The wait was worth it in Pittsburgh.
After waiting through a nearly 90-minute weather delay and a touchdown-less first half, the Dallas Cowboys had just enough offense, and just enough time, to edge the Steelers 20-17 and end a dramatic matchup on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
The game ended after 1 a.m. Eastern after rain and thunderstorms passed over western Pennsylvania right as the game between two of the NFL’s classic franchises was scheduled to begin, pushing back kickoff. It would have been an even longer night for the Cowboys had they not pulled out the win, because for most of the night their offense was far superior, yet routinely had nothing to show for it because of mistakes, often by quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble.
Yet Prescott was sharp when it counted. Dallas entered the fourth quarter trailing 10-6 and got the ball only twice. Yet both possessions ended with touchdowns thrown by Prescott. The first was a 22-yard connection with Rico Dowdle for a 13-10 lead. When Pittsburgh scored with 4:56 remaining to lead 17-13, Prescott led the Cowboys on a 15-play, 70-yard drive. It was nearly derailed when Dowdle fumbled at the goal line on an attempted dive into the end zone, but Prescott jumped on the loose ball. Two plays later, he stayed in the pocket just long enough to evade the rush of defensive end T.J. Watt and found Jalen Tolbert for a four-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal.
Only 20 seconds remained. Pittsburgh’s final drive never threatened.
The Cowboys improve to 3-2, while Pittsburgh falls to 3-2.
Dallas outgained Pittsburgh 445-226 behind an offense that, at last, discovered a running game against one of the NFL’s best defenses against the run. Dallas finished with 109 rushing yards. Yet that, and Prescott’s 352 passing yards, nearly weren’t enough because of how often Dallas suffered self-inflicted mistakes, from their three turnovers, to their 11 penalties.
Justin Fields completed 15 of his 27 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers.
Dak Prescott speaks after win
Final: Cowboys 20, Steelers 17
This was delayed gratification. After a weather delay, and numerous struggles to close drives with points, the Cowboys come out on top to improve to 3-2. Pittsburgh falls to 3-2, with consecutive losses after a 3-0 start.
Dak Prescott finishes with 352 yards, with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble.
Dallas takes the lead in final seconds
The Cowboys were 0-for-3 in the red zone entering their final drive in Pittsburgh. They scored when it finally mattered most.
Facing a win-or-lose fourth-down play, Dak Prescott found Jalen Tolbert for a four-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left to take a 20-17 lead. Prescott has been wildly inconsistent tonight but threw the perfect pass off his back foot to find Tolbert on a crossing route.
Nearly a Dallas disaster
Just one yard from the end zone, facing second-and-goal, Dallas gave the ball to running back Rico Dowdle, who was slammed on his leap over the top of the line and lost control of the ball. The Cowboys were incredibly lucky that it was recovered by Dak Prescott.
Pittsburgh regains the lead in the fourth quarter
At last, the Steelers take a Dallas turnover and transform it into points. Five minutes and 32 seconds after Pittsburgh intercepted Dak Prescott for the second time tonight, Pat Freiermuth scores on a six-yard shovel pass from Justin Fields.
This is now Monday Morning Football in Pittsburgh, and it’s 17-13 Steelers with 4:56 left in the game.
Dak Prescott throws second interception
The Cowboys quarterback throws another pick, this time caught by Joey Porter Jr. Prescott came off the field shaking his head.
The key for Pittsburgh is whether this turnover will actually lead to points. Dallas has turned the ball over on an interception, a fumble and a blocked field goal in this game yet each of those opportunities has yielded zero points. Is this time different?
Third-down problems continue
Can you win if you can’t convert on third down? The Steelers are trying to find out. They are just 1-of-9 tonight in those situations, and the latest failed conversion led to their second consecutive punt of the second half.
In contrast, Dallas converted four third-down opportunities on its last scoring drive alone.
Dallas scores first touchdown
After three quarters, the Cowboys have finally scored a touchdown.
Dak Prescott, whose fumble and interception doomed previous drives, didn’t miss this time when in Pittsburgh territory. Prescott found Rico Dowdle wide open for a 22-yard touchdown pass to pull the Cowboys in front, 13-10, with 13:51 to play.
Steelers edge rusher heads to locker room
Nick Herbig, the Pittsburgh edge rusher who plays opposite of All-Pro T.J. Watt, was seen limping toward the locker room in the final minutes of the third quarter. Herbig has had an impactful game, with one recovered fumble and a tackle for loss.
Cowboys hurting themselves
Dallas has committed nine penalties with two minutes still to play in the third quarter. That includes four false starts.
Steelers block Cowboys kick
Dallas had seemed to find its offensive rhythm on its opening drive of the first half while moving the ball 50 yards on seven plays. Instead, it’s yet another drive where the Cowboys finish without points, after Pittsburgh blocked Brandon Aubrey’s field goal attempt from 38 yards.
Pittsburgh takes over on its own 27 yard line with 8:44 to go in the third quarter.
Touchdown, Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh takes its first lead of the night! Justin Fields, who left the game for two plays earlier in the drive to be evaluated for a potential head injury, threaded the ball between defenders for a 16-yard touchdown pass to Connor Hayward.
It’s 9-6, Steelers, early in the third quarter.
Justin Fields leaves game, then returns
Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback took a brutal hit near his helmet during the opening seconds of the third quarter and was replaced as he was evaluated for a potential concussion.
Kyle Allen — and not Russell Wilson, who is the third quarterback tonight — replaced Fields. Though Wilson took limited repetitions in practice this week, he is the designated emergency third quarterback.
Allen’s time under center lasted just two plays — enough time for him to complete a 19-yard pass — before Fields returned to the field.
Halftime: Cowboys 6, Steelers 3
Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising, but on a soaked field after a nearly 90-minute delay, the offenses have not been sharp tonight in Pittsburgh. The teams have combined for three field goals and 15 first downs.
It is a much more frustrating first half for Dallas. They outgained the Steelers 202-89 and averaged 6.5 yards per play, double Pittsburgh’s average. Two turnovers have ruined their chances to add to their point total, however.
Dallas regains the lead
Brandon Aubrey’s second field goal, from 33 yards, puts Dallas in front 6-3 with 8:51 to go before halftime.
Pittsburgh’s offense out of sync
Neither team has taken advantage of the other’s mistakes so far. After Dak Prescott’s fumble saved at least three points for Pittsburgh, its next drive went nowhere thanks to two false-start penalties. The Steelers have gone only 54 yards on their 18 plays so far.
Dallas gives the ball back
Each team started with a field goal on its opening drive. Each then watched as their quarterback turned the ball over on their second. Pressure by Steelers star rush end T.J. Watt collapsed the pocket around Dak Prescott and forced a fumble that Pittsburgh recovered in the final seconds of the first quarter.
Near-disaster for Pittsburgh
It’s been a shaky second possession for Steelers QB Justin Fields. One play after underthrowing an open receiver and nearly being intercepted, Fields fumbled when Linval Joseph of the Cowboys broke through the line and hit Fields in the backfield.
Fumbling has been an issue all season for Fields; he did it four times in his first four games.
Key Cowboys starter ‘out’
Marshawn Kneeland, the defensive end injured early in the first quarter, is considered questionable to return after appearing to injure his right leg. Kneeland was taken to the locker room on a cart.
Dallas punts
And that’s where the Cowboys’ lack of a rushing threat hurts them. They hurried up to the line of scrimmage facing third-and-1 hoping to catch Pittsburgh’s defense off-balance, but went to pass, and it ended with an intentional grounding penalty on Dallas. First punt of the night upcoming for Dallas.
Steelers answer
Both teams open with field goals on their first drive. Pittsburgh answers Dallas with a 41-yard field goal by Chris Boswell.
It’s Steelers 3, Cowboys 3, with 7:33 left in the first quarter.
Early injury for Dallas defense
Rookie Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland hobbled off the field during the Steelers’ opening series. If Kneeland misses time, it would be trouble for a defense that has already struggled this season. Kneeland was only starting because the Cowboys’ other edge rushers, Micah Parson and DeMarcus Lawrence, are out tonight with injuries.
Cowboys get on board first
Brandon Aubrey’s 55-yard field goal ends the Cowboys’ six-play, 21-yard first drive with points. Dallas is leaning on Dak Prescott’s arm early, as expected.
And we’re off
As this game readies for a delayed kickoff, Dallas receives the opening kickoff. Watch whether the Cowboys can get any semblance of a running game going. They have averaged 75.3 rush yards per game this season — dead last in the league.
What happened to Dallas’ vaunted defense?
Through their first four games under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer this season, the Cowboys rank 26th in total defense (355.3 yds/gm) and are tied for 27th in scoring defense (26.0 points/game). The defense has stood strong in each of Dallas’ two wins but have been torched in both losses.
Zimmer took over for Dan Quinn, who was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for the last three years (2021-2023) before taking the head coaching job in Washington this offseason.
SNF to kick off at 9:45 p.m. ET
With rain and thunderstorms passing over Pittsburgh, tonight’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup is expected to start at 9:45 p.m. ET.
The game went into a weather delay before the start of the first quarter. If it starts at 9:45, the game will have been delayed by nearly 90 minutes. Buckle up, it’s going to be a late one, everybody.
Weather delay for Steelers-Cowboys
Mike Tomlin not ready to name a permanent QB
Prior to Week 4, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about naming a permanent starting QB moving forward. However, he said there was “no need” to do that at this time:
“There’s no need… When (Russell Wilson) gets to an appropriate point of health and we have a decision to make, I’ll make it and I’ll announce it and I’ll be really transparent about it. But until then, I don’t care how many ways you guys ask me, I got no intentions of making the decision that’s unnecessary at this juncture.”
This week, Tomlin was asked if they would continue to go with Fields when Wilson returns from his calf injury.
“There’s a potential for that,” Tomlin said. “But we’re not there as a I stand here today.”
Steelers riding with Justin Fields
This offseason, the Steelers signed QB Russell Wilson and traded for QB Justin Fields, sending the Bears a conditional 6th-round pick. Wilson, who dealt with a calf injury throughout preseason, was named the starting quarterback ahead of Week 1.
However, Wilson is yet to play this season due to his injury, with Fields thrust into the starting role and winning his first three starts for Pittsburgh before the Week 4 loss at the Colts.
In his three NFL seasons prior to this one (all with Chicago), Fields only won more than three games once (5-8 in 13 starts last season).
This season, Fields has completed 70.6% of his passes for 830 passing yards with three passing touchdowns and one interception. He also has 145 rushing yards and has scored all three of the Steelers’ rushing scores this season.
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson stepping up
Jake Ferguson is second on Dallas in catches (16) and third on the team in receiving yards (159), having played in three games (he missed Week 2 vs. New Orleans with a knee injury). Since his return from injury, Ferguson has a team-high 13 catches for 144 yards (second on the team) over the last two games.
CeeDee Lamb living up to big offseason contract
The star WR leads Dallas in every major receiving category this season (20 receptions, 316 receiving yds, 2 receiving touchdowns), which he also did each of the last two seasons. In the Week 4 win at the Giants, he had season highs in catches (7) and receiving yards (98) and scored on a 55-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.
Last season, Lamb posted career highs in receptions (135 — most in the NFL), receiving yards (1,749 — second in NFL behind Tyreek Hill) and receiving touchdowns (12 — third in the NFL behind Hill and Mike Evans), earning his first All-Pro selection and his third straight Pro Bowl nod.
▪ Lamb’s 135 receptions and 1,749 receiving yards were Cowboys’ franchise records (passing Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s 1995 marks), and he became the 4th Cowboy with three straight seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards (Irvin, Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant).
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys facing pressure to get over the hump
At 2-2, the Cowboys are off to their worst start since 2020, coach Mike McCarthy’s first season in charge and the only year in his tenure in which Dallas missed the playoffs (finished 6-10 in 2020).
After Dallas’ Week 2 loss vs. the Saints, owner Jerry Jones said McCarthy — who is in the final year of his contract — would be judged on postseason success.
“ I don’t think where (McCarthy ) is with his contract has anything to do with [the Week 1 win at] Cleveland … or how we played (in Week 2 loss vs NO ). We’re trying to get this team ready and in place to really make a run at the playoffs . … If we’ve got any albatross around our neck, it’s that we’ve been a good-to-very- good team during the season over the last four to five years with Mike, and we haven’t done well in the playoffs. So let’s trade some challenges during the season for doing well in the playoffs, if you want to look at it that way.”
Matchup of historic NFL teams
The Cowboys and Steelers are two of the NFL’s most storied teams, and this week, they’ll meet on SNF for the first time.
• Dallas and Pittsburgh have combined to win 11 Super Bowl titles (six for Pittsburgh, five for Dallas) and made 16 Super Bowl appearances (eight for both teams).
• The two teams have met in three Super Bowls, making Cowboys-Steelers the most common Super Bowl matchup in NFL history. They played each other in Super Bowl X in the 1975 season, XIII in the 1978 season and XXX in the 1995 season. Pittsburgh won the two Super Bowls in the 1970s, while Dallas took the 1990s matchup.
• The Cowboys and Steelers are the top two teams in wins in the Super Bowl era. The two teams are also first and second in regular season win percentage in the Super Bowl era (Dallas leads with .598, while Pittsburgh is 2nd at .590).
Since the Super Bowl XXX meeting nearly 29 years ago, DAL and PIT have met just six times, with each team winning three.
