Week 15 is upon us and the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Miami Dolphins come North to take on the Steelers in a Monday Night tilt expected to be played in frigid temperatures. Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
What: Miami Dolphins 6-7 at Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6
Where: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: December 15th, 2025 820pmET
Weather: Clear and 18 degrees. Winds to 8mph
Surface: Natural Grass
Wagering Information: Steelers -3 O/U 44.5
Last Week: Miami defeated the Jets in New York 34-10 while the Steelers knocked off the Ravens in Baltimore 27-22.
TV: ESPN Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analysis), Lisa Salters (field reporter), Laura Rutledge (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area (courtesy 506sports.com): National TV Audience
Radio: Steelers Audio Network Rob King (play-by-play), Max Starks (analysis), Missi Matthews (field reporter)
Compass Media Radio: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Kurt Warner (analysis)
Head Official: Land Clark. He is a Chief Building Official who graduated from Sevier Valley Tech. Clark is in his sixth season as a head official. He last called a Steelers’ game in December of 2024 against Cleveland. His crew called 15 penalties that day. His crew is averaging just under 14 flags per game which is the second fewest in the league.
Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: No. 42 CB James Pierre (Calf) – Out, No. 71 OL Andrus Peat (Concussion) – Out
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (Concussion) – Questionable, No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (Lung) – Out, No. 99 DT Derrick Harmon (Knee) – Questionable MIA: No. 22 DB Elijah Campbell (Ankle/Knee) – Doubtful, * No. 60 OL Andrew Meyer (Tricep) – Questionable
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Injury Notes: The loss of T.J. Watt, who has had a pedestrian season by most accounts, is still a massive loss. His ability to help shut down the run cannot be valued enough… The Steelers are 1-11 all-time when Watt doesn’t play… If Harmon and Washington can go that would be a huge plus in this one.
2025 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 27th, MIA 25th
Passing Offense: PIT 23rd, MIA 28th
Rushing Offense: PIT 29th, MIA 8th
Total Defense: PIT 28th, MIA 19th
Passing Defense: PIT 28th, MIA 12th
Rushing Defense: PIT 21st MIA 25th
AFC North Standings:
Pittsburgh 7-6
Baltimore 6-7
Cincinnati 4-9
Cleveland 3-10
This Week in the AFC North: Cleveland at Chicago 1pmET, Baltimore at Cincinnati 1pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 0-3 in night games this season… Pittsburgh is 5-5 when they have less than 30 minutes in Time of Possession… The Steelers are 54-25 all-time on Monday Night Football and they are 31-5 at home…
Playoff Possibilities: The Steelers are the only team currently in the postseason that has 0% chance of getting the top seed… With a win on MNF, the Steelers chance of making the postseason would be 74%.
Tomlin Time: Coach Tomlin is 4-3 all-time against the Dolphins… Mike Tomlin is now tied with Dan Reeves for 10th with all-time wins with 190… Tomlin now sits three wins behind Chuck Noll for ninth…Coach T trails only Bill Belichick for most wins by a head coach in their first 18 seasons…
Miami Dolphins Names to Know: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, RB De’Von Achane, TE Darren Waller, RB Ollie Gordon II, LB Bradley Chubb, DL Zach Sieler, K Riley Patterson
What’s at Stake: Miami has rebounded from a rough start to put themselves into the playoff race. They need a win to stay in position for one of the final wild-cards. The Steelers got a huge win last week but there is still much work to be done. A loss wouldn’t be a death blow but with Detroit and Baltimore still remaining it wouldn’t help.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 15-14 and they lead all-time in Pittsburgh 9-4
Last Meeting: October 2022 in Miami. Dolphins 16 Steelers 10
Postseason History: Series tied 2-2
Steelers Regular Season Game Highs vs MIA: Not Available
PASSING:
RUSHING:
RECEIVING:
SACKS:
INTERCEPTIONS:
Check out the latest SCB Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
–Re-Claim The Home-Field Advantage. Acrisure Stadium has been anything but a home-field advantage for the Steelers this season. That’s a sentence I never dreamed of writing. In games against Green Bay and Buffalo, the home fans were often drowned out by the opposing fans and to be fair, the team gave the home folks little to cheer about. At some point, the Steelers need to make coming to Pittsburgh something opponents don’t want to do. Let’s see it begin on Monday.
–Put Up or Shut Up. Last week the Steelers survived the Ravens’ running attack. They gave up over 200 yards on the ground for the second straight week. Derrick Harmon should be back and the evidence is overwhelming in that his presence makes the run defense better. Regardless, the Steelers need to stop talking about stopping the run and just do it. Put this game in Tua’s hands to improve the chances of winning.
–Fight Fire With Fire. Anytime a team wins a game, a head coach always finds talking points about where the team needs improvement. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mike Tomlin was all over the offense’s inability to run the ball. 34 total yards rushing is rarely going to win you a game so I expect to see a much better effort here. The Steelers’ ability to run the ball well will negate the Dolphins’ ability to do so by keeping them on the sidelines.
The ‘X’ Factor: Each week I will select a player from each team who I believe will need to play above and beyond in order for his team to win.
X-Factor Steelers: Aaron Rodgers. As you can tell, I’m going with both QBs for this honor this week. In Rodgers’ case it’s for two reasons. One, he knows the cold temperatures as well as any quarterback and I don’t see the temps bothering him. Two, is that the offense seems to be running through him a bit more. What I mean is that it appears he might be getting a little more authority in terms of some calls, audibles etc. Personally, I think that’s a good thing.
X-Factor Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins’ QB is 0-7 all-time in games played below 45 degrees. I guarantee you, it will be colder than that on Monday Night in the Steel City. Miami’s recovery from a horrible start has been centered largely around their running game. The Steelers, who have surrendered 470 yards on the ground in the last two weeks, know this. There’s no doubt in my mind that Teryl Austin/Mike Tomlin will try to force Tagovailoa to beat them with his arm. In order for them to win, he will need to do just that.
Prediction: There is no question that this game will come down to the running game. The Dolphins have run the ball as well as anyone since week ten while the Steelers have been awful in stopping it. It’s going to be brutally cold on Monday night with the ‘Real Feel’ temps in the single digits. The kicking game and turnovers will take on special significance as well so that leads me to believe the Steelers can do just enough to escape with a win.
Steelers 20 Dolphins 17
Season Prediction Record: 7-6
