Steelers fans across the globe couldn’t believe their eyes on Monday night as their favorite team played a football game that didn’t give everyone constant heart palpitations for three hours. The first half was essentially a rock fight between the two squads, but contrary to their previous second-half letdowns, Mike Tomlin’s club came out firing on all cylinders in the second half to put this game out of reach in a hurry. This felt like complementary football at its finest, with the offense, defense, and special teams units pulling their weight en route to an impressive win.
The franchise has now made history with 23 straight home games on Monday Night Football, a streak that spans all the way back to October of 1991.
That’s not the only history being made, though. It feels fitting that this would be the first-ever iteration of dudes & dudes without any “losers” on the list. Consider me impressed.
Dude: RB Kenneth Gainwell
After signing a one-year deal in the offseason, Gainwell’s breakout campaign continued on Monday night to the tune of 126 yards from scrimmage. He hauled in all seven of his targets on the night, and half of his rushing attempts were deemed successful as well. His signature play came on a run that bounced to the right side, easily brushed off a safety that was working downhill, and proceeded to rip off a 38-yard scamper. Aaron Rodgers stated his wish to get Gainwell paid in the offseason, and you better believe that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will be lobbying for him to remain in the fold.
Dude: Steelers Run Defense
The number one priority for the Steelers coming into this game was figuring out a way to slow down the Dolphins’ rushing attack that had been one of the most efficient and explosive units lately as they’ve shifted philosophies on that side of the ball. In the bitter cold, this unit was up to the task. By holding them to a 29% rushing success rate on early downs, Teryl Austin’s troops forced their opponent into a style they simply didn’t want to play with more true dropback situations. Captain Cam Heyward led the group with three stops; the much maligned Patrick Queen was frequently around the ball, while the rest of the front controlled the point of attack. Mission successful.
Dude: OT Dylan Cook
You’ve probably heard me say that offensive line depth is the biggest oxymoron in the sport, but Cook was clearly out to prove me wrong by not allowing a single pressure on 30 pass sets. It’s a blessing to get that type of play from your fourth-stringer, but what made it even more impressive was that the Steelers didn’t feel the need to tie up excessive resources to help him either. The offensive line in general started to wear down the opposition as the game wore on because the time of possession was in their favor for once. It’s too early to make long-term proclamations about Cook’s future, but he definitely deserves to start the rest of the season with Broderick Jones on injured reserve. After that, who knows?
Dude: CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Imagine telling someone nine months ago that the Steelers would acquire Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay in the offseason but would turn to James Pierre and Asante Samuel Jr. for stability in their secondary. The former has been one of the biggest nuisances at the position in limited playing time, and the latter was signed off the street following a significant surgery that abruptly ended his time in Los Angeles. Ball skills have always been a major strength of Samuel’s game, which isn’t a surprise given his father’s reputation. In the first quarter, he made an excellent play, getting depth in zone coverage and high-pointing the football to secure a takeaway. It wasn’t the way that the front office drew it up, but it feels like Pittsburgh’s secondary now has reliable options heading into the home stretch.
Dude: WR Ben Skowronek
The Pro Bowl itself has drifted into obscurity in the modern era, but the individual accolade does still mean something to players themselves. Skowronek and the Steelers social media team have been lobbying for him big-time throughout the month, and that isn’t some gimmick—this recognition is deserved. He registered a pair of special teams tackles last night, bringing his season total to 15, the third-most among all NFL players. He also made a nifty save at the goal line to prevent a touchback and prevent the Dolphins from getting better field position. The Steelers special teams as a whole has been an additive part of their efforts this year, and Skowronek has been a catalyst in that regard.
Dude: HC Mike Tomlin
One of the more fair criticisms of Tomlin over the years has been his lack of aggression when it comes to game management, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him so gung-ho in critical situations last night. Pittsburgh struggled on third downs in the earlier parts of the game, but his aggressiveness to go for it on fourth down provided a nice lift and surplus hidden value. It’s also worth remembering that he was quite literally booed off the field during their last home game loss to the Buffalo Bills. His response was having his players ready to set the tone from a physicality standpoint and battle in the elements for four quarters. Having been a firm believer that teams take on the identity of their coach in these moments, he deserves kudos for what was a more lopsided victory than what the final scoreboard indicated.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: DB’s Steelers Dudes & Duds: Run D Roars, Depth Shines vs. Dolphins
