The Pittsburgh Steelers return home to Acrisure Stadium to take on the Arizona Cardinals in this week 13 matchup. Here’s everything you need to know for the game!
What: Arizona Cardinals 2-9 at Pittsburgh Steelers 7-4
Where: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA
When: 1pmET Sunday December 3rd 2023
Weather: 55 degrees with 25% chance of rain. Winds to 5mph
Wagering Information: Steelers -5.5 O/U 41
Last Week: The Cardinals were routed at home 37-14 by the LA Rams while the Steelers went on the road and defeated the Bengals in Cincinnati 16-10.
TV: CBS Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Trent Green (analysis), Melanie Collins (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area: Check out 506sports.com.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
Head Official: Land Clark. He’s a building official who graduated from Sevier Valley Tech. Currently in his fourth season as a head official, Clark last called a Steelers game in Week 17 of last year where the Steelers beat the Ravens. There were 10 accepted penalties in that game.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) – Questionable ARZ:No. 33 CB Antonio Hamilton (Groin) – Out, No. 24 CB Starling Thomas V (Ankle) – Out, No. 65 OL Elijah Wilkinson (Neck) – Out
No. 14 WR Michael Wilson (Shoulder) – Out, No. 32 S Joey Blount (Knee) – Questionable, No. 2 WR Marquise Brown (Heel) – Questionable, No. 85 TE Trey McBride (Groin) – Questionable, No. 0 WR Zach Pascal (NIR-Personal) – Questionable
No. 92 DL Kevin Strong (Knee) – Questionable, No. 34 S Jalen Thompson (Ribs) – Questionable
Injury Notes: The Steelers are as healthy as they’ve been in several weeks while the Cardinals are riddled with injuries including three starters that won’t suit up this weekend.
2023 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 28th ARZ 25th Passing Offense: PIT 29st ARZ 25th Rushing Offense: PIT 16th ARZ 10th
Total Defense: PIT 4th ARZ 31st Passing Defense: PIT 19th ARZ 21st Rushing Defense: PIT 19th ARZ 31st
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 9-3, Cleveland 7-4 Pittsburgh 7-4 Cincinnati 5-6
This Week in the AFC North: Baltimore BYE
What You Need to Know: Mike Tomlin is 4-1 all-time against the Cardinals… The Steelers are 22-8-1 all-time against the Cards in Pittsburgh… Pittsburgh has won four straight against the Cardinals… Cardinals’ Tackle Kelvin Beachum played for the Steelers from 2012 to 2015… T.J. Watt has 20 career games with 2 or more sacks… Kenny Pickett has not thrown an interception in his last seven starts… Since 1970, the Steelers own the second best record in the month of December going 122-81 over that time… Pittsburgh is 36-20-4 at home when facing QBs who were drafted number one overall…
Arizona Cardinals Names to Know: QB Kyler Murray. RB James Conner, WR Hollywood Brown, TE Trey McBride, S Budda Baker, OT Kelvin Beachum, OLB Zaven Collins, K Matt Prater
What’s at Stake: For the Cardinals, they’re playing for pride. At 2-9 they are pretty much out of the playoff race. For the Steelers, they need to take advantage of having a poor performing team at home in order to keep pace with the Ravens and the rest of the AFC hopefuls.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 36-23-3
Last Meeting: December 2019 in Arizona. Steelers 23 Cardinals 17
Postseason History: Steelers lead 1-0 (Super Bowl XLIII)
Steelers Game Highs vs ARZ: PASSING: 409 yards Bobby Layne 12/13/1958 RUSHING: 142 yards Jerome Bettis 11/30/1997 RECEIVING: 206 yards Jimmy Orr 12/13/1958 SACKS: 3.0 Jason Gildon 11/09/2003 and Carnell Lake 11/30/1997 Interceptions: 2 Dick Haley 11/29/1964
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. KISS. It’s time to invoke an old classic here. Keep It Simple Stupid minds exactly what it says. The Cards are 31st in total defense and 31st against the run. The Steelers meanwhile have rushed for almost 700 yards in the last four weeks. In other words, don’t get fancy and try to do things you don’t normally do. Run the damn ball with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. Use play-action pass and take care of the football. Do not overthink this.
2. Keep Everything In Front of You. The Cardinals have a speedy receiving threat in Hollywood Brown and they have a quick and elusive QB in Kyler Murray. Teryl Austin should be preaching to tackle well and to keep everything in front of you this week. The secondary, with Minkah Fitzpatrick returning, has to make sure no one gets behind them. That will start with slowing down the ARZ rushing attack eliminating the play-action threat. It can also make RPOs less effective. The bottom line is don’t give up big plays. Make the Cardinals drive the length of the field if they’re going to put up points.
3. Build on Last Week. The offense, despite scoring just 16 points, saw marked improvement. It started with using all parts of the field and getting Pat Freiermuth involved in a big way. There’s little reason to vary from that. Kenny Pickett should not feel pressure to get Diontae Johnson involved just because of last week. He needs to let things unfold in front of him and take what the defense is giving while still taking a few risks. The deep shots last week were most welcome and they will be again this week too. They help open things up for the rest of the offense even if not always successful. In other words, build on what started last week.
Prediction: These games always scare me. Playing at home with an excited crowd after a 1-1 road trip within the division against banged up and beaten down opponent. I tend to think however that there’s a rising level of excitement around the Steelers right now. The offense, despite scoring just 16 points in last week’s win, was markedly better in their first game without Matt Canada and you have to believe they want to build on that. The defense gets Minkah Fitzpatrick back and knows what they need to do against Kyler Murray. For the first time all year I see an “easy” win.
Steelers 23 Cardinals 13
Season Prediction Record: 5-6
