Cowboys 2024 opponent preview: X-factors for the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Cowboys will run into some underrated players when they visit Pittsburgh early in the season.

Up next in our X-factor series, we have the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys have faced each other in some classic regular season matchups. For example, both teams played a thriller in 2016 at Heinz Field when then-rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott engineered a 35-30 comeback win. In even higher stakes, the Cowboys have a 1-2 record versus the Steelers in the Super Bowls, the last being the Cowboys’ fifth Super Bowl victory.

Since then, the Steelers have eclipsed the Cowboys with their sixth Super Bowl victory, in 2009. Led by head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have been a model of consistency. In his 17 seasons with Pittsburgh, Tomlin has never posted a losing record in a season. Having ushered names like Troy Polamalu, Joey Porter, Hines Ward, and Big Ben Roethlisberger, Tomlin now transitions to a new nucleus consisting of T.J. Watt, George Pickens, and even Joey Porter Jr. Though consistent, the Steelers are relying on a certain few players to deliver and if they are overlooked or unpredictable, will serve as X-factors the Cowboys will to deal with in Week 5 of the regular season.

Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers

2023 record: 10-7 (3rd place in the AFC North)

Date(s) on the schedule: Week 5, Oct 6th

Russell Wilson/Justin Fields, Quarterback

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The Steelers have one of the most intriguing quarterback situations in the league. On one end, you have Russell Wilson. Wilson is a decorated veteran with multiple Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory. On the other is Justin Fields, Fields is a dynamic dual-threat with terrific arm strength, only rivaled by his athleticism at quarterback. The problem is both find themselves with the Steelers for underwhelming results.

The Denver Broncos traded a king’s ransom to acquire Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks. What followed was erratic performances and puzzling turnovers. As for Fields, much of the same could be said for his time with the Chicago Bears and injuries before being replaced by Caleb Williams, a quarterback with similar skills. Pittsburgh has penciled Wilson as their starter but has little invested in him financially, with Wilson joining the Steelers for the veteran minimum $1.2M on a one-year contract.

Similarly, Fields is in the final year of his original contract with Chicago. Who is under center for the Steelers when they play the Cowboys is anyone’s guess. Could Wilson be the starter in Week 5? Or could it be Fields? Could it be both in some capacity? The answer to all these questions is: “Yeah, maybe.” Here’s why the contrasting styles of each quarterback matters. Wilson’s insistence on driving the ball downfield perfectly complements Pickens. On the other hand, Fields’ mobility makes him a threat to score against anyone on the field. The Pittsburgh quarterback quandary makes this the biggest X-factor on this list.

Jaylen Warren, Running back

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Like their quarterbacks, the Steelers have two running backs with contrasting styles. First, there’s Najee Harris. Harris was taken by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 2021 draft and was expected to be the next great Steelers running back. Although he had an outstanding rookie season and totaled over 1,600 yards from scrimmage, his inefficiency as a runner and, at times, questionable vision has opened the door for his running mate Jaylen Warren to command an expanded role in the offense.

Undrafted in 2022, Warren began his career in a supplemental role to Harris, but last season was the best of his young career. Warren had 784 yards on an average of 5.3 yards per attempt. Warren also had an impact last season as a receiver with 61 receptions for 370 yards. Despite his small size (5’8”, 215 lbs.) Warren is also capable of running between the tackles. His compact build leads to opposing defenders bouncing right off him. Warren isn’t necessarily of a finesse runner, but he can be slippery to take down. 45% of his rushing yards came after contact. Conversely to Harris, the advanced metrics favor Warren. Per Player Profiler, Harris is top-five in several categories among running backs:

Juke Rate: #1, 31.9%

Evaded tackles: #5, 67

Breakaway Run Rate: #3, 8.1

Yards Created Per Touch #3, 4.65

Warren has all the makings of a chain mover and is a significant threat to the Dallas defense. His potential impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers team cannot be overlooked.

Jaylen Warren goes 74 yards!

: #PITvsCLE on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jckqnJwdb2 pic.twitter.com/mo99RyYIFK

— NFL (@NFL) November 19, 2023

Alex Highsmith, Outside linebacker

Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

When you think of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, you first think of the linebackers—greats of the past like Jack Lambert, Kevin Greene, or James Harrison. Currently, we think of the All-Pro T.J. Watt and why not? Watt is a phenomenal player who has won a Defensive Player of the Year and has a reputation for wreaking havoc on opposing offenses. Watt is a bright light that casts an enormous shadow. That doesn’t mean Dallas can lose sight of Alex Highsmith, who plays opposite of Watt. Highsmith was taken during the 2020 draft out of a small Charlotte program in the third round. Highsmith has various moves to get into the backfield as a pass rusher. His craftiness in slipping around offensive tackles is something to behold.

While Highsmith had a quieter 2023 season with 7.5 sacks, he had two interceptions, including one for a touchdown. His best season as a pro came in 2022 when he erupted for 14.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and five forced fumbles - all career-highs. He was handsomely rewarded for his efforts with a four-year, $68M contract in 2023 and will be a part of the Pittsburgh defense for the foreseeable future. When Dallas plays Pittsburgh, most of the attention will focus on stopping T.J. Watt. Still, let’s keep a close eye on how the team handles Highsmith.

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Previous x-factor profiles:

Week 1, Cleveland Browns
Week 2, New Orleans Saints
Week 3, Baltimore Ravens|
Week 4, New York Giants