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Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 12.22.25
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Brian Batko
11:49
Hey everyone, heck of a game yesterday. I remember saying I'd be stunned if the Steelers beat the Lions in Detroit and here I am, standing before you on a Monday, rather stunned. So let's talk about it.
ErieDude
11:49
With Rodgers peaking the last few weeks what’s the mood in the building about possibly running it back next year while drafting someone and developing them with the thought they’d start in 2027
Brian Batko
11:51
Shoutout to Erie. My wife is a proud Gannon alum. Beautiful there this time of year, am I right? Anyway, there's no denying it's been a roller-coaster with Aaron Rodgers. We've gone from "should they bring him back?" to "he's cooked" to "should they bring him back?" again. Obviously, it all depends on if he even wants to play another season, and I still have my doubts about that. But I also have my doubts that there will be many, if any, clearly better options for this team in 2026.
Sam
11:52
Merry Christmas, Brian.  Have you heard any clarification on the final play?  Cam Heyward mentioned he heard a whistle, but why would they have announced the ruling as TD if there was a whistle?  And if it had ended with a guy catching the ball at the half yard line, being carried by two defenders back to the 7, yet not deeming his forward progress to be stopped, this would have gone down rivaling the great Detroit coin toss debacle of 1998.
Brian Batko
11:55
Merry Christmas, Sam. Not really. Officiating is a tough job, and there are always going to be two opposing fan bases and teams who have very different viewpoints on a play that crazy. There were so many elements of that play, from the OPI to the forward progress to the lateral. I actually think the ref did a fine job explaining it at the end, but I don't envy ruling on that at all.
Farmtastic
11:55
Brian, does the NFL want controversy in these close games? Why announce that the Lions scored just to overturn the call? Just seemed like an odd way to phrase it. As far as fans whining about the last play being gifted to the Steelers, it was an obvious OPI (they called it on Pittsburgh all game) and the receivers forward progress was clearly stopped. Not sure it could be more obvious. Refs made it way harder than it needed to be.
Brian Batko
11:57
I mean, like I just said, they had to explain it. And I do agree that the officiating was fairly consistent on those OPI calls throughout the game. More than anything, that's what you want out of officiating in any sport. Consistency.
Barry in MD
11:59
Off season priority sign Gainwell. He’s 26 4 year minimum if need be tag.
Brian Batko
11:59
He's making himself some big cash this year. The dude catches everything. It was unbelievable yesterday. He has magnets in his gloves, I'm convinced.
The Ghost of Noll
12:00
With JW and KG playing so well, and after seeing JW take it to the house on long runs last night I can back off the need for more speed... however just how far off is #20 from making some type of contribution?
Brian Batko
12:01
That's certainly a subplot to this whole thing. As good as that duo has been, the Steelers burned a premium draft pick on a player with no clear path to contributing anytime soon, barring injury.
Bob
12:02
Hello Brian and Happy Holidays.  Since fans chanted “Fire Tomlin” 3 weeks ago, the Steelers have won 3 in a row, do you think that woke up the players?
Brian Batko
12:04
You too, Bob. Perhaps on some level it was a wake-up call, but the way they got manhandled by the Bills could've accomplished just the same. Or the Bills really are that much better than the Steelers, or at least a bad matchup for them, and the same thing could play out in a few weeks if they meet in the postseason.
Ed
12:05
Where are the fans who said to trade Highsmith for a WR at the deadline?
Brian Batko
12:05
That was never realistic
Dan
12:05
I know nobody knows yet, but what is your own personal thought on what the league may do to Metcalf for his fan altercation?
Brian Batko
12:08
My guess is a one-game suspension. And that's probably fair. I was watching the fallout closely with my binoculars from the press box. Even if the fan was being a total jackwagon, players have to block that out and not engage. Not only can it hurt your own team when you lash out like that, if you get suspended, but it also lets the troll win. Now, there's reporting out there that a racial slur was involved here and trash talk that goes beyond the pale, so we'll see what comes of that. From what I could tell from my seat, there was an extensive review of the incident from security and they didn't make the fan leave, so I don't know what to believe.
The Dude
12:09
I assume NFL officials are graded on a regular basis, maybe even after every game. Do any of them ever get such a low grade they are given a game or more off? Probably nothing is ever said publicly, since it would be tantamount to admitting errors, right? Not blowing the whistle to indicate forward progress stopped yesterday could have had huge ramifications.
Brian Batko
12:11
I don't know, Dude. Probably. That's what the valuations are for. If not game by game replacements, season by season. Maybe Puka Nacua can evaluate them.
79 Buccos
12:12
Does Harmon make that much difference in the run defense or do you think Campbell and the Lions decided to exploit the secondary? Were there schematic changes to help with run support?
Brian Batko
12:14
It's hard to argue with the numbers, right? But I also think Cam Heyward was a beast again yesterday, Keeanu Benton held his own and the defense set the tone early that the Lions weren't just gonna run through them. Obviously, it didn't hurt that the Steelers also worked the game script to their favor, forcing the Lions to play from behind for so much of the game.
Talk to me Bats
12:14
What will it take for all of the Tomlin haters to finally shut up?!!!!
Brian Batko
12:14
A playoff win?
Eating Crow
12:15
I’ll eat crow on firing AS (still lukewarm on TA), but have they been possessed by coordinators of Christmas past? The offense looks completely different the past few weeks, and the defense is getting it done without some heavy hitters. What’s been the difference? We look  like a contender - here we go, Steelers!
Brian Batko
12:16
Much like Derrick Harmon's impact on the run defenses, it's hard to overlook the timing of the offense's breakout with the additions of Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. I suppose you go through a long season and try different things, implement various wrinkles, and sometimes you hit on something.
FC
12:16
GM Brian, what a great win, only to be marred by another selfish Pittsburgh WR. I think he should be suspended the rest of the year, even though it's going to hurt the team.  He had no business leaving the sideline, his head should be in the game, not listening to some stupid fan.
Brian Batko
12:19
To me, there's still a pretty stark contrast between Metcalf's incident yesterday (and even some earlier in the season) and what led to George Pickens being traded out of town. Pickens' biggest problems were the instances of on-field effort, off-field commitment and foolish penalties that hurt the team. Now, Metcalf will also hurt the team for losing his cool if/when he's suspended, but I'm not putting him in Pickens territory just yet.
Silent Bob
12:20
Hello Brian - Is it that far-fetched for this team to win it all? Wins against New England, Detroit, Baltimore and the Colts - 3 of them in their buildings - are impressive. Teams they've lost against - Chargers, Bears, Packers, Seattle, Buffalo - are playoff teams. Not saying they will but having AR on this team of year is a real advantage.
Brian Batko
12:24
Yeah, probably. They're on a nice run but you could just as easily flip your argument that the fact that they lost to all those teams tells you more about the Steelers than their three-game win streak. I'll say this, I feel better about them being a legitimate "contender," if you will, now than I have at any other point this season. But I still see the Bills as the big bad in the AFC and I'm not sure about a repeat win against the Patriots the way they're playing.
Steve
12:25
Tomlin tied Belichick at 19 consecutive non-losing seasons. He's one behind Tom Landry for the all time record. That's Hall of Fame company. From an objective view I'd say Tomlin is underrated rather than overrated, as so many of his detractors in the fanbase and local media say. Can we just appreciate that the guy is a great (likely HOF) coach and stop with the bashing for once?
Brian Batko
12:27
It's always a matter of how much stock you put into that particular accomplishment. But I do agree that with a Super Bowl to his name and another AFC championship, on top of his winning percentage, Mike Tomlin will make the Hall of Fame. But that doesn't change the rut the Steelers have been in since 2016, getting blown out in just about every playoff appearance they make, Steve.
Atlanta Dan
12:29
Thanks for the chat.  Given the heavy postgame commentary by the national media on the swing at a fan by DK Metcalf, who has stepped up and maintained the tradition of a Steelers WR engaging in bonkers behavior, is the best case scenario a one game suspension given the obsession by the league office with protecting the image of The Shield in response to a PR problem.
Brian Batko
12:30
Best-case scenario is the NFL does find that the fan provoked Metcalf with racist/derogatory language and they don't suspend him at all. I mean, maybe they still would, but he'd surely have the court of public opinion on his side in that case.
Raymund Second
12:33
Hi BB there is a misconception about being the goat just because of SB victories even when asterisks are involved in it as we all know by the way, After the game was over on MNF against dolphins ESPN was interviewing Aaron on field did you notice coach Joe Barry from Dolphins came to congratulate Aaron and in some form of words said to him: "you are the goat and I mean it" saying it with no self doubt as I have always said by the way, speaking talent wise Aaron and Mahomes have been unreal, better than you know who! In my humble and dolphins coach view anyway.. any take ? Merry Christmas !
Brian Batko
12:34
Joe Barry is also the former Packers DC, so he has a personal bond with Aaron Rodgers, but I hear you. That's what makes sports debates fun, isn't it? The rings argument, the pure talent, the stats, the numbers, the eye test, all of that factors into whomever you want to call your own GOAT. One thing for sure, Rodgers is ending his career on a much better note than if he had retired following his two miserable seasons with the Jets.
Swissvale72
12:35
alot of doubt about Jack sawyer against reputedly leagues best tackle. The rookie seemed to acquit himself well.
Brian Batko
12:36
Yeah, Jack Sawyer was more than solid going against Penei Sewell all game. The Steelers haven't gotten too many contributions from a rookie class that already did not include a second-round pick, but Harmon and Sawyer are looking like long-term pieces.
Chuck Ike Taylor Clark
12:36
Is it time to immediately squash all talk about trading Alex Highsmith (or any of our outside LBs)?
Brian Batko
12:37
Kind of enjoy your chat name, CITC. But I'll say this on Alex Highsmith, while I never thought the Steelers would trade him midseason, the development of both Nick Herbig and now Jack Sawyer does have to make you think about it this offseason. As dominant as Highsmith has been lately, it's simple roster construction and becomes a team-building equation. Unless they try to trade TJ Watt instead, but he's rather tough to move now with his new deal ...
Jersey Danno
12:38
Happy Holidays, Brian. Big fan of your work here. If the Steelers pull one out in Cleveland and the Packers take care of the Ravens, do you see any possibility of Howard getting the start in the finale? Or at least some snaps?
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