If you stayed up late on that rainy Sunday night in October, you know exactly how weird things got. The Dallas Cowboys ultimately secured a gritty 20-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the final score doesn't even begin to tell the story of a game that felt like it was never going to end.
Weather delays. Fumbles at the goal line. Interceptions that made you want to put your head through a wall. Honestly, this matchup had everything except a normal schedule.
The game, which took place on October 6, 2024, was pushed back nearly 90 minutes because of a massive lightning storm in Pittsburgh. By the time the clock hit zero, it was nearly 1:00 AM on the East Coast. For those asking who won the dallas steelers game, it was Dak Prescott and Jalen Tolbert who finally put it to bed with just 20 seconds left on the clock.
The Wild Finish: Jalen Tolbert's Heroics
The fourth quarter was absolute madness.
The Cowboys were trailing 17-13. They had already turned the ball over three times. It felt like they were actively trying to lose, despite outgaining the Steelers by a massive margin. Then, Dak Prescott orchestrated a 15-play, 70-yard drive that tested every Dallas fan's heart rate.
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The most stressful moment?
Rico Dowdle almost lost it all. On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Dowdle fumbled while trying to leap over the pile. If the Steelers had recovered, the game was over. Instead, Prescott jumped on the ball like his life depended on it.
On fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line, with the game on the line, Dak found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone. It was Tolbert's first real "star" moment, finishing the night with seven catches for 87 yards and the game-winning score.
By the Numbers: Why the Game Was Closer Than It Should Have Been
Looking at the box score, you'd think Dallas blew them out. They didn't.
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Dallas racked up 445 total yards compared to Pittsburgh's 226. That is a massive gap. Usually, when you outgain a team by over 200 yards, you win comfortably. But the Cowboys kept shooting themselves in the foot.
- Dak Prescott: 29/42 for 352 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs.
- Justin Fields: 15/27 for 131 yards, 2 TDs.
- Rico Dowdle: 20 carries for 87 yards.
- T.J. Watt: Reached his 100th career sack during this game, becoming the second-fastest player in NFL history to do it.
The Steelers didn't move the ball well. Justin Fields struggled to find a rhythm, and the Pittsburgh offense felt stagnant for long stretches. However, they stayed in the game because of Dallas's red-zone failures. The Cowboys were 1-of-4 in the red zone for much of the night. That's how you let a struggling team hang around until the literal last second.
Defense and Injuries
Both teams were banged up. Dallas was missing their two best pass rushers, Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. You would think the Steelers would feast on that. They didn't.
The Cowboys' defense, led by a surprisingly stout performance from the secondary, held Najee Harris to just 42 yards on 14 carries. They forced Pittsburgh into a lot of "three-and-outs."
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On the flip side, the Steelers' defense did what they always do: they bent but didn't break. Until the very end. Donte Jackson picked off Dak in the end zone, and the constant pressure from Watt kept the Cowboys' offense from ever feeling truly safe.
Why This Game Mattered
For the Cowboys, this was about survival. They moved to 3-2 after a shaky start to the season. It proved they could win a "mudder"—a physical, ugly, weather-impacted game on the road in a hostile environment.
For the Steelers, it was a wake-up call. It was their second straight loss after starting 3-0. It raised a lot of questions about the ceiling of the offense under Justin Fields and whether the defense could carry that heavy of a load every single week.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Matchup Discussion
If you're talking about this game with friends, keep these points in your back pocket:
- Persistence over Perfection: Dak Prescott had a turnover-heavy game but came through when it mattered. In the NFL, "how" you win matters less than the "W" itself.
- Rico Dowdle is the Lead Back: This game solidified Dowdle over Ezekiel Elliott. He looked more explosive and was a focal point of the offense.
- T.J. Watt is a Legend: Even in a loss, seeing him hit the 100-sack milestone is historical. He is the heart of that franchise.
- Weather is a Great Equalizer: The 90-minute delay and the slick turf turned a potential shootout into a grind.
If you want to understand the current standings or how this impacted the playoff race, check out the latest NFL divisional power rankings. Keep an eye on the injury reports for the next Cowboys and Steelers games, as several players left this matchup with minor stingers that could affect their availability next week.