The Pittsburgh Steelers are firing on all cylinders after their dominant 28-15 Week 15 win against the Miami Dolphins. Vibes are at a season high for fans, and for good reason. After a November that involved the Steelers going the entire month without a completed pass of over 20 air yards, the Steelers' offense is once again looking like a well-oiled machine. How the Steelers broke out of their 6-6 swoon to their current 8-6 record was not just due to the offense, however. Their defense swamped Lamar Jackson in the Steelers-Ravens Week 14 showdown and held Derrick Henry to under four yards per carry.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen celebrates with Payton Wilson during a win over the Miami Dolphins at home during the 2025 season.
In their Week 15 Monday Night Football victory over the Dolphins, the Steelers' defense dismantled the Miami offense to the point that the Dolphins announced a new starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
The defense deserves its flowers, as the highest-paid unit in the NFL has shown its merit toward the end of the season. However, if the Steelers' offense can continue playing solid, complementary football, that's when the sky becomes the limit for the 2025 Steelers.
On the coaching side, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith has had his fair share of criticism this season. The Steelers' offense has been stagnant at best for much of the season. When you go an entire month without a completed pass of over 20 yards, the offense can lose faith in its scheme. You can tell a team's merit and will by how they play when times are good and when times are tough.
With their backs against the wall, the Steelers' resounding response in Weeks 14 and 15 has been inspiring. There is no better example of this than Steelers' running back and one of the best stories in the NFL this season, Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell, who is now in his fifth season, spent the previous four seasons as a backup running back on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gainwell has never had a season of over 400 yards rushing or over 300 yards receiving, until this season. He recently gave his take via 93.7 The Fan on his OC and overall success in 2025.
"Arthur Smith, he’s a very smart coach," Gainwell said. "He’s a very smart offensive coordinator, him putting guys in positions to do jobs. Understanding what guys bring to the table and me working hard throughout camp really did put a big check mark in his box to see what I can really do."
The Steelers also have considerable running back depth, with starting running back Jaylen Warren and rookie third-round draft pick Kaleb Johnson to contend with for snaps. However, Johnson struggled coming out of the gate to start the season, and Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin is notoriously tough on rookies, a proponent of players having to earn their snaps. With Johnson riding the pine for a few weeks, that gave Gainwell additional opportunities to shine in Smith's system.
AP
Steelers' running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell celebrate after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.
Gainwell's play has become arguably the most consistent among any of the Steelers' offensive playmakers in 2025, and the team will need him to continue to shine as they make their playoff push to end the year.
Steelers' Season Is In Their Own Hands
The 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers' success will depend on what happens in the final three weeks of the season. They have two key things on their side to close the regular season: control and belief. Pittsburgh controls their own destiny for the AFC North title. They currently hold a one-game lead over their rival, the Baltimore Ravens, and play the Ravens again in the final game of the season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.
The Steelers are not reliant on anyone else; everything is right in front of them. If they win, they're in. The Steelers have been playing their best football recently, and the team is all in. They believe in each other and in the coaching staff. Gainwell signed a one-year contract with the Steelers for $1.79 million in the offseason. He believed in himself, and just like that, it's paying off.
What do you think of Gainwell's thoughts on Smith? Comment below!
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