(Editor’s Note: Content provided is based on the opinions and/or perspectives of the DallasCowboys.com editorial team and not of the Cowboys football team or organization.)

PITTSBURGH – There are few rivalries as deep-rooted as the one between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it’s nothing short of criminal that these two legendary NFL franchises only meet once a decade these days – Sunday night in Week 5 at the latest The terrible towels were waving around.

After posting a 2-2 record through their first four games, the Cowboys defense was hoping to take home the first two-game winning streak of its season, but the injury absences of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence loomed large of great importance defensive unit against the improved play of Justin Fields.

Dak Prescott was also shorthanded, Brandin Cooks was placed on injured reserve this week, forcing the game on the younger wide receivers who wanted to help CeeDee Lamb.

There was at least one who stood out in that regard, and a few others who left it all on the field on Sunday Night Football at Acrisure Stadium.

To be honest, it was one of the more impressive outings for Dowdle. No, it wasn’t a 200-yard affair for the veteran running back, but when he got the ball, he cooked with it. To that point, he entered the fourth quarter averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 11 carries, causing numerous Steelers defenders to miss tackles to convert and keep the chains moving than the Cowboys’ offense needed it most — adding a reception touchdown early in the fourth quarter that gave Dallas a 13-10 lead.

The reason the Cowboys signed Joseph was to add physicality and depth to the interior of the defensive line, and against the Steelers he showed exactly what that looks like. He also brought some tenacity to the film by incurring an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty against the Steelers on the game’s second drive, redeeming himself by demolishing his blocker on the same drive, not just Justin Fields sacked but also forced a fumble. The Steelers got it done, but Joseph has sent a very real message as he continues to improve each week in Dallas.

No Micah Parsons. No DeMarcus Lawrence. No Marshawn Kneeland. This got Chauncey Golston to step up his game significantly, and he more than helped the defense make it a long day for Fields – against whom he received a penalty for roughing the quarterback, which weird was terrible call at a damn good football game. Golston was also effective in run defense, helping to keep Najee Harris and Co. in check on a regular basis.

In the absence of Brandin Cooks, the question of who would step up among the young wide receivers not named CeeDee Lamb was answered, at least for this week. It was Jalen Tolbert who did most of the work, mixing timely catches with ones that led to big plays on more than one occasion. Tolbert led the team in receiving yards and receptions late in the fourth quarter, a testament to his ability to become what the Cowboys hope he will be.

It was also Ferguson who helped carry the load in the receiving game, as Pro Bowl tight ends often do. As the game neared its conclusion, he was right behind Tolbert, carrying the load in yards and receptions, and he was crucial to the Cowboys being able to move the chains on more than one occasion. He did everything he could to put Dallas in the win column Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

He hasn’t appeared in a game yet this season, which is the closest he’s ever come in his young NFL career. Luepke’s statistics won’t blow your cat’s or your grandmother’s socks off, but the film will. The young fullback was effective as a blocker, running back and receiver out of the backfield. The Steelers were lulled by the fact that he wasn’t used as the latter for most of the game, but that was their mistake. When the Cowboys needed Luepke from the Pittsburgh 22-yard line on 1st-and-10 with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter, Dak Prescott threw it to him and was rewarded with an 18-yard gain that put the Cowboys within one Hit brought hints of a walk-off touchdown.

Resilience. That’s the word of the day for Prescott. He didn’t play great football and sometimes bad football. But a go-ahead touchdown after Dowdle recovers a lost fumble to get the chance? PRICELESS.