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Steeler Nation is a world-wide army that follows the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers. The Six-Time Super Bowl Champions are a franchise whose tradition dictates a standard of excellence, and their fans expect nothing less year in and year out. Those very same ideals translate to the ultimate Pittsburgh Steelers Game Day Preview, a guide that all Steelers fans read weekly to learn everything they need to know about their team and weekly opponent!
Mike Drakulich, the man behind Pittsburgh SportsNation (@PghSportsNation), who covers both Pitt football and the Steelers for NGSC Sports, brings you inside the huddle for both teams providing all NFL fans with The PSN Game Commentary, Score Prediction, Broadcast Information, and a complete breakdown of each team.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) vs Arizona Cardinals (2-10)
NFL Week 13
Vegas line: Pittsburgh -6.5
Game-time: Sunday, December 3rd, at 1:00 PM
Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Field: Kentucky Blue Grass
Weather at kickoff: 56 with an 50% chance of rain. Winds out of the West at 8 MPH.
The Pittsburgh SportsNation Game Commentary
For three years, no matter who was under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, be that future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger, or first round selections in Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, the results were the same under offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
Futility.
Finally, be that orders from owner Art Rooney or head coach Mike Tomlin, Canada was given his walking papers two days after Pittsburgh suffered an embarrassing 13-10 loss to Cleveland.
With just a few days of game planning under Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan, the Steelers (7-4) took care of Cincinnati 16-10, with Pickett passing for 278 yards, and the offense gaining over 400 yards for the first time in 59 games. Pickett should have had a touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson, but Johnson had the ball jarred loose before surviving the fall to the ground, and the catch was ruled incomplete. However, Johnson had taken three steps, and had Tomlin challenged the play, it would have been overturned for a score.
“Obviously, you want more points, but after watching the tape and how we executed in the pass game, the run game, how things balanced off each other,” Pickett said, “definitely liked our performance but you want more points.”
Overall, the offense looked much different and efficient with Canada gone.
“It’s game planning, the coverage, having the right call at the right time, getting them into those coverages and the shots we want to take versus the looks we’re seeing,” Pickett said. “We had them, which is great. It all works together. The protection was great, guys were getting open, I was making the throws.
“I want to continue having that great prep. It all happens during the week.”
Now, with a full week of preparation, Faulkner and Sullivan look to get the offense firing on all cylinders, as they face off against the 31st ranked scoring defense of the Arizona Cardinals (2-10) this Sunday at 1:oo PM at Acrisure Stadium.
“Just keep hammering away,” Faulkner said. “Last week, I talked about the details and ironing those out, it will come with that. Guys are all in understanding. I know the points weren’t what we wanted, but the success we had last week really gave me a good stage to sink the hook in and get guys to buy in. It made this week easier in the process of preparation.”
With a resurgent run game humming under Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, this offense could become a dangerous one if the passing attack can hit a few deep shots and start finding the endzone with regularity, especially with Freiermuth back, and the talents that both Johnson and George Pickens possess.
“Everything is fixable,” Harris said. “It’s just a matter of time, patience, work — a certain type of drive you want, how bad do you want to fix it, how bad do you want to go as a team. I think we’ve come to understand what we want. … It’s more putting it on the field and showing it. We took a step this past weekend.”
The defense will get a boost this week with the return of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the lineup.
Fitzpatrick couldn’t be coming back at a better time with Arizona Kyler Murray coming to town.
Murray missed the first nine games this year, and in three games has passed for 719 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Murray has also rushed for 86 yards and three touchdowns.
Murray’s top target is Marquise Brown, who leads the team with 51 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns.
Brown can expect to see plenty of rookie Joey Porter, Jr. matching up with him all day Sunday, forcing the Cardinals and Murray to rely on less reliable pass catchers.
Rondale Moore and Greg Dortch will see a few passes thrown in their direction, but next to Brown, the biggest threat in Arizona’s passing game is tight end Trey McBride, who is 2nd on the team with 48 receptions for 521 yards and a touchdown.
The Steelers defense will hopefully get to have their big three in Fitzpatrick in the secondary, linebacker T.J. Watt, and Cam Heyward at defensive end, all together and playing a full game for the first time all season.
“It’s exciting,” Fitzpatrick said. “I didn’t even realize it was only one quarter. I thought was like a game or two.
“But yeah, all of the pieces are back on the chessboard. We’re all ‘A’ players, so we should be playing at an ‘A’ level.”
Arizona’s run game is lead by former Pitt Panther and Steeler James Conner, who has rushed for 526 yards and two touchdowns.
“Know and love and have got a lot of respect for James,” Tomlin said. “He’s a legitimate tough guy. A big-time competitor. Expecting nothing but his absolute best coming back into Pittsburgh, because I know him.”
The defense has been great at stopping the run with Heyward back healthy, and will look to keep Conner under wraps this Sunday.
Murray is very good at extending plays with his legs, so the defense will have to keep someone, possibly Fitzpatrick, with eyes on him at all times.
It will be up to Watt and Alex Highsmith to get pressure on Murray, who is often forced into making bad throws when under duress.
Murray has been sacked nine times in three games.
On offense, the team should focus on playing some bully ball with the one-two punch of Harris and Warren, especially against an Arizona defense plagued by injuries, and allowing over 140 yards per game on the ground, which is ranked 30th in the NFL.
A power run game will control the clock and keep the defense fresh, and also open up the passing lanes for Pickett to take advantage of.
Last week was a step in the right direction, and with another week of game planning, it’s time to see the deep throws across the middle continue, draw up a few crossing routes getting receivers the ball with speed in open space, and some well timed play action calls to keep Arizona’s defense on their heels all game.
And of course, getting the ball into the endzone.
“Points, points, we want points,” Pickett said. “Yards are great, but points win you games.”
Last week, as mentioned, the offense was finally able to breach the 400 yard plateau. Could this week see the Steelers surpass 30 points for the first time in over a year? The LA Rams and Matt Stafford just tacked 37 on this very same defense last week, so why not?
Pittsburgh couldn’t ask for a better spot to be in. At 7-4, they are just a game behind the Ravens for 1st place in the AFC North, and with this week facing a team that is eight games under .500, followed by subpar teams like New England, Indianapolis, and the Bengals next up in December, the Steelers could find themselves hosting a playoff game come January if they can elevate their play, and impose their will against teams that are well below average. These are games you win, especially at home.
This game will answer many questions about the direction of the Steelers when finished Sunday evening.
Prediction: Steelers 31 Cardinals 17
Broadcast Information
TV: CBS (Local: KDKA-TV channel 802 on Xfinity)
- Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Trent Green (analyst) | Melanie Collins (field reporter)
Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 102.5 WDVE-FM & 970 WBGG-AM
- Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Craig Wolfley (analyst) | Max Starks (sideline) Missi Matthews (sideline)
National Radio:
- Announcers:
Internet broadcast: Steelers Nation Radio (SNR) on Steelers.com
NFL Links
Scouting the Pittsburgh Steelers
Overall record: 7-4 (2nd in AFC North)
Last Game: Steelers 16 Bengals 10
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
- 17th Season with Steelers
- Overall regular-season record: 170-97-2
- Playoff record: 8-9 (Qualified for playoffs 10 times)
Team Links
- Pittsburgh Steelers Team Roster
- Steelers Team/Individual Statistics
- Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 Schedule
Steelers Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 16.5 (28th)
- Total yards per game: 310 (26th)
- Passing yards per game: 196 (30th)
- Rushing yards per game: 114 (14th)
QUARTERBACK
Kenny Pickett | #8
Pickett had been stuck in neutral under Matt Canada’s archaic system, rarely making any deep shots or throwing down the middle of the field during his two year career. Then, magically, with Canada gone, he looked like an NFL caliber quarterback, finding tight end Pat Freiermuth deep between the numbers several times vs the Bengals. Pickett would have had a touchdown pass had Diontae Johnson kept full control of the ball through the endzone, or if Mike Tomlin had challenged the call. Now, seemingly freed from the handcuffs placed on him, Pickett looks to build off of that performance vs a vulnerable Arizona defense.
Passing Yards: 2,000 | TD Passes: 6 | INT’s: 4 | Sacked: 23
Rushing Yards: 51 | Rushing TD’s: 1
Back-up: Mitch Trubisky | #10
Passing Yards: 156 | TD Passes: 1| INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 2
Rushing Yards: 18 | Rushing TD’s: 0
RUNNING BACKS
Najee Harris | #22
Harris and Warren are forming a formidable one-two punch in the Steelers rushing attack. Harris has looked strong and assertive the past month, and just missed a 100 yard effort last week by one yard.
Rushing Yards: 598 | Rushing TD’s: 4
Receptions: 19 | Receiving Yards: 116 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Jaylen Warren | #30
Warren always finds a way to hit the hole and get positive yardage, and has become a weapon catching passes out of the backfield.
Rushing Yards: 542 | Rushing TD’s: 3
Receptions: 37 | Receiving Yards: 247 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Anthony McFarland | #26
Rushing Yards: 0 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 11 | Receiving TD’s: 0
WIDE RECEIVERS
Diontae Johnson | #18
Johnson has been Pickett’s favorite target since returning from injury, but still has issues with running the wrong way after catches and dropping passes at crucial moments in games.
Receptions: 30 | Receiving Yards: 385 | Receiving TD’s: 1
George Pickens | #14
Pickens leads the team with 40 receptions for 662 yards, but hasn’t been the sharpest route runner, which may explain why Pickett has targeted Johnson so much. That said, Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan have to find a way to get Pickens the ball more often, especially down field.
Receptions: 40 | Receiving Yards: 662 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Allen Robinson II | #11
Robinson hasn’t made much of an impact as the team thought he would when signed in the off-season.
Receptions: 23 | Receiving Yards: 185 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Calvin Austin III | #19
The shifty receiver could be utilized in a variety of ways in a competent offense, but… perhaps with Canada gone, the team will find a way to get him the ball in space. Get this guy the ball with some middle crossing routes!
Receptions: 16 | Receiving Yards: 170 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Rushing Yards: 30
Miles Boykin | #13
Receptions: 2 | Receiving Yards: 11 | Receiving TD’s: 0
TIGHT ENDS
Pat Freiermuth | #88
Freiermuth was finally featured in the offense last week, and responded with nine catches for 120 yards. Going forward… this is the way.
Receptions: 18 | Receiving Yards: 180 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Conner Heyward | #83
Heyward makes the most of his opportunities when called upon.
Receptions: 19 | Receiving Yards: 148 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Darnell Washington | #80
The world awaits “Mount” Washington to be utilized in the Steelers passing attack, especially in the red zone. Washington has become a devastating blocker in the run game.
Receptions: 5 | Receiving Yards: 41 | Receiving TD’s: 0
*Injured/Out
Steelers Defense (Base 3-4)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 18.6 (5th)
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 354.4 (25th)
- Passing yards allowed: 236 (24th)
- Rushing yards allowed: 118.4 (22nd)
- Sacks: 32 (11th)
- Interceptions: 12 (4th)
DEFENSIVE LINE
DT: Cam Heyward | #97
Tackles: 18 | Sacks: 1
NT: Keeanu Benton | #95
Tackles: 28 | Sacks: 1
DE: Larry Ogunjobi | #99
Tackles: 28 | Sacks: 2
LINEBACKERS
OLB: T.J. Watt | #90
Tackles: 41 | Sacks: 13.5 | INT: 1 | TD: 1
ILB: Mark Robinson | #93
Tackles: 5 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
ILB: Elandon Roberts | #50
Tackles: 77 | Sacks: 1.5
OLB: Alex Highsmith | #56
Tackles: 39 | Sacks: 4.5 | INT: 1 | TD: 1
SECONDARY
CB: Joey Porter, Jr. | #24
Tackles: 28 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
FS: Damontae Kazee | #23
Tackles: 49 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 2
SS: Trenton Thompson | #17
Tackles: 11 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
CB: Patrick Peterson | #20
Tackles: 30 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
Steelers Special Teams
PLACEKICKER
Chris Boswell | #9
Extra Points: 15-15
Field Goals: 21-22
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 5-5
- 30-39 yards: 5-5
- 40-49 yards: 7-7
- 50+ yards: 4-5
KICKOFF RETURNER
Anthony McFarland, Jr. | #26
Average: 27.3 | TD Returns: 0
Godwin Igwebuike | #48
Average: 23.3 | TD Returns: 0
PUNT RETURNER
Calvin Austin III | #19
Average: 6.8 | TD Returns: 0
Scouting the Arizona Cardinals
Overall record: 2-10 (4th in NFC West)
Last game: Rams 37 Cardinals 14
Head Coach: Jonathan Gannon
- 1st Season with Arizona
- Overall regular-season record: 2-9
- Playoff Record: 0-0
Team Links
Cardinals Offense
Offensive Stats
- Points per game: 17.2 (25th)
- Total Offense per game: 317.6 (22nd)
- Passing yards per game: 195.8 (31st)
- Rushing yards per game: 121.8 (10th)
QUARTERBACK
Kyler Murray | #1
Murray has plenty of talent, and has played decent after missing the first nine games of the year. Blessed with a strong arm and good running ability, but can be forced into mistakes when under pressure. Has already been sacked nine times in just three games.
Passing Yards: 719 | TD Passes: 2 | INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 9
Rushing Yards: 86 | Rushing TD’s: 3
Back-up: Clayton Tune | #15
Passing Yards: 62 | TD Passes: 0 | INT’s: 2 | Sacked: 7
Rushing Yards: 29 | Rushing TD’s: 1
RUNNING BACKS
James Conner | #6
Conner, the former Pitt Panther and Steeler has found a home in Arizona with his tough running style and ability to find the endzone in previous seasons.
Rushing Yards: 526 | Rushing TD’s: 2
Receptions: 14 | Receiving Yards: 36 | TD’s: 0
Emari Demercado | #31
Rushing Yards: 210 | Rushing TD’s: 1
Receptions: 12 | Receiving Yards: 64 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Michael Carter | #22
Rushing Yards: 19 | Rushing TD’s: 0
Receptions: 4 | Receiving Yards: 15 | Receiving TD’s: 0
WIDE RECEIVERS
Marquise Brown | #2
Brown is the top receiving threat for Arizona, leading the team with 51 receptions for 574 yards.
Receptions: 51 | Receiving Yards: 574 | Receiving TD’s: 4
Rondale Moore | #4
Moore has taken over as the #2 WR in Arizona’s passing game with rookie Michael Wilson out injured the past few games.
Receptions: 28 | Receiving Yards: 254 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Michael Wilson* | #82
The rookie receiver out of Stanford will not play this week.
Receptions: 28 | Receiving Yards: 435 | Receiving TD’s: 2
Greg Dortch | #83
Receptions: 10 | Receiving Yards: 105 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Zach Pascal | #0
Receptions: 4 | Receiving Yards: 19 | Receiving TD’s: 0
Andre Baccellia | #82
Receptions: 0 | Receiving Yards: 0 | Receiving TD’s: 0
TIGHT ENDS
Trey McBride | #85
McBride has taken off in his 2nd year, becoming Arizona’s 2nd most reliable pass catcher, with 48 receptions on the season for 521 yards.
Receptions: 48 | Receiving Yards: 521 | Receiving TD’s: 1
Geoff Swaim| #87
Receptions: 7 | Receiving Yards: 58 | Receiving TD’s: 1
*Injured/out
Cardinals Defense (Base 4-3)
Defensive Stats
- Points per game allowed: 26.8 (31st)
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 358.5 (26th)
- Passing yards allowed: 218.4 (15th)
- Rushing yards allowed: 140.1 (30th)
- Sacks: 32 (11th)
- Interceptions: 9 (15th)
DEFENSIVE LINE
DE: Zaven Collins | #25
Tackles: 30 | Sacks: 3.5 | INT: 1
DT: Jonathan Ledbetter | #93
Tackles: 37 | Sacks: 1.5
DT: Roy Lopez | #98
Tackles: 27 | Sacks: 0
DE: Kevin Strong | #92
Tackles: 32 | Sacks: 2.5
LINEBACKERS
OLB: Josh Woods | #10
Tackles: 44 | Sacks: 0.5 | INT: 0
MLB: Krys Barnes | #51
Tackles: 26 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
OLB: Dennis Gardeck | #45
Tackles: 34 | Sacks: 5 | INT: 0
SECONDARY
CB: Antonio Hamilton, Sr. | #33
Tackles: 23 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
SS: Jalen Thompson | #34
Tackles: 55 | Sacks: 1 | INT: 3
FS: Budda Baker | #3
Tackles: 50 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 0
CB: Garrett Willams | #29
Tackles: 14 | Sacks: 0 | INT: 1
Cardinals Special Teams
PLACEKICKER
Matt Prater | #5
Extra Points: 11-12
Field Goals: 19-22
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 3-3
- 30-39 yards: 5-6
- 40-49 yards: 5-5
- 50+ yards: 6-8
KICKOFF RETURNER
Greg Dortch | #83
Average: 17.6 | TD Returns: 0
PUNT RETURNER
Greg Dortch | #83
Average: 10.3 | TD Returns: 0
Steelers vs Cardinals History
Series History: Began in 1933
Overall Record: 36-23-3
- Home: 22-8-1
- Away: 13-12
- Postseason: 1-0
Streak: Steelers won the last four games.
Last regular-season meeting: Steelers Win, 23-17 (Dec. 8, 2019)
Last postseason meeting: Super Bowl XLIII- Steelers Win, 27-23 (Feb. 1, 2009)
Injury Report (12/1/23)
Pittsburgh Steelers
IR: S Keanu Neal
Out: None
Doubtful: None
Questionable: DT Montravius Adams (Ankle)
Arizona Cardinals
IR: LB Kyzir White (elbow)
Out: CB Antonio Hamilton (Groin), CB Starling Thomas V (Ankle), OL Elijah Wilkinson (Neck), WR Michael Wilson (Shoulder)
Doubtful: None
Questionable: S Joey Blount (Knee), WR Marquise Brown (Heel), TE Trey McBride (Groin), WR Zach Pascal (NIR-Personal), DL Kevin Strong (Knee), S Jalen Thompson (Ribs)
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
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