The Pomp And Joe Show
10AM - Is Joe crazy for thinking the Steelers have a chance to be a threat? Aaron Rodgers is the reason many Steelers fans are optimistic
06 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What reasons does Joe Starkey give for Steelers' playoff optimism?
I think there's a lot of belief in the leadership of the team. I think there's an important part of the leadership role in being as even-keeled as possible and always believing you've got a chance. But it takes moments like this. Back in 2010, we were 9-6 playing Chicago last game of the year, and we eked out a close one in the fourth quarter, 10-3. And it gave us a little bit of belief.
And then we went on a run where we were underdogs, I believe, the entire playoffs. We're underdogs at home tonight against our division rival. I think it's going to give us some belief. Now we're playing, I believe, the Texans. Is that right? They're coming off nine in a row, I think. So who knows if they'll make us an underdog again at home.
But the belief level in the locker room after a win like this is exponentially greater, which is what you want to have going into next week. And then, obviously, we get DK back.
I don't know what's happened here, Limits.
Chapter 2: How has Aaron Rodgers influenced the Steelers' offensive strategy?
I'm starting to believe, too, again. And I'll tell you this much. Bob's not here. We already knew that. He's here in spirit, and he's here in mannequin form or cardboard cutout form, whichever you prefer. He's at the Tomlin News Conference. He has his duties there. In fact, he introduces the coach. Do we underestimate just how important Bob is over all, Limits? Probably. In this town.
He introduces the Steelers coach.
He does a show with the Steelers coach.
At the Tuesday press conference and then does a show with the Steelers coach afterward or maybe before. I don't know when they tape it.
Chapter 3: What pivotal moments shaped the Steelers' belief heading into playoffs?
Do you?
Yeah, I think it is today. And he already had the phone number of the priest that blesses the field, typically.
Right. And we had Father Max ready to go yesterday. Something strange happened.
And then Bob was ghosted, apparently.
And then even Bob was ghosted. Yes. I think the Steelers got involved. I think that's what happened. They don't want any fun things for us, do they?
It's a possibility. I'm not rolling anything out.
That's all right. We'll survive.
I'm also not accusing anyone of anything, but I'm not rolling anything out.
We'll survive here. And I'm starting to swill the Kool-Aid limits. I'm not sipping it. I'm swilling it. As far as I'm concerned, this is a team on a five-game winning streak. Do you know why? Because with DK Metcalf, they beat the Browns. Do we agree on that? Yes. Right.
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Chapter 4: What are the strengths of the current Steelers roster?
In big regular season games, in playoff games, whatever. Frequently. Every win could be a loss, practically, when you get to this level. Think about how... You want me to go through some Penguin games? You want me to go back to the year they won the Cup? The first year with Dan Bilesma? They're down 2-0 in a series to the Capitals, and the next game goes to overtime.
And now I can't remember if they tied it or won it. On a deflection. On a deflection. Limits. They lose that game, they lose that series. Think about Seattle and the Rams. That's a field goal. That's a field goal that's going to go outside the post but goes in the post. And sometimes that's all you need. And here's the other important thing. What were you going to say?
Seattle and the Rams this year.
Seattle and the Rams this year. Seattle went for two. Seattle went for two, and they didn't get it. Well, if they wouldn't have gotten it, then they would not be in the driver's seat for the number one seed.
They might not be in the driver's seat for the number one seed.
That's right.
You're exact.
You are exactly right.
This stuff happens. You're here. That's all that matters.
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Chapter 5: How do injuries impact the Steelers' playoff chances?
You're playing at home against a franchise that has never won a road playoff game. They're 0-6. But here's the real point. I like this Steelers team a lot better than I did. I like the roster. I like some of the things I'm seeing. I like seeing clips of Zach Frazier pushing Roquan Smith all over the field. Have you seen that clip?
I haven't. He has played very well.
I like the clip of Derek Harmon pushing Panay Sewell all over the field, throwing him down to the ground. Have you seen those clips? The Steelers are good up front on both sides of the ball. They have a good offensive line. They have two good running backs. They have DK Metcalf back, and they have TJ Watt back.
You could argue if you walked into other teams' meeting rooms and sat down with their coordinators and their head coaches and their players, the guy they fear most on this offense could be DK Metcalf, and the guy they fear most on this defense could be TJ Watt. So arguably, the two most feared players on the team weren't there for the Cleveland game. Am I right about that, Limits?
You are correct. And... So this team that they're putting on the field Monday night, as far as I'm concerned, is on an unbelievable roll heading into the playoffs. At worst, they've won four or five, but really the team that we'll see Monday night, I think, would be on a five-game winning streak. I'm pretty convinced they would be, if only Metcalfe.
And have you seen Metcalf's playoff numbers that our dear friend Adam Crowley was talking about?
No.
Have you seen his playoff numbers? Please fill me in. I'll fill you in. He's played four playoff games.
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Chapter 6: What are the challenges posed by the Texans' defense?
He has 26 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns. And you don't think he's going to be stoked to play that game Monday night? No. After letting his teammates down? And I know there are people who don't like DK Metcalf anymore and things like that. We were ready to canonize the guy in Baltimore after he volunteered as a gunner for the punt team and had 148 yards receiving.
Whatever you think of what happened, whatever you think of him right now, he's a really good player who was trending up and now is rested and now is extra motivated. And this Steeler defense, which never goes into a postseason healthy, Seems pretty healthy to me. T.J.
Watt, the upside, if there is an upside to getting your lung punctured, is that his body, the rest of his body, got time off late in the season. And now all of a sudden he's going to be a week stronger and a week better going into this game. Alex Highsmith, who's injured more often than Bo Bennett, is healthy. He's a monster when healthy. Derek Harmon is throwing people around.
They have depth with Herbig as far as the pass rush goes. Cam Hayward's playing maybe the best football of his career. My God, have you seen the breakdowns of him the other day? Oh, limitless wonder.
He played his ass off, and he probably played the best game he has in the last three, four years. He was an all-pro last year.
The position of concern for me right now might be safety, might be secondary. But otherwise, I really like this Steelers team at the moment. I do. Maybe I'm crazy. I think they're going to make a bit of a run here. I think they're going to beat Houston.
You got a team coming in here who, like I said, a franchise that has never won a road playoff game and is walking in to a cold weather playoff environment without a run game and And with hardly what would qualify as, you know, an electrifying pass game. Stroud to Collins is a good combination.
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Chapter 7: How does Joe Starkey assess the Steelers' quarterback performance?
They've got some weapons, but nobody's really that fearful of Houston's offense. They're not. You may have seen the Chargers game. Stroud hit a couple long plays. He also threw two terrible picks. And they really don't have a run game. And nobody fears their offensive line. I think the Steelers are going to line up and smash this team defensively. And I think do enough offensively to win.
And that gets us back to the main topic. The main reason I feel good about the Steelers heading into the playoffs. And that's the quarterback. And this quarterback right now is on a roll. Again, the Cleveland game is sort of an outlier right now. I don't know what the hell happened that day. Something did, but not having Metcalf certainly affected the proceedings. We can all agree on that, do we?
Yeah, I mean, I don't think it should be counted as a burn the tape type of game. It was horrible. He was horrible. But Metcalf wasn't there. It happened, but Metcalf wasn't there. And you get him back and it changes a lot in your offense. I think so. Plus they rediscovered Jalen Warren. He was like a non-factor against Cleveland. Same thing with Gainwell. They didn't utilize him properly.
They have two good running backs. They've rediscovered Pat Friermuth.
Chapter 8: What factors could determine a successful playoff run for the Steelers?
They have Metcalf back. They're going to have some horrible series against Houston because everybody does because that's a great defense. But what I don't think is going to happen is that you're going to see them turn the ball over. I don't think Rodgers is going to be taking tons of sacks so long as the game is close. I think it's exactly the type of game that Mike Tomlin loves to play.
It's going to be, I think, a low scoring, whoever makes the turnover loses type of game. And I really like the position that the Steelers are in right now. Do you at 412-928-9370, 928-9370. Here's the thing with Rodgers too, is that I think he has a receiving core that he's comfortable with now. And there's a lot to be said for that.
Like I credit him more than anybody else for the fact that there's more competence there and that there's no Roman Wilson there. Can't depend on that guy. So what? Was it Omar that went out and got MVS and Thielen? Was it Mike? Or was it mostly Aaron? Because I feel like it was mostly Aaron. And I'm okay with it. And I'm desperately searching for a number that I looked up the other day.
And I'm trying to do it on live radio. And I think I am going to do it. It was something like the Steeler receivers the other night had more yards after the catch than a lot of teams this season. And now I can't find it. And now I'm angry. But that's okay. The bottom line is the Steelers receivers are a group that the quarterback feels comfortable with.
That if option A and B and C aren't open, he knows where an Adam Thielen or even a Scotty Miller or an MVS might be. That was a hell of a catch MVS made the other day. I thought the one where he reached back behind him and pulled it in on the bobble. You know, I'm not saying these guys are world beaters, but they're players that the quarterback feels comfortable with. Yes, limits.
I think I have the number you're looking for. Please. 66% of the Steelers passing yards this season have come after the catch, the highest in the NFL. Was that the number you were looking for?
No, but the number the other day was pretty good too with a cast of characters that you wouldn't think would put up numbers like that because a lot of the number you just said has to do with DK Metcalf. Here's the other story related to Rodgers that probably I haven't talked about enough, and that's the offensive line.
See, I still believe that games are won along the line of scrimmage on both sides, and I think the Steelers have really beefed up and gotten better on both sides. And in the case of Cam, stayed healthy. Right. And I think Keanu Benton has come along. Another clip that's made its way around the Internet is Keanu Benton chasing down Derrick Henry on what looked to be a possible touchdown.
Just a ridiculous play for a nose tackle to make. Like you look at the Ravens interior defenders, most of them. Remember, Rogers said there were a couple slow guys chasing me on that touchdown in Baltimore. Those guys can't move five yards. Benton and Harmon are like Olympic sprinters, and they're showing the effort that Cam has modeled for them and getting down the field and making plays.
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