Still Curtain
FanSided

3 things to know about Pittsburgh Steelers Week 9 matchup vs. Cowboys

By Casey Sadekoski

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Center Travis Frederick #72 of the Dallas Cowboys looks across the line of scrimmage at defensive lineman Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 35-30. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Center Travis Frederick #72 of the Dallas Cowboys looks across the line of scrimmage at defensive lineman Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during a game at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 35-30. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Pittsburgh Steelers
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Ezekiel Elliott is again one of the best in the league at the RB spot.

At some point, people really have to marvel at the fact that Pittsburgh has been facing every top running back in the AFC. When the star running back was injured, the backup was or is a former star. Pittsburgh opened their season against Saquon Barkley. They had to deal with Melvin Gordon, as Phillip Lindsay was injured. They played against Miles Sanders who is one of the better backs in the AFC this year when he is healthy. They faced off against the 2017 leader of the NFL in rushing when they played against Kareem Hunt, and their starter Nick Chubb was injured. Then they faced Derrick Henry, before playing against the team that broke the all-time record for rushing yards in a season in 2019, the Baltimore Ravens. Now they are facing Ezekiel Elliott.

Zeke has led the league in rushing twice once in 2016 and once in 2018. He is a beast, and when your starting QB and your backup QB are both out you have to lean on him. What makes this even more plausible of a strategy is that Pittsburgh will more than likely be without Tyson Alualu who is dealing with an MCL sprain. Mike Hilton is a question mark with his shoulder injury and Cam Heyward may play but will probably be limited in his snaps due to his quad injury. Pittsburgh will be without a lot of their key pieces when it comes to stopping the run and that will make it a bit tougher on defense. I don’t expect Zeke to have a 200-yard rushing performance in Week 9. However, the Cowboys will look for a combination of him and Tony Pollard to be the featured pieces in this offense while trying to make things easy for Garrett Gilbert.

Even with the hamstring injury, Zeke will almost definitely play. Tony Pollard had a rough start to the season, but he is no slouch. Pollard is a great compliment to Elliott and if Pittsburgh isn’t prepared for both of them, then you will see another rough day defending the run.

Home/Steelers News