The Pittsburgh Steelers scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 16-3 in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio.

The game kicked off the 2021 NFL preseason.

Running back Kalen Ballage rushed for a score and wide receiver Tyler Simmons caught another in a game predictably marred by sloppy play. The Cowboys fumbled four times, losing two, while the Steelers fumbled three times, losing one. There was one missed extra point and three missed field goals, two by the Cowboys' Hunter Niswander.

The Cowboys took a 3-0 lead into halftime on Niswander's 29-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Ballage capped a five-play, 33-yard drive with a 4-yard plunge to give the Steelers a 6-3 lead at 10:48 of the third. Sam Sloman missed the extra point.

Sloman connected on a 48-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 9-3 lead.

Joshua Dobbs, Pittsburgh's third quarterback of the night, capped the scoring with a 5-yard pass to Simmons in the fourth quarter for the 16-3 lead.

Mason Rudolph started the night under center for Pittsburgh. He completed 6 of 9 passes for 84 yards. Garrett Gilbert started for the Cowboys, completing 9 of 13 passes for 104 yards.

Ballage rushed five times for 19 yards. Pittsburgh first-round draft pick Najee Harris rushed seven times for 22 yards. Chase Claypool caught three passes for 62 yards for Pittsburgh.

Second-year rusher Rico Dowdle led the Cowboys with eight carries for 43 yards. Malik Turner caught four passes for 47 yards.

--Field Level Media