The Pittsburgh Steelers received some high praise following their 28-15 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium by Monday Night Football announcer and NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. Aikman told Scott Van Pelt on ESPN's SportsCenter that he believes the Steelers can be dangerous when it comes to playoff time. On Tuesday, another claim was made about the Steelers when it comes to the playoffs, and this time by an unlikely name.
YouTube / New Heights
Joe Thomas (middle) on the New Heights podcast with the Kelce brothers.
Former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas appeared on Up and Adams with Kay Adams, formerly of NFL Network, and had some glowing remarks for Pittsburgh. Thomas, an NFL Hall of Famer, admitted on his appearance on the podcast that he does view the Steelers as a rival, but also had some encouraging words for them as they look to win the AFC North and clinch a berth in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. The win over the Dolphins in primetime was apparently rather convincing.
"They’re gonna figure it out potentially at the right time and people are gonna realize how great the skirt steak is, just like the Pittsburgh Steelers," Thomas admitted. "It hurts me a little bit, but I think they’re one of the underdogs here to watch, as we get ready for playoff season, that might make a nice run."
Thomas also admitted in his appearance on the show that “for a Cleveland guy, it’s hard to say anything nice about Pittsburgh." However, Thomas still felt the need to deliver the praise that he did to the Steelers and the poise they threat should they make the playoffs. This is a significant statement coming from Thomas, who was a 10-time Pro Bowl selection during his time in Cleveland.
This praise comes just two short weeks after the Steelers received extremely vocal criticism of Head Coach Mike Tomlin and their on-field performance during a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 at home.
Arron Anastasia / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin on the sideline during a brutal loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2025.
Chants of "Fire Tomlin" and booing of the infamous rally song Renegade rang out in the Steelers' most recent home game prior to Monday night's victory. Since those moments, the Steelers are 2-0, full of momentum and primed to win the AFC North division for the first time since 2020.
Steelers Flip The Script Against Dolphins And Have Many Talking
The Steelers started slow on Monday night, as they have many times this season. However, once they took a 7-3 lead, they got going and never really looked back. The Steelers saw multiple scores from several different players and in many different ways. The defensive unit all but dominated, outside of a couple late scores from Miami in garbage time, to make the final score look closer than what it actually was. The Steelers performed well on both sides of the ball, and have been receiving kudos for it ever since.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throwing a pass in a Week 15 win over the Miami Dolphins in 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Steelers will look to continue their recent momentum this coming Sunday when they travel on the road to Ford Field to take on the Detroit Lions, a team that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is very familiar with. He faced them two times a year during his tenure with the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers may also get some much needed depth back in the fold from injury, with the potential return of defensive lineman Derrick Harmon coming on Sunday in Detroit. Harmon's status is not clear, but Tomlin did hint at a return for Harmon in his Tuesday press conference, as Harmon is aiming to get back into in-game action on Sunday.
Do you think the Steelers are an underdog should they make the playoffs in 2025? Are you surprised by Joe Thomas' remarks about his hated rival? Let us know in the comments below, or on our social media sites!
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