FIRST QUARTER
- Mirror, Mirror…

Both Dallas and Pittsburgh are 7-6. Both teams are in top ten in passing offense and defense. Both teams are in the bottom third in rushing offense. Both teams have a double-digit negative turnover margin and each team has a big-time threat at the wide receiver position along with question marks on the offensive line. For Dallas to win this game, they will have to overcome the major difference between the two teams which is the running defense. While Dallas gives up almost 120 yards a game, the Steelers give up just over 90 yards a game. With DeMarco Murray’s re-emergence as a key catalyst to the Cowboys offense, Dallas must be able to have productivity on the ground, while making the Steelers one dimensional to have a chance to win.

SECOND QUARTER
- Speed limit…

Much like last week with A.J. Green, the Cowboys face another dynamic, big play receiver in Mike Wallace. Wallace has been the speed guy for Pittsburgh since he came into the league as evident by the fact that 19 of his 32 total touchdowns have been over 30 yards. Much of the success of the Cowboys defense will be decided by how Mike Wallace performs. If Dallas can hold him to something like the three catches for forty-four yards and no touchdown performance that A.J. Green had last week, they have an excellent chance of winning this showdown.

THIRD QUARTER
- Find the kryptonite…

These Steelers will not remind you of the late 70′s Steel Curtain. They do not have any individual player at or near the top of any major statistic. What they are doing is playing defense extremely well as a team. They are first against the pass, fifth against the run and seventh in points allowed. In four of their six losses, Pittsburgh has given up over 26 points, however in their seven wins, they average giving up only 15 which includes never giving up more than twenty in any one game. For Dallas to be successful, they cannot fall behind early or big as Pittsburgh’s defense clearly is not one that will bend if they are playing with a lead.

FOURTH QUARTER
- The hangover

For almost an entire week now, the players on this team have had to deal with the emotional roller coaster of losing two teammates, playing a game immediately after getting the news, going to the memorial service for Jerry Brown and preparing for another must win game. Even though the Cowboys handled this unimaginable tragedy extremely well last week, it is imperative that they are able to compartmentalize what they are going through and avoid any emotional let down.

My pick for the game… Steelers 21, Cowboys 27.

On to the picks for Week 15, a late push was necessary to avoid a losing record last week. I was wrong to think that Philadelphia would cover the five point spread on Thursday night so I am already in a whole for this week,

LAST WEEK: 8-8 (.500)
SEASON TOTAL: 103-105 (.495)
THIS WEEK: 0-1 (.000)

-3 GREEN BAY at Chicago
N.Y. Giants at ATLANTA -1.5
+3.5 TAMPA BAY at New Orleans
Minnesota at ST. LOUIS -3
+7 WASHINGTON at Cleveland
+7 JACKSONVILLE at Miami
-2.5 DENVER at Baltimore
+8.5 INDIANAPOLIS at Houston
+3.0 CAROLINA at San Diego
Seattle at BUFFALO +5.5
Detroit at ARIZONA +6.5
Pittsburgh at DALLAS +1.5
Kansas City at OAKLAND -3
+5.5 SAN FRANCISCO at New England
+1.5 N.Y. JETS at Tennessee

Dec 8, 2011; Pittsburgh , PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) stretches for the end zone past Cleveland Browns Sheldon Brown (24) during the second half of the game at Heinz Field. Wallace was ruled down short of the end zone. Pittsburgh won the game, 14-3. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

The disgruntled wideout in question is fourth year all-pro receiver Mike Wallace. Wallace is a current hold-out refusing to sign a one year $2.7 million tender in-lue of a long term deal. And it appeared the Steelers were willing to comply with his demands until the team dropped a massive bombshell this week.

The Steelers signed non-holdout wideout Antonio Brown to a monster five-year $42.5 million deal. Although this doesn’t entirely close the door on Wallace resigning with the team, the door is certainly swinging in that direction. Rumor has it the disgruntled wideout could be had for as little as a fourth round pick.

The Cowboys certainly have the need at wideout with the vacancy left by now Jacksonville Jaguar Laurent Robinson. With concerns over Dez Bryant’s character cropping up again in the past couple of weeks and Miles Austin’s injury history, getting a all-pro wideout for that price should be music to Jerry’s ears. Especially when you consider Dallas lost out on Baylor wideout Josh Gordon in this month’s NFL Supplemental Draft, who went to the Cleveland Browns for a second round pick. Dallas allegedly offered anywhere from a second to a third round pick for the prospect.

The Cowboys don’t only have a need at the position, but the assets to trade for him. Disgruntled corner Mike Jenkins has been the subject of trade talks for months. He has also asked for a trade and is almost certainly gone after this season. And don’t forget that both running back Felix Jones and linebacker Anthony Spencer are in the final year of their contracts. At this point, many Dallas fans may think a straight up trade for Dez Bryant wouldn’t be out of the question. Hopefully,  the Dallas front office learned it’s lesson about holding onto players who want out from the Tashard Choice debacle of last season.

Wallace is speed burner with a career average of 18.7 yards per catch. In his three year career, he has amassed 171 receptions for 3,206 yards and 24 touchdowns. Wallace was named to the Pro Bowl in 2011. He was ranked #47 in the Top 100 NFL players in 2012. And being from New Orleans, coming to Dallas could be a bit of a homecoming for the young and talented receiver.

The only drawback could be that Cowboys are pretty cap stricken themselves. If Dallas did attempt to sign Wallace to a long term deal, it would have to be a contract that was extremely cap friendly. According to ESPN Correspondent John Clayton, Wallace rejected an offer of $9 million a year from the Steelers. At that price point, it might even be too rich for Jerry’s blood.