Dolphins (0-6) at Steelers (2-4)
Monday, 7:20 p.m. ET, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN
Danny Sheridan’s line: by 14 ⁄2
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Dolphins’ keys to victory: Miami is going to have to figure out a way to move the football and score points against an improving Steelers defense. Miami’s offense, with Ryan Fitzpatrick the quarterback again, is easily the worst in the league. RB Kenyan Drake has talent, but there is no one around him to bolster this unit. Defensively, the Dolphins need to stuff the run game and force QB Mason Rudolph to throw the ball downfield. If they cannot do that, the Steelers will just run the ball right at the Dolphins’ defense with RBs James Conner and Benny Snell.
Steelers’ keys to victory: Despite the return of QB Mason Rudolph, look for Pittsburgh to keep things conservative on offense, run the football and continue to use the short passing game. The one thing the Steelers cannot do is get complacent on offense. They need to take advantage of the speed at the wide receiver position in WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and WR Diontae Johnson and take some deep shots to pull the Miami defense off the line of scrimmage.
Matchup to watch: Dolphins CB Xavien Howard vs Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. If Smith-Schuster wants to prove he’s a true No. 1 receiver, it’s going to take a supreme effort against Howard, who remains one of the best coverage cornerbacks in the AFC. The battle between these two will be one to watch.
Who wins? The Steelers are still pushing to win the AFC North, and Miami seems content in stockpiling draft picks and tanking the season. Pittsburgh wins this one handily at home.
Steelers, 35-13
Steelers
Dolphins schedule
L L L L ........ Baltimore ........ 59-10 ..... New England ..... 43-0 .......... atDallas .......... 31-6 .... L.A. Chargers .... 30-10
BYE
L ...... Washington ...... 17-16 L ....... atBuffalo ....... 31-21 Oct. 28 at Pittsburgh 8:15 Nov. 3 ......... N.Y. Jets ......... 1 Nov. 10 at Indianapolis 4:05 Nov. 17 ......... Buffalo ......... 1 Nov. 24 .... at Cleveland .... 1 Dec. 1 ...... Philadelphia ...... 1 Dec. 8 ....... at N.Y. Jets ....... 1 Dec. 15 ... at N.Y. Giants ... 1 Dec. 22 ....... Cincinnati ....... 1 Dec. 29 . at New England . 1
Steelers schedule
L ... at New England ... 33-3 L .......... Seattle .......... 28-26 L ..... atSanFran . ..... 24-20 W ....... Cincinnati ....... 27-3 L .... Baltimore .... 26-23OT W . at L.A. Chargers . 24-17
BYE
Oct. 28 ....... Miami ....... 8:15 Nov. 3 ..... Indianapolis ..... 1 Nov. 10 ... L.A. Rams ... 4:25 Nov. 14 at Cleveland 8:20 Nov.24...atCincinnati...1 Dec. 1 .... Cleveland .... 4:25 Dec. 8 .... at Arizona .... 4:25 Dec. 15 ........ Buffalo ........ 1 Dec. 22 .... at N.Y. Jets .... 1 Dec. 29 ... at Baltimore ... 1