With their bye week now behind them the Pittsburgh Steelers are now preparing to host the Miami Dolphins next Monday night in Week 8 action and not surprisingly, the home team opened Monday morning as 14.5-point favorites in that contest, according to vegasinsider.com.
The Dolphins have yet to win a game this season and on Sunday they lost their sixth consecutive game of 2019 to the Buffalo Bills 31-21 on the road. In that game, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 23 of his 35 total pass attempts for 282 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was also sacked once by the Bills defense. His lone touchdown pass of the game went to wide receiver DeVante Parker from 12-yards out with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
Fitzpatrick also had an 11-yard touchdown run late in that contest. Running back Kalen Ballage had the Dolphins other score in that loss to the Bills, a 3-yard run early in the second quarter to give Miami their first lead of the 2019 season.
For the season, Fitzpatrick, who will likely start next Monday night against the Steelers has thrown for 717 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s been sacked six times this season. The Dolphins have also surrendered 24 sacks in total in their first six games. He is 0-6 against the Steelers all-time with his last start against Pittsburgh coming in Week 3 of the 2018 regular season as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Dolphins running game is led by running back Kenyan Drake entering Week 8 as he has rushed for 174 yards on 47 total carries. Wide receiver Preston Williams leads the Dolphins in receiving through six games as he has registered 314 yards and a touchdown on 23 total receptions.
Defensively for the dolphins, linebacker Jerome Baker leads the team in total tackles with 38 and not too far behind him is fellow linebacker Raekwon McMillan with 35. Defensive end Taco Charlton has three sacks this season while cornerback Bobby McCain has the team’s only interceptions this season.
The Steelers are 14-13 all-time against the Dolphins and 8-4 all-time when playing Miami in Pittsburgh. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is 4-2 in his career against the Dolphins and 2-1 against Miami at Heinz Field. Tomlin is 14-2 on Monday Night Football and 6-0 at home. The Steelers have won 17 straight Monday Night Football games in Pittsburgh.
