The Dallas Cowboys battled past the Pittsburgh Steelers with a hard-fought 20–17 win in a game that demanded resilience from both sides. After a 90-minute lightning delay stretched the contest into the early morning hours, the matchup was ultimately decided by crucial defensive stops and a clutch final drive that quieted Acrisure Stadium.
Below is the definitive statistical breakdown of this prime-time clash, capturing the metrics that defined a gritty 20-17 victory for Dallas at Acrisure Stadium.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Dallas Cowboys 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
- Date: October 6, 2024
- Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
- Weather: Rainy/Stormy (90-minute lightning delay), 62°F
- Attendance: 67,380
- Key Milestone: T.J. Watt recorded his 100th career sack (2nd fastest in NFL history).
Top Performers
The game featured a stark contrast in offensive styles; Dallas relied on a high-volume passing attack that yielded 352 yards, while Pittsburgh struggled to find rhythm, finishing with just 226 total yards. Rico Dowdle’s emergence as a reliable lead back provided the Cowboys with much-needed balance against a fierce Pittsburgh front.
| Category | Player (DAL) | Stats | Player (PIT) | Stats |
| Passing | Dak Prescott | 352 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT | Justin Fields | 131 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT |
| Rushing | Rico Dowdle | 20 CAR, 87 YDS | Najee Harris | 14 CAR, 42 YDS |
| Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 REC, 87 YDS, 1 TD | George Pickens | 3 REC, 26 YDS |
| Defense | Linval Joseph | 3 TOT, 1.0 SCK | T.J. Watt | 8 TOT, 1.5 SCK, 1 FF |
The defensive battle was highlighted by veteran Linval Joseph stepping up for a depleted Dallas line, while T.J. Watt continued his Hall of Fame trajectory by terrorizing the Cowboys’ backfield throughout the night.
Scoring Summary
Early scoring was dominated by the kickers, as both offenses struggled to find the end zone in the slippery conditions following the storm. The second half saw a dramatic shift as Justin Fields utilized his tight ends to take the lead, only for Dallas to respond in the final seconds of regulation.
- 1st Quarter (12:35): DAL – Brandon Aubrey 55-yard FG (3-0)
- 1st Quarter (07:33): PIT – Chris Boswell 41-yard FG (3-3)
- 2nd Quarter (08:51): DAL – Brandon Aubrey 33-yard FG (6-3)
- 3rd Quarter (11:50): PIT – Connor Heyward 16-yard TD pass from Justin Fields (6-10)
- 4th Quarter (13:51): DAL – Rico Dowdle 22-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott (13-10)
- 4th Quarter (04:56): PIT – Pat Freiermuth 6-yard TD pass from Justin Fields (13-17)
- 4th Quarter (00:20): DAL – Jalen Tolbert 4-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott (20-17)
The final drive was a 15-play, 70-yard march that tested the Cowboys’ composure, ending with Jalen Tolbert’s first career game-winning touchdown catch on 4th down.
Quarterback Performance
Dak Prescott’s performance was a roller coaster of high-end yardage and critical errors, including a red-zone interception and a lost fumble. However, his 352 passing yards proved too much for a Pittsburgh secondary that eventually tired under the constant pressure of Dallas’ quick-passing game.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
| C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | Sacks | YPA | Rating |
| 29/42 | 352 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8.4 | 90.6 |
Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Fields
| C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | Sacks | YPA | Rating |
| 15/27 | 131 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4.9 | 93.3 |
Justin Fields remained efficient and avoided interceptions, but the lack of explosive plays in the passing game (averaging under 5 yards per attempt) allowed the Dallas defense to condense and stop the run effectively.
Running & Catching Statistics
The Cowboys’ backfield saw a changing of the guard as Rico Dowdle outpaced Ezekiel Elliott in both snaps and production, providing the “juice” Dallas had been missing. Jalen Tolbert stepped up as the primary second option with Brandin Cooks sidelined, proving he could handle a heavy target share.
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | Rush Att | Rush Yds | TD | Rec | Rec Yds | TD |
| Rico Dowdle | 20 | 87 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 1 |
| Jalen Tolbert | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 87 | 1 |
| Jake Ferguson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 70 | 0 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 62 | 0 |
Pittsburgh Steelers
| Player | Rush Att | Rush Yds | TD | Rec | Rec Yds | TD |
| Najee Harris | 14 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 0 |
| Justin Fields | 6 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Freiermuth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 1 |
| George Pickens | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 0 |
Pittsburgh’s rushing attack was largely held in check, with Najee Harris averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. The Steelers’ reliance on tight ends in the passing game was evident, as both Heyward and Freiermuth accounted for the team’s only touchdowns.
Defensive Metrics
The Steelers’ defensive front, led by T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, was as formidable as advertised, generating consistent pressure and forcing critical turnovers deep in their own territory. However, injuries to Herbig and DeMarvin Leal late in the game thinned the pass rush during Dallas’ final drive.
| Player | Team | Solo | Total | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits |
| T.J. Watt | PIT | 7 | 8 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 |
| Donte Jackson | PIT | 5 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Linval Joseph | DAL | 2 | 3 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 |
| Chauncey Golston | DAL | 3 | 4 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 |
Despite the loss, the Steelers’ defense proved why they are considered an elite unit, holding a high-powered Dallas offense to field goals for the majority of the first three quarters.
Complete Team Statistics
The “box score” doesn’t quite capture the momentum swings of this game, but the total net yardage gap (445 to 226) tells the story of Dallas’ move-the-chains efficiency versus Pittsburgh’s “bend-but-don’t-break” survivalism.
| Statistic | Dallas Cowboys | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Total First Downs | 25 | 17 |
| Total Net Yards | 445 | 226 |
| Rushing Yards | 109 | 92 |
| Passing Yards | 336 | 134 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 32:29 | 27:31 |
Dallas’ ability to convert 60% of their third downs (9/15) was the deciding factor, allowing them to sustain the long drives that eventually wore down the Pittsburgh defense.
For more in-depth NFL analysis and historical team comparisons, you can visit official resources like NFL.com Stats
Historical Context & Verdict
The Verdict: This game served as a “statement of resilience” for the Dallas Cowboys. Entering the game as underdogs due to a laundry list of defensive injuries, they proved they could win a physical, “ugly” game in a hostile environment. For Pittsburgh, the loss exposed a lack of verticality in their passing game, which became too predictable for an opportunistic Dallas secondary.
The “Missed” Factor: Often overlooked in the box score was the special teams battle. A blocked field goal by the Steelers nearly swung the game’s momentum entirely, reminding analysts that while stats favor Dallas, the game was decided by a few inches on 4th-and-goal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why was the game delayed?
The game was delayed for 90 minutes due to severe thunderstorms and lightning strikes in the immediate vicinity of Acrisure Stadium, a rare occurrence for Sunday Night Football.
2. Did Micah Parsons play?
No, Micah Parsons was inactive due to a high ankle sprain suffered in the previous week’s game against the Giants.
3. What was T.J. Watt’s milestone?
T.J. Watt recorded his 100th career sack, becoming the second-fastest player to reach that mark in NFL history, just behind Reggie White.
4. How did the game end?
With 20 seconds left on 4th-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert to give Dallas a 20-17 lead. Pittsburgh’s final multi-lateral play failed as time expired.
Would you like me to create a comparative analysis of Dak Prescott’s performance in this game versus his season averages?
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