Inside Jalen Tolbert’s ‘miraculous’ game-winning touchdown for Cowboys: ‘It was special’
PITTSBURGH — At 1:20 a.m., Dallas Cowboys left guard — and, due to an injury, left tackle Sunday night — Tyler Smith stood in front of his locker with an expression of relief. Less than 30 minutes ago, Smith and the Cowboys trailed the Pittsburgh Steelers with 26 seconds left in regulation. They faced fourth-and-goal. The game hung in the balance.
After everything — a weather delay that pushed the start of the game back about 90 minutes, two costly interceptions, a fumble in the red zone, numerous penalties, etc. — the Cowboys had a chance to walk away with a win. Quarterback Dak Prescott dropped back to the 15-yard line before throwing a pass to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert , running from right to left in the end zone.
With a defender draped on his back, Tolbert made the catch. For the Cowboys, it was euphoria.
"Bro, it was miraculous," Smith said. "I mean, JT literally sprained his (expletive) nuts — excuse me, sorry guys — sprained his nuts the play before, comes back, makes the game-winner. Unbelievable."
Perhaps it wasn't quite "miraculous" but the play, and the 20-17 win , was certainly improbable. Consider the circumstances:
On second-and-goal from the 1-yard line, running back Rico Dowdle carried the ball up the middle and Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts popped the ball loose, sending it backward, where Prescott was alertly able to beat Steelers safety Miles Killebrew to the ball on the ground. The Cowboys called timeout.
On third-and-goal, Prescott fell victim to his own indecision. He saw a potential opening up the middle to run it but by the time he realized he didn't have it, he threw off balance, and off target, to Tolbert in the back of the end zone. At this point, according to ESPN analytics, the Steelers had a 75.2 percent chance to win the game.
As the Cowboys approached fourth down, a side plot was unfolding with Tolbert. He got hurt on the third-down incompletion.
"It was a low ball, I thought I could get underneath it," Tolbert said. "It ended up taking a one-hopper to the private (laughs). I couldn't breathe for a second but once they called a timeout, I knew I had to go back in the game. My team needed me. That's the moments I work hard for. I wasn't going to be out in that moment."
But that's the thing. Tolbert was going to be out in that moment, no matter how much he wanted to be in the game. Tolbert was slow to get up from the third-down incompletion.
"Tolbert may have to come out of the game here," Mike Tirico said during the broadcast with 23 seconds left on the play clock. "Got to make a decision one way or the other, play clock is running down."
When Tirico made his comment, Tolbert was waffling between staying in the huddle and going to the sideline, still visibly in discomfort. He went out to the far right of the formation after breaking the huddle, struggling to get into his stance. The Cowboys were forced to use their second timeout.
"I'm not sure Tolbert can catch the ball," Cris Collinsworth said.
"You try to fight through it but you need a guy that can run an impactful route," Tirico added.
After the 30-second timeout, Tolbert remained on the sideline. Rookie wide receiver Ryan Flournoy came into the game in place of Tolbert and lined up wide to the left. Jalen Brooks lined up wide right and CeeDee Lamb was inside Brooks in the slot. After Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got a look at the Cowboys' formation, he called his final timeout.
That set the stage for Tolbert, who reentered the game after Pittsburgh's timeout.
Tolbert was a partial first read for Prescott on the play. Tolbert and Lamb were running crossing routes, Tolbert from the right side and Lamb from the left. Whichever receiver safety Minkah Fitzpatrick went with, Prescott had to throw it to the other guy.
"The play we ran is one of our most comfortable plays. ... Just wanted one more opportunity at it," Prescott said. "It was special to get it back to Tolbert. He did a great job of coming across the field, getting open. Offensive line did a great job on that play of allowing me to stay in the pocket. The persistence and resilience of the team just really showed on that drive."
For Tolbert, in particular, the drive capped off a special game and a meaningful journey. With Brandin Cooks being placed on injured reserve this week, all eyes shifted to Tolbert. The 2022 third-round pick out of South Alabama had a well-documented tough rookie season. He made strides in his second year but his role remained limited, filling in as the No. 4 receiver behind Lamb, Cooks and Michael Gallup . The platform for his progress in 2023 came on special teams.
With Gallup gone, Tolbert came into the 2024 season as the team's No. 3 receiver. He had a great training camp. Even as the Cowboys stumbled out of the gate this season, Tolbert had some shining moments, particularly with contested catches. Cooks' absence opened up a new opportunity — a sudden elevation to the No. 2 role. Tolbert had prepped for this chance. He stayed on-call during the offseason any time Prescott needed a receiver to run routes. He carefully studied the playbook in his free time, watched film and made the most of every opportunity.
Against the Steelers, Tolbert did a little bit of everything. He had Dallas' longest play — a 48-yard catch down the left sideline . He led the Cowboys in targets (10), catches (seven) and receiving yards (87). For his touchdown to come the way it did was the cherry on top.
"I've been working for years for this," Tolbert said. "Waiting on my opportunity, waiting on a time where I would be able to get more offensive snaps or get more targets, whatever it may be. Whenever that moment comes, you've got to be able to be ready for it. ... It's just about going out and showing the world."
(Top photo of Jalen Tolbert: Joe Sargent / )
