No one should be panicking in Pittsburgh right now after one loss on the season, but there should be some concerns heading into this matchup. It is obvious that the Steelers played a sloppy game last week, and that could come from the team's early success. If a club gets a big head, they might be willing to slack off and lose a game they were expected to win. Things need to change in a hurry.
With the Cowboys coming to Pittsburgh, it will be a toss-up game for both sides. The Steelers should not have high expectations heading into this week after their poor performance against the Colts. They battled back in that contest, but they still came up short. Even when they started to move the ball, they shot themselves in the foot. They cannot afford those errors against Dallas.
Both offenses come into this game after many inconsistencies in their first four games. Sometimes they look magnificent, while other times prove to be stale. Justin Fields and company have to move the football against one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
Factor in the Cowboys' key injuries on defense, and the Steeler's offense has to apply plenty of points in this game without excuse.
Pittsburgh's defense will continue to struggle against the Cowboys
A lot of positives are going in the Steelers direction offensively in this game. That could help lead them to victory, but they need more out of their defense. You can chalk up last week as a blunder, but the unit needs to right its course this time around. There are too many highly-paid players on defense to allow anywhere near 27 points. They need to have a rebound performance against the Cowboys.
If they fail and have a similar outcome to last week, then many will start to wonder if the first three weeks of the season were a fluke. The Colts are an average team, but Pittsburgh will have a big test coming to town. Dallas has a legit starting quarterback, a solid offensive line, and some options in the passing game. There could be a lot of variables working against the Steeler's favor.
Dak Prescott could change the game on his own. He might not be held in high regard like he used to, but he is still a top player in his position. His experience could lead to him carving up the secondary much like Joe Flacco did last week. Prescott can also use his legs, which could cause headaches for the Steelers if they can't contain him in the pocket.
CeeDee Lamb is a top receiver in football, and he alone could break open the game. Pittsburgh will have to find different ways of limiting him. The Cowboys' tight end is another solid weapon that could kill the Steelers linebackers, who are coming off a terrible performance. This is going to be a huge test for Pittsburgh's defense, and they need to show why many hold them in high regard.