The Miami Dolphins faced another challenging outing in cold weather, continuing their unfortunate trend with a disappointing performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Practicing in snowy conditions in preparation for the game, the Dolphins struggled to translate that experience into success on the field, ultimately losing 14-5 in frigid temperatures at Acrisure Stadium, where the kickoff temperature was just 17 degrees.
Historically, Miami has had difficulty winning games in low temperatures, falling to an astonishing 0-14 record when the kickoff temperature is 40 degrees or colder since 2000, according to ESPN Insights. This record contributes to the Dolphins’ reputation for poor cold-weather performance.
The game’s turning point came in the third quarter, where the Dolphins’ offense faltered severely, accumulating negative-20 yards while the Steelers capitalized, scoring 14 points. By the time the fourth quarter began, Miami had achieved merely five first downs, highlighting an ineffective offensive strategy.
The rushing attack was ineffective, totaling only 63 yards. Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II, who had shown promise with two touchdowns in his last three games, left the game due to an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return, further hampering the Dolphins’ efforts.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa battled through a rocky start, throwing two touchdown passes to tight end Darren Waller in a late-game surge. However, his early-game mistakes, including an NFL-leading 15th interception of the season, overshadowed his performance. Despite completing 22 of 28 passes for 254 yards, the offense could not recover from the early deficit.
One of the few bright spots for Miami was kicker Riley Patterson, who connected on a career-long 54-yard field goal in the second quarter. Patterson has been a reliable asset for the Dolphins this season, making 24 of 26 field goal attempts.
While the result was disappointing, the Dolphins will look to regroup and address their offensive deficiencies as they prepare for future matchups, hopeful that adjustments will lead to better performances in challenging conditions.