Jan 3, 2017 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – When the Steelers turn on video from their previous game in Miami, it’s not going to be a pleasant viewing.

The film, as the saying goes, doesn’t lie.

Defensive players spent too much time on the ground or grasping at air as Miami running back Jay Ajayi ran past, around and over them for 204 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s white jersey was clean at the end of the Dolphins’ 30-15 victory in Miami as he wasn’t sacked and was rarely pressured while throwing for 252 yards, including seven completions for 91 yards to Jarvis Landry.

And Pittsburgh’s offense was stymied throughout most of the game, gaining just 297 yards, including a season-low 169 passing as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was forced to leave briefly in the second quarter after suffering a meniscus injury that required surgery the next day.

“Make no mistake, they got after us,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “They got after us in just about every way. We prepare with that understanding. We realize that each game stands alone but you can’t deny what is on video. What is on video is that the last time we saw these guys they flat out got after us.”

It wasn’t pretty.

“We weren’t able to tackle their runners,” Tomlin said. “Their offensive line won the line of scrimmage and won it consistently, whether it was interior runs or perimeter runs. We are not going to pretend like Jay Ajayi’s 200-yard day was a lightning strike. No, it was very real. I don’t think it’s appropriate to take that approach.”

In other words, the Steelers aren’t paying attention to the fact they’re 10-point favorites in the rematch, which will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday in an AFC Wild Card playoff game at Heinz Field. They’re more focused on the beating Miami put on them Oct. 16.

History suggests the Steelers should be very wary of Miami. The Steelers have played a postseason rematch with a non-division opponent that beat them earlier in the season 11 times. They’ve won the second game just three times, though two have come in the most recent opportunities, in the 2005 season against Indianapolis and in 2010 against the New York Jets.

But the Steelers and Dolphins are much different than they were three months ago.

The Steelers are healthier than they have been in the past three postseasons and are riding a seven-game winning streak.

Miami, meanwhile, is without its starting safeties, and others on its defense, while Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey also is out.

“We will watch it,” Steelers guard David DeCastro said of the previous meeting with Miami. “You are always going to watch the most recent game, like you would do with any team, just to get a feel. We are different. They are different. And it’s a different game.”

The Dolphins also could be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who has missed the past three games with a sprained knee.

Veteran backup Matt Moore has played well in Tannehill’s absence, throwing eight touchdown passes and three interceptions. But the Dolphins are being coy regarding Tannehill’s status after the quarterback resumed throwing at practice last week.

“I think their personality remains the same,” Tomlin said. “I think that’s often the case when you have a backup who is more experienced than your starter. You want to be able to function in a very fluid manner and have business as usual. The presence of Matt Moore has allotted that for them.”

That means the Steelers can expect a heavy dose of Ajayi, unless they prove they can stop him.

The second-year running back led the NFL with three 200-yard games, one against the Steelers and two against the Buffalo Bills. The game against the Steelers was Ajayi’s coming out party as the until then little-used running back hadn’t received more than 13 carries in a game.

While he had nearly half of his 1,272 yards in his three games against the Steelers and Bills, he also ran for 531 yards in his other eight starts, an average of more than 66 yards per game. The Steelers would probably take that total. The problem is figuring out how to make it happen.

Which is why the Steelers won’t just study what Miami did against them but also look at all of Miami’s games to see what worked for defenses.

“I think all of the film is useful,” Tomlin said. “So some of the most recent tape is going to be significant. … There are certain things that you can glean from global tape, tape dating back to our game and even prior to.

“We’re going to look at recent tape and we’re going to look at all of the tape for different reasons.”

Tomlin said he was pleased with the play of backup quarterback Landry Jones in last the win Sunday over Cleveland. … Tomlin said defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee), linebacker Anthony Chickillo (ankle), safety Robert Golden (ankle), tight end Xavier Grimble (ribs) and tight end Ladarius Green (concussion) each have a good chance to play against the Dolphins. Defensive end Ricardo Mathews (ankle), linebacker Vince Williams (shoulder) and cornerback Justin Gilbert (shoulder), all of whom suffered injuries against Cleveland, are still being evaluated.