The Week 5 showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers was a test of endurance, featuring a 90-minute lightning delay and a conclusion that stretched into the early hours of Monday morning. Despite missing defensive anchors Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys’ defense stifled the Steelers’ attack, while Dak Prescott overcame three individual turnovers to engineer a classic game-winning drive.
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, PA1
- Weather: Rainy/Stormy (90-minute lightning delay), 62°F2
- Attendance: 67,3803
- Key Milestone: T.J. Watt recorded his 100th career sack (2nd fastest in NFL history).4
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.5 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 |
| Passing6 | Dak Prescott7 | 352 YDS, 2 TD, 2 INT8 | Justin Fields9 | 131 YDS, 2 TD, 0 INT10 |
| Rushing11 | Rico Dowdle12 | 20 CAR, 87 YDS13 | Najee Harris14 | 14 CAR, 42 YDS15 |
| Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 7 REC, 87 YDS, 1 TD | Najee Harris | 2 REC, 35 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.
| Quarter | Time | Team | Play Description | Score (DAL-PIT) |
| 1st16 | 12:3517 | DAL18 | Brandon Aubrey 55-yard FG19 | 3-020 |
| 1st21 | 07:3322 | PIT23 | Chris Boswell 41-yard FG24 | 3-325 |
| 2nd26 | 08:5127 | DAL28 | Brandon Aubrey 33-yard FG29 | 6-330 |
| 3rd | 11:50 | PIT | Connor Heyward 16-yard TD pass from Justin Fields (Boswell kick) | 6-10 |
| 4th | 13:51 | DAL | Rico Dowdle 22-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott (Aubrey kick) | 13-10 |
| 4th | 04:56 | PIT | Pat Freiermuth 6-yard TD pass from Justin Fields (Boswell kick) | 13-17 |
| 4th | 00:20 | DAL | Jalen Tolbert 4-yard TD pass from Dak Prescott (Aubrey kick) | 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.31
Dallas Cowboys
| Player | Rush Att | Rush Yds | TD | Rec | Rec Yds | TD |
| Rico Dowdle32 | 2033 | 8734 | 035 | 236 | 2737 | 138 |
| Ezekiel Elliott39 | 640 | 1741 | 042 | 043 | 044 | 045 |
| Jalen Tolbert46 | 047 | 048 | 049 | 750 | 8751 | 152 |
| 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 |
| Nick Herbig | PIT | 2 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 |
| Donte Jackson | PIT | 5 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Linval Joseph | DAL | 2 | 3 | 1.0 | 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 Yards53 | 10954 | 9255 |
| Passing Yards56 | 33657 | 13458 |
| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why was the game delayed?
The game was delayed for nearly 90 minutes due to severe thunderstorms and lightning strikes in the immediate vicinity of Acrisure Stadium, pushing the finish to nearly 1:00 AM.59
2. Did Micah Parsons play?
No, Micah Parsons was inactive due to a high ankle sprain. DeMarcus Lawrence was also out, leaving Dallas without their top two pass rushers.60
3. What was T.J. Watt’s milestone?
T.J. Watt recorded his 100th career sack during the first half, becoming the second-fastest player to reach that mark in NFL history (109 games), trailing only Reggie White.61
4. How did the game end?
With 20 seconds left on 4th-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Dak Prescott connected with Jalen Tolbert for the game-winning touchdown.62
Conclusion
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.
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