The Miami Dolphins will play Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. next Sunday at Heinz Field in their AFC wild-card playoff game. The game will air on CBS.
After the Dolphins (10-6) lost to New England, 35-14, on Sunday they knew they were locked in as the No. 6 seed in the AFC, and that they were playing third-seeded Pittsburgh (11-5).
The only thing that remained was what day and time the Dolphins would play. The entire playoff field was officially set Sunday night.
The Dolphins (10-6) are making their first playoff appearance since 2008. And they’re playing an opponent they’ve defeated the past two times they’ve played.
Miami defeated Pittsburgh, 30-15, on Oct. 16 at Hard Rock Stadium in a game in which running back Jay Ajayi rushed for 204 yards. That 15-point victory is the Dolphins’ second-largest margin this season after the 34-13 victory over the New York Jets two weeks ago.
Tom Brady polished off a season where he had the best touchdown pass-to-interception ratio (28-2) in NFL history. Now, the Dolphins, with their defense reeling, must find their footing to provide any resistance in Pittsburgh next week. (Omar Kelly, Steve Svekis) (Omar Kelly, Steve Svekis)
Miami also defeated Pittsburgh, 34-28, in December 2013 in the snow at Heinz Field.
The Dolphins and Steelers will meet for the fourth time in the playoffs and the first time since the 1984 AFC Championship game, which the Dolphins won, 45-28, on Jan. 6, 1985.
Miami is 2-1 all-time against Pittsburgh in the playoffs, winning in 1972 (21-17 in the AFC Championship) and losing in 1979 (34-14 in a divisional playoff game) before winning again in the 1984 playoffs.
Caption Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde: You saw why the Patriots are the favorites Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde talk about the Dolphins' loss the Patriots Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde talk about the Dolphins' loss the Patriots Caption Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde: You saw why the Patriots are the favorites Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde talk about the Dolphins' loss the Patriots Omar Kelly and Dave Hyde talk about the Dolphins' loss the Patriots Caption Adam Gase: Brady's 'a Hall of Fame quarterback and it happens... a lot' Adam Gase on the loss to the Patriots , upcoming playoff game in Pittsburgh , and Ryan Tannehill's status Adam Gase on the loss to the Patriots , upcoming playoff game in Pittsburgh , and Ryan Tannehill's status Caption Cameron Wake talks about the loss to New England and upcoming playoff game versus Pittsburgh Cameron Wake talks about the loss to New England and upcoming playoff game versus Pittsburgh Cameron Wake talks about the loss to New England and upcoming playoff game versus Pittsburgh Caption Matt Moore talks playoffs and challenges the Patriots presented Matt Moore talks playoffs and challenges the Patriots presented Matt Moore talks playoffs and challenges the Patriots presented Caption Ndamukong Suh talks about loss to Patriots and elevated level of play in the playoffs Ndamukong Suh talks about loss to Patriots and elevated level of play in the playoffs Ndamukong Suh talks about loss to Patriots and elevated level of play in the playoffs
The Dolphins, under first-year coach Adam Gase, ended the 2016 regular season winning nine of their last 11 games after a 1-4 start.
Pittsburgh enters the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak and seemingly fresh after resting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown, among others, for Sunday’s 27-24 overtime victory against Cleveland.
Gase said after Sunday's game that he’d make the decision on whether injured quarterback Ryan Tannehill would play this week. Tannehill, who sustained a sprained anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament against Arizona game on Dec. 11, has been seen wearing a brace on his left knee the past few days.
In the other wild-card round matchups, Oakland plays at Houston (4:35 p.m., ESPN) and Detroit visits Seattle (8:15, NBC) on Saturday, and the New York Giants play at Green Bay (4:40, FOX) in the other Sunday game.