Closing spread
PIT -3
Total
50.5
Model margin
+2.7est.
PIT perspective
Push chance
7.5%est.
the line sits on a key number
Availability
The injury report
The official league filing for this week — game designations first, then who missed or was limited in practice.
Cowboys
- OutBarry ChurchSForearm· DNP
- OutMorris ClaiborneCBGroin· DNP
- QuestionableChaz GreenTFoot· DNP
- QuestionableDemarcus LawrenceDEBack· Limited
- QuestionableDez BryantWRKnee· Full
- QuestionableRonald LearyGConcussion· Full
- QuestionableRyan DavisDEHamstring· Full
- QuestionableTony RomoQBBack· Full
- QuestionableTyron SmithTBack· Limited
Steelers
- OutDarrius Heyward-BeyWRFoot· DNP
- OutDeAngelo WilliamsRBKnee· DNP
- OutJordan DangerfieldSGroin· DNP
- OutMarkus WheatonWRShoulder· DNP
Win probability
- Steelers
- Cowboys
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- +0.126EPA / play+0.085
- 48.6%Success rate46.0%
- +0.226EPA / dropback+0.164
- +0.006EPA / rush-0.043
- 9.8%Explosive rate10.8%
- +4.07CPOE+1.74
- 43.8%Third-down rate41.9%
- 70.2%Red-zone TD rate64.0%
- 2.52Points / drive2.24
- 1.4%Turnover rate1.7%
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
All square 3–3 since 1999
Meetings average 45.5 points. PIT are 2-4 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | DAL–PIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | Q1 15:00 | 3 | 13 | Turnover | 0–0 |
| PIT | Q1 13:45 | 8 | 38 | Touchdown | 0–6 |
| DAL | Q1 9:54 | 9 | 47 | Field goal | 3–6 |
| PIT | Q1 5:17 | 9 | 70 | Touchdown | 3–12 |
| DAL | Q1 1:13 | 3 | 90 | Touchdown | 10–12 |
| PIT | Q1 0:12 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 10–12 |
| DAL | Q2 14:28 | 7 | 30 | Field goal | 13–12 |
| PIT | Q2 11:04 | 10 | 39 | Field goal | 13–15 |
| DAL | Q2 4:43 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 13–15 |
| PIT | Q2 3:10 | 8 | 39 | Punt | 13–15 |
| DAL | Q2 0:45 | 3 | 0 | Punt | 13–15 |
| PIT | Q2 0:20 | 3 | 22 | Missed field goal | 13–15 |
| PIT | Q3 15:00 | 7 | 40 | Field goal | 13–18 |
| DAL | Q3 13:10 | 13 | 46 | Field goal | 16–18 |
| PIT | Q3 5:35 | 3 | -1 | Punt | 16–18 |
| DAL | Q3 3:23 | 4 | 59 | Touchdown | 23–18 |
| PIT | Q3 1:35 | 6 | 18 | Punt | 23–18 |
| DAL | Q4 13:13 | 3 | 9 | Punt | 23–18 |
| PIT | Q4 10:56 | 6 | 46 | Touchdown | 23–24 |
| DAL | Q4 7:51 | 10 | 60 | Touchdown | 29–24 |
| PIT | Q4 1:55 | 5 | 75 | Touchdown | 29–30 |
| DAL | Q4 0:42 | 5 | 60 | Touchdown | 35–30 |
| PIT | Q4 0:09 | 2 | 55 | End of half | 35–30 |
Box score
Individual performances
Cowboys
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dak Prescott | 22/32 | 319 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel Elliott | 21 | 114 | 5.4 | 2 |
| Alfred Morris | 4 | 13 | 3.3 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dez Bryant | 6 | 9 | 116 | 1 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2 | 2 | 95 | 1 |
| Jason Witten | 6 | 8 | 59 | 0 |
| Cole Beasley | 5 | 9 | 33 | 0 |
| Alfred Morris | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Terrance Williams | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Lucky Whitehead | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Lance Dunbar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Steelers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | 37/46 | 408 | 3 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le'Veon Bell | 17 | 57 | 3.4 | 1 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 |
| Antonio Brown | 1 | -10 | -10.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Brown | 14 | 18 | 154 | 1 |
| Le'Veon Bell | 9 | 10 | 77 | 1 |
| Jesse James | 4 | 4 | 59 | 0 |
| Eli Rogers | 4 | 5 | 42 | 1 |
| Cobi Hamilton | 1 | 1 | 39 | 0 |
| Ladarius Green | 3 | 4 | 30 | 0 |
| Xavier Grimble | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| David Johnson | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Sammie Coates | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Steelers; negative favour Cowboys.
Half-point at risk
7.52%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
56.2%
Expected total
45.4est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)+0.92
- Home-field advantage+1.74
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+2.66



