Here are the Steelers main reasons to be concerned against the Cowboys this week
On paper, the Steelers week nine matchup against the Cowboys should be an easy win as the team improves to an 8-0. The Cowboys are dipping into their reserves at quarterback and offensive line while the defense has played similar to what a piece of swiss cheese would do. Considering the Steelers are one of, if not the, best team in the NFL, this game should be an easy win in theory.
That said, there is no such thing as an easy win at the pro level. While the Cowboys have certainly had their share of struggles, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have talent on the roster. Their offense was one of the best in the league before Dak Prescott’s untimely injury. They were throwing the ball at will as they tried to keep up with the opposing teams running wild over their defense. Even down a quarterback, this offense still has some serious talent that has to be considered.
While this game should be an easy victory, in theory, there are still reasons Steelers fans should be nervous. If this game is close, or worse yet it ends in a loss, the team will suddenly see themselves tumble down the rankings they have clawed up from. As the only undefeated team right now, the Steelers are in a prime position to claim a high seed in the playoffs, making a loss here a tough pill to swallow.
With all of this said, here are the Steelers’ four causes for concern in week nine.
Ezekiel Elliott
I went back and forth with putting Ezekiel Elliott on this list. The former top-five pick has become one of the best all-around runners in the league, but the loss of a legitimate quarterback along with constantly playing from behind has given him some lean production recently. On top of this, he will be facing one of the best rushing defenses in the league, meaning his road to success seems narrow.
Go back to their matchup four years ago though, and Elliot was the single reason that the Steelers lost that matchup. Elliot totaled over 200 total yards and scored three times en route to a Cowboys 35-30 victory over the Steelers. While these are two entirely different teams playing now, underestimating Elliot could lead to the Steelers repeating their defensive woes from 2016. As well, the bout with the Ravens last week showed that the teams rush defense is not imperviable.
While the Steelers’ primary focus should be stopping Elliot given the issues the Cowboys have at quarterback, considering him an easy stop would be a mistake. In their last matchup, Elliot carried the Cowboys, and they will likely look for him to do it again. If the Steelers can effectively shut down Elliot, this win should become even easier. If they can’t, a repeat of 2016 could be in store.
The Cowboys receivers
Had Prescott been healthy for this game, or even primary backup Andy Dalton, the conversation of this offense would be their three talented receivers against a Steelers secondary that has disappointed. Amari Cooper and rookie CeeDee Lamb have been a potent pair of starters while third option Michael Gallup could easily be a lead receiver on most teams. While it is unknown who will throw them the ball, it is an established fact that this receiving core is good.
While the Cowboys’ lack of a quarterback will make things tougher, don’t be surprised if this group still finds a way to make some big plays in the matchup. The Steelers secondary has been inconsistent at best and have really struggled to stop the pass. All it will take is a couple of big plays from one of these receivers to suddenly make this game closer than it should be.
Yes, the Cowboys have a struggling passing game, but that is in no part due to their core of receivers. Even without a quarterback, this passing game is filled with weapons. The Steelers need to do their part in stopping these receivers before one hurts them. The secondary is still a concern, so the team needs to make sure they don’t give up a big play that they could have stopped.
A rotating QB room
There is one benefit that the Cowboys have from starting a rotating cast of starting quarterbacks. Had Dalton been the starter, the Steelers would be well versed in his style and what he does well. Instead, the starting option is currently up in the air between three different options, which could pose the Steelers more problems than it may seem.
Think back to last year, when the Steelers rotated in Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. While starting them for multiple weeks led to worse performances, when they first go into the game, teams are unprepared for them. This allowed them to excel in limited playing time before other teams caught on in future weeks. The Cowboys are in the same boat, meaning that starting an option that the Steelers are unprepared for mixed in with the potential to bring in a different quarterback mid-game could be an issue.
While trying to figure out which third-string quarterback the Cowboys will start is a plus for the Steelers, don’t be surprised if whoever does start has a decent game early. Even more so, if the Cowboys keep that player on a short leash, rotating in a different player could lead to an offensive spark. While rotating quarterbacks usually means something has gone wrong, there is a chance it aids the Cowboys by games end.
Falling for the trap
While all of the previous causes for concern are valid, they all more or less play into the idea of the Steelers falling for a trap game. The classic “playing down to your opponent” has been a problem for the Steelers, yet it hasn’t really reared its head this year. That said, this game on paper seems like the type that the Steelers could relax for. If they do, they could be caught off guard which could result in the first loss of the season.
While simply saying a game is a trap game is a weak concern, it is valid based on the Steelers track record with games like this. Riding high after beating the Ravens, this team may look at this week as a guaranteed victory. In doing so, they may be ill-prepared to compete with a team that despite a litany of injuries, still has some serious weapons.
Giving in to the trap idea is going to be key this week. The Steelers must prepare for this game like they usually do with little thought of how easy this game could potentially be. The goal shouldn’t just be to win this game, it should be for Rudolph to take the charge late in the game due to it being such a blowout. In order to achieve this, the game plan must be sound, and the team has to be well prepared.
If on the flip side, the Steelers go into this game expecting an easy win, there could be some disappointment and struggles when the Cowboys put up a fight. While a 7-1 record is still impressive, suffering your first loss to a team in as bad of shape as the Cowboys would be a major blow. Assuming the Steeler prepare, this week should be relatively easy. That said, if the team comes out conservative and sluggish, the trap game could be on for Sunday.
Finding causes for concern this week is easier said than done, as the Steelers seemed poised to improve their record to 8-0. That said, no game is a given in the NFL. If the Steelers don’t heed these concerns, week nine could end in a loss of the team.