Steelers at Cardinals
THE STORY: The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are less than three years removed from one of the more thrilling Super Bowl games in history. When the teams face off in Arizona on Sunday for the first time since that epic matchup, a return trip to the Super Bowl seems like light years away. The Cardinals (1-4) are reeling from four consecutive defeats that have put them on the verge of playoff extinction. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, looks the part of a contender if judged solely by its 4-2 record. But the Steelers have played a soft schedule and have floundered on the road thus far.
TV: CBS, 4:05 p.m. ET. LINE: Steelers -3.5, O/U 42.5
ABOUT THE STEELERS (4-2): Pittsburgh finally got its running game untracked as Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 146 yards and a TD in last week’s 17-13 home win over Jacksonville. It was the fourth win in five games following a season-opening thrashing at Baltimore, but the four victories have come against opponents with a combined six wins. WR Mike Wallace had a TD catch in each of the wins and is averaging 18.5 yards per reception. Pittsburgh’s normally stout defense has been vulnerable against the run, but leads the league in total yards (270.5) and ranks first in passing yards (157.7) allowed per game.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (1-4): Arizona entered its bye week on a downward spiral after a 34-10 drubbing at previously winless Minnesota. QB Kevin Kolb continued to struggle, committing two of his three turnovers as the Cardinals fell into a 28-0 hole in the first quarter. Kolb had thrown one TD pass and five interceptions in the last three games and has been sacked 16 times overall. RB Beanie Wells has scored six TDs and has rushed for an average of 95.3 yards in his four games. WR Larry Fitzgerald has 27 catches in five games but has found the end zone only twice.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Fitzgerald had seven catches for 127 yards and two TDs against Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has won 20 of his last 26 games against NFC opponents.
2. Mendenhall’s first 100-yard game of the season earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
3. The schedule-makers have done Arizona no favors, with seven of the team’s first 11 games on the road.