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.
