Dallas City News

The Dallas Cowboys are back on the road, this time it’s off to Pennsylvania to face Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. The last time these two teams met on Steelers turf the Cowboys came away with the win. The team will be hoping to replicate the same result. So how do these two offenses stack up against each other? Let’s battle it out by position and find out.

QUARTERBACK

Dak Prescott
vs.
Justin Fields

Dak Prescott maintained his composure amidst the tumult surrounding him during last week’s game. The most crippling aspect for the offense last week was the penalties. The Cowboys’ offense drew seven penalties, which is typically a recipe for disaster.

Dak managed to keep the offense on track as much as possible, completing 22 of 27 passes, with one incompletion being a throwaway. He did not commit any turnovers, threw for two touchdowns, and ended the game with an impressive passer rating of 125.5. However, it is important to note that these accomplishments came against a struggling New York Giants team, currently positioned last in the NFC East.

This week, Dak faces a more formidable challenge as he must guide the Cowboys’ offense against a Pittsburgh defense that ranks third in the league for fewest total yards allowed, has only four passing touchdowns against them, and boasts a passer rating allowed of 80.5, the sixth-lowest in the league.

Justin Fields was traded during the offseason and joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. While at Ohio State, he demonstrated significant potential as a young quarterback; however, his transition to the NFL has seen many of his skills remain untapped. Currently, Fields ranks 18th among quarterbacks in terms of passing yards. He has three passing touchdowns, with one interception and three fumbles recorded. What sets Fields apart is his ability as a dual-threat quarterback. This season, he has already accumulated three rushing touchdowns, placing him second among quarterbacks in that category.

Conclusion:
Dak is currently positioned third in the NFL for total passing yards, while his six passing touchdowns ranks him fourth overall. He is achieving these statistics despite facing significant pressure from a faltering defense, which forces him to play catch up. Conversely, Fields is performing to a degree, yet his defense is providing him with a simplified game environment. By restraining the opposing offense, Fields is afforded the opportunity to utilize his strengths in a ball-control offense. Successfully containing Fields and applying pressure on him will be crucial for securing a victory.
Win: Cowboys

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

RUNNING BACK

Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliott
vs.
Najee Harris/Cordarrelle Patterson

Rico Dowdle initiated the Cowboys’ scoring with a successful screen pass, which should instill a sense of optimism among fans, as he demonstrated both creativity and keen awareness during the play. If the Cowboys’ running backs encounter difficulties in traditional rushing, utilizing them in the passing game to keep defenses off balance could prove advantageous.

The challenge now confronting Mike McCarthy is the management of Ezekiel Elliott’s role. Dowdle currently ranks 48th in total rushing yards this season, while Elliott has struggled to make an impact thus far. His most notable performance came in Week 1, where he recorded 40 rushing yards and a touchdown; however, since that game, he has only managed 14 carries, averaging a mere 2.8 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, Dalvin Cook awaits in the shadows.

Najee Harris is currently positioned 18th among running backs, having accumulated 228 rushing yards. He has not yet found the end zone, and it is people should monitor his status on the practice report for injury. Although he was a starter last week, he was observed with his arm in a sling prior to the game. His performance against the Indianapolis Colts was notably poor, averaging just 1.5 yards per carry. He will be eager to confront the Cowboys’ run defense which has faced challenges this season; however, his health will be a significant consideration. Meanwhile, Cordarrelle Patterson’s status is uncertain due to an ankle injury sustained in last week’s game. The uncertainty surrounding both players is concerning for the Pittsburgh offense. Jaylen Warren has also had injury problems.

Conclusion:
The Steelers win this round simply based on the fact the Cowboys offense ranks last in average rush yards per game. Add the fact the Cowboys defense ranks sixth-worst in average rush yards allowed per game only helps the Steelers ground game. Fields adds a rushing element to contend with this week, but health of the Steelers running backs plays a factor here also.
Win: Steelers

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

WIDE RECEIVERS

CeeDee Lamb/Jalen Tolbert/Jalen Brooks
vs.
George Pickens/Calvin Austin III/Van Jefferson

The chemistry between Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb appears to be reestablished. While it is challenging to fully assess the performance of the Cowboys’ offense from last week due to the level of competition, it was evident that both Prescott and Lamb were in sync, reminiscent of their successful connection from last season. This development should generate some enthusiasm for the rest of the year, especially considering the impact of their partnership last season. Lamb’s impressive total of 316 receiving yards currently ranks him eighth in the NFL, while his 20 receptions places him ninth overall.

The Cowboys got some bad news that Brandin Cooks will not be available this week, but his production had not been significant so far this year. They will have to depend more on the two Jalens this week.

This receiving corps will encounter a formidable secondary this week. DeShon Elliott had a standout performance last week, recording eight tackles and forcing a fumble. Minkah Fitzpatrick is also off to a strong start this season, ranking second on his team in tackles. Nevertheless, Joey Porter presents an opportunity for Lamb to exploit, as he has allowed a 70% completion rate, given up a touchdown, and has a passer rating against him of 124.4.

This week, anticipate a significant matchup between Trevon Diggs and George Pickens. Although Pickens has not yet found the end zone, he currently leads the team in both receptions and receiving yards. His impressive height and long arms provide him with a distinct advantage in his position which will test Diggs. Additionally, he demonstrates considerable play strength, which he effectively employs during his releases and when navigating through contact on his routes. Beyond Pickens, the threat level at the wide receiver position diminishes considerably. Calvin Austin, serving as the team’s second option, has recorded only seven receptions this season, totaling 125 yards.

Conclusion:
The Cowboys rank fourth in passing where the Steelers are way down at 11th-fewest and have the third-fewest receiving touchdowns. Plus, Dallas has CeeDee Lamb.
Win: Cowboys

Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images

TIGHT END

Jake Ferguson
vs.
Pat Freirermuth

Ferguson has a total of 159 receiving yards, that’s one more yard than Travis Kelce, and is ranked sixth-most among tight ends. He has yet to score this season but he is second on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards, which is not bad when you think he’s missed one game.

Pat Freirermuth ranks second on the team for Pittsburgh in both receptions and receiving yards. He has scored a touchdown but has less receiving yards than Ferguson.

Conclusion:
Both tight ends have their work cut out this week. Both are considered the second option on both offenses but will face defenses that are both very good at defending tight ends. Pittsburgh is allowing the fifth-fewest yards where Dallas is allowing the eighth-fewest to tight ends. Where the difference lays is in touchdowns allowed. Dallas has allowed zero tight end touchdowns, where Pittsburgh has allowed two.
Win: Push

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

OFFENSIVE LINE

Last week was marked by an abundance of penalties attributed to the offensive line. Tyler Guyton expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the penalty calls from the Giants game, and upon reflection, it is evident that there was significant inconsistency in the officials’ decisions. Nevertheless, Guyton was still responsible for the sole sack of the game and recorded the highest number of pressures. It is important to note that he faced one of the league’s top pass-rushing defenses.

In last week’s discussion, we highlighted Terence Steele’s challenges, but he demonstrated notable improvement last week, particularly in the running game. The Pittsburgh Steelers rank in the middle tier of the league concerning total sacks and pressures. All Cowboys fans are well aware of the player to monitor for various reasons: T.J. Watt. He leads the team in both sacks and tackles for loss. Effectively neutralizing him will be crucial, as he is likely to target Guyton frequently.

This week, there are several issues regarding the starting lineup for Pittsburgh. Isaac Seumalo has been sidelined due to a pectoral strain, but reports suggest he may have a chance to participate in this week’s game. It is advisable to monitor his practice status closely. Zach Frazier has encountered some difficulties but is expected to play; however, there are some major concerns regarding his snapping. A botched snap last week impacted Pittsburgh’s chances to win the game and raised numerous questions. Additionally, Troy Fautanu is out indefinitely, and James Daniels exited last week’s game due to an injury.

For this competition, both offensive line have allowed ten sacks this year but Dallas has allowed five more pressures. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, injuries have hindered their potential. With so many questions with the starting lineup in Pittsburgh this gives Dallas the win.
Win: Cowboys