Pittsburgh Steelers vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats On Oct 16, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 16, 2016

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Jay Ajayi rushed for a career-high 204 yards on 25 carries as the Miami Dolphins upset the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-15 on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.

Ajayi, who scored twice, became the first Dolphins 200-yard rusher since Reggie Bush did it on Dec. 18, 2011, at the Buffalo Bills.

It was easily the most impressive game of the season for the Dolphins (2-4), whose only other win came in overtime over the Cleveland Browns.

The Steelers (4-2) survived an injury scare when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sat out one series in the second quarter after hurting his left knee.

Roethlisberger returned in the third quarter but did not have one of his better games. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. But he had just 73 yards passing through three quarters.

In the past three years, he is 14-3 at home but just 9-8 on the road.

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill outplayed Roethlisberger. Tannehill had fans calling for his benching a week ago, but he completed 24 of 32 passes for 252 yards and no interceptions against the Steelers.

Miami scored first, getting a 30-yard field goal. After forcing a Steelers punt to open the game, Miami capped a nine-play, 53-yard drive with Franks' kick.

Pittsburgh took an 8-3 lead on its next drive, getting a 60-yard touchdown on an end-around run by Darrius Heyward-Bey and a two-point conversion pass to Le'veon Bell.

The score came after the Steelers had been stopped on a third-down sack by Andre Branch. However, two penalties called on Miami -- including a defensive holding on cornerback Byron Maxwell -- kept the drive alive.

Another penalty -- this time for an illegal formation -- nixed what would have been a Miami touchdown pass to tight end Dominique Jones. Instead, Miami settled for a Franks 30-yard field goal.

Miami closed the half with a 16-8 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Damien Williams. The touchdown was set up by a 39-yard pass from Tannehill to Jarvis Landry, who was tackled at the two by former Miami Hurricanes cornerback Artie Burns.

The Dolphins stretched their lead to 23-8 on a one-yard run by Ajayi in the third quarter.

Pittsburgh cut its deficit to 23-15 on a Roethlisberger 23-yard touchdown pass to Cobi Hamilton with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter.

But the Dolphins recovered an onside kick and Ajayi put the game away with a 62-yard touchdown run around right end.

NOTES: Steelers CB Artie Burns, a rookie first-round pick, made his homecoming at the same stadium where he played college ball for the Miami Hurricanes. ... Steelers DE Cameron Heyward (hamstring) missed a game due to injury for the first time in his career, including college and high school. He had played in 85 straight NFL games (49 starts). ... The Steelers were without several other key players, including WR Markus Wheaton, RT Marcus Gilbert and LB Ryan Shazior. ... Miami placed starting OLB Koa Misi (neck) on injured reserve, and he is likely done for the season. ... Miami was also without TE Jordan Cameron and CB Xavien Howard. .... Dolphins LT Branden Albert returned after missing two games, first with a leg problem and then an illness that caused him to lose 12 pounds. ... Dolphins LG Laremy Tunsil returned after missing Miami's previous game because he slipped in the shower on Sunday morning, injuring his ankle.