In a high-stakes showdown that had NFL fans glued to the edge of their seats, the Dallas Cowboys eked out a dramatic 20-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. The game was a showcase of Dak Prescott’s skill, with the Cowboys quarterback completing 29 of 42 passes for a whopping 352 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions—overshadowing the conservative performance of Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, who mustered only 131 yards on the night. But it was the fireworks between Dallas’s cornerback Jourdan Lewis and Pittsburgh’s receiver George Pickens that stole the show.
After the game, Lewis didn’t mince words, calling out Pickens on his way to the locker room with a sharp remark: “Pittsburgh need a receiver. George Pickens weak,” as reported by Bobby Belt on X. The trash talk sent Pickens over the edge, leading him to grab Lewis’s face mask in frustration, nearly sparking an on-field brawl. This added drama came after the game-winning touchdown, a fourth-and-goal throw from Prescott to Jalen Tolbert in the final 30 seconds that sealed the Cowboys’ win.
Dallas’s offense, explosive and relentless, racked up 445 total yards against the Steelers’ second-ranked defense. Prescott led a 15-play, 70-yard drive, capped with the game-winning pass to Tolbert, highlighting Pittsburgh’s struggles to contain Dallas’s offensive push. Cam Heyward, Steelers defensive tackle, commented on the crushing loss: “It came down to one play. They were on the right side of it,” admitting that the Steelers’ defense, which has been among the league’s best, couldn’t rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
The Cowboys’ defense also made its mark, holding the Steelers to just 226 yards, even in the absence of stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence due to injuries. With backup Marshawn Kneeland also leaving early in the first quarter, Dallas’s defense stepped up and stifled the Steelers’ offense, which has now struggled to score more than ten points in the first half in four out of five games.
For the Steelers, this loss isn’t just another game—it’s their second straight defeat after a strong 3-0 start, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy. The drama doesn’t end there, though; rumors are swirling about Pittsburgh eyeing a trade for star receiver Davante Adams, which, ironically, would fulfill Lewis’s call for a better Steelers receiver. Pickens now joins Najee Harris as the second Steelers player in as many weeks to endure a rival’s sharp criticism, adding tension to a team desperate to shake its recent slump.
With Prescott firing on all cylinders and the Cowboys looking formidable despite key defensive absences, Dallas improved to a 3-2 record, putting them in the thick of the NFC East race. Meanwhile, Steelers fans are left wondering what’s next for Pittsburgh’s offense as the team slides down the standings. The Dallas-Pittsburgh rivalry just reached a new level, and as the season unfolds, the tensions and drama between these two storied franchises promise to keep NFL fans riveted.
Cowboys DB Jourdan Lewis called George Pickens “weak” after the game on the way to locker room. Says Steelers need a WR. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/moFkC2mpzQ
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) October 7, 2024
