Ben DiNucci Gets The Bad News...He'll Start Against The Steelers Defense

Cowboys rookie quarterback Ben DiNucci, who ripped Tony Romo for a 2014 performance while in high school before turning in his own horrible performance against the Eagles, received very bad news Tuesday. DiNucci will start this week against the Steelers because Andy Dalton has been placed on the NFL's COVID list.

"The Dallas Cowboys will be without quarterback Andy Dalton for a second straight game but not because of the concussion he sustained two weeks ago," ESPN's Cowboys reporter Todd Archer tweeted. Dalton will be placed on the reserve/COVID 19 list on Tuesday, which will knock him out of Sunday’s game."

Pray for Ben DiNucci. Light a candle. Request prayers on Facebook. Get a prayer text list going. Do whatever it takes to help this rookie survive what's coming his way Sunday at Jerry's World. The Steelers defense is coming off a game against the Ravens in which it forced four turnovers and made Lamar Jackson look silly.

 

Now these guys get to embarrass the Cowboys rookie quarterback who figured he'd never see game action in 2020. DiNucci probably figured he would keep his head down, lay low, cash a few checks, listen to the coaches, put together a nice chunk of money for a house down payment, max out his 401k. Well, rookie, there's bad news. You're about to face the NFL's No. 1 team in sacks (30). And the NFL's No. 1 team in QB hurries -- 15% of the time. And a team that is going to blitz him relentlessly (2nd in the NFL with blitzes 42.3% of the time).

It gets worse for DiNucci. The Steelers have 96 QB pressures, which is 15 more than second-place Tampa Bay with 81. Add it all up and it'll be appointment TV at 4:25 Sunday on CBS.