Fourth and goal from the four yard line. Twenty seconds remaining. Dak Prescott rolled left, found Jalen Tolbert crossing open, and threw the game winner. Dallas rallied from a 17 to 13 deficit to beat Pittsburgh 20 to 17 on October 6, 2024, at Acrisure Stadium. The complete player statistics from this Week 5 NBC Sunday Night Football contest show Prescott finished 29 of 42 for 352 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Rico Dowdle posted career highs with 87 rushing yards on 20 carries while Tolbert caught seven passes for 87 yards. For Pittsburgh, Justin Fields completed just 15 of 27 passes for 131 yards, and T.J. Watt recorded his 100th career sack to become the second fastest player in NFL history to reach that milestone.
Table of Contents
Game Summary Stats
Lightning delayed kickoff by 83 minutes, pushing the start time to 9:45 PM Eastern. The game finished just before 1 AM.
| Category | Dallas Cowboys | Pittsburgh Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 20 | 17 |
| Record | 3 and 2 | 3 and 2 |
| Total Yards | 445 | 226 |
| First Downs | 25 | 17 |
| Time of Possession | 32:29 | 27:31 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Penalties | 11 for 87 yards | 8 for 50 yards |
| Plays Run | 75 | 57 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.9 | 4.0 |
Dallas ran 18 more offensive plays and averaged nearly two more yards per snap. The Cowboys dominated possession but needed the full 60 minutes to overcome three turnovers and a blocked field goal.
Series History and Context
The teams met for the first time since Pittsburgh’s 24 to 19 victory in Dallas during the 2020 season. The rivalry dates back to 1960, with both teams meeting three times in Super Bowl history.
| Matchup Category | Cowboys Wins | Steelers Wins | Total Games |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 14 | 17 | 31 |
| Super Bowls | 1 (XXX) | 2 (X, XIII) | 3 |
| All Time | 15 | 19 | 34 |
The Steelers lead the regular season series 17 to 14 heading into the 2024 NFL season. Their Super Bowl meetings during the 1970s and 1996 represent some of the most memorable championship games in NFL history. Pittsburgh won Super Bowls X and XIII before Dallas claimed Super Bowl XXX. This Week 5 primetime matchup attracted 67,380 fans despite the lengthy weather delay.
Passing Statistics
Prescott’s resilience defined this contest. After fumbling in the red zone and throwing two interceptions, he engineered the 15 play, 70 yard game winning drive in the final five minutes.
| Quarterback | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks | QB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dak Prescott | DAL | 29/42 | 352 | 2 | 2 | 2 for 16 yards | 90.6 |
| Justin Fields | PIT | 15/27 | 131 | 2 | 0 | 3 for 16 yards | 93.3 |
| Kyle Allen | PIT | 1/1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118.8 |
Fields completed just 55.6% of his passes and averaged 4.9 yards per attempt. A roughing the passer penalty on Tyrus Wheat sent him to the medical tent for a concussion evaluation. Backup Kyle Allen connected on his only throw to Pat Freiermuth for 19 yards before Fields returned. The Pittsburgh quarterback never found a rhythm against a Dallas defense missing Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
His longest connection went 48 yards to Tolbert on third and four in the second quarter, a critical conversion that nearly led to points before Donte Jackson’s end zone interception.
Ground Game Breakdown
The rushing statistics surprised everyone. Dallas entered Week 5 with the NFL’s worst ground attack but outgained Pittsburgh 109 to 92 yards.
| Player | Team | Attempts | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rico Dowdle | DAL | 20 | 87 | 4.4 | 13 | 0 |
| Najee Harris | PIT | 14 | 42 | 3.0 | 6 | 0 |
| Justin Fields | PIT | 6 | 27 | 4.5 | 8 | 0 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | 6 | 17 | 2.8 | 5 | 0 |
| Hunter Luepke | DAL | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 4 | 0 |
| Aaron Shampklin | PIT | 4 | 14 | 3.5 | 5 | 0 |
Dowdle’s performance marked career bests in both carries and yardage. He averaged 1.8 yards after contact and broke three tackles. His workload increased dramatically from earlier in the season, when he split carries more evenly with Elliott.
Harris managed just three yards per carry as the Cowboys defensive front consistently won at the point of attack despite the injury absences. Pittsburgh gained just one run of 10 plus yards all night. The Steelers averaged 3.5 yards per rush, identical to Dallas but on fewer attempts.
Receiving Leaders
Tolbert emerged as the standout performer with Brandin Cooks sidelined. His seven catch, 87 yard performance included the most important grab of his career.
Cowboys Receiving Stats
| Receiver | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Tolbert | 7 | 10 | 87 | 12.4 | 48 | 1 |
| Jake Ferguson | 6 | 7 | 70 | 11.7 | 27 | 0 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 5 | 9 | 62 | 12.4 | 27 | 0 |
| KaVontae Turpin | 4 | 5 | 50 | 12.5 | 34 | 0 |
| Rico Dowdle | 2 | 2 | 27 | 13.5 | 22 | 1 |
| Brevyn Spann-Ford | 2 | 3 | 20 | 10.0 | 13 | 0 |
Steelers Receiving Stats
| Receiver | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Najee Harris | 2 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 20 | 0 |
| Van Jefferson | 3 | 5 | 26 | 8.7 | 11 | 0 |
| George Pickens | 3 | 7 | 26 | 8.7 | 21 | 0 |
| Connor Heyward | 2 | 4 | 23 | 11.5 | 16 | 1 |
| Pat Freiermuth | 3 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 19 | 1 |
Dallas completed passes to nine different receivers while Pittsburgh relied heavily on running backs in the passing game. Harris and Freiermuth combined for five receptions, more than any Steelers wide receiver managed individually.
Joey Porter Jr. shadowed Lamb for most of the night, limiting the All Pro receiver to five catches on nine targets. Pickens faced tight coverage from Trevon Diggs and Amani Oruwariye throughout the contest. The Steelers’ top receiver ended the night well below his season averages heading into the matchup.
Ferguson ran routes on 79% of Dallas dropbacks, his highest participation rate through five games. He extended his streak to nine consecutive games with four or more receptions when healthy. Freiermuth became the only NFL tight end through Week 5 with at least four catches in every game. All 12 of his career touchdowns have come inside the red zone, including his six yard shovel pass score that gave Pittsburgh a 17 to 13 lead with 4:56 remaining.
Defensive Statistics
The Cowboys defense held firm despite losing Marshawn Kneeland to a knee injury on Pittsburgh’s opening possession. Five different Dallas defenders recorded at least a half sack.
Dallas Defensive Leaders
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Kendricks | 10 | 4 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| DeMarvion Overshown | 8 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Malik Hooker | 5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Chauncey Golston | 5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Linval Joseph | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Amani Oruwariye | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pittsburgh Defensive Leaders
| Player | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | QB Hits | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minkah Fitzpatrick | 10 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Patrick Queen | 9 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DeShon Elliott | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Payton Wilson | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Watt | 8 | 7 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Joey Porter Jr. | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Donte Jackson | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Watt’s strip sack of Prescott at the Pittsburgh 11 yard line in the first quarter marked his 100th career sack in just 109 games. Only Reggie White reached that milestone faster in NFL history. Nick Herbig recovered the fumble to end the Dallas scoring threat.
Joseph played just 22 defensive snaps but made massive contributions. Despite entering Week 5 as the lowest graded interior defender among 136 qualifiers, Joseph recorded a strip sack and earned a 71.0 PFF run defense grade. DeShon Elliott took responsibility for the game winning touchdown in his postgame comments to reporters, acknowledging he failed to cover Tolbert on the crossing route.
Turnover Breakdown
| Team | Fumbles | Fumbles Lost | Interceptions | Total Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Pittsburgh | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Jackson intercepted Prescott in the end zone just before halftime, keeping Pittsburgh within 6 to 3 despite getting outgained 202 to 89 in total yardage. Porter’s fourth quarter pick at the Dallas 27 set up the Steelers go ahead touchdown drive. Both takeaways came on passes intended for different receivers, with Jackson stepping in front of a late throw to Lamb and Porter jumping a deep route to Tolbert.
Special Teams Performance
Both kickers performed well when attempting field goals, though Dallas had one try blocked at the line of scrimmage.
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Long | XP Made/Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Aubrey | DAL | 2/3 | 55 | 2/2 | 8 |
| Chris Boswell | PIT | 1/1 | 41 | 2/2 | 5 |
Aubrey’s 55 yard field goal in the first quarter showcased his exceptional range. His career long attempt came on the Cowboys’ opening possession after they stalled at the Pittsburgh 36. Isaiahh Loudermilk blocked his 38 yard try in the third quarter, extending his hand to deflect the kick at the line.
| Punter | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corliss Waitman | PIT | 5 | 222 | 44.4 | 2 |
| Bryan Anger | DAL | 1 | 45 | 45.0 | 0 |
Shampklin returned four kickoffs for 101 yards, averaging 25.3 per return for Pittsburgh. His longest came back 32 yards. Turpin had just one return for 38 yards as Aubrey’s touchback rate limited opportunities.
Critical Game Moments
Dallas led 6 to 3 at halftime despite outgaining Pittsburgh 202 to 89 yards between the 20 yard lines. The Cowboys had three possessions inside the Pittsburgh 20 in the first half. Watt’s strip sack ended the first red zone trip. Jackson’s interception killed the second. The third resulted in a 33 yard field goal.
Pittsburgh opened the second half with a 72 yard touchdown drive. Fields hit Heyward for the 16 yard score after Allen’s 19 yard completion to Freiermuth during Fields’ brief absence. The drive gave the Steelers their first lead at 10 to 6.
Dallas responded with a 16 play, 90 yard march that consumed 8:32 of clock. Dowdle carried eight times for 36 yards on the possession. His 22 yard touchdown catch on third and goal from the Pittsburgh 22 came off a wheel route, giving Dallas a 13 to 10 advantage.
Porter’s interception at the Dallas 27 with 10:28 remaining gave Pittsburgh excellent field position. The Steelers converted third and one with a Fields scramble, then fourth and one with a Harris run. Freiermuth’s six yard catch on a shovel pass put Pittsburgh ahead 17 to 13 with 4:56 left.
The final Dallas drive featured key conversions throughout. On third and nine from the Pittsburgh 32, Prescott found Ferguson for 10 yards. Luepke caught a screen pass on the next snap and rumbled 18 yards to the four yard line, setting up first and goal with 52 seconds remaining.
On second and goal from the one, Elandon Roberts hit Dowdle at the goal line and forced a fumble. Prescott dove on the loose ball at the four yard line, giving Dallas third and goal. After an incompletion to Tolbert, the Cowboys faced fourth and goal with 26 seconds left. With the season’s momentum hanging in the balance, Prescott rolled left, waited for Tolbert to cross from right to left, and delivered the winning touchdown pass.
Situational Breakdown
The statistical breakdown from this matchup reveals third down efficiency separated the two teams. Dallas converted 60% of attempts while Pittsburgh struggled at 25%.
| Category | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Third Down Conversions | 9/15 (60.0%) | 3/12 (25.0%) |
| Fourth Down Conversions | 1/1 (100%) | 2/2 (100%) |
| Red Zone Scoring | 1/4 (25.0%) | 2/2 (100%) |
| Red Zone TDs | 1/4 (25.0%) | 2/2 (100%) |
The Cowboys went 1 for 7 on third down in the first half before converting all 8 attempts in the second half. Pittsburgh scored touchdowns on both red zone possessions. Dallas managed just one touchdown on four trips inside the 20, settling for field goals or turning the ball over on the other three.
Advanced Team Metrics
| Metric | Dallas | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Average Drive (yards) | 43.5 | 21.8 |
| Average Drive (plays) | 8.6 | 6.3 |
| Passing Yards Per Attempt | 7.6 | 4.3 |
| First Downs Passing | 14 | 6 |
| First Downs Rushing | 9 | 9 |
| QB Pressure Rate | 22.2% | 33.3% |
Dallas averaged 8.6 plays and 43.5 yards per possession compared to Pittsburgh’s 6.3 plays and 21.8 yards. Fields completed just 55.6% of his passes for an average of 4.9 yards per attempt, struggling to find rhythm all night.
The Cowboys generated pressure on 33.3% of Fields’ dropbacks despite missing their two best pass rushers. Dallas got consistent push from interior defenders Joseph, Mazi Smith, and Osa Odighizuwa throughout the night.
Individual Achievements
Dowdle’s 20 carries and 87 yards both established new career highs. The running back also scored his second receiving touchdown of the season. His 4.4 yards per carry topped his season average entering the game. Tolbert set new career highs with seven receptions and 87 yards. The third year receiver had never exceeded five catches or 69 yards in a single game before this performance.
Lamb extended his streak of games with at least four receptions to 37 consecutive contests, the third longest such streak since 1970 behind only Michael Thomas and Julio Jones. Watt became just the second player in NFL history to record 100 sacks in 109 games or fewer, joining Reggie White in that exclusive club.
The game received extensive coverage from multiple outlets. According to the official box score from Pro Football Reference and recaps from ESPN, Steelers.com, and the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas controlled possession and yardage throughout. The Cowboys’ offensive line reshuffled after left tackle Tyler Guyton left with a knee injury, forcing Tyler Smith to move from left guard to left tackle with T.J. Bass entering at guard. Right guard Zack Martin briefly exited with cramps in the fourth quarter before returning.
For comprehensive NFL coverage and player statistics across all matchups throughout the season, visit The Sportie for expert analysis and breaking news.
This Week 5 NBC Sunday Night Football matchup between Dallas and Pittsburgh provided memorable individual performances despite the late finish. Player stats from this October 6, 2024 contest show Prescott’s 352 yards and Tolbert’s game winner leading the Cowboys past the Steelers 20 to 17, while Watt’s milestone sack highlighted Pittsburgh’s defensive effort in defeat.
