NFL Week 7 - Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-4)

• Non

  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Rematch of Super Bowl XLIII.
  
  Arizona still has the sensational Larry Fitzgerald but not much else.
  
  The Steelers will look to improve to 5-2 on the season heading into a critical midseason stretch which includes home games against New England and Baltimore and a road game at Cincinnati.
  
  First and foremost the Steelers need to get out of Arizona with a W. Doesn't matter if it's another escape like they had against Indianapolis or Jacksonville. It's early in the week but it seems like a safe bet that Troy Polamalu will be doubtful for this one and they could have several other key injuries to make themselves more vulnerable to an upset.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  Steelers by 7 to 10.
• killer_ewok

  

  No Troy = it could be interesting
• Automatik

  

  So did he get a concussion or what? All I heard was that he was experiencing "concussion like symptoms." How many is this for him? 3?
• DeyDurkie5

  

  cardinals with the upset.
• Automatik

  

  DeyDurkie5;937532 wrote:cardinals with the upset.

  So in other words...... put the house down on Pittsburgh? :laugh:
• killer_ewok

  

  Automatik;937535 wrote:So in other words...... put the house down on Pittsburgh? :laugh:

  
  Hey, he finally got one right when he predicted the Raiders would beat the Browns. He could be on to something here.....
• thavoice

  TP will probably be out for awhile.
  
  Great, great player but always seems to take a little bit more time to return from injuries.
  
  
  Remember the prime time game a few years ago when the steelers couldnt handle the noise. I say they come home with a L
• killer_ewok

  

  Troy passed the concussion tests. He'll practice tomorrow and will play Sunday.
• Heretic

  

  killer_ewok;937660 wrote:Troy passed the concussion tests. He'll practice tomorrow and will play Sunday.

  That's good. The healthier this team is, the happier I am. Especially since after a closer-than-should-have-been game against the Jags, this game could either be a pissed-off-team blowout win or a dangerous trap game. Having a key guy like Troy out would have made it more likely to be a trap game.
• thavoice

  That is great news. Without him this defense would be almost in shambles I think.
• Non

  

  Legursky out.
  
  Great news about Polamalu.
• Non

  

  No Hampton or Chris Hoke for this one.
  
  That certainly opens the door for this to be a ballgame and possible upset.
• killer_ewok

  

  McLendon has played well in spot duty.
• Non

  

  I was watching with my binoculars last week at the game and I thought McLendon was getting blown out of there pretty easy from about the middle of the second quarter on, when Hoke went out of the game. Then Jacksonville was getting a run game going and that helped them be balanced and get back in the game.
  
  But the Steelers have been high on McLendon, a guy who came out of nowhere. Hopefully with a week to prepare as the starter he'll be ready. Also, Arizona is usually not a great running team so we might be ok.
• Non

  

  Arizona comes in 21st in rushing. Steelers are only 15th in run defense, which is way too high if they want to be a contender. They're usually in the top 5, top 3 without much problem.
• killer_ewok

  

  Non;942113 wrote:I was watching with my binoculars last week at the game and I thought McLendon was getting blown out of there pretty easy from about the middle of the second quarter on, when Hoke went out of the game. Then Jacksonville was getting a run game going and that helped them be balanced and get back in the game.
  
  But the Steelers have been high on McLendon, a guy who came out of nowhere. Hopefully with a week to prepare as the starter he'll be ready. Also, Arizona is usually not a great running team so we might be ok.

  
  Maybe you just saw a bad few plays by him or something because I think he's been good when called upon from what I've seen.
• september63

  

  Trap game on the West coast. Arizona pulls the upset. Pitts caught looking ahead to the NE game.
• NWIndianNation01

  

  GO STEELERS!
• Non

  

  killer_ewok;942120 wrote:Maybe you just saw a bad few plays by him or something because I think he's been good when called upon from what I've seen.

  I always thought he played pretty well in rotational duty but just last week I thought there was a big dropoff when Hoke went out of the game.
  
  Now that McLendon has had a week to practice knowing he will have to start that might make a difference.
  
  They like McLendon's strength but he is 6'4 and 280. Not as heavy as some of the other nose tackles. Also not as short and squatty and powerful in the lower body. I'd say more of a defensive end type frame.
  
  I'm not sure Arizona has enough to exploit the Steelers defensive line. I hope not. But hopefully this is only one game and if they can get through this game, Hampton and/or Hoke will be in there the rest of the season.
• End of Line

  

  Could they put Heyward in at nose? Have Hood-Heyward-Keisel as the D-Line.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Steelers by 20
• Non

  

  Can't discount the Whisenhunt vs. Steelers factor. He wanted the Steelers job and dislikes Tomlin for getting the nod over him.
  
  Plus when all the Steelers fans show up on the road, the home fans get defensive and they cheer more, which makes the game seem bigger.
  
  I think it will be a competitive game.
• wes_mantooth

  

  Nah, Arizona is 1-4 so there is no way their fans are smart enough to pump up the volume. They may not even know their way to the stadium.
• Ironman92

  

  Good coverage by the Cardinals.