Horrid defensive stand ruined Steelers' Sunday Night Football debut vs. Cowboys

In a primetime showdown filled with drama and weather delays, the Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Dallas Cowboys 20-17 on Sunday Night Football in a game that went down to the wire. The loss came after a gut-wrenching goal-line stand by the Steelers defense that came up short, with the final play occurring at 12:55 AM ET, following a game delay caused by severe weather earlier in the night.

The game, originally set to kick off at 8:20 PM ET, was delayed until 9:45 PM ET due to a powerful storm that hit Acrisure Stadium. Heavy rain and hail-like conditions forced fans and players alike to wait out the weather.

Celebrities such as longtime Steelers fan Snoop Dogg and rapper Glorilla, who supported her hometown Dallas Cowboys, remained in their seats despite the weather and cheered their teams on through the long delay.

The Steelers' defense was in a make-or-break situation in the final seconds. This was the perfect assignment for the NFL's highest-paid defense. Dallas, down 17-13, marched down the field with less than a minute left in the game. With just under 30 seconds remaining, the Cowboys faced a crucial fourth down from inside the Steelers’ five-yard line.

Needing a stop to preserve the win, the Steelers' defense couldn’t hold off Dallas, as quarterback Dak Prescott connected with wide receiver Jalen Tolbert for the game-winning touchdown. Despite throwing two interceptions earlier in the game, Prescott managed to lead his team to victory.

Steelers' defense failed to seal the game for the second week in a row

What stung the most for Steelers fans was the belief that their defense, known for its big-play ability, would rise to the occasion under the primetime lights. But Pittsburgh’s defense struggled to contain the Cowboys’ running game, allowing 109 rushing yards, with 87 of those coming from backup running back Rico Dowdle.

The inability to stop the run was a critical factor in the Cowboys’ game-winning drive, as they pounded the ball downfield to set up the winning score.

The loss dropped the Steelers to 3-2, and with key injuries to edge rushers Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, there are growing concerns about the defense’s effectiveness moving forward. The Steelers must reevaluate their defensive strategy, particularly against the run, if they hope to bounce back in the coming weeks.

Despite a valiant effort and two key interceptions by the defense, the Steelers ultimately lost a hard-fought battle, falling 20-17 to the Cowboys in a primetime thriller.