The Miami Dolphins headed into a cold Monday night matchup in Pittsburgh and left with more questions than answers after a 28-15 loss to the Steelers. And while the final score might suggest a somewhat competitive game, the reality was far less flattering. This one was all but over by the start of the fourth quarter, with the Dolphins trailing by 25 and showing little urgency to mount a comeback.
It was a game that exposed some of the same issues that have haunted Miami all season-especially when the temperature drops. The Dolphins have now lost 14 straight games played in sub-40-degree weather, and Monday night didn’t offer much hope that trend is changing anytime soon.
What really turned heads, though, wasn’t just the loss-it was how Miami handled the final stretch of the game. Down big in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins put together a slow, methodical nine-play, 86-yard drive that ended in a touchdown with just 2:32 left on the clock.
Troy Aikman: "I'm flabbergasted by what we've witnessed here in this fourth quarter with the Dolphins. And now they want to call timeouts. It just is about as ridiculous a fourth quarter as I've seen in a long time." 🏈🎙️#NFL #MNF https://t.co/UCAKUYXR97 pic.twitter.com/YDYIdhYtgk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 16, 2025
At that point, urgency should’ve been the name of the game. Instead, Miami looked like it was still stuck in second gear.
After getting the ball back in the final minute, the Dolphins finally tried to pick up the pace-only to be hit with a delay of game penalty and a string of confusing timeouts that left even seasoned observers scratching their heads.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman are clowning Mike McDaniel for taking their time on offense in the 4th quarter while losing.
— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) December 16, 2025
Are you listening Ross?
Troy Aikman, calling the game on the ESPN broadcast, didn’t hold back. “I’m flabbergasted by what we’ve witnessed here in this fourth quarter with the Dolphins,” he said after Miami burned a timeout with 2:14 left.
“And now they want to call timeouts. It just is about as ridiculous a fourth quarter as I’ve seen in a long time.”
@MiamiDolphins … they are right they were running the offense like they’re only down three or four points insane how they keep this guy as a coach is ridiculous https://t.co/b3A95dmYwI
— Michael (@MJP131313) December 16, 2025
Aikman doubled down in the game’s final moments, calling the Dolphins’ late-game management “bizarre” and questioning the overall approach. “They don’t go hurry-up.
Now they’re going hurry-up and calling timeouts. It’s just hard to understand exactly what the philosophy is or what they’re trying to do.”
This is absolutely embarrassing. The only thing that would be more embarrassing is Ross retaining McDaniel. https://t.co/sCtJRds1nE
— 𝕱𝖎𝖓 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖕𝖊𝖗 (@The_Fin_Reaper) December 16, 2025
And he wasn’t the only one confused. Dolphins fans across the board echoed those frustrations, with many voicing serious concerns about the direction of the team under head coach Mike McDaniel.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for McDaniel and the Dolphins. After a brutal 1-6 start that had many wondering if a coaching change was imminent, Miami rallied with four straight wins to quiet the noise-at least temporarily.
Dude snapped every single play at 1 second on the play clock 😂😂😂
— TankSZN (@finsup3345) December 16, 2025
Monday night’s loss, though, reignites those conversations. The inconsistency, the questionable game management, and the inability to perform in cold-weather games are all issues that can’t be ignored.
If the Dolphins want to be taken seriously as a playoff contender next season, they’ve got some real work to do-both on the field and in the film room. Whether McDaniel will be the one leading that charge remains to be seen. But after a night like this, the pressure is back on in Miami.