Brister Helps Steelers Defeat Cowboys, 24-21

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have found a quarterback Sunday.

Bubby Brister, a third-year pro from Northeast Louisiana, made his first start since 1986, and helped the Steelers beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-21.

Brister, improvising several key passes when his protection broke down, completed 13 of 27 passes for 214 yards and had a hand in all the Pittsburgh scoring as the Steelers withstood 2 touchdown passes by the Cowboys’ Steve Pelluer.

Earnest Jackson scored on runs of 15 and 29 yards and Brister’s scrambling completions set up his own 1-yard touchdown run.

“Bubby’s going to make things happen,” Steeler Coach Chuck Noll said. “There was a lot of pressure on him, but he made big plays and got us out of some holes, and I’m very happy with his performance.”

Brister beat out Todd Blackledge, acquired in a trade with Kansas City, and former UCLA quarterback Steve Bono for the starting job. The Steelers traded away Mark Malone, their starting quarterback of 4 years, to the San Diego Chargers.

Pelluer, who completed 24 of 37 passes for 289 yards with 2 interceptions, drove the Cowboys from their own 30 to a third-and-2 at the Steelers’ 4 with 3:14 left. But his pass intended for tight end Doug Cosbie was picked off in the end zone by linebacker David Little.

Luis Zendejas missed a 49-yard field goal attempt with 44 seconds left after the Cowboys drove to a first down at the Pittsburgh 23-yard line. Pelluer was sacked twice and threw an incomplete pass before the failed kick.

With the Steelers leading, 17-14, Brister passed to Louis Lipps for 11 and 20 yards, and to Charles Lockett for 15 yards before Jackson burst up the middle untouched with 14:53 left, completing an 86-yard drive.

Pelluer, who replaced Danny White as the Cowboys’ quarterback in their next-to-last game last season, marched Dallas on a 60-yard scoring drive, capped by his 8-yard throw to Ray Alexander on a third-and-4 play.

Pelluer made it 17-14 earlier with a 35-yard touchdown throw to rookie Michael Irvin.

A moment of silence was observed before the game for Steelers owner and founder Art Rooney Sr., who died Aug. 25 at age 87. The Steelers wore commemorative patches and the Cowboys wore helmet stickers in Rooney’s honor.