Nov 10, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Dallas Cowboys lead the NFL in rushing at 165 yards per game and have the league’s leading rusher in rookie Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott has nearly 900 yards in the first eight games but the Cowboys also have arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the league.

Slowing that rushing attack will be the task of the Steelers, when they host the Cowboys (7-1) Sunday at Heinz Field.

Just how good is Dallas’ offensive line?

“We’ll see on Sunday,” Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt said with a hint of optimism in his voice.

Tuitt’s optimism might have something to do with having defensive end Cameron Heyward back in the lineup after a two-game absence.

In the two games Heyward missed because of a hamstring injury, the Steelers (4-4) allowed 5.56 yards per carry. In the six games he has played, that number falls to 3.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Included in that 3.5-yard average was a bounceback game last week in a 21-14 loss at Baltimore. Though the Steelers lost their third consecutive game, they allowed just 50 yards on 29 carries to the Ravens, an average of 1.7 yards per attempt. This followed two games in which the Steelers allowed a combined 362 rushing yards in losses to Miami and New England.

“We were more aggressive in terms of stopping the run, probably more so than anything else,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “In order for us to be a good defense, we have to stop the run. We have to shut the run down and make people one dimensional if we can. And we did a pretty good job of that last week.”

The Cowboys (7-1), however, offer a completely different kind of test.

Baltimore went into last week’s game averaging just under 90 yards rushing per game. The Cowboys not only run the ball well, they run a lot. Their 278 attempts is nearly 100 more than Pittsburgh’s 182.

That’s fine with Tuitt.

“They’re a physical football team,” Tuitt said. “I like teams like that, so it’s going to be a really good game for me and Cam to play against a team like this.”

Tuitt might want to be careful what he asks for.

Despite starting a rookie quarterback in Dak Prescott, the Cowboys haven’t been held under 100 yards on the ground in a game this season. They have had at least 168 yards rushing in each of their past six games.

If Dallas can generate that kind of ground game against the Steelers, who are allowing just under 100 rushing yards per game, Pittsburgh could be in for a long game.

“You always want that plan of trying to stop them from running the football, but nobody has,” admitted Butler. “This is a very good offensive line, probably the best offensive line I’ve seen in a couple years, three or four years. They have a very good, strong running back running the ball back there. I know he’s a rookie, but I’ll tell you what, he does a good job churning his legs when he gets contacted. He does a good job of keeping his pads low when he’s in traffic. He’s going to be a hard guy to get on the ground for us.”

But the Steelers feel like they might have gotten their edge back in terms of run defense with Heyward’s return last week.

“We’ve got to continue that,” Tuitt said. “It was a stepping stone. We can’t beat ourselves with the penalties and we have to use that as a stepping stone.”

Backup running back DeAngelo Williams underwent an unspecified minor surgery Wednesday to his left knee and will be out four to six weeks. … Center Maurkice Pouncey (thumb) missed practice again Thursday but is expected to play against the Cowboys. … Wide receiver Markus Wheaton (shoulder) was a limited participant Thursday after fully practicing Wednesday. … In addition to Williams and Pouncey, safety Jordan Dangerfield (groin) and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) also missed practice.