Steelers vs. Cowboys, Week 9: 2nd quarter in-game update

1st Quarter In-Game Update

Facing a 3rd and inches to start the second quarter, Mike McCarthy decided to punt the football away rather than go for it in their own end.

The third Steelers offensive possession was their best of the game, but when they faced a 4th and short they chose to not go with a 53-yard Chris Boswell field goal, and instead ran it with Benny Snell Jr. Snell was stopped short of the yards to gain, giving the ball to Dallas on downs.

Garrett Gilbert used his legs on the next drive to move the ball quickly into Pittsburgh territory with two quarterback scrambles. Gilbert then used his arm with a beautiful pass to CeeDee Lamb for the Cowboys touchdown. Zuerlein hit the extra point to make it 10-0 with 7:45 left in the first half.

Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense continued to sleep walk through the first half, and another three and out gave the ball right back to the red-hot Dallas offense. After another Jordan Berry punt, the Cowboys used some special teams magic to get the ball deep into Pittsburgh territory on a pass back return. However, the Steelers’ defense held them to another Zuerlein field goal, making the score 13-0 with 3:46 left in the first half.

Desperately needing a response, Ben Roethlisberger went to the air to make it happen. Big completions to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Eric Ebron moved the Pittsburgh offense into Dallas territory yet again. However, on a second down throw Roethlisberger was hit low and was visibly favoring his left knee. He didn’t leave the game, and capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to James Washington.

Chris Boswell missed the point after to make the score 13-6 with 1:10 left in the first half.

Things changed quickly when on the second play on Dallas’ next drive a pass completed to Lamb was stripped by Cam Sutton and went into the hands of Minkah Fitzpatrick. With Roethlisberger still in the locker room, Boswell was called on for a 59-yard field goal which was good.

The score was 13-9 Cowboys heading into halftime.