Game of the Weekend

     Going into this Sunday, two teams that still have playoff hopes, will battle in Arlington Texas. The Dallas Cowboys will host the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday in Cowboys Stadium at 4:25 eastern time. Both teams have a lot riding on this game, and both teams really need to win out to secure a playoff spot. However, problems on and off the field are setting each team back.

     When you look at the Cowboys, they overcame a loss of a teammate last week to get a big and emotional win last week over the Cincinnati Bengals. With under ten minutes left and being down by nine points, Tony Romo threw a dart to Dez Bryant for a Cowboys touchdown. The Defense would stop the Bengals offense, and give the ball back to the Cowboys. A last second field goal by kicker Dan Bailey would push the Cowboys to a 7-6 record and keep their playoff hopes alive.

     The Steelers suffered a disappointing loss to a Chargers team who lost four straight games before coming into Pittsburgh. The Steelers were down the entire game and it really seemed like they didn't have a dog in the fight after being down by twenty-four points late in the third quarter. A win by the Steelers would have been huge for them seeing how the Ravens and the Bengals suffered a loss last Sunday. Instead, they take a huge step back in Ben Roethlisberger's return.

     If the playoffs started right now, the Steelers (due to Bengals win Thursday Night) and the Cowboys would not have a playoff spot. However, if the Steelers were to win on Sunday, they would win back their sixth seed and play the Bengals for it in week sixteen. The Cowboys need a few more things to fall in their favor to get a wildcard spot. Now if that isn't enough to think about going into this game, just wait.

     Both teams are suffering from injuries. The Steelers are really down on defensive backs which makes it more impressive that they are the number one defense in passing. However, the absence of cornerback Ike Taylor has really shown. Now the Steelers are relying on their depth at the position. The way the Steelers approach defensively is different this year than years past. They have not been getting to the quarterback like we are use to seeing. On the other side of the ball, the Steelers are looking to get first round guard David DeCastro back this week to make his NFL debut. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is suspended from the team after not showing up to last week's loss to the Chargers. Mendenhall is a free agent after the 2012 season.

     The Cowboys are extremely thin on the defensive line. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff is out after undergoing sports hernia surgery this week. Plus defensive lineman Josh Brent is being held for manslaughter. On the other side of the ball, Dez Bryant has a fractured left index finger, but says he will play through the injury and wait on surgery. 

It's now or never for both teams if they want to reach the playoffs. Unfortunately, which ever team falls on Sunday, their playoff hopes most likely will too.