The Dallas Cowboys are back on the road this week for a Sunday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A gritty 3-1 Steelers team who have been rolling with Justin Fields to start the year, they haven’t looked great, but doing enough to start the year two games above .500.
The Cowboys are going to be short-handed on the defensive side of the football with DeMarcus Lawerence now on IR and Micah Parsons out, dealing with a high ankle sprain.
The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers finally meet on Sunday Night Football. pic.twitter.com/VHvmzkLC2a
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 1, 2024
GAME INFO:
Date: Sunday, October 6th | Time: 7:20 p.m. CT
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: NBC | Stream: NFL+ & FuboTV
Radio: 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), 107.5 La Grande in Spanish (KMVK-FM)
ODDS:
Moneyline (ML): Cowboys +114 (bet $100 to win $114) | Steelers -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
Against the spread (ATS): Cowboys +2.5 (-110) | Browns -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Who Has The Edge?
The Cowboys are averaging 24.3 points per game this season, while the Steelers defense is allowing the second-fewest points to opposing teams (13.3).
However, the Steelers did allow two passing touchdowns to Joe Flacco last week, along with eight catches, 82 yards and a touchdown to slot receiver Josh Downs.
.@stephenasmith wants to see Davante Adams traded to the Cowboys 😳 pic.twitter.com/lqfxdcAop8
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 2, 2024
The best thing we have seen from the Dallas offense this season is that they are not giving it away much at all. They only have three in the first four games.
As we know, the Steelers are better coached, and more disciplined than the Cowboys through the first four weeks.
T.J Watt is going to be a problem for the young offensive line in Dallas. Expect him to cause problems all night long, but I think the Cowboys offense is still better than the Steelers offense.
Although Watt is great, their defense has given up 346 and 404 yards in their last two games, so the Steelers defense can be attacked.
Injuries Could Be The Difference
Justin Fields has played well, but that offense has settled for a lot of field goals to start the year, kinda like the Cowboys.
With the injuries to DeMarcus Lawerence and Micah Parsons, the Cowboys signed Kj Henry off the Bengals practice squad yesterday afternoon.
Henry, 25, was a fifth-round pick by Washington in 2023 and recorded 1.5 sacks and 19 tackles in 10 games (three starts) for the Commanders as a rookie.
Confirmed: KJ Henry is heading to the #Cowboys, pending finalization of the deal to poach him from the #Bengals practice squad. https://t.co/qGLxT5zhi7
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 1, 2024
Waived by Washington on Aug. 27, Henry signed with the Bengals and has played a total of 11 snaps on defense and seven on special teams in two games this season.
Henry probably won’t get up to speed with only having four days to prepare, so Mike Zimmer is going to have to count on Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland to try to pick up the slack while the duo is out.
Keeping Justin Fields in the pocket will be the key for this defensive line. I am not worried about any of the running backs in Pittsburgh.
Have To Win This Game
With the bye week coming soon, this is a game you have to win. Next week you play the Lions, who look like the best offensive team in football. I always keep it real with you guys, they will lose that game even at home.
You beat the Steelers this week, lose to the Lions next, you roll into the bye at 3-3. It is all about weathering the storm before you get there.
You allow at least Micah Parsons to get healthy and return, come out of the bye at the 49ers.
The #Steelers are preparing for Justin Fields to start against the #Cowboys, per @bepryor pic.twitter.com/cLVzJDNrio
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 1, 2024
This team HAS to win this football game. The Steelers are decent this season, but Dallas has the better quarterback and the best player on that side of the ball in CeeDee Lamb.
I think this is going to be a dog fight from start to finish, but the Cowboys offense will make one or two more plays than the Steelers, improve to 3-2 with a 24-18 win in the steel city Sunday night.