The Pomp and Joe Show 1-9-2026
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What is discussed at the start of this section?
Oh, yeah. It's a Donnie Football Friday. And it ain't your average Donnie Football Friday. Because we have playoff football. We have a monstrous weekend and a monstrous weekday. Namely, next Monday, Texan Steelers. And we also have a big college game tonight. A great game. If that was any indication, Donnie, of the kind of football weekend we're in for, Ole Miss-Miami was fabulous. But we start... with Steelers-Texans. And yes, I know, we're going to have a whole day on Monday also to talk about this game. But how many home playoff games do you get in a lifetime? There's only been 14 of them at Accresure Stadium, the artist formerly known as Heinz Field.
What key playoff games are highlighted?
The Steelers are 8-6 in those games. And Donnie, I'm going to reiterate... What I've been feeling all week long, I think the Steelers are going to win this game. Our friend Adam Crowley, a very close friend, I might add. We love him, don't we, Donnie? We do. He had a good topic today. He said if you're a Mike Tomlin detractor, you know, whatever phrase you want to use there. And you think the Steelers are going to win. He didn't say this to me. He put it out to his audience. How do you square those two things? And my answer is two words. Aaron Rodgers. They have a red hot quarterback, a pretty good offensive line that we don't talk about enough. DK Metcalf back in the fold, two good running backs, and a couple other little weapons sprinkled in there, including a man that we'd all forgotten about.
His name is Pat Friermuth. Sometimes Pat Friermuth, depending on how you want to pronounce that. It actually is Muth, but he really doesn't care. It's also easier for everybody to just say Muth. Yeah. And then they have a very mediocre offensive line in Houston. And the Steelers, while they've been up and down defensively, it's been more up than down lately. I'll tell you that much. They're going to win the game. That's where I'm starting today. And the score is going to be 15 to 10. And if they get a late defensive touchdown, it's going to be 22 to 10. That's where I'm starting today on Adani Football Friday. Where are you starting, Donnie Football? I'm right around that same score. I keep questioning who I'm going to have win the football game, Joe, because I do feel like we are underrating the Texans' defense just a little bit.
That is a truly elite unit that they have. So I don't want that to go understated all week, and then we come out Monday night and everybody is stunned by how good that defense is. I feel like the score is going to be like 16-13. But one minute I feel like the Texans will be the team winning. The next minute I think the Steelers can be the team winning. Because even though this defense is scary, and I think it's a Super Bowl caliber defense. I think it is one that if Houston can get by this round, they could actually make a run. Because the defense is that good. I was telling somebody last night that... and I think Chris has maybe made this point throughout the week and the afternoon, the Texans in 2025, they're pretty similar to what the 2008 Steelers were.
An elite defense, great players and playmakers at all three levels. They can get after the quarterback like no other. Two guys with 12-plus sacks coming off the edge. The offense has a shoddy offensive line. Not too strong of a run game. A quarterback that's good, but not putting up overwhelmingly great numbers. I mean, go back to what Ben's stat line was in 2008. It was nothing special. But they made plays when they had to. And the defense carried the load all the way through the Super Bowl. That's, I think, a pretty fair comparison to what this Texans team is. and they have a young, defensive-minded head coach in D'Amico Ryans who already has a couple of playoff wins under his belt. So I can't get a feel on who I think will actually win, and I will probably go back and forth, and I hate to sound like Ron for you as the show begins here.
I see these guys every day in practice, D'Amico Ryans and Mike Tomlin. Who am I to give a winner? Come on, Donnie, step to the plate here.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is discussed at the start of this section?
0:02–0:48
2
What key playoff games are highlighted?
0:48–7:05
3
What are the predictions for the Steelers-Texans game?
7:05–13:13
4
How do injuries impact the Steelers' playoff chances?
13:13–1:21:52
5
What are the betting insights for the Steelers vs. Texans game?
1:21:52–1:22:50
6
How do the Chargers' injuries impact their playoff performance?
1:22:50–1:23:28
7
What predictions are made for the Packers vs. Bears matchup?
1:23:28–1:24:32
8
What are the final thoughts on the playoff predictions?
1:24:32–2:29:50
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from The Pomp And Joe Show
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