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It had been since 2019 that the National Football League had a pre-season match. In 2021, with the official preseason reduced from four to three games, the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers were left with four exhibition games. This fourth game was the annual Hall of Fame game that takes place in Canton, OH to kick off the preseason.
With both teams bursting with potential, their veterans were just spectators on Thursday night, but that didn’t mean there weren’t players fighting for their professional lives.
The Steelers were given the ball to start the game, meaning the offense took hold, although Ben Roethlisberger and several others were watching instead of playing. With Mason Rudolph in the middle, the Steelers had a balanced approach that took them to Dallas territory. But after several runs from Najee Harris and a third reception from Chase Claypool, Rudolph’s transfer to Claypool was dropped and recovered by Dallas.
With short ground, the Cowboys offense was able to create a push along the offensive line, and that ultimately put them in a first baseline situation. However, the pass rush from Pittsburgh, primarily Alex Highsmith, stalled practice and forced a 29-yard field goal.
Hunter Niswander’s kick was good, giving the Cowboys a 3-0 lead.
The Steelers’ ensuing practice saw the Steelers land a first down with a run from Harris, but a third pass passed through the hands of Chase Claypool, resulting in Pressley Harvin’s first move as a professional.
Dallas took over on their own 10-yard line and by the end of the first quarter the drive had shifted to Pittsburgh territory.
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