Steelers-Dolphins Pregame Primer: Key to Win, Picks, Bold Prediction and More

The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking their longest trip of the 2022 season, traveling to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football.

Gameday: Steelers at Dolphins, 8:20 p.m.

KEY TO VICTORY

For the first time in a while, the Steelers’ opponents are more beat up than they are. But it’s not the 10 players on the Miami injury report that are the big issue for the Steelers this week, it’s returning Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa was in the middle of a career year before a concussion knocked him out for the last two weeks.

He’s returning Sunday night, and it will be imperative for the Pittsburgh defense to keep him from finding his rhythm early on. The Steelers were able to keep a superior passer off balance in Tom Brady the week before, so they are up to the challenge. But Tagovailoa is a different type of challenge with his ability to move the pocket and throw on the run. Compared to Brady, he’s more like Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who shredded the Steelers defense in Week 5. Which result the defense gets will go a long way to determining the Steelers chances of winning this game.

BOLD PREDICTION: MINKAH FITZPATRICK GETS A TURNOVER

It’s a homecoming storyline all over this week, as the Steelers will be bringing back former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and former Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to South Florida this week, in addition to a number of Florida natives. Fitzpatrick is the most able to make an impact of that group, though. He didn’t look like himself in attempting to play through an injury at Buffalo two weeks ago. Now healthy, figure Fitzpatrick to make an impact.

OVERLOOKED MATCHUP: JAELAN PHILLIPS, MELVIN INGRAM vs CHUKS OKORAFOR, DAN MOORE

The Steelers pass protectors have done an above-average job of keeping the Pittsburgh quarterbacks clean, despite Kenny Pickett taking a shot that gave him a concussion last week against Tampa Bay. They held Myles Garrett and Von Miller to a combined one sack, but this time, they’ll be facing a former teammate in Melvin Ingram and his talented protege Jaelan Phillips. The last thing the Steelers need in this game is Pickett taking any more hard hits, and it will be incumbent on the tackles to keep him clean.

PICK IT

Pittsburgh +7.5 (-115)

Under 44.5 (-110)

Diontae Johnson Under 56.5 Receiving Yards (-110)