Cowboys 20 vs 17 Steelers, Tolbert go-ahead touchdown, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 5
Cowboys defeat Steelers 20-17
Cowboys defeat Steelers in late-night thriller
It was already a late one here in Pittsburgh, but lightning storms delayed the game between the Steelers and Cowboys by nearly an hour and a half.
By the time the game ended, it was 1:00 a.m. in Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys beat the Steelers 20-17 to improve to 3-2 while Steelers fell to 3-2.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott finished 29 of 42 for 352 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked twice. Running back Rico Dowdle led the team in rushing with 20 carries for 87 yards and added two receptions for 27 yards and one 22-yard receiving touchdown. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert, who was filling in for injured Brandin Cooks, finished with seven receptions for 87 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Kicker Brandon Aubrey made two of his three field goal attempts, with one being blocked and recovered by the Steelers.
For the Steelers, quarterback Justin Fields finished with 15 of 27 completions for 131 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Najee Harris led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 42 yards. Tight ends Connor Heyward and Pat Freiermuth accounted for the two passing touchdowns and Chris Boswell made his one field goal attempt from 41 yards.
The Cowboys will face the Detroit Lions next Sunday at home and the Steelers will play the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
Goodnight!
That's a wrap for tonight! Thanks so much for following along with this super late Sunday night game between the Steelers and Cowboys. We hope you enjoyed our text coverage. Go and get some sleep. Signing off!
END GAME
Fields passed backwards to Pickens, he made the lateral pass to Seumalo, who made another lateral to Frazier, who made another lateral to Fields, who made ANOTHER lateral to Freiermuth who finally FUMBLED the ball. It was recovered by Dallas' Lewis.
COWBOYS take the win.
Fields pass incomplete to Austin
Aubrey kicks 63 yards to the Steelers 2 and Shampklin takes it up 19 yards to the Steelers 21
After ALL that, Prescott makes the pass to Tolbert in the end zone and gets the go-ahead TD for 4 yards.
Aubrey went for the extra point, but the Steelers were called for Neutral Zone Infraction to put them 5 yards closer.
On the next try, the Steelers get another penalty, this time an Offsides on Fitzpatrick - another 5 yards closer. They get a warning for Unsportsmanlike Conduct on the next one.
Aubrey goes for the extra point and it is GOOD!
The Cowboys take a 3-point lead with 20 seconds left.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Steelers take final timeout
Cowboys take final timeout
Prescott pass incomplete to Tolbert - 4th and goal
Cowboys take second timeout
Dowdle pushes up the middle and FUMBLES with Roberts flying at him in the air, but Prescott recovers it at the 4
The Replay Official reviewed the runner was out of bounds ruling, and the play was REVERSED - 2nd and goal at the 1
Prescott's scramble looks like he may have fumbled the ball - play is under review
Prescott runs it up 3 yards to the 1 - 2nd and goal
Cowboys take first timeout
Prescott pass to Luepke complete and he runs it for a gain of 18 yards all the way to the 4-yard line - 1st and goal
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson for 10 yards - 1st down with the clock ticking from just over a minute
Prescott under pressure, throws it away - 3rd and 9 on the 32
Dowdle taken down for just a yard - 2nd and 9
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
There are just 2 minutes left in the game. The Steelers are up by 5 but Dallas has the ball on the 33 at 1st down.
Dowdle pushes up 7 yards to the Steelers 33 for the 1st down
Prescott pass complete to Tolbert for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Elliott picks up 1, good for the 1st
Prescott pass to Lamb complete for 9 yards - 3rd and 1
Dowdle gets nowhere, stopped by Roberts and Lowry - 2nd and 10 at the Cowboys 43
Steelers take second timeout
Dowdle picks up another 8 - 1st down
Dowdle gains 5 - 2nd and 5
Boswell kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
After Prescott threw the interception, the Steelers took advantage of the opportunity. They made it down the field and Fields' pass to Freiermuth for 6 yards was good for the TD. Boswell's PAT was good and the Steelers take back the lead with just under 5 minutes left in the game.
STEELERS TOUCHDOWN!
Harris gets nowhere - 2nd and goal
Fields pass complete to Pickens and he gets away for 22 yards
Two penalties on Cowboys - Offsides on Lawson and Unnecessarty Roughness on Wilson, 6 yards
Steelers at 1st and goal
Fields pass complete to Johnson for 9 yards - 3rd and 1
Fields pass incomplete to Jefferson - 2nd and 10
Steelers go for it and Harris gets it on a 1-yard push
Steelers take first timeout
Fields under pressure, incomplete - 4th and 1
Harris takes it up a yard - 3rd and 1
Fields pass complete to Jefferson for 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Fields takes it up 2 for the first down
Harris picks up 3 and Fields takes it up another 5 - 3rd and 2
Prescott pass INTERCEPTED by Porter and he runs it back 7 yards to the Steelers 37
Steelers' Leal was injured during the play
Elliott took it up the middle 4 yards for the 1st down but Cowboys were given an UnnecessaryRoughness call on Hoffman - 15 yards
Prescott pass complete to Spann-Ford for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Dowdle picks up 13 yards to the Cowboys 31 - 1st down
Cowboys' Martin was injured on the play
Elliott picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 6
Prescott pass deflected by Benton, incomplete - 2nd and 10
Waitman punts 47 yards to the 14, out of bounds
Fields' pass was incomplete, but originally ruled as a fumble recovered by Steelers. It's 4th and 5 after the change.
Fields pass incomplete - 3rd and 5
Harris picks up 5 - 2nd and 5
Aubrey kicks 63 yards to the Steelers 2 and Shampklin takes it up 32 yards to the Steelers 34
Dowdle leads Dallas down the field on the ground and eventually makes a 22-yard catch in the end zone to give the Cowboys their first touchdown of the night. Aubrey's PAT was good and put Dallas back on top with just under 14 minutes left in the game.
COWBOYS TOUCHDOWN!
Wilson makes the stop on Dowdle for no gain - 2nd down
Dowdle picks up 2 yards for the 1st down
END THIRD QUARTER
That takes us to the end of the 3rd quarter!
The Steelers have the short lead after a touchdown catch by Heyward.
Cowboys have the ball at 3rd and 1 at the Steelers 24
Dowdle picks up 6 - 3rd and 1
Dowdle picks up 3 yards - 2nd and 7
Cowboys get lucky. Holding on Steelers' Bishop gives them the automatic 1st down on the 33
Prescott SACKED by Heyward for a loss of 1
Dowdle takes it up 3 - 3rd and 7
Prescott under pressure gets the ball away to Spann-Ford but he can't bring it in - incomplete - 2nd and 10
Prescott pass to Tolbert again for another 7 and this time the first down
Prescott pass complete to Tolbert for 7 yards - 3rd and 5
Prescott pass to Schoonmaker for 8 yards - 2nd and 12
ANOTHER False Start on Cowboys, this time on Bass - Cowboys now at 1st and 20
False Start on Cowboys' Lamb - 5 yards, 1st and 15
Prescott hands it off to Dowdle and he pushes through for another 13yards - 1st down!
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson for 13 yards - 1st down
Prescott pass incomplete to Lamb - 2nd and 10
Prescott hands it to Luepke for 2 yards and the 1st down
Dowdle gets another 3 - 3rd and 1
Dowdle picks up 6 yards - 2nd and 4
Waitman punts 47 yards to the Cowboys 0
Cowboys get Holding call on Vigil and lose another 10 yards - will start at their own 10
Fields pass too high, incomplete - 4th and 4 at the Cowboys 47
Fields pass complete to Austin, brought down by Diggs for 6 yards - 3rd and 4
Fields under pressure from Lawson, throws it away - 2nd and 10
Harris pushes through for a 20-yard pickup and the 1st down at their own 47
Aubrey's field goal attempt is BLOCKED by Loudermilk and Steelers' Fitzpatrick recovers it at the Steelers 27
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson for 8 yards - 4th and 9
Holding on Cowboys' Smith - declined
Cowboys at 3rd and 17
Prescott SACKED by Watt
Prescott pass batted down by Elliott - 2nd and 10
Prescott passes deep to Turpin and he picks up a big 35yards to the Steelers 21
Elliott picks up 5 yards - 3rd and 5
Prescott pass incomplete to Ferguson, broken up by Fitzpatrick - 2nd and 10
Prescott pass complete to Tolbert for 10 yards - 1st down
Boswell kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
Fields had to come out of the game after a hard hit, but he was only out a few plays. He came back in and led the Steelers down the field. His pass to Heyward for 16 yards in the end zone gave them their first touchdown of the game and Boswell's PAT was good to make it a 4-point lead for Pittsburgh with just under 12 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
STEELERS TOUCHDOWN!
Fields pass complete to Freiermuth and Wilson takes him down for a loss of 1 - 2nd and 11
Fields pass down the middle is caught by Jefferson for 11 yards - 1st down
Fields is back in already.
He makes the pass to Jefferson for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Allen pass complete to Freiermuth for 19 yards to the Cowboys 33
Harris picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
Fields being taken back to be assessed for a concussion
Kyle Allen will come in as the Steelers backup QB
Fields being taken off the field to be looked at by medical staff after taking a hard hit by Wheat
Fields pass incomplete to Harris
Personal Foul (Roughing the Passer) on Cowboys' Wheat - 15 yards
And we're back!
Steelers will receive in the second half
Aubrey kicks 62 yards to the Steelers 3 and Shampklin takes it up 25 yards to the Steelers 28
HALFTIME
That brings us to the end of the first half.
The Cowboys are in the lead 6-3 with two field goals to the Steelers' one. Just before halftime, the Cowboys made a huge mistake when Prescott threw a pass intended for Lamb but he looked like he wasn't expecting it and it was intercepted by the Steelers. Earlier in the game, Dallas turned the ball over near the red zone as well. They've blown two chances at scores in the first half.
Shampklin takes it again, picks up 5 - 4th and 1
Cowboys take final timeout
Shampklin takes it again, picks up 3 - 3rd and 6
Steelers take over at their own 1
Shampklin takes it a yard - 2nd and 9
Prescott pass INTERCEPTED by Jackson - runs it out of bounds at the Steelers 1
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson for 6 yards - 2nd and 5
Dowdle gets it again, gets 6 this time for the 1st down
Prescott gives it to Dowdle and he picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
That'll take us to the 2-minute warning in the first half.
The Cowboys are up by 3. They've got the ball at 1st down on the Steelers 31 after a huge pickup of 48 yards by WR Jalen Tolbert.
Prescott passes deep to Tolbert and it is caught for 48yards at the Steelers 31
Prescott escapes pressure but pass is incomplete - 3rd down
Prescott flips it to Ferguson and Watt takes him down after 6 - 2nd and 4
Waitman punts 34 yards to the Cowboys 15 and Turpin makes the fair catch
False Start on Steelers' Robinson - 5 yards
Fields under pressure, passes deep to Pickens but Lewis is all over him - incomplete, 4th down
Harris takes it again but Wheat holds him off for a loss of 1 - 3rd and 5
Harris pushes through for a gain of 6 - 2nd and 4
Fields pushed up the middle by Freiermuth, converts on the 4th down
Fields makes another design run, but he's crushed by Golston and Wheat - 4th and inches
Fields takes off for 5 yards, pushed out of bounds just short - 3rd and 1
And it's Harris again for a pickup of 4 - 2nd and 6
Harris picks up another 6 for the first down
Harris picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Aubrey kicks 65 yards to the end zone - Touchback to the Steelers 30
Aubrey gets his second field goal, this time for 33 yards to give the Cowboys the lead with 8:51 left in the second quarter.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott hands it off to Luepke and gets 4 yards - 4th and 12
False Start on Cowboys' Steele - 3rd and 16
Cowboys' Guyton was injured during the play
Prescott under pressure, throws it away - 3rd and 11
Elliott takes it but Ogunjobi forces him to lose a yard - 2nd and 11
Prescott pass complete to Ferguson and he picks up 27yards and the 1st down at the Steelers 13
Lamb makes a running play, picks up 2 - 2nd and 8
Face Mask on Steelers' Bishop - 15 yards, 1st down at the Steelers 42
Prescott pass complete to Turpin, pushed out of bounds just at the first down
Elliott picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Waitman punts 46 yards to the Cowboys 34, fair catch by Turpin
Fields SACKED by Odighizuwa for a loss of 2 - 4th and 10
False Start on Steelers' Ward - 5 yards, 3rd and 8
Fields pass caught by Washington and he's taken down by Overshown - 5 yards, 3rd and 3
False Start on Steelers' Washington - 5 yards
Ward picks up 7 - 2nd and 3
END FIRST QUARTER
Not a great way for the Cowboys to end the first quarter. After a few big plays from CeeDee Lamb, they made it all the way down to the Steelers 11 only for Prescott to get sacked and fumble the ball for the Steelers to recover it.
The game is tied with a field goal for each team as we head into the second quarter.
Prescott SACKED by Hrbig and Watt and FUMBLED, recovered by the STEELERS' Herbig at the Steelers 20
Dowdle taken down by Watt for no gain - 3rd and 6 at the Steelers 11
Prescott pass to Tolbert complete for 4 yards - 2nd and 6
Dowdle takes off for 12 yards - 1st down at Steelers 15
Prescott pass complete to Turpin for 7 yards - 2nd and 3
Prescott pass caught by Lamb for 19 yards and another 1st down
Prescott pass to Lamb is CAUGHT with feet in bounds for 27 yards - 1st down at the Cowboys 47
Prescott gets the ball to Turpin but Herbig takes him down for a loss of 6 yards - 3rd and 14
Dowdle picks up 2 - 2nd and 8
Waitman punts it to the Cowboys 24, downed by Ward
At 3rd and 24, Fields throws it down field and out of bounds
The ruling on the field stands. It's Steelers' ball. Dallas loses a timeout.
The officials said Pittsburgh recovered it, but McCarthy is challenging it, saying Cowboys recovered it. We'll see what the officials say...
Fields SACKED by Joseph and Fields FUMBLED it - loss of 7 yards
Fields' pass to Jefferson almost intercepted by Hooker, but he just bats it down - incomplete
Harris breaks through for 4 yards and Cowboys' Joseph gets called for a Face Mask - automatic first down
Fields pass complete to Heyward for 7 yards
Anger punts 45 yards to the Steelers 26 and Austin calls for the fair catch
Intentional Grounding on Cowboys' Prescott - 10 yards, 4th and 11
Prescott under pressure throws it away - 4th and 1
Prescott pass complete to Brooks just short of the 1st - 3rd and 1
Prescott tosses to Turpin and he picks up 5 - 2nd and 10
False Start on Cowboys' Guyton - 5 yards
Boswell kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30
The Steelers respond with a field goal of their own. Chris Boswell makes it from 41 yards and Pittsburgh makes it a tie game with 7:33 left to play in the first quarter.
STEELERS FIELD GOAL!
Fields tosses it to Shampklin and he picks up 5 yards - 4th and 3 and they'll go for the field goal
Ward picks up 2, taken down by Overshown - 3rd and 8
Fields pass incomplete to Washington - 2nd and 10 at the Cowboys 30
Fields pass complete to Harris and he picks up 15yards down the edge - 1st down
Harris taken down by Wheat and Odighizuwa for no gain - 3rd and 2
Fields pass caught by Pickens for 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland is down with an injury - not good for an already thin Dallas defense
Harris picks up 3 but a Holding call on Cowboys' Smith gives Steelers an automatic first down
Fields throws deep to Heyward but he can't pull it in - incomplete - 2nd and 10
Harris picks up 4 for the first down
Fields runs it up 8 yards - 2nd and 2
Aubrey kicks to the Steelers 0 and Shampkin takes it 25 yards
The game finally got underway after nearly an hour and a half delay. Cowboys won the toss and on their first possession, got within field goal range (it's a long range for Brandon Aubrey).
Aubrey made the 55-yard field goal - his 7/8 from 50+. Cowboys take an early lead with12:35 left in the first quarter.
COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!
Prescott pass to Tolbert incomplete, broken up by Bishop - 4th down at the Steelers 36. They'll go for the field goal.
Prescott throws to Lamb for 4 yards - 3rd and 5
Dowdle picks up a yard.
Prescott passes to Lamb for 3 yards and then tosses a 13-yard pass to Spann-Ford for the 1st down
Boswell kicked to the Cowboys 0 and Turpin took off 38 yards, but Steelers' Kazee was called for Illegal Formation to give Dallas an extra 5 yards to the 43
GAME TIME - FINALLY!
The Cowboys won the toss and have elected to receive. Boswell is here for the kickoff.
Here we goooo!
The players have returned to the field! Storms have let up and we should be good for kickoff in just 15 minutes as they warm back up.
New game start:
A new game start of 9:45 p.m. ET has been announced. Hopeful storm will have cleared enough by then!
Weather update:
Cowboys and Steelers getting snacks and listening to music while they wait for the game to start. Players are still wearing pads as we wait for the new game start...
30-min game delay
The weather has delayed the start time for the game by 30 minutes, but the field has been cleared. We will keep you posted!
Severe storms moving into Pittsburgh
As of right now, the weather is just fine in Pittsburgh, but severe storms are threatening to make their way over. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued in the area through 11 p.m. and is expected to start just around kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET.
The line of storms that is expected to come through has produced hail and has the potential for tornadoes.
Typically, the NFL doesn't postpone or suspend games due to rain, but if there is lightning in the area, they could delay the game.
Watt looking for career mark
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has established himself as one of the best defenders in the league and he's having a stellar season with the Steelers this year. He's already got three sacks this season and has led the NFL in sacks on three separate occasions, including last season with 19.
In fact, he's a half a sack away from hitting the century mark for quarterback sacks in his career. He's got 99.5 career sacks heading into tonight's game, so even if he's able to get one with some assistance tonight, he'll hit 100.
Cowboys' plan for injury-riddled defense
During their win over the Giants last week, the Cowboys suffered two significant injuries to their top two pass rushers - Micah Parsons is considered "week to week" with a high ankle sprain and DeMarcus Lawrence was put on IR with a foot sprain and could miss up to 8 weeks. This is on top of losing DE Sam Williams to an ACL tear in the preseason.
The Cowboys are looking to current defenders Carl Lawson, Chauncey Golston, and Tyrus Wheat to fill their shoes in the meantime. But they did sign one other player to the squad - KJ Henry. Even with a healthy Parsons and Lawrence, the Dallas defense has not been finding ways to stop the run. Against the Steelers running attack, they'll be put to another serious test.
Steelers vs Cowboys: INJURY REPORT
The Dallas Cowboys were dealt several huge injury blows since their last game, losing DE DeMarcus Lawrence and LB Micah Parsons to injuries suffered during their win over the Giants, only to have to put WR Brandin Cooks on IR later in the week due to a rare knee infection.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be thin at the running back position against the Cowboys, with Jaylen Warren and Cordarelle Patterson both out. Thankfully they still have their RB1 with Najee Harris. OLB AlexHighsmith will be a big loss for the Steelers as he misses his second straight game.
Dallas Cowboys Injury Report
Brandin Cooks, WR (Knee) - Out
Micah Parsons, DE (Ankle) - Out
Caelen Carson, CB (Shoulder) - Questionable
Marist Liufau, LB (Quad) - Questionable
Trevon Diggs, CB (Ankle) - Questionable
Pittsburgh Steelers Injury Report
Alex Highsmith, LB (Groin) - Out
Cordarrelle Patterson, KR (Ankle) - Out
Jaylen Warren, RB - (Knee) - Out
MyCole Pruitt, TE (Knee) - Out
Jeremiah Moon, LB (Ankle) - Questionable
Russell Wilson, QB (Calf) - Questionable
To football fans across the U.S. and even abroad, the Steelers vs. Cowboys matchup is more than just a game—it’s an exhibit of NFL history and tradition. This Sunday night in Pittsburgh, two of the most successful and famous football franchises will clash again.
Cowboys' lack of run game
In contrast to the Steelers, the Cowboys have struggled mightily to get their run game going. They currently rank dead last in the league with 74 rushing yards per game.
Dallas' running back committee consists of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and fullback Hunter Luepke. Despite their lack of spark, the Cowboys have not made any changes. Several fans have called on them to elevate veteran Dalvin Cook from the practice squad, but Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy keep coming up with excuses not to.
However, McCarthy did say Cook's reps are ramping up in practice, so it could happen soon.
"He took some reps yesterday in the team periods, so we're definitely moving him forward," said McCarthy. "But the other part of it, too, is I think Rico [Dowdle] and [Ezekiel Elliott] they haven't been given a lot of opportunities too, so it isn't like they haven't done anything to warrant their opportunities decreasing right now."
Justin Fields > Russell Wilson?
The Steelers brought in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback ahead of the 2024 season, but were leaning towards starting Wilson until a calf injury kept him out. Since then, Fields led them to a 3-1 start, losing their first game just last week.
The Steelers have yet to see actual on-field action from Wilson. Meanwhile, Fields has shown consistency and capability in protecting the ball as Pittsburgh ups their run plays. He's averaged 36 rushing yards per game through the first four weeks. Wilson is less inclined to run and shines more in downfield passing.
Wilson has been ramping up in practice, but Steelers coach Mike Tomlin named Fields the starter for their Week 5 matchup against the Cowboys while Wilson remains listed as questionable.
Cowboys and Steelers: Where they stand
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their first game last week against the Indianapolis Colts. Before that, they were on a roll with Justin Fields under center, bringing them to a 3-0 start, beating the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers. Against the Colts, they got off to a slow start, playing against their backup QB Joe Flacco. They rallied in the second half to cut the deficit to 3, but ended up losing 27-24.
The Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand are at 2-2. They're coming off of a Thursday night road win over the New York Giants, but before that they suffered two huge home losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, who both stomped all over them in the run game, They won their first road game against the Cleveland Browns.
Welcome!
Good Sunday evening, everyone and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs Dallas Cowboys!
This Sunday Night Football game kicks off from Acrisure Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET. It's Jen here bringing you all the latest scores, stats, highlights, and commentary starting an hour before kickoff until the final whistle.
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