Under the Monday night lights, in a game that could shape the Steelers’ postseason fate, Pittsburgh found itself in a familiar place-locked in a grinder of a matchup, this time against Mike McDaniel’s high-octane Dolphins. But instead of rising to the occasion early, the Steelers stumbled out of the gate, offering up another slow start in a game they simply couldn’t afford to let slip.
Mike Tomlin’s teams are known for their resilience. Say what you want about the inconsistencies, but when the calendar flips to December and the stakes rise, Pittsburgh usually finds a way to elevate.
That’s been the calling card of the Tomlin era. Yet for much of the first half in this critical Week 15 showdown, that identity was missing.
The issues were all too familiar-offensive stagnation, missed chances, and a unit that looked stuck in neutral. And while the offense sputtered, the defense showed up with the kind of urgency you expect in a playoff chase.
With T.J. Watt sidelined, it was Patrick Queen who stepped into the leadership void, setting the tone for a defense that refused to let Miami dictate the game.
Terrell Austin’s group held one of the league’s most explosive offenses to just three points in the first half. That’s no small feat when you’re dealing with the speed and creativity of the Dolphins’ attack.
Asante Samuel Jr. came up with a big-time interception-his first in a Steelers uniform-that flipped momentum and gave Pittsburgh a much-needed jolt. Up front, Queen and the rest of the front seven bottled up De’Von Achane, making sure Miami never found a rhythm on the ground.
That defensive stand was essential, because the offense wasn’t pulling its weight.
Aaron Rodgers took a beating early, absorbing multiple sacks that not only stalled drives but also knocked Pittsburgh out of scoring range. The offensive line struggled to keep him upright, and the play calling from Arthur Smith didn’t do much to help. Too often, the Steelers found themselves behind the chains, with predictable sequences that Miami’s defense jumped all over.
Drives fizzled. Field position slipped away.
And when Pittsburgh did manage to string something together, they couldn’t finish. That changed late in the half, when Kenneth Gainwell sparked a drive that finally pushed the Steelers into scoring territory.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. And when Connor Heyward plunged in on a tush push, Pittsburgh took a 7-3 lead into the locker room.
Still, that score didn’t erase the bruises-both literal and figurative. Rodgers looked battered walking off the field, and the offense had yet to find any real rhythm. There were moments when the Steelers had a chance to take control, only to let the opportunity slip away with questionable decisions or missed execution.
Jaylen Warren, though, was a bright spot. Listed as questionable with an illness before the game, he brought a level of energy the offense desperately needed.
His five carries for 19 yards won’t light up the stat sheet, but his effort did. He ran hard, with urgency and grit, and set an example for the rest of the unit.
In a game where every inch mattered, Warren reminded everyone what it looks like to fight through adversity.
The first half wasn’t the kind of football Pittsburgh wants to hang its hat on. It was messy.
It was uneven. But it wasn’t hopeless.
The defense kept the Steelers in it. The energy was there.
The effort was real. Now it was just a matter of execution.
If the Steelers want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they can’t keep playing with their food. December football doesn’t wait for you to figure it out.
It punishes hesitation. The margin for error is gone.
The second half of this game wasn’t just about salvaging a Monday night-it was about defining who this team is when everything’s on the line.