For the first time all season, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could be healthy enough to play when Dallas travels to Pittsburgh on Sunday. However, don't look for Romo to be on the field.
Despite the fact that Romo was a full participant in all three of the Cowboys' practices this week, the veteran quarterback is expected to be listed as inactive against the Steelers. That means that instead of Romo vs. Ben Roethlisberger, we'll be getting Dak Prescott vs. Roethisberger, which is actually a good thing. It just might turn into the most entertaining showdown of the week.
Prescott and the Cowboys have won seven in a row since losing a one-point game to the Giants in Week 1. On the other hand, you have Roethlisberger, who's also on a seven-game winning streak of sorts: Big Ben is 7-0 in his last seven starts at Heinz Field (the Steelers lost to the Patriots at home this season, but Big Ben wasn't the starter).
During his seven-game home winning streak, Roethlisberger has averaged 342.3 yards and 3.4 touchdown passes per game. The Steelers have also been lighting up the scoreboard at home with Big Ben, averaging 35 points per game in those seven wins.
Of course, if anyone can keep up with the high-flying Steelers, it's the Cowboys.
Dallas is averaging 27.9 points per game this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Getting Ezekiel Elliott going against the Steelers defense won't be easy -- they give up less than 100 rushing yards per game -- which means the Cowboys might have to put this game on Prescott's shoulders.
As for Roethlisberger, he's very well aware that the 4-4 Steelers are staring down the barrel of dropping under .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2013 if they lose on Sunday.
Despite Pittsburgh's struggles through the first nine weeks of the season, no one in the Steelers' locker room is panicking right now, especially not Roethlisberger.
"I could do the Aaron Rodgers 'R-E-L-A-X' but I'm just gonna say it's halftime [of the season]," Roethlisberger said this week. "We've had a lot of great second halves in my career and in Pittsburgh Steelers history. It's not over yet, and I'm excited for the second half of the season."
Big Ben also had a simple message for his teammates this week: Follow me.
That message will make way more sense when you watch the clip below.
That sounds like a guy who's ready to roll, and the good news for the Steelers is that guy is also healthy.
Roethlisberger's game status wasn't listed on the team's final injury report that was released on Friday, which means Big Ben is 100 percent good to go.
On the other hand, Romo was listed as questionable for the game, which doesn't really matter for this week since the Cowboys' tentative plan is to make him inactive.
How to Watch
What: Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
When: Sunday, Nov. 13, 4:25 p.m. ET
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: Fox (Joe Buck and Troy Aikman on the call)
Online:Sunday Ticket or NFL GamePass (game won't be available on GamePass until midnight)
Odds: The Steelers are 2.5-point favorites ( via SportsLine)
Injury Report
Cowboys
- WR Dez Bryant (knee) -- Questionable
- S Barry Church (forearm) -- Out
- CB Morris Claiborne (groin) -- Out
- DE Ryan Davis (hamstring) -- Questionable
- T Chaz Green (foot/back) -- Questionable
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (back/shoulder) -- Questionable
- OG Ronald Leary (concussion) -- Questionable
- QB Tony Romo (back) -- Questionable
- OT Tyron Smith (back/hip) -- Questionable
Steelers
- S Jordan Dangerfield (groin) -- Out
- Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) -- Out
- WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder) -- Out
- RB DeAngelo Williams (knee) -- Out
Prisco's Pick
The Cowboys are playing consecutive road games, which is always tough. It's even tougher against a good team coming off a bad loss. I look for Ben Roethlisberger to get back on track here. That will put a lot of pressure on Dak Prescott to keep up. I don't think he will here.
Pick: Steelers 30, Cowboys 24