Steelers pass eye test with 28-15 win over Dolphins

Pittsburgh's brand of football isn't flashy, but Monday night they delivered the kind of result that can reshape a late-season narrative. The Steelers overwhelmed the Miami Dolphins 28-15, improved to 8-6, and stayed one game ahead of Baltimore for the top spot in the AFC North. Four offensive drives of at least 60 yards produced touchdowns, turning a 3-0 deficit into a 25-point edge—their largest lead at any point since 2020.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 42, looked like his prime at Acrisure Stadium, completing 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Pittsburgh's unit, playing without outside linebacker T.J. Watt, throttled Miami's Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter, as the Dolphins managed six plays and lost 20 yards in the period.

Perhaps more meaningful was the emergence of veterans who had been used as cast-offs by Rodgers, including wide receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., all of whom contributed on this night. Valdes-Scantling hauled in Rodgers's first touchdown pass to him since 2021; Samuel recorded his first interception since 2023; Thielen added his first reception in weeks and delivered a decisive kick-out block that opened up a lane for a Jonnu Smith touchdown run.

Tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth had been quiet in recent weeks, but both resurfaced in this matchup. Smith had three touches for 26 yards, including the second rushing touchdown of his nine-year career on a cleverly designed pitch early in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach. Freiermuth totaled 45 yards receiving, more than in the previous four games combined, as he worked against Miami's zone and helped Pittsburgh sustain drives.

The Steelers fed off momentum from the offense and leaned on a defense that tightened after halftime. Coach Mike Tomlin's team, which has faced criticism from some corners of the fan base, carried a sense of urgency that has rarely shown up in December in recent seasons. The crowd that chanted for Tomlin during a blowout loss to Buffalo on Nov. 30 grew louder again as the result came into focus, a reminder of the franchise's staying power entering a pivotal stretch.

Pittsburgh has navigated a 2-5 stretch this season with mixed results, yet this win offered tangible proof that the club can still assemble high-quality football in December. Cam Heyward, the longtime captain, underscored the higher standards the team is trying to maintain, saying, “We hold ourselves to a higher standard here. You know, when you play for a team like this that’s had a lot of success, and, you know, we’re not responsible for that, those guys before did that. We are trying to grasp what they did. The expectations are high, and we like it that way.”

Watt's status remains uncertain as he recovers from surgery to repair a partially collapsed lung suffered following a dry-needling treatment last week. Veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo sustained a triceps injury in the second half, while outside linebacker Nick Herbig left late with a hamstring issue that could be a re-aggravation of a season-opening injury. Left tackle Andrus Peat remained in the concussion protocol, and cornerback James Pierre could return from a calf injury that forced him to miss Monday night. The Steelers would welcome any combination of those players back as they prepare for a road game in Detroit.

Looking ahead, Pittsburgh heads to Detroit to face an explosive Lions squad that will be playing with its season on the line. The Lions have shown the capacity to score in bursts, and the game will test whether the Steelers can sustain the December momentum against a postseason-caliber opponent. The club also holds a notable bit of history to carry into the weekend: 23 consecutive home wins on Monday Night Football.