A handful of intriguing storylines will play out Sunday at Heinz Field in a battle between two mediocre teams still, remarkably, very much in contention for an AFC playoff berth. The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7) host the Miami Dolphins (6-6) in a Week 14 matchup that may determine which team will stay on the tail of the Baltimore Ravens (6-6) for the coveted Wild Card spot. A Steelers loss would all but eliminate them while a victory would move them ahead of Miami in the standings due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Aside from playoff implications, all eyes will be on how Pittsburgh responds to the controversy sparked by head coach Mike Tomlin’s Thanksgiving night antics on the sidelines in Baltimore. Tomlin was fined and the team still may face further punishment, which the NFL will determine later in the season. And, separate from that controversy, the Steelers will need to bounce back from the difficult loss they suffered in that game. While the season has not yet been completely lost, falling to Baltimore made the potential (and unlikely) road to the playoffs all the more difficult as the season is coming to a close. Tomlin’s group has had ten days off, having the advantage of added rest while Miami will play on normal rest following a victory last Sunday at the New York Jets.
Miami will be led by second-year QB Ryan Tannehill and one of his top targets in the passing game is former Steeler Mike Wallace, who will play in his first game against the team that drafted him. Wallace left in the offseason and, though obviously talented, has not made an enormous impact on the Dolphins offense. He has 56 catches for 743 yards and three touchdowns, slightly behind or tied with teammate Brian Hartline in those three categories. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown has taken over as Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target, and he is thriving. Brown entered this week leading the league in receptions, though he was passed by Houston’s Andre Johnson in the Texans’ loss on Thursday. Johnson had 13 catches in that game and has 95 on the season, now ten more than Brown. Brown is also fifth in the league in receiving yards (1,103) and he has six touchdowns, second on the team only to Jerricho Cotchery. Another Steelers receiver, Emmanuel Sanders, has filled in well as the number two WR on the depth chart, posting numbers very similar to Wallace in Miami.
Pittsburgh has been healthy in the passing offense, but continues to struggle mightily on the ground. Rookie Le’Veon Bell, who suffered concussion symptoms on a helmet-to-helmet hit at Baltimore last week, is likely to play and still is seeking his first 100-yard game. Pittsburgh ranks 31st in the NFL with just 76.8 rushing yards per game, but will face a porous Miami rush defense that ranks 25th in the league. Miami also struggles to run the ball, ranking 25th in rushing offense as well. Furthermore, both Dolphins running backs are banged up. Lamar Miller is probable despite a pectoral injury, but backup Daniel Thomas is questionable due to an ankle injury. Both have had significant carries in Miami’s offense this season. Pittsburgh’s injury report grows by the week, but LB LaMarr Woodley is expected back after missing some time, and guard David DeCastro is probable for Sunday. Guard Kelvin Beachem, who has filled in admirably for injured teammates throughout the season, is doubtful with a knee injury. Cody Wallace is expected to make his first start as a Steeler at center, while Mike Adams will replace Beachem.
Miami is a respectable 3-3 on the road in 2013, but will visit a cold-weather city and face a Steelers team that has won three straight at home. The two teams last met in 2010, in a 23-22 Steelers victory at Miami. They also played there at the end of the 2009-2010 season, another tight 30-24 victory for the Steelers. The last time Miami came to Pittsburgh was in an infamous 2007 game dominated by terrible weather conditions, when the Steelers won 3-0 on a last-minute Jeff Reed field goal. Miami was 0-10 coming into that game in 2007, en route to a 1-15 season. They last defeated Pittsburgh in 1998 and have lost five straight to the Steelers.
