Hook paragraph\n\n## Rodgers’ Dominance\n\nRodgers threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, completing 23 of 27 passes for an 85% completion rate in a frigid Monday night. The 42‑year‑old quarterback stayed composed, finding Marquez Valdes‑Scantling for a 19‑yard touchdown and DK Metcalf for a 28‑yard score. \”I think he’s the best quarterback to ever play this game,\” said Valdes‑Scantling, who joined the Steelers’ practice squad earlier this season. He added, \”I don’t care if he’s 65 years old or not, he can still spin the ball and he’s always playing chess with the defense.\”\n\n## Team Momentum\n\nThe Steelers, now 8‑6, kept their one‑game lead over Baltimore with three weeks left in the AFC North race. Rodgers said, \”It’s been a while since I’ve been a part of stuff like this,\” and added, \”Nothing changes. It’s just, I feel real comfortable in this environment.\”\n\n## Dolphins’ Struggles\n\nMiami, 6‑8, saw its slim playoff hopes vanish after a 28‑15 loss. The team had practiced in the snow at nearby Robert Morris University over the weekend, but the cold did not help. The Dolphins entered the game with a 3‑0 lead after Riley Patterson’s 54‑yard field goal. Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 254 yards, but his effort produced two garbage‑time touchdowns to Darren Waller and a season‑long 15th interception. De’Von Achane rushed for 60 yards and caught six passes for 68 more, but was largely ineffective during the Steelers’ four‑straight‑possession scoring run.\n\n## Weather Impact\n\nTagovailoa has never won a game where kickoff temperature was under 40 degrees. Miami also recorded minus‑20 yards of total offense in the third quarter. \”It’s disapppointing we didn’t get the outcome we wanted to, and everything that goes on with the playoffs,\” Tagovailoa said. \”When you start the season the way we did, we made it hard on ourselves.\”\n\n## Absence of T.J. Watt\n\nThis was the second time in 13 games that Pittsburgh won without outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Watt is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a collapsed lung sustained during a dry‑needling treatment last week. Defensive captain Cam Heyward paid tribute, collecting one of the Steelers’ four sacks and attempting a signature leg kick, though he admitted he may not have gotten it high enough.\n\n## Defensive Highlights\n\n\”We’ve got all the confidence in our guys to go out there and play a hell of a game,\” linebacker Patrick Queen said. \”Obviously they did.\”\n\nAsante Samuel Jr. intercepted an early Miami drive, his first for the Steelers after joining the practice squad in October six months after neck surgery. \”It’s a blessing (to get a second chance),\” Samuel said. \”You can’t take nothing for granted. None of the hard days. None of the long days. You just take everything and appreciate it.\”\n\n## Coaching Perspective\n\nCoach Mike McDaniel said, \”We have three (more) opportunities with this team,\” and added, \”I think really the character of the locker room has been tested all year. My expectation is that we’re going to bounce back regardless of how much it hurts.\”\n\n## Injury Summary\n\nDolphins: RB Ollie Gordon II left in the second quarter with a left ankle injury; Fitzpatrick went down in the third quarter with a calf injury. Steelers: LG Isaac Seumalo exited in the third quarter with a triceps injury and did not return; OLB Nick Herbig was evaluated for a hamstring injury late.\n\n## Upcoming Games\n\nThe Dolphins will host Cincinnati on Sunday, while the Steelers travel to Detroit the same day.\n\n## Key Takeaways\n\n- Rodgers completed 85% of his passes, leading Pittsburgh to a 28‑15 win over Miami.\n- Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa struggled in sub‑40 temperatures, going winless in such conditions.\n- Pittsburgh secured a second victory in 13 games without T.J. Watt, with defensive standouts Cam Heyward and Asante Samuel Jr. contributing.\n\nThe cold night in Pittsburgh highlighted Rodgers’ enduring skill and the Steelers’ resilience, while the Dolphins faced a harsh reality in a game that underscored the importance of weather and health in the NFL.
Morgan J. Carter is a Texas-based journalist covering breaking news, local government, public safety, and community developments across Austin. With more than six years of reporting experience, Morgan focuses on delivering accurate, clear, and timely stories that reflect the fast-moving pulse of the city.
At newsofaustin.com, Morgan reports on everything from severe weather alerts and traffic updates to city council decisions, crime reports, and the issues shaping daily life in Austin. Known for reliable fact-checking and a strong commitment to public-interest journalism, Morgan brings readers the information they need to stay informed and engaged.
When not tracking a developing story, Morgan enjoys exploring Austin’s neighborhoods, attending local events, and connecting with residents to share the voices and experiences that define the community.
