The Arizona Cardinals travel to Pittsburgh to take on a Steelers team coming off a thrilling Monday night win. Here are my answers.
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Bruce Arians is triumphant in his return to Heinz Field, sticking it to the Steelers and Mike Tomlin in this one.
Well, to be honest, I am not convinced Arians’ “retirement” was Mike Tomlin’s decision. After two decades as an National Football League assistant, Arians got a chance to run a team.
Roethlisberger, the 33-year-old star who has guided the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles, suffered a bone bruise and sprained the medial collateral ligament of his left knee in a 12-6 victory over the St. Louis Rams on September 27. What would you have asked differently about the Steelers and Cardinals matchup? However, after Haley’s first season fans began to see what he brings to the table.
His sack numbers should improve with a blitz-happy Cardinals team that confuses offenses.
How is the defense looking under Keith Butler?
Arians’ son Jake told azcentral sports earlier this year that the Steelers ownership didn’t like the aggressive, big-play style of the offence under his dad. The last six teams with a point differential in triple digits through five weeks all played in the final game of the season, with four of them holding the Lombardi Trophy. A few players to watch would be rookie OLB Bud Dupree who has already registered 3 sacks in 5 games, as well as Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt along the defensive line. It’s about respecting those who have come before us, and making the black-and-gold special.
Well, first and foremost, the Cardinals have had a former Steelers OC as their head coach since 2007.
On top of resurrecting the careers of Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, everything that Arians touches seemingly turns into gold. If Bruce Gradkowski hadn’t gotten hurt in the preseason, they wouldn’t have gone out and signed anyone.
Second, putting Roethlisberger on the field before his need has gained enough strength and stability to play at game speed would be short sighted and potentially fatal to the Steelers season. Going with the experience of Vick was something the team was confident with heading into 2015, but was hoping they wouldn’t have to see.
The advantage for Arizona will be the Cardinal defense, but I still expect this to be a tough, close, and very physical game. We have Le’Veon Bell. They’re in the playoffs more often than not.
“The game-winner on the last play of the game, that’s what you dream about”, said Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell after he scored the winning touchdown in Pittsburgh’s game last week against the Chargers.
“Knowing him and how prepared that he is”, Steelers star receiver Antonio Brown said, “I’m sure he’s going to want to come in here and put on a show, being how many people counted him out and wanted him out of here”.
The Cardinals have a strong running game, which they haven’t had in a long time, averaging 134 yards per game on the ground, with 23 rushes of 10 or more yards. “Don’t be afraid to take a shot down the field”.
OK – Prediction and fill in the blank.
Dan Rooney worked alongside his father and was named team president in the mid-1970s, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his stewardship of the Steelers, with his hiring of Chuck Noll in 1969 being the fulcrum that flipped the franchise from lovable losers to one that has won more championships than any other in the NFL since. The Steelers lose if _.
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Michael Vick struggled mightily to move the ball against a weak Chargers defense on Monday. The Steelers have a better defense than the Lions, but the Cards have such a great trio right now with Ellington, Johnson and Johnson and are using them so effectively, it’s provided a ideal balance with Carson Palmer and his pass catchers.
