The Sports Xchange

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ young defense is getting a baptism by fire early in the season. Through the first five games the unit has already faced the NFL’s top-ranked offense in New England and the third-ranked offense in San Diego.

Next up are the sixth-ranked Arizona Cardinals, who are averaging 393 yards per game under the direction of 35-year old quarterback Carson Palmer.

The Steelers beat San Diego and lost to New England, but the 28 points Pittsburgh gave up are the fewest the Patriots have scored in a game this season.

The Steelers had success pressuring San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers, sacking him three times and causing disruption throughout the contest as the Chargers’ offensive line had a hard time protecting.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin singled out the efforts of defensive ends Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt.

“I thought the rush was very effective throughout the game,” Tomlin said. “Much of it was four (linemen rushing). I can’t say enough about the contributions of Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, in terms of their ability to push the pocket. And that manifests itself in the form of sacks for those guys.

“I thought for the greater part of the night, they created a well that the quarterback had to throw out of. There were several holding calls that were significant in the game. It really is because of the efforts of those guys and the rush.”

The Steelers will need that rush against Palmer, who has been excellent early in the season with 13 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Palmer is throwing to 12-year veteran Larry Fitzgerald, who is enjoying a resurgent season. Fitzgerald has 490 receiving yards and leads all receivers with six touchdowns.

“He is one of the top guys of his generation and has been,” Tomlin said. “He is playing at a high level, making plays for them all over the field. I really think his efforts in the run game are underrated. I’ve been really impressed with his blocking on this year’s tape. Those guys are utilizing him much in the way that we utilized Hines Ward when he was here. It’s really impressive to see Larry embrace the blocking element of the job in the way that Hines did.”

The Steelers have been opportunistic on defense with three interceptions in their past three games, including a 70-yard touchdown return by Antwon Blake against the Chargers.

SERIES HISTORY: 59th regular-season meeting. The Steelers lead the series, 32-23-3 and are 21-8-1 in games in Pittsburgh. The Steelers beat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the only postseason meeting between the two teams. They met once since Super Bowl XLIII, with the Steelers winning in Arizona, 32-20 in 2011.

INJURY NOTES: QB Ben Roethlisberger practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday. He went through 7-on-7 drills with his receivers and did not rule himself out of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. “I can walk around just fine and step and throw,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s being able to avoid a pass rush, being able to make subtle movements in and out of the pocket.” … S Will Allen, who left the San Diego game on Monday night with an ankle injury, did not practice on Wednesday. … LB Ryan Shazier, who missed the past three games with a shoulder injury, was limited in practice.

GAME PLAN: The Steelers are going to have to ride Le’Veon Bell, who rushed for 111 yards in the victory over the Chargers on Monday night. It’s the only hope for an offense that continues to struggle to move the ball through the air with backup quarterback Mike Vick.

The defense must pressure Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who has a history of making mistakes against the Steelers dating to his days in Cincinnati.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Steelers pass rush, tied for fourth in the league with 16 sacks, vs. a Cardinals offensive line that has surrendered just seven sacks in its first five games.

–RB Le’Veon Bell, who has 302 rushing yards in the past first three games, vs. the Cardinals rush defense that gives up only 97.4 yards per game on the ground but had trouble containing Rams RB Todd Gurley, who had 146 yards on the Cardinals two weeks ago.