NFL
By: Greg Rector
Dallas Cowboys Offense Versus Pittsburgh Steelers Defense
This game is far from the glory days of the Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have played each other in three Super Bowl games, more matchups than any two teams have played.
Sunday night, the Dallas Cowboys offense will yet again be another example of Dak Prescott finding Ceedee Lamb if he isn’t finding Ceedee Lamb, the need for Jake Ferguson to get open increases dramatically. Hunter Luepke, who I was delighted was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, will also be very needed.
The Dallas Cowboys enter this game minus wide receiver Brandin Cooks. If Dak Prescott needs any one of Jalen Tolbert or Brooks to find a way to become open under Mike McCarthy’s offense, which has been very difficult since old Mike keeps running the same style of passing plays and Dak Prescott amazingly keeps making the difficult tight window throws, then this Dallas Cowboys offense will succeed.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line is terrifying, with TJ Watt leading the way. Watt will test Terence Steele and Tyler Guyton. This is a dangerous combination, and both tackles must stop TJ Watt. The tight end and running backs also attempt to limit the damage TJ Watt can bring upon Dak Prescott. Good luck, Tyler Guyton and Terence Steel.
If the Dallas Cowboys used motion like most NFL teams, they might have success against the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary. Joey Porter Jr has played excellent in man coverage. Yet when he is used in a zone defense, he gives up too many yards off the wide receiver and gets burned.
Dallas Cowboys Defense Versus the Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
No, Micah Parsons or Demarcus Lawrence should mean the Pittsburgh Steelers offense should be able to run the football against this defensive line the Dallas Cowboys put on the field on Sunday night, right? Not so fast, folks. Najee Harris has been an enormous disappointment, and when the Steeler’s offense uses two or three tight ends to assist in blocking, they only average 3.8 yards per carry. The other issue for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that their offensive line was damaged due to injuries.
If Mazi Smith limits any gains up the middle, as he finally did so against the New York Giants, then maybe the Dallas Cowboys linebackers, especially Demarvion Overshown, can limit the ground game.
Again, I don’t care if they get sacks against Justin Fields. Pressures are far more critical because Fields runs the ball so well. This means the defensive line needs to hold their gaps and allow the linebackers time to get to Justin Fields.
The Dallas Cowboys’ loss of Parsons and Lawrence will make this a challenging game, and Mike Zimmer must keep his remaining defensive linemen playing a fundamental defense.
Daron Bland will likely return to the Dallas Cowboys secondary school next week, so Trevon Diggs needs to play against George Pickens, and Caelen Carson can’t be left alone when he has to cover the speedy wide receiver.
My Prediction
This game should be a less-than-stellar performance for both of these injury-riddled rosters. Only because the Dallas Cowboys have a better shot at beating the weaker Pittsburgh Steelers’ decimated offensive line do I say the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 17-14. Brandon Aubrey wins this game with a late field goal.
As always, you can find me on X @GregCowboys
