It was late. Honestly, it was way too late for a game that had been delayed by a massive lightning storm in Pittsburgh, but that’s exactly where the Cowboys and Steelers 2024 matchup landed us. Acrisure Stadium was damp, the energy was weirdly frantic, and Dak Prescott was staring down a game-winning drive that felt like it would define the early season for Dallas.
Nobody really expected the aesthetic mess we got.
If you like clean, surgical football, this wasn't for you. But if you like grit? If you like watching two historic franchises beat the absolute brakes off each other while making massive mistakes? It was perfect. We saw turnovers in the red zone, a defense that refused to break, and a final play that basically gave Cowboys fans a collective heart attack.
The Rain, The Delay, and the Ugly First Half
Everything felt off from the jump. The kickoff was pushed back over 90 minutes because of severe weather. When you're dealing with athletes who have their pre-game rituals timed down to the second, a delay like that matters. It showed.
Dallas dominated the stat sheet early on. They moved the ball. Dak was finding CeeDee Lamb, and the run game—which had been a massive question mark for Mike McCarthy all year—actually looked semi-functional with Rico Dowdle. But the score didn’t reflect it. Why? Because the Cowboys kept tripping over their own feet.
Dak threw two interceptions in the first half. One was a brutal pick in the end zone by Donte Jackson. You just can’t do that against a Mike Tomlin defense. Pittsburgh thrives on that stuff. They want you to get impatient. They want you to make the "hero throw" so they can snatch it and let T.J. Watt wreak havoc. Speaking of Watt, he reached his 100th career sack during this game. Think about that for a second. He did it in 109 games. Only Reggie White was faster.
Why the Steelers Offense Felt Stuck
On the other side, Justin Fields was trying to prove he belonged as the permanent starter over a lurking Russell Wilson. It wasn't his best night. The Steelers' offense felt "clunky" for three quarters.
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They couldn't run the ball effectively against a Dallas defense that was missing its two best players in Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. That was the shocking part. Rookie Marshawn Kneeland went down early too. Dallas was playing with backup's backups on the edge, yet Pittsburgh couldn't exploit it.
The Steelers' offensive line struggled to pick up basic stunts. Najee Harris was hitting walls. It felt like Arthur Smith’s play-calling was stuck in second gear, waiting for a mistake from Dallas rather than taking the game by force.
The Jalen Tolbert Emergence
With Brandin Cooks on IR, Dallas desperately needed a WR2. Enter Jalen Tolbert.
He didn't just play well; he saved the game. Throughout the Cowboys and Steelers 2024 contest, Tolbert was the guy Dak looked to when CeeDee was bracketed by double coverage. It culminated in that final, frantic drive.
Dallas was down 17-13. They had the ball on the 4-yard line. Fourth down. The season felt like it was teetering on the edge of a cliff.
Dak fumbled the snap. Seriously. The ball hit the turf, and for a split second, every person in Texas stopped breathing. Dak pounced on it, kept his composure, and on the very next attempt, he zipped a ball to Tolbert in the back of the end zone. Touchdown.
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The Defense Nobody Expected
Let's talk about Mike Zimmer. People were calling for his head after the Saints and Ravens games earlier in the season. But in this specific game, his unit was the reason Dallas stayed afloat.
They held Pittsburgh to 226 total yards.
They forced punts.
They stayed disciplined.
Linval Joseph and Mazi Smith actually held the point of attack. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective. It’s funny how football works; you lose your superstars like Parsons, and suddenly the "nobodies" start playing with a desperate edge that the starters sometimes lack.
Critical Mistakes That Almost Cost Dallas
- The Red Zone Fumble: Rico Dowdle fumbled near the goal line, which was nearly a disaster until Dak bailed them out.
- The Interceptions: You can't turn the ball over three times on the road and expect to win 90% of the time. Dallas was the 10% that night.
- Special Teams: Brandon Aubrey is a literal cheat code, but even special teams felt the pressure of the wet conditions.
The Steelers had their chances. Beanie Bishop Jr. had a breakout game with those picks, looking like the next great undrafted find for Pittsburgh. But the offense just couldn't capitalize. When you have a defense that plays that well and you only put up 17 points, you're asking for trouble.
The Reality of the Cowboys and Steelers 2024 Rivalry
This isn't the 70s anymore. It's not the Super Bowl X or XIII battles. But the tension is still there. There is a specific kind of physical toll these two teams take on each other.
By the end of the fourth quarter, players were gassed. The humidity from the storm, the long delay, and the physical man-to-man coverage took a toll. Watching George Pickens struggle to get separation against Trevon Diggs was a heavyweight fight in itself. Pickens was clearly frustrated—you could see it in his body language and the way he grabbed Diggs' facemask at the end of the game. It was a "bruised ego" kind of night for the Steelers' star receiver.
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What This Game Taught Us
First off, Dak Prescott is worth the money, even when he's messy. He has this "clutch gene" that people love to debate on sports talk radio, but the reality is he doesn't blink when the clock is under two minutes.
Secondly, the Steelers' quarterback situation was never as settled as it seemed. This game was the beginning of the end for the "Justin Fields as the undisputed starter" era in 2024. It exposed the limitations of an offense that can't consistently throw the ball into tight windows.
Third, coaching matters. Mike McCarthy, for all the flak he takes, had his team ready to play at 1:00 AM in a hostile environment. That says something about the locker room culture.
How to Apply These Insights
If you’re looking at these teams for the rest of the season or future matchups, look at the trenches. The Cowboys and Steelers 2024 game proved that even with elite quarterbacks or star receivers, the game is won by the guys like Tyler Guyton or Isaac Seumalo.
Next Steps for Analysis:
- Watch the All-22 film of Jalen Tolbert’s routes. He isn't just a deep threat anymore; his ability to find soft spots in zone coverage is what made the game-winning drive possible.
- Track the "Green Dog" blitzes Mike Zimmer used. He sent linebackers only when the running back stayed in to block, which confused Justin Fields and neutralized the Steelers' scrambling ability.
- Analyze the Red Zone efficiency. Dallas moved the ball at will but struggled to finish. If you're betting on or analyzing future Cowboys games, their "Points per Trip" inside the 20-yard line is the most important stat to watch.
- Evaluate the Steelers' WR depth. Beyond Pickens, there was almost zero threat. Until Pittsburgh finds a legitimate second option, defenses will continue to bracket Pickens and dare the others to beat them.
The game finally ended around 1:00 AM ET. Dallas headed back to the airport 3-2, and Pittsburgh fell to 3-2. It wasn't a masterpiece. It was a muddy, lightning-delayed, mistake-riddled scrap. And honestly, that's exactly what Cowboys vs. Steelers should be.