Dallas Cowboys 10 takeaways in Sunday night’s 20-17 win over the Steelers

The Dallas Cowboys achieved a breakthrough at the end of the game with a 20:17 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game began with a weather delay of over an hour, but once it got underway there was no shortage of excitement. After a late lead exchange, the Cowboys had the last laugh. Here are ten thoughts on the Cowboys’ win on Sunday night.

1. Tolbert with the game winner

The team’s third-year wide receiver had to step in in Brandin Cooks’ absence, and Jalen Tolbert delivered. He finished the game with seven catches for 87 yards. Both are career highlights. But his greatest moment came when he limped onto the field and caught the game-winning touchdown on a crucial play in the fourth. The game was on the line and Dak Prescott got the ball to the exact spot where Tolbert could play the ball.

2. Rico time!

Fans have been asking for this for a long time, and on Sunday night they finally got it. Entering this game, Rico Dowdle’s career high in rushing attempts in a game was 12. Against the Steelers, he set a new career high with 20 rushing attempts. He also added another 27 yards, including a great catch in the end zone for the Cowboys’ first touchdown of the game. This was the first time in his career that he had over 100 scrimmage yards. The team still has a lot to figure out in the running game, but giving Dowdle more touches is a good start.

3. The most important fumble recovery

The Cowboys were absolutely terrible at recovering fumbles for most of the game. Early in the game, it looked like the Cowboys had forced a big takeaway when Linval Joseph took the ball away from Justin Fields. First, Carl Lawson fell on the ball, but he couldn’t secure the ball and Fields pulled it away from him and the Steelers kept the ball. On the ensuing drive, Prescott fumbled the ball, but the Steelers defense pounced on it. Even when an incomplete pass from Fields was initially ruled a fumble, the Cowboys were unable to recover it either. They were bumbling idiots.

Luckily, the Cowboys recovered the most important fumble when Prescott fell on a dowdle fumble near the end zone and time was running out. This gave the Cowboys another chance to win the game and they made it happen.

4. Ineptitude in the red zone

The Cowboys delivered when it mattered most, but it was difficult for most of the game. Every time the offense moved the ball downfield in the red zone, they found a way to impede it. Fumbles, interceptions and even blocked field goals all contributed to high possession ratios that ended with no points. In a game where there were hardly any points, these mishaps almost cost them. The Cowboys offense is still lacking in places, there were some good things, but there was a lack of finishing and Sunday’s game was no different.

5. Penalties will not go away

The Cowboys are so bad at this. Last week they were assessed 11 penalties for 89 yards. This week there were 11 penalties for 87 yards. It’s like déjà vu. Tyrus Wheat, Donovan Wilson and even Brock Hoffman (who barely played) were cited for personal foul penalties. If it happens every now and then, that’s normal. If it’s an ongoing issue, the Cowboys have a discipline problem, and that’s a pointer to the coaching staff. It’s disgusting.

6. I almost screwed up

No one will talk much about it because the Cowboys came out victorious, but the time management on the team’s final drive was terrible. After Hunter Luepke stumbled downfield inside the five-yard line, the Cowboys were at their best. They only needed three yards and could run out the clock if they didn’t get in right away. But instead of making it easy, the Cowboys opted for drama. First, they called time out themselves instead of working by the clock. Then they almost spoiled the game at the goal line. It took until fourth down to break through as they flirted with disaster.

7. Challenge failures

It’s hard to put your finger on it, but when it comes to challenging plays, the Cowboys are terrible at them. If they challenge a game, they lose. If the refs make a bad point and replay corrects it, the Cowboys don’t challenge it. We don’t know what’s going on upstairs when it comes to getting Mike McCarthy the right information, but they’re terrible at it.

8. Lose Kneeland

The Cowboys’ defensive line had already lost two starters without Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. That left them short on the edge and opened the door for Marshawn Kneeland to make his first NFL start. Unfortunately, that start was cut short when he was injured on the fourth play of the defense’s first series. He was taken back to the locker room on a cart. Chauncey Golston, Carl Lawson and Tyrus Wheat had to do the perimeter work for the rest of the game.

9. Lose Guyton

The injuries started piling up when left tackle Tyler Guyton left the game late in the second quarter. The team moved Tyler Smith to tackle and used second-year TJ Bass at left guard. The good news was that not that much changed. They got through it well and gave Dak time for surgery. The bad news was that not that much had changed. There was still pressure and penalties at times. Hopefully Guyton heals quickly, but it’s good to know the Cowboys can function without him.

10. Defense with another good performance

It was shocking that the defense did the heavy lifting here, especially in the first half. At halftime, the Steelers had just 89 total yards and just three points. Pittsburgh did score two touchdowns in the second half, but overall the defense still did a good job. They held Najae Harris to 42 yards on 14 carries and Fields had just 27 rushing yards. They held the Steelers to 3 of 12 on third down. This was a promising performance from this group, especially considering how many defenders they were missing in this game.