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Cowboys begin tough December against Steelers

Dec 2, 2008 - 9:21 PM Dallas (8-4) at Pittsburgh (9-3) 4:15 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Dallas Cowboys have faded down the stretch in Decembers past, but any type of slip up this season could cost them dearly.

A brutal schedule will not help them.

Tony Romo and the revitalized Cowboys face the league's top-ranked defense Sunday when they square off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game with enormous playoff implications.

Dallas, which hasn't had a winning December since 2001, stumbled to a 1-2 finish last season and the lackluster play continued into the playoffs, where they were upset by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

An injury to Romo this season caused them to lose two of three and jeopardize their playoff chances, but Dallas has won three straight since the two-time Pro Bowler's return from a fractured pinkie.

As expected, the offense has come to life as Romo as gotten healthier, putting up 69 points in the last two games. Romo threw for 331 yards and three TDs in a 34-9 rout of Seattle on Thanksgiving Day.

Still, at 8-4, the Cowboys are currently on the outside looking in at the postseason. Dallas trails Atlanta (8-4) due to a slightly better conference winning percentage, and closes the season with games against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, the Giants and Eagles.

"I think somebody in the locker room said last week, if the season ended today, we're still left out (of the playoffs)," said tight end Jason Witten, who caught nine passes for 115 yards and a score in the win over Seattle.

"You've got to have that mentality and understand the challenges that are ahead. It's still going to be even tougher as December rolls around."

It could be even tougher against the tenacious Steelers' defense if running back Marion Barber and linebacker DeMarcus Ware are forced to sit this one out. Barber suffered a dislocated pinkie toe and Ware hyperextended his knee on Thursday.

Both players are considered day-to-day. Barber suffered the injury before halftime and had just one carry in the second half before leaving for good. Ware had three sacks to push his total to a league-leading 15 before departing.

The Cowboys will get Adam "Pacman" Jones back. He returns from a second suspension following a fight with his team-appointed body guard.

The Steelers, who are allowing a league-low 238 yards per game, had five sacks and five takeaways in 33-10 win over New England. Pittsburgh leads the league with 40 sacks and is allowing just 14.2 points per game.

"It was unbelievable," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of the defense. "You just get to the sideline, put your coat on, your hat on, and, all of a sudden, you're ready to go back on the field."

This is the first meeting between the teams since 2004, when as a rookie, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a 24-20 comeback win in Dallas.