Cowboys staring at golden opportunity to rewrite these narratives with Week 6 win over Lions K.D. Drummond For the last several years, the Dallas Cowboys have struggled to defeat quality opponents from outside their division. Sure, they’ve been able to handle the Philadelphia Eagles, but when facing off against the likes of the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers last year, they fell short, often in spectacular failings. Of course narratives don’t necessarily have to be true to be believed. Dallas defeated the Detroit Lions last year, and they made it to the NFC Championship. The year prior the Cowboys had wins over the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings who combined for a 25-8 regular season record. Still, Dallas’ playoff failures have created the public impression that tough opponents can bully them. After last week’s win over the 3-1 “tough guy” Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cowboys now have a chance to reverse that narrative along with another. The team had won 16 straight home games prior to the drubbing placed on them by the Packers in the 2023 wild-card round. Now, they’ve lost three AT&T Stadium games in a row, and if it weren’t for a 19-point fourth-quarter rally that fell short, the scores in all three would’ve been woefully lopsided. But a win Sunday over the 3-1 tough guy Detroit Lions, seeking revenge for last season’s controversial finish, at AT&T Stadium would not only silence the big-game critics but also the internally-booing birds about their loss of a home-field advantage. The Cowboys, sitting at 4-2 entering their bye week, after the littany of injuries to top stars on the heels of a tumultuous offseason would be a seismic shift in perception. Dallas went all summer dealing with contract talks about Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons and a contract holdout with WR CeeDee Lamb. The entire defensive end room is currently ravaged with the top four edge rushers all sidelines simultaneously. Sam Williams is done for the season, Parsons looks like he’ll miss a second consecutive contest and DeMarcus Lawrence and second-round rookie Marshawn Kneeland are on the shelf. The cornerback room is barely doing better with Trevon Diggs returning from an ACL tear, DaRon Bland having yet to suit up in 2024 and impressive fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson missing the last two wins. Through in adapting to the defensive scheme of Mike Zimmer which has turned things around after giving up over 450 rushing yards in back-to-back losses to the Saints and Ravens. The Lions bring forth one of the league’s best rushing tandems in David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. Stifling Najae Harris is one thing. Corralling these two? That’d be remarkably impressive. There are a number of narratives that can be laid to rest, at least temporarily, with a victory on Sunday. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

No. 1 WR Jalen Tolbert Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Jalen Tolbert (18) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 2 CB Jourdan Lewis Sep 25, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (27) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports No. 4 QB Dak Prescott Dec 10, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) smiles on the field after the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 5 Punter Bryan Anger Dallas Cowboys punter Bryan Anger (5) prepares for the game against the Giants, at MetLife Stadium. Sunday, September 10, 2023 No. 6 Safety Donovan Wilson Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: — No. 7 CB Trevon Diggs Apr 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs talks to a member of the Mavericks staff during the second quarter of the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the LA Clippers during game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports No. 9 WR Kavontae Turpin LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 04: NFL player KaVontae Turpin of the Dallas Cowboys attends the NFL Pro Bowl Weekend Celebrity All-Star Game 2023 benefiting the charity D Up On Cancer at the Cox Pavilion on February 04, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) No. 10 QB Cooper Rush Wednesday: — | Thursday: — | Friday: DNP No. 11 DE Micah Parsons Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson (11) warms up during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 13 LB DeMarvion Overshown Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (35) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 14 Safety Markquese Bell Wednesday: Limited | No. 15 RB Ezekiel Elliott Jun 4, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) on the field during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 17 Kicker Brandon Aubrey Sep 17, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) watches his field goal in the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 18 LB Damone Clark : Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 19 QB Trey Lance EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Lance #15 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on September 10, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) No. 21 CB Caelen Carson No. 23 RB Rico Dowdle ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 12: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the game against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) No. 24 Safety Israel Mukuamu Aug 12, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) walks off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 25 CB Andrew Booth Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) looks on during the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports No. 28 Safety Malik Hooker Jul 29, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Malik Hooker (28) during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 29 CB C.J. Goodwin Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive back C.J. Goodwin (29) catches a pass for a first down on a fake punt in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Wild Card playoff football game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports No. 30 Safety Juanyeh Thomas Nov 19, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) during pregame warm ups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports No. 35 LB Marist Liufau No. 40 FB Hunter Luepke Jul 27, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Hunter Luepke (43) during training camp at Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge Playing Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports No. 41 LB Nick Vigil Sep 12, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Nick Vigil (59) reacts after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (np) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports No. 42 RB Deuce Vaughn ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 12: Deuce Vaughn #42 of the Dallas Cowboys walks off the field after the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason game at AT&T Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) No. 44 Long Snapper Trent Sieg ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 01: Trent Sieg #44 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys after Golston’s two point conversion during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) No. 50 Linebacker Erick Kendricks Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marist Liufau (35) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (50) go through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports No. 55 DE Carl Lawson Nov 29, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson (58) reacts to his team prior to the game between the New York Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie

Should Cowboys show first-round rookie patience or focus on winning in 2020? reidhanson When Tyler Guyton fell to injury in the Cowboys’ Week 5 matchup against Pittsburgh, some saw it as a possible blessing in disguise. That’s because Guyton was replaced by the Cowboys All-Pro left guard, Tyler Smith, a player with previous experience at the left tackle position and someone seen as an instant upgrade. The move outside for Smith required Dallas’ top reserve lineman, T.J. Bass, to take over the vacated LG spot. Overall, it gave fans, who were growing increasingly nervous with the Cowboys pass protection, a chance to breathe a sigh of relief. Left tackle is considered a core position in the NFL. If a team doesn’t have a good one, they probably won’t be a high-producing offense. Protecting the quarterback’s blindside is Job 1 on a LT’s task list because just one break in the dam can lose a game or end a QB’s season. The Cowboys clearly valued the position when they made Guyton their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. After letting former All-Pro Tyron Smith leave in free agency, Dallas had an obvious need. Drafting near the end of the round it was obvious Dallas wouldn’t get the pick of the litter. Guyton represented the ninth offensive linemen taken in 2024. He was unpolished and untested. He offered a tremendous ceiling, but most scouts agreed he also would require tremendous patience. A promising start to training camp and the preseason caused many to forget his expected career arch and led them to recalibrate rookie expectations. Just two seasons prior the Cowboys slid another rookie, the aforementioned Tyler Smith, into the starting LT spot in Week 1 and they were pleasantly rewarded. Why not have the same expectations for Guyton? The answer to that is Tyler Smith was an exception to the norm and therefore a bit of an anomaly. As the most penalized offensive tackle in football, Smith was supposed to struggle early as well, he just didn’t. To expect the Cowboys to hit the lottery like that again two years later was probably a touch too optimistic. So when Guyton started his rookie campaign with growing pains, many were taken back with disappointment. Five weeks into the season Guyton is grading out as the 71st OT in the NFL (out of 78 graded). His four sacks given up are second most in the league. He’s also second in penalties and 10th in overall pressures (just one behind Terence Steele). It’s safe to say he’s not good, but it’s also safe to say none of this is unexpected. The Cowboys are sticking with their guy. Despite some fan urging to keep Smith at LT and Guyton to the bench or to replace Steele at right tackle, the Cowboys appear to be committed to the cause. They knew developing him would be a process and have the long-term goals in mind. They know Guyton needs practice and needs reps to reach the heights they think he’s capable of, and the only way to do that is live action on the field. With all of that said, the risk is real, and it could cost the Cowboys the 2024 season. Guyton’s a liability in pass protection and a danger to Dak Prescott. Mike McCarthy has done a good job of rolling Prescott out of the pocket to the right side and giving his young LT help whenever possible, but even with that Guyton’s a league leader in pressures allowed. The Cowboys are committed to developing Guyton because they know, in the long run, it’s the smart thing to do. Guyton has a long way to go but they knew that when they picked him. His play shouldn’t be seen as disappointing because he was always supposed to be a project player like this. Patience is required and with any luck a commitment to his development will start to produce positive results in the not-too-distant future. Related articles [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Studs and Duds: Cowboys standouts and failures vs Steelers Mike Crum 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

Cowboys to work out WR they almost drafted, nearly traded for Todd Brock Denzel Mims was linked to the Cowboys when he was a local college prospect. Then the Cowboys front office reportedly reached out about a possible trade for him a few years into a pro career that wasn’t living up to expectations. Now, just days away from turning 26, the free agent wide receiver and Texas native may be a step closer to finally finding himself wearing the silver and blue. ESPN’s Todd Archer is reporting that Mims will be working out for the Cowboys on Tuesday, a possible option for shoring up a pass-catching group in Dallas that is left rather thin with the sudden loss of Brandin Cooks to a knee infection. https://twitter.com/toddarcher/status/1843639932835029013 Mims was a highly-regarded talent in the 2020 draft. The Cowboys knew the Baylor product well and had taken a long look at him for his blazing speed and huge catch radius. But the Cowboys couldn’t have imagined that CeeDee Lamb would fall their way in the first round. With the 51st pick, the Cowboys couldn’t pass up on cornerback Trevon Diggs, and they left Mims on the board. The Jets ended up taking him eight spots later. But his tenure in New York was marred by injury and personality clashes with the organization. Mims requested a trade heading into his third season, citing a lack of opportunities within the offense. The Cowboys were reportedly one of a handful of teams to inquire about the 6-foot-3 speedster, but deemed the Jets’ asking price of a fourth-round pick too high. Mims returned to New York for what turned out to be his final year. Overall, he played in just 30 games as a Jet, logging 42 catches for 676 yards and no touchdowns. He was eventually traded last summer, but the Lions waived him with an injury designation less than a month later. The Steelers then picked him up and signed him to their practice squad, where he stayed for the 2023 season. Mims spent 2024’s camp with Jacksonville and was released in late August. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] In Sunday’s 20-17 win, the Cowboys gave 2022 draft pick Jalen Tolbert the bulk of the extra work in replacing Cooks. Jalen Brooks also saw additional time, KaVontae Turpin received his usual smattering of offensive snaps, and promising rookie Ryan Flournoy made his NFL debut. But the Cowboys may decide that the WR room could use another body, with Cooks on injured reserve for at least a few more weeks. Or they may be wondering if Cooks, with just nine catches and 91 yards over four games, is still the best answer at WR2. So if Tuesday’s workout goes well, the team’s longstanding attraction to Mims may finally be consummated with a contract and a helmet with a star on it. Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Cowboys finally learning the tricks to unlocking this obvious weapon reidhanson From the moment KaVontae Turpin arrived in Dallas back in 2022, fans have been looking for ways to get him the ball. The former USFL MVP has the kind of speed, explosiveness and athleticism that can’t be taught. A receiver in name but a return man by trade, Turpin has carved out quite the reputation in the two plus seasons he’s been with the Cowboys. Making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, the 5-foot-9, 153-pound human water bug became a player opposing teams tried to avoid. By his second season Turpin saw his returnable punts drop from 29 to 13 and his kick returns go from 21 to just 10. It’s a trend that continues in 2024 with Turpin not logging a single returnable punt since Week 1 and posting a total of just two kick returns through the first four weeks of play. Teams have been avoiding Turpin for fairly obvious reasons and the Cowboys haven’t figured out a way to forcibly insert their fastest player back into the game plan. Until now, that is. In Week 5 against the Steelers, Mike McCarthy finally problem solved the situation. The Cowboys removed co-return man Juanyeh Thomas from the equation and left Turpin back to field kickoffs alone. It only offered him one return on the day but even that was a welcomed sight given he hadn’t had one opportunity the two games prior. For anyone wondering, he’s now averaging 35.67 yards per kick return, far above league average and greater than the value of a touchback. McCarthy has also given him extra opportunities on offense. While it’s likely Brandin Cooks’ injury played a big part in the decision, seeing Turpin on offense was a welcomed sight regardless. Turpin logged 22 snaps on offense for Dallas, which marked a season high. His five targets downfield and four receptions were also season highs. He took a six-yard loss on his only rushing attempt but much like a cruddy Christmas gift from loved ones, it was the thought that counts. Using Turpin as a receiver gives him the best opportunity to create magic in space. And using him as a rusher once or twice a game will force opponents to respect the horizonal motion that typically goes with a Turpin run. It’s what fans and media have been begging for, for quite some time. Problem solve the kick returns. Create horizonal motion on offense. Use Turpin as a runner and as a run-action decoy. And get Turpin the ball down field. For at least one week, Turpin has been maximized on the Cowboys. Whether Week 5 was an anomaly or a sign of more things to come is anyone’s guess, but McCarthy has been rewarded for using his diminutive dynamo so the hope is it will all continue. Related article [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal] Read all the best Cowboys coverage at the Austin American-Statesman and Cowboys Wire.

Dak Prescott makes some bad decisions Barry Reeger-Imagn Images The Cowboys had their best offensive output on the season, amassing 445 total yards against a stingy Steelers defense. That effort was led by quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw for 352 yards and two scores. However, Prescott had some rough moments that led to a tight game instead one the Cowboys could’ve won in blowout fashion. Prescott had three turnovers, including two interceptions and two red zone mistakes that came close to costing the team the game. The fumble on the last play of the first quarter when the Cowboys were sure to put at least three points on the board was a poor play from the veteran signal caller. Prescott has to know that he doesn’t have time to sit in the pocket and needs to throw the ball away or take the sack to give his kicker a chance at three points. Instead, Prescott failed to protect the ball, and the Steelers kept the score tied. Prescott also threw an interception in the end zone near the end of the first half on a throw to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who didn’t appear to be on the same page with his QB. No matter the miscommunication, it was a poor throw from Prescott that cost his team points. The last mistake came in the fourth quarter with the Cowboys leading 13-10 and on a first-and-10 pass. Prescott threw into double coverage and took an unnecessary shot deep down the field when the offense was controlling the game. The Steelers took the turnover and scored a touchdown to give them a 17-13 lead late in the game. It was an inexcusable throw from Prescott at the wrong time. Yet Prescott still makes winning plays Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Despite helping the Cowboys outgain the Steelers almost 2-1 in total yards, Prescott managed to put the team behind the eight-ball. Yet, when the game was on the line, Prescott responded like big-time players do. After the interception that led to the Pittsburgh touchdown, there was 4:56 left on the clock for Prescott to mount the game-winning drive and that’s exactly what he did. Prescott led a 15-play, 70-yard drive that saw him save the game with a heads-up fumble recovery, then deliver the winning touchdown for Dallas. With the Cowboys on the half-yard line, running back Rico Dowdle fumbled while trying to reach the ball over the goal line. Fortunately, Prescott fell on the ball to give the Cowboys two more chances to win the game. Two plays after saving the game, Prescott won it on a touchdown pass to WR Jalen Tolbert on the crossing pattern near the sideline. Prescott was sharp for most of the night, but a few bad decisions threatened to ruin his performance against a good Steelers defense. But when it mattered most, Prescott came through to win the game. Rico Dowdle breaks out Barry Reeger-Imagn Images It may have taken five weeks, but the Cowboys may have found themselves a RB capable of taking most of the workload. Dowdle had his best outing of the season, and the best game of his career in the Week 5 win. The undrafted free agent looks like he won the starting job with a tough 87 yards on the ground, adding 27 more and a touchdown through the air. The Steelers were giving up just under 87 rushing yards a game, but Dowdle had no problem running through their tackle attempts and averaging 4.4 yards a carry. Dowdle did fumble near the end of the game, but it didn’t come back to haunt the Cowboys. It was clear in this contest that Dowdle is the best backfield option for the offense, and he is a dual threat who should see the majority of the RB snaps going forward. Short-handed defense stepped up Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Cowboys were playing without their two best defenders against the Steelers, boundary corners 2 and 3, and they lost another starter, rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, early in the game. That didn’t seem to bother an unheralded group that put forth a gutsy effort in the win. Mike Zimmer’s defense responded to being shorthanded by allowing just 17 points, surrendering a paltry 226 total yards, and had three sacks. It was the defenses first multi-sack effort since the first game of the season, when they were healthy and had six. It was also a defense that limited the damage in the running game, giving up only 92 rushing yards to an offense that averages over 121 yards on the ground. Dallas slowed top Steelers RB Najee Harris, allowing him to run for 42 yards, and held Justin Fields in check, giving up only 27 yards to the running QB. Pittsburgh could only muster 3.5 ypc and their longest run was eight yards. That’s an impressive effort for a defense that couldn’t stop anyone in the run game a few weeks ago. And doing it without some of their best defenders against one of the most physical teams in the league was remarkable. Cowboys remain a sloppy team Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images After the Week 4 win over the New York Giants, we said in this space the Cowboys won’t win many games committing 11 penalties. Luckily enough, the team did manage to win again with 11 infractions, this time in Week 5. The Cowboys compounded those mistakes by turning the ball over and having a special teams gaffe. Early in the game, the Cowboys had just three points on three red zone trips, while also having a field goal attempt blocked. Somehow, the Cowboys were able to overcome the sloppy play and win. The penalties are not an anomaly, this is who Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys are, an undisciplined team that makes the same mistakes over and over again. They got lucky a second time in the Week 5 win, but they won’t beat many good teams with 11 penalties, three turnovers and a