Dec. 16 (UPI) — Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers produced a surge of 28-consecutive points to baffle the Miami Dolphins in primetime, shutting down their rolling running game while eliminating them from playoff contention.
Steelers defenders swallowed the Dolphins’ previous dominant rushing attack early on in the 28-15 triumph Monday in Pittsburgh. They held their visitors to just three points until the fourth quarter, resulting in an end to the Dolphins’ four-game winning streak and slamming the window shut on their slim postseason aspirations.
“Realistically, I’m just supremely disappointed we couldn’t come out with a win here,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters. “We had high expectations and they fell short.”
The Steelers out-gained the Dolphins 336 to 285 in total yards. They also held an advantage of 22-16 in first downs, led by about seven minutes in time of possession and did not log a turnover. In his postgame comments, Rodgers praised the Steelers’ roster for contributions from “castoffs” — players who failed to secure contract extensions from their former teams and ended up in Pittsburgh.
“There are some castoffs, if you look at our roster, which makes it really special,” the Steelers quarterback said. “Kenny Gainwell signed a next-to-nothing contract. Connor Heyward, an afterthought, had a touchdown run. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been on a couple teams. Adam Thielen got cut. Asante Samuel Jr. was on the street for a long time.
“It says a lot about the character of the guys we brought in.”
First INT in the Black & Gold @godschild3_
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBjRdr pic.twitter.com/3Ej8vSt85R— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2025
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception to Samuel on the third drive of the night, but the Steelers failed to turn the takeaway from the former free agent cornerback into points.
Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson made a 54-yard field goal 5:11 before halftime for the first points of the night. The Steelers answered with a 12-play, 60-yard scoring drive. Heyward ended that possession with a 1-yard run to give the Steelers a lead they never lost.
Rodgers connected with Valdes-Scantling for a 19-yard score on the first drive of the second half. The Steelers quarterback threw a 28-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver DK Metcalf about six minutes later. Tight end Jonnu Smith ran for a 14-yard score about two minutes into the fourth quarter the fuel a 28-3 Steelers lead.
The Steelers’ run of five-consecutive scoring drives ultimately doomed the Dolphins, who found the end zone twice over the final 10 minutes. Tagovailoa threw a 6- and 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Waller to end those drives.
The Dolphins failed to convert 2-point conversions after both of their touchdowns.
Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards, two scores and an interception. Dolphins running back De’Von Achane logged 127 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches.
Rodgers completed 23 of 27 passes — including a run of 13-consecutive completions — for 224 yards and two scores. Gainwell logged 126 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches for the Steelers.
Defensive back Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Payton Wilson, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and defensive end Esezi Otomewo each registered sacks in the victory.
The Steelers held a 135-63 advantage in rushing yards on the Dolphins, who averaged 192 rushing yards per game over the five weeks before the Week 15 matchup
“Mission accomplished,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We wanted to engineer victory, but we wanted to do it a certain way. That was a hot football team and they had ridden their run game over the last month or so. … We wanted to stop the run and we needed to run the ball in an effort the flip that component of it.
“I think that made the engineering of the victory more fluid.”
WHAT A THROW. WHAT A CATCH. @dkm14 powers his way in for six! #ProBowlVote
Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBjRdr pic.twitter.com/3KPVI88IFb— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 16, 2025
The Steelers (8-6) sit in first place in the AFC North and currently hold the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture. They will attempt to win a third-consecutive game when they battle the Detroit Lions (8-6) at 4:25 p.m. EST Sunday in Detroit.
The Dolphins (6-8), who sit in the No. 11 spot in the AFC, will host the No. 12 Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) at 1 p.m. Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
“It’s tough, to be honest with you,” Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks said, when asked about being eliminated from playoff contention. “Being eliminated, you never want to hear that. But we’ve still gotta play.
“We’ve still got three games left on the schedule. I feel that we should finish the right way. I think that shows character. That’s what we’ll be playing for.”
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