The Pomp And Joe Show
11AM - Ray Fittipaldo gives Pittsburgh a 'very good chance' to win against Houston; The Numbers Game in the Texans-Steelers Wild Card Round game
09 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What are Ray Fittipaldo's thoughts on the Steelers' chances against the Texans?
You know what that signifies, our friend and yours. Ray Fittipaldo of the Post-Gazette joins us on the Sullivan Super Service fan hotline. Pittsburgh's trusted plumbing and HVAC provider for over 50 years. And Ray's also on YouTube. There he is, Donnie. Take a good look. He's looking good.
Fresh haircut, Ray? Fresh haircut. You know it. Got to get ready for Monday night, Donnie.
Well, where are you, Ray? In your man cave there?
I wouldn't call it a man cave. It's like a converted office that was our dining room. But like every other family, who uses a dining room anymore?
Not us.
We eat at the kitchen table.
We do. You eat at the kitchen table.
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Chapter 2: How important are Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren for the Steelers' success?
We have three separate meals for dinner. My wife goes to one room. I go to another. My daughter goes and watches TV.
You guys don't eat dinner together.
No. Do families anywhere eat dinner together anymore? The Bechtold family does.
What? Yeah. Maybe that's just because we're a loving family that enjoys each other's company. We're not.
Ray, you eat dinner together?
I mean, when we can, but the kids have too many activities. They're always on the go, so it's too hard.
So limits, everybody sits down every night at the dinner table and asks how each other's day. What is this, the Brady Bunch? Mostly just a Sunday thing. But like if, you know. Okay, a Sunday thing. That's once a week.
Yeah, like typically my dad and I will eat dinner together if my sisters are up at school or they're back right now, like depending on who's running around and stuff like that. But we always make sure that Sundays, that's the case.
That's beautiful. Thank you. Ray, I'm going to hit you right away. Who's going to win the game and why?
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Chapter 3: What factors contribute to a low-scoring game prediction for Steelers vs. Texans?
Well, they got the Seahawks early in the season. And, you know, if Calvin Austin doesn't, deflect that football, you know, the Steelers probably put up 24 on them, at least.
So the Seahawks have a really good defense, but I think this Houston defense, just the way they're structured, Donnie, like having dominant edge rushers and two dominant corners just makes them a really difficult defense to go up against. So Arthur Smith is going to have to be creative. They've kind of lived and died with Warren and Gainwell out of the backfield, being their yak guys.
I think if they're going to win this game, Those guys got to get yak again, and it's going to be really hard because they are solid all over that defense.
Ray, now that you mentioned his name, give us the parameters of the already interview process here with the Titans or anyone else who might be interested. What's the date that he has to wait until, things like that?
January 14th. Any assistants involved in the Monday night game have to wait Until January 14th, the others can do January 13th. And even then, Joe, it would just be a virtual interview. And then depending on if he won, let's say the Steelers won, obviously one virtual interview and then they would have follow-ups and they would have face-to-faces in the coming days or weeks.
But next week would just be a virtual interview. What percentage, Ray, would you actually put on it, him being down to maybe one of the final three, let's say, for that Titans job? Well, correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't somebody tweet like 10 names for that Titans job? Like he was one of 10 guys who were going to interview him? That's the thing. I feel like his name gets thrown around a lot.
Yeah, I mean, the reason I wouldn't discount it is his history in Tennessee. He knows the owners. He spent a lot of time there. kind of worked himself up from quality control to be the OC. I'm sure he has really good relationships in that building. You know, I think working with Aaron Rodgers this year probably helps him. You know, they want somebody to work with Cam Ward.
But, you know, in the end, I think the Titans will probably have a chance to hire someone a little bit sexier. I think it's just a matter of do they land that guy? And if not, maybe Arthur is their guy.
What'd you think of the Harbaugh firing, Ray?
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Chapter 4: Where does the Texans' defense rank among the Steelers' opponents this season?
I kind of get that sense that, and especially if Artie Smith is back, that everything would be in place, you know, year two, what did he say last week about how well he did in year two of, of the offense in green Bay when, when they had that coaching change. So,
Yeah, I think if Aaron wants to come back, I think the Steelers would be very smart to have him back because you don't want to go in the next season counting on a rookie or really any other of the backup plans they have. They have no idea what they have in Will Howard, and I think they know what they have in Mason Rudolph. They think they have a good backup, but that's pretty much it.
It's 1120. Make the smart call. Buell Insurance, 724-443-5610. Fan Twitter brought to you by South Hills Kia, Peters Township. Visit them at SouthHillsKia.net. We've got Ray Fittipaldo of the Post-Gazette on the line here, and he's on YouTube. The number is skyrocketing on YouTube. You should check it out. Go to our website. It'll take you right there. Or go straight to YouTube.
Ray Fittipaldo brought to you by the AV-rated super lawyers, LGKG. Luxembourg, Garbutt. Is that how I say that, Ray? That's correct. Is your name Ray? No, but I just wanted to make sure you had it right. Kelly and George. Luxembourg, Garbutt, Kelly, and George. My middle name is Ray, Ray. So is mine, Ray.
Nice. Yeah. How about you, Donnie? Mine is not, Ray. Sorry. My middle name is actually Joe. Joseph. How about that?
Between the four of us, we have two middle names. That's incringulant. It's a family affair right here. Well, now I forgot what I was going to ask you, Ray. Oh, no chance for Deshaun Elliott, is there?
I mean, not this week, but I heard from the very beginning that there was a chance that if they made a run in the playoffs, that he could come back. So, you know, we could see maybe next week, maybe the practice window opens and, you know, he could be be a part of things, but certainly not for for Houston on Monday night.
What is the vibe been like for this guy individually, but also others in that locker room with DK Metcalf coming back? Yeah, they're excited. You know, people in that locker room like DK. He's a hard worker. He's a good teammate. I think everyone remembers what happened in that first Ravens game, the way he stepped in there for Skoranek when Skoranek was injured. And he's a team player.
And I think everyone in that room knows he ā made a mistake, but they kind of wanted to pick him up. And I think they're all glad that he got the second chance. So I think he's very motivated. And I think the Steelers were very motivated to do that for him on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.
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Chapter 5: What are the implications of the Steelers' playoff history on current performance?
You know, Joe, but after the game, he said he felt good. I think you saw he played the majority of the snaps. I want to say 84, 86% of the snaps. There were only 51 snaps in that football game, but I kind of have the feeling, I think I told you guys last week, do not be surprised if it's a close game that he's out there and he was. So,
I think Austin, Terrell Austin said yesterday he expects him to be even better, you know, just having gone through one game. So Austin believes we're going to see a better version of TJ on Monday night. And obviously the Steelers are going to need it because CJ Stroud, even though he's been inconsistent, he's a guy who can step up and make some big plays if you let him.
How much do we see of the three edge rushers on the field at the same time, Ray? Got a couple of snaps of that Sunday night against the Ravens, and Nick Herbig only played a handful of snaps, but he had two of the most impactful plays all night. Yeah, I mean, I think you could be a little bit more creative because the Texans don't have the heavy run game that the Ravens, the Ravens had.
So you might see a little bit less of Malik Harrison in this football game. And I think you could see some other packages and, you know, her big, the nice thing about him, line him up on the edge. You can have him roam around, kind of hang out in the middle and rush from the middle. They like his matchup on guards because of his quickness. So, yeah, I'm with you.
Anything you got to do to get pressure on C.J. Stroud and prevent him from making big plays down the field to guys like Nico Collins, you should do everything in your power to avoid that.
Donnie, may I engage Ray in a game of playoff free association? You may. Ray, you ready? I am ready. Let's make this a little prediction segment, if you'd be so kind. Who's going to win Rams at Carolina to kick off the NFL weekend?
Rams.
How about Green Bay, Chicago?
I'm going to go Chicago just because Green Bay's too hurt.
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Chapter 6: How does Aaron Rodgers' performance impact the Steelers' playoff prospects?
Was Natron Means Business in a Chargers uniform in that game?
That's a great question that I think limits should look up. Man, he was a big hoss. Since he's the beat writer. Hmm. I'll tell you, man, losing, even though the immaculate reception happened, losing, uh, a game to the unbeaten dolphins was a crushing loss. Steeler playoff loss Raiders in the AFC title game in 76, 24 to seven, you go there, you don't have your starting backfield.
That one, I think, um, While it hurt, you sort of expected it. Trying to go through some other crushing ones.
Natron Means did start in that game for the Chargers, by the way. 20 for 69 on the ground.
Wow. 24-23 at Denver in 1989 was rather hurtful, Donnie, I might add.
If we're going road games, you have the Tebow game to throw in there, too.
Oh, that is the worst in my lifetime. The Tebow game. The Tebow game.
Joe, that's the first time I ever cried about a sporting event. Really? A guy who could barely throw the forward pass through for 316. Young nine-year-old limits thought that the world was ending when Tim Tebow traded his team.
Tebow 316 said, I just learned how to throw. And did he ever on an aging Steelers defense that day.
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Chapter 7: What are the key numbers to watch in the Texans vs. Steelers playoff matchup?
They went to Seattle and beat Russell Wilson's Seahawks. Do you remember who the quarterback was for the Rams in that game? This was before they made the trade. And I'll give you the next clue. It was not Jared Goff. Oh, my God. Goff was the backup in this game. He was healthy, and he was the backup.
I don't remember.
It wasn't Baker Mayfield? No. Give us a clue, Donnie. I'm going to look at this guy's bio here and just see how much football he played. Brock Osweiler.
No. I like that guess. It's kind of under that same arc.
Vince Ferragamo. He played one career playoff game. He played in this game.
He was three for six for 29 yards. Kendall Hinton, the wide receiver that played quarterback for the Broncos that one day. Give us a college.
He went to Wake Forest, just like our buddy Josh Harris.
I don't know. I give up. John Wolford. I wouldn't have gotten that in a trillion years. John Wolford.
I do remember the name, but I would have never got it. McVay started him. Wow. He ended up getting hurt, so Goff had to come in. But McVay started him in that game. That is amazing.
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Chapter 8: What is the significance of the Steelers' home playoff record against the Texans?
I'm going to finish with a flourish, Donnie. 17.4 points per game. Houston second allowed in the NFL. 93.7 rushing yards per game. Houston second allowed in the NFL. 45-13 Rodgers playoff TD to interception ratio. 12-10 Rodgers playoff record. 26 catches, 451 yards, 5 touchdowns in 4 playoff games for DK Metcalf. 19 straight non-losing seasons for Mike Tomlin.
But ironically, my final number is 8-11 Tomlin's career record in playoff games.
Limits, who won? Joe, I'm going to have you repeat that because the audience could not understand because you were talking as if you were in warp speed. I can understand, Joe.
Yeah, that was intentional limits to see if people could follow. Okay. Who had the best number?
You know... You honestly did have the best number, but I feel like we should give it to Donnie because you were patting yourself on the back with your great number. Oh, my God.
I give it to you, Joe.
But we give it to you, Joe, because you had the best number. Which number? I liked the barrage at the end. Yeah, I liked that.
It was like the finish to a fireworks show.
I liked the Alex Heisman number. More sacks for him than TJ Watt and Cam Hayward combined.
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