NFL playoff | Steelers vs. Dolphins: How they match up

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an open-door policy.

In order to prepare for Sunday’s wild-card game against Miami, the Steelers practiced this week with fans on and the doors open at the team’s indoor practice facility. The goal was to simulate the anticipated blustery game conditions at Heinz Field, where the temperatures are expected to be in the teens.

“Extreme measures have to be taken,” guard Ramon Foster said, according to TribLive.com. “Sunday is going to be a cold, cold game, so why baby guys?

“Open up the doors and turn on the fans. What better scenario?”

The Steelers have played six games in their 84-year history when the temperature dipped below 20 degrees.

Touchdown Brown

Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown has had at least 100 catches in four consecutive seasons, tying him with former Indianapolis star Marvin Harrison for the longest such streak in league history.

Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are a lethal duo. They have combined for 50 touchdown passes, surpassing Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann for the most in club history.

All due respect

Impressive as Pittsburgh’s Brown, Roethlisberger and running back Le’Veon Bell are, Miami running back Jay Ajayi warns that people ignore the Dolphins’ offense at their peril.

“We hear a lot of talk about the other team and who they have and the players that they have and it’s kind of starting to get to me where you have to understand we’ve got players, too,” Ajayi told reporters this week, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“We’ve had guys playing at a high level and are showcasing their abilities and I think it’s time people need to respect the fact that we have players on our offense, too, and we can get some stuff done when we’re on our game.”

By the numbers

How teams compare statistically. All stats are per-game averages, except for sacks and turnover differential, which are for the season (league rank in parentheses):

Category | MIA | PIT

Points scored | 22.7 (17) | 24.9 (T10)

Points allowed | 23.8 (18) | 20.4 (10)

Pass offense | 218.8 (26) | 262.6 (T5)

Rush offense | 114.0 (9) | 110.0 (14)

Pass defense | 242.2 (15) | 242.6 (16)

Rush defense | 140.4 (30) | 100.0 (13)

Sacks | 33 (T19) | 38 (T9)

Penalty yards | 71.3 (30) | 66.8 (27)

Turnovers | +2 (13) | +5 (9)

Farmer’s pick

The Dolphins should be able to run the ball, and their front four can get to Roethlisberger. But it’s best to go with the home team and the better quarterback, and that’s definitely the Steelers on both counts.

STEELERS 31, DOLPHINS 27

sam.farmer@latimes.com

Follow Sam Farmer on Twitter @LATimesfarmer