Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Maxwell hasn’t played since the team’s Week 15 victory over the New York Jets. If the Dolphins are going to upset the Steelers, they might have to do it without Maxwell.
For the second straight day, Maxwell did not practice. He has been out the last two weeks because of an ankle injury he suffered in the Dolphins 34-13 victory over the Jets. Dolphins head coach Adam Gase says Maxwell is day-to-day.
In the Dolphins upset win over the Steelers in Week 6, Maxwell played a key role in slowing down All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. Maxwell and the Dolphins were able to limit Brown to four catches and 39 yards receiving. That is tied for the lowest total of production Brown has had the entire season.
A similar performance by Maxwell and the Dolphins defense will greatly improve their chances on the road at Heinz Field on Sunday. Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph says Maxwell has been trying to get back in time for the playoff game.
He’s rehabbing hard,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said on Thursday. “He wants to be out there. He’s trying. We’re not sure; but he is trying to play this week.”
If Maxwell cannot play on Sunday, Xavien Howard, Tony Lippett and Bobby McCain will have the task of slowing down Brown and the Steelers offense. If their performances the last two weeks are an indication, the Dolphins could be in trouble.
In their Week 16 34-31 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins defense gave up a total of 589 yards. In their 35-14 loss to the New England Patriots in the regular season finale, Miami’s defense gave up 396 yards.
Pittsburgh had the number seventh-ranked offense in the NFL during the regular season as they averaged 372.6 yards per game. Some teams don’t have one superstar on their team, but the Steelers have three of them on offense in quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell and Brown.
Joseph said he is worried about all three players but the Steelers offense starts with the production of Bell.
“If you can’t contain Bell, you can’t contain ‘AB’ (Antonio Brown),” Joseph said. “Obviously, Ben (Roethlisberger) is the trigger-puller, and that’s important also, but Bell is getting the average of like 27 opportunities a game – in the run and pass game alike – so that’s where it starts. If you can’t contain Bell, you can’t contain ‘AB,’ so it’s a matter of having a game plan where you can kind of bend, don’t break, in some areas; but also having enough scheme to keep ‘84’ (Antonio Brown) in front of you.”
Twitter: @antwanstaley
