Cowboys 20-17 Steelers (Oct. 6, 2024) Game Recap

PITTSBURGH – Dak Prescott threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds left and the Dallas Cowboys moved past the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17 early Monday.

The Cowboys (3-2) won their second straight after Prescott overcame an error-filled night and led a 70-yard drive that ended with Prescott hitting a sweeping Tolbert just across the goal line on fourth down.

Pittsburgh (3-2) lost its second straight game after a 3-0 start, a sluggish performance on a night when the opening kickoff was delayed nearly 90 minutes because of severe weather. The game ended at 12:59 a.m

The sky finally cleared. The Steelers spent much of the night in a fog, particularly on offense, managing just 222 yards against a defense that was missing injured stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Prescott, the NFL's highest-paid player, threw for 352 yards and two scores to make up for a night in which he had two interceptions and fumbled in Pittsburgh territory.

Rico Dowdle gave the league's worst rushing attack a boost by rushing for 87 yards. He also added a sliding 22-yard touchdown reception on the third play of the fourth quarter to cap a 16-play, 90-yard drive that put Dallas up 13-10.

Pittsburgh's Justin Fields passed for 127 yards and two scores, including a 6-yard shovel to tight end Pat Freiermuth to take the lead with 4:56 left.

Prescott calmly led Dallas all over the field against the NFL's second-ranked defense. The Cowboys moved into the Pittsburgh 10 before things got tight. Prescott scrambled to the half-yard line, a fumble by Dowdle at the goal line that Prescott deftly recovered, and an incompletion on fourth down. Prescott took the snap and drifted left before finding Tolbert.

Pittsburgh had one last shot, but a lateral drill went nowhere.

The Cowboys missed several opportunities to gain some early breathing room thanks to fumbles by Prescott, who fumbled while being sacked by TJ Watt and Nick Herbig, ending a drive deep in Pittsburgh territory in the first quarter.

Dallas got ahead late in the second when he threw late to Cee Dee Lamb in the end zone, giving Pittsburgh cornerback Donte Jackson time to step in front of the pass and intercept, putting the Steelers in despite a slow 30-minute start Maintain striking distance.

Prescott's second pick – this time a dive into double coverage – set the stage for Pittsburgh's go-ahead run.

But just like he did eight years ago as a rookie, Prescott pulled off another late winning streak to give the Cowboys some momentum after they were rocked by back-to-back losses to New Orleans and Baltimore.

INJURIES

Cowboys: DE Marshawn Kneeland, who started in place of DeMarcus Lawrence, left in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Steelers: OLB Nick Herbig limped off the field in the third quarter with a right hamstring injury. … OLB DeMarvin Leal went down on a stinger in the fourth quarter, leaving Jeremiah Moon as the only other outside linebacker.

NEXT

Cowboys: Host Detroit on Sunday.

Steelers: In Las Vegas on Sunday.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL