The Pittsburgh Steelers remain on top of the AFC North.
On a cold Monday night in Pittsburgh, the Steelers (8-6) defeated the Miami Dolphins (6-8), 28-15.
The Dolphins scored the game’s first points on a field goal in what was a defensive battle for most of the first half. The Steelers put together a 12-play, 60-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second period, which was part of 28 unanswered points between three quarters.
It’s Pittsburgh’s second straight win.
The Dolphins’ loss snapped their four-game winning streak and they are now mathematically eliminated from the playoff contention.
USA TODAY Sports examines the winners and losers from the Week 15 AFC matchup on ‘Monday Night Football’:
WINNERS
Steelers defense without T.J. Watt
The Steelers defense was stout even without their best player, T.J. Watt, who underwent lung surgery last week. Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung during a dry needling treatment at the team facility on Dec. 10. The Steelers defense played well without the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Pittsburgh held Miami to just three points and had a takeaway in the first half.
The Steelers defense erased Miami’s offense in the third quarter; the Dolphins had minus-20 yards in the period.
The Steeles defense sacked Tua Tagovailoa four times and intercepted him once. They did give up two touchdowns during garbage time in the fourth quarter, which made the game appear more competitive than it was.
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane was held to 60 rushing yards.
Steelers offense
The Steelers were ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in total offense (284.5), pass offense (195.2) and run offense (89.2) entering Week 15. In the first half it showed. However, Pittsburgh turned it up in the second half.
The Steelers scored 21 points after halftime and gained 220 total yards.
Kenneth Gainwell tallied 126 yards from scrimmage.
DK Metcalf had a strong touchdown catch. He finished with three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
The Steelers gained 336 yards of total offense, passing for 201 and rushing for 135 yards. Those numbers represent improvements from their averages.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers was efficient in the win. He completed 23-of-27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. He now has multiple touchdown passes in 166 career games.
Mike Tomlin’s .500 record streak
Remember those “fire Mike Tomlin” chants? Those calls seem to be a thing of the past.
Tomlin’s closing in on a 19th consecutive season with a .500-or-better record, the longest such streak to begin a head coaching tenure in NFL history.
LOSERS
Dolphins’ playoff hopes
The loss eliminated Miami from the AFC playoff race. The Dolphins had entered Week 15 riding a four-game winning streak.
Tua Tagovailoa in cold weather
Tagovailoa is 0-6 when the temperature is 40 degrees or colder.
Tagovailoa threw his league-leading 15th interception. The interception happened on an underthrown deep pass to Jaylen Waddle in the first quarter. The underthrown pass won’t quiet critics about his arm strength.
The Dolphins quarterback finished with 254 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Most of his positive plays happened when the game was out of reach. He had a few passes that could’ve been intercepted.
Miami’s third quarter
The Dolphins didn’t show up after halftime.
The Dolphins defense gave up 14 points and 163 total yards in the third quarter. The offense was worse.
Miami’s offense had an abysmal minus-20 yards of total offense in the third quarter. The Dolphins ran six total plays in the period and nothing worked.
First half offense
Both defenses won the first half. The first two quarters resembled a Pirates vs. Marlins baseball game. The Steelers entered halftime with a 7-3 lead, but it was a struggle offensively for both squads.
The Dolphins went 1-4 on third downs and Tua Tagovailoa underthrew Jaylen Waddle on a deep pass that was picked off by Steelers CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Pittsburgh punted on its first three possessions. The Steelers put together a 60-yard touchdown drive on their final offensive series in the first half.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
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