Steelers Trail 14-0 Early, Score 27 Unanswered Points to Keep Miami Winless
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave the Miami Dolphins a 14-point handicap to start Monday Night Football, and the winless Dolphins found a way to squander the lead.
On the Steelers first possession, Mason Rudolph threw an interception that Miami turned into a touchdown four plays later.
The second Pittsburgh possession Rudolph threw an incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs. The Dolphins turned around and drove 63 yards in 11 plays to go up 14-0 just before the first quarter expired.
From the start of the second quarter until the clock read 0:00, the Steelers stopped making mistakes and started causing them instead.
Pittsburgh went from losing the turnover battle 0-1 to snagging four takeaways to win the turnover margin 4-1.
The turnovers helped kept Miami from scoring and gave Pittsburgh more opportunities to keep scoring.
Despite struggling early, Rudolph finished 20-of-36 passing with 251 yards, two touchdown passes and the first quarter pick. The Steelers also got stability from running back James Conner, who racked up 145 yards and a touchdown rushing on 23 carries.
After leading 14-0, the Dolphins only finished one drive with a kick (punt, field goal or extra point).
The Dolphins drive chart from the second quarter to the fourth looked like this; punt, interception, end of first half, interception, turnover on downs, fumble, fumble, turnover on downs, end of game.
The Steelers improve to 3-4, while the Dolphins fall to 0-7.
Steelers 27 – Dolphins 14
Here are the highlights from Monday Night Football:
1st Quarter
Ryan Fitzpatrick to Allen Hurns 12-yd TD, 14-0 Dolphins
2nd Quarter
Mason Rudolph to Diontae Johnson 45-yd TD, 14-10 Dolphins
3rd Quarter
Rudolph to JuJu Smith-Schuster 26-yd TD, 17-14 Steelers
4th Quarter
James Conner 9-yd run, 24-14 Steelers
Final Call: Steelers win 27-14