PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Super Bowl matchups are legendary, but for regular season games, the last five between the Steelers and Dallas have featured multiple lead changes, overtime and fourth-quarter comebacks.
Here are the details with names like Roethlisberger, Bettis, Townsend, Farrior, Heath, Testaverde, Romo, Keyshawn, Owens, Ezekiel all making big plays.
W, 24-19
November 8, 2020 in Dallas
· Trailing 19-9 going into the fourth quarter Ben Roethlisberger took over. The Steelers quarterback threw a 31-yard touchdown to JuJu Smith-Schuster to cut the lead to four, but Dallas would block the extra point. After a huge punt return set Dallas up deep in Steelers territory, Minkah Fitzpatrick picked off a pass at the Steelers five-year line to keep it 19-15. Dallas helped the Steelers out again as a strip sack of Roethlisberger was nullified by an illegal contact penalty. Chris Boswell would kick a 43-yard field goal to make it 19-18. Defense holds and Steelers get it back at their 21. Dallas commits another penalty, this on a 3rd and 10 incompletion, the defense called for roughing the passer. Diontae Johnson had a 42-yard catch, mostly YAC and then Ben hit Eric Ebron from eight yards out to give the Steelers a 24-19 lead. A Cam Heyward/TJ Watt sack stopped the next Cowboys possession. Dallas would get it back with 38 seconds left and Fitzpatrick broke up a pass to CeeDee Lamb to end it.
L, 35-30
November 13, 2016 at Acrisure Stadium
· 5 lead changes in the last 16:35 of the game in a thrilling matchup at home. Dak Prescott hit Dez Bryant with a 50-yarder to give Dallas a 23-18 lead late in the third. 11:09 left in the fourth Antonio Brown would combine for 56 yards between receptions and a punt return leading to a Le’Veon Bell one-yard TD run and it’s 24-23 Steelers with 7:56 to play. Dallas would march 75 yards as Ezekiel Elliott went right tackle for 14 and score, it’s 29-24 Cowboys with 1:55 to play. In five plays, the Steelers take the lead back as Roethlisberger finds Brown from 15 yards as it’s 30-29 with 42 seconds left. A facemask penalty on Sean Davis would give Dallas the ball at the Steelers 32 with 15 seconds left, Elliott runs that distance on the next play for a 35-30 win. Roethlisberger threw for 408 yards and 3 TD in the loss. Prescott threw for 319 yards and Elliott had 209 combined yards and 3 scores.
L/OT, 27-24
December 16, 2012 in Dallas
· This game had six ties or lead changes, after Dallas went out in front by 10, Roethlisberger hit Heath Miller for a 30-yard TD right before the half to tie it. Tony Romo hit Dez Bryant from 24 yards out to open the second half scoring. Roethlisberger would find Mike Wallace from 60 yards down to the one-yard line before Jonathan Dwyer punched it in to tie it at 17. Chunk plays early in the fourth to Wallace and Jerricho Cotchery helped lead to a seven-yard TD to Antonio Brown and it’s the first Steelers lead, 24-17 with 12:43 to play. Defense would force a punt, but Brown fumbled the punt return setting up Dallas at the Steelers 44. DeMarco Murray punched it in from three yards out and it’s tied again. DeMarcus Ware sacked Ben Roethlisberger at the Dallas 39 to force a punt. Two more sacks on the next drive would force a punt on 4th and 15 from the Steelers 41 with 1:03 left. Steelers won the overtime toss, but Roethlisberger was intercepted by Brandon Carr on the second play and returned to the Steelers 1. Dan Bailey hit a 21-yard field goal on second down for the win.
W, 20-13
December 7, 2008 at Acrisure Stadium
· Another Dallas fourth-quarter lead, 13-3 with the only touchdown a 12-yard pass from Romo to Terrell Owens. Jeff Reed’s 41-yard field goal by a Santonio Holmes 35-yard punt return. Next series, Roethlisberger combines with Nate Washington 51 yards and ends the drive on a 6-yard touchdown to Heath Miller to tie the game with 2:10 left. On the second play of the ensuing drive, Romo picked off by Deshea Townsend and he returns it for a 25-yard touchdown for a 20-13 win. Troy Polamalu had 9 tackles, an interception, tackle for loss and a pass defended.
W, 24-20
October 17, 2004 in Dallas
· Steelers trailed again in the fourth, Vinny Testaverde hit Terry Glenn for 48 yards and then Keyshawn Johnson for 22 yards to make it 20-10. Roethlisberger would answer with completions to Jay Riemersma, Duce Staley, four to Hines Ward and a touchdown of 7 yards to Jerame Tuman to make it 20-17. With 2:36 to play and Dallas at the Steelers 47, James Farrior sacked, forced and recovered a fumble by Testaverde. Keyshawn Johnson was called for unnecessary roughness at the end of the play to put the ball at the Dallas 24. Jerome Bettis would pound it in from two-yards out for a 24-20 win. Staley rushed for 93 yards, but Bettis five carries, eight yards, the only rushing TD. Ward had nine catches for 76 yards.
It's been quite a series. Will we see more back-and-forth Sunday night?