Dak Prescott “had to get the win” for Mike McCarthy, who got the game ball for beating the hometown Steelers

While the Pittsburgh Steelers lost, Dak Prescott made sure Pittsburgh's Mike McCarthy won last night. The Dallas Cowboys earned a last-minute win at Acrisure Stadium to take a 3-2 lead on the season. The Steelers have now suffered two straight losses, falling to 3-2 and losing sole possession of first place.

Even though McCarthy supported the Steelers as a kid, he has no qualms about beating them. He defeated the Steelers in the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and now, of all teams, with the Cowboys. Prescott talked about what this win meant not only to his head coach, but to the team as well for him.

“I know he's excited. I had to get the win (for him). Had to. I’m ready to celebrate with him,” Prescott said after the game during the broadcast via Mike McCarthy. Of course, teams try to win every game, but it never hurts to have extra motivation.

“It meant a lot to be able to pass (McCarthy) a game ball without knowing it was his first,” Prescott added during his postgame press conference. It almost sounds like a “small game ball” like the one Mike Tomlin gave the former Broncos after the win over Denver. But maybe it's just a coincidence.

McCarthy's Cowboys ran the ball well in the first half, but failed repeatedly. Prescott and Co. only made two field goals and took a 6-3 lead at halftime. That didn't last long, the Steelers responded with a touchdown.

But the two teams traded touchdowns in the second half, with Prescott having the final opportunity. Justin Fields led the Steelers to the go-ahead goal with five minutes left, but the defense couldn't hold. Ultimately, they made it 4th and scored the game-winning goal with just seconds left.

“I kept saying, 'Let's make it memorable,'” Dak Prescott recalled as a message to his team. He described the game as one he will not forget due to all the factors involved, including the long delay. But Mike McCarthy's win in his hometown made it special.

“For us to just be resilient and win the game here in his hometown in two minutes, (McCarthy) deserves it,” he said. Prescott noted, “He's very, very proud to be from Pittsburgh,” which drew laughter from the local media.

Before the game, Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott took a tour of his old stomping grounds and even stopped by his parents. Prescott said he wanted to understand where McCarthy came from and what makes him who he is. I'm sure this only increased his desire to secure that victory for him in Pittsburgh.

“It was just important for us to come out and get this win,” Prescott added, but there is never a lack of motivation to win an NFL game. McCarthy is one of the 15 winningest head coaches of all time, not far behind Mike Tomlin. Even though he occasionally causes grief to Steelers fans, he makes himself and the region proud. Because he continues to win and build on the legacy of great players and coaches from this part of the country.