Dak Prescott's best play vs. the Steelers wasn't his game-winning TD pass

Dak Prescott had quite the wild night in the Dallas Cowboys' Week 5 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a bit of a baffling night for the highest-paid player in NFL history, as Prescott looked brilliant at times and downright dreadful at others.

And for quite a while, it seemed as if his mistakes, of which there were many, were going to cost the Cowboys a win, one they sorely needed after watching the Washington Commanders move to 4-1 with a dominant victory over the Cleveland Browns earlier in the day.

With the game tied 3-3 late in the first quarter, Dak led Dallas on a 56-yard drive into the red zone, only to fumble the football after taking a split sack from T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. Thankfully for America's Team, Pittsburgh's ensuing offensive drive resulted in a punt, so no damage was done.

With the Dallas defense putting on one of its best performances of the year, despite being without the services of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, the Cowboys held a 6-3 lead as Prescott again led the team into the red zone late in the second quarter, marching the offense 70 yards down the field in just over two minutes.

But once again, Dak coughed up the football, tossing an inexplicable interception on a pass intended for CeeDee Lamb at the Pittsburgh 2-yard line, which led to an intense moment between the two on the sidelines.

Again, the Steelers' ensuing drive led to zero points, but there were concerns, as this marked just the second time in Prescott's career that he had two red-zone turnovers in the same game.

The three-time Pro Bowler threw a second pick with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and this one proved to be costly, as the Steelers embarked on a 12-play, 63-yard drive that culminated with a Pat Freiermuth touchdown that gave Pittsburgh a 17-13 lead with just 4:56 to play.

Prescott, of course, then led the Cowboys on a 15-play, 70-yard drive and hit Jalen Tolbert with a four-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to give Dallas a 20-17 victory. But that game-winning TD pass was only made possible by what was Dak's best and most valuable play of the entire night: a simple fumble recovery.

Dak Prescott's fumble recovery saved the day for the Dallas Cowboys

Despite the rough night he'd had, Prescott was quite calm on the Cowboys' final drive. He never tried to do too much and never attempted an unnecessary big play, as there was plenty of time on the clock.

But when he needed to make the big throws, he did. After converting an important 3rd & 9 on a 10-yard pass to Jake Ferguson with 1:26 remaining, he and Hunter Luepke hooked up for an 18-yard gain on the very next play, which took the Cowboys down to the Steelers' 4-yard line.

Dak then scrambled for three yards down to the Pittsburgh 1-yard line, setting up the ensuing drama.

On 2nd-and-goal, Prescott handed the ball to Rico Dowdle, who attempted to jump over the goal line (he seemingly leaped far too early) and had the ball knocked out of his hands. But Dak, who could have easily stepped out of the play following the handoff, stayed in and made his best play of the night, as he jumped on the football immediately, leaving no doubt that possession would remain with Dallas.

Following an incomplete pass to Tolbert on third down, Prescott went in the same direction on fourth down and found him in the end zone for a four-yard score. One Brandon Aubrey extra point later, the Cowboys escaped with a three-point victory, improving to 3-2 to remain just one game back of Washington in the NFC East.

Dak ultimately completed 29 of 42 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns, but it was that fumble recovery that became the true highlight of the night.

Prescott and the Cowboys will now prepare to face another tough defensive test as they welcome the Detroit Lions to AT&T Stadium in Week 6.

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