Elliott was inches away from keeping Tolbert out of the end zone, only to be beaten by Prescott by inches to the loose ball for a recovery that would have decided this game.

“I just hit it and I saw the ball out and I knew I couldn’t get to it,” Roberts said. “It is what it is.”

What it is now is a two-game losing streak that followed the three-game winning streak, leaving the Steelers at 3-2.

Those weren’t the only plays that were inches away from being performed.

On the Steelers’ first possession of the game, Justin Fields overthrew 6-foot-2 tight end Darnell Washington against 6-foot-2 safety Malik Hooker in the seam on a play that at least put the ball on the inside of the match would have brought. Dallas 10.

“I think I just made it too hot to be honest,” Fields said. “He’s a big body. 28 was pretty tight in coverage, but he didn’t have eyes back. So I probably could have turned it down. The worst that would have happened was a DPI or an incomplete pass, whatever it was So I just have to give him more of a chance to do that.”

Later in the game, Fields missed a wide-open Najee Harris down the sideline on a wheel route that would have resulted in a score had Fields seen it.

Defensively, Prescott completed a number of passes for first downs on third down, plays that the defense only had to tap on, none bigger than a 27-yard throw to CeeDee Lamb down the sideline between two defenders on third and 14.

But the Cowboys made just enough plays, one more even than the Steelers, to get the win.

“I have to get through traffic,” Elliott said. “They used a man-beater. The man-beater beat the man. I have to get through traffic. I cut someone else off, so I took his man, thinking I could get him. I should have gone over the top.” You win some, you lose some.

The good news is that the Steelers have been close enough over the last two weeks to win games where they weren’t playing their best. The bad news is that they didn’t take the action needed to secure the wins.

• Most disappointingly, the Steelers didn’t do a good job of doing the things that got them to their 3-0 start, especially playing free football.

The defense struggled to get off the field. The offense had trouble staying on it.

The Cowboys were 9 of 15 on third downs. The Steelers were 3 of 12.

Both teams also converted fourth downs. Dallas did that once, the Steelers did it twice.

But if you lose possession by a margin of two to one (in this case 10 to 5), it becomes difficult to win.

But even with that, just like last week’s loss in Indianapolis, the Steelers could win — if they played just one more time.

“If you look at this game, there wasn’t a lot of ebb and flow. It was a bit of a roller coaster,” Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. “We had good plays, bad plays. I think if you watch this game you’re kidding yourself. We had some golden opportunities. But that’s why you play a 17-game season. You learn from your mistakes and goes on again.” the horse. Tip your hat to them. They also took one out. It came down to one play. They were on the right side.”