Steelers vs. Dolphins: History Says Pittsburgh’s Cold Might Be Their Secret Weapon
When the Miami Dolphins head to Pittsburgh this week for a primetime showdown, they won’t just be facing the Steelers-they’ll be facing the elements. And if history tells us anything, the Steel City’s brutal December weather has a way of tilting the field in favor of the black and gold.
This Monday night matchup is shaping up to be the coldest between these two teams since January 2017, when the temperature at kickoff dipped to a bone-chilling 17 degrees. The forecast this time?
Just a few degrees warmer-if you want to call it that. Snow is still on the table, but even without the flurries, it’s going to be a frigid welcome for a Dolphins team more accustomed to sun and sand than wind chills and frozen turf.
Since Mike Tomlin took the reins in 2007, the Steelers have hosted the Dolphins four times. Three of those games have been defined by the weather-and in those icy, sloppy conditions, Pittsburgh has typically found a way to grind out wins.
Let’s go back to that 2017 playoff game. It was the kind of cold that makes your breath freeze mid-sentence.
But it didn’t slow down Le’Veon Bell, who ran wild for a franchise postseason rushing record in a 30-12 victory. That game was physical, gritty, and exactly the kind of football Pittsburgh prides itself on when the temperature drops.
Then there’s the 2013 snow game-a back-and-forth December battle that ended in heartbreak for the Steelers. After a Thanksgiving night loss to the Ravens, Pittsburgh came into the game needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt.
The snow was relentless, and the Dolphins adapted just a bit better. Ryan Tannehill threw for three touchdowns, and Daniel Thomas racked up over 100 yards on the ground.
But it was the ending that stuck with fans: Antonio Brown nearly pulled off a miracle on the final play, sprinting down the sideline after a series of laterals. He had the end zone in sight-until he barely stepped out of bounds.
Game over. Dolphins win, 34-28.
Of course, no Steelers-Dolphins weather game is more infamous than the 2007 “Mud Bowl.” That one wasn’t about snow or cold-it was about a field that looked more like a swamp than an NFL playing surface.
After a storm delay, the teams finally kicked off on what was essentially a patch of wet, torn-up grass layered over an already worn-out field used for high school playoff games. It was Monday Night Football, but it felt more like a high school slugfest.
The highlight of that game? A punt.
Yes, a punt. Miami’s Brandon Fields sent the ball toward Allen Rossum, who wisely waved it off.
The ball hit the turf and... just stopped. No bounce, no roll-just stuck in the mud like a lawn dart.
That moment summed up the game perfectly. In the end, Ben Roethlisberger led a short drive that set up a Jeff Reed field goal.
Final score: 3-0. Steelers win.
Ugly? Absolutely.
But effective.
So here we are again. Another Dolphins visit.
Another Monday night. Another forecast that favors the team used to playing in the cold, in front of a raucous home crowd, with a defense that tends to feast when the weather turns nasty.
The Steelers are 2-1 in these weather-heavy home games against Miami under Tomlin. And while this Dolphins team brings speed, skill, and playoff aspirations, history suggests that when the temperatures plummet, Pittsburgh knows how to turn the elements into an advantage.
The question now is whether that edge will be enough to keep the Steelers rolling in primetime-and to keep the Dolphins slipping on the icy road to January.