'Nothing Mystical!' Tomlin Analyzes Loss to Cowboys

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a heartbreaking 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football'' in NFL Week 5, as their defense faltered in the game’s final moments, allowing a late touchdown that sealed the victory for Dallas.

After battling through a defensive showdown, the Steelers couldn't stop Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott from finding wide receiver Jalen Tolbert for a game-winning 4-yard touchdown with just 20 seconds left in the game.

Want a deep analysis of this loss? Coach Mike Tomlin can do that, but ...

"There's a fine line between drinking wine and squashing grapes,'' Tomlin said, mentioning a late Dallas fumble that was up for grabs for both teams. "That's an example of it. ... There's nothing mystical about the outcome.''

Despite having taken a 17-13 lead late in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields to tight end Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers' offense couldn’t generate enough momentum throughout the game. Pittsburgh’s struggles on third downs (3-for-12) and lack of explosive plays kept them from putting the game out of reach. After the Cowboys received the ball down by four, Prescott orchestrated a methodical final drive, finding key targets in Jalen Tolbert and tight end Jake Ferguson to push Dallas down the field.

The Cowboys worked their way deep into Steelers territory, and a pivotal 4th-and-goal situation gave them the opportunity they needed. Prescott’s strike to Tolbert capped off a drive that saw Dallas (now 3-2) overcome penalties and a stout Pittsburgh defense.

Related: Cowboys Dirty Hit on Fields Leads to TD

Pittsburgh’s defense , which had been strong throughout much of the contest, was unable to close out the game when it mattered most.

"A lot of that had to do with Dak,'' Tomlin said. "A guy like Dak, man, you're in tight ballgames, he ends up with the ball last, you got a chance to lose.''

Meanwhile, the Steelers' offense only managed 233 total yards and failed to sustain drives, leaving the defense on the field for too long in critical moments. Pittsburgh's hopes to tie the game in the final seconds fell short, as the Steelers could not reach field goal range before time expired.

Steelers now sit 3-2 and now sit second in the AFC North following two straight losses as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders in their week 6 matchup.