The Pittsburgh Football Podcast by Chris Gates

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to bounce back against the Indianapolis Colts, but with rain in the forecast and major questions surrounding Pittsburgh's offensive line and defense, this could be a battle decided in the trenches. In Episode 28 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris previews Sunday's Steelers-Colts matchup, breaking down what Pittsburgh needs to do on both sides of the football. When Indianapolis has the ball, can the Steelers slow down Jonathan Taylor and force Daniel Jones into mistakes? And how will Pittsburgh's defense respond with Derrick Harmon on injured reserve, Joey Porter Jr. gone, and injuries creating uncertainty in the secondary? When the Steelers have the ball, the focus turns to establishing a physical, run-first identity. With Aaron Rodgers taking more sacks than any quarterback in the NFL, can Pittsburgh protect him against a Colts defensive front featuring DeForest Buckner and Laiatu Latu? Plus, Chris discusses the biggest Steelers headlines from the week, including: Mike McCarthy's controversial comments about needing to "clean our house" and why they were blown out of proportion. The signings of cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Terell Smith. Derrick Harmon's injury and its impact on Pittsburgh's defensive front. The latest injury concerns heading into Sunday's matchup. Why the weather could make running the football and winning at the line of scrimmage more important than ever. Can the Steelers get back above .500 and start establishing the physical identity they've been missing? All that and more in Episode 28 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast! -- Subscribe everywhere » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.transistor.fm/subscribe PFP Website » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.com/ Join our Mailing List! » https://mailchi.mp/f0b2fd6460f5/pittsburgh-football-podcast-mailing-list-sign-up -- TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 04:59 - Steelers Have Signed 2 New Cornerbacks 11:02 - The Impact of Derrick Harmon’s Injury 12:26 - Mike McCarthy’s “Clean Our House” Comments 15:00 - When the Colts Have the Ball 20:55 - When the Steelers Have the Ball 27:51 - A Crucial 4-Game Stretch for the Steelers

Pitt is 5-0, ranked No. 25 in the country and preparing to host North Carolina — but the outlook for the rest of the season changed dramatically when Mason Heintschel went down with a season-ending injury at Virginia Tech. Now, fifth-year senior Holden Geriner takes over at quarterback. In Episode 27 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris previews Pitt vs. North Carolina and breaks down what we actually know about Geriner, from his recruiting pedigree and arm talent to the limited but encouraging opportunities he's had in Pitt's offense. We also take a closer look at Bill Belichick's North Carolina team, Billy Edwards Jr. and the Tar Heels' offense, where Pitt should have advantages on Saturday, and why establishing the run could be critical to helping Geriner settle into his new role. Finally, we zoom out and look at the rest of Pitt's schedule. Losing Heintschel unquestionably changes this team — but does it really need to change the expectations for a 5-0 Pitt team that has found multiple ways to win? Pitt's season has changed. It doesn't mean it's over. -- Subscribe everywhere » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.transistor.fm/subscribe PFP Website » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.com/ Join our Mailing List! » https://mailchi.mp/f0b2fd6460f5/pittsburgh-football-podcast-mailing-list-sign-up -- My interview with the Tar Pit podcast » https://www.youtube.com/live/x-WCPIYXZR4?si=P9ZEbNMAU6Uv1XCS -- TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - Intro 02:57 - Holden Geriner Names Pitt Starting QB 06:29 - Other Personnel Updates 09:04 - UNC News & Notes 15:53 - When UNC Has the Ball... 23:06 - When Pitt Has the Ball... 33:36 - Who is Holden Geriner? 40:49 - Expectations in the Wake of Mason Heintschel's Season Ending Injury

Today's episode is JAM PACKED, so let's get right to it. Pitt beat Virginia Tech on Friday night, but the bigger storyline is that Mason Heintschel is out for the season with a torn ACL. Despite losing their starting quarterback, the Panthers still put up a valiant effort in Blacksburg to come out with a win. And there are tons of hot topics to debate from the game. Was Virginia Tech's final field goal attempt actually wide, or did it go through? Did Cam Lindsey intercept that ball, or should it have gone to the receiver? Should Pitt have blitzed on fourth-and-5, and run the ball more down the stretch? I'm diving into all of that, and a bunch more. And at the end of the episode, we break down where Pitt goes from here with Holden Geriner taking over the starting QB job. I hope you enjoy it, and if you have a moment please make sure you're subscribed and leave a 5-star rating and review! -- Subscribe everywhere » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.transistor.fm/subscribe PFP Website » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.com/ Join our Mailing List! » https://mailchi.mp/f0b2fd6460f5/pittsburgh-football-podcast-mailing-list-sign-up -- TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction 05:34 - Recapping Pitt’s win + Mason Heintschel’s injury 26:23 - Cam Lindsey’s interception was the correct call 28:58 - Was the field goal good, or no? 34:49 - Recapping the Narduzzi vs. Franklin storyline 39:24 - Pat Narduzzi’s post-game comments 44:12 - The road ahead without Mason Heintschel

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to head into their mini-bye at 3-1 and atop the AFC North. Instead, they leave Cleveland 2-2 after a frustrating 27-24 loss to the Browns. In Episode 25 of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris breaks down an incredibly inconsistent night for Pittsburgh. The Steelers opened the game looking dominant, disappeared for much of the next two quarters, and finally came alive again late — only for the defense to surrender the game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Chris breaks down what went wrong, the Browns’ ability to pressure Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf finally stretching the field vertically, and why Pittsburgh needs to lean much more heavily on Jaylen Warren, Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington and a physical offensive identity. There are also major questions defensively. The secondary struggled without Joey Porter Jr., explosive plays continue to be a problem, and Pittsburgh may eventually have to look outside the organization for help at cornerback. Plus, what should we make of all the visible frustration on the Steelers sideline? Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy exchanged words, T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward were visibly frustrated, and the entire team appeared increasingly agitated as the night went along. Finally, Chris looks ahead at a critical four-game stretch before the bye and explains why the Steelers still have an opportunity to turn things around — but need to start stacking wins immediately. -- Subscribe everywhere » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.transistor.fm/subscribe PFP Website » https://pittsburghfootballpodcast.com/ Join our Mailing List! » https://mailchi.mp/f0b2fd6460f5/pittsburgh-football-podcast-mailing-list-sign-up -- TIME STAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction 05:02 - An up and down game, quarter by quarter 16:47 - The Steelers looked FRUSTRATED all game 22:41 - The Steelers offense lacks an identity 29:41 - Clear problems on defense (that are hard to fix) 34:32 - The next four games for the Steelers are MASSIVE

EMERGENCY PODCAST: Joey Porter Jr. is no longer a Pittsburgh Steeler. The Steelers traded Porter to the Dallas Cowboys late Wednesday night, receiving a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a second-round pick in 2028. In this emergency episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris reacts to the stunning trade and breaks down how the relationship between Porter and the Steelers deteriorated to this point. How much blame belongs to Joey Porter Jr. for the way he handled his contract dispute and lingering "back injury"? How much blame belongs to the Steelers for failing to reach an extension with one of their best young defensive players? And what does the return Pittsburgh received say about Porter's value around the NFL? Chris also examines the growing questions surrounding GM Omar Khan, the Steelers' recent track record of moving on from talented players, and what losing Porter means for a secondary that already desperately needed him. It's an emergency reaction to one of the biggest Steelers stories of the season.