The Dallas Cowboys enter the Week 5 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a somewhat beat up team after last week’s close victory over the New York Giants. They’ve had a little extra time to recuperate coming off of a Thursday night game, but will still be without some key members of the team due to injuries.
That makes winning certain head-to-head matchup’s more important this week. Playing on the road for the second week in a row isn’t an ideal situation for the Cowboys considering the current state of the roster due to injuries, but this is still very much a game they can win if they can get the better of some of the head-to-head matchup’s listed below.
DT Mazi Smith vs. C Zach Frazier
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Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
Mazi Smith is coming off arguably his best game since joining the Dallas Cowboys. He had a 86.6% run defense grade and an overall defensive grade of 88.4% last week against the Giants according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Hopefully he carries that kind of play over into this matchup against the Steelers rookie center Zach Frazier. This matchup alone could determine which team wins the battle in the trenches, especially in the running game.
LT Tyler Guyton vs. DE T.J. Watt
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Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Tyler Guyton had a rough outing last week against the Giants, arguably the worst of his young career. We all knew he would be tested early this season against some of the best pass rushers and for the most part he’s held his own. But, this week going up against T.J. Watt, arguably the best pass rusher in the league, he will once again be tested and need to be at his best. To help contain Watt, Dallas may need to get him a little more help this week.
DE Marshawn Kneeland vs. RT Broderick Jones
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Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
With both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Dallas Cowboys need their rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland to step up his game. This week against the Steelers is a good measuring stick for him going up against former first-round pick Broderick Jones. Jones has allowed a total of four QB sacks this year and has really struggled in both the running and passing game. Kneeland needs to take advantage of that.
