by Bo Marchionte

Twitter @BoMarchionte

The Steelers can reach a franchise milestone this Sunday with a win in Dallas. A victory would make them 8-0 for the first time in the history of the organization. It is a steppingstone towards bigger things when success is measured by Lombardi Trophies.

“We have been on a gauntlet if you will of late,” Mike Tomlin said. “To be in some five-star matchups.”

Tomlin is referring to the trio of teams (Cleveland, Tennessee, and Baltimore) that had a combined 14-2 record prior to facing the Steelers, but all finished 0-3 after the final whistle sounded.

“There are ramifications or consequences of all performances,” Tomlin said. “The state that we are in right now. We have some health and injury circumstances that have our attention. We have some guys that need to rise up this week and so I think we are going to have a level of urgency.”

Tomlin mentioned three defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, Cam Heyward, and Chris Wormley and nickelback Mike Hilton as causalities of the victories earned in the previous weeks.

“Where going to have an opportunity with guys like Isaiah Buggs and Henry (Mandeaux). Maybe even Carlos Davis having an opportunity to rise-up for us this week as potentials replacements for a guy like Tyson and a guy like (Chris) Wormley with an injury.”

A unit hit hard by injuries that are crucial to making the Steelers defense one of the best in the league. It is imperative they are up to the task facing a preseason dark horse Super Bowl contender that has seen their season go down the drain.

This quite honestly might have been their fourth straight five-star matchup this weekend if Dak Prescott was not on IR after breaking his ankle in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Prescott was on a statistical terror that surely would have placed the Steelers secondary in an unfavorable position.

“Dallas is a team that has obliviously lost their franchise quarterback,” Tomlin said. “Us being a group that’s been in a similar circumstance of late.

“As I watched the tape, I got a feeling for what’s transpiring there. Initially there is probably a period of shock where you know your dealing with the reality that you don’t have your guy. Then you go about formulating a personality that is going to allow you to develop a winning formula.

“The game specifically against the Philadelphia Eagles last week. That is what I see. I see a defense that got off the bus that was turnover driven and focused on getting the ball. Much like we were a year ago when we were playing Mason (Rudolph) and Duck (Devlin Hodges).”

That is where the similarities stop.

The Cowboy defense that has been abused more than a pinata. It has performed magnificently bad by allowing the most points given up so far this season (266). The next worst team is the New York Jets at 238. Ouch!

The Steelers defense was the backbone of their unit last season, helping them chase a wildcard spot into final week of the season.

Losers of three straight, Dallas is on their third-string backup quarterback. This has all the earmarks of a “trap” game, where a clear playoff contender falls short of victory against lousy team, such as the Cowboys.

“Rise-up,” was the phrase Tomlin used repeatedly throughout the course of his media session. It is the message he is trying to relate to his players in preparation for the game in Jerry World.

Pittsburgh allowed a whopping 265 yards rushing last week to Baltimore. In their previous six games it gave up just 413, leaving them vulnerable, especially if the first line of defense is not up to par.

“We are preparing with understanding we got to deal with Ezekiel Elliott this weekend,” Tomlin said.

“We are also coming off a performance where we bled and bled badly in the run. We better work with urgency and edge in that regard. He is an elite running back, arguably the best in the business.”

Dallas is a dangerous opponent.

Rich in talent the Cowboys simply have not played to the level their capable of and hence the season has unraveled. Their record stands at 2-6 at the halfway point of the season, and to think a showdown between these two franchises was a popular showdown in the up-coming Super Bowl.

Nothing would redeem a miserable season thus far more than turning things around with a win over an undefeated team. With the way things are going in Dallas, you could say this is their Super Bowl. This is there all or nothing shot at redemption and trying to keep pace with the Eagles who lead the NFC East.

Throw out the records this is going to be a closer game than the records indicate.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt