Big Ben predicts Steelers 2025 schedule! Ep. 98

Big Ben predicts Steelers 2025 schedule! Ep. 98

Welcome back to Football with Ben Rothosberger. This is the new and improved and updated 2025 Steeler prediction show. That’s right. We are going to spend this show, well the beginning of it, we’ll talk about what happened last night, but um the beginning or this show is going to be strictly nothing but going over the schedule, talking about wins and losses, hitting on each game quickly. Um I I redid it this morning my my um predictions for this year. Okay. Broke it down by team. Um did not look I know we did it. It’s been probably a month or so because we did it we actually did the last time I think we did this was I think we did it with and without Aaron right we didn’t know we didn’t know if 12 was coming oh not 12 um eight right eight sorry so you said it being 12 um we didn’t know if Aaron was coming or not so we did kind of a win loss with with him and then we also did one when Evan’s prediction and my prediction um again this has been probably a month or so at least so I I did not look at that I promise it’s it’s in my notebook here it’s turned over I have this page here that I just did so and then once we go through this new one, we’ll kind of look back and see how the comparisons are after preseason. Um, and obviously these predictions are going to be strictly based on where we sit today. So many things can happen with injuries, with players. Okay, so and so’s playing good, so and so’s not. So I think when we get going um into this year uh as we do an episode, we’ll talk about the game that just happened and then we’ll look forward to the next week’s game and predictions may change. So I don’t want people to think that this is like this is not set in stone obviously because so many things can happen. So, we will get to that. We’re not even going to do beer today. We’re not doing food. We are focused. So focused on the season. We have no time for anything else. It’s so close, man. So close. But before we get to that, we do have to talk about last night both um you and your lovely wife were there with my me and my lovely wife and my crazy three kids. Uh we went to PBG. Obviously, we talked about on the show with Coach Fish. Got to watch Coach Fish and the Lady Panther volleyball team. really I I I want to choose my words wisely, but whoop up on Yeah. the Arizona State women’s volleyball team, the old Sunundevil. The Sunundevils. Uh the old Panther was too strong for the Sunundevil. It’s true. Uh it looked a little I was a little we actually we saw Penn State go down before that. We got there to catch the end of Penn State losing to TCU. Uh I think Penn State was one one or two. They was wild. Yes. um they lost uh which was a crazy first start to the to the night and then we got to watch the the Lady Panthers go at it. Um congratulations to Coach Fish. Um if you haven’t checked that episode out, go check it out. Great insight from him. If you haven’t seen that team, the Lady Panthers play volleyball. Go. It is. If you can get a ticket, I’ve heard it. You can’t really get tickets to like their season. Like it might be sold out. Yeah, it’s hard. You got to know somebody at this point, man. It was They’re so much fun to watch. But um really enjoyed watching them. The kids had a blast. Didn’t want to leave. We had school today. Our our kids finally started school today. They did. So, we were like, we kind of bad parents. Like, it’s 9:00 and we’re leaving PPG game. They’re only two sets in. We were up 2. I’m like, “Hey, we can we got to get home, get you out of bed.” Um, they started school today. But, um, fun watching them. The It’s always fun. It started out the first like set, I think it was like five or six nothing, like we’re like, “Oh boy, this could be a long night.” Yes. Um, but then, uh, flip switched. Um, it was a lot of fun. So, congrats to, uh, Coach Fish and the ladies. Um, we’ll be keeping an eye on y’all and rooting for y’all the rest of the season. So much so, man. I wore my my victory garb here. There you go. You know what I’m saying? I have my my my blue on a little bit unknowingly. Cuz I didn’t wear this to the game. I I found that that I had this hat this morning. You could Yeah, you didn’t wear that last night. You should have. Maybe it’s Maybe it’s lucky that I didn’t, you know. I I would love to be one of those superstitious sports fans. I’m not. Yeah. I used to I used to be a little bit early in my my playing days until I until my faith grew. I realized it, oh, God’s in control. God does not care what what song I listen to when I pull into the stadium. I promise you. What if you when we get to heaven, he’s like, I actually did care. Yeah. If you would have just listened to that song every single time. Bum me out that you switched it up. Yeah. Oh man. Okay. So, we are going to get into this. This is not going to be a long episode, y’all. We’re going to hit each game. Spend just a couple minutes on each game. Some games we might not spend much time on like Cleveland. Um, is that a game? Uh, what else we do have to address, right? Yeah, we have to at least talk about it quickly. U, but what we’re going to do is we open up this Sunday in New York against the Jets. Um, and before we get to that, Spence, I would like to just do something real quick, please. Oh, the Oh, what you got there? If y’all This is This is signed by Evan. If y’all have not got this cookbook, I’m telling you, you better get it because on Tuesday of next week Mhm. when we do this show, we are going to be eating and I know y’all going to want to eat this with us. So, y’all going to get Is it three? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Um, we are going to be starting our dinner with some smoked salmon bagel bites. Okay. This talk This is the ingredients in here. The prep going to take you 15 minutes. That’s a quick one. Nothing to it. Little something for the kids. General you said general so just so general tisso that’s like our um fabir that’s general tisso uh tenders. So we’re going to have some chicken tenders. Oh those are going to be so good. Um if you want to have those with us. And last but not least oh a little pastrami on rye. So get this cookbook so that you can eat this with us. Like why not have this with us? Are you going to be able to get the Are we going to try and get the beer on the thing so they can do all of it? Oh yeah. I’m going to get that this week. Okay. So, come on now. Get the cookbook. If there’s any left, there’s still signed ones out there. Um, because you you you if you want to really be sitting in the basement with us when we talk about the Jets game, y’all, you know, that’s that’s as close as you’re going to get. Yeah. And they’re uh they’re running out, folks. So, get them get them while they’re here. Um Yes. That is awesome. I’m telling you right now, those salmon bagel bite things. Yeah. Um when I was brother, I ate 16 of them. Really? That was the one that I wasn’t. I mean, if you would have said which of those three you looking forward to the most, I’d probably go chicken general. So, chicken tender to chicken tenders. Um, I’m not a huge praw like the rye. I’m not a huge rye bread, but I love like I love either like a chabatada or a sourdough, but I get why he’s doing it. He’s the chef. Well, and it’s classic. It is a classic. And I’d probably go there. Salmon bite bagels were probably my third and I love saying I love that. But now you might have me switching. Well, there’s a chive of cream cheese on it under layer. See, that’s why you got to get the book. I would have known it was on there. I wouldn’t know. I didn’t read it. That’s my fault. So, when I photo every one of those that is in that photograph, you ate. I ate them. I Yeah, the one in the photograph. I And then I asked Evan, “Hey man, any any more of those?” Anymore, have a couple. So, okay. Anyway, Spence will tell you how to get it. It’ll be in the the description. We’ll get the beer to you guys so you can I mean, this is going to be You have no excuse. Last year, we got this cookbook to you late in the season. Yes. Right. I mean, it sold out really quick. really quick. Yes, this year we’re getting it to you if you if you want and well, you better get them because they’re gonna go quick. Um there’s not many left. Get it now so that you can cook and do this whole thing with us. Okay, let’s get in this. I’m sitting forward. I’m like this is like New York Jets. Let’s go. New York Jets. Okay. Um again, not going to spend a lot of time. Obviously, Fields is there. Um and and again, when when I preview these games, sorry, I know I messed your camera up, Spencer, too far forward. Um, when we preview these, we’re talking as is right now. Um, and some of you, some of these are going to be hard to predict because we haven’t seen guys. We haven’t seen Aaron Rogers play. We haven’t seen, you know, Justin Fields got hurt. Um, so this is just going off of a prediction of what I think in terms of playing the game, where it’s at, this, this, that, and the other. Um, I have us going up to New York and getting a win. Um, I think it’s it’s not it may be a little rusty early obviously because it’s first game of the season for, you know, a lot of guys. Our offense might not be clicking on all cylinders right from the get-go. I think there may be some angst from fans because they won’t see what they were hoping to see right away. I would just say be patient with it. Um, I think it’ll it’ll work itself, iron itself out. Um, I don’t know this one will be as big of a of a blowout as people probably hope and want and think. And I and I’m saying that because I think when you have a Hall of Fame guy coming in and Aaron, you have that a GOAT coming in that fuels the other team because you want to you want to be you don’t want to be the the team that gets Yeah. I know he’s Hall of Famer, but he you know, we’re adding to his resume. Yeah. You want to be the guy that’s like, “No, we’re going to prove that he’s doesn’t have it anymore and there’s going to be some extra jet fuel. Hey, this guy um you know that that they’re going to be wanting to get him. they know he was with us last year. Some of that kind of stuff. So, uh I think it may be a little closer, but I do think um the Steelers get the W up there. What What do you think the Justin Fields implications towards Pittsburgh’s going to be? I don’t know that that’ll be as as big of a deal because Justin was here. He played he got kind of, you know, he got benched for lack of better word better words. Um I don’t know that he will have a bunch of um like I want to go get the Steelers. He seems like a dude that that doesn’t hold on to that. Now, I’m not saying Aaron’s going to go want to get the Jets. Like that’s not what it is. I think the Jets players may want to be like get Aaron more than Aaron wants to go revenge on the Jets. I don’t think I don’t think there’s any of that. I think Aaron’s too um mature in the game to to to be like I’m a guy that wants to go sure beat that team. I just want I want to I want to win cuz I want to win, you know? Do you think there’s any like there I agree with you with with Aaron’s position in in this stage of his game, but do you think there’s any like, hey, I I want to create a chip on my shoulder anyway, so I’ll just use whatever is there. I I don’t know if he I don’t know him well enough to know that. Uh if if he does like I mean I would do that sometimes playing like the Ohio teams just like you know what I’m gonna go I’m gonna go beat y’all because I just love beating the Ohio teams right. Yeah. Um he might have that when we go when we couple weeks later when the Pat comes to town. Yeah. That might be a little different than the Jets maybe. I got questions while I wait there. Yeah. Um anyway so that’s a so want to know. Okay. Uh next week Seattle’s coming here. Um I’m I’m going with another win for us. I I don’t think Seattle coming across the country can get it done. Um I again I it’s a team be on the west coast I don’t know a lot about either. I think Sam Darnold was their quarterback um who obviously played really well last year but he was in an offense that um had a really really good coach. I’m not saying coach is not good please. That’s not what I’m saying. But he had a quarterback friendly um head coach and play caller. Um and I think the weapons that he had they definitely have Cooper Cup up there. I think they have some some options uh up there, but I don’t think they have enough firepower to to handle our um defense. I think our defense is too powerful, and I think this is a game where DK Metaf is going to want to go off and go crazy. And I think Aaron and the staff will help that happen. I think um if you’re a fantasy guy uh and you’re in a weekby- week basis, I would take DK Metaf in this game. Sure. Now, I think Seattle might might say, “Listen, we’re not going to let DK beat us.” But at the end of the day, if he wants to beat you, he’s going to beat you. DK man, that is um that’s my two cents there. Coming across the country, not easy. 1:00. Um all that being said, I think we get the win. So, I think it’s really interesting. We have backto-back revenge games with two of our stars. I think that’s a phenomenal storyline here. What is what is the uh impact you think um that a team that someone has been with a team for so long? Like I would imagine Seattle knows DK’s game in and out to where if anyone’s going to be able to shut DK down, it’s probably going to be that team. Or is that coaching staff changed enough? Like Yeah, it’s hard to tell. I don’t know who’s on their staff in ter or who’s on their staff one and um their players well enough. Do they have a DB that that has played that has been on that team for five, six years that’s been like, listen, I go against them every day in practice. Yeah. Um I know what it takes. I also know what I’m give me some help over the top. Give me some safety help. I think that you’re going to see a lot of I think you’ll see that a lot this year. Um which will which is why I think the run game is going to be so important. I think you’re going to see a lot of teams trying to put two guys over the top which meaning a safety over top of a corner. So in a in a way double teaming without double teaming you have a safety keeping an eye on the best receiver. Um, so you’re going to have to utilize middle of the field tight ends because that’ll help keep a safety um, honest. Um, receivers on the other side, uh, running the ball. You know, you got to get them out of that. When they want to be in that two high shell, which means two safeties high, that’s that’s to help prevent passing big plays. When you see two high safeties, you want to run the ball because that you have more guys to run. So that makes them force their hand by bringing a safety down into the box which then opens up the passing game. So that’s kind of the the eb and flow give and take of offense defense the chess match that that is football. So um you’re going to see some safeties over top. And again I think Seattle may do that just to say DK is not going to beat us. Sure. But I think you get in that red zone they’re going to find a way to get DK the ball. So you’re saying they’d rather lose to Jaylen Warren? I think so. Yeah. Yeah. No, I agree. Um so it’s two and0. Uh, week three, we are at the Pats. Um, so I have I have um I’m I’m a little torn on this one. Okay. Uh, this is one that the Steelers should win. Okay. You’ve got Drake May, who I think is playing better um than than he than he did his first year. Um, I I did like Drake May. I think he’s a I have question marks by his name because I’m like, what Drake May is going to show up, right? This may change after week one and two if I see how he’s playing and be like, h, no chance. But as we sit here right now, I am torn on which way to go. And I’m saying because it’s in New England, Vrabel’s there coaching now. I think he he brings that a different mentality, different mindset to the game up there. Um my question mark is still their quarterback. Um I I have a loss here, which I know is again I’m I’m torn on it’s like a I’m like 51 loss, 49 win. You know what I’m I’m not even cuz I feel like this is like one of those kind of trap games in a way that like okay we’re we’re going to go up there we’re supposed to win this game. I think our defense will dominate has a really good chance to dominate their offense. I think our defense can get after Drake May but it just feels like this could be one of those ones where we’re just not on for some reason. We’re up in New England. It I don’t know. So I’m I’m torn on it and as I sit here today I have an an L there. Yeah. And I’m and again I think they’re favored too, man. It’s so you hear some stats here. New England beat Pittsburgh in 2022 with M. Jones and in 2023 with Billy Zappy or Zap I don’t know. And so Drake May I mean and I think you made a really good point like I think everybody’s waiting to see what the Mike Vel Patriots look like. I mean that’s a that they might be something right. He know he’s he played up there. He’s got he’s got a mentality of toughness running the ball. Um protect the quarterback, you know. So, um I’m I don’t know. I I I’m I’m just a little bit I I want to see something real quick. I just thought of I I’m I’m a little again, sorry people, I should have done this earlier. Running back. Okay, so Antonio Gibson, Trayvon Henderson, Steve. So, they got some dudes that can run the ball now. Um so, anyway, okay. I’m I’m I’m going to stick with it for now. Again, when we preview this game, I may change and I don’t even remember what I wrote here before, so I’ll be interested to see back. Um so, two and one. Okay. Okay. And again, part of me might think that’s just like one of those quote unquote trap games. Okay. Um All right. Next week we’re going to Ireland. That’s right. Vikings. Um the two things that I have on here um my depends on my depends on timing. When are the Steelers going over? When’s Minnesota going over? We when we played Minnesota in um London a bunch of years ago, they went over there earlier in the week. We went over late in the week. I felt like we were tired. We were jetlagged. All this that and the other and they they they barely got us. But so I think it depends on the timing. When is when are the Vikings going over? When are the Steelers going over? Um I don’t I also think the Vikings this year, they still have a lot of great weapons, but but what is JJ McCarthy going to be like? We don’t know. He hasn’t played. He’s in essence still a rookie. Now, he’ll be better than a typical rookie because he’ll he would have gotten mental reps and been around the game last year, but he’s still a rookie. What Aaron Rogers is going to show up. Is Aaron Rogers going to go out there and and is he feeling good and fresh? Um, so all those things are are just we’re juggling things. I have a W down for the Steelers. Um, because I think at the end of the day, Aaron is going to be the difference in that game. Interesting. This is the first time that Aaron sees any team from the NFC North. And I think there’s definitely something there. He’s played these teams numerous times. He knows them. He’s got a feel for them. And I took that into consideration a little bit on some of my um NFC North picks. Yeah. That’s why I say I think he is going to be the key to why they end up winning. I I’m really excited that they have the NFC. I mean, I know we weren’t sure about where Aaron was going to land when the schedule came out, but man, did that pay off for whoever made the schedule. They got incredibly lucky. Yeah. So, so you think we’re taking this? I do. So, I guess it’s three in one going into the bye-week early buy. We’ve talked about that. Not ideal. Maybe it’ll be ideal for, you know, if you’re an older team, you need some guys to get to get rested up, but again, I think that’s a little earlier than most guys want, for sure. What’s the earliest buy that you remember? I don’t think you can do much earlier than this one. You know, I don’t think you’re allowed. I mean, I don’t know. I I I’m just talking out out from experience. I don’t think you can do much earlier than week four. That’s tough. It is. That’s a tough one. Uh we come off the buy with the Browns win almost like two buys. Yeah. I mean, what are we talking about? They they’re going Well, right now where we sit there, they’re they chose Flaco. Good decision. Yeah. In my opinion. Um by then, who knows what’s going on. So, uh and it really won’t matter. A W for us. Um, so 4-1 um going into what I think is going to be two of the biggest um uh two really really big challenges and and um games back to back. Uh and that’s um at and that that at th at the Bengals on Thursday night. So they’re going to go Browns division win and then they play the Bengals a few days later. Okay. In Cincinnati on Thursday night. Unfortunately, I have a loss here for the Steelers because it’s a short week. You’re going on the road. The Bengals are are really good in prime time. Um, where I think they have a chance here is I don’t think I think the Bengals defense was not good last year. They had Trey Henderson who um is now back. They they they signed him for they gave him some money to stay, but I don’t think that he’s going to have the same ex I mean, he he led the league in sacks last year. Um, great football player, high motor. I think their defense is actually worse than it where we sit today. Again, let’s see. I think it’s worse than it was last year. Advantage Steelers. Their offense is scary good. The Bengals offense is scary good. I think Joe Burrow is one of the best in the game. They got some They got maybe the best receiver in the game. They got some stuff that plays into our hand because of how good I think our defense is. Um, I just think though as the game wears on, I think, you know, even if the Bengals are down, they start throwing the ball over the field, that that’s that’s tough to defend. I think the short week makes it hard. Um, I think it’ll be a closer game where we sit today, but I still think it’s a loss for the Steelers. Yeah, when I think about the game last year, it was I mean, it the fact that their defense was as bad as it was was our saving grace. I mean, we put up 44 points that day and that was I mean, but they put up 38. Yeah. So, it felt like if we get an offense that is any degree better than the one previously. Yeah. I I remember that game. That was the one that was at at Cincinnati, right? That that that was kind of I think that was Russ is kind of that was like maybe a moon. Yeah. Best game they went after. Listen, I think our offense is going to be better uh than we were last year. I think our defense is going to be better. Um you think their defense is the is the deciding factor? I do. I don’t think they’re going to be as good, but I think their offense is is going to be even more dangerous. Um, so that gets us to what? One and two, four and two Thursday night. And then we go right to a not the same Sunday, we go the next game is Packers here Sunday night. Uh, advantage Steelers because of the the extra extra time, right? You go from Thursday to Sunday, you get a little mini buy in there. Um, huge, huge, huge. Pat coming to town. Um, I’m gonna throw I’m gonna throw a few things at you here. Um, the Packers are one of my teams um to win the Super Bowl. Like, they’re they’re one of my favorite, as we see here today, one of my favorites out of the NFC. Um, I I I it’s it’s I’ve said on the show before, I am a Jordan Love fan. I think he’s a really good football player. Um, you know, do they have enough firepower on offense? potentially. Um I love um their coach and the way he is aggressive and what they’ve done now on defense. Obviously adding Parsons um if he stays healthy. Um I think this is going to be a great game for Aaron. I think he’s going to want to go out there and light the pack on fire. Um, I just think there’s going to be too much defense for the Packers. And I think there’s going to be a lot of firepower from the Pack and their offense. And I actually put a loss here. Wow. I know. I think these are two huge games. I think there’s a lot to unpack in this game, but I I just think that I think it’s going to be too much. Is that a prime time game? It is. It’s a Sunday night game. I was going to say if this if they put that at 1:00, somebody should be fired. Sunday night game. And I think my concern as we sit here today is our offensive line. Okay. Be my concern. We’re going to be well into the season. Yes. So again, this may these things can all change, people. Um this is not Well, who did who did the Packers draft? They had a they got a receiver, didn’t they? I totally forgot about Michael Parsons, too, man. Yes, they Yeah, they they got they got some guy I think they got a receiver. Yeah. Early. Um so anyway, so we’re you’re taking you got us taking a I have us losing. So that takes us to four and three um at this point. Um the next week we we have the Colts coming to town. Um that’s a that’s a win for us at this point. Um I know they’re starting um oh it’s Daniels maybe. Oh did he get that? Maybe it’s not Richardson but that but but again Dimes over there. I don’t know what’s going to happen. So I just don’t think there’s enough I don’t think they have enough firepower to hang with us. Um, that’s one that we when we revisit something can change, but I don’t have a lot to say on that game other than we’re going to win. I mean, just being anonymous. Uh, five and three going to the Chargers Sunday night at Chargers. Mhm. Um, the Chargers are one of those teams that it just I’m not really sure what we’re going to get yet. I This one may I may flip and flop back and forth quite a few times before this game happens. Um, I think just going out there to the West Coast is a lot harder than people give it credit for. Sunday night, prime time, Harball. Um, you know, how’s her um Herbert, Justin Herbert going to play this year. Um, again, don’t know much else about that team. Haven’t seen much, but I’m I’m just going with a loss off of the simple fact we’re going to them and it’s a prime time game. You got the N revenge game. Oh, yeah. Naj Y story arc, but at the same time it’s like well I would I would argue that outside of the quarterback revenge game, he probably has the highest percentage to make an impact on the game for sure. Yes. Um and he’s Yeah, he’s going to want to go crazy. Oh yeah, for sure. So I I totally forgot about that one. So yeah, I’m going to stick with the loss there. Yeah, I that Chargers is one of those teams, man, I want to be good so well. I feel like I’d have no problem rooting for the Chargers until we have to play them. Feels like a team like, you know, I like I like their quarterback Powerball is awesome, but they just haven’t really like turned into an AFC powerhouse yet. Yeah, I know. I don’t know why. Maybe he’s wearing different color khakis. This khaki is a color, right? It’s not actual or fabric. Fabric. I think it’s a color. I thought so, too. But like he was wearing like black khakis, but it wouldn’t be khakis. It would be like like chinos, but that’s a different thing, too. Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t know. I think this you’re I think you’re right, though, in pointing out the success of this game is predicated on the type of khakis he’s wearing. For sure. What’s he wearing? Maybe maybe he should go with the Bellich check by the way who got they got destroyed last night. Yeah, that was tough. Um maybe he should do the Bellich check how he does a cut off sweatshirt. Do the cut off khakis, bro. That would be Yeah, come on. LA that that’d fit. It’ be like like that’d be I’ll wear them during that game. The episode we do like I’ll wear them just cut off the bell cut off khaki. That’s a cut off khaki. That’s you know who um uh Justin Bryan wears those sometimes in golf. It’s weird. He has strings on the bottom. He does he does cut them super short though. I know. It’s weird. Pockets. You can see the pocket. Yeah, I thought that was MS’s thing. All right. Well, um after that we have um the Bengals coming to town. Yep. Again, um the Bengals I think are going to be a really good football team outside of their defense, but I think the Steelers get this one. It’s at home. Uh it’s 1:00 game. I just think uh it just feels like that’s a Steeler game. Yeah. Um so if we stop there after the Bengals, I have us as uh two for six and four. Okay. Not exactly probably what Steeler fans want to hear. Yeah. Again, who knows what’s going to happen. Um, and then we’re going to go into what I think’s like really the meat of the season. Like this is going to this is going to be where it’s at. I mean, guess the whole thing these last couple are all big. But, uh, we’re going to the Bears. Uh, the Bears. Um, I actually surprising I’m interested to see what I wrote down before. I’m actually going to go loss here for the Steelers. If Caleb Williams continues to improve like he did in the preseason under Ben Johnson, who I think is the MVP of the of the of that team right now, their their new head coach and coordinator um play caller, I should say. Um they have some weapons. They got some tight ends. They got some they they have a a pretty revamped team. Um, I would have said there’s a zero chance that we were gonna that they were going to beat us. But now I just have this feeling that their offense is going to be a lot better and they’re going to be a an a decent football team. I think he’s putting Caleb in a situation to really succeed and be really good. I mean, what he did with Jared Golf in that team last year with the all the weapons that Jared had, he really put Jared in great situations. I think he’ll do the same thing for Caleb. I think Caleb’s a little better athlete than Jared. Um, I think Jared can throw the ball. Caleb can throw the ball, too. But I just think that he’s going to he’s going to put them in situations to to really be good. And so, uh, the Bears could be a team that you’re going to have to watch out for. I know that Aaron Rogers has owned the Bears forever. Um, and that will definitely be something to take into consideration. Um, I think the Bears are going to want to stop that. Yeah. You know, his domination of them. Um, and so I think there’s going to be motivation for the Bears there. So, uh, at Chicago, I think is another thing, too. If it wasn’t at Chicago, I I wouldn’t lean that way, but just being there makes me feel like that could be a loss. Yeah, I think Ben Johnson’s going to be the X factor, obviously. But I also um do you and Aaron ever just sit around talk about the Bears and the Browns? You guys just Is that a or a little have like a ownership meeting usually on on Father’s Day? Oh, okay. We get letters from those teams. That’s nice. That’s pretty nice of them. That’s really nice of them. Good for you guys. But this I do think this this based upon things that Aaron has said, this might be the last chance the Bears get to get up over Aaron. Yes. Because if this was his last and and you know what though, at the end of if they do get it, it’s nothing. Yeah. It’s like, oh, we got you. You know, I know you were 30 and one against us, but we got the last one, right? It’s but it’s just a little for them. It’s a saving grace thing like you. But I but I agree. the stuff that I’ve seen coming out of Chicago, they might be something that not only can derail that legacy, but just might be something in the league. I think they’re going to be I think that that NFC um North has got a chance to be a good division. Yeah, really good. Um so, okay, take another loss there. Uh Bills coming here. This was a tough one for me. I felt like this is one that the Steelers could could get, but I just think the Bills are they’re just they’re just strong. They’re strong. Uh it helps that it’s at home. Uh, and again, this is we’re starting to get later in the season in like there’s going to be injuries, who’s healthy, who’s not. This could change. All these games could change as we move um into the later parts of the year, but I just think the Bills um they’ve been built for it. They got great coaching, and I I think that’s another loss for the Steelers, unfortunately. What is I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but what is the Bills defense look like? I don’t know. Again, they they they spend so much on their offense. Um they want to outscore everybody. Um but they just need to be good enough on defense, I think. if we can listen if we can hold teams to 30 points they’ll take that cuz they count their offense to score 40 you know so anyway there’s there’s another loss there one two three four five six losses so right now I have six and six okay that sounds about right it’s not yeah 500 huh power for the core imagine that’s fans like yeah um no matter how you get to 500 right right so now we’re going to the Ravens okay my initial instinct here is a loss because it’s just it’s the Ravens. I think they’re going to be really good. That being said, I feel like this is one that we might just go in and we might just go in and get them because really they’re we do that sometimes. We go beat the Ravens in Baltimore and we have the you know, we talk about having Lamar’s kryptonite, this that and the other. Could this be the year that he’s like, I’m done with that. I’m I’m sweeping the Steelers. Sure. I am torn here. Again, I don’t know if I already said I’m torn. I have I wrote a loss, but I put question marks by it. I wrote a W. I circled it. Um, my gut right now tells me loss, but I’m going to go with a W. Okay. Okay. I’m going to go with a W because I just it just feels like it. I will I will say your intuition is one to be trusted due to your resume in this stadium. However, you are no longer on this team. I just want I don’t know if you know that there was the the the times that I’ve watched that intuition play out. It was just a different quarterback. And according to these reports I’m reading right here, Aaron and Lamar have never squared off. No way. Never. This be the first time. Yeah. And they’re going to meet twice here on the on the back end of the season. Y I didn’t know that. That’s cool. But Pittsburgh lost twice last season to Baltimore. To Baltimore. Okay. So I’m going to give us a W. I’m going to stick with it. All right. Okay. Um, then Miami is coming here on a Monday night. That is a Ring of Honor game. That’s right. Yes, that’s a Monday night. I’ll be there with Pounce. Um, you guys get suit up. Oh, might Hey, listen. I love him to death and and no one has more heart than that guy and I would stand behind him as his quarterback all day and he was my center. But he weighs I think a little less than I do right now. He thin. He’s very thin. So, as much as I love him in his heart, I think he could I know he would want to to stay between me and that guy. And he would give me everything he had to stay between me and that guy and pounce I love you to death. But you little thin. You’re like 245, 240. I don’t even know what you are. But he’s got that pouncy violence. I know he does. But he played at like 3 305 310. That’s a lot more weight. And if he’s got anchor and he was already smaller, but he was athletic. Yeah. And again, I love you, Pounce. You know, I love you and I would give anything for you. I just don’t know that I could stand behind you right now, brother. For one play, you got me. I know you got to bounce cuz he’s going to do some wy crafty stuff, but at some point there’s going to be a three 60 70 pounder guy. We’re going to bull rush. And I love you pounce. I say I love you bounce. What’s that? What’s the help? Yeah. Uh anyway, but um I think you know us being at that game, not that we’re the the reason. Um Bill Hortman just text me from Giant Eagle. Oh, Bill, you know we’re doing a show. He he probably wanted to get he knew we were doing a show and he wanted to give me to shout him out. What a good guy though. He’s a great guy. I love him to death. I wonder what he want to know. Giant Eagle. Um anyway, u I’ll text you right back. Um Miami win Steelers. Not saying it’s because P and I are there, but just saying you might channel some some power. We might just we might have it. Um next week at Detroit, um I know early on I I I’m imagining I promise you people I’ve not looked at my last ones. I feel like I probably said loss here. I’m going win. Really? I’m going win. I feel like the Steelers um at this point in the season are going to be like, “Let’s go.” Yeah. Make or break cuz I said we were six and six. Um, they just got a win at Ravens. They just beat Miami at home. They’re going to go into Detroit. They’re going to get that win. I don’t think Detroit’s going, and the reason is, too, I think Detroit’s not going to be as good as they were last year because they don’t have Ben. I think they’ll be good, but I don’t think they’ll be as good. I think our defense will step up. I think it’s just going to be one of those games um that we get to win. Okay. So, let me see where we are right now. Let’s see. That’s 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 nine and six. Okay. Okay. We’re starting to get there. Feel good about that. Next week we’re at the Browns. Enough said. Win. The pace at which you pass that game is amazing. Last game of the season. Ravens here. Win. Steelers sweeping the Ravens this year. Okay. And here’s why. Here’s one of the reasons why. The Ravens have already locked up a playoff spot. Oh, okay. They may not play, guys. And we’re going to get this win. Okay. So, we’re going to go into the postseason with five straight wins. Wow. Okay. If not five, if we don’t get that Ravens game, four. Okay. Which is exactly what you want to do. You want to be going in hot. Yep. Okay. So, I believe that gets us What’s that? I might do a recount. So sad. 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 and that’d be six, right? Cuz there’s 17 games. 11 and six. Okay. Okay. I think that’s similar if not what you had before. Well, should we do it now or do you want to talk about any of that stuff before we go? Well, the the only thing that stood out to me towards the end here is the the Lions game. It it obviously you put a lot of stock into the impact Ben Johnson had on the Lions and that’s what earned him a head coaching job in Chicago. Is it big was it a big enough impact on that team that by removing him they fall out of the number one seed in that division? I think it’s I think it’s a bigger deal than people think. Like you could say, okay, like I I’m not sure too about how many other coaches stayed there. Sure. Like, okay, is it is it one of those things where it’s like, okay, the running back coach is now our coordinator and you know, he was with Ben for a year or two or, you know, I think Antoine Randell was there. I think he went I think some guys went to Chicago. So, that was my next question like how many he I don’t know, but again, I didn’t do enough homework on that. I should know. Um, but even if there’s a coach that’s there, the and you can be like, I know this system. I’ve been a part of this system. Like, okay. Um, you know, you can have Bruce Arens who was our coordinator was a great coordinator and you have Randy Fner who was underneath him for a long time just because he know he knew he knew every play. He helped design plays he but it’s still not the same person. Yeah. The mind the thinking how you you you so Ben Johnson he may have pass he said hey here’s your playbook call this is here’s my thoughts. There’s still something to be said about the guy calling the plays because he he has to feel the game. Great coordinators feel the game. and they they anticipate plays. They anticipate um what could happen, outcomes of plays, the previous play. Sure. And so there’s something about a rhythm. It’s just like just because a quarterback is in the same system doesn’t mean he’s just like they’re not going to succeed the same way. It’s there’s a feel to it. So, um I think that just because that that I think that coach is a big enough deal. I really do. Um, you know, it’s it’s the same sort of thing as um, you know, in in reverse like Sam Darnold had such a great year last year with with coach Okonnell. Yeah. With Kevin Okonnell. Doesn’t mean he’s gonna have the same success this year up in Seattle. It’s not like all of a sudden Sam Darnold is a, you know, all this an all pro quarterback. Yeah. He played great last year, but it’s also a product of who he’s with. So, I just think that there’s something to be and again, we may as we get into the season, the first couple games or or or first half of the season, we may see the Lions go on a tear and be like, “Man, they’re clicking. They got it.” I mean, they got some they’ve got some great players, don’t get me wrong. Um I’m on Ron Staint, whatever you say his name. The kids love him. He’s a great football player. Um I I I like Jared G. You know, obviously they got um Aiden Hutchinson on the outside. They got players. I just don’t think it’s going to be enough to beat us. Yeah. So, do you think like where we sit right now? Yeah. No, no, no. I’m I’m excited for all of the the NFC North games, but you think uh any of that kind of intuition, how much of that intuition do you think was influenced by Dan Campbell? Cuz he seems to be the culture driver obviously as the head coach, but when you have a stud like Ben Johnson, how much of that is like, listen, you can have a head coach that’s a culture driver, but it doesn’t he’s not calling the plays. He can he can sit there and say, “Hey, listen, we’re going for a fourth. We’re doing this. We’re doing this. We’re doing this.” But he’s not the one. He he’s not the guy. He’s not the mind behind the play calling. He’s the heart. Yes. Heart out there. Caps. It’s a big difference. And Jared Golf may have different confidence, too. If you if you if you have so much confidence in Ben Johnson, like, man, we just click. We work. And all of a sudden, that guy’s gone. You have confidence in yourself, but it’s there might just be a little bit of like, okay, on man, I know like he he may not never say this, but like, you know, say on like a third and three, um, the new coordinator calls a spec call something. Jared might be like, “Man, Ben Ben would have done this.” You know what I’m saying? Not saying he would say that out loud, but but there there could be some sort of a, you know, that could come into play. We need to get We need to get another coach on the show, man. Get your two football minds together because I think these conversations are extremely interesting to me how that works. Because the reality is the success of a team is predicated on how well you two, the people on the field and the people calling the plays are able to pull something off and execute. Yep. Maybe we should BA on here. That’d be a good one to start talking Randy. Say Randy, but like Bruce would be awesome. Yeah. All right. So, let’s check out what you did. So, I’m going back a page. Yeah. This is actually it was from 520. I wrote it down. Oh, look at us. 520. See you. You’re on top of things. Yeah. So, uh I did a prediction with and without I wrote 12 cuz this is before we knew he’s coming. Um so, it’s funny. So, I have it at 11 and six. Okay. That’s That’s my new prediction for September 2nd, 2022, which I will say is more than most Steeler fans have us right now. Probably. Yeah. Yeah, probably. Um I actually wrote what’s funny with Aaron I had us 116. There you go. Without Aaron, I had us at 7 and 10. Okay. Okay. That’s huge. It’s It’s pretty funny. So I actually, as I look back here, I predicted the same record. Well, not not the same game, though. Yeah, that’s what I’m looking at. I’m looking to see. Um Oh, wait. Is this what Evan Oh, this is Evan’s prediction. I don’t know that I did an actual game byame breakdown. No. Oh, I at least wrote it down. You probably Yeah, writing it right down. Okay, let’s see here. So, and this might be Evans. Okay, so uh it looks like uh right now Jets, there’s a W in the old on on 520 W here. Seahawks W. Pats loss. Loss. Oh wow. So there was So the Pats were a loss. Um Vikings. I said win. We wrote down loss before. Okay. Browns. Um don’t check it. Don’t even need to look at Cincy. Loss. Loss. H. Okay. pack win back here loss and I a lot of that probably the Parsons sure is enough to to influence that Colts win win win I know that uh Chargers loss loss okay Bengals win win I know that Bears is an answer we wrote win and I think it’s a loss now I think just because what I’ve seen so far with Caleb and that so that that one’s a flip the Bills is a loss so that’s uh on par. I wrote we wrote Ravens at Ravens win. Look, that’s a Ravens win. Really? Yes. Miami win at Lions loss that we wrote back in the day. Loss and I wrote a win now. Yeah. Uh and then at Browns uh Ravens win. So, a lot of similarities. The Lions is is one I think that was a flip and the Packers are probably the two that are uniquely that I recognize that are different. which games you think on the schedule have the highest potential to be to go the other way of your prediction like hey I I said win but it could because you were 50% you were like torn on a couple of them Pats okay I have this is a loss but I think that could be a win um potentially the Vikings the Ireland game just because there’s so many variables there how much Guinness are you guys drinking beforehand how much Guinness am I drinking when I’m over there Um, Bengals. Gosh, I want to say the Packers, but I just I don’t know that I they I just feel like I like the I like the Pack. I think they’re going to be really good. Yeah. Um, Chargers, I have us as a loss. That could always be, but I just I don’t think um Well, that’s Aquaer West. True. So, um, so I’ll say this. So, um, the next one I would say would be the Bears. Okay. Okay. I think the Bears are really good, but again, I’m not sure. Um, is it a Oh, go ahead. No, go ahead. Is it a move where like the the Bears almost in an attempt to to dethrone Aaron one last time, they do too much? Too much. Yeah, I didn’t think Yeah, that’s a possibility. I I think within like the first three or four weeks, we’re going to see who the Bears are, who Caleb is. Um, I think that’ll be a big because that because that may be a stronger L. Sure. You know what I’m saying? Yeah. Um the Ravens at Ravens, that one I was torn on that one. I think that we sneak that one, but that one could go the other way. Um I really don’t, for some reason, I just don’t feel confidence in the Lions this year. Um so I would say those couple I said, right? Yeah. Which is interesting because you were big on them last year for obvious reasons that we discussed, but I don’t I don’t think people realize how big of a deal Ben Johnson Yeah. And you’re wearing What is their blue? It kind of looks like that. What? It’s like a name. Hawaiian. It’s Hawaiian. Yeah. It’s like Hawaii blue or something. Oh, really? Yeah. This is this is I would call this lion blue. Yeah. But um so unintentionally I would assume some crazy stuff would have to happen for 11 and six not to get you into the postseason. Yeah, I think that’s postseason for sure. Yeah. So what is our obviously it’s hard to to call our teams, but what do you think the postseason run looks like? Probably a loss first round. You think? No, I don’t know. Going off a recent history. Yeah, it depends on who it is. you know what what rank like what seed are we? Who else sneaks in? Like 11 and six could get us at like you know could get you like the four seed you know so it just but according to your prediction you’re on a five. I think that’s huge. I think that’s huge. Um and injuries are always um I think there’s a chance we get in the postseason we win one. This Listen, this team is built to go to a Super Bowl. Yeah, they they built this team to make a run right now. Um and so could it happen? Absolutely. Um there’s some other really good teams out there, though. Um you know, we we don’t we don’t even touch like the, you know, what are the Chiefs going to look like? What are the Bills going to look like? It’s just early right now, but I definitely think we get in the postseason. I think we can I think this is the year we get our first postseason win in a long time. I call I think so. That’s the headline, man. Okay, there it is. call it. Um, 11 and six. By the way, Bill had texted me to see how everything was. Um, and I do need to shout out Giant Eagle and Bill and Ian and Chef Mario over at the Market District. Giant Eagle, we we had a little before the volleyball game last night, we had a little our annual kind of pool party, Labor Day, back to school. All our friends, kids are all going back to school party, whatever you want to call. Extravaganza. Extravaganza. And uh, Giant Eagle catered it. Like I said, Chef Mario, um Ian, Bill, thank you for helping set it up. So, thank you to all you guys for the food. It was spectacular, Bill. That’s what he was just checking on. So, rather than text you back, well, he might get rather than text you back, I’m going to tell you right here live. Bill, everything was great. I got a great group over there. Thank you. Yes. I ate my weight in chicken wings. Yes. When I sat down, one of our buddies was like, “Spen, is that your first plate?” I was like, “You know, it’s not my first plate. How dare you? How dare you? I eat the first one standing cuz I just I’m going to have to reload.” Yeah. So, so anyway, there is 116. There you go. Get it because we are going to be eating out of it. You can’t get this one cuz Evan signed this one, but this one’s ours. It’s ours. Um anyway, so we’ll look forward to seeing you guys next week. Excited for the Steelers this this Sunday um at the Jets. Football is back. I mean, can you feel it? I can feel it coming in tonight. Um, anyway, the taste and seed of the Lord is good. Hey, get um, okay. Anyway, we’re getting we’re getting a little weed. We saw a few more days. We’re excited. We’re excited. We will see you guys on Tuesday of next week. Um, cuz we can’t do a live stream this Sunday cuz I will not be in town. Uh, Benjamin’s got his golf thing. That’s right. Um, so we’ll not be here to do a live stream, but we will do live streams and we will have some fun guests on, I hope. and we look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday. Check the link below uh for the cookbook, for the beers, for anything else that is important. Spencer will take care of it. Send us your comments, your thoughts, your likes, your dislikes, your agreements, your disagreements, I guess. Um you’re allowed to disagree uh with with the picks, what you think. Um do you think 11 and six is doable? Do you think it’s better? Do you think it’s worse? Um where did I go wrong? Um, and obviously it won’t be the Cleveland games cuz uh uh but uh anyway, thank you guys for joining us. We’ll see y’all next Tuesday. Uh, go Steelers.

Ben and Spence review the Steelers 2025 schedule as Ben makes his predictions!

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00:00 Introduction to the 2025 Steelers Prediction Show
02:34 Recap of Recent Games and Events
05:30 Previewing the Upcoming Season
08:20 Analyzing the Jets Game
11:00 Seattle Seahawks Matchup
14:04 New England Patriots Challenge
16:47 International Game in Ireland
19:24 Facing the Green Bay Packers
21:55 Los Angeles Chargers Showdown
24:33 Chicago Bears Rivalry
27:35 Buffalo Bills Battle
30:14 Baltimore Ravens Rivalry
33:11 Final Thoughts and Predictions