Here are our bold predictions for Sunday’s game.
After a ten-day layoff, the Dallas Cowboys are back in action on Sunday night as they face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before the two teams square off in a pivotal matchup, here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s contest.
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1) Jalen Tolbert surpasses 100 yards in a game for the first time
With Brandin Cooks sidelined on IR, the Cowboys will need one of their young receivers to step up alongside CeeDee Lamb. If that does happen, there’s a good chance the guy to do just that will be Jalen Tolbert.
The 25-year-old has gotten off to the best start of his career, recording 13 catches for 160 yards, eight first-down receptions, and one touchdown. Tolbert is already close to surpassing his 2023 season totals and the Cowboys are just four games into the season.
The Steelers will likely come into this matchup with the mindset that they cannot let CeeDee Lamb beat them. If Pittsburgh devotes most of its attention to Lamb, it will open up opportunities for Dallas’ other wideouts.
Jalen Tolbert takes advantage of the increased workload and makes the most of his opportunity. The former third-round pick leads the team in receiving yards, recording the first 100-yard game of his NFL career.
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2) Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis both record interceptions
Four games into the season Steelers quarterback Justin Fields has looked much better than he did in Chicago. Fields is fourth in the NFL in CPOE (5.8), has completed 70% of his passes, and has turned the ball over through the air just one time.
Pittsburgh has been able to lean on their run game, recording 514 rushing yards in their first four outings, making things a bit easier for Fields. This week, the Cowboys will employ the same defensive strategy they did in Week 4, making stopping the run their number one priority. Dallas held the Giants to just 26 rushing yards and looked like a completely different run defense than their last two games.
Missing DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons will hurt Dallas’ run defense, but they still load up against the run and make the Steelers beat them through the air. If the Cowboys can make Justin Fields throw the ball 25 or more times they should be able to register some takeaways. In his NFL career, Fields has thrown 25 or more passes in a game 20 times, in those 20 contests he has 19 interceptions.
This week Fields will surpass that mark and record his first multi-interception game of the season. Dallas’ two best defensive backs, Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis, both record interceptions stepping up in a big way to help a depleted Dallas defense.
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3) Brandon Aubrey is the hero, converting a game-winning field goal
If there’s one thing the Cowboys should feel good about four games into the season it’s the performance of Brandon Aubrey. The All-Pro kicker has made 12 of his 13 field goal attempts on the season, including six of seven from 50+ yards.
This week, he will continue his brilliance, making his biggest kick of the season. Aubrey nails a game-winning 56-yard field goal as time expires, giving the Cowboys a 23-20 victory.
