Steelers Insider "Wouldn't Be Stunned" If Pittsburgh Lost To Cardinals In Week 13

The enigma that is the Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike Tomlin has been more confusing than ever in 2023. The team has a point differential of -23, but somehow is holding onto a record of 7-4 heading into Week 13. The organization will host the Arizona Cardinals at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday. Pittsburgh has a very favorable schedule over the course of the next three weeks, however, has been known to drop a game or two that they clearly shouldn't each season under Tomlin. The first potential trap game will come against a Cardinals team that is 2-10 and simply playing for pride.

Arizona may have one of the worst records in the NFL, but they upset the Dallas Cowboys, 28-16, in Week 3. That was with Joshua Dobbs leading the offense, but now, former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019), Kyler Murray is back and looks extremely healthy after tearing his ACL in 2022. The Steelers can't sleepwalk through the contest, or an unfortunate and unexpected loss could occur.

In the "AFC North Whiparound" via The Athletic, beat writers for all four teams asked and answered questions about the division heading into December. Mark Kaboly, who has covered the Steelers for nearly two decades represented Pittsburgh. A question came up about the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals' Week 13 games and if it were more likely that Pittsburgh lose, or Cincinnati upset the Jacksonville Jaguars. Kaboly isn't fully confident in Tomlin and co. to beat Arizona at home.

"Even though it’s unlikely, I wouldn’t be stunned if Pittsburgh lost to Arizona," Kaboly wrote.

The other three insiders all believe it's more likely for the Bengals to beat the Jaguars. Kaboly has seen firsthand, however, that Tomlin's teams have found ways to lose games that they have no business losing. Sunday seems like it should be an easy win, and maybe even a game where Pittsburgh wins by two scores, but nothing is ever certain with Tomlin-led groups.

The Cardinals are the second-worst team in the NFL in yards per play allowed (5.5). Additionally, Arizona is also, statistically, the 31st-ranked rush defense. The Steelers have excelled at running the football with both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren dominating opposing defenses in recent weeks. It's attractive for fans to anticipate an aerial attack that's long-overdue from Kenny Pickett, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Pittsburgh has the opportunity to methodically move the ball and tire out the Arizona defense. The Cardinals are the third-worst defense in total yards allowed, so it's reasonable to believe that back-to-back 400-yard games are possible for Pickett and co. Sticking with what has worked of late, rather than forcing something that hasn't, is what will keep Pittsburgh away from what would be looked at as a horrible loss.

While Tomlin's teams has played down to competition over the years, the last "bad" loss in December came all the way back in 2020. An 11-0 Steelers squad hosted the, formerly known as, Washington Football Team and found a way to lose, 23-17, despite leading 14-0 early on. They can't afford something like that to happen at 7-4 with a jam-packed AFC playoff picture.

Steelers Have More Than Just A Win On The Line In Week 13

TJ Watt is chasing history for Pittsburgh in 2023. He already is tied with Michael Strahan for the single-season sack record (22.5), but is in the middle of another AP Defensive Player of the Year-type season. With six games remaining, he needs nine and a half sacks to get to 23. He is the best defensive player in the world and the Cardinals are near the bottom half of the league in sacks allowed per game. Watt is going to be licking his chops at the line of scrimmage and Murray could be in for an extremely long day.

Do you think there is any chance that the Steelers fall to the Cardinals? Let us know in the comments below!

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