The Steelers are currently riding the high of their Week 12 win over the Bengals. The firing of Matt Canada seemed to provide a spark for this offense. While there are still issues aplenty on this roster, they finally found a way to move the ball and look like a somewhat complete team.
They have another layup this week in the Cardinals, as they are one of the worst teams in the league. Even with the return of Kyler Murray, Arizona has failed to find its stride. That said, there is no free week in the NFL, and this team needs to be ready to play. Here are four questions the Steelers must answer against the Cardinals.
Can the Steelers defense stop the speed?
The Cardinals receiving core certainly isn’t a feared unit in the league. Headlined by deep threat Marquise Brown, this passing unit is currently one of the worst in the league. A lot of that has to do with struggling quarterback play, but a lack of great receiving options hasn’t helped things.
What the Cardinals do have is speed at the receiver spot. Brown is one of the fastest players in the league and can burn you at any time. Rondale Moore is also a speed freak and can turn any touch into a big gain. While not as fast, rookie Michael Wilson can also win vertically and plays faster than he tested.
The Steelers cornerbacks, sans Joey Porter, have proven to be an unathletic bunch. They need to be ready to stop the deep passes associated with speedier receivers as well as tackle the catch and prevent short passes from turning into long gains. The Cardinals will rely on big gains to win this game, and this defense needs to be able to combat that.