Jim Corbett

USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arians was living on a golf course when Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano called him out of retirement back in 2012.

Now look at the 62-year-old Arizona Cardinals coach.

At the season's halfway mark, Arians is my front-runner for Coach of the Year. He's led the 5-1 Cardinals to first place in the NFC West with a patchwork team that has won two games with backup quarterback Drew Stanton and a defense that lost six of last year's front seven defensive starters to injury or suspension.

The former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator served as Colts interim coach when Pagano was stricken with leukemia during the 2012 season. It was Arians who left Pagano's office light on 24/7 until his return. Pagano made his return in the Colts' 2012 regular-season finale and has been cancer-free ever since.

Arians earned 2012 Coach of the Year honors for leading those inspired Colts to the playoffs.

"Good things happen to good people,'' Pagano told USA TODAY Sports. "Bruce is a great coach. But he is a better person. There's nothing I wouldn't do for that guy.''

On Sunday, Arians will lead the Cardinals in a stern test against Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles, who are 5-1 and rested coming off their bye week.

Here's a closer look inside the Eagles-Colts matchup and six other matchups from Week 8:

Eagles tight ends Zach Ertz vs. the Arizona Cardinals defense

The skinny: The Eagles beat the Cardinals 24-21 last December coming off a bye week. The Eagles expect to get back their best defensive player, linebacker Mychal Kendricks (calf) along with running back Darren Sproles (knee sprain). The Cardinals are still trying to hold things together on defense without defensive end Calais Campbell (knee) and safety Rashad Johnson (knee).

Why it matters: The Eagles and Cardinals join the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos as the league's only four teams with just one loss. The Eagles are trying to keep up with the NFC East-leading, 6-1 Cowboys, who they face twice in three weeks beginning with their Thanksgiving showdown. The Cardinals just missed the playoffs last season in Arians' first year as head coach. If they continue to find ways to win, there's a real chance they'll have to beat the Eagles again come January.

Who has the edge: Ertz. The second-year tight end hurt the Cardinals in last year's win, with two of his five catches worth 68 yards going for touchdowns. Arizona's defensive strength is press-man cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie. The first-round selection of 6-1, 211 safety Deone Bucannon has given defensive coordinator Todd Bowles a key matchup piece with the ability to cover tight ends when Bucannon plays nickel linebacker. At 6-5, 250, Ertz is a matchup headache. Ten of Ertz's 19 receptions have come on third down, including both his touchdowns. Ertz will be even more important given how Bowles loves to bring pressure with five-man blitzes off the edge to compensate for an injury-ravaged defensive line. If Sproles returns, the Eagles will have another matchup problem to threaten a 31st-ranked passing defense that has been vulnerable to screen passes and quick-hitting slant routes.

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler vs. New England Patriots cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner

The skinny: Cutler has come under intense criticism for his meltdowns. His latest critic, former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said on a Chicago sports radio show this week that Cutler isn't living up to $126-million expectations, "Financially, he is one of the elite guys in the NFL -- he just hasn't produced like an elite quarterback.''

Why it matters: The Bears (3-4) are trying to stay alive in the NFC North led by the 5-2 Green Bay Packers and 5-2 Detroit Lions.

Who has the edge: Revis, Browner. Urlacher is right. The game's elite quarterbacks, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have thrown three or fewer interceptions and place a premium on ball security. Cutler has thrown seven touchdowns with no interceptions during Chicago's three wins and seven interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter during their four losses. Cutler loves to throw back shoulder, jump balls to Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. But he'll find those windows extra tight as Revis will clamp down on Marshall while the 6-4 Browner will shadow the 6-3 Jeffery. Bears running back Matt Forte leads all players this season with 52 receptions. Nickel back Kyle Arrington will likely draw the responsibility of keeping Forte in check.

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham vs. Green Bay Packers safeties Morgan Burnett and rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

The skinny: A sprained shoulder limited Graham to 30 snaps last week. The Saints (2-4) have won 10 games in a row at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Why it matters: The Packers (5-2) are trying to stay in the thick of the race for NFC home-field advantage. The disappointing Saints, a preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl, are trying to get back in contention in the still winnable NFC South.

Who has the edge: Graham. Even at 80%, the game's best tight end remains a matchup beast. This Drew Brees-led offense runs through Graham, who leads the Saints with 34 receptions for 376 yards and three touchdowns. Despite his 6-7, 265 size, Graham was an invisible man in Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions with no catches on two targets. Expect that to change Sunday when the Saints need their best playmaker. Burnett is banged up with a calf injury. So Clinton-Dix, the former Alabama safety, may need help checking Graham, whom the Saints like to move around, including running him from the slot.

Houston Texans defenders J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney vs. Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger

The skinny: Mettenberger was a sixth-round choice out of Louisiana State University who was groomed for the NFL by Cam Cameron, a former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. Clowney is expected to return for the first time since tearing his meniscus ligament in Houston's season opener. Clowney figures to be a complement to Watt, the game's most dominant defensive player.

Why it matters: When the Titans didn't exercise the fifth-year option on Jake Locker's contract, knew he faced a make-or-break season. He hasn't been able to stay healthy. Mettenberger is the type of big pocket passer Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt once had in Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers. The Texans (3-4) look to turn the corner after three straight losses.

Who has the edge: Watt and Clowney. Good luck, Zach. And don't forget to duck. Watt has been a relentless one-man wrecking crew with five sacks and three touchdowns scored. He never takes a play off and the only thing better than his motor is his work ethic. Expect Clowney to see a limited number of plays as the No. 1 overall pick in the May draft works his way through soreness. The guy who figures to be sorest after the game? Mettenberger, especially if Watt and Clowney meet at the rookie quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell vs. Indianapolis Colts linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Jerrell Freeman

The skinny: The Steelers (4-3) hope to put together their first two-game winning streak of an erratic season. They'll need a big game from Bell to stop the hot-running, 5-2 Colts, winners of five straight.

Why it matters: At the season's halfway point, the Steelers want to be 5-3 instead of 4-4 in their bid to return to the postseason for the first time since 2011. The Colts are trying to keep up with the AFC's elite, the Broncos, Chargers and Patriots.

Who has the edge: Bell. The second-year back has dynamic lateral agility and is most dangerous in space. He ranks second in the league with 938 yards from scrimmage, including 339 receiving yards. Bell is coming off a career-best eight catches for 88 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's win against Houston. Jackson is a better run stopper which means Freeman will likely be challenged to contain Bell in coverage. Roethlisberger loves to have Bell line up in five-wide sets so he can get a pre-snap tell on who will attempt to cover one of the league's best all-around backs.

Baltimore Ravens receivers Steve Smith, Sr. and Torrey Smith vs. Cincinnati Bengals cornerbacks Leon Hall, Terence Newman and Adam Jones

The skinny: The Ravens are emerging one of the AFC's elite, most balanced teams. The Bengals are fighting to stay relevant after a 3-0 start.

Why it matters: The 5-2 Ravens and 3-2-1 Bengals are battling for first place in the AFC North. A Ravens' win gives them a 2 ½-game lead over the Bengals in the division. The banged-up Bengals haven't been the same since big play receiver A.J. Green missed the last two games with a toe injury. The Colts hammered the Bengals 27-0 last Sunday.

Who has the edge: The Smiths. Smith Sr.'s fiery presence ignited the Ravens from the start with four, 100-yard receiving performances in the first five games. And now Torrey Smith has come alive with three touchdowns over the last two games. Quarterback Joe Flacco, who has thrown for 14 touchdowns with five interceptions should be able to pick his matchup poison. Age is catching up to the Bengals cornerbacks, who are 29 or older. Their defense has allowed an average of 360 passing yards and 35.6 points the past three games.

Detroit Lions receivers Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate vs. Atlanta Falcons' defense

The skinny: Johnson said he's optimistic of playing Sunday morning for this NFL version of breakfast at Wembley Stadium with a 9:30 p.m. EST kickoff from London. Even if Johnson's ankle sprain makes him a scratch for a third straight game, Tate has come on strong this season leading the Lions with 48 receptions and two touchdowns.

Why it matters: The Lions (5-2) are tied atop the NFC North with the Packers. The 2-5 Falcons need to stop their four-game freefall. Quarterback Matt Ryan has been under siege behind an injury-ravaged offensive line. Ryan has been sacked 15 times and has thrown just 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Oh, and undrafted rookie James Stone will become the third Falcon to start at center this season. Not an ideal time considering he's tasked with stopping Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

Who has the edge: Johnson and Tate. Johnson is optimistic about playing. And that's a huge boost for a Lions team forced to rely on Tate and its talented defensive line to pick up the slack in Megatron's absence. The Lions are 2-0 without Johnson. If he doesn't play, the Falcons will have a better chance to stop Tate. If Johnson does play, Sunday would be a good time for London-born Falcons pass rusher Osi Umenyiora, who has one sack, to step up his game.