Behind the Steel Curtain
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play their lone Monday Night Football game of the season to close out Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers have won an astounding 22 consecutive Monday Night home games, a streak they will look to continue. Will they get it done? Our staff weighs in with their picks:
Ryland Bickley: Miami is a bigger threat than they looked at the beginning of the season, but Pittsburgh is also showing a little bit of life after last week’s win in Baltimore. Plus, I don’t feel like picking against Mike Tomlin’s stellar Monday Night Football home record. The Steelers haven’t been great in primetime this season, but I think they squeak out a 24-21 win.
Ryan Parish: Miami has been better over the last month than its season record would indicate, but this is still one of the absolute “must have” wins of Pittsburgh’s remaining schedule. Like the Steelers, Miami’s passing attack is siloed through its top receiver and a pass-catching running back. Pittsburgh can’t afford to let Jaylen Waddle or De’Von Achane get loose with their field-tilting speed. I think the Steelers ultimately get it done, but it’s far from a comfortable win. Steelers 26, Dolphins 24.
Joey Bray: I think the win in Baltimore was a turning point for the Steelers. The team’s playoff hopes are in their own hands, and a home Monday night game is one they absolutely have to have.
The Dolphins have rattled off a few wins after firing their general manager, but are still a team that has lots of issues to address. The Steelers’ roster is superior all around, and hitting a few deep passes like they did last week could be all they need to score enough against a subpar Miami defense. Although T.J. Watt won’t be in the lineup, I think the Steelers’ defense will do just fine given the emergence of Nick Herbig. Steelers 27, Dolphins 24.
Mike Nicastro: The Dolphins are pesky, but I’m led to believe their recent win streak has more to do with who they played instead of how they played. After their surprising win over the Bills, they beat the Commanders, Saints, and Jets. Not exactly murderers’ row.
This will be their biggest test in a month, and although the Steelers are battered defensively, I don’t trust Tua in cold weather. Aaron Rodgers will continue to grow his rapport with new wideout Adam Thielen, who will be a key contributor. Steelers 26, Dolphins 16.
Alex Hanczar: Multiple factors could play into Monday night’s tilt between the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Number one, Tua Tagovailoa is notoriously bad in cold-weather games. The current forecast calls for below 20 degrees at kickoff, giving an edge to the Steelers.
Secondly, just as Tagovailoa has performed poorly in cold weather, so has Pittsburgh in prime time this season. At 0-3 with two losses at 10 or more points, the Steelers will have to have a better outing.
Finally, the massive playoff implications will...
