The Pomp And Joe Show
1PM - Around the NFL after a WILD Week 16 12-22-2025; Sidney Crosby passed Mario Lemieux for the most points in Penguins history
22 Dec 2025
Chapter 1: What makes the Steelers' victory over the Lions so impressive?
I think it's one of the most impressive wins by anybody in the NFL this year by Pittsburgh. I would have not guessed that Pittsburgh would have gone into Detroit and whooped Detroit on both sides of the line of scrimmage. This is a defense in Pittsburgh that everybody was running the football on. Detroit could not run the ball at all.
And then vice versa, this is an offense that running the ball is like, let's just be efficient, efficient. And they create the explosive runs. And the other part is this, in the last three weeks, I would tell you that Aaron Rodgers is throwing the football the best that he has since 2022. So we're talking three plus years.
This three-week stretch of throwing the ball and some of the throws that he has made. So if this offense is going to have some of these explosive runs and Rodgers is going to do whatever he wants with the football, this is a team that has my attention more after this performance than it had up until a month ago. Some games the defense has stood on its head and given us a chance and
A few times we've done it, and tonight was one of those times where we just kept answering, starting with the two-minute drive and then the first half, an unbelievable catch by Kenny. You know, if it's just P.I., it's three points, but to catch it, somehow get his hand on the ball, get up and score was incredible. And our other back, you know, might have heard of him.
He had a hell of a game, too. But I thought the line did a really nice job. We settled in. I thought Art called an incredible game. And there's still more out there. I mean, Quez... We had a chance for a touchdown. DK had a touchdown. We got called back. We had other opportunities on the fake sneak.
It looked like we could have scored, but I thought our guard got into a good rhythm, especially in the second quarter on, and we executed really well on the line, settled in, and blocked their asses off. Man, they sure did. And it's a day to feel good. It's a day to feel very, very good. My mind has changed. That's just what happens in sports based on what we see on the field.
And there wasn't a single person at this station or anywhere else, except, of course, for Danny and Shaler. Is that his name? Dennis. Dennis and Shaler, who predicted three wins in a row. Not a single person. forecast that after the Buffalo debacle. Nobody. Dan Orlovsky just told you. They've opened my eyes. They've opened mine too.
You go into Detroit against a desperate and still very high-powered offensive team.
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Chapter 2: How has Aaron Rodgers' performance changed recently?
In fact, the best offensive team in football. You win like that? And yeah, it got hairy at the end. I know. And we'd probably be talking about one of the bigger meltdowns, if not the biggest, of the whole Mike Tomlin era if they lose that game. They've been something like 103-0 when they lead by 11 or more with five or less left in the game. And they were about to lose it, but they didn't.
They finished the game. They've done that on defense a couple times. In games that might not have gone great at times, they closed the Jets game, they closed the Minnesota game in Dublin, and they closed this one. Listen, what Bob said before he left is right, and I wrote the same thing last week. This starts with the quarterback. In this league, you got to have a quarterback.
You just have to, and you have to have a team that can score 17 points in the fourth quarter, like the Steelers just did. That's what they haven't had. There are a lot of other ingredients have been missing. They suddenly have a red hot quarterback who thinks the game at an elite level and still has the physical ability to get the ball wherever he wants to get it.
Can't move around like he used to, obviously, but he still moves around enough. Enough. And he's still smart enough just to take a sack when things are looking real bleak. He hasn't turned it over in three games. He hasn't been picked in five games. He had the fumble in the Buffalo game. So he gives them a chance, period. Aaron Rodgers.
I think you made the point earlier, Limits, how many AFC quarterbacks that are in it right now are playing better than him? Josh Allen? Is he? I don't know. I'd rather have Josh Allen, yes. He didn't have a good game yesterday. Him and Herbert. That's the only two that I would take. And right now, I would take him slightly over Herbert.
So would I, because Herbert is allergic to playoff games, to big games. Has he ever won one? No. I don't think so.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of the Steelers' playoff chances?
I don't believe so. We'll see what he's like. I'd rather have Rodgers than anybody but Josh Allen in the AFC right now, at least among playoff teams. Yeah, and that's why their chances are so much greater. Think about the way that they've ended seasons too, Joe, over the previous however many years.
Other than when Mason was able to ride them into the playoffs in a three-game winning streak, that was a little bit of fool's gold. I feel like this roster is better than that one. And you go into Cleveland, and as long as you don't screw up there, you can just rest all your starters for Baltimore, and it's a much different situation going into the playoffs than years past.
That would be a beautiful thing. It truly would. And there's a reason why in the AFC, they had some ridiculous number last week that the last time... Mahomes, Peyton Manning, and Brady weren't in the playoffs winning games, I might add. They were just in the playoffs. Maybe it was even in the AFC title game. I can't remember. It was decades ago. 1998. I mean, it's crazy.
If you have a guy, you have a chance. Period. Period. And right now, this Aaron Rodgers is a guy. I didn't think it was possible at this point in the season. If you would have told me early on that he would be healthy and just lighting it up in late December, I would have said, I would bet against that, but we'll see. So there's a lot of things happening, but it starts there.
And it would end there if the opposite was true. All right, Wonder Twin, 412-928-9370. Let's take a little trip around the AFC and the NFL at large, shall we? Fan Twitter brought to you by South Hills Kia, Peters Township. Visit them at SouthHillsKia.net.
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There's a new team the Steelers could play in the playoffs if they get there. One we haven't mentioned yet because it didn't seem pertinent. But one that if they do not win their division and they might go down to the final game with the Chargers because the Chargers have already beaten them is your Denver Bronconians who looked like crap yesterday at home and got blown out by the Jags.
I've been a Broncos guy. I think they're a good team. I'm a Bo Nix fan. However... Big difference between Denver at home where they were 7-0 before yesterday and on the road for one thing.
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Chapter 4: How does Pittsburgh's defense compare to other teams?
And for another thing, I think the Steelers physically up front in the run game could get them. I think the Steelers would beat the Broncos. The Broncos looked like crap yesterday, but Jacksonville, are they flying under the radar? Jacksonville 34, Denver 20. A quick thought on that game on Limitless Express.
Yeah, what Trevor Lawrence and Liam Cohen are doing there in Jacksonville, that really is the story of the year, other than the Chiefs missing the playoffs. They're a dangerous team going into it. They are. They're a bigger story than New England? Yeah. They're a bigger story than Chicago? Yeah. Hmm. Well, and I think it's because of what the expectations were for Jacksonville coming into this.
They're Jacksonville. There was a lot of hype around Caleb Williams as their recent number one overall pick, and Ben Johnson, the best coordinator in the NFL, going to become their head coach. And when you get Mike Vrabel, plus you have Drake May, who had a really good rookie season, I feel like there was a lot more.
A lot of people picked New England to be their breakout team this year, or the Bears. Not a lot of people were saying that about Jacksonville. A lot of people picked the Bears to be their breakout team. Yeah. Find me one. Okay, I'll go. You go on the internet and look that up. Denver doesn't look to me anywhere near unbeatable. I mean, every game they've had is competitive. I give them credit.
They've beaten good teams. They're sitting here at 12-3. They're good. And I'm a Bo Nix fan, as you know. But I would pick the Steelers if that game were played next week in Pittsburgh. And that's a new team on the horizon. All right, Wonder Twin, how about the Bills 23, the Browns 20? How many sacks does Miles Garrett have now? I believe 22, yes? 22 is the official number.
So he needs a half sack to tie and a full one to break T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan's record. Does it happen against Dylan Cook? So how about this?
So, Miles Garrett supposedly told the broadcast, I think it was two games ago, regarding the Steelers, yeah, they're like giving a mandate or whatever, who knows how true it is, to make sure that I don't get a sack so that they will hold me and just take the penalty rather than the sack. You know what I would do in this game, Joe?
Anytime that Miles Garrett gets close to the quarterback, especially because this might not even be a game of consequence, the Steelers might already have the division wrapped up, I would hold Miles Garrett and I would do everything possible to make sure he does not record a sack in this game and surpass TJ Watt. That's what I would do. Don't let Myles Garrett get the sack.
And I don't feel bad about it at all because of what Myles Garrett has done to this team. Surely you wouldn't do that if the game means something, if the Ravens win the night before. Who cares? He's going to get the record either way, and he'll probably get it against you. So what? It's what they call a pyrrhic victory. I don't want him getting the record against me. I couldn't care less.
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Chapter 5: What recent milestones has Sidney Crosby achieved?
Josh gets off from Sportsnet, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby with quite the milestone. It's not every day you pass up Mario in something, is it, Limits? In fact, you never have. Not yet, anyway. No, I have not. I never will. What a moment. What a moment. And a necessary win. And really... We talked about it earlier with Bob.
I'm trying to think if anybody since I've been in Pittsburgh, which is November of 89, is when I landed in this city. Has anybody come in with more hype than him? I don't think so. Not even Ben. Like he was not only expected Sid was to save the Penguins, but save the entire league. And I don't know if the NHL, anybody could save that in terms of making it, you know, a primary sport in America.
But he certainly saved the Penguins. He's the reason they have a new arena. He won championships. He cemented himself, I think, as a top five player of all time. In terms of resume, his resume is actually better than Mario's. Mario, I think, is always the better player, maybe than anybody else.
some would say including Wayne Gretzky, I'd probably go Gretzky one, Mario two, and then Sid figures in the top three. But Sid's overall resume, like accomplishment sheet, is superior to Mario's right now. Would you agree with that? A limitless wonder. I would because he has an additional Stanley Cup. I think of the golden goal.
I think of the longevity that Crosby has also been put together as well. Sid has it, yeah. He's the more accomplished player. Now, if you gave Mario the same... and didn't have all the injuries, then maybe it's a different story. But Sid gets that check in my box. Two of the five greatest players in the history of that sport played right here.
And a guy like Yager and a guy like Gino aren't too far off of that when you actually think about it. It's just so lucky in this town to get that kind of legendary talent. Great photo of Mike Tomlin. in the Post-Gazette after yesterday's game, blowing a kiss. Hey, man, he earned it. This was a great, great win. It was. I don't think there's any arguing that.
And I think it changed a lot of people's minds about this football team, including mine. You do it on the field, people start to believe. If you don't, for a lot of years in a row, and you bottom out against Buffalo, people understandably lose their minds, lose interest, go crazy, start booing renegades, start saying the coach should be fired. That was all, quite frankly, well-earned too.
And I wonder if that helped prompt what we see today. You know, a lot of times, no matter... The situation in life, whatever we're talking about, people, teams have to hit rock bottom before they can catapult up. I just didn't think it was going to happen like this, this fast. That was one of the greatest, most entertaining Steeler games I've ever seen. You? I agree. Regular season? I loved it.
And I was not worried or concerned until Boswell missed the field goal. And then I went, oh bleep. Here we go. Because as soon as that happened, at least in my mind, I said, this is it. The Lions were rolling after that last drive. They held them in check for a majority of the game, but the Lions had all the momentum. And we've seen the Lions come back in dramatic fashion before.
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Chapter 6: What are the challenges facing the Ravens this season?
He's looking at the Kenny Pickett jersey that you got me. Andrew Rooney II. Did he laugh when he saw it? Do you like Andrew Rooney II? Is that your nickname? Art Pony II. He was a week ahead of us all. Maybe two weeks ahead of us all. I think we're all in the same space now. Did he like the Pickett jersey I gave you? He did. He picked it up and threw it right back into the bag.
I was going to ask you to come on in and show that to the YouTube people now. This one, I was afraid, would be too big for limits when I bought it. Oh, the smallest size you can think of? Yeah. But you can see now, we opened it earlier with Bob. It was very special. A very special moment. Here it is. Show it to the YouTube people. It's a very thoughtful gift here, Joe. Very thoughtful.
It's a toddler-sized Kenny Pickett jersey. 12 months. 12-month-old. jersey of Kenny Pickett. Hold it up so they get the full effect. There it is. Hold it up a little more limit so we can see how small it is. There we go. Look at that. Now try to put it on if you would. I don't know if it fits. Like I said, I think it might be too big. It fits the top. It only fits on my head like it's a hat.
Now this is not something that I could necessarily wear to be able to see. The visibility is very bad. However, I made up for that by giving Limits a Pitt volleyball shirt that I spent. Which I can barely see. Pretty significant amount of money on when you actually think about it. And then I gave Bob. I don't know. Why don't we check the tag? I felt like Bob was near tears.
Do you, Limits, when I gave him a fan keychain? He was emotionally breaking down. And you know what? I know where we can find more fan keychains if you would like to give some out, Joe. No, I think that was just for Bob. Okay. And of course, Bob didn't give us anything and hasn't invited us to his house this Christmas season because he never does.
I feel like he could give you a nice, you know, gift of serious significance from anywhere that you would want. Bob has that kind of pull. Bob has given me enough. He gave me a free golf shirt. Well, I stole it, but he lent it to me out of the back of his car and then I kept it. So maybe that's my gift this year. That's a really nice shirt.
We should go back to Pitt Volleyball at some point and do another video with that. Look at that. Look at that shirt on the YouTube channel. Numbers are skyrocketing. As I said, as we lead into the PM, guys, I'm really heartened today because usually in sports and in news in general, negativity leads. It does. And the phone lines light up like crazy after a bad steal or loss.
People ask me, you know, is the show hotter when they win or lose? And unfortunately, I usually say, you know what? When they lose, people just want to vent. But today, I think people feel really good, and the phone lines have been lit all day, and our numbers on YouTube and on the audio stream are astronomical today. I feel good about that. It's a feel-good Monday. It's a happy Monday.
Happy holidays to you, Limits. Who's in for you tomorrow? Sean Myers will be in for the rest of the week. I don't think Christmas Day, but with you tomorrow. How about intern Dom? I'd like to see him at least one day.
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Chapter 7: How do the Steelers match up against potential playoff opponents?
Yeah, so I tried to coordinate that, actually, to get you with Dom for a day, but I think the way that schedules worked and it wasn't able to work out, so I'm not entirely sure. But Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, everyone, and a Happy New Year. I'll be back with you on Monday next week if you're here. See you, buddy. See you. Everybody take care.