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Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Bold predictions vs. Dolphins, Week 8

By Samuel Teets

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts to throwing a 76-yard touchdown pass during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts to throwing a 76-yard touchdown pass during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fights off the tackle of Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 24-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers fights off the tackle of Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. The 49ers won the game 24-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Coming off their bye week, the Pittsburgh Steelers should have their most dominant game of the season against the winless Miami Dolphins.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of their worst season in recent history, but the Week 8 matchup against the winless Miami Dolphins offers a week of hope and entertainment.

At 2-5, the Steelers still have a good chance to go 8-8. If things go Pittsburgh’s way, which they haven’t so far this season, the team might even reach 9-7. Long-term worries can be pushed aside for Week 8 though. This will be a week for Steelers fans to simply sit back and enjoy a game.

The Dolphins will travel to Heinz Field and take on the black and gold. At 0-6, Miami is perhaps the least talented team in the NFL. The Steelers should win this game easily and pad their seasonal statistics along the way.

3. Mason Rudolph throws for 300 yards

Per NBC Sports, Rudolph cleared the concussion protocol last week. The second-year quarterback was knocked out in Pittsburgh’s Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He was caught between two defenders and Earl Thomas drove up into Rudolph. Rudolph was unconscious for several minutes before being helped to the locker room.

It’s good to know Rudolph is already set to return. He will resume his role as the team’s starter and Devlin Hodges will shift back to the backup position. Hodges, an undrafted rookie, guided Pittsburgh to a Week 6 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

If you’ve been following Pittsburgh this season, you know the quarterback situation is bleak. The Steelers are only throwing for 200 yards per game, whereas they averaged 313 yards through the air last season. Rudolph is averaging 161.5 passing yards per game, although that number isn’t entirely precise considering he didn’t play for significant parts of Pittsburgh’s Week 2 and 5 matchups.

That being said, if there was ever a time for Pittsburgh’s pass attack to catch fire this season, it would be against the Dolphins. Miami’s defense is allowing 256.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 22nd in the league. Quarterbacks who face the Dolphins are completing 69.0 percent of their pass attempts and averaging a 127.9 passer rating, which is the highest passer rating allowed by any defense in the league.

Rudolph can be successful. He’s Oklahoma State’s all-time leader in passing yards. He also flashes potential during the preseason. If Rudolph fails against Miami’s defense, that will say a lot about his future professional prospects.

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