The Pomp And Joe Show

Joe Starkey is adamant about a Jacksonville loss to Tennessee Sunday. We discuss what needs to happen to earn a playoff spot. What do we make of the Jaguars and Bills? 

Chris Hoke details the matchups for the Steelers against Baltimore that could work in their favor. John Harbaugh doesn't like to sit guys for two weeks. Baltimore dominated the 49ers and Dolphins. Joe is convinced the Titans will save the Steelers and beat Jacksonville. The Ravens are still the team to beat in the AFC. Chris thinks the Steelers will win but not get help to make the playoffs. 

Steelers analyst Chris Hoke joined the show. Chris was calling for Mason Rudolph for a long time to lead the offense, and he was right. Rudolph is strong in the pocket and takes shots down the field. He can go through his progressions and the passing game is opening up the running game. The defense is in a tough position when an offense can throw deep down field and opens things up across the middle. Can you lose your job to injury? Chris thinks every situation is different. Ron and Chris recount their conversations with James Farrior and his Hall of Fame candidacy. He was overshadowed by so many good players. 

Three players made the Pro Bowl representing the Steelers. Who was snubbed? T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Miles Killebrew are the Steelers selections. If Justin Tucker didn't exist, Chris Boswell would have a couple more Pro Bowls. We all think Mike Tomlin will be back next season. If the team wins a 10th game and a playoff game, it changes Joe's mind that Tomlin should still be in real consideration to go. 

Joe thinks about what he would teach in a journalism class about reporting on the Kenny Pickett story and speculation. Sometimes in radio, speculation is what we do with giving our opinion. It's different from being a news reporter. We discuss Kenny Pickett being the backup QB this week. If Rudolph struggles this week but makes the playoffs, does he start in the Wild Card Round? Starkey thinks if they win in spite of Pickett, he will start the playoff game. He has 'informed speculation' about Pickett getting surgery and then not coming back and being the starter. 

Hour 1 with Ron Cook and Joe Starkey: TJ Watt named Steelers team MVP. Who would you vote for second? Ron would pick Jaylen Warren. There might be a ton of snow in Baltimore this weekend, but likely on Sunday. Who is the most disappointing Steeler on the team this year on offense and defense? Kenny Pickett and Alex Highsmith come to mind. Calvin Austin and Mitch Trubisky on offense. Larry O and Minkah, partly due to Minkah being hurt. Is Najee now going to get the 5th year option? We think yes. David Tepper was fined $300,000 for throwing a drink at a fan. 
Audacy betting expert Chelsa Messinger joined the show. What does Chelsa think of the biggest games in week 18? She thinks the Bills will beat Miami, the Jaguars will beat the Tennessee Titans, and the Ravens will beat the Steelers. Bet of the week... Chicago Bears. The Penguins lost to Washington 4-3 and scored three in the 2nd period. Jarry was benched again. The Pens lost two important points. Pitt basketball lost to North Carolina and are now 0-3 in the ACC. Jeff Patton of the Baseball Card Castle has an autographed Najee Harris card as the card of the week. 

Hour 2 with Ron Cook and Penguins analyst Jay Caufield joined the show. Tristan Jarry did not play like him and Ned has been playing like the last stretch of games. It's happened too often when Jarry had a really bad game. This was the first hiccup for the Pens in a while and a lot of it falls on Jarry. The Penguins are currently out of the playoff mix, but Jay thinks they will make the playoffs. The Crosby line was solid and Rust is coming back to solidify the top six. The Karlsson experiment hasn't been as great as it could be. He just hasn't found his game. It's not where it needs to be defensively. If a player is in between or not following the right lead, it's very difficult. It's looking like this for Ryan Graves. Jay recounts when he trained with Mario for his comeback.  Steelers scenarios for the playoffs. They can still lose and get in. They need a win, and either a Jacksonville or Buffalo loss for the most plausible way to make it. Joe thinks Tennessee will beat Jacksonville. It's the end of an era for Mike Vrabel, Derrick Henry, and the Titans. We hear what Vrabel had to say about losing. 

Hour 3 with Ron Cook and Joe Starkey: Titans reporter Nick Suss of the Tennessean joined the show. If the Titans beat the Jaguars this week and the Steelers beat Baltimore, the Steelers make the playoffs. The Titans offensive line is a disaster and a reason why they are failing. Will Derrick Henry and Mike Vrabel be back next season? Henry's contract will be a major issue. Starkey thinks the Titans are going to blow out the Jaguars because the Jags are broken and in a free fall. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic joined the show. Kaboly believes things changed on Friday when Pickett learned he was going to be inactive. He thinks Mason knew he was going to start against Seattle the whole time, Pickett got ankle surgery to come back quicker, but didn't start against the Seahawks. Does he feel a sense of betrayal?  Mason Rudolph probably needs some reassurance to return to the Steelers and feel good about it. If he is in an open competition with Pickett, it says a lot about Kenny and his inability to sustain the starter spot going into his third season. Mark doesn't like the Steelers chances to get into the playoffs. The best way might be where Houston and Indianapolis don't tie and Denver wins. He doesn't think they're going to make it. 

Hour 4 with Ron Cook and Joe Starkey: Mike Tomlin and the Steelers were aggressive on the final drive and clinched the win in Seattle. Joe Flacco will not play for the Browns against Cincinnati. If he wins the Super Bowl this year, is he a Hall of Famer? We all believe so. He's a good playoff QB too. Would he rival Eli Manning?  We discuss the best chances for the Steelers to get help and make the playoffs. Starkey's bold prediction on the Titans and a 20 POINT WIN! What's Cookin'.

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