Rain. Lightning. A game that didn't even start until most people were thinking about Monday morning. Honestly, if you turned off the TV during that hour-long weather delay in Pittsburgh, nobody could really blame you. But man, you missed a weird one.
The cowboys steelers final score of 20-17 sounds like a typical, grind-it-out defensive struggle, but the box score doesn't even come close to telling the full story of what went down at Acrisure Stadium. This wasn't just a game; it was a test of who could make the fewest catastrophic mistakes in a mud-soaked environment. Dallas walked away with the win, but they did it by the skin of their teeth.
The Chaos Before the Cowboys Steelers Final Score
Let’s talk about Dak Prescott for a second. The guy is a lightning rod for criticism, and for the first three quarters of this game, he was giving his haters plenty of fuel. Two interceptions. A lost fumble. It felt like every time Dallas got some momentum, they’d find a new way to hand the ball back to Justin Fields and the Steelers.
Pittsburgh wasn't exactly lighting it up either. Justin Fields finished with 131 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the offense felt stagnant for long stretches. T.J. Watt reached his 100th career sack during this game, which is absolutely insane—he's the second-fastest player in NFL history to hit that mark.
Despite the defensive masterclass from Watt and Joey Porter Jr., the Steelers' offense just couldn't put the game away.
- Dak Prescott: 29/42, 352 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
- Justin Fields: 15/27, 131 yards, 2 TDs
- Rico Dowdle: 20 carries, 87 yards (plus a huge receiving TD)
- Jalen Tolbert: 7 catches, 87 yards, and the game-winner
That Final Drive Was Stressful
When the Steelers took a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter thanks to a Pat Freiermuth touchdown, it felt like the typical script for a Dallas primetime collapse.
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Dallas had less than five minutes left. They had to go 70 yards.
Dak started dealing. He found Jake Ferguson for a big gain. He moved the sticks with CeeDee Lamb. But the real heart-attack moment came with about 50 seconds left. Rico Dowdle tried to leap over the pile for a score, got the ball poked out, and it was just sitting there on the turf.
If Pittsburgh recovers that, the game is over.
Somehow, Dak Prescott dove on it. It was a heads-up play that saved the season. A few plays later, on 4th-and-goal with just 20 seconds left on the clock, Dak threw a laser to Jalen Tolbert in the end zone.
Boom. 20-17.
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Why This Win Matters for Dallas
For the Cowboys, this wasn't just about moving to 3-2. It was about proving they could win a "dirty" game. They were playing without Micah Parsons. They were playing without DeMarcus Lawrence. Their defense was basically held together by duct tape and high hopes, yet they held a physical Steelers team to under 100 yards rushing.
Breaking Down the Stats
| Stat Category | Dallas Cowboys | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 445 | 226 |
| First Downs | 22 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 32:29 | 27:31 |
You look at those total yards—445 for Dallas compared to 226 for Pittsburgh—and you’d think it was a blowout. It wasn't. Those three turnovers by Dallas kept the Steelers in a game they probably had no business being in.
Historical Weight of the Rivalry
This wasn't just another Week 5 game. This is Cowboys-Steelers. We're talking about three different Super Bowl matchups. The "Team of the 70s" versus "America's Team."
Before this game, the all-time series was dead even at 17-17. With this 20-17 victory, Dallas took a slight 18-17 lead in the historic rivalry. It’s kinda cool that even in 2024, these two franchises can produce a game that feels just as intense as the ones from thirty years ago.
The win also gave Mike McCarthy a bit of breathing room. In Dallas, the seat is always hot, but winning a game where your stars are out and your quarterback is turning the ball over usually buys you a few weeks of peace.
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Actionable Takeaways for the Rest of the Season
If you're a bettor or a fantasy owner, there are a few things you've gotta notice from this specific cowboys steelers final score.
First, Rico Dowdle has officially taken over that backfield. Ezekiel Elliott is a legend, but Dowdle's 114 total yards in this game showed he’s the more explosive option. If you're looking for a waiver wire add, he’s the guy.
Second, the Steelers' defense is elite, but their offense is a concern. If they can't find a way to generate explosive plays, they're going to keep losing these close, low-scoring games. T.J. Watt can only do so much.
Finally, keep an eye on Jalen Tolbert. With Brandin Cooks dealing with injuries, Tolbert has stepped up as a legitimate WR2. His chemistry with Dak on that final drive was undeniable.
If you want to track how these teams are trending, look at their upcoming schedules. Dallas has a brutal stretch where their lack of defensive depth will be tested, while Pittsburgh needs to figure out if Justin Fields is truly the long-term answer or if it's time to see what a healthy Russell Wilson can do.
The 20-17 result was a classic, but the fallout from this game will likely define both teams' playoff trajectories for the rest of the year.