Studs and Duds: Cowboys standouts and failures vs Steelers
The Dallas Cowboys allowed a game they dominated statistically to come down to the final minute with poorly timed mistakes. They needed to convert a game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-goal on the road against a Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense that had allowed a total of 14 second-half points coming into the game. Dallas nearly doubled Pittsburgh in total yards while having one less drive. They had more third-down conversions by passing the ball than the Steelers had by rushing and passing combined. Dallas converted 75% of their third-down attempts, while Pittsburgh only converted 25%. Offenses do not go into Pittsburgh and put up nearly 450 yards on their defense, but Dallas did.
In games like this, many Cowboys played well enough to earn the stud label, but the many mistakes left plenty of options for duds. The key is getting above .500 by going 3-0 on the road before returning home and looking for their first win at AT&T Stadium this season before the bye week.
Studs: RB Rico Dowdle
Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Dak Prescott against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Most people understood that Rico Dowdle was the top running back on the team despite other player’s name recognition, but Dowdle cemented that spot. He had a workhorse game with 20 attempts, averaged nearly 4.5 yards per carry, and hit the two longest runs of the season for Dallas (13 yards). After Tyler Guyton was injured and Tyler Smith had to shift out to left tackle, the team started leaning more on Dowdle. They had only four rushes for 15 yards with Guyton, but after Smith went to LT and T.J. Bass played at left guard, Dowdle rushed 15 times for 75 yards, five yards per carry.
He added a big play in the passing game, putting the team ahead 13-10 in the fourth quarter with a 22-yard touchdown reception. Dowdle had a career-high in rushing attempts and yards, and he caught both of his targets, one being a TD. This was a breakout performance against a top five defense.
Duds: Redzone offense
Sep 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images
The Cowboys should have walked into Pittsburgh, stomped them out, and left with a blowout victory the way they moved the ball from the 20-to-20. They went up and down the field on offense, held the Steelers to 17 points on defense, and the only reason the game was competitive were their issues in the red zone. A fumble by Dak Prescott when both edge rushers from the Steelers smashed him. An interception just before the half, costing the team a chance at more points allowed Pittsburgh to go into halftime with momentum.
Brandon Aubrey’s field goal was blocked. Prescott nearly fumbled the ball out of the end zone on a QB scramble to try and win the game, and Dowdle fumbled when the team was inside the one-yard line, but luckily it was recovered. Dallas could’ve scored nine to 17 more points if they executed instead of having three red zone attempts and only scoring three points. They must clean up their red zone play to beat the Detroit Lions next week.
Studs: WR Jalen Tolbert
Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) scores the game winning touchdown against Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (25) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Dallas won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Jalen Tolbert had outplayed Brandin Cooks this season, but going into this game he was still seen as the clear third receiver because he lacked consistent production and hadn’t had a defining game as a Dallas Cowboy. He had his breakout moment against one of the best defenses in the league Sunday night.
Tolbert had a career-high seven receptions and a career-high 87 yards. CeeDee Lamb had been the only playmaker for Dallas this year, but Tolbert hit a 48-yard third down conversion right before the two-minute warning, building that confidence between Prescott and himself. On the last two pass plays, Prescott targeted Tolbert, and he made the game-winning play on fourth and goal with 30 seconds left. For the following month minimum, Tolbert will be the second receiver for Dallas with Cooks out and this could jump-start him to maintain that role for the year.
Duds: OL penalties
Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (60) blocks at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The offensive line didn’t have a strong game, allowing their QB to get squashed in the red zone, leading to a fumble. They allowed penetration on the final rushing attempt that got Dowdle hammered, fumbling as he tried to dive into the endzone, but their top issue is continually being penalized.
A false start from Guyton started a drive at first and 15 and it went for a three-and-out. Terence Steele had a false start in the redzone that halted a drive for a field goal try. Bass followed a Lamb false start with one of his own, putting the team at first and 20 and Brock Hoffman had a personal foul penalty that Prescott followed up with an interception the very next play.
Besides Prescott saving the team from a 1st-and-20 start, every other offensive line penalty ended an offensive drive. The coaches must emphasize these penalties because they keep setting the team back. If the offense can clean up its penalties on the OL, it could set the offense off, and that can lead the defense to its ultimate strength of pinning its ears back and going after opposing quarterbacks.
Studs: DC Mike Zimmer
OXNARD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 8: Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer of the Dallas Cowboys paces the sideline during a joint practice with Los Angeles Rams at Cowboys training camp on August 8, 2024 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
It would be lazy to make the narrative from last night about how bad the Steelers’ offense is. The week prior, Justin Fields threw for 300 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 55 more and scored two rushing touchdowns on the ground. George Pickens had seven receptions for 113 yards, and their top running back averaged over seven yards per attempt.
Mike Zimmer went into this game completely undermanned. He was without Micah Parsons, Demarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, DaRon Bland, and Caelen Carson, then he lost Marshawn Kneeland early on in the contest. The team had already been crushed in two prior games, with most of those guys healthy and playing.
The defense held Pittsburgh to 17 points, even though the offense had three turnovers. Fields only threw for 127 yards, and even more impressively, he ran for only 27 yards. Najee Harris was held to 42 yards on 14 carries, with only three yards per attempt, and their team, overall, only averaged 3.5 per rush. Zimmer deserves his flowers for how he got that group of players to step up to help get a road victory.
You can find Mike Crum on Twitter @cdpiglet or YouTube on the Across the Cowboys Podcast.
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