The Pittsburgh Steelers are just an hour from kickoff at AT&T Stadium at the end of a tough three game road trip. If they walk out victorious, they will have cemented their place in Steelers lore as the best start in history at 8-0. The Dallas Cowboys are banged up and the Steelers are heavily favored, but they have struggled in similar situations in the recent past.
The Cowboys will be starting Garrett Gilbert at quarterback. Gilbert was a 6th round draft selection by the St. Louis Rams back in 2014, so perhaps his veteran presence will help stabilize the anemic offense from a week ago under rookie Ben DiNucci.
Steelers vs. Cowboys all time record: 15-17-0
Steelers at Cowboys all time record: 6-9-0
Last match result: 35-30 Cowboys (2016)
Notable free agent additions: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, DT Gerald McCoy, DT Dontari Poe (All three since released).
Notable draft picks: WR CeeDee Lamb, CB Trevon Diggs, DT Neville Gallimore, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Bradlee Anae
Steelers Inactive Players:
DT Tyson Alualu
CB Mike Hilton
QB Joshua Dobbs
TE Zach Gentry
G Derwin Gray
FB Derek Watt
Cowboys Inactive Players:
QB Ben DiNucci
WR Malik Turner
S Reggie Robinson
RB Sewo Olonilua
ILB Joe Thomas
DE Bradlee Anae
Ezekiel Elliot is officially active for this matchup after some late uncertainty surrounding his hamstring injury. Still could be limited or on a snap count throughout the game. If the game gets out of hand early, they may pull him in favor of Tony Pollard.
Avery Williamson is dressed for this game, though don’t expect to see him much per Keith Butler’s comments earlier in the week.
The Cowboys won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Ben Roethlisberger and the offense will be out on the field first.
Ben Roethlisberger with a nice scramble up the middle on 3rd and 8. He started the slide right around the 1st down marker, so it was close, but ultimately he converted and avoided the three-and-out.
A third and short, and the Steelers pick up another first down from James Conner up the middle. Ben Roethlisberger took a deep shot down the left sideline to Diontae Johnson in double coverage. Nearly picked off, but fell incomplete.
The Steelers offense is having some trouble staying on schedule as they have another 3rd and long. Ben went deep to Chase Claypool. Looked like some pass interference as it was a well placed ball by Ben. No marker and the Steelers will punt.
Jordan Berry pinned the Dallas Cowboys on the 15 yard line as multiple Steelers were there to force the fair catch.
The Cowboys’ rookie lineman, Tyler Biadasz, is already out questionable to return with an injury. For an already banged up line, this is not good news for Dallas.
T.J. Watt burst into the backfield on 1st down and tackled the running back, but the quarterback kept the ball. On 3rd down, a big completion from Garrett Gilbert to Amari Cooper. The first explosive play of the game.
The Cowboys are marching down the field a bit, converting another 3rd down. The Cowboys are nearing the red zone.
Tony Pollard off the left tackle for a nice pickup. The Cowboys are now on the 15 yard line with 2nd and 11.
Alex Highsmith with his first career sack on 3rd and 10, forcing the field goal. On a day where all the Steelers’ rookies are active, he notches his first sack.
The field goal is good, 3-0 Cowboys.
The Steelers with another quick three-and-out. A short pass on 3rd and 16 only picks up six. Good field position for the Cowboys to start their 2nd drive.
Robert Spillane in coverage against Dalton Schultz who got way up on 2nd down to give the Cowboys 3rd and short. On 3rd and short, Ezekiel Elliot up the middle, but he was just short of the 1st down. The Cowboys lined up like they were going for it, but were trying to get the Steelers offsides.
The first quarter stopped the play, and we will see how they line up with 4th and inches.
They opted to punt, and curiously Joe Haden was back to receive. Fair catch at around the 30 yard line.
Ben Roethlisberger to Chase Claypool on first for 14 yards. Ben to McFarland on the next play for 7 yards. The Steelers offense beginning to find some rhythm.
On third and one, Anthony Mcfarland up the middle, but he is well short of the sticks. 4th and 1 and the Steelers bring the offense out before calling a timeout.
Mike Tomlin not pleased on the sideline, you could see it all in his eyes.
The offense lining up in shotgun on 4th and one was not a great look. You have to make them at least respect the possibility of a quarterback keeper. The Steelers were stuffed and the Cowboys get the ball on downs.
On first the Steelers send what looks like the entire team on the blitz. They nearly get the sack, but Gilbert scrambles for a good pickup. T.J. Watt. on the next play burst into the backfield to deflect the pass. Garrett Gilbert with another first down scramble. The Steelers defense having nobody on contain.
A nice run stuff on 1st down, but play-action on 2nd down netted the Cowboys another large pickup in the middle of the field. The receiver was wide open.
Cameron Heyward with a bull rush up the middle for the near sack. Garrett Gilbert tossed the ball to the middle of the field incomplete, bringing up 3rd and 7.
T.J. Watt in coverage on CeeDee Lamb on an obvious mismatch. Lamb wide open in the end zone for the touchdown. 10-0 Cowboys.
The Steelers rush on 1st and 2nd to make it 3rd and manageable, but Ben’s short dump off to Diontae Johnson falls incomplete. Another three-and-out.
Some tricky special teams play by the Cowboys with a backwards pass across the field almost gave the Cowboys a 17 point lead. A block in the back brings the Cowboys back to the 30 yard line, but still near the red zone. This is the best start the Cowboys could have asked for.
On 3rd down, Amari Cooper trips himself up and brings up 4th down. The Cowboys field goal is good. 13-0 Cowboys.
The Steelers need to respond here before this game gets into a run-heavy grind for the Cowboys. The Cowboys will also be getting the ball back in the 2nd half, so crucial drive here.
Ben to Juju Smith-Schuster on 1st for a 8 yard pickup. Ben to Claypool on 2nd for 9 yards. The Steelers starting out this drive in rhythm.
Diontae Johnson’s number was called to pick up another first down, fighting through the defender on 1st contact with a stiff arm to cross the sticks.
After the 2:00 warning, the Steelers are at the 45 yard line. A deep shot over the middle. Chase Claypool nearly tackled before the ball arrived, might have been uncatchable.
Ben Roethlisberger got his knee rolled up on during the 2nd down play, he is clearly in some pain, but appears to be staying in the game.
3rd and 7 and Ben is limping noticeably. Regardless, Ben gets the ball to Eric Ebron for the first down pickup to get the Steelers into field goal range.
Ben to Claypool on the left sideline. Chase Claypool gets up almost 10-feet high for a catch and nearly a first down.
Ben Roethlisberger to James Washington in the back corner of the end zone. A nice pump fake by Ben left Washington wide open. Chris Boswell missed the extra point. A total team failure today so far. 13-6 Cowboys.
Ben headed to the locker room since the half is almost over. Hoping he can return in the 2nd half, or the already-flat offense will be forced to endure Mason Rudolph.
A good completion for the Cowboys turned into a Cam Sutton punch out right into Minkah Fitzpatrick’s hands. Turnover. Mason Rudolph in the game.
Rudolph’s first attempted pass was… not good. The Steelers picking up about one yard on each of the first two passes. Right around field goal range for Boswell to redeem his missed extra point. A ridiculous deflection caught by Juju picks up a good chunk, but there is a flag on the field. Offsetting penalties, replay the down.
The Steelers running one more play with 00:07 left and a timeout to get a more manageable field goal. This would be a 54 yard field goal attempt as it is.
The 3rd down pass was no good, so Boswell will attempt a season-long 54 yarder to end the half. The Cowboys call the timeout to ice the kicker.
The kick is wide left, but there is a flag down on the play. False start which is a dead ball penalty. Boswell gets another attempt, this time a 59 yard attempt. Chris Boswell redemption! The 59 yard field goal is good! 13-9 Cowboys. Halftime.
Join us for the second half here.
