Two of the NFL’s premier franchises take the field this week for a Sunday Night Football showdown. The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have two of the largest fan bases in the NFL.
After this game, one fan base will be overjoyed and one fan base will be dejected. Which fan base will be happy that their team was the winning NFL pick at the top-rated sportsbooks?
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NFL Pick
- Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, October 06, 2024 – 08:20 PM ET at Acrisure Stadium
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys will come into this game with extra rest after a workmanlike win over the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football in Week 4. The win came at a cost, however, as Micah Parsons, Dallas’ elite defensive edge rusher, was sidelined and will most likely miss this game.
Dallas was also already struggling with injuries on the defensive line, missing DeMarcus Lawrence. Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will have his work cut out with him trying to stop the Steelers, missing two of his top players.
The Cowboys are still potent on offense, however, led by the impressive tandem of quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Although both players have started slower than usual, this is a fearsome duo that the Steelers will need to respect if they’re going to be able to get the win. If Dallas is to win they’re going to need to move the ball through the air against this top rated Steelers defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to bounce back after losing their first game of the season in Week 4, a 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. In that game, the Steelers fell behind early but were able to show some flashes of promise when they attempted to come back. Steelers quarterback Justin Fields had his best game in the yellow and black, throwing for over 300 yards. The Steelers will need Fields to continue to be excellent through the air if they’re going to want to make a playoff push this season.
As excited as Steelers fans are about the emergence of Justin Fields, this team is still predicated on its ability to play elite defense. Led by head coach Mike Tomlin and All Pro lineman TJ Watt, the Steelers are playing the best defense in the National Football League right now. They are solid at all three levels of the defense but they especially wreak havoc at the line of scrimmage, behind Watt and Cam Heyward. Opponents are having problems rushing the ball against the Steelers, forcing them into tough positions where the Steelers’ pass rush can change the game. This could be a tough matchup for a Dallas team that has struggled to run the ball so far this season.
Steelers Offensive Line vs Dallas Defensive Line
As encouraging as the play of Steelers quarterback Justin Fields was last week, this team is still built to be a run first team. The Steelers failed to establish the run against the Colts, which made their offense fairly one-dimensional. While Fields is an exciting player, this offense will look much better being a balanced attack. The Steelers have an excellent opportunity to get back to their roots against a depleted Dallas defensive line that is struggling with injuries.
If the Steelers are able to run the ball and keep Fields from dropping back too many times, they should be able to play their style of football and bounce back with a win. If Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is able to dial up effective run blitzes and keep the Steelers from getting positive gains on the ground, Fields will be forced to pass too many times and the Steelers will get away from their identity.
The Pick
I like the Pittsburgh Steelers to bounce back here. Dallas has been great at home but struggled on the road. Dallas is 9-10 ATS on the road in their last 19 road games. Also, the Steelers are 7-4-1 ATS in their last 12 home games against the NFC. The Steelers have also covered the spread in three of their last four prime time games.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best defense in the league and the Dallas Cowboys are struggling due to injuries and lack of depth on both sides of the ball. The Steelers will be able to scheme to stop Dallas’s one dimensional attack that is overly reliant on wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. The Steelers will improve to 4-1 and the Dallas Cowboys fans will be searching for answers after another loss.
NFL Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 (-110) at Bet365
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
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