Atlanta Falcons send Dallas Cowboys home with 27-21 loss. Next Stop: New Orleans

The Atlanta Falcons defeated the visiting Dallas Cowboys 27-21 on Sunday afternoon in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The much bigger story was how Atlanta’s defense held Dallas to just three points during the first and third quarters.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said his team is still searching for “greatness” and “It’s always nice to play together.”

“The sky’s the limit.”

Ahead 14-10 at halftime, Atlanta took advantage of a short field following a Cowboys turnover-on-downs and scored their third touchdown of the game to go ahead 21-10. On the play, Ray-Ray McCloud found some room in the Dallas end zone and Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins found MCCloud on his third touchdown pass of the game to that point. Cousins came into the game with 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions and just over 2,100 passing yards on the season. 

The third quarter ended with Atlanta’s defense almost holding the Cowboys scoreless before kicker Brandon Aubrey made a 57-yard field goal to bring his team within eight points at 21-13. That made two quarters, the first and the third, that the defense didn’t allow a touchdown. In a close game that made all the difference.  

The fourth quarter began with a long drive capped by a Tyler Allgeier touchdown run and filled with runs and catches by Bijan Robinson. Atlanta went ahead 27-13 early in the quarter by going to their best offensive threat over and over again. Robinson, the Falcons leading rusher, led the team with seven receptions. It ended with the Cowboys picking up eight points on a touchdown and two-point conversion, but to no avail. With 1:24 remaining in the game, Atlanta ran out the clock on the Cowboys.

Back on the defensive side of the ball, Atlanta came into the game with just six sacks this season. Before the first quarter was over there would be two more sacks added to the tally as the Falcons defense held the Cowboys to just three first-quarter points. Dallas wouldn’t score its first offensive touchdown until the five-minute mark of the second quarter when Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott found running back Rico Dowdle in the end zone after nearly being sacked for the third time. Dowdle caught the ball on his back and brought Dallas within four points of Atlanta at 14-10. 

The Falcons offense put together successful drives on its second possession, a touchdown pass from Cousins to receiver Drake London, and on its fourth possession of the first half, another touchdown pass for Cousins, this time to receiver Darnell Mooney. The touchdown was Mooney’s fifth of the season and Cousins’ 16th.

Key Stats:

The Atlanta Falcons moved to 3-3 at home following the win. They remain undefeated on the road this season.

Bijan Robinson went over 140 total yards of offense following consecutive receptions in the fourth quarter. After the game, Falcons head coach said Robinson is an example of what it means to be a Falcon. “He just does everything,” said Morris.

Robinson didn’t score, but found a way to lead the team in receptions and rushing on Sunday. On Robinson’s play, Cousins, who used his time with Dalvon Cook in Minnesota as an example, said, “He’s a big deal. I see a running back as a running back, and I also see them as a receiver.” Sunday was the 43rd time Cousins threw for three or more touchdowns.

Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush came into the game early in the fourth quarter for Prescott, who had hamstring issues. Rush completed one of his first three passing attempts for three yards.

What’s Next:

The Atlanta Falcons will travel to New Orleans to play the Saints on Sunday, Nov. 10. A victory in New Orleans would give Atlanta a 5-0 record in the NFC South and an undisputed division crown. A victory over the Saints would also mean a sweep of both New Orleans and Tampa this season. 

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