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The Arizona Cardinals will be make about a four-hour trip to Pennsylvania as they clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game with a massive storyline behind it.

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Both teams hope to break their two-game losing streaks against each other and this is also another matchup between two squads who were part of Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

Also, Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson and Cardinals running back James Conner will both get to suit up against their former teams in which they spent the majority of their careers with.

When looking back at their times swapping teams before and now, Peterson and Conner will compete against familiar faces on the opposite sides of the gridiron.

Patrick Peterson

Peterson was in the valley for a decade and became one of the faces of the Cardinals organization.

Originally, he became the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft when he selected by Arizona.

As a Cardinal, Peterson was named a Pro-Bowler in eight seasons and an All-Pro in three of them.

Furthermore, Peterson would also start all-16 games in nine campaigns besides 2019.

During that year, Peterson only played 10 games because he was suspended for the first-six due to him violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Overall, the Florida native started in all-154 games available in Arizona.

Additionally, Peterson recorded 28 interceptions for 251 yards, scored a return touchdown, forced two fumbles, two sacks and a combined total of 499 tackles.

After 2020, Peterson spent two seasons with Minnesota Vikings before heading to Pittsburgh.

On Mar. 16, he signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Steelers.

So far, Peterson has started in 10-of-11 games for Pittsburgh while having an interception and 30 tackles.

Peterson is just five games away from 200 in his NFL career.

James Conner

Going up against Peterson, Conner will get to play in his home state for the first time in the NFL since leaving in 2021.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, he conveniently went to the University of Pittsburgh, aka “Pitt,” and spent three years there.

Following his time in college, the Steelers kept Conner in Pittsburgh even longer as they selected him with the 105th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

There, Conner played 50 games for the Steelers and started in 33 of them.

In four seasons, Conner gathered 2302 yards from 532 carries, 26 touchdowns, averaged 46 yards per-game and was a Pro-Bowl running back in 2018.

Moving forward to on Apr. 13, 2021, Conner’s contract expired with Pittsburgh and he elected to sign a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Cardinals as a free agent.

Conner’s first season in the desert was very successful to say the least.

He rushed for 752 yards on 202 carries and had a remarkable 15 touchdowns in 15 games to earn Pro Bowl honors for the second time in his career.

Because of the standout season, Arizona awarded Conner with a three-year, $21 million contract on Mar. 14, 2022.

Since then, the rest has been history ever since.

In total, Conner has started in 27-of-36 games as a Cardinal, amassed 2060 rushing yards from 489 carries and 28 touchdowns.

 

On Dec. 3, the Arizona Cardinals (2-10) face the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) at Acrisure Stadium at 11 a.m. on CBS.

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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini