The Miami Dolphins host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial AFC matchup on Monday, December 15, 2025, with the Dolphins desperate for a win to stay alive in the wild-card hunt after a three-game skid, while the Steelers aim to solidify their AFC North position and extend their playoff lock. This Week 15 primetime clash at Hard Rock Stadium revives a gritty rivalry, pitting Tua Tagovailoa’s revitalized arm (3,156 pass yds, 21 TD post-injury) against the Steelers’ opportunistic defense (18.5 OPP PPG allowed, 5th). Miami’s high-octane offense (26.4 PPG, 7th) faces Pittsburgh’s stout front seven (32 sacks, 4th), but the Dolphins’ speed (Tyreek Hill/Jaylen Waddle duo) could exploit the Steelers’ 24th-ranked pass D (261.7 ypg allowed). With Miami No. 10 in the AFC and Pittsburgh No. 5, a Dolphins victory reignites hopes—expect fireworks under the lights in South Florida. Win sims: Steelers 52%.
Kickoff: 8:15 PM ET (5:15 PM PT).
Broadcast: ESPN: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (field reporter), Laura Rutledge (field reporter)
Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner
Streaming on NFL+ ($6.99/mo), ESPN app, and Disney+. Pregame coverage starts at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.
Venue Location:
Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens, FL 33056 (25°57’29″N 80°14’17″W). This 65,326-seat open-air icon—home to the Dolphins since 1987—features a retractable roof (open for this game) and vibrant tailgate zones, offering a tropical vibe with excellent sightlines. Accessible via Florida Turnpike (exit 2A) or Miami International Airport (MIA, 20-min drive). Parking at on-site lots ($30-50); hotels like the Hilton Miami Airport (10-min drive) provide shuttle packages. Tickets via Ticketmaster start at $78 (upper level).
Weather Updates
Hard Rock’s open-air setup exposes the field to balmy South Florida December conditions, favoring a track meet without rain interruptions. Game-time forecast: 72°F with partly cloudy skies (10% precipitation chance) and light east winds at 4-6 mph (gusts to 8 mph), yielding feels-like temps near 72°F. Humidity 75%, UV index low (1/11). Impacts: Warm, calm weather boosts passing efficiency (+8% completion historical); Dolphins 4-2 home in 70+°F games, Steelers 2-3 road mild. No delays expected—ideal for fan energy.
Injury Report
Both squads practiced fully Thursday, but Miami’s WR corps and Pittsburgh’s secondary draw scrutiny—Steelers healthier overall. Updates as of December 11 (via NFL.com; Friday reports pending).
Miami Dolphins:
DNP: WR Jaylen Waddle (hamstring—DNP both days, questionable; 912 yds/6 TD season).
Limited: QB Tua Tagovailoa (rest—limited, expected full), WR Tyreek Hill (rest/shoulder—limited), CB Jalen Ramsey (knee—limited), RB Raheem Mostert (knee—limited), S Jevon Holland (rest—limited).
Full: OT Terron Armstead (rest—full), TE Jonnu Smith (rest—full).
Impact: Waddle’s hamstring forces Hill solo (team 7th pass yds); Ramsey’s knee limits coverage vs. Pickens. OL stable with Armstead back.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
DNP: None major new.
Limited: S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring—limited both days, trending up), CB Joey Porter Jr. (ankle—limited), WR George Pickens (rest—limited).
Full: QB Russell Wilson (NIR—full), RB Najee Harris (rest—full).
Impact: Fitzpatrick’s hamstring thins safety depth (team 5th pass D); Porter’s ankle tests vs. Hill. Backfield intact with Harris full.
No QB concerns; expect Friday upgrades for Waddle/Fitzpatrick.
Player Matchups
This MNF banger contrasts Miami’s speed with Pittsburgh’s physicality, where Tagovailoa’s quick release vs. Steelers’ blitz looms large. Key edges:
QB Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) vs. Steelers Pass Rush (T.J. Watt/Alex Highsmith): Tagovailoa (66.5% comp., 21 TD) vs. Watt’s dominance (12 sacks); MIA’s 15th OL vulnerable, but Tua’s 18:2 TD-INT clean under pressure.
RB De’Von Achane (MIA) vs. Steelers Front 7 (Cameron Heyward/Elandon Roberts): Achane (1,012 yds, 8 TD) exploits PIT’s 12th run D (107.7 ypg allowed). MIA’s 11th rush vs. Heyward’s interior.
WR Tyreek Hill (MIA) vs. CB Joey Porter Jr. (PIT): Hill (limited rest) vs. Porter’s length (9 PD); PIT’s 24th pass D leaky on deep balls.
QB Russell Wilson (PIT) vs. Dolphins Secondary (Jalen Ramsey/Kendal Fuller): Wilson (108.2 rating, 21 TD) vs. MIA’s 8th pass D (198 ypg). Dolphins blitz 32 sacks.
RB Najee Harris (PIT) vs. Dolphins Front (Calais Campbell/Shaquil Griffin): Harris (900+ yds est.) vs. MIA’s 10th run D (107.1 ypg allowed).
Steelers Defense Edge: Watt/Highsmith duo pressures Tua; MIA’s blitz yields yards.
Team Records
| Team | Record | Division | Playoff Odds | Key Stats |
| Dolphins | 6-7 (.462) | 3rd AFC East | 25% | 26.4 PPG (7th), 25.5 OPP PPG (24th), 362.6 TOT YPG (8th) |
| Steelers | 7-6 (.538) | 2nd AFC North | 65% | 22.1 PPG (18th), 18.5 OPP PPG (5th), 348.7 TOT YPG (12th) |
Dolphins: Three-game skid, No. 10 AFC. Steelers: Two-game win streak, No. 5 seed.Recent FormMiami Dolphins (2-3 in last 5): Post-Tua return surge fizzled with skid; offense potent (26.4 PPG), but D leaky (25.5 OPP PPG).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ BAL | L 24-27 | Tagovailoa 289 yds/3 TD; 3 TO late. |
| Nov 30 | vs BUF | W 31-28 | Tagovailoa 245 yds/2 TD; Hill 110 yds. |
| Nov 23 | @ NE | L 20-23 | 40% 3rd-down; D allows 350 yds. |
| Nov 16 | vs LV | W 27-20 | Achane 2 TD; 50% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 9 | @ CLE | L 17-24 | Tagovailoa 220 yds/1 TD; Pollard 34 yds. |
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2 in last 5): Steady with Wilson’s command (108.2 rating); D suffocates (18.5 OPP PPG), but offense grinds (22.1 PPG).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ CIN | W 24-20 | Wilson 280 yds/2 TD; Harris 85 yds. |
| Nov 30 | vs BAL | L 17-24 | Wilson 233 yds/1 TD; 36.4% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 23 | @ CLE | W 27-16 | Wilson 245 yds/2 TD; Pickens 95 yds. |
| Nov 16 | vs NYJ | W 23-17 | Wilson 220 yds/2 TD; D 2 INT. |
| Nov 9 | @ WAS | L 20-27 | 40% 3rd-down; Harris 2 TD. |
Series History
Steelers lead 28-18 all-time (46 meetings, including 1 playoff), with Pittsburgh winning 4 of last 5 (avg. score: PIT 22.2-19.0 MIA). Last: Steelers 24-17 (2021). Trend: Unders (U 7/10 recent); close (6/10 <7 pts). December: Steelers 4-2 SU vs. MIA. Playoff: PIT 23-10 (1976 AFC Div).
Betting Trends
Under 58% action at 45.5 (U 7/10 PIT, series U 7/10). Steelers +2.5 draws sharps (40% high-limits) as dogs (5-3 ATS road); Dolphins 7-6 ATS overall (4-2 home). PIT 1-4 ATS last 5 vs. MIA; X buzz 65% pro-Dolphins post-BAL L. Stable lines; watch Waddle for total bump.
Predicted Score: Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Miami Dolphins 20
DOLPHINS NOTES:
• QB TUA TAGOVAILOA completed 13 of 21 atts. (61.9 pct.) for 127 yards & TD in Week 14. Aims for his 7th in row with 125+ pass yards. Passed for 261 yards & TD in last meeting. • RB JAYLEN WRIGHT led team with career-high 107 rush yards & had 1stcareer rush TD last week. • RB DE’VON ACHANE had 105 scrimmage yards (92 rush, 13 rec.) & rush TD in Week 14. Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4. Has 105+ scrimmage yards in 5 consecutive games, longest active streak in NFL. • RB OLLIE GORDON (rookie) had rush TD last week. Has rush TD in 2 of his past 3. • WR JAYLEN WADDLE had 71 scrimmage yards (50 rec., 21 rush) & TD catch in Week 14. Has 5+ catches & TD catch in 4 of his past 5 on road. Had 4 catches for 88 yards in last meeting. • TE GREG DULCICH had 41 rec. yards last week. • LB JORDYN BROOKS had 5 tackles & TFL in Week 14. Has 12+ tackles in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 4th in row on road with TFL. Had 14 tackles in only career game vs. Pit. (10/17/21 w/ Sea.). • LB WILLIE GAY had sack & PD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had 5 tackles in last game vs. Pit. (12/26/21 w/ KC.). • LB TYREL DODSON had 2 TFL & 1st INT of season in Week 14. Aims for his 3rd in row with PD. Had 11 tackles & sack in last game vs. Pit. (10/9/22 w/ Buf.). • LB CHOP ROBINSON had sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack. • DT ZACH SIELER had 4 tackles & 2.5 sacks in Week 14. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. • CB ETHAN BONNER had 1st-career INT last week. Has PD in 2 of his past 3 on road. • CB RASUL DOUGLAS had career-high 5 PD & INT last week. Has 6+ tackles in 2 of his past 3. Aims for his 3rd in row with INT. • S IFEATU MELIFONWU had 1st sack of season in Week 14.
STEELERS NOTES:
• QB AARON RODGERS completed 23 of 34 atts. (67.6 pct.) for 284 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) with 103.1 rating in Week 14, 32nd-career game with TD pass & rush TD, 3rd-most such games ever. Completed 23 of 36 atts. (63.9 pct.) for 274 yards & 4 TDs vs. INT with 112.5 rating in last game vs. Mia. (1/5/25 w/ NYJ). • RB JAYLEN WARREN had 62 scrimmage yards (49 rec., 13 rush) & rec. TD last week. Aims for his 4th in row with TD. Has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 4. • RB KENNETH GAINWELL had 42 scrimmage yards (27 rec., 15 rush) & rush TD in Week 14. Aims for his 5th in row with 40+ scrimmage yards. Had rush TD in last game vs. Mia. (10/22/23 w/ Phi.). • WR DK METCALF had 7 catches for season-high 148 yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 3 of his past 4. Had 4 catches for 104 yards & TD catch in last game vs. Mia. (9/22/24 w/ Sea.). • DT CAMERON HEYWARD had 5 tackles in Week 14. Has 5+ tackles in 4 of his past 5. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Mia. with TFL. • LB T.J. WATT had 6 tackles & TFL last week. Needs 3 sacks to surpass HOFers Jared Allen (117) & DeMarcus Ware (117) for 3rd-most sacks in 1st 9 seasons since 1982. Has TFL in 5 of his past 6. Had 2 sacks, 2 FF & FR in last game (10/28/19). • LB PATRICK QUEEN had 7 tackles in Week 14. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. Had 6 tackles, TFL & PD in last game (12/31/23 w/ Bal.). • LB ALEX HIGHSMITH had 7 tackles, 3 TFL & sack last week. Has sack in 3 of his past 4. • LB COLE HOLCOMB led team with 8 tackles in Week 14. • CB JAMES PIERRE had 5 tackles, 2 PD & 1st INT of season last week. • CB BRANDIN ECHOLS had PD & 1st-career sack in Week 14.
Game Odds
Miami Dolphins 41.5
Pittsburgh Steelers – 3.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
