Emotions ran high during a tense Monday night clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers sealed a 28-15 win and tightened their grip on the AFC race with an 8-6 record under the bright lights of Acrisure Stadium. But while the franchise celebrates, a tense late-game moment has sparked fresh controversy for its cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who may draw attention from the league for all the wrong reasons.

“He weak as f–k,” cornerback Jalen Ramsey said, via FinsXtra’s post on X.

In a clip shared by FinsXtra on X, Ramsey used these strong words, which appeared to be directed at the Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. His reaction came just after the Dolphins’ crucial play that took place late in the fourth quarter with just 2:32 left on the clock. The Steelers were up 28–15, and the Dolphins had just scored on a short touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to tight end Darren Waller.

Then, they attempted a two-point conversion but failed when Tagovailoa’s pass to tight end Greg Dulcich fell incomplete. Now, it looks like Ramsey’s outburst could land him in trouble for showing unsportsmanlike conduct on the field. According to Section 3 of Rule 12 in the NFL rulebook, a player can’t use abusive, threatening, or insulting language toward opponents, teammates, officials, or league representatives.

The league labels this gesture as a “prohibited act.” And if Ramsey’s reaction falls under it, punishment could follow. Meanwhile, disciplinary action isn’t something Ramsey is unfamiliar with. The NFL handed him a $14,491 fine and ejection for striking wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. It was during the Week 11 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

According to Ramsey, he lost his cool after Chase spat on him. The NFL later confirmed the incident, leading to a one-game suspension and a fine for the receiver. As for Ramsey, it will be his third fine of the season if the NFL punishes him again. Back to the Week 15 matchup, the Steelers silenced their doubters yet again.

Despite Jalen Ramsey’s hiccup, the Steelers made a statement win

The Steelers’ offense stole the high-stakes win by putting up a strong passing and rushing performance. They looked out of sync early in the game, opening the game with three straight punts, with two of those drives ending quickly. But despite the slow start, things changed before halftime. The franchise carried out a smooth 60-yard touchdown drive to build momentum. 

They brought the same energy in the second half and opened the third quarter with three straight touchdown drives. The first touchdown of the second half came from a 19-yard scoring pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Rodgers scored another one after a 28-yard throw to wide receiver DK Metcalf.

During the third quarter, the Steelers completely controlled the game, holding the Dolphins to negative yardage. By the end of the game, the Steelers had produced 336 total yards, outgaining the opponents by 51 yards. Rodgers delivered one of his cleanest performances ‌this season. He completed 23 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. The run game also chipped in, with five different rushers racking up 135 yards and two scores.

Still, the Steelers face a bigger challenge of breaking their playoff tradition. The six-time Super Bowl champion must not only reach the playoffs but also win the game. Head coach Mike Tomlin‘s team hasn’t achieved this feat since 2016.