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Brian Batko’s Steelers chat: 01.05.26
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Brian Batko
10:39
From what I can tell, they were in zone and Lamar's heroics threw off the whole structure of the defense. His time to throw on that one was 5.37 seconds. A lot of things are going to break down in the back end when a quarterback extends a play for that long while keeping his eyes downfield.
Big T
10:39
Will somebody please tell the Steelers that their best pass catching TE is Muuuuthhhj??!!
Brian Batko
10:41
Pretty sure we've been saying it for months now, Big T. And to his credit, Pat Freiermuth has continued to say it's going to come his way eventually. Well, it took until literally the final game of the regular season, but he was right.
Shane in Colrain
10:42
What will it take to beat the Texans? I think winning the turnover battle is key.
Brian Batko
10:43
Win the turnover battle. Establish the run. Stop the run. You know, football.
Texas T
10:43
Good morning Bats! I think a steady diet of Jaylen Warren early on might help open up the passing lanes later in the game for playoffs. Mind you, they got it going downfield yesterday but the Ravens were without their top safety. Thoughts?
Brian Batko
10:44
Losing Kyle Hamilton was huge, no doubt. Ray Fittipaldo asked Tomlin afterward if they made a concerted effort to attack downfield more when the Ravens lost Hamilton and he said no, but Aaron Rodgers/Arthur Smith were likely well aware of that.
Al Tuna
10:44
Last night was the dream scenario for the NFL. I'm sure there will be those that proclaim the fix was in.I've been a season ticket holder for 37 years and took my wife to Chuck Noll's first game as coach of the Steelers in 1969. If I thought for a minute that the NFL was fixed, I wouldn't attend another game. Just my two cents.
Brian Batko
10:44
Got it, Al.
Big Ed
10:45
Good morning Brian! What.A.Win. Unbelievable!! So What is up with Roman Wilson? He can't even get on the field anymore. Do you think that's an Aaron Rodgers decision or an Arthur Smith decision?
Brian Batko
10:45
I think it's ultimately a coaching decision, but the biggest factor in it is the chemistry (or lack thereof) with the quarterback. That's how I look at it.
JPinPDX
10:46
Good morning BB. Thanks for these chats! When the clock hit 00 and the Steelers won … who was happier: Boz or DK?
Brian Batko
10:46
Morning, JP. I'll go with Chris Boswell on that one.
Sam
10:47
Hi Brian.  Do you think there will be ANY lessen learned by some of the seam hits to Thielen and/or Freiermuth in the 2nd half last night? Like if you have Metcalf as a big body speedster on the outside, create the threat of slots/TE over the middle and have extremely capable receivers at RB for bailouts and screens, you could really have something.  But Collinsworth even said that they don't mind just meandering through, staying within reach and then trying to win late.  I just don't get why they seem almost averse to using a well-rounded, try to start fast gameplan.  They won't win in the playoffs playing shaky, timid, lousy football for 25 some odd minutes like that.
Brian Batko
10:50
Hey Sam. There should be. The Texans haven't allowed more than 21 points since Nov. 9, not counting yesterday when they started resting guys for the playoffs. But I'm with you in that I don't necessarily view that as reason to turtle, get overly conservative in trying to play ball-control offense, play scared of turnovers, etc. If you're gonna go down in the first round of the playoffs again, go down swinging - especially with Aaron Rodgers in the fold.
Mike from NY
10:51
Good morning Brian. Not trying to say the Steelers are lucky, but they could have easily lost both Ravens games. But they didn't !
Brian Batko
10:51
It kind of sounds like you're saying the Steelers got lucky, Mike.
Bucky
10:51
Hi Brian, Just wondering, when you and your peers watch the games, do you write on what you see from the distance of the press box, or are there monitors in there to see closeups?  Asking because I feel Ramsey got dinged early, and could have a concussion started manifesting late in the game and wondered if anyone notices.  Its inexplicable how out of position he was on those TD's.  Thx
Brian Batko
10:53
Hello Bucky. Personally, I always have the TV broadcast up on my phone with one headphone in to listen. That doesn't mean I'm always seeing every replay, though, because the delay means that the game is often happening in front of me during the previous play. But yeah, there's also the scoreboard (not particularly helpful for controversial moments or details) and monitors above our seats.
BPOS
10:54
Its just so hard to be happy today.  They didn't deserve to win and only did so because that young kid succumbed to the immense pressure. I feel really bad for him, despite hating the Ravens with every cell of my body. Who goes for the Tush Push an the 2.5 yard line?  The play calling at times is criminally malpractice.  Is that Tomlin or Smith dialing up these ridiculous play.
Brian Batko
10:55
I actually think the pitch-out to Kenny G on the last play of the first half was worse. To be fair, though, we don't know the specifics yet of what Aaron Rodgers saw (or thought he saw) pre-snap, if he could've checked out of it, things of that nature. But obviously that play was just dead in the water immediately. Lastly, please go outside and get some fresh air in your lungs, BPOS. Be happy.
Grinch
10:56
Glass half empty comment...We get to watch them soil the bed next week when the Texans bring their #1 D to town, where this inept offense could only score 6 points against the Browns. And now Boz seems to be in a funk so our biggest serial killer, as Tomlin calls him, is not so scary. Talk me off the ledge this won't be over by halftime.
Brian Batko
10:58
Well the Texans run game isn't all that scary either. While I told Sam that the Steelers shouldn't live in their fears offensively, that's not the same as still being able to pull out a win anyway if things do go sideways offensively. And I'd say the defense having themselves a game is a distinct possibility against the Texans - provided they don't get shredded by CJ Stroud and his receivers.
RV
10:59
based on last night’s broadcast it sounds like Aaron R is running extra meetings every night.  Curious who attends… only WRs?   TEs and RBs?  The backup QBs?   Thanks
Brian Batko
11:00
Yes, I heard Cris Collinsworth mention that in my right ear, RV. Frankly, I was taken aback a bit that he said they meet four nights a week. I've been around the team all season and there's been talk about Tuesday nights at Aaron's house, including his birthday that one week, but that was the first I've heard of it being that intensive. Can ask around on that, but Rodgers tends to be fairly secretive on such matters, which trickles down to the other guys.
STEEL72
11:00
May the curse that goes back to Jesse James catch/no catch finally be lifted? Obviously, the Steelers tried to lose and failed, but perhaps this holy-water-blessed field has finally relinquished its grip on the team. Perhaps the team is poised to shock the world? This team has the weapons. This team has the heart. Can they put it all together? Despite the play calling mysteries and the mind-boggling miscues in the secondary, here we are with a passionate fan base ready to roll. Do you think IT can be done?
Brian Batko
11:03
I suggested the idea of an Antonio Brown curse in my story off the game last night, as it's felt like the Steelers have been in NFL purgatory since he defected. But you're right that the playoff drought goes back even further than his final year with the team. I'll say this much about Steelers-Texans, I think it's as much of a chance as they've had to win a playoff game since that wild-card loss to the Browns. Going into the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens blowouts, I was not very optimistic.
11:04
OK folks, sorry for all the letters left unread but as the Steelers secondary showed last night, you can't cover everything. Or something like that. We'll do it again next week, win or lose, male parts or no male parts. Talk to you then.
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