PITTSBURGH — As lightning lit up the sky outdoors Acrisure Stadium, delaying the beginning of Sunday night time’s sport between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates.
“I used to be saying it earlier than the sport began, like we’re not going to neglect this one regardless,” mentioned Prescott, who ate a protein waffle, stretched and did some drills through the wait. “With the delays, with every thing that occurred, it is a kind of video games I do not care how lengthy you play, you may always remember it. I simply stored saying, ‘Let’s make it one to recollect.’ I feel we did that in all of the ups, the downs, the ebbs and flows.”
Prescott threw the profitable landing go — a 4-yarder to receiver Jalen Tolbert — with 20 seconds left to provide the Cowboys a vital 20-17 win in opposition to the Steelers. It allowed the Cowboys (3-2) to remain above .500 and on the tail of the Washington Commanders (4-1) within the NFC East. It additionally was the Cowboys’ third street win of the season, marking their finest begin away from house since Prescott’s rookie 12 months in 2016.
As well as, it was coach Mike McCarthy’s first regular-season win in opposition to the Steelers, his hometown workforce. Whereas McCarthy holds the trump card with a win in Tremendous Bowl XLV in opposition to the Steelers as coach of the Inexperienced Bay Packers, the Steelers have been the one workforce he had coached in opposition to a number of instances and had not crushed (0-4).
The 4 video games have been settled by 1, 7, 3 and 5 factors.
“It feels nice,” mentioned McCarthy, who walked out of the stadium along with his mother and father, Joe and Ellen, to a ready group of household and buddies. “It is the primary time I have been a part of a victory right here. However — and I do imply this — on the finish of the day, that is in regards to the gamers. This can be a gamers’ sport. I am blessed to be part of the NFL for so long as I have been. I’ve super respect for this group, however, yeah, this sport is in regards to the gamers. These guys poured it on the market. Each side.”
After the victory, McCarthy obtained the sport ball from the gamers. He mentioned it was the primary he has obtained in his profession.
“That is a man that, I imply, I understand how I really feel about him,” Prescott mentioned. “Love him. Nice head coach. He is very, very proud to be from Pittsburgh. Greenfield at that. And also you hear it anytime something comes up with references from this place. In order that’s why I needed to go on a little bit tour [Saturday night] and see a few of the stomping grounds that he is talked about, paint that image in my head. It was actually particular, obtained to cease by his mother and father’ home, spend a while with him and them.”
It wasn’t an ideal sport by the Cowboys. Prescott turned the ball over 3 times with two interceptions and a fumble. Two of the turnovers got here within the purple zone, costing the Cowboys factors. That they had a area aim try blocked. They have been penalized 11 instances for 87 yards.
However with 4:56 left to play, Prescott had an opportunity to ship the twenty third game-winning drive within the fourth quarter or additional time of his profession.
“Composure is a big energy of his,” McCarthy mentioned of his quarterback, who threw for 352 yards on 29-of-42 passing. “He is the identical man on daily basis. The way in which he works, the best way he competes, yeah, he does not blink. He does not dwell on errors.”
Prescott accomplished 5 of seven passes for 46 yards on the profitable drive. He ran for 3 yards and most significantly recovered a fumble on the 4-yard line. After the Steelers known as a timeout with 26 seconds left, McCarthy modified the personnel group and formation so Prescott would have added safety.
Tolbert, beginning for an injured Brandin Cooks, made his method throughout the sector with DeShon Elliott on his hip however managed to get throughout the aim line for Prescott’s go with 20 seconds left.
“I really like being in that. We follow it quite a bit,” Prescott mentioned. “You are pissed at your self for the turnovers, for the interceptions, however after I understand I’ve the ball, down 4 with a possibility to attain, with sufficient time, loads of time, that is all I can ask for.”
The Cowboys entered the sport with out Cooks and defensive ends Micah Parsons (excessive ankle) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and misplaced their prime draft picks to knee accidents within the first half, left sort out Tyler Guyton and defensive finish Marshawn Kneeland.
Guyton’s absence moved guard Tyler Smith to sort out. When Zack Martin needed to go away due to cramping, the Cowboys had Brock Hoffman, Cooper Beebe and T.J. Bass as their three inside offensive linemen.
On protection, the Cowboys have been making ready linebackers to play defensive finish and had practice-squad elevation Amani Oruwariye begin at cornerback.
“I simply suppose,” McCarthy mentioned, “the resiliency of our soccer workforce was on show tonight.”