Even five weeks into the NFL season, this game isn't exactly what we expected. It's not a matchup between Dak and Russell Wilson. It's not a battle of the two great pass rushers of Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt.
And to think the Cowboys would be 2-2 headed to Pittsburgh to face a 3-1 Steelers team would probably have surprised most of the so-called experts when they saw this game on the schedule.
Yet, here we are. The Cowboys are hurting in a major way on the injury front, but do they still have enough in reserve to overtake the Steelers?
Let's see what the staff writers think about Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.
Patrik Walker: It nearly always comes down the wire when the Cowboys and the Steelers meet, and I don't believe this fight to come will be any different. Both sides are dealing with missing starters, and both sides have two rookies starting on the offensive line. As such, look for the game to be decided there, where the Cowboys struggle to run the ball but the Steelers have excelled at stopping the run. But even without Brandin Cooks on the field, there's a favorable matchup for the Cowboys in attacking via the pass, considering the Steelers are eighth-worst in the league in yards allowed per reception (11.4) and, for reference, and ranked 14th-overall in receiving touchdowns allowed (averaging at least one per week). Based on how much they run Cover 3 and single high with heavy zone, chunk play opportunities will be there; and I think this makes for the edge Dak Prescott and the Cowboys need. They take a close one on Butter's right foot. 24-21, Cowboys
Nick Eatman: Maybe it's something I ate, but my gut is all over the place on this game. I think I'm letting my mind creep into this pick a little bit – and that's not really what this space is all about. But something just tells me the NFL is too strange of a league to pick the Steelers. What I mean by that is it would just be too simple to say, 'Oh Micah is out. Tank is out. They still don't have Bland back and Carson could miss another game. And now, Brandin Cooks is out … well the Cowboys have no shot.' Well, to me, those are the games when the league turns rather wacky. I've seen the Jason Garrett games in which the Cowboys didn't have Aikman but yet pulled it off. I've seen that happen with Cooper Rush replacing Dak and winning not one, but five straight games. I've seen the flip side a couple of times when a backup named Elvis Grbac or Jake Delhomme shocked the world and upset the Cowboys. I remember the Chargers playing the Cowboys about 11 years ago in San Diego and had like four starting offensive linemen out – and still had over 400 passing yards. Weird stuff happens. And I think it's easier to say that because I just don't buy what the Steelers are selling right now. I think the Cowboys are better at quarterback and overall have a better offense. I think the Cowboys' defense is obviously down but I just don't see the Steelers being overly dynamic. The weather will play a factor and something tells me the Cowboys will figure out to pull this one out. Give me Dallas, 23-18.
Kyle Youmans: Every game since the turn of the century between Dallas and Pittsburgh has been a one-score ballgame. I think there's something to that, where these two franchises have somehow remained relevant for decades, in and out of the playoff picture, but always with something to prove. This game should be no different. It's going to come down to who has the better depth, and who is better at responding to early adversity. In this particular week, that just happens to favor Pittsburgh. They are a little battered and bruised themselves, but facing no where near the level of adversity that Dallas is. Steelers take a close one, 28-24.
