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The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys faced off on December 7th, 2008 on a cold 20 degree day at Heinz Field. It was Tony Romo’s only career start at Heinz Field, and the first of only two career starts against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.
The Steelers would win the coin toss and defer to the second half
It would be a first quarter of mishaps for the Steelers. They would begin the game with a three and out, and on their next drive, Jeff Reed would miss a 45-yard field goal. The Steelers defense would bail out the offense following the missed field goal. On a fourth down and 1 from the Steelers 33-yard line, the Cowboys opted to go for it. James Harrison and Troy Polamalu knifed into the backfield to stop fullback Deon Anderson for no gain.
But the Steelers offense continued to stall. After trading possessions of nothing with the Cowboys, the Steelers would start at their own 46-yard line after a fair catch on the punt by Santonio Holmes. On the second play of the drive, Roethlisberger would hit Heath Miller for an 8-yard gain, but the usually reliable Miller coughed it up and Dallas would recover. As the second quarter would begin, the Steelers defense would again step up. On fourth down and 2, Tony Romo tried to find Terrell Owens deep down the middle of the field, but it would fall incomplete.
The Steelers would get their first turnover of the game when Harrison strip-sacked Romo, and Steelers lineman Travis Kirschke would recover at the Dallas 45-yard line. The Steelers were given another golden opportunity to jump-start their offense. On third down, Roethlisberger would run up the middle for the first down, but he couldn’t hold onto the football while he was tackled. The Cowboys would take over and the Steelers golden chance was squandered in only three plays.
Both teams continued to struggle, but Romo gave the Steelers a gift when he threw a pass right to cornerback Ike Taylor. Taylor would intercept it and the Steelers were within field goal range at the Cowboys 22. The Steelers would get to a first and goal situation and eventually down to the six-yard line before they were forced to settle for another Reed field goal attempt. This one was through the uprights and the Steelers led 3-0 with 2:44 left in the second quarter.
Ike Taylor is congratulated by Mike Tomlin following his second quarter interception.
With under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Romo would connect with tight end Jason Witten to put the Cowboys into Steelers territory. With time running out in the quarter, Cowboys’ kicker Nick Folk would drive a 44-yard field goal right down the middle to tie the game at half, 3-3.
It was a dismal first half for both sides. Turnovers, three and outs, and penalties.
The Steelers would receive the second half kickoff, and be set up with good field position after reserve running back Gary Russell had a 33-yard return. But Roethlisberger would be sacked on third down and the Steelers would take only 58 seconds to go three and out. The Cowboys would finally capitalize on the Steelers in-apt offense. Eight plays later, Romo would hit Owens for a 12-yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead.
Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens (81) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of play at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday, December 7, 2008. Steelers defeated the Cowboys 20-13. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)
The Steelers struggles would continue through the third quarter. The Cowboys would tally a field goal late and take a 13-3 lead. The Steelers would breakout of their stink and put together a 73-yard drive that would see them face a fourth down and goal from the one-yard line. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would opt to go for it, but Russell would be stuffed for a loss of two yards. At this point, time was starting to work against the Steelers. Yes their offense had figured it out finally, but to come away with no points on a 14-play drive was disheartening.
Dallas wouldn’t be able to get past their own 19-yard line, so the Steelers would get the ball back again with 8:42 left in the game. Holmes would field the punt at his own 45 and bring it back 35 yards to the Cowboys 25. Shocking I know, but the Steelers would not be able to pick up a first down. Reed would nail the field goal and it was 13-6 Cowboys. The Steelers defense would hold on the ensuing possession by Dallas. Kirschke would sack Romo on second down and put the Cowboys into third and long. Unable to convert, the Steelers would get the ball back trailing by only 7.
With time running down, Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense would finally unthaw in the freezing temperatures. He would find Nate Washington three times for 51 yards on the drive. With 2:10 left, Roethlisberger would connect with Miller on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Reed’s extra point would tie it.
Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown on a six-yard pass reception despite the efforts of safety Ken Hamlin #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during a game at Heinz Field on December 7, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Now it was time for Renegade. To give you an idea of how cold it was, the top of my beer had glazed over with ice. By the time Renegade finished, and the ensuing few plays happened, I was sweating. And let me tell you, it was colder than I can describe when the Steelers offense couldn’t muster up anything for 50 minutes.
With the crowd in a frenzy, Romo would drop back to pass on second down looking for Witten. The pass wouldn’t even come close and would soar right into the waiting arms of cornerback Deshea Townsend. He would take it back 25-yards for the game winning score.
Townsend is congratulated in the endzone by teammates after his winning interception.
The Cowboys would get the ball back with a chance to tie, but were quickly disposed of by the Steelers defense, and Roethlisberger would close the game out with a kneel down.
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The Steelers would win the coin toss and defer to the second half
It would be a first quarter of mishaps for the Steelers. They would begin the game with a three and out, and on their next drive, Jeff Reed would miss a 45-yard field goal. The Steelers defense would bail out the offense following the missed field goal. On a fourth down and 1 from the Steelers 33-yard line, the Cowboys opted to go for it. James Harrison and Troy Polamalu knifed into the backfield to stop fullback Deon Anderson for no gain.
But the Steelers offense continued to stall. After trading possessions of nothing with the Cowboys, the Steelers would start at their own 46-yard line after a fair catch on the punt by Santonio Holmes. On the second play of the drive, Roethlisberger would hit Heath Miller for an 8-yard gain, but the usually reliable Miller coughed it up and Dallas would recover. As the second quarter would begin, the Steelers defense would again step up. On fourth down and 2, Tony Romo tried to find Terrell Owens deep down the middle of the field, but it would fall incomplete.
The Steelers would get their first turnover of the game when Harrison strip-sacked Romo, and Steelers lineman Travis Kirschke would recover at the Dallas 45-yard line. The Steelers were given another golden opportunity to jump-start their offense. On third down, Roethlisberger would run up the middle for the first down, but he couldn’t hold onto the football while he was tackled. The Cowboys would take over and the Steelers golden chance was squandered in only three plays.
Both teams continued to struggle, but Romo gave the Steelers a gift when he threw a pass right to cornerback Ike Taylor. Taylor would intercept it and the Steelers were within field goal range at the Cowboys 22. The Steelers would get to a first and goal situation and eventually down to the six-yard line before they were forced to settle for another Reed field goal attempt. This one was through the uprights and the Steelers led 3-0 with 2:44 left in the second quarter.
Ike Taylor is congratulated by Mike Tomlin following his second quarter interception.
With under two minutes remaining in the quarter, Romo would connect with tight end Jason Witten to put the Cowboys into Steelers territory. With time running out in the quarter, Cowboys’ kicker Nick Folk would drive a 44-yard field goal right down the middle to tie the game at half, 3-3.
It was a dismal first half for both sides. Turnovers, three and outs, and penalties.
The Steelers would receive the second half kickoff, and be set up with good field position after reserve running back Gary Russell had a 33-yard return. But Roethlisberger would be sacked on third down and the Steelers would take only 58 seconds to go three and out. The Cowboys would finally capitalize on the Steelers in-apt offense. Eight plays later, Romo would hit Owens for a 12-yard touchdown and a 10-3 lead.
Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens (81) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of play at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sunday, December 7, 2008. Steelers defeated the Cowboys 20-13. (Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News)
The Steelers struggles would continue through the third quarter. The Cowboys would tally a field goal late and take a 13-3 lead. The Steelers would breakout of their stink and put together a 73-yard drive that would see them face a fourth down and goal from the one-yard line. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would opt to go for it, but Russell would be stuffed for a loss of two yards. At this point, time was starting to work against the Steelers. Yes their offense had figured it out finally, but to come away with no points on a 14-play drive was disheartening.
Dallas wouldn’t be able to get past their own 19-yard line, so the Steelers would get the ball back again with 8:42 left in the game. Holmes would field the punt at his own 45 and bring it back 35 yards to the Cowboys 25. Shocking I know, but the Steelers would not be able to pick up a first down. Reed would nail the field goal and it was 13-6 Cowboys. The Steelers defense would hold on the ensuing possession by Dallas. Kirschke would sack Romo on second down and put the Cowboys into third and long. Unable to convert, the Steelers would get the ball back trailing by only 7.
With time running down, Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense would finally unthaw in the freezing temperatures. He would find Nate Washington three times for 51 yards on the drive. With 2:10 left, Roethlisberger would connect with Miller on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Reed’s extra point would tie it.
Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a touchdown on a six-yard pass reception despite the efforts of safety Ken Hamlin #26 of the Dallas Cowboys during a game at Heinz Field on December 7, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Now it was time for Renegade. To give you an idea of how cold it was, the top of my beer had glazed over with ice. By the time Renegade finished, and the ensuing few plays happened, I was sweating. And let me tell you, it was colder than I can describe when the Steelers offense couldn’t muster up anything for 50 minutes.
With the crowd in a frenzy, Romo would drop back to pass on second down looking for Witten. The pass wouldn’t even come close and would soar right into the waiting arms of cornerback Deshea Townsend. He would take it back 25-yards for the game winning score.
Townsend is congratulated in the endzone by teammates after his winning interception.
The Cowboys would get the ball back with a chance to tie, but were quickly disposed of by the Steelers defense, and Roethlisberger would close the game out with a kneel down.
WATCH THE ENTIRE GAME BY CLICKING THE PHOTO BELOW:
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
