3 bold predictions for Cowboys vs. Steelers in Week 5

It’s Week 5 in the NFL and we get the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. Two of the league’s traditional powerhouses will meet in prime time Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. Although this game no longer attracts as much attention as some of their encounters back in the day, these are still two premier franchises in terms of following and fanbase. These organizations have met in Super Bowls several times in the past, but this game is about survival and staying on the right path.

On the surface it might sound like an exaggeration, but that’s mostly because of how poorly the Cowboys have done at stopping the run. Dallas is among the league’s six worst teams in rushing, while the Steelers are in the top 10 in rushing. The Cowboys are giving up 145.8 per game on the ground and the Steelers are aiming for 128.5.

With Pittsburgh’s dual-threat backfield of quarterback Justin Fields and running back Najee Harris, Dallas’ defense could be on the field for nearly 40 minutes, if not more. This will be the Steelers’ game plan: Win the time of possession battle and let it go down their throats. If Jaylen Warren (knee injury) returns, he could also be in the mix.

What comes out of this is what we’ve seen so far from the Cowboys’ defense. Dallas’ defense is allowing 4.6 yards per carry to opponents through four games. That average was improved last week by the New York Giants and their ineptitude, rushing 26 times for 24 yards. Still, they were late in the game and had a chance to win, but fell short, losing 20-15 to Dallas. Against a team like Pittsburgh that is known for establishing the run, it will be a long day for Dallas’ defense.

There hasn’t been much good on the Cowboys’ offense this season and the offensive line has been one of the biggest problems. Dak Prescott has already been sacked 10 times in four games. Dallas’ lack of a running game has led to a lot of headlines, but most of it is about what the RBs didn’t do. Well, rushers, quarterbacks and offensive line effectiveness all go hand in hand. It’s hard to achieve any level of mediocrity without the help of the greats at the top.

Unless you’re Barry Sanders, it’s nearly impossible to pull this off without the offensive line playing ball. This offensive line was once considered one of the best, and at times the best, the NFL had to offer. This insight even dates back to when Tony Romo was in the building and leading the offense. They now rank as the league’s worst rushing attack, averaging 75.3 yards per game, which puts them last in the NFL.

With Ezekiel Elliott nowhere near what he was a few years ago, the offensive line’s lack of efficiency has only exposed him even more. Rico Dowdle has made progress, but he can’t achieve much without these pigs at the helm. Pittsburgh may not be the most exciting team in the NFL, but you know they’re going to play strong defense and run the ball. Those elements alone could make Sunday a nightmare for the Cowboys.

This game has the potential to be a highlight for Justin Fields. Dallas is downright terrible against the run, but they haven’t exactly been great in pass defense either. The Cowboys rank midfield against the pass, but when opposing offenses know they can hang on all day, the passing game can be overlooked.

So far, Dallas hasn’t been able to create the turnovers in Mike Zimmer’s defense that they did under Dan Quinn’s leadership. Four interceptions is all they have for turnovers, which is near the bottom of the league, and two of those came in Week 1 against Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns.

Justin Fields is coming off a big game last week in which he suffered a loss. It was only the second time in his career that he threw for 300 yards, and that could become a trend when the Cowboys are next on the schedule. Even if he doesn’t pass for as many yards, he still has two rushing touchdowns and two passing plays against a shaky Cowboys defense.

DeMarcus Lawrence is on Dallas’ injured reserve (foot) and Micah Parsons missed practice on Thursday (ankle), so both of their defensive players could be sidelined against Pittsburgh. This opens up even more opportunities for the Steelers offense to impose their will on Sunday and control the game from start to finish. Don’t be surprised if Fields has a career day in multiple categories at home against a struggling Cowboys defense.