Much has been made of a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers offense throughout a tepid 2025 season.
There were no problems Monday night. After a slow start through the bulk of two quarters, the Steelers reeled off touchdowns on four consecutive drives in a 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates.
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With the win, the Steelers improved to 8-6 to take a one-game lead over the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens in the race for AFC North title. That advantage is exacerbated by Pittsburgh’s win over the Ravens last week in their only meeting this season so far. The loss for the Dolphins officially eliminates them from the playoff race.
The Steelers have three games remaining on their schedule, including a season finale against the Ravens. And with Monday’s win they maintain their advantage to secure what projects as the division’s only playoff berth.
They also responded to critics of a unit that entered Monday night ranked 27th in the league in total offense.
It looked early on like Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles would continue. They opened Monday’s game with three consecutive punts, two of which were the results of 3-and-out drives.
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But they closed the first half with a 60-yard touchdown drive. And they opened the floodgates in the second. Pittsburgh started the third quarter with the ball and marched for the first of three consecutive touchdown drives to open the second half.
The first touchdown of the half was on a 19-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to former Packers teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was playing in just his second game for Pittsburgh after signing with the Steelers in November.
The second arrived courtesy of a 28-yard pass from Rodgers to DK Metcalf, who muscled through multiple Dolphins defenders on his way to the end zone.
When tight end Jonnu Smith scored on a run from 14 yards out on Pittsburgh’s next possession, the rout was on at 28-3. The Dolphins added two touchdowns to even up the score. But this was a blowout, and a statement from the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin, who have been under fire from critics.
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During the third-quarter onslaught, the Steelers outgained the Dolphins 163 yards to -20. When the game was done, Pittsburgh had outgained Miami, 336 yards to 285 and secured a 22-16 advantage in first downs.
Rodgers completed 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards with 2 touchdowns and no turnovers in one of his best games in a Steelers uniform. And five different Steelers runners combined for 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, beating up on a Dolphins team on its way out of the playoff race is not going to quell the concerns swirling around this team. That will require making the playoffs and finding success once they’re there. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
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But the win — and how they got there — is certainly enough to instill some confidence for the stretch run of the season.
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The Steelers have about a 60% shot at making the playoffs with three games left. They lead the AFC North at 8-6, and have a potentially critical matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.
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Week 16 — at Detroit Lions
Week 17 — at Cleveland Browns
Week 18 — vs. Baltimore Ravens
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The Steelers held on late to grab the 13-point win, which keeps them out in front in the AFC North race.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, have now officially been eliminated from the playoffs.
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The Dolphins forced a quick three-and-out, and had to use all three of their timeouts. But this came on the heels of a nearly five minute touchdown drive. Like Troy Aikman noted on the broadcast, that strategy doesn’t make much sense.
Regardless, the Dolphins will take back over at their own 2 yard line with 2:04 left in the game.
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The Steelers recovered the onside kick attempt, and that should just about do it.
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Darren Waller picked up his second straight touchdown for the Dolphins, though a lot of time came off the clock on that drive.
The two-point conversion failed again, so the Steelers still by 13 with 2:32 left.
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The Dolphins just forced a quick three-and-out, and now have the ball back. That was exactly what they needed here, though they’ll have to turn it into points quickly if the comeback is going to happen.
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At long last, the Miami Dolphins have responded. After giving up 28 straight points, Darren Waller just caught a 6-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa for their first touchdown of the night. The two-point conversion attempt, however, was no good.
The Steelers lead 28-9 now with 9:41 left in the game.
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That’s now three touchdowns in three second-half possessions for the Steelers.
Tight end Jonnu Smith took a pitch from Aaron Rodgers and ran 14 yards around the right edge for a touchdown. Pittsburgh extends its lead to 28-3 in a laugher early in the fourth quarter.
Jason Owens
There was no answer from the Miami offense. The Dolphins punted after a 3-and-out, and the Steelers have the ball and a 21-3 lead with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter. A sack of Tua Tagovailoa by Payton Wilson stunted this drive.
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That looks like a dagger.
DK Metcalf hauled in a red-zone pass in traffic over the middle from Aaron Rodgers, then muscled his way through and past multiple Dolphins defenders for a 28-yard touchdown. The score extends Pittsburgh’s lead to 21-3 and might have put this one out of reach of a stagnant Dolphins offense.
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While Pittsburgh’s off to a hot second-half start, Miami picked up where it left off from a slow first half.
Multiple Steelers defenders swarmed Tua Tagovailoa on a third-down dropback, and Jalen Ramsey came up with the sack for a 12-yard loss. The Dolphins have punted and are back on defense facing a 14-3 hole.
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Well, that was quick. After five straight runs to open the third quarter — including a 38-yard burst from Kenneth Gainwell — Aaron Rodgers just found Marquez Valdes-Scantling open in the middle for an easy touchdown.
The Steelers now lead 14-3.
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The Steelers have received the kick, and the second half is now off and running. We’ll see if they can build on their lead out of the break.
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For fans of offense or entertaining football, this is not your night. The Steelers hold a 7-3 lead at halftime after both teams struggled to do much of anything with the ball in the first half.
The Steelers will start the second half with the ball and could extend their lead to two possessions, which might be enough on a cold night in Pittsburgh. The Dolphins, meanwhile, would be wise to keep giving the ball to De’Vone Achane.
Key halftime stats:
Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa: 5 of 8 for 61 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT
De’Vone Achane: 8 carries for 49 yards, 2 catches for 23 yards
Julian Hill: 1 catch for 20 yards
Steelers
Aaron Rodgers: 13 of 14 for 105 yards; 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 sacks taken
Jaylen Warren: 8 carries for 20 yards
Connor Heyward: 4 carries for 4 yards, 1 TD
Kenneth Gainwell: 6 catches for 41 yards
Dolphins total offense: 113 yards on 5.6 yards per play; 5 first downs
Steelers total offense: 116 yards on 3.7 yards per play; 10 first downs
Dolphins turnovers: 1
Steeelers turnovers: 0
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It took nearly 30 minutes and three tries from inside the 2-yard line. But the Steelers are on the board, thanks to a 1-yard Connor Heyward touchdown run.
The third-down score is the first of the night for Pittsburgh and gives the Steelers a 7-3 lead with 17 seconds remaining before halftime.
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The Dolphins got blown up on a third-and-1 run. Patrick Queen met running back Ollie Gordon in the backfield as soon as he took the handoff on a shotgun snap.
But at least we’ve got points. Riley Patterson converted on a career-long 54-yard field goal attempt, and the Dolphins have a 3-0 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first half.
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Aaron Rodgers took a drive-ending sack on a second straight possesion, and the Steelers punted for a third time in three possessions.
Both of these offenses have been inept in the cold, and we’re scoreless midway through the second quarter. This is not a prime-time worthy matchup in Week 15.
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Tua Tagovailoa looked like he had a first down on a third-and-short scramble. But he slid just short of the line to gain, and the Dolphins punted from their own 35.
Jason Owens
The Steelers drove into field-goal range, but Jordyn Brooks put an end to that. The Dolphins linebacker sacked Aaron Rodgers on third-and-11 from the Pittsburgh 33.
The 10-yard loss pushed Pittsburgh out of field-goal range, and the Steelers punted from their own territory. Miami will start at its own 20 after a touchback.
The first quarter is done, and we’re still looking for the first score of the game.