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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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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with T.J. Watt #90 and Stephon Tuitt #91 after sacking Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals (not pictured) in the third quarter on September 30, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with T.J. Watt #90 and Stephon Tuitt #91 after sacking Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals (not pictured) in the third quarter on September 30, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2. Defense forces four turnovers

It doesn’t matter if Ryan Fitzpatrick or Josh Rosen start for the Dolphins, Miami will struggle to hold onto the ball. Fitzpatrick, who has started two games this season, was benched after throwing three interceptions in Week 2. He was promoted back to the starting role for Week 7 following a two-interception performance by Rosen.

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The Dolphins traded away their best offensive lineman, Laremy Tunsil earlier this season. That move has contributed to Fitzpatrick and Rosen being sacked a combined 22 times this season. The Steelers’ defense is tied for fifth in sacks this season with 20.

In his last three games, T.J. Watt has three sacks. During that same span, Cameron Heyward has 3.5 sacks. The two anchors of Pittsburgh’s pass rush are looking to reassert the defensive front’s dominance. Along with Bud Dupree and Javon Hargrave, the team’s top pass rushers will go for strip-sacks against the Dolphins.

Minkah Fitzpatrick is going up against the team that drafted him in 2018. The promising defensive back quickly requested out of Miami earlier this season and Pittsburgh sent the Dolphins a 2020 first-round pick for the Alabama product. Who knows if there are some underlying tensions there? Hopefully, Fitzpatrick has a special performance against his former team.

Miami has thrown 10 interceptions, which are tied for the second-most in the NFL. Even though Pittsburgh’s pass coverage isn’t terrific, it’s good enough to fool either of Miami’s quarterbacks several times.

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