Steelers Defense Steps Up Without T.J. Watt, Channels His Spirit in Win Over Dolphins
.@CamHeyward applies the pressure for the sack 🙌 #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/ES25RL1vC3
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers were missing their defensive heartbeat on Monday night, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way they played. T.J.
Watt, sidelined after undergoing surgery for a collapsed lung, was out for the team’s primetime showdown against the Dolphins. His return date remains uncertain, but the timing of his absence couldn’t be more critical.
Pittsburgh is in a heated race atop the AFC North, with the Ravens breathing down their necks. Every game down the stretch is a must-win, and the defense needs to be at its best.
So the question heading into Monday night was simple: Could the Steelers hold their own without Watt?
The answer, at least for now, is a confident yes.
Despite giving up a pair of late touchdowns, Pittsburgh’s defense delivered one of its most complete performances of the season in a 28-15 win over Miami. The Dolphins came in with one of the most explosive offenses in the league, but the Steelers managed to bottle up their run game-something that’s been a thorn in Pittsburgh’s side all season. Miami finished with just 63 rushing yards, a testament to the Steelers' ability to control the trenches and stay disciplined in their gaps.
And it wasn’t just against the run. The pass rush came alive too, sacking Tua Tagovailoa four times.
One of the biggest moments came late in the fourth quarter, when veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward broke through and brought down Tagovailoa. But it wasn’t just the sack that made waves-it was the celebration.
Heyward kicked his leg into the air, leaned back, and let out a scream in a move that looked awfully familiar to Steelers fans. It was a clear tribute to Watt’s signature celebration, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
After the game, Heyward revealed that the moment was planned. He, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig had agreed before kickoff that if any of them got to Tua, they’d honor Watt with his trademark move.
“I don’t think I got my leg up high enough,” Heyward joked. “But we all wanted to shout out T.J.”
#Steelers DT Cam Heyward said he, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith agreed that if they got a sack, they'd use T.J. Watt's sack celebration.
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) December 16, 2025
He also didn't think he did it very well.
"I don't think I got my leg up high enough." pic.twitter.com/9w0OCitc3B
It was a fitting moment for a defense that rallied in the absence of its leader-not just in performance, but in spirit. Highsmith and Herbig each brought energy off the edge, and the front seven played with the kind of physicality and purpose that’s become synonymous with Steelers football.
Of course, getting Watt back will be a huge boost whenever that happens. He’s not just the team’s most disruptive player-he’s the tone-setter, the guy who makes game-changing plays when they matter most.
But Monday night proved that this defense is more than a one-man show. There’s depth, leadership, and a whole lot of pride in that locker room.
They’ll need all of it next week when they head to Detroit to face the 8-6 Lions in what figures to be another tough test. But if Monday night was any indication, the Steelers are ready to keep fighting-with or without No. 90 on the field.