Cowboys thwart JuJu Smith-Schuster's apparent Terrell Owens star celebration ode

JuJu Smith Schuster scored a big fourth-quarter touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.

He did not celebrate in the end zone.

The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver stood up immediately after the score and made a beeline toward midfield with the ball in tow.

What was he doing?

Randy Gregory had an idea. So did Antwaun Woods.

Gregory’s not having it

Both Cowboys defenders got in Smith-Schuster’s way during his post-score sprint. Gregory knocked the ball out of his hands.

Smith-Schuster picked it up but Woods, a 318-pound defensive tackle, flanked him as he started to run again. Smith-Schuster decided to veer off to join some of his teammates as Gregory got flagged for unnecessary roughness for the post-play contact.

Here’s a wider angle of the Cowboys defenders apparently attempting to defend their turf from excessive celebration.

Ode to T.O.?

Smith-Schuster appeared to have his sights set on the midfield star, a la Terrell Owens. He didn’t make it as far as Owens did in 2000 in one of the most infamous celebrations in NFL history. He also didn’t suffer the same fate as Owens, who got leveled by George Teague mid-celebration.

The Cowboys’ post-play defense was a success. But the result and the play favored Smith-Schuster, who celebrated on social media after the game.

Dallas fans would probably prefer to see that kind of effort before the score.

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