HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- If you’re like me, you weren’t worried about the Steelers winning against the Cowboys. I calmly sat back and waited for the guys to pull it out of the fire ... sike! I’m lying big-time here.
I was on the edge of my seat and praying the offense would score that last touchdown. In the end, the Steelers hung on for a 24-19 win against the Cowboys.
I knew it was going to be an eventful weekend when my grandfather, who’s turning 82 this month, called me Friday to say, “Grandson, we got a big one Sunday.” My grandfather calling me on his cell phone in 2020 was quite uplifting in a year that has been very eventful. His call was to check on me and also talk about the game. Even though I was sure we could beat the Cowboys, I was on the same wavelength as granddad. We can’t allow a wounded team with a bad record to emerge victorious.
This is the NFL, and it seems we’re seeing some big upsets and crazy score lines every other weekend this year.
Before getting to the observations, let’s add some context to this particular matchup. The Steelers and Cowboys have rich histories and have played each other three times in the Super Bowl. In the past, coach Mike Tomlin has offered a history lesson to players about the Dallas-Pittsburgh game. If you’ve ever traveled to Dallas for a game, you have had an opportunity to meet some Steeler faithful who live in Texas. Their love for the black-and-gold is as genuine as if it’s your first cousin who lives a few states over. I’ve seen it first hand. No one cares that it’s an out-of-conference game. It’s the battle for the title of “America’s Team,” right?
Right now, the Steelers are the titleholders based on the organizational consistency in recent decades. So let’s start there with our weekly observations:
• If anyone noticed Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at the end of the game in his luxury suite, they clearly saw he was dialed into the final minutes despite the team’s 2-7 record. In a bad NFC East, a win over the undefeated Steelers could have turned around the Cowboys’ fortunes.
• Dallas played really hard and put a lot into the game. The Cowboys broke out a trick play on a punt return — a throw-back pass to C.J. Goodwin that netted 73 yards. While Steelers’ fans will holler at the break downs on special teams, I’m giving props to Jordan Dangerfield for selling out and making a great tackle and also drawing a block-in-the-back penalty. The Cowboys had to settle for a field goal on that second-quarter drive, which certainly played a role in the outcome.
• Sunday was a classic example of chipping away at a deficit. We all get frustrated when our team falls behind a lesser opponent, but good teams learn to compartmentalize. In other words, there’s nothing that can be done about the last play or the last drive. Some clubs might have panicked or lost their collective confidence when falling behind 19-9 late in the third quarter. The Steelers, led by Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger, just stayed focus on the next play, the next drive.
• For weeks, I’ve been preaching the fact the Steelers are going to get everybody’s best shot. That’s what comes with being undefeated. It can, however, work in our favor because it demands our full effort to win these games. You hear me say it all the time — the NFL is a pass-fail league. All that matters is finding a way to win.
• What’s left to be said about Ben at this point? He absorbs a couple of big hits and momentarily has to leave the game at the end of the first half with a knee injury. But there he was in the second half, slinging the ball and dicing up the Cowboys to lead the rally.
• I just love the fight and togetherness of these Steelers. You all know like I know, in years past that game could have gone to the Cowboys. What struck me Sunday was the relentlessness of Eric Ebron hurdling defenders and the maturation of JuJu Smith-Schuster. JuJu has picked up his play and become the leader of that wide-receiver unit. There were weeks early in the season when he wasn’t the focus of the passing attack, but he didn’t pout. He just went about his business.
• Guys have bought in at all levels on both sides of the ball for the chance to win. Cam Sutton has had his number called, and he’s playing well. Think about Kevin Dotson having to start multiple games for David DeCastro.
• We are halfway through the season and these Steelers are the last of the unbeaten teams. They have defeated opponents like the Ravens, Titans and Browns. who were in great form when we played them. The scare in Big D is a bit of a wake-up call, and there have been other wins that weren’t convincing. But a Super Bowl run isn’t colored with flawless strokes of a brush. Sometimes, we paint outside the lines and have to make corrections. There’s a lot that goes into creating a masterpiece.
• The offense had its issues, but coordinator Randy Fichtner is selfless enough to let Ben do his thing in no-huddle. I loved seeing Ben designate the receiver routes and adjusting the protections. The linemen were locked in and gave Ben time with man-on-man blocks. Those guys up front stood tall when they needed to do it.
• There was a stretch from 2014-2018 when the Steelers’ offense carried most of the responsibility for getting wins. A lot of defenders from those years are still on the team. Now, they are simply returning the favor. For all the threats the Cowboys posed, they scored only one touchdown. Yes, they were down to their fourth-string quarterback, but you only play against the guys who are on the field. The Steelers dealt with that last season minus Ben.
• The additions of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Joe Haden and Steve Nelson have done nothing but put this defense over the top. In many games, that defense has bought time for the offense to get going in some games like Sunday.
• Everyone has their hand in the pile and each individual is trying to live up to Coach Tomlin’s “The Standard is the Standard” sign that they see going into the locker room at Heinz Field. Yes, I have sipped the Kool-Aid, and I’m sure it’s tasting mighty sweet right now at 8-0 — the best start in franchise history.
I’ll talk to you next week. Hopefully, grandpa calls on the cell phone before the Bengals game.