Rodgers Shines: Steelers Game Highlights & Stats

Dolphins are eliminated in Pittsburgh, where they were dominated by the steel defense

PITTSBURGH — Fifteen days after booing “Renegade,” the defensive anthem of the Steelers faithful, a crowd of more than 65,000, shivering in the cold at Acrisure Stadium on Monday Night Football, cheered enthusiastically and waved their “Terrible Towels” as the first notes echoed through the stadium in the third quarter.

This time, the Steelers were firmly on their way to their 23rd consecutive home win on Monday Night Football after quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a pinpoint pass to wide receiver DK Metcalf on a pressure-heavy play, and Metcalf shook off Dolphins defenders and forced his way into the end zone to make the score 21-3 in favor of the Steelers.

The Steelers dominated the Dolphins practically from start to finish, with a depleted defense that managed to stop an explosive running game, and Rodgers led the Steelers offense on four consecutive offensive drives that ended in touchdowns. Rodgers also completed 85% of his passes (23 of 27), his highest percentage in a game since Week 7 of 2014 (86%). Rodgers even had a streak of 13 consecutive completions midway through the game. It was the kind of completely dominant victory that had eluded the 2025 Steelers up until this point, and with this victory, Pittsburgh finally made it two consecutive wins for the first time in over a month.

The victory strengthened the Steelers’ aspirations of winning the AFC North and gave them further momentum heading into Sunday’s game against a scrappy Detroit Lions team in need of a victory.

Turning point: Running back Kenneth Gainwell’s 38-yard run in the third quarter. It wasn’t a scoring play, but Gainwell’s long run out of a congested line of scrimmage and toward the sideline changed the momentum of the game. Before Gainwell’s career, the Steelers’ running game averaged just 1.8 yards per carry. But Pittsburgh committed to running the ball on its first possession of the third quarter with three Jaylen Warren carries before Gainwell made the big play. Two plays later, Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to give the Steelers a 14-3 lead.

Most surprising performance: The defense against the run. No play better illustrated the Steelers’ dominant run defense than inside linebacker Patrick Queen, who slipped through the defensive line to stop running back Ollie Gordon on third-and-one late in the second quarter. Queen’s tackle cost the Dolphins 4 yards and forced them to settle for a field goal. Not only were the Steelers without TJ Watt (lung injury), but they also took the field without first-round rookie Derrick Harmon (knee injury) for the third straight week. Without Harmon in the lineup, Pittsburgh had allowed nearly 100 more rushing yards per game. And yet, the run defense limited De’Von Achane to 60 yards. The Steelers were especially strong in the third quarter, holding the Dolphins -1 yard on the ground.

Given to destacar: The Steelers had four consecutive touchdown drives, matching their longest streak in the last 25 years. It was also the first time the Steelers did it since Week 2 of 2018 against the Kansas City Chiefs, a fitting nod with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger present at Acrisure Stadium on Monday after being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. — Brooke Pryor

Next party: against the Detroit Lions (Sunday)

Analysis of quarterback performance: Tagovailoa surpassed 200 yards passing for the first time since Week 9, but other than a few plays in garbage time, he failed to find any weaknesses in the Steelers’ defense. Monday’s match will do him no favors in his defense against criticism of his cold-weather performance, as he has yet to win a match in temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius. In today’s NFL, his inability to put pressure on defenses with his legs clearly limits the Dolphins’ offense, such as when he slid before the first down mark on third down on a play where, had he lunged with his shoulder, he likely would have gotten the first down. This has been the worst statistical stretch of Tagovailoa’s career, and with the possible arrival of a new general manager this offseason, he needs to improve his performance in the next three weeks to avoid losing his job in 2026.

Tendency to observe: Until the Dolphins win in cold weather, it will continue to be a topic of conversation. The Dolphins have lost all eight games under coach Mike McDaniel in which temperatures have dropped below 4 degrees Celsius. This season’s team seemed poised to break that streak, considering Miami led the league in rushing yards during its four-game winning streak, but the Dolphins may have to wait until their Week 18 game against the Patriots to get their first cold-weather win.

Turning point: Immediately after making a career-high 54-yard field goal, Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson was penalized for a short kickoff. Pittsburgh took advantage of the short field with a 12-play, 60-yard offensive drive that gave them the definitive lead with 17 seconds remaining in the first half. McDaniel was clearly disappointed by the penalty, mentioning in his halftime interview that the Dolphins couldn’t afford to give their opponent such a short field. That offensive series began four consecutive offensive series by the Steelers, who put the game away long before the final whistle. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Next party: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (domingo)