Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - AFC Squad: Can Pittsburgh Steelers Avoid Trap Game vs. Cleveland Browns

Episode Date: November 21, 2024

In this AFC Squad show, the crew discusses the Buffalo Bills slaying the dragon that is the Kansas City Chiefs undefeated streak, the Baltimore Ravens falling short, whether or not the New York Jets GM/HC job is desireable, and how the point differential in the AFC explains a lot on how the season has gone. Plus, can teams like the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers avoid falling into trap games?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Pre-Alcohol by ZbioticsGo to zbiotics.com/LOCKEDONNFL to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use LOCKEDONNFL at checkout.BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON today to get 10% off your first month.Bilt RewardsEarn points now by paying rent right now by when you go to joinbilt.com/lockedonnflHillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

The Buffalo Bills slayed the dragon, but can they do it twice? Welcome in to the AFC squad. You are talking ball with the AFC squad. From the Chiefs to the Bills, the Ravens to the Texans, and everyone else around the AFC, it's the local experts of the Locked On Podcast Network bringing you scoops, breakdowns, and the most comprehensive preview of the upcoming weekend for hard-hitting AFC football

with our harder-hitting AFC football with our harder hitting takes. Buckle up, it's the AFC squad and we have a seat for you. No hurt feelings allowed, squad up. You're part of the AFC squad. What's up everyone? Welcome into the AFC squad. Grab your favorite beverage or snack and sit back, relax as we break down the AFC on a weekly basis. Week 12 of the NFL season is here. We're going to recap a little bit of week 11. There's a lot to break down here. I'm Cody Roark, host of Lockdown Broncos.

Joined us with some new faces here this week. The way we always like to change it up. We've got Zach Hicks, one of the hosts over there, Lockdown Colts. We've got Mike DeBate, as always, representing for the Lockdown Patriots podcast. Kevin Ostreicher of Locked On Ravens, and a first-time appearance from Locked On Jets host John Butchko. A lot seemingly going on there in New York. We'll get to that here, obviously, on today's AFC Squad,

which is brought to you by friends over there at PrizePix. Go to prizepix.com slash lockedonNFL. Use code all lowercase, lockedonNFL, to win $50 instantly when you play $5. Let's obviously get the elephant out of the room here as we focus on the grand scheme of the AFC. And once again, a reminder, folks, if your favorite team isn't talked about as much or you don't like what we have to say,

complain to your host show. We always try to get everybody on here. We can fit up to 10 people in here. I got to bang that drum every single week here. But the Kansas City Chiefs undefeated streak is officially over. The Buffalo Bills winning a little bit of a thriller there late Josh Allen on fourth and two taking matters into his own hands and uh punching in for a touchdown and finally the Chiefs they've fallen and I think

the bigger question we're going to have here folks is okay Joe Marino of Lockdown Bills said it last week it doesn't matter about the regular season about it you know matters about the post season which is true, but somebody had to end the Chiefs streak, and luckily it was Buffalo. Let's start things off here with Zach Hicks of Locked on Colts. Zach, your thoughts on, obviously, Buffalo ending the streak there. How important is it, and do you agree with Joe that really, hey, got to find a way to do it in the postseason?

I mean, we've seen Buffalo do this the last couple times they've played in the regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs. I mean, they've typically been do this the last couple times they've played in the regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs. I mean, they've typically been the better team in the regular season matchup with the Chiefs, even when the Chiefs have been playing their best football in the regular season. So, yeah, I mean, it's a great win. Obviously, you want to celebrate a great regular season win, beating the Kansas City Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl champs who were undefeated coming into this game. Obviously, it's a great win, but like Joe said, it's about the playoffs. I mean, Josh Allen's been doing this at such a high level for so many years now where, yeah, it's about the playoffs at this point.

So fantastic win for the Buffalo Bills, certainly showing that they're one of the best teams in the AFC here and taking down the Kansas City Chiefs is a big part of that. But yeah, Joe was completely right. It really comes down to the playoffs for this Bills team. And I think everyone in that locker room knows it at this point too. We got two AFC East representatives here this week. And I feel like it's the first time we've had that happen. Mike DeBate, obviously you guys see the Buffalo Bills twice per week.

Did you expect this? I mean, I felt like you mentioned it as well. You've seen a dynasty covering the Patriots. You've seen what it's like in Kansas City. Obviously been in that same conversation there uh what is it that you saw about Buffalo specifically it's like hey all right they could be the Kingslayer here well again I think you put the game in Josh Allen's hands and he proved that he can get the job done and be able to win games when he needs to this Buffalo Bills team will grind you out and

that's exactly what you need to do to slay the Giant, like you said. I've watched teams do that to the New England Patriots. You take what they do well, and you put it back on them. You put them on their heels early. Everyone figured the New England Patriots were going to finish 2007-19-0. They finished 18-1 because the New York Giants took what the Patriots were doing and they put it back in their face and they did not allow them to get up off the mat. That's what you have to do to beat a team like Kansas City. Kudos to the Buffalo Bills. They were able to do it. I know Zach's fan base, my fan base, were pretty happy about it because you look at

the longest win streaks now. Indianapolis still sitting there at number 23, at 23. The Patriots still have the 21 and the 18 game win streak so yeah there is a little bit of celebration when it comes to those two fan bases i know they're still popping champagne down in miami every time an undefeated team falls but look bottom line joe is absolutely right you did it once let's see you do it again and that again is going to have to be in the postseason if they're able to slay the giant this time there may be no stopping the buffalo bills en route to a super bowl championship but right now And that, again, is going to have to be in the postseason. If they're able to slay the Giant this time,

there may be no stopping the Buffalo Bills en route to a Super Bowl championship. But right now, they're going to enjoy this win, but they've got to move on to the next one very quickly because now the target is on their backs. They're the ones that brought down Goliath. Can they keep that momentum going? We're going to shift gears here to another game in the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, as we all know, those matchups, it's a bloodbath. It's fun to watch. It's physical. There's drama. There's fisticuffs.

Kevin Ostreicher locked on Ravens. Unfortunately, your Ravens fell a little bit short, 18-16, and can't help but look back and say, what's going on with Justin Tucker? It makes one of those field goals. It's a different situation in that game. Yeah, it was brutal. Honestly, it even goes far beyond Justin Tucker Tucker but that's going to be the biggest storyline because we've seen Justin Tucker you know sorry to Zach and Mike be the greatest kicker in NFL history I know Vinatieri gets some love too and I'm not trying to discredit that but obviously for me it's Tucker but at the end of the day this has been not even just a one year thing this year even last year he struggled from 50. And we're now seeing that again this year,

but he's also missing from inside of 50 and you're right, Cody, it's, you know, six points and a two point loss. And you look back, this makes one of those field goals. If you want to play that game, then obviously Baltimore wins this one and the game looks differently. But those AFC North Raven Steelers games are always just the weirdest games I ever watch. I mean, and this one was honestly the most Raven Steelers game of all the Raven Steelers

games because you had crazy games defensively for both the Ravens and the Steelers, weird turnovers, including one of the worst throws I've ever seen Russell Wilson make. And I know Mike, the worst one I've seen was the Super Bowl to give the Patriots a win but just throws it up right into Marlon Humphrey's arms and then Lamar and Justice he'll give it right back on an interception two points later only two drives to the Ravens in the fourth quarter multiple I'd say boneheaded decisions from John Harbaugh including not having Derrick Henry out there for your two-point conversion which you bring Derrick Henry in. And even if you don't play them all these snaps and run them all these carries in the biggest moments, you have to have your stars out there. Even if it's just for the fact that he's Derrick Henry and just the gravity that he brings to the table, because you let the

Steelers off the hook. They all followed Lamar Jackson because they knew that's where the ball is probably going to go. The difference in the Bengals game last week was the fact that Henry was on the field. They ran a fake and the entire Bengals defense fell for it. So even if Henry was split out wide, the threat of him being there was huge. So tough game for the Ravens to fall to seven and four. And I have a feeling that maybe next time these two teams meet could be for the AFC North crown. It's going to be very interesting. I just saw the hard knocks trailer for the AFC North there. That looks like it's going to be a fiery thing, December 3rd, for all of you who want to know where that's going to be. John Butchco locked on Jets. Now, obviously the Jets did not win this past weekend, but they're obviously in the headlines quite a

bit. The big news is they fire GM Joe Douglas. John, your thought on this and really what direction is this Jets team is heading now in need of a new GM, in need of a new head coach. How desirable of a destination is this New York job going to be? I would say not very desirable. I mean, I was joking on Locked On Jets that Joe Douglas reminded me a little bit of the episode of Seinfeld with George Costanza where he was avoiding his girlfriend so she wouldn't break up with him.

That's kind of like Joe Douglas. Joe Douglas has been nowhere to be seen over the last couple of months. Robert Sala gets fired. He's nowhere to be found. He's not speaking to the media. You know, the Jets trade for Devontae Adams. Nobody hears from Joe Douglas. It was almost like he was avoiding Woody Johnson so that he wouldn't get fired.

This was inevitable. He was in the final year of his contract. It didn't really seem like he wanted to come back because the owner's kind of taking control. The owner is the one that dictated the Devante Adams trade. The owner did not really consult with him when they fired the coach. The owner took the lead on ending the Hassan reticule. It wasn't really clear Joe Douglas was in charge of this team. And there are a lot of challenges with this job. Number one, the cap situation is in a difficult spot because the Jets have borrowed a lot from future resources to try and build this team up as quickly as possible around Aaron Rodgers. Jets are also short on draft picks going forward. Again,

trades that they made for veteran players. But I think the number one issue is ownership has been very erratic. And I think if you speak with GM candidates, what do they value more than anything? It's ownership stability. Because if you have a bad cap situation, well, you can fix that. If you lack talent, you can get better talent. I mean, I think anybody who's seeking a GM job understands that you're probably not going into a good situation. The reason the team has a GM opening is that they're not very good. Kansas City's job's not open right

now. Baltimore's job's not open right now. They're happy with their GM candidates. You can deal with a bad situation. The question is whether ownership will stand aside and let you implement your plan. And this has been an ownership that's been very impulsive and very meddlesome. And I think that that is the big issue the Jets are going to havedlesome. And I think that that is the big issue the Jets are going to have going forward. And another issue is that Woody Johnson might be joining the incoming administration, which throws an extra layer of chaos into this

because this guy's going to hire you and then you report to somebody else. So you're not even reporting to the guy who hired you. Aaron Rodgers is who they're going to report to. There we go. Yeah, well, that's that's well that's when i heard that the jets had fired their gm i jokingly asked oh they fired aaron rogers because aaron rogers has been behind a lot of the moves also um it's a mess right now i mean

it's the jets it's interesting with the jets because they always end up in the same place but they always take a different path to get there and this has certainly been a very unique path to get to the bottom of the league. Well, we're going to continue our conversation here on today's AFC squad show. We're going to take a look at some point differentials around the entire conference at this point, highlight some of the bigger performances we continue on here today on the AFC squad show part of the lockdown podcast network, your team every day.

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Remember to head to Zbiotics.com slash LockedOnNFL and use the code LockedOnNFL at checkout for 15% off. on NFL at checkout for 15% off. As we continue on today's episode of AFC Squad here on the Locked On Podcast, now we're going to take a look at some of the tales of the tape here. When you look at the AFC, based on point differential, it kind of paints the picture about how the stories are going for everybody around the NFL. We're also going to tie in some other games that we saw there in week 11

into this as well as some teams that came away with some impressive victories obviously the Miami Dolphins to a tongue of Iloa since he's returned the Dolphins have been cooking up a little bit as they're trying to climb back into the playoff race there at four and six there are a couple games back of Denver who currently has a seven seed but the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night football also had an impressive victory over get over Joe Burrow in the Cincinnati Bengals and a little bit of a shootout in a thrilling game. And no offense, Zach, no offense, John, but I was saying, thank goodness the NFL flexed out Colts Jets on Sunday night for that game. Even though Colts Jets had some drama up to the final two minutes, I don't know if it

would have been that way in prime time there. But gentlemen, your quick thoughts on really those games that we saw there. And then if you guys want to touch on, I feel like I can't touch on the Broncos game specifically just by myself I just feel like it just feels wrong to talk about it but Bo Nix throwing four touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons uh ending as we you know if you pay attention to the NFC squad show um obviously Aaron Freeman over there says it is Kirk Vember I think Kirk Vember is over Bo Vember is now here Bron Broncos, they have their guy quarterback. That's a fun thing to see.

But let's talk about Dolphins-Chargers game, and then obviously we'll take a look at the tail of the tape here through the AFC point differential. Man, I loved what I saw in that Chargers-Bengals game. I mean, you thought that Bengals were done, that this was their year, and the Chargers get out to that huge lead, and the Cincinnati defense, we talked about that last week on the show. It's like that Cincinnati defense, Joe Burrow is so good. And Jamar Chase is so good.

And they get T. Higgins back. But the defense is just so bad. And the Chargers get out to that huge lead. And then Joe Burrow does what Joe Burrow does. He gets the Chase connection going, the Higgins connection going. And then it felt like no one wanted Burrow does he gets the Chase connection going the Higgins connection going and then it felt like no one wanted to win the game at the end it just felt like it just felt like no you take it no no no no you take it no you take like it felt like no one wanted to win it and then finally JK Dobbins said all right fine if you really want us to win this I'll go and win

it for you and he had that huge touchdown run the Bengals couldn't seal the deal at the end the Hail Mary almost worked it almost did we've did. We've seen it work before this year. So look, I think that this essentially sinks the Bengals. I know we were kind of talking about, they have to win out if they want to even have a shot at the seventh seed. And I don't really think that's going to go and happen, but man, that, that Chargers Bengals game was something. And look, I think the NFL definitely made the right call, and I'm sure they're glad they did with how that game ended up going. Well, you look at the point differential, Bengals at plus one,

eighth right now in the AFC when you look at it, and it has nothing. Like Joe Burrow, you look at that offense, no complaints. That defense, though, has been so bad. Even though they got Trey Henderson, who leads the NFL right now in sacks, it's weird to see the Bengals' defense, especially a Lou coach team there, defensively struggle the way that they are, but they're also dealing with now some injuries that are impacting them.

They're not dead just yet, I don't think, but they are on life support and hanging on by a thread. Zach Hicks, let's take it to you as well because the Indianapolis Colts are a team right now. They're still in the playoff hunt. There are a lot of questions. You know, hey, we're benching Anthony Richardson. We're going with Joe Flacco.

Two games into it, all right, we're going back to Anthony Richardson. There's been some ups and downs from this Indianapolis team. When you look at their point differential, minus 14, they're ninth right now in the AFC, right behind the Bengals. What is going on with the Colts? A lot of things are going on with the Indianapolis Colts, but honestly, it could be a lot worse. I mean, when you look at the hierarchy of? A lot of things are going on with the Indianapolis Colts, but honestly, it could be a lot worse. I mean, when you look at the hierarchy of the AFC right now,

there are essentially six teams for the playoffs that are pretty much locked in. And then you have a group of two to four teams fighting for that final spot. Your Denver Broncos, my Indianapolis Colts, and then you can maybe say the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals can be a little frisky there. But it really comes down to the Colts and Broncos, I think, for that final spot. And they have a big playoff game coming up here in a couple of days. You know, not this next weekend, but the weekend after. Essentially a playoff game for these two teams here.

So I do think that the Colts are right in the thick of this thing. I think the Broncos are probably the better team right now. But it really just comes down to what kind of Colts team we're getting. Are we getting the team that just gets their butt kicked on primetime football by the Minnesota Vikings and gets a few lucky plays that makes it closer than what it is? Or do they get the version that they got on Sunday, which, again, their defense wasn't perfect, but Anthony Richardson looked like a legit NFL quarterback for the first time this entire season. It was such a drastic difference from what we saw at the early part of the season.

He looked calm and confident and collected out there, delivering some really great strikes. And then down eight going into the fourth quarter, it didn't faze him whatsoever. And he was able to get this team, like they're still in the playoff hunt because of how he performed in that fourth quarter. So the Colts are kind of a frisky team right now. I think they'd go either way. I will say one thing of note is they played, they've played what six teams with winning records this year, which include the Buffalo

Bills. It's going to be the Detroit Lions will be their seventh team. The Houston Texans twice. All right. They played a lot of good football teams down the stretch here. It gets a little bit easier for them to have the Denver Broncos. They have the Detroit Lions. Then they have winnable games. Not saying anything bad here about your team here, Mike. The Patriots are a frisky little team as well, but they have winnable games if you want to be a playoff team this year. So the Colts, if they can take care of business,

will be right there with the Denver Broncos come playoff time or come right before playoff time this year. Mike DeBate, let's go to your New England Patriots here. I just feel bad. When I watch, I feel bad for Drake Mayley because I think Drake May, when you watch him, you're like, this kid has traits, but they don't have a lot of weapons around him. That, to me, is a little frustrating thing to see.

They're minus 66 at point differential, 12th in the AFC. Your thoughts on them? Yeah, I think right now it is about the supporting cast around Drake. I mean, you look at what he's been able to do with this team and really spread the ball around to multiple receivers. Things Patriots quarterbacks have not done a great job of since Tom Brady left and went to Tampa Bay. So you're looking now at a quarterback that is capable of finding his receivers.

But the problem is, is they're few and far between. Jalen Polk has essentially been invisible uh since being a second round pick this year uh you can only play the rookie card for so long eventually these guys have to start stepping it up he has yet to do so Demario Douglas has been a reliable weapon but you saw a miscommunication between he and Drake May at the end of the game on Sunday against the Rams led to an interception. In that situation, you want to miss long. You do not want to miss short. And that's what happened here.

And I think in a lot of ways, DiMario being the typical all-around field weapon that he is, maybe misread the situation. And I think Drake misread exactly what he was going to do. That's an amplified mistake, no question about it. But for the Patriots right now, I think the big surprise has been the defense really not being able to hold up their end of the bargain. That defensive line has been porous. There have been questionable calls made by the coaching staff utilizing someone like a Christian Gonzalez, who was a lockdown corner, to try to shut down half

of the field that simply is not really working. They failed to adjust to either put him on Cooper Cup or Puka Nakua on Sunday, and they paid the price for it. So this team has to come into its own. It's about Drake May. It's about the supporting cast around him, but it's also the decisions that are being made in that coach's room that really will shape whether or not this team is able to rise above the problems they're having right now Cody John Butchco locked on Jets we take a look at point differential for

New York minus 38 they're 10th right now in AFC conference standing in terms of that there I mean obviously we've talked about the offensive inconsistencies with them but the biggest I think surprise is how much the Jets have regressed defensively this year and look I've said it as well in terms of covering the Broncos. For the Broncos to get John Franklin Myers for essentially a six-round pick, I felt like has been the steel of the offseason in terms of what the value he's bringing and then knowing how everything went out with the whole Hassan Reddick thing. I mean, what's the biggest standout here for the New York Jets in terms of their point differential?

I think you hit on it. The Jets made a lot of bad decisions on the defensive line this offseason. It's really difficult to understand why they traded John Franklin Myers when they did. They said it was for cap reasons, but this is a team that really has kind of thrown caution to the wind with the salary cap the last two years. They say we're all in, and now we're trading John Franklin Myers because we can't get him under the cap.

Well, they could have. There were ways to do it. They could have restructured the deal. They could have restructured other guys. He was a really important player for their defense because back seven of the Jets defense is all based on speed. They go with smaller guys because Robert Sala, when he was the head coach and now Jeff Ulbrich, they want guys who can fly to the ball. And the way the Jets were able to get away with that in years past was they had john franklin franklin myers who's about a 290 pound guy playing defensive end so essentially it's it's almost like a classic three forefront we have three guys who are 290 300 pounds who can eat up blocks and the back seven don't really have to shed blocks as much um it made the defense more structurally

sound but they also made some other poor decisions they let some of their a couple of the defensive tackles go in free agency uh lecky fatu the defensive tackle they signed from arizona has not done a very good job as a run stopper javon kinlaw has been i don't know if he's been a disappointment because my expectations weren't super high for him but they gave him seven million dollars guaranteed and he's just he's been a liability hassan reddick you know we could we could spend an entire episode talking about the Jets trading for a guy who everybody knew wanted a new contract, a guy who was traded because his old team wouldn't give him a new contract, and the Jets thought they could get away with not giving him a new contract.

And look, he's had zero impact since he arrived. The other issue, though, is Sauce Gardner is just not having a good season. It's not that he's having a subpar season for Sauce Gardner. He's been an average to below average corner this year. That's one I can't explain, but he's not been good this year. And when you have this sort of regression from your defensive line and when your first-team all-pro corner doesn't play like a first-team all-pro corner, you're going to have issues.

It piles up there, and obviously as you look at the rest of the point difference around the AFC, the Buffalo Bills right now leading the pack at 106. The Chargers coming in at plus 75, Steelers at plus 71, and then obviously Kevin Ostriker's locked on Ravens, plus 63. The Broncos, surprisingly, plus 52 with the way their defense is playing. The offense has started to click a little bit as of late, but that sets the table up here for week 12 around the National Football League. Which teams right now in the AFC are heading into a potential trap game? Could the Ravens be in one? We'll debate and discuss here on today's episode

of AFC Squad. Today's AFC Squad show is brought to you by friends over there at Hillsdale College. Time is our most precious commodity, so don't waste it scrolling through the same mind-numbing content for hours and hours. How can you spend it more wisely to improve yourself? Well, if you went back in school and you learned about maybe the Constitution, economics, and you need a refresher course, what Hillsdale College is offering, our listeners here are locked on AFC Squad, the opportunity to have access to free courses,

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You can tune in wherever you're at. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions, or you can just enjoy the lectures. So go right now to hillsdale.edu slash locked on to enroll. There is no cost and it's easy to get started. That's hillsdale.edu slash locked on to enroll. There is no cost and it's easy to get started. That's hillsdale.edu slash locked on to register. Hillsdale.edu slash locked on. We're taking a look around the AFC at what could be some potential trap games around the NFL this week, specifically in the AFC conference.

There is one team that is playing an NFC team that, hey, could be a little bit of a trap alert here. Thanks so much for making all of these shows here on the Locked On Podcast Network your first listen of the day every single day. All right, gentlemen, let's go a little rapid fire here. We're going to focus on some games here. We're going to say if it's trap game or not. First off, starting

with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road, taking on the Cleveland Browns. And every time, and I preface this by saying the last couple of weeks I feel like anytime there's an AFC North matchup you can kind of throw how one team is doing out the window in terms of record whether they have a bad one or a good one they're always just combative physical and they always kind of fit the bill a little bit the Pittsburgh Steelers you know are they on trap or upset alert here potentially against the Cleveland Browns I just I personally I personally am going to say, I don't think that they are.

I think Cleveland is kind of, they're toast a little bit, considering the things that they've gone through here. Jameis Winston is doing his best there. They've made some changes. They've got some injuries they're also dealing with. The Pittsburgh Steelers are that defense right now. Kevin, you saw it up close and personal this week. That's going to be a problem for Jameis.

I've seen both things up close and personal. I saw the Ravens fall into this Cleveland trap just a couple of weeks ago. So I'm going to say it is because Jameis Winston can wake up and he can throw that ball like the best Tom Brady ever did or he can throw that ball like Zach Wilson did in New York. It can be both things. And we don't know which Jameis we get each time. I think that's kind of the allure of Jameis is he can be the best quarterback in the league one week and the

worst quarterback in the league the next week. So obviously Pittsburgh's defense is better than Baltimore's is. And part of the reason why Cleveland was able to upset Baltimore is because of the fact that they could not stop Jameis. And I feel more confident just with the way Baltimore's defense has played for the majority of the season that Pittsburgh's can do a better job. But it's tough because you also have a couple of guys on that defensive side of the ball that can make an impact for Cleveland, but they're just so injured right now that if I had to guess, I'd probably give Pittsburgh the win, but I'm not counting Cleveland completely out based off what I saw happen up close and personal a couple of weeks ago in Baltimore. You know, another quick one for you here, the network for some reason has Baltimore at Los Angeles as a potential trap game this week. I,

I don't know if I personally agree with that. Um, but your quick thoughts on that and we'll get everybody else to chime in as well. I mean, my definition of a trap game is, you know, one team's not very good and the other team is, and you know, these are two really good teams. Yeah. The one good team falls into the trap of not getting up to play the bad team. You're right. These are two good teams. Like these are the five and six seed in the AFC right now.

And I wouldn't classify this as a trap game for either team. I just think it's a really good matchup that deservedly got a primetime spot. And it's the horrible. We got to get pumped up for the horrible. It's another one. John versus Jim. That's going to be it. That's a primetime spot. It's the horrible. We got to get pumped up for the horrible. It's another one, John versus Jim. That's going to be a storyline in itself. So I'm not labeling that one as a trap game. Baltimore and Los Angeles are two good teams.

You guys in agreeance? When you guys said Los Angeles, I didn't think Chargers because that wouldn't make sense as a trap game. So, yeah, I don't think it's a trap game at all. I mean, Chargers are a good football team they have resilient football team uh good defense i mean i know they had some issues this past week on defense but for the most part this is a really good really good game i could go really either way so yeah i wouldn't classify as a trap game more of a prime time spot than to get excited about all right mike debate yeah absolutely i think anytime

you're facing justin herbert i think to call it a trap game is probably a little bit of an insult All right. Mike DeBake? weeks ago right here on the squad cody uh this is a team now that believes they're going to be in any game that they face and yeah baltimore is a hell of a team and i still believe they're a lot better than what we've seen at times this year and i still believe they're one of the elite teams in this conference and they will continue to be but the charges are eager to prove that they belong there and they belong in this playoffs they belong in this conversation yeah i think this has got a very good game written all over it i wouldn't consider it a trap all right john butchco how do you feel about this one because we also have a few other games too i that we can get to i i just feel like maybe i understanding it from the sense kevin of baltimore's conference record maybe right if they drop it yeah that four four ac losses is not pretty yeah maybe but uh you know john butchco your thoughts here on baltimore., and then we'll obviously get to, I mean, Kansas City, Carolina.

Kansas City coming off a loss. Carolina finding a little bit of momentum here and there. I still don't think that one's going to be a trap game. If anything, I think Tennessee at Houston could be a trap game. I think Denver at Vegas could probably be a trap game here. And I think the Colts potentially at the Lions, like the Lions are a well-oiled machine, but that could be one that people sneak up on. Your thoughts here, John?

Yeah, I mean, Baltimore 7-4. The Chargers are 7-3 and they're at home, so the Chargers have the better winning percentage right now and they're the home team. I don't really see how it can be a try. I agree with everybody. That's a really good game. I actually go back to Cleveland-Pittsburgh though because I think there are a couple of elements that make

that game interesting. I think, first of couple of elements that make that game interesting. I think, first of all, a Thursday night road game. That's always a bit of a tricky spot. That's always kind of an equalizer. I think you have the Steelers coming off a big win, so will there be a letdown? And also that Baltimore team. I think that Baltimore team probably took something out of them.

So I think that's really the game I look to more than anything. I would also agree. I think the game you mentioned between the Colts and the Lions, that's potentially a tricky one for Detroit. I disagree with what everybody said earlier about the Jets and Colts being flexed out of Sunday night. I was disappointed because if I had to suffer through that game, I wanted America to have to suffer through that. This is a Colts team that, you know,

it's a Colts team that Anthony Richardson, you know, he played well against the Jets. Now, I mean, part of it was he was going against the Jets, but he's a talented guy. You know, if he can replicate that performance, very streaky, very up and down. But, you know, if he is a question, was it just against the Jets or did he catch fire?

Because if he caught fire, that could be an interesting game. Yeah. Zach, your thoughts on that? Since obviously, you know, your team, I know you and you and obviously Matt over there locked on lines. My goodness, tongue tied there are going to do a crossover here this week. That's going to release. That's a big game there, essentially.

Yeah, I'm excited. You guys think that could be a trap game for the Lions. This is awesome. Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. You never know. Here's my thing. The Texans almost got them.

The Colts are a very feisty team. I mean, the Buffalo game I know is a 10-point decision by the end of it, but the Colts exchanged quite a few punches with Buffalo in that game, and it was pretty close until Joe Flacco forgot what team he played for and just started giving the ball to the Buffalo Bills. I mean, if Flacco just takes a kneel down on each of those interceptions, the Colts are in it at the very end of that game. Even look at the Minnesota game. If Flacco could even throw the ball forward, that game was going down to the wire as well. So, I mean, the Colts have been competitive with top

teams this year. Houston, they've gone down to the wire with Houston this year. I mean, the Colts, every single game except for the Buffalo games, has been a one-score game. So I'm not saying they're going to beat the Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions are a well-oiled machine right now on both sides of the ball. And I understand the seven-and-a-half-point spread. Honestly, I totally get it. But the Colts are feisty. I could totally see this being a game where if the Lions aren't at their best I mean the Colts could come in here throw some punches and do some good things

plus 159 point differential on the Detroit side we had to switch up to the NFC graphics just for a quick minute I mean it and really it's not close between them and the Eagles like that is a big drop off and then obviously plus 106 Buffalo there so yeah I that's going to be a very interesting matchup uh to watch kind of formulate I think that you know yeah I that's going to be a very interesting matchup uh to watch kind of formulate I think that you know for me I'm going to be up front here like Denver Broncos have not beaten the Raiders in Las Vegas since they have moved there and obviously they were on a winning uh losing streak against them prior to Bo Nix snapping out in week five um but obviously with with the Raiders playing it you know having a two and eight record right now they're in a position

now they can kind of play spoils for some teams hopes now at the end of the season. Brock Bowers is playing really good football right now. I'm very curious though, you know, how the quarterback play is going to differentiate with Gardner Minshew. Obviously the last time faced the Broncos, he ended up getting benched for Aiden O'Connell and Aiden O'Connell got injured a couple of weeks later. And then there was Desmond Ritter for a little bit.

We'll see how that is. But, you know, for Denver, they're riding the hive coming off of a victory against the Atlanta Falcons who are going to be a playoff team inside the NFC. They limited one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in terms of yards and production. They're led by Kirk Cousins. They got to keep putting the foot on the throat, I think, in a situation like that and maybe kind of reclaim it a little bit. Make the AFC West very interesting here once again. But Denver could, like I said, I do think the Denver game does fall into a potential trap game qualification here for the AFC here this week. But obviously, gentlemen, thank you so much for rocking with us here,

joining and jumping in here on the AFC Squad Show. We're going to keep rolling it out every single week here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. Once again, if you want your team to be talked about a little bit more in-depth or you feel like we did them a disservice, voice your displeasure with your host for not showing up and not being here on the show. But with that said, we'll be back next week as well for another AFC Squad Show

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