By Cowboys Insider — PML League Edition
PITTSBURGH — In a game that felt less like a midseason matchup and more like a postseason stress test, the Dallas Cowboys walked out of Acrisure Stadium on the wrong end of a 38–31 thriller — a defeat shaped by explosive plays, a relentless Pittsburgh counterpunch, and a game script that pushed every unit on your roster to its limits.
While the loss stings, it was also a game filled with standout performances, defining moments, and signs of growth for a Cowboys team still carving out its identity in the PML’s NFC hierarchy.
The numbers tell one story — 508 total yards, a 378-yard passing performance from Joe Milton III, over 100 yards rushing from rookie Jaydon Blue, a combined 239 receiving yards from George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb — but the reality cut deeper. Mistakes mattered. Timely failures mattered. And ultimately, the Steelers executed cleaner in the final moments.
Still, the pulse of this team remains strong.
FIRST QUARTER — A Heavyweight Feel-Out
You could feel it immediately: this wasn’t going to be a grind-it-out, defensive struggle. Both offenses moved efficiently right out of the gate, answering score for score.
Joe Milton III opened fast and confident, distributing the ball in rhythm — but it was Pittsburgh who delivered the early punch, generating chunk plays in both phases.
Still, Dallas responded. Milton found George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb early to set tone, and rookie RB Jaydon Blue showed the speed and burst that continue to validate his emergence as the lead back.
The quarter ended 7–7, but it felt like two engines warming up before full throttle.
SECOND QUARTER — THE OFFENSE ERUPTS, MILTON SETS FIRE
The second quarter may have been the Cowboys’ best offensive frame of the season.
Joe Milton III — the man with one of the league’s biggest arms and an even bigger competitive edge — went nuclear. He piled up chunk play after chunk play, ripping through Pittsburgh’s secondary with layered throws that highlighted both processing and raw talent.
His halftime pace:
- 378 yards passing
- 25/39 completions (64%)
- 3 touchdowns
- 3 interceptions — a reminder of the razor-edge aggression Milton plays with
- 9.7 yards per attempt
- Long of 43 yards, twice threatening to score immediately
Dallas hung 17 points in the second quarter, taking control and forcing the Steelers to adjust.
On the ground, Jaydon Blue provided the perfect complement. Explosive, slippery, decisive — he carved Pittsburgh for 75-yard sprinting chunk, finishing with 12 carries for 109 yards (9.1 YPC) and a touchdown. The Texas product is quickly becoming the heartbeat of the offense, and this game cemented it.
By halftime, Dallas led and appeared ready to break the game open.
But the NFL — and PML — rarely allow comfort.
THIRD QUARTER — THE TURNING POINT
This was the quarter that shifted everything.
Pittsburgh found momentum; their adjustments hit, their run game awakened, and their defense forced Dallas into shorter possessions.
Milton, who’d been magnificent for two quarters, hit turbulence. A mistimed read, pressure collapsing the pocket, a forced throw — the Steelers capitalized, grabbing momentum through turnovers and quick scoring strikes.
The Cowboys’ offense went scoreless in the third. Pittsburgh posted 14, flipping an 11-point deficit into a 28–24 lead heading into the fourth.
Momentum wasn’t lost — but it was contested, and fiercely.
FOURTH QUARTER — TRADING HAYMAKERS
The final frame felt like a tug-of-war between two offenses determined not to blink.
Dallas struck first, and Milton once again delivered in the high-pressure moments that define franchise quarterbacks. His third touchdown pass of the night — hitting Denzel Boston, who continues his rise as a quietly dangerous WR3 — tied the game and reset the field of play.
Boston’s stat line:
4 catches, 52 yards, 2 touchdowns, long of 31.
For a WR3, that is not just production — that’s reliability. That’s growth. That’s trust.
But the Steelers answered back with a touchdown of their own.
Down 38–31 late, Milton and the Cowboys pushed again, but time, field position, and earlier mistakes caught up. A final drive stalled, and with it, Dallas’ hopes of a comeback.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
Joe Milton III — The Roller Coaster & The Rocket Launcher
If one game captured the essence of Milton’s game — the brilliance, the belief, the raw force — it was this one.
Final stat line:
- 378 yards
- 3 TDs
- 3 INTs
- 64% completions
- 9.7 YPA
- 25 completions on 39 attempts
This wasn’t a bad game. This wasn’t a great game.
This was a franchise quarterback performance with volatility — but the highs were undeniable.
He made every throw you ask of a QB1:
- field-stretching shots
- layered seams
- sideline timing outs
- RPO glance routes
- deep crossing windows
The Cowboys don’t reach 31 points without Milton.
They don’t hit 500+ yards without Milton.
They don’t stay in a shootout without Milton.
Yes, the turnovers matter — but so does the fact he kept fighting, kept pushing, and kept responding.
This is a QB who will win you games and learn from losses.
Jaydon Blue — The Emerging Star RB1
Blue didn’t just give you 100+ yards — he gave you identity.
**12 carries
109 yards
9.1 yards per carry
1 TD
75-yard long**
His balance of vision, burst, and make-you-miss footwork gives Dallas something they haven’t consistently had since Tony Pollard’s prime: a home-run threat at running back.
You can build around this.
Pickens & Lamb — The Duo Defenses Fear
Another game, another showcase.
George Pickens:
- 8 catches
- 97 yards
- 12.1 avg
- Long 29
CeeDee Lamb:
- 6 catches
- 90 yards
- 15.0 avg
- TD
- Long 30
These two are the engine of the passing game — and they were virtually uncoverable against Pittsburgh’s secondary.
Pickens dominated the intermediate boundary areas.
Lamb shredded the middle of the field.
Together?
They form one of the league’s most complete receiving duos.
Jake Ferguson — The Chain-Mover
While not a high-volume game, Ferg’s three catches for 80 yards were monumental. His 43-yard long was a spark plug in the second quarter, and his RAC ability continues to be one of the best-kept secrets in the league.
Denzel Boston — The Breakout Continues
4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 touchdowns.
He’s becoming the WR3 you’ve been waiting for:
- clutch in the red zone
- strong hands
- expanding route tree
- improving timing with Milton
He is earning his future role.
DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN — A Day of Mixed Results
The defense showed moments of grit, but the Steelers’ offense kept applying pressure.
Standouts:
Shavon Revel Jr.
- 7 total tackles
- 1 pass breakup
Revel continues to show elite tackling technique for a young corner and is growing rapidly in confidence.
Marquis Bell
- 7 tackles
Bell was everywhere — downhill, sideline, and chasing crossers. A tone-setter.
Daron Bland
- 6 tackles
The consistent veteran presence, always around the ball.
Jaquan Brisker
- 6 tackles
- 1 INT (17 yards)
His ball-hawk instincts showed up again. Brisker continues to validate his signing every week.
Damone Clark & DeMarvion Overshown
Combined 10 tackles
Clark’s leadership and Overshown’s range remain staples of the LB room.
Dontay Corleone
- 2 sacks
Your rookie DT flashed dominance, overpowering the Steelers interior and continuing his Defensive Rookie of the Year–caliber campaign.
TEAM NUMBERS THAT TELL THE STORY
- Cowboys: 508 total yards
- Steelers: 523 total yards
This was an offensive fireworks show.
- Dallas: 3 turnovers
- Pittsburgh: 2 turnovers
A critical difference. - Dallas: 373 passing yards
- Pittsburgh: 356 passing yards
Milton kept pace — and then some.
- Dallas: 135 rushing yards
- Pittsburgh: 167 rushing yards
The Steelers’ late-game run success was a quiet deciding factor.
WHAT THIS GAME MEANS MOVING FORWARD
This loss doesn’t define the season — but the performance reveals several truths:
1. Your offense is explosive enough to beat anyone.
When Milton is locked in and the run game is rolling, few defenses in PML can contain Dallas for four quarters.
2. The young core is ascending.
Milton. Blue. Pickens. Revel. Corleone.
These are not just contributors — they are foundational pieces.
3. The margins matter.
Turnovers, third-quarter stagnation, late-game defensive fatigue — these were the killers.
4. This team has the fight required to compete deep into the season.
Down late. On the road. Still battling.
That matters more than the final score.
FINAL THOUGHT
The Cowboys walked into Pittsburgh and traded punches with a playoff-caliber Steelers team for four quarters. They racked up yards, made highlight plays, and showed flashes of the team they are becoming — explosive, resilient, and capable of hanging with anyone.
Yes, the loss hurts.
But the identity is forming.
The foundation is solid.
And the lessons learned will matter down the stretch.
This wasn’t a setback — it was a sharpening.
The Cowboys will be back.
