The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are just over an hour away from kicking off a game that many people suggest will be an upset. The 1-4 Cardinals play well at home and are desperate while the 4-2 Steelers have been inconsistent on the road and are banged up.
The Cardinals have one notable injury, TE Todd Heap is on the inactive list thanks to a hamstring injury. All week he was called a game-time decision. Apparently, the decision was no.
RB Chester Taylor hasn't done much since coming to the Cardinals and won't be active today. Young Alfonso Smith has taken his spot as the back-up to Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling. Also moving up in the depth chart is QB John Skelton who has been elevated to the number two spot and push Rich Bartel to the inactive list.
Other inactives for the Cardinals include: S Kerry Rhodes (foot), T D'Anthony Batiste, TE Jim Dray (pectoral), DE Ronald Talley. With Dray and Heap inactive, the Cardinals will rely entirely on Jeff King and Rob Housler. If Kolb is on form, this could be a big day for rookie Housler.
The active list includes recently acquired safety, Sean Considine to provide depth at a position where the Cardinals are weak. Rhodes is out several weeks with a broken foot which moves Rashad Johnson into the starting lineup with Hamza Abullah also on the bench playing behind Adrian Wilson.
For the Steelers, the big blows come to the front line of their defense which was already 20th in the league in stopping the run. OLB James Harrison is out along with his backup Jason Worilds. Starting NT Casey Hampton and his backup on the depth chart, Chris Hoke are both inactive as well.
Making matters worse for the Steelers, starting DE Aaron Smith is on the IR due to a neck injury. That's a total of three starters and two backups missing from the Pittsburgh front seven.
Also inactive for the Steelers are: QB Dennis Dixon, RB Jonathan Dwyer, and C/G Dough Legursky.
The Cardinals need to take advantage of the Steelers injuries in the front seven and run the ball hard in order the establish the pass and take some pressure off QB Kevin Kolb.