The Pomp And Joe Show

A quick look around the NFL, will the Ravens bench their starters, and how good is James Connor?

After Mike Tomlin spoke, it seemed that Kenny Pickett has been benched in favor of Mason Rudolph. Is this the right call? 

Cook and Joe discuss Mason Rudolph's play and how it will affect the Steelers offseason plan at the quarterback position. Will Mason Rudolph even want to come back?

Mike Tomlin spoke and confirmed that Mason Rudolph will start along with Kenny Pickett being benched. Can the Steelers ride Mason Rudolph to the playoffs?

On his recent podcast Ben Roethlisberger said that backup quarterbacks helped him in his career after saying Mason Rudolph wanted nothing to do with Big Ben. Who do you believe?

The Steelers shockingly defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle leaving their playoff hopes alive. However there are a lot of shenanigans that need to take place for them to get in. Can the Steelers actually make the playoffs?

(Hour 1 with Cook and Joe)

The Cleveland Browns clinched a playoff spot last night after beating the New York Jets with relative ease. Joe Flacco has been on an absolute tear as of late. He is 4-1 as the starter for the Browns and has a passer rating of 121.2. He has more touchdown passes in the 5 games he has started as the Steelers quarterbacks have this year combined. Shifting focus to the Steelers, would it be a disaster if the Steelers missed the playoffs after starting 6-3? 

We open the phone lines to listeners to talk about if the season would be a disappointment if the Steelers do not make the playoffs. One listener says the most disappointing part about the whole season is that Kenny Pickett did not take a step forward and not from a team perspective. We then switch to Penguins talk with Tyler Kennedy. He talked about how unpredictable hockey can be, to go from boring hockey in the first period to scoring the next 7 goals was fun. He says it is a definite confidence booster for a team like the Pens. Hopefully a two goal game for Evgeni Malkin can get him going and break him out of his slump. Tyler breaks down the play of Jake Guentzel and what may happen with his contract coming up. He sees him as the future of the Penguins and they need to figure something out with him. Tyler says that Kris Letang is the guy on the backend and not Erik Karlsson.  

Ron goes back to the Steelers and talks about the Steelers' chances in Seattle, a place where they have only won once. Listeners chime in about the Steelers season, one listener says it is time for a change. A couple listeners say that Mason Rudolph should have been the guy from the start. 

(Hour 2 with Cook and Joe)

Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo joins the show before flying to Seattle. He does not have a good feeling about the game going into Seattle. He thinks if the Steelers have a chance in this game it will be because the defense steps up. He does not believe that Minkah Fitzpatrick will be playing. Ray talks about the current quarterback situation. He says that Mason is their best chance to win the game at the QB position. Ray says that if they miss the playoffs, this is a wasted year. They waited too long to fire Matt Canada and wasted a 6-3 record and an easy path to the playoffs. He also gives his quick reaction to the surprising Cleveland Browns. He wants to see Cleveland in Baltimore for the playoffs. Ron plays "Free Association" with Ray. 

Ron agrees with Ray that this would be a lost season if the Steelers miss the playoffs. They had a great opportunity and they squandered it with losses to 2 win teams. NFL Games on Christmas Day did great ratings compared to the NBA who is normally the most watched sport on that day. Christmas Day is on a Wednesday next year, but Ron says that they will find a way to have the game on a Wednesday. Ron does not like Taylor Swift and is ready to defend himself against the Swifties. The Swfties do in fact call in. 

(Hour 3 with Ron and Cook)

More open phone lines. One listener believes that the Steelers are the worst team in the AFC North, even with the injury to Joe Burrow. The callers are divided if the Steelers will make the playoffs or not. Even if the Steelers make the playoffs people are not confident they will do well. More Taylor Swift talk. Ron defends Chris Collinsworth against listeners who think Collinsworth is biased against Pittsburgh. 

More listener phone calls about Taylor Swift, Chris Collinsworth, and more. A caller chimes in to remember the late Stan Savran. Ron reminisces about some memories about Stan and how excited he would be for how good the Browns have been so far this year.

(Hour 4 with Cook and Joe) 

Jeff Hathonre joins the show from the Steelers training facility. He confirms that Mason Rudolph is going to start on Sunday against the Seahawks. Trenton Thompson will not be coming back against Seattle. Thompson says that he may be able to return to the playoffs if the Steelers make it. Jeff adds that while it is not official that Minkah Fitzpatrick is out, it would be surprising to see him play against the Seahawks. George Pickens also spoke but also did not say much at the same time. Jeff gives a quick preview of the Pitt Men's Hoops game against Syracuse on the road. He says it will be weird going into Syracuse and not seeing Jim Boeheim. 

Bryant McFadden joins the show to talk about the Steelers and Seahawks this Sunday. He also talks about the position change that Patrick Peterson has happened going from corner to safety. This is an opportunity to extend Peterson's career a few more years and if he keeps playing like he did last week that will be the case. Bryant still thinks that Mike Tomlin is the right man for the job. "You don't get rid of a car unless you have a better car waiting". Joe Flacco's comeback does not peak Bryant's interest in a comeback. Finally What's Cookin'.