The Cowboys must hold the upper hand in 3 key matchups

The Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to face off on Sunday Night Football in front of a national audience. They might not be the powerhouses they once were during the 1970s and 1990s, but the rivalry is still alive.

I wasn’t alive in the 1970s, but the history books tell us the story. Tom Landry versus Chuck Noll. Terry Bradshaw versus Roger Staubach. The Steel Curtain versus the Doomsday Defense. Tony Dorsett and Franco Harris running wild. They were great and unforgettable times in NFL history.

The 1990s were nothing to scoff at, either. Even though the two teams only met each other once in the Super Bowl during the decade, each were perennial playoff contenders.

Barry Switzer (bet you thought it was Jimmy Johnson) versus Bill Cowher. Troy Aikman versus Neil O’Donnell. Emmitt Smith outpaced Barry Foster and Bam Morris. The Cowboys got the last laugh with a Super Bowl victory over the Steelers in the 1995 season. However, Pittsburgh has since won two more while the Cowboys are stuck in neutral.

The big story line right now with the Cowboys is the injuries that will force backups to earn their keep behind players like Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.

Micah and Tank are both sidelined with injury, and both are weeks from returning. These major injuries have created a set of matchups that we need to look out for this Sunday. They are key matchups that the Cowboys must have the upper hand in or the game will likely be lost.

EDGE Defenders vs Justin Fields

Defensive ends Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have both been ruled out of this game with their respective injuries. Behind them as the primary backups will likely be rookie Marshawn Kneeland and veteran utility player, Chauncey Golston.

There will be a rotation that also includes newly signed DE KJ Henry and practice squad standout Tyrus Wheat. Henry and Wheat will get plenty of snaps to try and help contain Steelers’ QB Justin Fields.

Through four weeks of football, Justin Fields has established himself as the second leading rusher on the team behind lead back Najee Harris. Fields isn’t as fast or shifty as Lamar Jackson, who rushed for 87 yards versus a healthier version of this defense, but the threat is real.

Containing Fields in the pocket and forcing him to use his arm to move the ball down the field is the best strategy to keep the Pittsburgh offense from finding success. The Chargers did just that, holding Fields to six yards on six rushes, but their secondary didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

Los Angeles kept Fields in the pocket, but they also allowed him to complete 78% of his completions for 96.0 QB rating. It will be a team effort to slow down Justin Fields, but it starts with the edges.

Jake Ferguson vs Minkah Fitzpatrick

WR CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned top playmaker on the Cowboys’ offense, but I do think people aren’t giving Jake Ferguson enough credit. The young tight end has been electric with the ball in his hands, and is always looking to make contact to pick up extra yardage.

Ferguson was forced to miss the loss versus the Saints after suffering a strained MCL and some bone bruising in his knee, but caught six and seven passes in the next two games, respectively.

The Steelers answer for Ferguson will likely be S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was acquired by the Steelers from the Miami Dolphins via trade during the 2019 season, and all he’s done under Mike Tomlin is earn 1st Team All-Pro honors twice.

Pittsburgh’s scheme this season has Fitzpatrick as the lone safety in a single-high look, but I think they break that cycle this week to have Fitzpatrick shadow Jake Ferguson.

One of the bread and butter throws for QB Dak Prescott is that seam throw up the middle of the field to Ferguson. Pittsburgh knows that, too, so it will be a good matchup between Ferguson and Fitzpatrick.

Terence Steele vs TJ Watt

Perhaps the most important matchup that can determine the outcome of the game is RT Terence Steele trying to slow down the unwanted advances of former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, TJ Watt.

Watt is an absolute menace on the edge, and Steele has struggled a bit this season. I won’t lie. This matchup terrifies me, and I don’t exactly have confidence that Steele can get the job done in a consistent manner to allow the offense to find a rhythm.

The coaching staff isn’t brave enough (or stupid enough) to leave Steele on an island against Watt for too many snaps this game. Expect a running back or tight end to also line up on the right side and give a little chip block to slow Watt’s rush.

With such a poor rushing attack, the Cowboys will rely on Dak’s arm to move the ball down the field, but he can’t do that if Watt is hanging on his back less than two seconds after the snap.

Steele, along with some help, will have to do everything in his power to keep the pocket clean for Prescott long enough for the offense to be successful.

Prediction

The Steelers are a good team with a 3-1 record, but I think they might have more deficiencies than their record shows. They have two main offensive weapons: WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth. Beyond that are role players.

They have a solid defense, but lack players with elite man coverage skills, so they mask that by playing a heavy zone look. Good quarterbacks can pick apart that zone, and it’s actually one of Prescott’s strengths.

The Cowboys, despite the injury cloud hanging over them, will go into Pittsburgh and secure a victory to move to 3-2 on the season.

Cowboys 23
Steelers 19