Dak Prescott Leads Cowboys to Last-Minute Victory Against Steelers

 PITTSBURGH – As lightning illuminated the skies outside Acrisure Stadium, delaying the kickoff of Sunday night’s matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers, Dak Prescott had an important message for his teammates.

“I told them before the game that we wouldn’t forget this one, no matter what,” said Prescott, who used the downtime to enjoy a protein waffle, stretch, and do some drills. “With all the delays and everything that happened, it’s one of those games that you'll always remember, no matter how long it takes to finish. I kept saying, ‘Let’s make it one to remember.’ I think we did that with all the ups, downs, and the ebbs and flows.”

Prescott delivered the winning touchdown pass—a 4-yarder to receiver Jalen Tolbert—with just 20 seconds left, leading the Cowboys to a pivotal 20-17 victory over the Steelers. This win allowed the Cowboys (3-2) to maintain a winning record and stay close to the Washington Commanders (4-1) in the NFC East. It marked the Cowboys' third road victory of the season, their best away start since Prescott's rookie year in 2016.

It was also a significant win for coach Mike McCarthy, who secured his first regular-season victory against the Steelers, the team from his hometown. Although he had previously triumphed over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV as the Green Bay Packers' coach, he had never beaten them in four prior meetings.

"It feels great," McCarthy said, walking out of the stadium with his parents, Joe and Ellen, amidst a gathering of family and friends. "This is the first time I’ve been part of a victory here. But at the end of the day, this is about the players. I’m blessed to have been in the NFL for as long as I have and have tremendous respect for this organization. But this game is about the players, and they put everything on the line tonight."

After the game, McCarthy received the game ball from the players, marking the first time he had received such an honor in his career.

"I know how I feel about him," Prescott said. "I love him. He’s a great head coach and takes pride in being from Pittsburgh. You can tell that whenever he references this place. That's why I wanted to tour some of his old stomping grounds last night and see the places he talks about—it was really special to visit his parents' house and spend some time with them."

The Cowboys' performance wasn’t flawless, however. Prescott struggled, turning the ball over three times with two interceptions and a fumble. Two turnovers occurred in the red zone, costing the Cowboys valuable points, and they also had a field goal attempt blocked while committing 11 penalties for 87 yards.

Despite these challenges, with 4:56 remaining in the game, Prescott had the opportunity to orchestrate the 23rd game-winning drive of his career in the fourth quarter or overtime.

"His composure is a huge strength," McCarthy said of Prescott, who finished the game with 352 yards on 29-of-42 passing. "He’s the same person every day, the way he works and competes. He doesn’t blink or dwell on mistakes."

During the game-winning drive, Prescott completed 5 of 7 passes for 46 yards and even recovered a crucial fumble at the 4-yard line. After the Steelers called a timeout with 26 seconds remaining, McCarthy adjusted the personnel and formation to provide Prescott with additional protection.

Tolbert, filling in for the injured Brandin Cooks, managed to cross the goal line despite being closely guarded by DeShon Elliott to catch Prescott’s pass with just 20 seconds on the clock.

"I thrive in situations like that; we practice it a lot," Prescott said. "I was upset with myself for the turnovers, but when I realized I had the ball down by four with a chance to score and plenty of time, that’s all I can ask for."

The Cowboys entered the game without Cooks and defensive ends Micah Parsons (high ankle) and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and lost their top draft picks, left tackle Tyler Guyton and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, to knee injuries in the first half.

Guyton's injury prompted a shift, moving guard Tyler Smith to tackle. When Zack Martin had to leave due to cramping, the Cowboys relied on Brock Hoffman, Cooper Beebe, and T.J. Bass as their interior offensive line.

Defensively, the Cowboys had to prepare linebackers to step in at defensive end and elevated practice-squad cornerback Amani Oruwariye to start.

"I think our team's resiliency was on full display tonight," McCarthy said.