The Steelers didn't necessarily get the help they needed during their bye week but they did get more healthy.
At least as healthy as they can be after losing Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 and Stephon Tuitt in their most recent game, a 24-17 win over the Chargers in Los Angeles two weeks ago.
The Steelers are coming off their bye week and they didn't spend the two weeks worrying about who they no longer have available. They're too focused on the task at hand.
That task this week is beating the winless Dolphins (0-6) Monday night at Heinz Field.
And before you start to think this will be one of those games where the Steelers play down to their opponents, realize they are in too fragile a state themselves to spend time looking ahead to what's down the road.
"We’re 2-4. Shoot, we’re right above them," Maurkice Pouncey told me this week. "We don’t have to do all of that. It’s not like we’re undefeated. We’ve got enough motivation. They’ve got a good coaching staff. Each game, you’re going to go out there and get each team’s best. That’s how it is. And the Steelers? Most definitely, we get each team’s best. And on a Monday night game with all of your peers watching. They’re going to play hard."
The Steelers have recovered from an 0-3 start to win two of their past three games. A win in this game would put them firmly back in the playoff race in a watered down AFC at 3-4.
And with the game against the Dolphins kicking off a three-game home stand -- the Colts and Rams are up next -- this is a game the Steelers have to have.
"We’ve got a lot of football left," James Conner said. "We’ll be the only game on TV. Our defense is playing great. We’ve just got to get the team up as a whole. We’ve got a good opportunity Monday night. That’s what we’re focused on."
The old "one game at a time" mantra might be tired and old, but it's a real scenario in the NFL. At least that's what older players such as Pouncey are driving home with the younger players.
"You’ve got to play them one game at a time. You’ve got to tell them them to lock in one game at a time," Pouncey said. "When I was younger, I wanted to hear that. You don’t know how it will play out. Those guys don’t know how the playoffs are set up and how you have to position yourself. They don’t know all of that."
The Steelers have faced a winless team after Week 3 of the season eight times since Tomlin became head coach in 2007. They're 6-2 in those games.
One of the losses came in Week 4 of 2014, when they were upset by the Buccaneers at Heinz Field. The other came in Week 4 of the 2013 season, when they lost to the Vikings in London, 34-27, to fall to 0-4 themselves.
The Steelers have outscored those winless teams, 161-113, but a number of those games have been close, including a 3-0 victory over the 0-11 Dolphins at Heinz Field on a Monday night in Week 12 of the 2007 season.
That game will be remembered as the game in which the ball got stuck in the muddy turf at Heinz Field. The game was played in a torrential downpour, which made a mess of the fresh turf that had just been laid on the field.
That was Tomlin's first season with the Steelers and Randy Fichtner was the wide receivers coach of that team, which improved to 8-3 with the win, but had to work hard to get there.
"They can look at their situation and say we’re young, and they’ve had some transition, but they’ve been close to winning some games. Close to winning some games like we feel we have too," said Fichtner, now the Steelers' offensive coordinator. "Our guys will not overlook that idea, and they have been reminded about it."
Joe Haden experienced his share of losing when he was a member of the Browns, as well, before joining the Steelers in 2017.
Haden's Browns were 0-5 in 2012 before winning. The 2016 Browns went all the way until Week 16 before winning their first game en route to a 1-15 season. Haden got released by the Browns at the end of training camp the next year, signing with the Steelers.
"I know if I was there I’d just be trying to make sure you put good stuff on tape at all times," Haden said.
The Dolphins have been outscored by an average of 35-10 in their first six games. But they've been closer the past two weeks. After losing to the Chargers, 30-10, in Week 4, the Dolphins had their bye week.
Since then, they dropped a 17-16 decision to the Redskins and lost 31-21 last week to the Bills.
"I think guys are just starting to gel," the Dolphins' first-year head coach, Brian Flores, said. "We had a lot of movement early in the season, a lot of new players. I would say the first three or four games of the season, we were in almost like training camp in a lot of ways where guys are trying to get to know each other. We had the bye week. We tried to put some things in order. I think we’re just starting to come together as a team and we just played a little bit better the last couple weeks. We’ve still got a long way to go. That’s very clear and evident.”
The Steelers would love to extend their misery for at least another week. They won't take the Dolphins lightly.
"You watch the games, shoot, they’re in it," Pouncey said. "Last week, they played Buffalo and they were in it all the way until the end. And Buffalo’s 5-1. This team is not going to give up."
With 10 games remaining in the season, plenty can -- and often does -- happen. After all, just last season, the Steelers were 7-2-1 after 10 games. They held a commanding 3 1/2-game lead in the AFC North standings.
But when the playoffs began, they were left at home.
"That’s what I’m saying," Pouncey said. "When I came here, I didn’t know the whole process, how you made the playoffs, all of that. The older guys told me, ‘One game at a time. Don’t think too far ahead. This league is crazy.’ That’s what we always tell them. Coach (Mike) Tomlin does a good job of bringing that to the whole team. He reminds guys, it ain’t about anything but right now."
THE ESSENTIALS
• When: 8:15 p.m.
• Where: Heinz Field
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Satellite: SiriusXM 226, Internet 826
• Forecast: 54 degrees, partly cloudy
• Lots open: 4:15 p.m.
• Will call open: 6:15 p.m.
• Gates open: 6:15 p.m.
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Odds: MyBookie.AG
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: WLB Mark Barron (hamstring, questionable), LB Ulysees Gilbert (back, questionable)
Dolphins: S Reshad Jones (chest, out), C Dan Kilgore (knee, out), CB Xavien Howard (knee, questionable), CB Chris Lammons (ankle/toe, questionable), S Bobby McCain (shoulder, questionable), DE Avery Moss (ankle, questionable), CB Nik Needham (foot, questionable)
THE KEY VARIABLE
The Steelers have been, well, offensively challenged this season. Playing without Roethlisberger for all but six quarters, they rank 28th in the league in total offense. They've hit just 14 passes of 20 or more yards, which ranks 29th in the league.
They've been very conservative with Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges starting the past four games. But with Rudolph coming back from a concussion suffered in Week 5 against the Ravens and the Steelers coming off their bye week, it might be time to take the training wheels off.
"I think Mason, like most other young guys, they want to do everything perfect, and none of us are perfect," Fichtner said. "That just doesn’t happen. He wants to be perfect, and in that stride to do that daily, it doesn’t happen, and I think he’s starting to learn that it’s not always going to be perfect. That perfectly designed man beater. Wow they chose zone, what am I going to do? Now it’s not exactly how we practiced it. Where are they going with the football? How efficiently am I going to throw it with my footwork and things like that?
"Sometimes if it gets out of whack and it’s not complete, he gets a little upset with himself. That’s normal for his personality. He wants to be perfect. I love it about him. I just realized it, but it’s awfully hard to obtain."
But Rudolph used the time he had off to watch and learn as Hodges made his first start. He got a chance to step back and assess how he was seeing things. He could be a better quarterback.
Rudolph has been efficient thus far. He's completing 67 percent of his passes and has seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. Now, the Steelers need him to more of the downfield thrower he was in college at Oklahoma State.
"I think you gain something every time you’re on the football field. Every time, whether you’re in a helmet on the field or you’re on the sideline getting the mental reps, trying to help the offensive coordinator anyway you can," Rudolph said. "What were his calls? What are his checks? That I can remind him about. That moment that I would feel comfortable being called if I was out there. So every chance you’re on the field, even last year even though I hated it, it’s frustrating, the growth that I saw myself go through that season was tremendous. Understanding Ben’s process and watching him on the field, every game that you’re a part of really does help your football IQ grow."
We'll see if that growth shows itself on the football field. And the Dolphins should present some opportunities. They're allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 69 percent of their passes and receivers are averaging 13.3 yards per catch with 16 touchdown receptions. The Dolphins have intercepted one pass.
More than anything, Rudolph and Hodges have been caretakers with the offense early in the season. But if the Steelers are going to make a push to try to get into the postseason, quarterback play is going to have to be the reason why the team wins some games.
"There’s a lot of looks and opportunities that maybe, in helmet, he’s never had," Fichtner said of Rudolph, who will be making his fourth career start. "You can add up the preseason opportunities he’s had. You can add up the opportunities to play this season, and that doesn’t equal a fingernail of what most starting quarterbacks in this league have been playing. So there’s an experience level every week. A different look. A different defense. A different pressure. Maybe more pressures. Just a lot of those things come into play. I think we’re learning. He’s learning, and my patience is good."
There's no better time than the present to start making some plays.
"I think we’ve got a lot of guys in this locker room that are starting to really rally together and starting to gel after a lot of new pieces were put together in this puzzle," Rudolph said. "I think we’re really comfortable playing together and for each other, and I’m just excited to get back out there with the guys on Monday, then continue to push, and try to get right back in. I think we’re in the mix right now, and keep stacking wins."
THE HISTORY LESSON
Much as they did this season, when they opened 1-3 and then 1-4, the 1976 Steelers stumbled out of the gate, losing quarterback Terry Bradshaw in the process when he was spiked on his head by Browns defensive lineman Joe "Turkey" Jones in a Week 5 loss.
That meant the Steelers had to turn things over to rookie quarterback Mike Kruczek, their running game and a stifling defense.
With Bradshaw still working his way back into playing shape, Kruczek and the Steelers, who had rattled off four-straight wins to 5-4. But then the Dolphins, a team the Steelers hadn't beaten yet in their history in three previous tries, came rolling into Three Rivers Stadium Nov. 14, 1976.
The Steelers had lost to the Dolphins in 1971, '72 and '73 by a combined 11 points, the middle of which came in the 1972 AFC Championship, a week after the Immaculate Reception. The Dolphins, who had been to the Super Bowl in each of those three seasons, winning twice, were the gold standard in the AFC prior to the Steelers winning back-to-back Super Bowls.
In this game, the Steelers would leave no question which AFC team was the dominant franchise of the decade.
Even though Kruczek completed just 4 of 6 passes for 102 yards -- Bradshaw was 0-2 and ran three times for 37 yards -- the Steelers' defense was dominant against Bob Griese and the Dolphins.
The Steelers had their streak of three consecutive shuts stopped by the Dolphins with a third quarter field goal, but Franco Harris' second quarter touchdown run would be all the points they would need. Harris and Rocky Bleier both rushed for 110 yards and Reggie Harrison added a 1-yard fourth quarter touchdown as the Steelers won, 14-3.
The defense sacked Griese five times, held him to 141 yards passing -- on 9 of 21 attempts -- limiting the Dolphins to 224 total yards.
The win improved the Steelers to 6-4 and came in the midst of an impressive nine-game regular season winning streak that saw them finish the season 10-4 with five shutouts in their final nine games.
They ran their winning streak to 10 consecutive games with a first-round playoff victory over the Baltimore Colts but injuries to both Harris and Bleier left the team too weak to compete with Oakland in the AFC Championship.
The victory over the Dolphins was the first in team history and first by Chuck Noll over his former boss, Don Shula, for whom he had worked under as an assistant with the Colts.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
This game could come down to Fitzpatrick vs. Fitzpatrick, as in Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick against Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is on his eighth different teams during his 15-year NFL career, will be facing Minkah Fitzpatrick for the first time. The Steelers made a trade with the Dolphins after Week 2 to acquire the free safety.
Minkah Fitzpatrick has said this is just another game for him. But the Dolphins selected him with the 11th pick in last year's draft. It would be weird if the game didn't mean a little something extra for him.
"It probably is just another game, but at the same time, you know he has that urge to make a play against his (former) teammates, against his old coach," fellow safety Terrell Edmunds said. "We’ve got full confidence that he is going to make those plays."
Since Fitzpatrick joined the Steelers, they're allowing 309 yards and 17.5 points per game, down nearly 150 yards and 14 points from before he was acquired. Fitzpatrick has made 21 tackles, an interception, broken up three passes and forced a fumble.
"Minkah is a very versatile player. He can play multiple positions," Flores said. "It looks like they’re doing that with him in the deep part of the field, in the box, man coverage. He does a good job tackling. I think he’s done a good job. They’ve got a good defense over there – a good offense, good defense, good special teams. When I watch it, I’m watching Minkah, but I’m watching Minkah to (Terrell) Edmunds to (Joe) Haden to (Bud) Dupree to obviously T.J. Watt and (Cameron) Heyward and Devin Bush is playing great and (Mark) Barron. They’ve got a lot of good players there. Minkah is just another piece…”
It seems everyone is trying to play things down.
But for the Steelers to win, Minkah Fitzpatrick is probably going to have to be a factor.
That's where Ryan Fitzpatrick comes in. The veteran has appeared in five games for the Dolphins this season, starting three of them. He's got three touchdown passes and five interceptions. He's also fumbled twice.
That's been a long-standing issue for Fitzpatrick over the course of his career. In 146 career games, he's thrown 153 interceptions and fumbled 74 times.
After recording just 15 turnovers all of last season, the Steelers already have 15 in their first six games this season. They'll get a chance to add to that total in this game.
"I have a lot of respect for Ryan Fitzpatrick," Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. "There is a reason he gets hired all the time. He has been to several different teams and stuff like that. But I will tell you something, this guy is a competitor. He is a competitor, he loves to play the game. He is going to take chances. He is kind of a gunslinger."
Fitzpatrick has started six times against the Steelers in his career. He's 0-6 in those games with nine touchdown passes but six interceptions and three fumbles.
Three of those interceptions came last season, when the Steelers beat the Buccaneers, 30-27. That accounted for one fifth of the Steelers' turnovers all season.
THE QUOTES
• "I hope so. I need him." -- Conner on if fullback Roosevelt Nix will be used upon his return to the lineup after being out the past five weeks with a knee injury
• "It’s my former team and everything like that, but I’ll just do what I normally would. It’s just another game. It will be good to see old faces and things like that, but nothing more than that." -- Minkah Fitzpatrick on playing the Dolphins
• “I think he’s done a great job. He’s one of the top coaches in the league. His teams are tough and they’re smart and they’re disciplined. They play with a freedom and a toughness that I’ve always admired from afar. I think they embody a lot of the things that – they play like their coach. In coaching, that’s what you kind of want. You want your team to reflect who you are, and his teams are tough, disciplined and they work hard and they don’t make excuses. He does a great job.” -- Flores on Tomlin
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• Conner leads the NFL in catch percentage, having failed to catch just one of the 27 passes thrown his way. Opposing running backs have caught 25 of 28 passes against the Dolphins for 267 yards and four touchdowns.
• JuJu Smith-Schuster has run 63 percent of his routes from the slot. The Dolphins have allowed slot receivers to catch 29 of 43 passes thrown their way for 429 yards and six touchdowns.
• Despite already having their bye week, the Dolphins have allowed 27 passing plays of 20 or more yards, the sixth most in the NFL.
• The Dolphins have allowed opposing tight ends to catch 29 of 36 passes thrown to them (81 percent) for 369 yards with one touchdown.
• The Steelers have limited opposing running backs to 550 rushing yards on 144 carries, an average of 3.8 yards per attempt.
• The Steelers have allowed opponents to score a touchdown on just 42.9 percent of their trips inside the red zone, the fifth-best percentage in the league. The Dolphins are last at 69.6 percent.
• The Steelers are tied for third in the NFL with 10 forced fumbles, having recovered seven. The Dolphins are last in the league with three forced fumbles and one recovery.
• The Steelers are 26-5 all-time on Monday night games at home, including 6-0 under Tomlin. They've also won their past seven Monday night games in a row under Tomlin, regardless of the venue.
• The Steelers have allowed a league-low five sacks this season.
• The Steelers are 18-12 all-time coming out of a bye week, including 8-4 under Tomlin.
FANTASY CORNER
Last week's lineup had some good calls (Lamar Jackson, Leonard Fournette, T.Y. Hilton) and some bad ones (Evan Engram, Tevin Coleman, Michael Gallup). Of course, unless you had Aaron Rodgers, Chase Edmunds or Marvin Jones, it probably didn't matter. Today's lineup will feature the Sunday and Monday games with a $50,000 salary limit and we'll work a little outside the margins to go with a less chalky lineup.
Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill ($5,100) -- Talk about a bargain. Tannehill faces one of the league's worst pass defenses at home and is averaging 10.1 yards per attempt. He'll also even run a little.
Running backs: James Conner ($7,700), Austin Ekeler ($5,900) -- Conner should have a huge game against the Dolphins, who are allowing opposing running backs to gain 180 (rushing and receiving) on an average of 31 touches. Ekeler faces the Bears, but given the fact Philip Rivers will want to get the ball out quickly, that could mean plenty of work in the passing game for Ekeler.
Wide receivers: A.J. Brown ($4,100), DeAndre Hopkins ($8,100), Diontae Johnson ($4,700) -- Playing matchups here. Brown is a nice stack with Tannehill at $4,100. Hopkins faces a terrible Oakland secondary and is the top play at wide receiver this week. Johnson has gotten as many targets (20) from Rudolph at quarterback as JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Tight end: Austin Hooper ($5,500) -- Hooper has been fantasy football's most productive tight end. And the Seahawks have been one of the worst in the league defending tight ends.
Flex: D.J. Chark ($6,000) -- Chark has been a monster this season and the Jets are soft in the secondary.
Defense: Seahawks ($2,800) -- Even if Matt Ryan does play, the Falcons have been pitiful of late. And if Ryan is hobbled, he'll be a sitting duck. If he doesn't, it's Matt Schaub time. Even if Hooper catches eight passes, the rest of the Falcons offense won't do much.
Dale Lolley (3-3): The Dolphins just might be playing better in recent weeks, but they're still the NFL's worst team, all apologies to the Bengals. Miami doesn't pass protect well or run the ball. The Steelers will have a big advantage up front, even without Tuitt. And that should help them create turnovers. And Miami's secondary is vulnerable, especially missing Jones and Howard. The Dolphins have also allowed over 180 yards per game to opposing running backs. This game sets up nicely for the Steelers to get Rudolph some confidence. Steelers, 30-10
Christopher Carter (1-5): This is the game the Steelers show off and get their points. The Dolphins' defense has been atrocious and ranked 31st in the NFL. Their best safety, Jones, hasn't practiced all week and Howard's been limited. This is the time for Rudolph to take some shots and break open the deep passing game. I also expect a few turnovers to go the Steelers' way. Steelers, 31-13
Hunter Homistek (4-2): I'm not getting cute here. The Steelers win. Big. I see the defense causing major problems for Fitzpatrick and company, giving Rudolph short fields to work with. Ultimately, the Steelers will settle for field goals in a few instances they could cash in for six, making the score seem closer than the game really was. Steelers, 30-16
Matt Sunday (3-3): Everyone is feeling super confident about this one ... and I am too. That's why the Steelers are sitting at -800 on the moneyline, or at least close depending on when this is read. Steelers win this one. For. Sure. I'm not sure I'm buying a total blowout, however. Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't have the weapons he did in Tampa to torch the Steelers secondary, and it's not one that is as easily torch-able as last year's meeting, either. I can see, however, him getting enough chances to throw the ball while losing in this one against a Steelers team who is going to chew some serious clock. Dolphins have played a couple close......ish games, and I like them to cover that -14 spread. Steelers, 27-16
Dejan Kovacevic (2-4): The bye was well-timed in terms of allowing the Steelers to regain some health, but it was a bummer coming off a bona fide uplifting experience in L.A. Part of me wishes this game would present a greater challenge. The other part, though, sees it as a potential liftoff for Rudolph and the passing game. They could use it. And they'll get it. Steelers eleventy-billion, Dolphins 0