Miami Dolphins (4-3) – Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5): 16-10
The return of Tua Tagovailoa (21/35, 261 yards, 1 TD) revitalized the Miami attack… for a series. The first one. Then things were much more complicated, and the defense had to multiply the blows to prevent Kenny Pickett (32/44, 257 yards, 1 TD, 3 int) and Pittsburgh to snatch the victory.
The two defenses also set the tone, even if that of the Steelers missed, very literally, several opportunities to turn things around. In total, Mike Tomlin’s players released four possible interceptions!
Foot to the floor…
Back after three games away, Tua Tagovailoa was entitled to the first ball of the evening. A smoothly conducted offensive, during which he found Jaylen Waddle (4 rec, 88 yards) and Tyreek Hill (7 rec, 72 yards), before an 8-yard pass for Raheem Mostert (16 carries, 79 yards – 4 rec , 30 yards, 1 TD) and touchdown.
A cannon start which will remain the peak of the match. Because the attack slows down. She scored two field goals, taking advantage in particular of a ready-made interception released by Levi Wallace.
The Steelers are still back in the game thanks to a field goal and, above all, a touchdown from George Pickens (6 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD) on a 7-yard pass from Kenny Pickett. Miami responds immediately with a new kick, on a drive that could still have been cut short, this time by Cameron Sutton. The score is 16-10 at the break, he will not move.
…before the fuel shortage
The second half of the match is just a series of punts. Eleven in total, including nine in a row. In this slump, Tagovailoa continues to play with fire. Twice more, his passes bounce off opposing hands. Terrell Edmunds and Levi Wallace, him again, still have slippery hands. More worrying perhaps, Tagovailoa does not even bother to slip on the ground when he tries certain runs, and prefers to lower his shoulder to make contact with the defenders. Brave, but quite terrifying considering his recent history of concussions.
With such a locked game, there are bound to be chances late in the game. As Miami does not kill the game, Kenny Pickett finds himself with the ball to go for the victory just over 3 minutes from time. While he is 30 yards from goal, his pass for Diontae Johnson (5 rec, 42 yards) is intercepted. His defense quickly recovers possession, and Pittsburgh has another opportunity to go back in front. This time, it’s 25 yards from the end zone that Pickett is once again looking for Johnson, for a new interception.
Miami defenders were able to capture the balls that were coming their way, and that made the difference. The level of the two attacks remains worrying whatever happens. Beyond the interceptions launched by Pickett, Pittsburgh still suffers from a struggling offensive line, which notably prevents Najee Harris from fully expressing his qualities on the ground.
