When the Dolphins have the ball: Even without RB Ronnie Brown, the Dolphins have remained one of the best rush offenses in the league. Since Brown was injured, RB Ricky Williams has rushed for 532 yards on 129 carries and is 10th in the NFL with 1,090. If Williams, who injured his shoulder against Houston last week, plays, that will be a problem for the Steelers, whose rush defense, once No. 1 in the NFL, has faltered. They have allowed 171 and 175 yards rushing in two of their past three games -- their highest totals this season. What's more, their 36-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher ended against the Ravens when Ray Rice had 141 yards on 30 carries last week. The Dolphins' leading receivers are WR Davone Bess (71 catches) and Greg Camarillo (47), a pair of undrafted free agents who have combined for just one touchdown.

When the Steelers have the ball: The running game has suddenly disappeared. The Steelers have not rushed for more than 75 yards in any of the past three games and have combined for 188 yards on 64 carries in that time, an average of 2.9 yards per carry. They had just 48 yards on 23 carries against the Ravens, their fewest since the season opener. The absence of injured G Chris Kemoeatu the past two games has limited the amount of counter plays the offense will run. The Dolphins start a pair of rookie cornerbacks -- Vontae Davis and Sean Smith -- who have been susceptible to big plays. They have allowed a league-high 16 pass plays of 40 yards or longer and 54 plays of 20 or longer, third-most in the league. Ben Roethlisberger has had 15 pass plays of 20 or longer in the past two games. Roethlisberger, though, has been sacked 47 times, tying his personal high.

WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr.: The Steelers have not allowed a kick return for touchdown in the past five games after allowing four in the five prior. But Ginn and Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs are the only returners to have two kickoff returns for touchdown in the same game this season. Ginn did it Nov. 1 against the New York Jets when he returned kicks of 101 and 100 yards for touchdown. Only nine players have ever returned two kickoffs in the same game for a touchdown.

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Data

Game: Steelers (8-7) at Miami Dolphins (7-7).

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Land Shark Stadium, Miami.

TV: KDKA

Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

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The Dolphins have lost two in a row but still have a slim mathematical shot at making the playoffs. They are 7-4 lifetime at home against the Steelers, who have not played in Miami since 2004. The Steelers have won the past three meetings with the Dolphins, the most recent on Nov. 6, 2007 at Heinz Field. The Steelers have won two in a row and need a victory and some outside help to make the playoffs.

To win, the Dolphins must ...

1. Pack a Big Snack. Their success on the ground will depend on controlling Pro Bowl NT Casey Hampton.

2. Swim off the edge. They have to keep Roethlisberger in the pocket. He makes big plays on the move better than any NFL QB.

3. Have Ginn be a tonic. It would only be fitting if the Steelers' season ended because of a fifth kick return for touchdown.

To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Have fins to the left ... And deep throws to the right in Land Shark Stadium vs. a secondary that allows more big plays than anyone in the league.

2. Not let Ricky be picky. Williams is going against a rush defense that has allowed an average of 135.3 yards in the past three games.

3. Not go easy on J-Peezy. Former Steelers OLB Joey Porter, who lines against LT Max Starks, leads the Dolphins with eight sacks.

Ed Bouchette's blog on the Steelers and Gerry Dulac's Steelers chats are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.