Week 6 Reactions To Every Game

Dave Kluge (0:11)

Another week of NFL action is in the books, and today I'm joined by Jeff Bell and Joey Wright to discuss every single week six game, as we do every Monday right here, whether you're watching on Twitter, YouTube, or on the Footballguys podcast. I want to thank you all so much for taking the time to tune in today, but let's go ahead and jump right in. And we are going to start with the Steelers at the Buccaneers. The Steelers won this game 26 to 19

And Jeff, let me throw this question to you first. We saw Jeremy Bernard, big blow up spot two weeks ago, had another one this week. Is there a more valuable wide receiver in Pittsburgh right now than Jeremy Bernard?

Jeff Bell (0:44)

No, I don't think there's a more valuable receiver simply because he steps in as the short passing game struggle target for Aaron Rodgers. The role that we saw really Kenny Gainwell operate, and this was a revenge spot for Gainwell here. But really, that short passing target, we haven't seen Jaylen Warren see quite the same usage.

We know those tight ends that they have are not really volume after the catch, tight ends, they're more vertical downfield type tight ends. And Bernard, they really needed this role in this offense. And I think obviously they knew it when they drafted him in the second round. Coming in there, injuries have allowed for that situation to open up. And yeah, he's absolutely going to be a player that's going to see volume week to week now at this point.

Dave Kluge (1:26)

Joey, we could talk about Jeremy Bernard a little bit. But as a Tampa Bay fan, I know this wasn't the best game to watch. Any major takeaways or anything that you wanted to focus on from this game specifically, I want to focus on the show host making this the first game.

Joey Wright (1:38)

And every time the Bucs lose, he seems to do that now. You know, the Bucs had the lead for going for a while and they lost the game. What are you going to say? It happens in the NFL.

Andre Bernard, though, like we've seen this workload come. No Roman Wilson last week. 14 ppr points this week with kind of a limited Pat Fryermuth and no Roman. 25.7. If we get no DK Metcalf, I can't imagine what he's going to be.

But no, like Jeff said, the shorter area targets are going to be there for him. It was a role that Gainwell succeeded in last year. He's a plug and play wide receiver for me. I'm a little worried in two weeks against the Browns because the Browns have seemed to be like a really good defense this year against pretty much every position. But outside of that, like you start playing against the Saints next week, start them up.

Dave Kluge (2:20)

Yeah, I mean, I feel like this is just such a good role for him. Like, Jeff, I think you really hit it on the head. Like, this kind of is the role that Kenny Gainwell had last year, just those short targets. I mean, Jeremy Renard, like, we'll see the occasional post route. He'll get downfield every now and then. But most of his targets are coming within five yards of the line of scrimmage. He's kind of working as an extension of the run game. So, yeah, I think he is just a plug and play wide receiver to going forward with weekly wide receiver one upside. But Joey, let's talk about the Bucks a little bit here.

Bucky Irving, we have seen over the last couple of weeks, has really pulled away with a workhorse role, which has never really been afforded to him outside of a little stretch at the end of his rookie season. Do you think that he can maintain this sort of usage in the offense?

Joey Wright (3:00)

You know, what's interesting about the past two weeks is the Bucks have had leads, and that's kind of been the outlier for them this year. I mean, every game they've had, every loss has been decided by seven points or less, though. So like they've been competitive, but like actually having leads, I think in games like that, you're going to see Bucky get leaned on a little bit more. But in some of these shootout games, which I see coming down the stretch a little bit, I think we will see Gainesville work in there a little bit more for pass protection. But Bucky has looked good. I think he's an RB to when the matchups are there.

I haven't been a lot of lineups. The schedule ahead is a little tough. Panthers, Falcons, Bears, those are tough running back matchups. That's going to kind of be the test for Bucky during for me.