PITTSBURGH — Dez Bryant headed up the visitors' tunnel at Heinz Field on Sunday evening with a somber look on his face. The Cowboys had just wrapped up their biggest win of the season, a 35-30 come-from-behind victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. But other things were on the star receiver's mind.

Bryant's father, MacArthur Hatton, died of an undisclosed illness Saturday.

Bryant responded by turning in his best game since Week 10 in 2014.

A week after catching only one pass for 19 yards, Bryant caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown.

"He was out there balling for his dad," wide receiver Cole Beasley said.

Bryant didn't always have the best relationship with his father. He had a rough childhood. But none of that mattered Sunday.

The grieving wide receiver did not talk to the media after the game. Several reporters passed along their condolences as he made his way through the locker room. He never once flashed his typical post-victory smile.

"I'm going to say something that he may not say," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "If he would want to be anyplace in the world after finding out he just lost his daddy, he would want to be around these people in this locker room and their love. He was in the right spot today."

Teammates said Bryant was emotional the entire day.

His biggest play came late in the third quarter with the Cowboys at midfield, looking at third-and-11, trailing 18-16. Facing single coverage, like he did for most of the game, Bryant sprinted past Pittsburgh rookie cornerback Artie Burns down the left sideline.

Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott avoided pressure before stepping up and unleashing a 50-yard bomb. Bryant juggled the ball for a second before securing it and crossing the goal line.

Bryant paused for a second in the back of the end zone, pointed to the sky and then blew a kiss. Tears started to flow as he fell to his knees. Several teammates consoled him.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hugs Dez Bryant after they hooked up for a touchdown Sunday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

One of those players was Prescott, who said he talked to Bryant earlier in the day about what he's been through since his mother's death.

"Your father, he is watching you," Prescott told Bryant. "He's got the best seat in the house. I told him to go out there and honor him today. And Dez did exactly that."

The team honored Bryant in the postgame locker room by giving him the game ball. Tears flowed again.

"It was emotional," Beasley said. "There were a lot of guys with tears in here. We definitely feel for him. And all the stuff he's been through in his life, he's still persevering every day.

"It just shows who he is. He's been fighting through stuff all his life. No matter what happens to him, he's going to keep grinding."

Over the last seven seasons, Bryant and Jason Witten have become like brothers. The team captain talked for several minutes Sunday night about how proud he is of the man Bryant has become.

"To see that growth as an individual and who he is, he's a rock for that and for his family and for his Dad," Witten said. "I know his Dad is proud of him, and to see Dez overcome any obstacles he's had in his life and to be the man he is today, as a big brother, I'm proud of him tonight."

Twitter: @jonmachota