Pittsburgh narrowly escapes with win

ARLINGTON, TEXAS » Ben Roethlisberger threw all three of his touchdown passes after shrugging off a knee injury, rallying Pittsburgh to a 24- 19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and keeping the Steelers as the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

Pittsburgh is 8- 0 for the first time in the storied franchise’s history despite an upset bid from the Cowboys, who were the biggest underdogs they’ve been at home in at least 31 years.

Garrett Gilbert was the fourth different starting quarterback in five games for Dallas ( 2- 7), throwing a touchdown pass in his first career start and bringing some life to the offense for a team that lost its fourth straight game without Dak Prescott.

The Steelers erased a 10- point deficit in the fourth quarter with three scoring drives, the last two aided by Dallas penalties that kept drives alive. The go- ahead score was an 8- yarder to Eric Ebron with 2: 14 remaining.

The drive to the decisive score appeared to have stalled before it started when Roethlisberger threw incomplete on third down. But linebacker Jaylon Smith was called for hitting Roethlisberger’s facemask after the throw, and the 17- year veteran signaled as much to referee Tony Corrente.

Gilbert had a last chance in the final minute after coach Mike Tomlin tried to convert a fourth- and- 1 instead of kicking a short field goal for an eight- point lead. But his pass to the goal line as time expired was knocked away by Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Roethlisberger’s first touchdown came after he injured his left knee after a throw on a hit from defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. Limping and grabbing at the left knee between plays, Roethlisberger still completed four straight passes, capped by a 17- yarder to James Washington for Pittsburgh’s first points late in the first half.