 2021. Flip the script on the defense and then talk about the coaching staff as well. So first things first, as far as the key losses go, let me tell you about those and then I'll kick it over to my partner for the key additions offensively.
They let the old dog, Alejandro Villanuevo, right tackle go. He is now playing for the Ravens. They also let James Conner go. We talked about him back on the Cardinals episode.
They let right tackle Matt Felergo. He is now with the Chargers. So obviously teams are still finding value in these guys. They are letting go.
Let go. Right guard Danny is a at the time of this riding when I had found this. He had not signed with a new team. I'm not sure if he has yet or not.
Right tackle Gerald Hawkins in case for him and the Marquis Pouncy Center as well. So a few big names out of their most notably the offensive line. Why I mentioned something about that. But I will tell you guys about that in just a little bit partner.
Hit me and them with those offensive additions for the Steelers going into 2021. All right. So free agency and trades. I guess busy is a word that you could use, but they didn't really open up their checkbook this offseason.
They picked up Joe Hagg right guard for about $2.29 million. That was the most expensive acquisition they made in free agency. BJ Finney center Rashad a coward right guard. All these guys are most likely going to be depth offensive line.
And so solid depth ads at the offensive line, but nothing to write home about there. As far as the draft though, that's really where they made their big accusations. Not accusations. Excuse me.
First round. Najahair is everybody knows out of Bama. Well, there you go. Second round tight end.
Pat Fryer move out of Penn State. He is most likely going to be the number two tight end. We may see him as things go along here. Third round they pick up Kendrick Green out of IL Illinois.
And I offensive guard. He will most likely be another offensive line. I guess you're fucking sound boy over here. I guess so.
Another ad there for the defensive offensive depth there. So nice depth to their offensive line this offseason. But we'll see if it makes an impact. Another one offensive tackle Dan Moore out of Texas A&M.
And for what it's worth not sure if you were to mention it partner a seventh round they pick up Hunter Presley Harvey in the third out of Jordan Tech. Hey kickers or people too. I appreciate you my friend. All right.
Well, there goes Key Losses Key Editions offensively for the 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers. How about some 2020 stats where we talk about everything 2021. Well, I'm glad you asked because I got him right here in 2020 the Steelers average 5.2 yards per play. They ran the ball 34.5 2% of the time and passed the ball 8% of the time.
I don't believe that pass and rust split was because of the elite level of the running or the elite level of the wide receivers rather being the lackluster ability of the running backs in my opinion. But you be the judge as you wish completion percentage across the board 65.61% third down conversion percent was at 42.86. So obviously going to have to improve that a lot that once again was because a lot of that poor rushing but hopefully with Naji Harris coming in this year they have something to write home about. But we'll talk about that here in a minute.
And then in the red zone they scored at a 66.07 clip. So I think that stays right about the same or maybe due for just a tad bit of regression if I do say so myself but we'll talk about that. Definitely here in just a second and then even more when it comes to the schedule. We have a lot to talk about when it comes to the schedule believe you mean.
It might be very surprising to a lot of you guys. So make sure you stick around for that. I mean stick tuned. That doesn't make any sense at all.
So stick around for that in the second segment. But moving right along let me give you the projected week one starters here for the Steelers in 2021 a company by some of my overall outlooks and I'll kick it over to you partner. Then we'll change the defensive side of the ball. Okay.
So as far as the offensive line goes looks like starters are going to be Zack Banner, Trey Turner, Jayce, Hasenhauer, Kevin Datson and then Chikumwa, Akua for everybody looks to be locked in besides Hasenhauer. I know there's a little bit of a competition going on right now at the center position. It does look like though he'll ultimately lock down that spot. Then you have the tight end Eric Ibrun.
They also did bring in a tight end out of the draft. Obviously the Pat Fryer moves the shoe and then they do have somebody else behind him. If I am not mistaken they do have Zach gentry, Zach gentry, but other than that nothing really to write home to major about. So it looks like Ibrun will get the bulk of the workload there.
And then as far as the other receivers go names you know Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Shuster, Deontay Johnson and then back in the mup James Washington and Ray Ray McCloud running backs. Obviously the aforementioned Naji Harris backed up by Benny Snell and then the quarterback Ben Rothlessberger and Mason Rudolph. Hopefully he has his helmet securely fixed on his head. Stop it Colton, that was bad.
That was terrible. I thought you were going to differ and angle with that. No reason to do that. All right I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. Okay so back to it. Overall outlooks, that offensive line really causes some concern for me. Not only are they young, they're just not a unit that has any cohesion or any type of real proven ability.
So that leaves a lot of question marks for me. So then that's going to leave some question marks for the running game. I love Naji Harris. Roll damn tied.
You best believe it. No question in my mind. But I'm a little concerned that we might have to temper expectations just a little bit. I think he's going to still be very solid because it was set very early on even before the preseason started by the owner that hey we're going to get back to running the ball.
You better believe it. As far as the wider Seabroom goes in my opinion, I think we see about the same production. I don't think we see any crazy insane jump from Chase Claypool or Juju Smith-Shuster. I might just be a little biased because I'm not the biggest fans in the world of some of the on and off field antics.
Just my personal opinion but I'm not the highest on him. Now as far as Deontay Johnson, I do have high hopes for him to finally really break out here in 2021. And then behind him Washington and McCloud, not too much to write home about but might have a little fantasy value. We'll talk about that as well.
And then Benny Snell too might have a little bit of fantasy value stashing him as a handcuff from Naji Harris. Outside of that, we'll talk about him more in depth and fantasy but why not get your opinions here. What do you think for the 2021 Steel offense? Yeah, pretty similar to you my man.
The offensive line is the biggest concern here. You know these offensive or these free agency acquisitions and draft acquisitions that they made really scream to me that they're just trying to throw as many guys in that conversation because either it's depth or they just don't have the faith. Like we kind of don't. And as the season goes on, you're going to potentially see a carousel of an offensive line which at the beginning of the season might be an issue.
And then as we get on to the season, optimistically maybe it'll figure itself out. You might find the right combination of five guys. As far as receivers, I think the promotion of McAnida, excuse me too often the coordinator, I think it should help bring some more motion to this offense, get a little more the current day modern if you will as opposed to the previous regime that really featured no motion at all because these receivers are meant for this receiving course meant to have some motion in them. And I think that should help.
But my biggest concern is that big Ben seems to be losing that arm strength, losing that deep accuracy. So despite the what I think should be an improvement in the short game of their offense, I don't really think they're going to be able to hit those big plays. And it's going to be the end, I'll be all of this offense if you will. So while I think we might see some improvements in some areas, there's still going to be a cap on this offense that I'm a little pessimistic about.
Most definitely and we'll talk about it. It's kind of going to be the theme of the show. But for the Steelers, I mean, efficiency is the biggest thing. And if they lack an efficiency in multiple areas, it's going to be a fast brutal early exit for the Steelers in 2021.
But before we move to the defensive side of all, let me give you a key rankings here courtesy of the guys over at SFA. Quarterback room, Big Ben Mason Rudolph come in ranked as the 22nd unit in the league. Offensive lying dead as last worst in the Lions, worse than the Jaguars. Wears than the Bengals.
I don't know. 30 second in the league is this offensive Lions bad running back room 20th in the league, obviously with the unproven ability of Naji Harris and then Benny Snell being kind of a mediocre back so far with the course of his career. That's pretty fair ranking. I would say but definitely room to improve upon that receivers.
They're pretty high on the 12th unit in the league. Obviously some big names, some guys who have that big play potential. My partner, as you heard, is a little bit higher on him to kind of continuously produce but as where I'm a little bit, they're going to stay just about the same. Maybe we even see a little bit of aggression from last year mainly because of the concern that you have as well.
I have as well Big Ben. I just don't know what I see from Big Ben. I mean, it seems like every other time he goes to the sideline, he's got about 13 ice packs all in various spots of his body. So I just don't know that I can trust a 39 year old quarterback and then you say that and you look at Tom Brady, you can't even put them on the same wavelength.
I apologize but you just can't. Not to mention we didn't really mention it but if you read this chapter, the Steelers and SFA, they really kind of break down. 2019 when Big Ben was gone, Mason Rudolph was in there for the bulk of the, you know, the bulk of the games and his numbers really weren't that different from Big Ben last year, especially down the field kind of like I was saying. So, you know, healthy Big Ben might have a different tune to that but I'm not really expecting to hear this year.
Me neither. Moving to the defensive side of the ball with the key losses. Pardon if you could be so kind as kick things off with them going into 2021. Alrighty.
So while they did lose a couple of guys, they still have plenty of options on this defense to be an elite defense. They did lose Bud Dupree off the edge and Vince Williams, linebacker lost in this off season two retirement, I do believe. Mike Hilton cornerback, Olasun Kami Adani off the edge. That was a, I'm getting better these names but I'm not at all.
I'm butchering some of these ones that I'm not familiar with. Oh, it's Kami Adani. Alright. So Sean Davis out of safety.
I'm just good with names. Avery Williamson, linebacker, Jay Rohn, Elliott off the edge. Jordan Dangerfield. Yinnya.
Jordan Dangerfield, safety, Steven Nelson, cornerback, but obviously Bud Dupree, and Vince Williams are the two biggest names here. Everyone else's depth pieces or not really too much any type of significance here. Pardon how they fill any of these holes here. Oh, I wouldn't say the best but I wouldn't say the worst.
They pick up six guys either via the trade market free agency and also with the draft. They got linebacker Miles Killebrou. They got him on a $1.1 million and then also cornerback Arthur Mollett. He's under a million on a deal now.
So we'll see what those two guys can bring to the table. I'm not sure that they will get immediate starting spots but Miles Killebrou being that linebacker pick up with the retirement offense Williams. It's definitely going to be important for them to have some solid depth there. We'll talk about that here in just a second too.
As far as the drafted players, they waited all the way until the fourth round to get Buddy Johnson linebacker at a Texas A&M. Followed that up in the fifth with defense attack. I just ate a louder milk out of Wisconsin. Then in the sixth they got Quincy Roche defensive in out of Miami, and then they got in the seventh round their first pick out of two was Trey Norwood out of Oklahoma.
So pretty solid defensive all. I mean obviously not too many guys that you can really write home about. Not too many guys that are going to get immediate impact but definitely guys that are that depth that where they need because as we'll talk about here in a little bit, they are going to battle a little bit of injury and battle some of key names and leave in town. But before we talk about that, let's talk about 2020 here real quick in the year of 2020, the COVID year that we will never forget and will forever live in infamy.
The Pittsburgh Steelers averaged opponents to allow or allowed opponents to average to set that backwards. Five yards per plate, opponent completion percentage was at 56.96%. Opponent third down conversion percent was at 37.71 and in the red zone opponents only converted at a 56% flip. So overall that defense is damn damn good and damn solid but when you put up numbers that good across the board, it's only natural that you see some type of regression going into the following year.
So I'm a little concerned about that but let me tell you about the protective starters before we get into some outlooks here. As far as the line goes, it's going to look very similar to what it did last year, TJ Watt, Stefan Touit, Cam Hayward, and Alex Heissmann. So very dominant defensive line. Nothing you really have to worry about there.
Rounding out the front seven. A little bit of question marks here. Obviously Devon Bush coming off of the injury last year and then they had Vince Williams projected but then he was tired unexpectedly. Now they have some decent, decent depth.
I do believe if you remember last year against the Titans, Bob Spillain, Robert Spillain, meet an old Derrick Henry in the hole. I think he could definitely impress, get maybe that second third down role or maybe even move himself into the starting position. They do also have the aforementioned killer brew that I just talked to you guys about. That is going to be very important to fill that hole.
And then a few other guys worth noting, they have Melvin Ingram picked him up from the Los Angeles Chargers. So that's also absolutely terrific. He is coming into his 11th full season. But either way, he's still producing at a very high level.
And then behind them, yeah, Christian Coons, Buddy Johnson, Jamir Jones, definitely notable guys. So I think they should be Joe Schobert. I think they got plenty of guys to really alleviate any question marks when it comes to this line back room. So I'm pretty pretty high on this front seven, the state dominant, this secondary.
However, I love the names. I love their production. I think that they are just going to be right around the middle of the pack. I don't know that they're going to be that high flying Steelers defense that we know and are forcing a bunch of turnovers.
I hope so. But at the same time, I could see them producing maybe the defensive line regression. Something regresses here. I just don't know for sure.
But in the secondary, you have Justin Lane, Cam Sutton, and Joe Hayden as the main defensive backs and then in the deep secondary to Rel Edmonds and the legendary at this point, Mika Fitzpatrick. So with those names, I mean, you say cold, how can they possibly struggle? I know, I look at it too. But something has to regress here.
I don't know what it necessarily will be. Maybe it will be the defensive line. But I hate to say that with TJ Watt and Stefan to it and Cam, hey, I mean, it's too, that's just too much for me. And then even with the linebacker questions, I still think that they have plenty of guys on the depth chart to fill those holes that it's not going to cause any problems.
So if I don't see any regression there, well, where the hell else am I going to look for regression? So I guess that's kind of my cup of tea. What I'm saying, maybe it happens the bass, backwards way and I'm totally off or maybe there's no fucking regression at all. And I'm just a more round and a half.
But that's just how I feel. I think they still have a great defense. But what are you feeling about the defense going into 21? I am a little higher than you on this defense here.
This is one of my favorite defense of the league, not saying that it's not one of yours. But I don't know if we see regression, maybe on the numbers itself, just because they have some high flying offenses that they play this year. But overall, I mean, part of the reason why I don't personally see regression is because I got a few of their biggest playmakers that may not have even played their best football yet. TJ, why Devin Bush, Minkifitz, Patrick, they are still pretty damn young and they could still even have another level to go to at least one of these guys.
So while some of their secondary aside from Minkifitz, Patrick, I don't want to say concerns me. But if I'm going to nitpick this defense, that would be where I would nitpick it for sure. Maybe Joe Hayden ages a little bit and we start to see his age. So that would be if I'm going to nitpick this defense, where I'm going to nitpick as that secondary.
Because I think with the health, I think that front seven is going to be damn good once again. So I'm pretty damn optimistic about this defense. I'm not saying it's my number one favorite defense, but it's definitely in the conversation with a couple of these others that we've talked about. Yeah, and that's what I'm kind of saying.
I mean, it's more of a nitpick and I'm just a little concerned. Like when you have such a good season last season and then just to continuously follow it up, but then again, it's the Steelers defense and I feel like I want to walk back my statement. So I'm somewhere right in the middle. I just, I think they keep the team in games.
I don't think you have to worry about them, but I don't think they're going to be, we'll talk about him fantasy number one overall defense. Holy shit, the Steelers are back. Well, I forgot to mention Melvin Ingram, that is such a low risk high reward acquisition this off season. They did not really bring the bag for him.
And if he is healthy and gets back to even 80, 90% of what he used to be, that is another monster in this defense. So I kind of predict that he is damn good when he's healthy. And I kind of, I'm kind of expecting it, if I'm being honest. Yeah, I think he will definitely be an ex factor in this defense.
So maybe coming a few weeks, I look like a total ass and I got to walk back all these statements I said about regression, but then again, we'll talk about it in the schedule preview. Ladies and gentlemen, it was a cupcake schedule last year. And then all of the holes and flaws got exposed in the final six games. I went one and five for fuck sakes.
Don't look at me like I got a freaking horn growing out of my forehead. Okay, just stay tuned in and let me keep talking and telling you about the Steelers. That all being said, the coaching staff, actually, before we get into the coaching staff, key rankings can never forget some key rankings. Go to see guys over at SFA are guys the Warren Sharp and also I got to get credit where credit is due.
I got to find their ads again. So I can add all the other guys on there. But these guys are bar none cannot wait to bet right alongside with them. Hopefully we'll be able to get a little bit of that knowledge, not necessarily believe in I'm going to drop a a thousand bar right picks when I do this myself.
So that all being said, the front seven comes in ranked as the second unit in the league and 12th ranked secondary in the league. So obviously they're way higher than me on them. No questions at all. And then they're right about where mags is as well.
So you know, I might look like a total ass, but I'm just saying maybe I'm not saying who knows we could see a little something something that we don't all like from the Steelers defense. But they should be pretty damn good nonetheless. Now into that coaching staff, the head coach returning as always, it seems at this point, once again, we talked about Sean Payton and Bill Belichick, a guy who's right in the same conversation, Mike Tomlin coming into his 15th of season as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. He has made a name for himself at this point in time.
Offensive coach Matt Canada has now been promoted from the QB coach up to the OC this season. And then Keith Butler is now the defensive coordinator. So brand brand new OC not really has been with the team other than that Keith Butler coming in for his sixth official season. So I think we see a lot of the same from the Steelers.
And that's kind of what I mean is we might see a little bit of aggression in some area. We they didn't really make all too many changes as far as letting guys go. And any guys they did let go they backfilled with solid names. Any of their superstar players either offensive or defensively they kept around.
You know, I just think it's going to be that same Steelers team that we've seen. And what did we see in the last six weeks of the season. And that's when they're scheduled really really got hard. And once again, we'll talk about it very soon.
I don't want to spill all the beans and forecasts and stuff. But this is a tough schedule to share. Yeah. And to put a cap on the coaching staff, I think the move from Matt Canada to what they previously had is a good move.
But as we're about to talk about, it's the schedule difference from last year to this year that might be the final below to this team here. Absolutely. So all that being said, we keep these and we keep talking about it. If you guys got any Steelers questions, any NFL questions, any betting questions, you guys want anything in between we love connecting with you jumping over there in the live chat, just drop it on down over yonder and we'll answer it here shortly once we get back in action.
So whenever we get a chance to see it. So that all being said, second segment of the day, ladies and gentlemen, let's move right along into the full schedule breakdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers here in 2021. As always, we're not going week by week, but I will tell you, we'll save that for the betting preview. And I will tell you also that the week seven is there by week.
But for the schedule breakdown, we will give you some of their key games. We'll actually not their key games. All of their games will break it down. Division eight main non-divisional opponents and then the three outside of that will give you our full record predictions and then we'll dive into the betting segments after a little bit of arrest and prep inequalities as well.
Before I do this schedule, we just said it extremely hard. It was very, very easy last year and it is actually expected, projected, analyzed, however you want to say it, to the Steelers to face the second toughest overall schedule based on win totals right now. So I am pretty dug on concern. If it is not going to be the defense that has issues, then it's definitely going to be the offense that has issues.
So AFC North, first things first, as far as the Ravens go, I will give them a nice split. You thought I was going to say two and oh and no, I am not. I am going to go with a nice split. Last year they went one and one with them as well.
I do believe that is correct. I actually got both of them, but one of them, the Ravens were ravaged by COVID and one of the two. Ah, that is correct. I forgot about that.
So yes, I will definitely give the Steelers to get one of their looks back against the Ravens, but it did look like the Ravens kind of had that formula against the present time Steelers that we see. The Bengals, I will also give them a split. You know, I just see something happening. The Bengals got to win over them last year.
It would not surprise me if they had the ability to do it again. I mean, it was 27, 17 and week 15. So another late season game. Who knows the two weeks they play them.
They're week 12 and week three. So week 12, potentially after Sunday night football, instance and anti. I'm not opposed to that. So I'll give them a split again.
And then the brownies, man and Steelers fans don't hate me for this. I'm going on to against the brownies. I think the brownies have the formula. I think this is defense easier.
And I think the Browns, as I've been talking since episode seven or eight, whatever the Browns were or NFL special edition, I'm getting higher and higher on the Browns by the second. So give me them, uh, oh and two against the Browns. So overall, whoa, two and four in the AFC North goodness. Whoa, goodness.
So I'm gonna sing a similar tune on a couple of these teams. I'll start with the Browns. I'm right there with you. I think the Browns cracked the code last year.
Obviously in the regular season, these teams split Steelers beat the doors off in the first game. Then that second game for the Browns and then the playoffs, the Browns had their number. I think we see the same once again this year. Much like you.
I'm also going with a split with the Ravens, whether that be, you know, just, I mean, these games are just close. It doesn't really matter. So I'm going to go with split and maybe the week 18 game, the Ravens, whether they're the division or in the wild card, maybe they got something wrapped up. So I'll go split there.
But I'm giving the Steelers both wins against the Bengals despite that game that they lost to him last year. I think this is just a brutal matchup for this Bengals offense. And it doesn't alarm me because the Bengals won that game without Joe Burrow. And I love Joe Burrow.
But that offensive line in the Bengals is not that much improved. And I think the Steelers defense is just the terrible matchup for this Bengals offense. Same Steelers defense. I know I thought that's fair.
That's fair. But I'm going to two and oh two wins against these Bengals. Okay. So we are just only opposing on the Bengals, which causes you to go four and two.
That's three and three. I got that. I just got three. I got that.
She went split and split. Oh, no, I don't know. Okay. So it is.
Oh, and two against the brineys. All right. Just so I remember there. All right.
Next set of four teams. These are the start of the eight main non-divisional teams AFC West. Now I'm sorry with the Broncos here because this game is played in the steel city and is after an extremely difficult game against the Packers. Following the game against the Broncos, they play the Seahawks on Sunday night football at a three game rest this advantage.
I don't want to say they look past the Broncos. But if the Broncos come out swinging, the Steelers could drop this one. Okay. I'll give them the win.
Okay. Because it's in hindsight. But the Broncos could get this one. If the Steelers are not careful about how serious they take them and look in too far into Sunday night football for the Seahawks.
This is what I'm saying. Then, Chiefs, I don't think so. No question. I don't think bad.
My home's going to let that happen or any Marines going to let that happen. Now, Chargers is going to be a toss up in my mind. I give the defensive edge to the Steelers, but I also give the offensive edge to the Chargers. So if it ends up in a shootout, and I think Justin Herbert can navigate that defense just fine and limit turnovers, I think the Chargers could get that game and I lean a little bit harder to the Chargers than I do the Broncos.
So I'm going to, oh, man, I'm going to say they get that game. The Chargers get that game. And then I'll say the Steelers definitely get the game over the Raiders. So I say they go three in one in the AFC West with a potential lead to two and two with a lose to the Broncos.
Okay. I am going to and to give him the win over the Raiders, giving him a loss over the Chiefs. I'm going to give the Chargers the win in this one in LA and I'm going with the win over the Broncos though. That is, I think that I'm so excited to watch that game.
That is such a going to be such a low scoring grind out game. But I know I like what you said there, but I think they're going to lose the Packers in Lambo. So then, you know, I don't think they're going to overlook the Broncos because that's an AFC opponent that they're going to be potentially battling for playoff position for. So I think that's going to be a big game on their schedule and they're going to make sure they get that one.
And if it was in Denver, I'd be changing my tunes saying the Broncos, but give me two and two out of the AFC West here with wins over Raiders and Broncos. All right. And I'm going with an additional win over the Chargers. Okay.
I think I just like the Chargers too much to knock at the Chargers that win there. Yeah. Yeah. That you that you said it, I was kind of on the fence.
I'm going to go ahead and stick with that. So we'll both go to and do in the West. Okay. NFC North, we got dope air's buried down.
You know, maybe in Homer, I'd say they get that win. Let's do a little investigation that is in the steel city on Monday night football. I give that to the dog on Steelers. Okay.
That is okay. As much as I don't want. Well, it's week nine, Justin Fields might be starting at that point in time. Who knows what that offense looks like.
There's just too many question marks in Chicago. Damn it. Here we go. It's stupid fucking Nat Nagy in the damn Ryan pace.
And I just want. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We have Steelers to talk about.
All right. I'm sorry. I'll give the Steelers the win over the bears unbiased analyst hat back on. I will give the Steelers the win over the Lions and I will give them the win over the Vikings.
Okay. They're going to lose to the pack three and one of the NFC North. I'm actually fucking knows. I am actually right there with you, my man.
I was kicking back. I think that bears Steelers game is going to be a damn good game. If it was in Chicago, I might actually lean to your bears, but that bears and those Vikings games is a big old question marks for me. I'm obviously going to get the Packers win in week four.
I'm giving the Steelers the win in week 10 at home against the Lions. And I'm giving the Steelers the win over the bears. I do think it'll probably be Justin Fields. But even then I'm not losing faith in your offensive line by the day.
And while I think Justin Fields will still have some success, I think this defense might be a bad, a really bad matchup for whoever is that quarterback there with that offensive line. You don't like the new addition to Jason Peters? Yeah, we'll see. And then week 14 at Minnesota.
That is such a toss up for me. But I'm leaning towards the Steelers. I don't really trust Kirk Cousins in primetime or against the defense like this for this matter. So I will also go three and one here against the NFC North.
All right. So we're both sticking three and one once again. So I had to get my fans so I could stay. Yeah.
I'd love to see the Steelers wreaking havoc on everyone other than the pack. Yeah. But hopefully that is not the case. So for my benefit, but unbiasedly, we're both going three and one NFC North three remaining games, the beefalope bills, the Tennessee Tetons and the Seattle Seahawks.
I do not believe they get to win over the bills. I just do not see it. I think this is going to be a defensive matchup. I think Josh Allen, if I'm back in any quarterback, I'm going to back Josh Allen over Big Ben.
And I think they edged it out in a touchdown game. Hi, Tetons. That one's very interesting to me. What's that?
Week 15 at home. Three day advantage. Beat him 27 24 week seven in Tennessee last year. Might be very, very important for the Tennessee Titans, but I think that's just going to be a big game for both of these teams.
It's going to be a huge game. So that one's kind of a toss up to me. With the defensive question marks for the Titans, I'll give that one to the Steelers. So one one so far and then M1 a night football game against the Seahawks is very, very interesting or Sunday night football game.
That's right before they're by in week six. Yeah. Three day rest disadvantage. It is at Heinz Field.
They will also be if it's our predictions are correct. They may be two and three coming into that game. Well, I guess we gave him the win against the Broncos nevermind. Yeah.
Three and two. So and they very well could be two and three. They could be very easily doing three. You know, and if that is the case, then, and I could see three, two and three a lot, a lot easier.
Damn, damn, damn. Hot take. I'm gonna go one and two remaining three. I'm gonna say to lose two the Bills and the Seahawks.
Okay. I am going to go just one and two one way or another. I, and it's going to be the Titans or the Seahawks. I think the Bills should win that game in Buffalo Week one case for the Steelers.
Maybe the Bills offense starts a little slow to start the season, but I still don't really expect that. So I'll give it to the Bills and then one way or another, I'll give them a win over either the Titans or the Seahawks. I really don't know what it's going to be. I really don't know what to expect out of those games.
A lot of games that I'm very excited as a fan of, you know, defensive football. I'm very excited to see the Steelers defense against some of these teams, but I'm going to go one and two out of these last three. My man. Max.
Max. This is the worst one yet. I think it is. This is the worst one yet.
So if you've been following along at home, if you were with me, we are predicting the Steelers go eight and nine. If you were with mags, you are predicting the Steelers go nine and eight. These Steelers current season win total is set at eight and a half wins. It's gracious, man.
So as always, we have a shitload to talk about when it gets to the season when total portion of the betting preview going up in the next segment, as if we didn't already have enough to talk about as their season long betting value quickly approaches. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe, maybe we really should make a career out of the Sandy Kevin thing.
Yeah, maybe. All right. That'll be instead for moving into the third segment of the day. Let me give you give you some key rest and perhaps stats here for the Steelers.
Now I told you guys, they're scheduled shitty, a lot shittier than last year. The rest and prep category as well is equally, if not more shitty. Yeah. They play six opponents that have over a week to prepare for them and only two that have under a week to prepare.
And those be yeah, the ones that they have under a week. Sorry. It's not the rest of it. I was just going to say it's key games.
Either way, just know it's key games. Sorry to put you on the right. Five teams they play at a rest disadvantage and three teams they play with a rest advantage. The team, the Pittsburgh Steelers play a short week road game twice in 2021 and they play one game off of a road Sunday night or Monday night football game.
It is not looking good at all in that category. Ladies and gentlemen, I do not know how much of a factor this is going to play. But in my opinion, I think it is going to bloom extremely extremely large. That's just my educated guess.
I don't know for sure. But you look at the schedule and it does not look good at all. I don't know what you think about it, but if we move along, if you got anything to cap off. No, I mean, just to say some of those key disadvantages, three against the Seahawks disadvantage on Sunday night, eight against the Lions.
We don't think that's going to be a problem in Pittsburgh three against the Chiefs in KC minus one against the Browns minus one against the Ravens. You mentioned the short road week came. They played the Vikings on Thursday night after they just played the Ravens in week 13 at home. I mean, they do get plus four against the Browns in Cleveland week eight and plus three against the Titans in 15.
That one's good. But I mean, the plus four against the Browns. That's off their by week. You typically hope for a full week advantage that I assume the Browns are playing on Thursday night and week seven, but see what we mean by difficult.
Yeah, definitely not going to be easiest here in 2021 for the aforementioned. Still, well, that all being said, that does it full schedule breakdown. You missed anything. Feel free to rewind or Hey, if you're watching live, don't go nowhere.
Just wait till later, it'll be there all the way to and through the entire 2021 NFL season. But for now, ladies and gentlemen, strap in this time third segment of the day, you know, we're degenerates deep down at the bottom of our hearts. So we got to give you a full season betting preview before we get back to business as usual, dishing out my picks, our max picks, the special play of the day, the Moneyline dice roll of the day and then anything we may else pepper in there, a few things we might change from what you knew the show before, but it will be back to betting picks, business as usual, none of this extra fluff or nonsense. I'm excited for a little Moneyline dice on maybe an NFL matchup that we don't really know about it.
I cannot wait. I cannot wait for the pristine cubicle object here to remake their appearances back on this show, boys and girls, I cannot wait a little Friday college football dice action. Whoa. Yeah.
Maybe the Moneyline dice make their first appearance in almost over a month on the TTL pot on Friday show. They were hot. They were hot. They were hot.
Okay. Maybe the crew has spoken that Friday, the dice may just have an opportunity to dish out and speak to us. But sticking with the day show, betting preview coming up right now, let's go back to the past just for a moment, talk about some of their 2020 trends and stats. Something I'm very concerned about and why I just think there is some aggression.
This is Colton the better Colton the sports betting analyst, not just the pure NFL analyst. This is why I think there's going to be some aggression. 2020, they were favored by 5.1 points in 2021. They're favored by underpoint on average 0.2 points.
The Steelers are favored in 2021, favored in eight games, dogs in eight games, and they got to pick them against the Browns that I keep telling you about. It's going to be a very, very significant game in my partner thinks. So two, the Browns got the formula. That's a pick them in week 17.
2020 was pretty good for him, but that was because of the entire early season that they had 10 and 6 ATS 12 and four straight up. I personally think that's a little fraudulent. Sorry, Steelers fans, there's eight and five ATS as a favorite and two and one ATS as a dog at home. They did defend Heinz rather well, seven and one straight up with a five and three ATS record.
They were never a home dog. So they had that same five and three ATS as a home favorite on the road exact same straight up and ATS splits five and three as in a road as in a road as a road favorite. They were three and two and as in a way dog, they were two and one against the number. So obviously good numbers.
Obviously, you think you could write home about that, but in my humble opinion, I just said it. I think those are a little bit fraudulent. And I think we see some struggles against the numbers, but I'll tell you more about that once we get to the weekly breakdown here. Let me flip the script over to game totals.
They had an average total of 45.3 in 2020. Now in 2021, it's ticked up a little bit 46.7. So maybe the Steelers are going to be in a shit ton of shootouts and they are going to be losing those shootouts by just Oh, that much. Now in 2020, they had an eight, seven and two over under overall record over under or push.
Obviously that's including the playoffs as well at home. They were five, three and one on the road. They were three, four and one as a favorite. They were five, six and one, and as a dog, they were three, one and one.
All of those aforementioned are over under push straight up. Now, as far as the old teasers go, the Steelers are a team you might want to go ahead and look. Yesterday's team was team. You got to be pretty tentative on.
But hey, you need an extra one of them legs, get you into that plus money poly category. We always talk about within 10 point teasers. Still, there's might be a team to look at 14 and two overall in 10 point teasers last year, and then in six and seven, they were 12 and four. So I'm gonna be a little bit more tentative in six and seven.
But shit, if I can get them through three, four, five numbers here, I am more than happy to build them on my usual Sunday 10 point teaser. That all being said, that is some 2020 key stats. I wanted to let you guys know about one of the thing I wanted to let you guys know about popped into my head in one score games last year. They were seven and two straight up.
So even more plays into my prediction of high scoring games, Steelers losing shootouts, seven and two in one score games, less than eight points. So basically a touchdown and they were one and one in less than three point games. So basically a field goal. So somewhere there's new for regression and hey, maybe it's not the team, maybe it's just a record, maybe there's not somewhere on the team that you can pinpoint, but just as a whole, tough, they just goof up and it's just tougher games and a tougher schedule.
Maybe that's what it comes down to. I don't know. But that bear mentioning as well to you guys. That'll be instead, let's go back to the future partially in the present, but also forward looking not too far away nine fucking days away.
To start of the NFL season, let's break down that aforementioned season for these Steelers here week by week. Now, take up a half point before you start by week one, they play the Buffalo Bills in B flow. It is a six and a half point spread and the Steelers are getting those six and a half points week two is at home six. It has now ticked up a hook.
It was at five and a half. It opened. They are laying a two field goals. You could say against the Raiders at Heinz Field week or week three.
Goodest gracious. They are laying six points. That's why about said six at home against the Bengals week four. They're in Lambo getting two and a half against the pack week five.
They are at home against the Broncos. They are laying four and a half points there week six. They are the favorites and that Sunday night football game that I keep mentioning, but only by two and a half points week seven is there by week nine. They are in Cleveland.
They are getting four and a half points in that game week nine. They're laying five and a half points against the Bears at home and then a touchdown and a half in week 10 against the Lions. Then they go back to being a dog against the Chargers in LA week 11. Good call on the Chargers partner plus two and a half.
They're coming in as a dog there and then week 12. They're laying a touchdown. So a little bit less than when it was at home this time in Cincinnati against the Bengals laying only a field goal. Then in week 13, they are getting two and a half points against the Ravens.
That one is at home in Heinz Field and then week 14 is on the road in Minnesota. They're getting two and a half points against the Vikings. Very interesting there as well. We talked about that one too.
Week 15, laying a field goal against the Tennessee Titans. I do believe that is the one that they win. We both believe that's one of the ones they went out of the remaining three. Then getting a little over touchdown.