ARLINGTON, Texas -- The 1978 NFL season ended with the Steelers topping the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII for their third championship in five seasons and second win over Dallas in the title game.
But it began with seven consecutive wins, as the Steelers sprinted out to a 7-0 record on their way to a 14-2 record in the NFL's first 16-game season.
The 2020 Steelers matched that 7-0 start last week with a 28-24 victory over their bitter rivals, the Ravens, in Baltimore.
Ironically, the Steelers will get an opportunity to set a new franchise record for best starts as the NFL's only unbeaten team heads to AT&T Stadium to face what is now the hapless Cowboys (2-6).
When the schedule came out in the spring, the game against the Cowboys looked like a difficult one. The Steelers were expecting to be coming off their bye week after a matchup with the Ravens in Week 7. But a COVID-19 outbreak with the Titans caused the Steelers' schedule to be shifted around.
Their bye was moved to Week 4, when they were originally slated to face the Titans in Tennessee. Their Week 7 game against the Ravens was moved to Week 8. And Week 9 had them traveling to Dallas.
It was a three-game road trip that looked daunting, especially when NFL passing yardage leader Dak Prescott was playing. But Prescott suffered a broken ankle Oct. 11 and the Cowboys have been struggling since to find a capable replacement.
They first tried back Andy Dalton, a former starter with the Bengals, but Dalton suffered a concussion in his second start two weeks ago, forcing the Cowboys to go to rookie seventh-round draft pick Ben DiNucci last week in a 23-9 loss to the Eagles.
The Cowboys didn't like what they saw from DiNucci in that game and this week will likely turn things over to 29-year-old journeyman Garrett Gilbert. How much of a journeyman is Gilbert? The Cowboys are his seventh NFL team since joining the Rams as a sixth-round draft pick in 2014. He's thrown six NFL passes.
"I just felt with the opponent that we're playing, we need some more experience at that position," Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said of the decision to move on from DiNucci, at least against the Steelers.
Given what the Steelers are doing to opposing quarterbacks this season, that's not a bad idea -- though you might have to question McCarthy's definition of experience. The Steelers lead the NFL with 30 sacks and are second with 10 interceptions.
Last week, they forced reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson into a career-worst four turnovers in a 28-24 win over the Ravens.
But this week will present a big challenge for the Steelers in terms of the travel schedule. This will be the team's third-straight road game. From 2007 through 2017, NFL teams were 35-69 in the third of three-straight road games. It's not impossible to win in such situations, but it gets much more difficult with each consecutive road trip.
"Being around as long as I have, you get these situations, and it’s just been such an unprecedented year," Ben Roethlisberger said. "We had all those home games in a row, which you don’t have. Now, to go on the road, it’s just the way this season and this year has kind of been for everybody. My college coach used to always say, “Have a plan, work the plan and plan for the unexpected.” That’s kind of just what we have been doing. We just kind of take whatever’s been thrown at us."
It would be understandable for the Steelers to have a bit of a letdown in this situation. In their past three games, they've faced a pair of teams that entered those games with just one loss -- the Browns and Ravens -- and an unbeaten team -- the Titans.
The last NFL team to play three consecutive games against teams with one or fewer losses starting in Week 6 or later was the 2004 New England Patriots. The Patriots only won two of those three games but went on to win Super Bowl XXXIX.
The Steelers swept those three games, but they also know they don't want to rest on their laurels. After missing the playoffs the past two seasons, this is a hungry team -- particularly Roethlisberger, who at 38, isn't taking anything for granted, especially after missing most of last season with an elbow injury.
And, they know they've stumbled in games against lesser opponents before. It happens in the NFL. Any team is capable of winning a game in a given week.
If the Steelers need any proof of that, all they need to do is look back at their 2019 season. The Steelers went 5-3 in games with backup Mason Rudolph at quarterback last season and 3-3 with undrafted rookie Devlin Hodges' starts.
"You have to stay humble," said JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had seven catches, all in the second half, in the win over the Ravens. "Every team is really good. Two years ago, we were a really good team and went to the Oakland Raiders and we fell short and lost the game. Although the Cowboys don't have their quarterback, you never know. They have the opportunity to beat an undefeated team. You have to stay humble and go into Arlington, Texas, and get the job done."
There have been 38 teams that have started the season with a 7-0 record since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. All 38 of those teams reached the playoffs, and 10 went on to win the Super Bowl.
That's the ultimate goal, not just setting a new team record for most consecutive wins to start a regular season, but to be a team that is talked about in the same ways as the Steelers' six Super Bowl teams.
"If we don't win another game this season, we don't finish with a winning record," said rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Who: Steelers (7-0) vs. Cowboys (2-6)
• When: 4:25 p.m. Eastern
• Where: AT&T Stadium
• Forecast: 81°, mostly sunny
• TV: KDKA, CBS (national)
• Radio: 102.5 WDVE, ESPN Pittsburgh
• Streaming: Steelers Nation Radio
• Satellite: Sirius XM 211, online 826
• Boxscore: NFL Game Center
• Media notes: Steelers | Cowboys
THE INJURY REPORT
Steelers: CB Mike Hilton (shoulder, doubtful), OL Stefen Wisniewski (chest, doubtful), TE Vance McDonald (illness, questionable), DL Tyson Alualu (knee, out)
Cowboys: RB Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring, questionable), DE Aldon Smith (knee, questionable), P Chris Jones (abdomen, out), LB Joe Thomas (wrist, questionable)
GETTY
The Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott, last Sunday in Philadelphia.
THE KEY VARIABLE
When your defense allows 265 rushing yards in a game, you'd better believe there are concerns about your rushing defense, even if it has been outstanding in every other game of the season.
That's the situation in which the Steelers find themselves this week.
In their 28-24 victory last week over the Ravens, the Steelers became the first team since 1950 to win a game in which they were outrushed by more than 200 yards while also allowing more passing yards than they gained.
The Cowboys likely aren't going to outpass the Steelers in this game because of their quarterback situation. Outrush them?
Well, maybe.
In Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, the Cowboys have two talented running backs. In fact, few in league have the talent of Elliott, a two-time NFL rushing leader.
Elliott, who missed some practice time with a hamstring issue this week and is considered a game-time decision, is expected to play against the Steelers. But he has yet to top 100 rushing yards this season, and his 3.9 yards per carry average is a career-low. He's still extremely dangerous, however, as the Steelers found out in their one previous matchup with him. Elliott had 21 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching two passes for 95 yards in his only other game against the Steelers.
That came back in 2016, but you'd better believe the Steelers haven't forgotten about it.
"We’re preparing with the understanding that we have to deal with Ezekiel Elliott, and we understand what that means," Mike Tomlin said. "We are also coming off of a performance where we bled and bled badly in the run.
"I have a lot of respect for Ezekiel Elliott. He’s an elite, elite running back, arguably the best in the business. His vision, his balance, his power on contact. I spent some time this summer looking at some those guys, knowing we were playing the likes of Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry and others. This guy is as good as advertised. We have our hands full there."
The Steelers had been allowing just 68.8 yards rushing per game this season prior to the game against the Ravens. They held Barkley to 6 yards on 15 carries in a win in Week 1 against the Giants and Henry to 75 yards on 20 carries in a Week 7 win over the Titans.
But after last week, they're not taking anything for granted.
"(Elliott) is a great football player, and he has been for a while," Keith Butler said. "He’s a proven veteran. He’s a tough guy. He’s dadgum very strong guy. He’s a challenge for us, I think. Hopefully, if we can slow him down a little bit, maybe we can put a little pressure on the quarterback and make them throw the ball if they can."
That's the idea and has been all season. If the Steelers can shut down Elliott, the Cowboys figure to struggle with their inexperienced quarterbacks.
But the Cowboys are well aware of that, as well. So they figure to throw everything and the kitchen sink at the Steelers to try to keep that from happening. Last week against the Eagles, that meant Wildcat plays, end arounds, anything they could do to generate a first down.
After all, the Cowboys scored more points in Prescott's last full quarter of play (24) than they have in the three weeks since losing him (22). The Cowboys were averaging 32.6 points per game with Prescott. They're at 7.3 points per game without him.
It's been tough sledding for Elliott the past few weeks. He hasn't topped 63 rushing yards in the three weeks since Prescott was injured.
"I mean, honestly, that is not really something I'm worried about," Elliott said of his stats. "I'm more worried about us winning football games. I couldn't care less about individual achievements and stats right now. We're 2-6. My main focus is just trying to win a football game."
THE HISTORY LESSON
Roethlisberger is returning to Dallas this weekend, which is fitting since that's where his legend kind of got its kick start in 2004.
Roethlisberger was a brash, young rookie in 2004 heading into a game against the Cowboys that would be just the fourth start of his career to face a Dallas team that was loaded with veterans from head coach Bill Parcells' days with previous teams such as wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn and quarterback Vinny Testaverde.
But it would be the rookie who would rule the day with his first career fourth-quarter comeback.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the start, as running back Richie Anderson, another Parcells favorite from his days with the Jets, scored on a 21-yard run on Dallas' first possession, only to be answered by a Roethlisberger TD pass to Plaxico Burress on the Steelers' opening drive to tie the game at 7-7.
The Steelers grabbed the lead at 10-7 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half, but Testaverde put a drive together in the closing 1:39 of the half to set up a 47-yard Billy Cundiff field goal that tied the game at 10-10 going into the half.
The Cowboys tacked on another Cundiff field goal early in the third quarter to take a 13-10 lead, then stretched it to 20-10 on their next possession, as Testaverde connected on a 48-yard pass to Glenn before throwing a 22-yard TD pass to Johnson with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter.
That's when Roethlisberger went to work.
On Pittsburgh's next possession, he completed all seven of his passes, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jerame Tuman to pull the Steelers within 20-17 with 11:54 remaining in the game.
A Larry Foote sack ended the Cowboys' next possession, but the Steelers were unable to score, as well, punting it back to Dallas.
The Cowboys drove out to their own 47, but James Farrior -- a former first-round draft pick of Parcells with the Jets -- sacked Testaverde and forced a fumble that the Steelers recovered.
Roethlisberger completed passes to Burress and Tuman to get the ball to the Dallas 7 at the two-minute warning, and two-straight Duce Staley runs put the ball at the 2, where Jerome Bettis bulled his way into the end zone with 34 seconds remaining to give the Steelers the lead.
Dallas got the ball back and got to the Pittsburgh 30, but Russell Stuvaints, who had been called for illegal contact earlier on the drive, broke up a pass in the end zone intended for Johnson to end the game.
Roethlisberger wasn't prolific in the game, throwing for just 193 yards, but he completed 21 of his 25 passes and threw two for two touchdowns. Staley finished with 93 yards on 18 carries, while Hines Ward had nine catches for 76 yards as the Steelers improved to 5-1 and won their third consecutive game with Roethlisberger at quarterback.
Farrior, who had been benched by Parcells in New York, had the last laugh, making six tackles, two sacks and forcing three fumbles.
Testaverde threw for 284 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked five times. Glenn finished with seven catches for 140 yards.
THE MAIN MATCHUP
Roethlisberger might not have drawn plays up in the dirt as he suggested following the Steelers' win over the Ravens last week, but he was calling plays on the fly and running the offensive show after a lackluster first half that saw the Steelers gain just 66 yards.
That had been the missing ingredient thus far for the Steelers this season. They hadn't run a lot of no-huddle or even muddle huddle because they largely had been winning their games.
But trailing the Ravens by 10 points at halftime, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner gave Roethlisberger the freedom to call plays on the field based on what he was seeing, with Fichtner in his ear to keep the quarterback on track.
"I have no ego. I want to move the ball as much as anyone for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for the guys that are responsible for it in the offensive room," said Fichtner. "Whatever gives us the best chance to do that, we will do. At various times in game, we’ve used no-huddle to change the tempo. We’ve used no-huddle to finish out games. We’ve used no-huddle to – it’s nice and easy flow at the half because there’s a two-minute drive, and a lot of things come out of that. Obviously, if you get put in the two-minute drive at the end of the game you feel like all the work and the reps and the timing we’ve had in no-huddle would really help us show in that two-minute-type situation if you had to go win the game."
The Steelers have had some stretches where they've had a good quarter or a good half. But they haven't put together a full game offensively. Despite that, they are averaging 30.1 points per game.
Enter the Cowboys are allowing 33.2 points per game, the most in the NFL.
The Steelers pride themselves in being able to run when they need to run and pass when they need to pass. This week, it could be more of a matter of what they want to do to attack the Cowboys. Dallas allows 170.9 rushing yards per game, the most in the league. Or, they could pass it. The Cowboys have given up 18 touchdown passes.
The Steelers can do both. But which will they choose this week?
"I think the flexibility has proven itself over time," Fichtner said of being able to run or pass. "I know that we’ve had opportunities to create things formationally and with personnel. I think the players have given you a chance to be flexible in that."
The key will be not turning the ball over. The Cowboys have forced just seven takeaways this season -- they're a league-worst minus-11 in turnovers -- but had four last week against the Eagles.
"They have four guys with their hand in the dirt that are getting after the quarterback, after the ball wherever it is," said Roethlisberger of the Cowboys. "They might add a linebacker here and there, but really, they count on their front four to get after the quarterback, especially in the pass game.
"They’re going for the strip sack. Just trying to be aware of that, me trying to keep two hands on the ball and not giving it away will be important. Then, the secondary. You watch (cornerback Trevon) Diggs get his two interceptions last week, looking like a wide receiver making those plays. They’re a team that definitely is aware of the ball and try to make that play, the good play, even better by turning it over."
The Steelers have done a good job of taking care of the football. They have turned the ball over just eight times in seven games. But that has been with Roethlisberger taking few chances and still missing on his deep throws.
Despite all the scoring, the Steelers have topped 400 yards of offense just once this season -- in Week 2 against the Broncos. They've been highly efficient overall, converting 49.5 percent of their third downs, but there's still more there to be had.
"I don’t think we are playing as well as the potential that we could be," Roethlisberger said. "That’s encouraging that we can, one, rely on our defense, and we can still win football games not playing at our best. If we were playing our best football right now, then I would be a little bit more concerned. I feel and I think a lot of guys offensively feel that we still can keep getting better, and we want to get better. It starts with me. I need to play better football. We will just keep trying to do that."
This week would be a good one to start rolling.
"I don’t think we’ve even come close to playing near our best football game," Fichtner said. "I think we’ve put together a couple quarters here, a half here."
THE TEN DATA POINTS
• The Cowboys are double-digit underdogs for just the second time in the Super Bowl era and the first time since the 1989 season.
• The Steelers and Seahawks have both scored 25 or more points in each of their first seven games this season. If they reach at least 25 points this weekend, they would become just the sixth and seventh teams in NFL history to do so. The 2018 Chiefs did it in all 16 games.
• Dallas has not covered the point spread in any of its eight games this season.
• The Cowboys have allowed 170.9 yards rushing per game, the worst in the NFL. They also have allowed 44.6 percent of the yards gained against them to come on the ground this season, also the worst in the NFL.
• The Steelers are 4-0 on the road for just the fourth time in franchise history. The previous two times, in 1979 and 1978, they won the Super Bowl. They also won their first four road games in 1973.
• The Steelers are 40-18 in games started by Roethlisberger against NFC teams.
• Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt leads the NFL with 21 quarterback hits. Defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt is second with 17.
• Since the start of the 2019 season, Watt ranks third in the NFL with 21 sacks. Bud Dupree is eighth with 17.5.
• The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 129 quarterback pressures this season and their quarterbacks have been sacked 10 times in the past two games. The Steelers lead the NFL with 30 sacks.
• Cam Heyward needs 1.5 sacks to tie LaMarr Woodley for seventh place on the Steelers' all-time sack list with 57.0.
THE FANTASY CORNER
I finished in the money again last week with a score of 157.22. Davante Adams, Brandon Aiyuk, Corey Davis and the Eagles defense were big hits. Le'Veon Bell and Jonnu Smith? Not so much. As I did last year, I'm going to build a fantasy lineup using Draft Kings and a $50,000 salary cap.
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Bills ($7,000) -- I'm paying up for Allen this week in a game that should be a shootout against the Seahawks, who allow the most fantasy points in the league to opposing QBs.
Running back: Dalvin Cook, Vikings ($8,200), Leonard Fournette, Bucs ($5,100) -- Can lightning strike twice in a row with Cook? Yep. The Lions are 32nd in points allowed to opposing running backs. Fournette should take over the bulk of the carries for Tampa Bay.
Wide receiver: Antonio Brown, Bucs ($5,500), Stephon Diggs, Bills ($7,400), Jacobi Meyers, Patriots, ($4,300) -- Brown is living in Tom Brady's house. There's no way he's not throwing him the ball 10 times this week. Diggs stacks with Allen and somebody has to catch the ball for the Patriots. Meyers is the most likely candidate.
Tight end: Evan Engram, Giants ($4,300) -- The Giants are force-feeding Engram the ball. And Washington is 31st in points allowed to tight ends.
Flex: Damien Harris, Patriots ($5,300) -- Another Patriots player? Sure. They're playing the Jets.
Defense: Cardinals ($2,900) -- Tua Tagovailoa threw for less than 100 yards in his debut last week. And the Dolphins have no healthy running backs.
Our football staff predicts the game:
Dale Lolley (6-1): Pick your score here. Even though the Steelers played a very tough, physical game last week, they are better than the Cowboys nearly across the board with Prescott out. The Cowboys have averaged .101 points per offensive play run and 7.3 points per game since losing Prescott a month ago. The winless Jets average .192 points per offensive play this season. That's how bad this offense is. On the flip side, the Cowboys are 32nd in the league in points allowed per game. This could get ugly, even if the Steelers go through a letdown after an emotional win last week. Steelers, 34-6
Ramon Foster (7-0): The Cowboys ... I mean, they'll find a way to do something. Mike McCarthy's a smart guy. And you know you're going to get their best. But that's nowhere near enough. Steelers, 38-10
Chris Carter (7-0): I've scanned the Cowboys' roster and can't find a single advantage in matchups over the Steelers. The Cowboys' best offensive weapons would pose a challenge ... if they had a quarterback. Their defense can't stop the run and gets shredded by the pass. I'll make one bold prediction: Anthony McFarland gets a touchdown, like Jaylen Samuels did for the Steelers when they destroyed the Panthers in 2018. Other than that, I don't see any surprises here. Just get in, win and get out healthy. Steelers, 31-6
Tom Reed (6-1): Nice of the NFL to give the Steelers a mid-season bye week after the club had to forfeit it because of the COVID-19 outbreak with the Titans. In all seriousness, Pittsburgh should win this game in a canter. The Cowboys' defense is dreadful and their once-formidable offense has been reduced to Gilbert at quarterback. If the Steelers can build a big early lead they could almost treat this as a preseason game by resting some starters in the second half. Steelers, 31-9.
Dejan Kovacevic (6-1): Ramon's picked the precise score two weeks in a row. If I'm ever going to diverge from a 330-pound Nostradamus, it won't be this week. Steelers, 38-10