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Tribune News Service

Sport

Gerry Dulac

Steelers eke out win over Cowboys, move to 8-0 for first time in team history

Dallas Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson (37) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (27) run into each other as they attempt to make an interception for a ball intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ben Roethlisberger saved the Steelers from an embarrassing defeat by throwing for 306 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-19, and remain as the NFL's only unbeaten team.

The victory gave the Steelers (8-0) their best start in franchise history, eclipsing the 7-0 start in 1978. But it wasn't an overwhelming performance by the Steelers, who had the benefit of several costly Dallas penalties on their final two scoring drives.

Roethlisberger brought the Steelers back from deficits of 13-0 and 19-9, finally taking the lead on a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eric Ebron with 2:14 remaining to cap a six-play, 79-yard drive. The drive was kept alive, though, when defensive end Aldon Smith was called for roughing the passer on a third-down incompletion.

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron (85) hurdles Dallas Cowboys cornerback Saivion Smith (32) to score the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys lost, 24-19. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

The Cowboys, a 14 1/2-point underdog, had allowed the most points in the NFL and had managed just 22 points in their previous three games since quarterback Dak Prescott was injured. But they jumped to their leads thanks to a couple of big special teams plays of 73 and 64 yards and a leaky Steelers rush defense that gave up 144 yards one week after allowing the Baltimore Ravens 265 yards on the ground.

When quarterback Garrett Gilbert, making his first NFL start, was sacked by defensive end Cam Heyward with 1:37 remaining, it appeared to end the Cowboys' final threat.

But after the Steelers were stopped a fourth-and-1 at the Dallas 19, the Cowboys got as far as the Steelers 23 with four seconds remaining when Bud Dupree hit Gilbert's hand as he was throwing, forcing an incompletion.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) runs for a first down against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Gilbert was 21 of 37 for 243 yards and a touchdown. But he was also intercepted in the end zone by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick with the Cowboys looking to add to their 19-15 lead.

The Steelers cut the lead to that score on the first play of the fourth quarter when Roethlisberger threw a 31-yard touchdown to JuJu Smith-Schuster in the middle of the field, capping a six-play, 75-yard drive. But, for the second time in the game, Chris Boswell missed the extra point, this time when it was blocked.

Roethlisberger, who left the game at the end of the first half with a left knee injury, completed four passes to Smith-Schuster for 80 yards on the drive.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) communicates to his teammates from the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

But the Cowboys came right back on the ensuing possession and looked as though they would pad their lead, thanks to a 64-yard kick return by Rico Dowdle on a play where the Steelers got to kick off from the 45. But, on third-and-goal from the 7, Gilbert was hit by Heyward and linebacker Robert Spillane and Fitzpatrick intercepted his wobbly pass in the end zone.

Roethlisberger then moved the Steelers 75 yards in 11 plays for Boswell's 43-yard field goal to make it 19-18 with 7:11 remaining. The drive was kept alive by two costly Cowboys penalties, including a defensive holding call against linebacker Jaylon Smith on a play when Roethlisberger fumbled after a hit by defensive end Tyrone Crawford and Aldon Smith.

The Cowboys used a trick play on a punt return and another pathetic performance from the Steelers offense to take a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. But the Steelers scored twice in the final 70 seconds, including a career-best 59-yard field goal by Boswell as time expired, to cut the deficit to 13-9 at halftime.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) on the bench against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

However, Roethlisberger injured his left knee when he was sandwiched by a pair of Cowboys defenders and was replaced by Mason Rudolph for the final possession of the first half.

As bad as the Steelers were in the first half last week in Baltimore, they were even worse against the Cowboys, especially given the level of completion.

The Cowboys, who lead the NFL in points allowed, held the Steelers to 67 yards, including just 31 yards rushing, to take a 13-0 lead with 3:46 remaining in the half before Roethlisberger got the offense untracked.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) tosses the ball to running back Tony Pollard (20) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

He then abandoned his woeful running game to complete eight of nine passes for 75 yards, the final one a 17-yard touchdown to James Washington in the back corner of the end zone with 1:10 remaining in the half. Boswell, though, missed the extra point.

On the ensuing possession, Cowboys rookie receiver CeeDee Lamb was stripped of the ball by cornerback Cam Sutton after a 14-yard completion and Fitzpatrick recovered at the Dallas 39. But Rudolph failed to produce a first down, setting up Boswell's 59-yard field goal.

Curiously, Boswell's first attempt was 54 yards was wide left, but Heyward was called for a false start, giving Boswell another attempt.

The Dallas Cowboys defense celebrates after making a stop on fourth down, forcing a change of possession from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Leading 10-0, the Cowboys pulled up out a trick play after a 60-yard punt by Jordan Berry when returner Cedrick Wilson threw across the field after catching the punt to former Steelers practice squad player C.J. Goodwin, who ran 73 yards to the Steelers 21. However, the Cowboys were penalized for an illegal block on the return, moving the ball back to the 31.

The Cowboys built their lead back to 16-9 on the first possession of the second half, getting a 45-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein.

Then, after another meager three-and-out by the Steelers offense, Zuerlein kicked his fourth field goal, this one from 39 yards, to cap a 12-play drive and give the Cowboys a 19-9 lead with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) attempts a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

The Steelers running game was so futile they had just 35 yards on 13 attempts through three quarters. The longest run was an 8-yard scramble by Roethlisberger.