The Pittsburgh Steelers go on the road for the first time since getting thrashed by the Eagles in Philadelphia. They head south to Miami to take on the struggling Dolphins who lost last week to Tennessee.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1 at Miami Dolphins 1-4
Where: Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida
When: Sunday October 16th, 2016 1pm ET Kickoff
Weather: Scattered Thunderstorms high of 82. 60% chance of rain.
Line: Steelers -7.5
TV: CBS Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots and Chris Fischer on the sidelines.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley on the sidelines.
Key Injuries: PIT: OUT Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Cam Heyward (ankle), Markus Wheaton (shoulder), Ryan Shazier (knee), Cody Wallace (knee), Questionable Sammie Coates (finger) MIA: OUT CB Xavien Howard (knee), TE Jordan Cameron (concussion)
2016 NFL Ranks: Dolphins Offense: Overall 24th Rushing 28th Passing 20th . Dolphins Defense: Overall 29th Rushing 32nd Passing 18th … Steelers’ Offense: Overall 5th Rushing 12th Passing 2nd . Steelers’ Defense: Overall 26th Rushing 6th Passing 30th (Stats updated following TNF)
AFC North Rankings: Pittsburgh 4-1, Baltimore 3-2, Cincinnati 2-3, Cleveland 0-5
What You Need to Know: The Steelers have played in Miami seven times since 1995 and this will be the fifth time the stadium has a different name… Pittsburgh has won their last three in Miami… With 121 yards passing Ben Roethlisberger will pass Drew Bledsoe for 11th on the all-time passing yards list… William Gay will play in his 150th straight game. The longest active streak among NFL cornerbacks.
What’s at Stake: With both Baltimore (at NY Giants) and Cincinnati (at New England) facing tough road games, the Steelers could give themselves a little separation within the AFC North with a win today. For Miami, this game is about survival. They are tied with the Jets in the cellar of the AFC East.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead series 12-10 and lead series in Miami 7-6.
Series Highs: Passing: MIA Steve DeBerg 344 yards 1993, PIT Ben Roethlisberger 349 yards 2013 Rushing: MIA Troy Stradford 110 yards 1987, PIT Jerome Bettis 119 yards 1996 Receiving: MIA Paul Warfield 158 yards 1971 PIT Theo Bell 173 yards 1980
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
Score Early, Score Often. Steelers’ Head Coach Mike Tomlin has a dubious cloud that hangs over his head and it’s the one where his teams sometimes play down to their competition and lose. Last week, his team proved against a 1-3 Jets’ team that a competitive first half could still lead to a big win. This week, the Steelers have a 1-4 Miami team that is desperate to keep their season alive. They also possess an under-achieving defense that ranks dead last against the run. Look for Ben Roethlisberger to come out throwing and Le’Veon Bell to come out running in an effort to bury any chance for this Dolphins’ team Sunday.
Keep Tannehill Uncomfortable. Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill has one of the worst quarterback ratings in the NFL. Some of that is because of him and some of that is because of his offensive line which will undergo more shuffling this week. With no Cam Heyward, the Steelers still need to find a way to get interior pressure and pressure in general on Tannehill. He has several weapons in Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker but disrupting Tannehill will limit his ability to get those guys the ball.
Keep It Simple Danny Smith. Last week the Steelers attempted a fake field goal which failed miserably and ultimately led to a New York Jets’ touchdown. This week, Special Teams’ Coach Danny Smith needs to keep the tricks in his pocket and just let his guys do what they’re supposed to do. Miami rookie Jakeem Grant scored on a 74-yard punt return and that cannot happen to the Steelers. Smith needs to make sure his coverage units are up to the task keep the Dolphins with long fields. Giving a struggling team scores on special teams is a shot in the arm they don’t need.
Prediction (3-2 on the season)
The Steelers could be without big-play receiver Sammie Coates this week but that shouldn’t slow down this offense which still has Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and a host of role players. The defense must compensate for the loss of Cam Heyward and while it will have some struggles at times it should still be able to limit what the Dolphins can do. With a huge game against New England next week, Tomlin’s crew cannot afford to look past Miami and I don’t think they will.
Steelers 30 Miami 17
2 comments
Today’s loss can be pinned on these people: 1.Keith Butler for not attacking Ryan Tannehill every single down. I don’t care what players you do and don’t have just attack Tannehill and make him feel pain no matter what the consequences, 2.Martavis Bryant for being a complete and utter jacka** for not obeying the drug policy cause he would have helped out tremendously since Coates has 2 broken fingers and can’t catch 3.LaDarius Green for not being truthfully honest about his injury situation cause if he had the Steelers would have never signed to being with and finally 4.The people of this website for even accepting Artie Burns and Javon Hargrave as useful draft picks since neither of them could stop a nosebleed let alone anybody on the opposing team. So go ahead and tell me I’m wrong that I’m just infuriated at today’s loss but here’s the real truth I mean what I say and I say what I mean.
You’re wrong. But please tell us more about this theory that neither Hargrave nor Artie Burns could stop a nosebleed.