Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers faced a narrow defeat against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, marking their second consecutive loss. Despite not performing at their peak, the game was decided by a few critical plays that could have turned the outcome in favor of Pittsburgh.

In a tight 20-17 game, one pivotal moment occurred when Elandon Roberts forced a fumble with 35 seconds left. However, the ball bounced back to Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott instead of into Steelers' hands. "There's a fine line between drinking wine and squashing grapes in our business," said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Two plays later, Prescott connected with Jalen Tolbert for the winning touchdown.

Steelers safety DeShon Elliott almost prevented the score but was just inches away from stopping Tolbert. "I've got to get through the traffic," Elliott remarked on his coverage during the play.

Quarterback Justin Fields had some missed opportunities as well, including an overthrow to tight end Darnell Washington and missing Najee Harris open downfield. "I think I just threw it too hot to be honest," Fields admitted regarding his pass to Washington.

The Cowboys managed to convert several key plays, including a crucial third-down pass from Prescott to CeeDee Lamb. The Steelers struggled with third-down conversions, completing only three out of twelve attempts compared to Dallas's nine out of fifteen.

Defensive tackle Cam Heyward reflected on the close loss: "We had good plays, bad plays...you learn from your mistakes and get back on the horse."

The Cowboys capitalized on their ground game despite missing key players like Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. Running back Rico Dowdle contributed significantly with 87 yards on 20 carries.

Despite forcing three turnovers and holding Dallas scoreless inside their own 20-yard line multiple times, Pittsburgh couldn't secure victory due to offensive struggles. "We just missed shots and shot ourselves in the foot again," Fields noted about their performance.

The team also dealt with penalties that hindered progress offensively. Tight end Pat Freiermuth emphasized eliminating mistakes: "We have to stop kicking our own butts before we can continue."

On a positive note for Pittsburgh, T.J. Watt became the first player in team history to record 100 career sacks during this game. However, Watt stated his focus remains on team success over individual accolades.

Looking ahead, Tomlin may face decisions regarding quarterback roles as Russell Wilson recovers from injury while Fields has been starting in recent games. As they prepare for upcoming challenges, adjustments might be necessary for improvement across all phases of play.