Touchdowns Kalen Ballage and Tyler Simmons bring the Pittsburgh Steelers a 16-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Author AP
Last updated: 06/08/21 7:43
Dwayne Haskins made his debut for the Steelers when he went under center against the Cowboys (Getty)
The Pittsburgh Steelers followed a stumbled first half with a strong last 30 minutes beating the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 Thursday night in their first NFL game in two years.
The return of Matthew Sexton’s 36-yard shot early in the third quarter was started by the Steelers, and the Cowboys never challenged after that.
Last year’s show games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps the enthusiastic audience was an indication that even for a match between teams that use several regular ones, the hunger for professional football has not disappeared.
Or maybe it was simply that two of the most popular league franchises were on the field in the Hall of Fame game, no matter how many backups were in place.
“Just staying in a stadium full of fans, the energy they gave us,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We’ve been without it for a good part of the year.”
- Ironmen in Passage: Dwayne Haskins, 8/13, 54 yards
- Assault leader: Najee Harris, seven carry, 22 yards
- Recipient: Chase Claypool, three catches, 62 yards
It was not unexpected for the start of the opening season, the game was marked by dirty attacks and special teams – until Sexton passed.
“Sexton had a big hit, I thought it set us on fire,” Tomlin added. “It was a stepping stone for us to progress.”
Both sides did not have time for the ball, helping each defense.
Pittsburgh blocked a hunter’s attempt from Hunter Niswander’s game, and Steelers coach Sam Sloman missed from 49 yards, as well as an extra point. Niswander also missed with 52 yards before the half ended 3-0 thanks to his 29 yards.
Sexton’s return led to scoring four-meter points by much-traveled runner Kalen Ballage, now with his fourth team in as many years. Sloman recovered with a 48-meter goal after returning from a 26-meter cross-section of Donovan Stiner.
Cowboy quarterback Garrett Gilbert in action against the Steelers. (AP Photo / Ron Schwane)
Dallas left 16 key players at its training base in California, but still looked superior to Pittsburgh in the first half. Not so after half time.
“It’s more about building with what we’ve achieved,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “There’s definitely a lot of work to do. We need to play better complementary football. (Defensive) surgery for the first time, I felt good about it. We have a lot more to offer.”
- Passing Cowboys: Garrett Gilbert, 9/13, 104 yards
- Leader in a hurry: Rico Dowdle, eight carry, 43 yards
- Reception leader: Malik Turner, four catches, 47 yards
The Steelers briefly used regular rows such as receivers Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson, line player Alex Highsmith and Cameron Sutton from the corner. Linebacker Micah Parsons, Cowboys ’first-round draft pick, saw some action as well as a real move by La’el Collins.
“The feeling was great,” said Collins, who missed last season with a hip injury. “It’s been over a year and it’s been a long process for me to come here. It was good to be on that field today with my team.”
But this was the night to look at the last part of the list. Both defenses were solid enough, while the acclaimed Pittsburgh pass had a lot of pressure on the Dallas QB.
Dwayne Haskins, who was looking for a job after flopping in Washington, represented the Steelers for most of the night, although the detention of Josh Dobbs linked him to a five-meter touchdown pass with Tyler Simmons to remove it.
Nineteen of the 20 live induced in the hall were introduced before the game. Only former Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh, who was positive for COVID-19 and whose arrival this weekend is uncertain, was not on hand.
Former coach Bill Cowher, keeper Alan Faneca and security Donnie Shell from Pittsburgh introduced themselves; coach Jimmy Johnson, wide receiver Drew Pearson and safety Cliff Harris of Dallas; guard Steve Hutchinson, who excelled for Minnesota and Seattle; wide receivers Harold Carmichael of Philadelphia, Isaac Bruce of Aries, and Calvin Johnson of Detroit; bail Charles Woodson, stars from Oakland and Green Bay, John Lynch from Tampa Bay and Denver and Steve Atwater from Denver; former commissioner Paul Tagliabue; coach Tom Flores, who won two Super Bowls with the Raiders; tackle Jimbo Covert of Chicago; running back Edgerrin James of Indianapolis; and some quarterback named Peyton. Peyton Manning of Colts and the Broncos, of course.
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