In a bitterly cold Monday Night Football showdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers delivered a decisive blow to the Miami Dolphins' postseason aspirations, securing a 28-15 victory at Acrisure Stadium. The win keeps Pittsburgh's own playoff hopes alive in the highly competitive AFC North.
Rodgers Rolls Back the Years in Freezing Conditions
Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old veteran quarterback, turned in a performance reminiscent of his peak years, expertly guiding the Steelers' offence. He completed an impressive 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two crucial touchdowns. Despite temperatures plunging into the teens, Rodgers looked perfectly at home, connecting with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 19-yard score and finding DK Metcalf for a powerful 28-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Rodgers received significant support from running back Kenneth Gainwell, who amassed 126 total yards. The Steelers' offence truly ignited in the second half, scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to break the game open. The run started just before halftime, with Connor Heyward powering over the goal line on a 'tush push' to give Pittsburgh a lead they would not relinquish.
Dolphins' Offence Frozen Out at Crucial Moment
For the Miami Dolphins, the frigid conditions seemed to mirror their fading playoff fortunes. After building momentum with a four-game winning streak, their offence stalled at the worst possible time. While they took an early 3-0 lead on a career-long 54-yard field goal by Riley Patterson, they had no answer once the Steelers found their rhythm.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished with respectable numbers—22 of 28 for 254 yards and two late touchdowns—but his NFL-leading 15th interception, picked off by Asante Samuel Jr., halted early momentum. The Dolphins' offence was particularly anaemic in the third quarter, managing a shocking minus-20 total yards. The loss continued Tagovailoa's winless record in games where the kickoff temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Implications and Aftermath
The result carries significant weight for both franchises. The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) notch their second straight win and maintain their remarkable, decades-long home unbeaten streak on Monday nights, which now stands at 23 games since 1992. They achieved this despite the absence of perennial All-Pro outside linebacker TJ Watt, who is out indefinitely after surgery for a collapsed lung.
Conversely, the defeat officially eliminates the Miami Dolphins (6-8) from playoff contention, snapping their winning streak and casting doubt on the future. The spotlight now turns to head coach Mike McDaniel, whose unconventional methods may face increased scrutiny with the season's meaningful goals now out of reach. The Dolphins must now use their final games to evaluate talent and plan for a 2026 season that promises significant change.
