Steelers vs Cowboys, 12/7

Today the Steelers host the Dallas Cowboys in a huge matchup with playoff implications. The Steelers have a one-game lead over the Ravens for the division lead and have a one-game lead over the Jets for #2 seed and a first-round bye. The Cowboys, on the other hand, lose the tie-breaker against the Falcons and would currently just miss the playoffs.

Here are the keys to the game for the Steelers according to the Sporting News:

1. Put Romo on alert: The Cowboys will have to pick their poison, deciding if they want to control Harrison from the right side or Woodley from the left. They will need to use an extra back or tight end on Harrison, who uses his speed, strength and low center of gravity to get around every top tackle in the league. He is also very disruptive, forcing two more fumbles on sacks against the Patriots.

2. T.O. stands for Take Out: And that's what the Steelers will try to do with Owens, the Cownboys big-play receiver. The Steelers are the only team in the league to allow just one pass longer than 40 yards, and even that came on a deflected pass. In the past six games, they have done a good job of having CB Ike Taylor shadow the other team's top receiver and rotate their coverages to take away the big play. Owens is just another receiver without the big play.

3. Beware of Ware: QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked just twice in the past 10 quarters and has done a good job stepping away from pressure when it has come. Also, the backs did a good job in blitz pickup against the Patriots, something at which they will have to be even better against the Cowboys. It will be up to RT Willie Colon and TE Matt Spaeth to keep Ware away from the pocket. [note: Ware will be a game-time decision.]

Game Prediction: Steelers 28, Cowboys 17