Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Line: Pittsburgh -2.0, Total: 49.5

The Cowboys will be looking to win their eighth straight game when they take on Roethlisberger and the Steelers on Sunday.

Dallas has surprised everybody by starting the season off at 7-1, and the team will be hoping to keep it rolling with a win in Pittsburgh this weekend. The result of this game will have some serious consequences, as QB Tony Romo (Back) is ready to play for the Cowboys. If QB Dak Prescott (2,020 yards, 12 TD, 2 INT) struggles in this one then it’s not crazy to believe that Jerry Jones will give Romo a chance to lead this team. Prescott has done everything possible to earn the starting job this season, but Jones and head coach Jason Garrett have not yet backed him as the full-time starter. That leads many to believe that the team is almost hoping to find a reason to put Romo in, and it’s possible that a loss to a playoff caliber team would give them an excuse. The Steelers, meanwhile, are desperate for a victory. Pittsburgh has lost three straight games and the team is no longer a lock to make it to the postseason. That is unfamiliar territory for the Steelers, as they opened the season at 3-1 and looked dominant in doing so. These two teams have met one another only six times since 1992, and the Cowboys are 4-2 SU in those games. That includes a 2-1 record both SU and ATS when facing the Steelers in Pittsburgh as well. One trend worth pointing out is the fact that Mike Tomlin is 3-15 ATS off three or more consecutive Unders as the coach of Pittsburgh. One significant injury worth pointing out is that CB Morris Claiborne (Groin) is out indefinitely for Dallas. That could come into play when facing a Steelers team that likes to throw the ball downfield.

The Cowboys have been one of the league’s best teams, and it is their youth movement that has given the team new life this season. Dak Prescott has been the guy leading this team in Tony Romo’s absence. Not only has Prescott played well for a rookie, but he has actually looked like a Pro Bowler in his first season. Last week, Prescott threw for 247 yards with three touchdowns and no picks against the Browns. He just is not a guy that is going to make many mistakes, and his ability to make plays when outside of the pocket makes him truly special. RB Ezekiel Elliott (891 yards, 7 TD) is the other rookie that has taken this team to new heights. Elliott rushed for 92 yards with two touchdowns against the Browns last week, and he has now rushed for at least 90 yards in each of his past six games. Look for him to keep up his excellent running against the Steelers, as Pittsburgh has allowed its opponents to rush for 80 or more yards in four of its past six games. Defensively, Dallas has been outstanding as well. The Cowboys have allowed 17 or fewer points in five of their past six games and they’ll be hoping to contain Pittsburgh in this one. It won’t be easy, but if they can get after Roethlisberger then they just might be able to make some big plays on Sunday. His knee isn’t quite right and the Cowboys need to take advantage of that.

The Steelers are struggling right now, but they should have a healthier QB Ben Roethlisberger (1,949 yards, 17 TD, 7 INT) on Sunday. Roethlisberger played against the Ravens last week, but he didn’t look quite right in that one. He threw for just one touchdown with a pick in that game, but he should be feeling better after an extra week of getting ready. If Roethlisberger doesn’t have a big game then it’s going to be tough for the Steelers to win this one. Dallas’ defense does not allow big plays, so that means that WR Antonio Brown (55 rec, 677 yards, 6 TD) and RB Le’Veon Bell (376 yards) won’t be able to rely on talent alone in this game. With that being said, a breakout game is definitely coming for Bell. He has not yet found the end zone this season, and it’s hard to imagine that being the case for long. He’s due to score soon and it wouldn’t be surprising if he does it multiple times in the same game when he eventually gets going. Defensively, stopping Elliott will be the first order of business for Pittsburgh. If the team can take the running game out of it then there will be a lot more pressure on Prescott. As great as he has been, he hasn’t necessarily thrived in a game where he was counted on to be the main source of offense.