NFL Week 10 Preview: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
It took me a little while to come to terms with this prediction and here’s why.
A three-game losing streak for Pittsburgh has the faithful panicking a little and that feeling is justifiable. Dealing with injuries, iffy defensive play, and inconsistencies on offense can be a handful for any team. Staring across the field at a 7-1 Cowboys team with the best running game in the league is something that Steelers players and fans probably could do without at the moment.
But if there is one team that can turn things around, it’s a veteran-led Steelers teams that still has enough talent to win a few games with a Super Bowl winning quarterback, a top two wide receiver, a top five running back, a motivated head coach, and one of the toughest venues in football backing them.
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By all means, this is a game that can go either way. Elliott is the clear Rookie of the Year at the moment and Prescott continues to make Tony Romo a forgotten quarterback week after week.
Stopping the run game of Dallas is priority number one for the Steelers. Having two horses on the defensive line in Hayward and Tuitt will be interesting and if they can allow the Steelers linebackers to flow freely in run gaps, the Steelers can really change the dynamic.
For the Cowboys, not having cornerback Morris Claiborne due to a hernia injury that is to keep him out for up to six weeks is huge. Claiborne was in the midst of his best season at corner and will now force Dallas to defend Brown, receivers Sammie Coates and Eli Rogers without their best corner on the field. On the flip side, Dez Bryant gets a Steelers secondary that is 22nd in the league in passing defense. He will make his plays but the key for Pittsburgh is to limit as many Dallas possessions as they can.
Getting Bell going is also as important the Steelers. Expect Pittsburgh to feature Bell heavily with probably more than 25 touches. Behind Bell, Brown, and a defense that can be good at times, the Steelers go in the right direction and picks up a much-desired win over a top quality opponent.