Rankings:
[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Steelers[/td]
[td]Cardinals[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Offense[/td]
[td]28th[/td]
[td]23rd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
[td]29th[/td]
[td]22nd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
[td]26th[/td]
[td]14th[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Defense[/td]
[td]6th[/td]
[td]31st[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
[td]7th[/td]
[td]32nd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
[td]12th[/td]
[td]24th[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
The Cardinals are giving up 29.3 points per contest ranking them 31st in the league. Their passing defense is one of the worst units in the NFL. They are conceding 308 passing yards per contest. They have allowed 31 passing TDs this year. Unfortunately this is hardly strength on weakness for the Steelers and the 29th ranked passing offense.
The Cardinals have an OK offensive line and some decent backs. And of course Kyler Murray. They were made to look very ordinary last week by the Rams and the pressure that they generated up the middle. Murray has been very good at protecting the ball this year but has taken over 40 sacks already this year. Humphries at RT is a penalty machine but actually the line hasn't been responsible for the majority of the sacks. Most of those have come as Murray has tried to extend plays and run the ball.
In Kugler, Saxon and Clements, AZ have coaches that know the Steelers well. Kingsbury may have to swallow his pride and go with a heavy dose of David Johnson this week, even though Kenyan Drake is officially listed as the starter. The Cardinals can run the ball a bit both with Murray and a solid stable of three backs in Drake, Johnson and Chase Edmonds altogether averaging 4.9 ypc. If they can establish the run and get the Steelers out of their nickel then I could see them having success. Unfortunately for the Cards I don't think that Kingsbury will be able to resist going to the air.
On defense the Cards have a reasonable pass rush but outside of that they are not a team that should cause the Steelers a huge problem. Budda Baker leads them in tackles and the evergreen Chandler Jones is the pass rush with 13 sacks. Suggs is next up with 5.5 but if the Steelers can find a way to nullify Jones - much easier said than done - then Hodges should have time to do some damage through the air. 31 passing touchdowns allowed is a big, big number. Interestingly, the pass defense issues seem to be down to ones that the Steelers will know and recognise - an inability to cover the middle of the field and soft zones that have been designed to prevent big plays. Vance Joseph doesn't appear to trust his players to make plays and there have been accusations that Peterson has been lacking effort - he certainly hasn't been the pro bowl corner that he used to be. The Steelers backs and tight ends should be open all day over the middle of the field.
Having said which Vegas only has the Steelers favoured by -2.5 (which may be a reflection on our pathetic offense) with an over/under set at 43.5.
The biggest issue for me is how poorly the Steelers have played "lesser" opponents that they should beat late in the season. It's been an issue for years under Tomlin and just for once I'd love to see the Steelers stomp on the neck of a team that they really should beat. We'll see what happens on Sunday.
[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Steelers[/td]
[td]Cardinals[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Offense[/td]
[td]28th[/td]
[td]23rd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
Passing Offense
[/td][td]29th[/td]
[td]22nd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
Rushing Offense
[/td][td]26th[/td]
[td]14th[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Defense[/td]
[td]6th[/td]
[td]31st[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
Passing Defense
[/td][td]7th[/td]
[td]32nd[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
Rushing Defense
[/td][td]12th[/td]
[td]24th[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
The Cardinals are giving up 29.3 points per contest ranking them 31st in the league. Their passing defense is one of the worst units in the NFL. They are conceding 308 passing yards per contest. They have allowed 31 passing TDs this year. Unfortunately this is hardly strength on weakness for the Steelers and the 29th ranked passing offense.
The Cardinals have an OK offensive line and some decent backs. And of course Kyler Murray. They were made to look very ordinary last week by the Rams and the pressure that they generated up the middle. Murray has been very good at protecting the ball this year but has taken over 40 sacks already this year. Humphries at RT is a penalty machine but actually the line hasn't been responsible for the majority of the sacks. Most of those have come as Murray has tried to extend plays and run the ball.
In Kugler, Saxon and Clements, AZ have coaches that know the Steelers well. Kingsbury may have to swallow his pride and go with a heavy dose of David Johnson this week, even though Kenyan Drake is officially listed as the starter. The Cardinals can run the ball a bit both with Murray and a solid stable of three backs in Drake, Johnson and Chase Edmonds altogether averaging 4.9 ypc. If they can establish the run and get the Steelers out of their nickel then I could see them having success. Unfortunately for the Cards I don't think that Kingsbury will be able to resist going to the air.
On defense the Cards have a reasonable pass rush but outside of that they are not a team that should cause the Steelers a huge problem. Budda Baker leads them in tackles and the evergreen Chandler Jones is the pass rush with 13 sacks. Suggs is next up with 5.5 but if the Steelers can find a way to nullify Jones - much easier said than done - then Hodges should have time to do some damage through the air. 31 passing touchdowns allowed is a big, big number. Interestingly, the pass defense issues seem to be down to ones that the Steelers will know and recognise - an inability to cover the middle of the field and soft zones that have been designed to prevent big plays. Vance Joseph doesn't appear to trust his players to make plays and there have been accusations that Peterson has been lacking effort - he certainly hasn't been the pro bowl corner that he used to be. The Steelers backs and tight ends should be open all day over the middle of the field.
Having said which Vegas only has the Steelers favoured by -2.5 (which may be a reflection on our pathetic offense) with an over/under set at 43.5.
The biggest issue for me is how poorly the Steelers have played "lesser" opponents that they should beat late in the season. It's been an issue for years under Tomlin and just for once I'd love to see the Steelers stomp on the neck of a team that they really should beat. We'll see what happens on Sunday.
