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SCOUTING REPORT

Romo, Roethlisberger will be under pressure all gameThis is an excellent matchup between two of the better teams in the NFL. The Steelers made a statement in New England last week with another dominating defensive performance and a very solid overall offensive effort in which they scored 30 unanswered points. This is a very long week for Dallas to prepare after a decisive win over Seattle on Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is in very good shape for the postseason and is working on securing the No. 2 seed in the AFC, while Dallas is back in the thick of the NFC wild-card hunt. Of the Cowboys' four losses, two were with Brad Johnson under center, but Tony Romo (and Dallas' swagger) has returned. This should be an exceptional football game.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
DAL	9-7	362	365	6-2	3-5	3-3	7-5
PIT	12-4	347	223	6-2	6-2	6-0	10-2
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 60.0 2624 15 7

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 68.9 2867 17 10 Batch 50.0 17 0 0

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 123 572 4.7 4 Jones 54 353 6.5 1

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 134 689 5.1 4 Parker 67 218 3.3 0

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 35 679 19.4 7 Witten 54 481 8.9 1

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ward 63 798 12.7 5 Holmes 50 764 15.3 1

Full Player Stats: Dallas | Pittsburgh

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	DAL	345.0
	PIT	312.0
Yards Passing	DAL	236.8
	PIT	206.3
Yards Rushing	DAL	107.7
	PIT	105.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	DAL	294.3
	PIT	237.2
Pass Yds Allowed	DAL	187.7
	PIT	156.9
Rush Yds Allowed	DAL	106.6
	PIT	80.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Pittsburgh leads 2-0
Oct 17, 2004	DAL 20, @PIT 24

With Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger getting healthy, the playoff hopes of the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are looking up.

All they'll see this weekend, however, are a pair of defenses intent on taking them down.

Romo and Roethlisberger square off on Sunday in Pittsburgh, as Dallas pays its first visit to Heinz Field in a matchup of teams riding three-game winning streaks -- and two of the NFL's most sack-happy defenses.

Romo's broken right pinkie and Roethlisberger's separated right shoulder have received a lot of attention this season, and with good reason as the duo have two of the highest winning percentages among active starting quarterbacks.

Romo is 26-9 (74.3 percent) as a starter for Dallas (8-4) while Roethlisberger is 47-19 (71.2 percent) under center for the Steelers (9-3) since his rookie season in 2004.

Roethlisberger hasn't missed any time despite injuring his throwing shoulder in Pittsburgh's season opener, but Romo's pinkie cost him three games. Considering Brad Johnson went 1-2 and threw five interceptions as a starter, the Cowboys couldn't wait to get him back, and Romo has delivered.

Since his return on Nov. 16, Romo has guided the Cowboys to three straight wins. He was 22-of-34 for 331 yards on Thanksgiving Day in a 34-9 rout of Seattle that now has Dallas tied with Atlanta for the NFC's second wild-card spot.

"We had a rough patch and we're still not out of it," Romo said. "We've still got to go forward and keep putting together wins to get in the playoffs. Our confidence level is that on any given Sunday we can compete with the best of anybody."

Pittsburgh has also won three straight, and while its top-ranked defense has been largely responsible, so has some improved decision-making from Roethlisberger. He threw seven interceptions in three games from Oct. 26-Nov. 9 -- with the Steelers losing twice -- but he's had only one in the last three weeks.

He tossed two touchdowns for the first time since Oct. 19 on Sunday at New England, and Pittsburgh's defense forced five second-half turnovers to blow out the Patriots 33-10 and remain a game up on Baltimore in the AFC North.

"It was unbelievable," Roethlisberger said of the Steelers' defense, which let New England convert one of its 13 third-downs. "You get to the sidelines, put your coat on, your hat on and, all of a sudden, you're ready to go back on the field."

The Steelers sacked New England's Matt Cassel five times, giving them a league-leading 42 this season. With four games remaining, Pittsburgh is on pace to break the franchise-record of 55 sacks, set in 1994 and matched in 2001.

Linebacker James Harrison has been the leading force for Pittsburgh's pass rush, registering 14 sacks. He also leads the NFL with six forced fumbles, including two in less than five minutes of the third quarter last Sunday.

"Not to take it for granted, but that's what we've come to expect from him because that's what he's capable of," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh leads the NFL in scoring defense (14.2 points per game), total defense (238.0 yards per game), and is No. 1 individually against the run (71.2 ypg) and the pass (166.8).

The Cowboys have the NFL's ninth-best total defense (296.8 ypg), but they're just two sacks behind the Steelers' league-high total. Linebacker DeMarcus Ware had three sacks against the Seahawks, and leads the NFL with 15.

Roethlisberger, meanwhile, has been sacked 33 times, tied for second-most in the league, but it's not certain Ware will get the opportunity to add to that total. He sprained his left knee late against Seattle, and wasn't expected to practice most of the week.

Dallas coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday he was "hopeful" Ware could go on Sunday.

Even if Ware can play, the Cowboys could have a difficult time with their footing. Snow is expected on Sunday on the notoriously shoddy grass playing surface at Heinz Field.

One Cowboy who will be on the field for the first time since Oct. 12 is cornerback Adam Jones, who missed six games for violating the league's player conduct policy. Jones should give a boost to a thin Dallas secondary, and he's also expected to return punts.

"He can do all the things on the football field that you ask a man to do," defensive tackle Tank Johnson said. "We're just excited about him coming back and continuing to do better."

Dallas, though, will be without running back Marion Barber meaning rookie Tashard Choice will make his first NFL start.

Barber dislocated his right little toe in the first half against Seattle, and did not practice all week. Choice, from Georgia Tech, replaced Barber and rushed for a career-high 57 yards on 11 carries.

Pittsburgh is also expected to get a boost in its secondary. Cornerback Bryant McFadden hasn't played since breaking his forearm on Oct. 19, but he should return on Sunday.

Running back Willie Parker, meanwhile, has been battling a knee injury throughout the season, and though he's carried the ball 30 times in the past two weeks, backup Mewelde Moore has seen plenty of time as well. Tomlin expects that to continue against the Cowboys, who haven't allowed a rushing touchdown during their three-game winning streak.

"Mewelde is a good player, and he's proved that he's capable of helping us win," Tomlin said. "We all know what Willie's capable of doing."

The Steelers and Cowboys last played in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium in 1997, and their only meeting since came in Dallas in 2004 during Roethlisberger's rookie season. He went 21-of-25 for 193 yards with two touchdowns in the Steelers' 24-20 win.

Sources: Newman avoids punishment for tiff

Sources: Newman won't be punished for altercation with Campo

Questions about Williams continue to swirl

Redskins' LaRon Landry calls out Boys WR Roy Williams: 'He was scared.'

Cowboys brushing off Campo-Newman incident

Cowboys coach, player won't discuss sideline exchange

Cowboys' Phillips says Romo feeling a lot better

Quarterback spent most of Monday's media access period getting treatment

Greg Ellis officially an ex-Cowboy

As expected, the Cowboys weren't able to find a team willing to trade for Greg Ellis, so they released him today.

Already interest in Greg Ellis

When news broke of the Cowboys' release of Greg Ellis earlier today, the phone of Ellis' agent, James D. Williams, started to ring from interested parties.

Money is no longer flowing for Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean GM broke. Or Michael Vick broke. Or even Tom Hicks broke. But it certainly appears as though Jerry is paying more attention to the bottom line when it comes to the Cowboys than he's ever done in the past.

Kitna knows his job with Dallas Cowboys is be ready if Romo isn't

By MAC ENGEL CARROLLTON - Jerry Jones was just kidding, but the sad part of what he said a few days before the 2009 NFL Draft was true.'Last year we had one quarterback who was hurt and another quarterback who was playing like he was hurt,' Jones said.The comment drew uncomfortable laughter, and Jones immediately recognized what he had just ...

Dallas Cowboys have plenty to prove in 2009

Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.