Just when you thought they were out, they pull you back in.

All apologies to Michael Corleone, the Pittsburgh Steelers win on Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens ensured the Black and Gold’s 2025 season isn’t sleeping with the fishes just yet.

The Steelers now sit at 7-6 and are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North Division.

A game that, at one point, seemed as though it would be a walk in the park for the Steelers is now shaping up to be a barn-burner and is next on the Steelers’ itinerary.

At Halloween, the Miami Dolphins sat at 2-7. Since then, the team has rattled off four straight wins and now is in contention for a playoff berth.

That winning streak includes the one last week at the New York Jets, which marked the first time in his career Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa won a “cold-weather” game — defined as any game with a temperature of 46 degrees or below at kickoff. He had been 0-7 in such starts prior to that game.

For Monday, the National Weather Service is forecasting a gametime temperature of 21 degrees, with a wind chill of 11. Given Tagovailoa’s futility in such situations, it figures the Dolphins will be leaning on their running game, which ranks eighth in the league in overall yards and fifth in yards per attempt.

That seemingly doesn’t bode well for a Steelers defense that has given up over 200 yards rushing in their past two games.

But Jim Wexell of 247sports.com said there is reason to believe this could be the week the Steelers “D” stops the bleeding.

Wexell said rookie DL  Derrick Harmon is expected back after a four-game absence. In the four games Harmon has missed, the Steelers have allowed an average of 191 yards a game, Wexell said.

“So there is the hope,” he added.

When Tagovailoa is asked to throw, he won’t have to worry about S Minkah Fitzpatrick roaming the Steelers’ secondary. Fitzpatrick was a piece of the trade the Steelers made with the Dolphins in the offseason that netted the Steelers TE Jonnu Smith and CB Jalen Ramsey.

Fitzpatrick, the three-time All-Pro, has had a down season by his standards. He’s netted one interception, the same amount he had all of last season, and when he’s targeted this season, quarterbacks have a 63% completion rate, the second highest of his career.

Still, Wexell doesn’t believe Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers should tempt fate.

 ”I wouldn’t target him,” he said. “ That’s a headline, ready to scream: ‘Minkah beats Steelers on Monday Night Football, fans boo ‘Renegade’ again.'”

Other tidbits

The Dolphins and Steelers have played 29 meaningful times since 1971, with 25 of those games taking place in the regular season. The Steelers won 13 and the Dolphins took 12.Six of those games have been on “Monday Night Football,” with the Steelers holding a 4-2 edge.The teams have an even split of postseason wins against each other, at two apiece.Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger made his first-ever NFL start at the Dolphins, a 13-3 Steelers win on Sept. 26, 2004, in a game delayed by 7.5 hours because of conditions brought about by Hurricane Jeanne.The 2004 game was hardly the only time bad weather has befallen the two franchises when they have played: There was the 1989 monsoon in Miami. And who can forget the infamous 2007 game in Pittsburgh featuring this punt?Current Steelers who were once part of the Dolphins’ 53-man roster include CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith. S Deshon Elliott and QB Skylar Thompson were once Dolphins but are currently on injured reserve.Current Dolphins who were once part of the Steelers’ 53-man roster include S Minkah Fitzpatrick. OL James Daniels and CB Artie Burns were once Steelers but are currently on injured reserve.