NFL Week 15 Overreaction
USA TODAY’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best stories from Week 15 in the NFL.
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Two AFC playoff contenders will face off on “Monday Night Football” to conclude Week 15.
In 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) will host the Miami Dolphins (6-7), and both teams have experienced moments of success and turmoil.
The South Beach team got off to a disastrous start to the season, going 2-7, losing star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to a serious foot injury in Week 4. Coach Mike McDaniel has taken the brunt of the blame, but the Dolphins have improved over the last month and enter tonight’s game on a four-game winning streak.
Pittsburgh is fresh off its biggest win of the season, defeating the Baltimore Ravens on the road last week, and enters the final four weeks of the regular season with a shot at the AFC North title.
But the Aaron Rodgers-Mike Tomlin partnership and Steelers team have faced adversity as well, with Pittsburgh dropping five of its last seven games before defeating Baltimore in Week 14.
Tomlin and the Steelers haven’t won in the playoffs in eight years, but the hope is that the reinvigorated 42-year-old quarterback (now the second-oldest in the NFL) can repeat his Week 14 success in the remaining games and extend his winning streak.
These teams made big trades in the offseason, with Pittsburgh releasing Miami safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, and all three are playing tonight. But who will take the lead tonight and improve their playoff chances?
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest information, highlights and more from the Steelers and Dolphins Monday Night Football game below.
Rodgers attended Butte Community College for one year in 2002 and then played two seasons at California from 2003-2004.
The Steelers’ final touchdown drive threatened the Dolphins’ safety, and Miami ruled him questionable to return for the Week 15 game.
Miami allowed 28 unanswered points en route to a 65-yard drive down the field in six plays. Waller caught two passes for 26 yards, the latter catch giving Miami six more points.
The Dolphins tried to score two points to cut the deficit to 17 points, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa beat Waller in the back of the end zone.
Steelers still lead 28-9 9 minutes and 41 seconds left in the game.
Smith, a tight end, lined up in the backfield, received a toss from quarterback Aaron Rodgers and began a 14-yard rush into the end zone. This was Smith’s third touchdown of the season and his second rushing touchdown.
The score was Pittsburgh’s fourth consecutive touchdown without a loss. Steelers lead 28-3 There are 13 minutes left in the game.
For the first time since Week 8, Metcalf hit paydirt. After the Dolphins broke a scoreless tie late in the first half, the Steelers scored 21 unanswered points.
It’s 21-3 Steelers. 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Valdes-Scantling, who Pittsburgh signed from the practice squad to the active roster earlier in the day, scored his first touchdown of the season on a 19-yard pass from QB Aaron Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling and Rodgers previously connected for several touchdowns during their time with the Green Bay Packers in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Their first connection as Steelers extended Pittsburgh’s lead on “Monday Night Football.”
It’s 14-3 Steelers. 11:20 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Dolphins’ rookie running back twisted while attempting a rush in the first half. Miami ruled that the player is questionable to return for the Week 15 “Monday Night Football” game.
The Steelers tight end has established himself as a QB sneak enthusiast in Pittsburgh. After Pittsburgh failed to drive the ball in twice on traditional rushing plays, Heyward took a snap under center and crossed the goal line.
Heyward’s fourth carry of the night went for 4 yards and was the Steelers’ first score on Monday Night Football.
Pittsburgh leads 7-3. 17 seconds left in the first half.
Rodgers got married during the 2025 offseason. Rogers’ wife has not yet appeared with him in public.
Before confirming their marriage, Rodgers last mentioned having a girlfriend in December 2024 during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” During the appearance, Ms. Rogers said her name was “Brittani” and revealed that it was spelled with an “I.”
Mr. Rogers has not disclosed whether this is the woman he will marry in 2025.
The Dolphins kicker broke the scoreless tie with a 54-yard field goal late in the first half. Before his kick, the first six possessions of the game all ended in punts or interceptions.
Miami leads 3-0 5:11 left in the first half.
According to Spotrac, Rodgers signed a one-year contract with the Steelers with a base value of $13.65 million. He received a $10 million signing bonus and is scheduled to carry a $14.15 million cap hit in 2025.
Rodgers’ contract could be worth up to $19.5 million in total thanks to a $5.85 million incentive package tied to the deal. His incentives for the 2025 NFL season are:
- Playoff berth: $500,000
- Wildcard Win: $600,000
- Division winner: $750,000
- Conference championship: $1 million
- Super Bowl win: $1.5 million
- League MVP: $1.5 million
Philip Rivers turned 44 on December 8th, making him the oldest active NFL player. Aaron Rodgers turned 42 on December 6th. There will be 12 players in the NFL in 2025 who will be 39 or older.
- Philip Rivers, QB, Indianapolis Colts: 44 years old
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: 42 years old
- Nick Folk, K, New York Jets: 41 years old
- Matt Prater, K, Buffalo Bills: 41 years old
- Marcedes Lewis, TE, Denver Broncos: 41 years old
- Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals: 40 years old
- JJ Jansen, LS, Carolina Panthers: 39 years old
- John Weeks, LS, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years old
- Morgan Cox, LS, Tennessee Titans: 39 years old
- Thomas Morstead, P, San Francisco 49ers: 39 years old
- Josh Johnson, QB, Washington Commanders: 39 years old
- Calais Campbell, DL, Arizona Cardinals: 39 years old
Tua threw an interception in the first half of the Steelers-Dolphins game on Monday Night Football. It was his 15th interception of the season. Entering Week 15, he is tied with Geno Smith for the NFL’s most interceptions in 2025, currently leading the league with 15 interceptions.
temperature The temperature in Pittsburgh at tonight’s kickoff was 18 degrees.
Which channel will tonight’s Steelers vs. Dolphins Monday Night Football be broadcast?
Week 15 “MNF” Steelers vs. Dolphins matchup will be broadcast on ESPN.
What time is the Steelers vs. Dolphins game tonight?
- Start time: 8:15pm (Eastern Time) 5:15pm (Central Time)
The Steelers and Dolphins are scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET, the traditional start time for Monday Night Football. The Dolphins will travel to Acresure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the matchup.
Steelers vs. Dolphins stream
Cord-cutters looking to catch up on the Week 15 “MNF” matchup can tune in to Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Fubo also offers a free trial.
The game will also be available on ESPN’s streaming services, Select and Unlimited.
Watch “Monday Night Football” with Fubo
Steelers vs. Dolphins picks and predictions:
USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts predict how tonight’s game will go:
- Jarrett Bell: Steelers 23, Dolphins 20
- nick brinkerhoff: Steelers 24, Dolphins 16
- Chris Cotton: Steelers 24, Dolphins 22
- Nate Davis: Steelers 20, Dolphins 17
- Tyler Dragon: Steelers 26, Dolphins 20
- Mike Middlehurst Schwartz: Dolphins 24, Steelers 23
Steelers vs. Dolphins Odds, Moneyline, O/U
Powered by BetMGM Sportsbook. Visit the USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds Hub for the complete list.
- Moneyline (ML): Pittsburgh -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Miami +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread (ATS): Pittsburgh -3 (-115) |Miami +3 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 41.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Yes, we have a Manning cast tonight. The Manning brothers will appear as alternate cast members for the Steelers-Dolphins game on Monday Night Football.
- WR Roman Wilson
- QB Will Howard (3rd QB)
- OL Andrus Pete DT
- brodrick martin rose
- OLB TJ Watt
- DT Derrick Harmon
- QB Quinn Ewers (3rd QB)
- DB Elijah Campbell
- CB AJ Green III
- OL Larry Borom
- WR Taj Washington
- DT Matthew Butler
The Steelers running back was added to the injury report after waking up sick Monday morning. Tom Pelissero said Warren woke up under the weather but is optimistic about playing tonight.
Warren will officially participate in tonight’s game.
Temperature is an empirical valueTemperatures near kickoff in Pittsburgh are expected to be 22 degrees. There is no snow in the forecast.
Tua has never won an NFL game where the temperature at kickoff was below 40 degrees. Here’s a breakdown of Tua’s record as a cold-weather NFL starter:
- Below 40 degrees: 0-5
- Below 45 degrees: 1 to 6
- Below 50 degrees: 2-8
- Below 55 degrees: 4 to 13 degrees
Pittsburgh is in first place in the AFC North. They are looking to end the Ravens’ two-year streak of winning a district title. The current AFC North division standings are as follows:
- pittsburgh steelers (7-6)
- baltimore ravens (7-7)
- cincinnati bengals (4-10)
- cleveland browns (3-11)
- denver broncos (12-2, 1st place in AFC West)*
- new england patriots (11-3, 1st place in AFC East)
- jacksonville jaguars (10-4, 1st place in AFC South)
- pittsburgh steelers (7-6, AFC North Division Leader)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4, Wild Card No.1)
- buffalo bills (10-4, Wild Card No. 2)
- houston texans (9-5, Wild Card No.3)
in the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (8-6), Baltimore Ravens (7-7), Miami Dolphins (6-7).
* Qualify for playoffs
Excluded: New York Jets (3-10), Cleveland Browns (3-10), Las Vegas Raiders (2-11), Tennessee Titans (2-11), Kansas City Chiefs (6-8), Cincinnati Bengals (4-10).
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3, 1st place in NFC West)*
- chicago bears (10-4; NFC North leader)
- philadelphia eagles (9-5; 1st place in NFC East)
- tampa bay buccaneers (7-7; NFC South leader)
- seattle seahawks (11-3, Wild Card No. 1)
- san francisco 49ers (10-4, Wild Card No. 2)
- green bay packers (9-4-1; Wild Card No. 3)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (8-6); Carolina Panthers (7-7); Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
Excluded: Minnesota Vikings (6-8); Atlanta Falcons (5-9); New Orleans Saints (4-10); Washington Commanders (4-10); Arizona Cardinals (3-11); New York Giants (2-12)
Here are the first-round standings, updated after Week 15 results, according to Tankasson, who calculates strength of schedule differently than the NFL:
- New York Giants: 2 wins, 12 losses. .536 Strength of schedule
- Las Vegas Raiders 2-12; .548 SOS
- Tennessee Titans: 2 wins, 12 losses. .576 SOS
- Cleveland Browns: 3 wins, 11 losses. .483 SOS
- New York Jets: 3 wins, 11 losses. .538 SOS
- Arizona Cardinals: 3 wins, 11 losses. .571 SOS
- New Orleans Saints: 4 wins, 10 losses. .494 SOS
- Washington Commander: 4 wins, 10 losses. .508 SOS
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4 wins, 10 losses. .521 SOS
- Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 5 wins, 9 losses. .502 SOS
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6 wins, 8 losses. .519 SOS
- Minnesota Vikings: 6 wins, 8 losses. .521 SOS
- Miami Dolphins: 6 wins, 7 losses. .481 SOS
- Dallas Cowboys: 6 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw. .447 SOS
- Baltimore Ravens: 7 wins, 7 losses. .500 SOS
- Carolina Panthers: 7 wins, 7 losses. .519 SOS
- Detroit Lions: 8 wins, 6 losses. .496 SOS
- Indianapolis Colts (Jets): 8 wins, 6 losses. .530 SOS
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7 wins, 7 losses. .519 SOS
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 7 wins, 6 losses. .508 SOS
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-5; .490 SOS
- Houston Texans: 9 wins, 5 losses. .542 SOS
- Green Bay Packers (Cowboys pick): 9-4-1; .475 SOS
- Buffalo Bills: 10 wins and 4 losses. .460 SOS
- Chicago Bears: 10 wins and 4 losses. .445 SOS
- Los Angeles Chargers: 10 wins and 4 losses. .464 SOS
- San Francisco 49ers: 10 wins and 4 losses. .492 SOS
- Jacksonville Jaguars (picked by Browns): 10-4. .492 SOS
- New England Patriots: 11 wins, 3 losses. .374 SOS
- Seattle Seahawks: 11 wins and 3 losses. .494 SOS
- Los Angeles Rams: 11 wins and 3 losses. .521 SOS
- Denver Broncos: 12 wins and 2 losses. .433 SOS
The Steelers’ final three games after tonight are as follows:
The Dolphins’ final three games after tonight are as follows:
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