Steelers Put Historic MNF Home Streak on the Line vs. Red-Hot Dolphins in Frigid Pittsburgh Showdown
There’s something about Monday nights in Pittsburgh. The lights, the crowd, the cold - and, for the last 34 years, the winning.
The Steelers haven’t dropped a Monday Night Football game at home since 1991. That’s 22 straight MNF wins on their turf, a streak that’s become part of the franchise’s identity.
But that run is about to face a serious test.
Enter the Miami Dolphins - one of the hottest teams in football right now. After stumbling out of the gate with a 1-6 start, Miami has turned things around in a big way, ripping off five wins in their last six games. They’re surging at the right time, and they’re headed straight into the teeth of a Pittsburgh December.
And by “teeth,” we mean 18 degrees. That’s the forecast for Monday night at Acrisure Stadium, where the wind cuts through the air like a linebacker on a stunt. For a team from South Florida, it’s the kind of weather that changes game plans - and sometimes outcomes.
The numbers don’t lie: Miami has lost 12 straight games when the temperature dips below 40. And with Tua Tagovailoa under center, they’re 0-5 in those conditions.
That’s not just a stat - it’s a trend. The Dolphins tried to get ahead of it, practicing in the Pittsburgh snow on Saturday night to get acclimated.
But there’s only so much you can simulate when your team is used to palm trees and sunshine.
Still, don’t expect the Dolphins to go quietly. In fact, the cold might play right into their hands - literally.
Over the past month, Miami has been pounding the rock with authority. They’ve rushed for 160+ yards in four straight games - a feat they haven’t pulled off since the disco era (1977, to be exact).
Since Week 10, they’re averaging 192.3 rushing yards per game, the best mark in the league over that stretch. This isn’t just a hot streak - it’s a full-blown identity shift.
And De’Von Achane is at the center of it. The rookie back has been electric, racking up 1,126 yards on 193 carries with a 5.8 yards-per-carry average.
He’s also a threat in the passing game, adding 55 catches for 383 yards and four more scores. His burst, vision, and versatility have made him one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL right now.
The Steelers, on the other hand, have been reeling against the run. Over their last two games, they’ve surrendered more than 200 rushing yards each time - including a record 249 yards allowed at Acrisure Stadium to the Bills. Since Week 10, Pittsburgh has allowed a league-high 785 rushing yards, and they’re giving up 157 per game - third-worst in the NFL.
That’s a problem. And it’s the kind of problem that can erase even the longest of streaks.
Of course, history still favors the black and gold. Two of their 22 consecutive MNF home wins came against these very Dolphins - the infamous 3-0 “Mud Bowl” in 2007, and a 2019 win with Mason Rudolph at the helm. But Miami has taken three of the last five matchups overall, including a snowy 2013 win in Pittsburgh - a rare cold-weather triumph that proves they can do it, even if the odds say otherwise.
So what’s at stake on Monday night? For the Steelers, it’s more than just a game - it’s the preservation of a streak that spans generations. For the Dolphins, it’s a chance to keep climbing the AFC ladder and prove they can win when the elements are stacked against them.
One team is trying to stay hot. The other is hoping the cold keeps working in their favor. Something’s got to give.