Arizona Sports predicts Cardinals vs. Steelers

Oct 21, 2011, 5:00 PM | Updated: 10:24 pm

Arizona Sports

The Cardinals, after a week off, return to the field to
face arguably the best team they have all season: the
Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not quite a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII, the 4-2 Steelers
could effectively end the Cardinals’ season with a win,
seeing as how a 1-5 hole would probably too deep for
Arizona to climb out of.

What is your prediction? Do you completely disagree with
any of our staff’s predictions and why?

Vince Marotta	In the last two seasons, teams with a home game out of their bye week are 26-9. This coupled with a team meeting to “air things out” leads to a Cardinals victory. Final Score: Cardinals 20, Steelers 17
Doug Franz	It’s been pretty easy for me to be right about these predictions because I keep picking the Cards opponent to win. My streak may come to an end this week because I’m actually taking the Cards. Make no mistake, I’m not saying the Cards are a better team than Pittsburgh. There just happens to be times during a season where everything comes together. No matter what the fans think, the players respect CKW. It doesn’t need to be said how much CKW and Coach Grimm want this win. It’s also a historic franchise with great fans so that will get the players’ attention. Combine that with the fact the Steelers aren’t playing great football right now, I think you have a perfect storm. This will be one of those games that when it’s over, Pittsburgh fans will say they should have won. There will be crazy special teams plays. Maybe an INT return for the Cardinals. Cards will actually get some breaks at home and come away with a win. Final Score: Cardinals 27, Steelers 21
Adam Green	It makes sense that the Cardinals would win this game. Coming off a bye, they’re healthy and taking on a banged up Steelers team. Combine that with the emotion of playing Pittsburgh and you have a game that is ripe for an upset. Except, though, the Cardinals are just not a very good team. Pittsburgh’s defense will be too much for Kolb and the gang, Mike Wallace will burn the Cards for at least one long TD and Steve Breaston is not around to change the game with a punt return for a touchdown. Final Score: Steelers 31, Cardinals 17
Katy Hartley	I expect Roethlisberger to have a big game against the Cardinals corners (or lack thereof), my guess is 3 passing TDs from Big Ben will push the Steelers over the Cards this weekend. Final Score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 17
John Gambadoro	The Steelers can be beat, they have struggled this year beating a bad Colts team by 3 points and a bad Jaguars team by 4 points. Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 18 times this year and has been very inconsistent. They are without defensive starters James Harrison, Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith. Last week against Jacksonville Pittsburgh managed just 70 yards yards of offense in the second half. So there are signs that point to an Arizona team playing at home and coming off the bye week having a chance to win this game. But they won’t. The Cardinals are 1-4 for a reason and they just do not have the talent to beat a good but inconsistent Steelers team. Final Score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 20
Mark Asher	Well this is one of those games that everyone thinks that the Steelers will win right? Well, Vince Marotta gave me some really cool stat the other day and because of that stat and just a hunch I will pick the Cardinals to win the game. If they dont win my season tickets are for sale for the remainder of the year! Final Score: Cardinals 28, Steelers 24
Dave Burns	I think the Cardinals actually have a chance in this game. The Steelers have cracks. The offense has been hit or miss. The defense is missing all sorts of guys. But I can’t pick Arizona to win based solely off the deficiencies of Pittsburgh. I can’t wait to see if the bye week helps the Cards offense, but at this point I have no reason to believe they’re capable of taking advantage of the Steelers cracks. Final Score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 17
Tyler Bassett	The Cardinals secondary against Big Ben will be key, but ineffective. Roethlisberger throws for 300 yards Sunday. Final Score: Steelers 27, Cardinals 16
Jon Bloom	Less than 3 years removed from their epic matchup in the Super Bowl, neither team seems to be ready for a re- enactment on Sunday. Despite their 4-2 record, the Steelers, like the Cardinals, are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture through week six. Something both teams have in common is that their record isn’t quite indicative of their performance. This week the combination of desperation and being at home make me believe the Cardinals get off the schneid and get a very small taste of revenge in Glendale. Final Score: Cardinals 27, Steelers 24
Joe Huizenga	While some people may look at the Cardinals opponent this week and fear the Steelers, they really have no reason to. This is not one of the Pittsburgh teams of the last few years built on a defense that won’t budge and an offense that’s good enough. This Pittsburgh team still has that same offense but its defense has huge cracks. They’ve struggled with both Indy and Jacksonville this year. If the Cardinals keep Rashard Mendenhall from breaking big plays they’ll win this game. Mark it down. Final Score: Cardinals 20, Steelers 17
Charlie Feinerman	If there is ever going to be a time for the Cardinals to beat the Steelers it is this weekend. The Steelers are depleted by injuries, the Cardinals are coming off a bye week. However, the Cardinals’ second win won’t come this week. I see a lot of Cardinal turnovers & Mike Wallace thrashing the secondary on some deep play-action passes. Final Score: Steelers 34, Cardinals 13

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