The Pittsburgh Steelers’ matchup against the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 on Monday Night Football might not have been on the radar as a must-watch game to navigate playoff brackets, given the way the season began. As a result, the clash between them was massive, significantly increasing the chances of both teams making the postseason.
Unfortunately, neither team could take a head start in the first half, with the score at 7-3 in favor of the Steelers. However, even with the lead, it hasn’t been a particularly great showing for Pittsburgh, especially with star offseason acquisition DK Metcalf giving them virtually no juice.
What Happened to DK Metcalf?
A resurgence from the Dolphins in recent weeks, as they’ve won four in a row to storm back into the playoff race, has given them some hope to cling to. Similarly, the state of the AFC North as a whole has allowed Pittsburgh to navigate Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, particularly with a surprisingly underwhelming defense.
However, in Week 15, it was right at the end of the first half that the offense gave them anything to cheer about, as it added a touchdown on the board. Although the passing game has been excellent, it hasn’t yielded a large number of points on the scoreboard.
Metcalf, in particular, has been quiet for the night, barring a single catch on his lone target for 22 receiving yards. Ranking 20th at PFSN’s WR Impact, he has played a critical role in the success of the Steelers, as he had 753 receiving yards and five touchdowns coming into Week 15.
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A veteran and proven talent in the league, his stint with the Seattle Seahawks has been a model of consistency, as he’s eclipsed 900 yards in every season of his career, with three seasons above 1,000 yards to his credit.
A two-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the biggest additions to the Pittsburgh cast when the rumors about Rodgers began in the offseason. Seen as a constant threat for the 42-year-old quarterback, he has been a safety valve for the offense throughout the year.
At 7-6, the team still has sole control of the top spot in the AFC North. And, with Lamar Jackson playing some of the worst football of his life, and both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns eliminated from playoff contention, the pathway is right there for the Steelers to make it back to the playoffs.
After a slow first half, Pittsburgh turned it into a massacre in the second half. Scoring four touchdowns in a row without any answer from Miami, they took a commanding 28-3 lead, which eventually turned into a 28-15 victory.
DK METCALF SAID GET OFF ME 😤 pic.twitter.com/fxPVwD0WDo
— ESPN (@espn) December 16, 2025
Metcalf, too, had some solid contributions, adding two more catches to his tally, finishing the game with 55 receiving yards. Of those 55 yards, 28 came on a masterful touchdown, where he broke through multiple tackles en route to adding to the Steelers’ lead.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
