Steelers Defense Delivers Statement in Primetime, Highlighted by Jalen Ramsey's Unchecked Sack on Tua
The Pittsburgh Steelers came into their Monday night showdown against the Miami Dolphins a little short-handed on defense - but you wouldn't have known it by the way they played. Missing a few key pieces didn’t stop this unit from turning up the heat on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, sacking him four times en route to a convincing 28-15 win in Week 15.
And while the sack numbers tell part of the story, it was the how that really stood out - particularly one play that showcased the Steelers' aggressive, opportunistic approach and a perfectly executed blitz that left Tagovailoa with nowhere to go.
Let’s rewind to the third quarter. Miami had just taken the field trailing 14-3, looking to claw their way back into the game.
After a run by De’Von Achane went nowhere and a short checkdown to Alec Ingold picked up just four yards, the Dolphins faced a 3rd & 6 from their own 44-yard line. It was a critical moment - convert and keep the drive alive, or punt and risk falling further behind.
That’s when the Steelers dialed up a pressure look that Miami never saw coming.
Lined up on the edge, Jalen Ramsey - yes, the same Ramsey better known for locking down receivers - came flying through a crease opened up by linebacker Payton Wilson. It was a beautifully timed blitz, and Ramsey hit the gas at just the right moment, slicing through the Dolphins’ protection like it wasn’t even there.
Tagovailoa didn’t stand a chance. Ramsey closed in untouched and leveled his former teammate for a 12-yard loss.
It was a tone-setting play - not just because it killed the Dolphins’ drive, but because of what came next. Pittsburgh’s offense took the momentum and ran with it, putting together a methodical 10-play, 77-yard touchdown drive to stretch the lead to 21-3. That sequence - a defensive stand followed by an efficient scoring march - was the kind of complementary football Mike Tomlin preaches about every week.
Ramsey’s sack was the flashiest of the bunch, but it was part of a collective effort that saw the Steelers defense consistently collapse the pocket and keep Tagovailoa from ever getting comfortable. Each of the four sacks came at key moments, and each contributed to a night where Pittsburgh’s defense looked playoff-ready, even without a full deck.
For a Steelers team fighting to stay in the postseason mix, this win wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about identity - physical, fast, and relentless. And on Monday night, that identity was on full display.