The playoffs don’t start for a month but for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the season has been single elimination for the last several weeks. Pittsburgh has taken the one game at a time mantra to heart and has kept their focus during this 6-1 run they are on. This week the Steelers get the Arizona Cardinals who were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week and sit at 3-8-1.
There was a time when playing a bad team on the road was scary because the Steelers didn’t hesitate to play down to their opponents. But this isn’t the case this season, especially on defense. Here are three reasons the Steelers will not lose to the Cardinals this week.
The Cardinals defense can’t stop anyone
Arizona is currently ranked No. 31 in points allowed (29.2) and No. 32 in yards allowed (426.3) per game. Pittsburgh hasn’t had a 300-yard passer yet this season but if there was ever a week to do it, this would be it. The Steelers offense will be a concern for the remainder of the season but this week Pittsburgh should feast on the Cardinals D.
Pittsburgh handles rookie quarterbacks
During his time with the Steelers, head coach Mike Tomlin has done very well against rookie quarterbacks. This week the Steelers defense gets a shot at Kyler Murray and history dictates this will work in the favor of the Steelers. Murray is a remarkable athlete and has a bright NFL future but we’ll take that 22-4 record against rookies over Murray’s potential.
This game matters too much
There is no tomorrow for the Steelers. A loss against the Cardinals knocks the Steelers out of the playoffs and with the rest of the schedule I’m not sure they could make it back. The Cardinals have nothing to play for other than pride but the Steelers aren’t going to let this one slip away.
