Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins 2017: Prediction, Betting Odds, Preview For NFL Playoffs

The Miami Dolphins are back in the postseason for the first time in eight years, but it could be a short-lived appearance in the 2017 NFL playoffs. Miami visits the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon on Wild-Card Weekend.

Miami might have the toughest task of any team playing in the first round. The AFC’s No. 6 seed is the biggest underdog on the upcoming schedule, getting 10 points in their visit to Heinz Field.

The Dolphins have a few reasons to be optimistic about their chances. Miami finished the regular season with just one fewer win than Pittsburgh, and they even defeated the Steelers by 15 points earlier this year. But Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was banged up in the loss at Hard Rock Stadium, and now it’s the Dolphins who will be on the road with an injured signal caller.

Backup quarterback Matt Moore has started three consecutive games in place of Ryan Tannehill, who has been sidelined with sprained ligaments in his left knee. Miami head coach Adam Gase hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Tannehill suiting up, though he insists the quarterback will have to be healthy enough to practice during the week in order to start Sunday.

“That’s what I want to find out,” Gase told reporters about the possibility of Tannehill practicing this week. “I don’t know. I don’t want to say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’”

“You guys all know the guy’s a freak of nature. His body is unique and the way he heals the same way. We’ll just kind of take it one step at a time. We’ll have better idea, especially once we hit Wednesday, but probably Tuesday, I’ll have a good idea so gameplan-wise we can figure out what’s going on.”

Moore has been a more than adequate fill-in, throwing eight touchdown passes and three interceptions. Going on the road and putting up big numbers in a playoff game, however, is a different story.

Miami reached the playoffs by beating up on the easy part of their schedule. Aside from their win against the Steelers, the Dolphins went 0-5 against winning teams, losing by an average of 15 points per game.

Pittsburgh enters Sunday’s game as one of the NFL’s hottest teams. Even though they rested their starters in the season finale, the Steelers have won seven games in a row. They’ve scored at least 24 points in their last eight contests, and they shouldn’t have a problem finding the end zone against the Dolphins.

Entering the playoffs with the NFL’s 29th ranked defense, Miami hasn’t been able to stop anyone down the stretch. In the Dolphins’ last 10 games, only the Los Angeles Rams have scored less than 23 points. L.A. finished dead last in both yards and points scored.

The trio of Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell should have a big day against a mediocre Miami defense. The Steelers’ offense is especially good at home, averaging 30.5 points when Roethlisberger is at the helm.

Running back Jay Ajayi could keep the Dolphins in the game for a while, but the Steelers should win a high-scoring affair that surpasses the over/under of 47.

Prediction: Pittsburgh over Miami, 35-20