In an intense NFC showdown, at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon the Atlanta Falcons held off a late-game surge from the Dallas Cowboys, securing a 27-21 victory and building momentum as they look ahead to next week.
First Half Recap
The Cowboys struck first, with kicker Brandon Aubrey nailing a 34-yard field goal with 9:36 left in the opening quarter, putting Dallas up 3-0. But Atlanta quickly responded, as quarterback Kirk Cousins found wide receiver Drake London for a 9-yard touchdown with 5:27 remaining in the first quarter, giving Atlanta a 7-3 lead. Unfortunately, London suffered a hip injury later in the quarter and was listed as questionable to return.
In the second quarter, Dallas’s defense briefly gained momentum when defensive lineman Carl Lawson sacked Cousins, forcing a fumble that Cowboys’ safety Donovan Wilson recovered at the Dallas 33-yard line. Dallas capitalized on the turnover, with Dak Prescott connecting with Rico Dowdle for a 3-yard touchdown pass to close the gap, making it 13-10.
Third Quarter Surge
Atlanta started the third quarter strong, with Kirk Cousins finding Ray-Ray McCloud on a short right pass. McCloud dashed into the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown, extending the Falcons’ lead to 21-13.
However, both teams faced injury setbacks. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott exited with hamstring and hand injuries, bringing in backup Cooper Rush. Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, who had previously recorded two tackles and a sack on Prescott, also left the game with an Achilles strain. This injury comes after Jarrett’s ACL tear last season, which sidelined him for the final nine games.
Fourth Quarter Wrap-Up
Tyler Allgeier added to Atlanta’s lead early in the fourth quarter, breaking through on a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 27-13. But the Cowboys still had some fight left.
Late Dallas Rally Falls Short
In a last-ditch effort, backup quarterback Cooper Rush led Dallas down the field, hitting Jalen Tolbert for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:32 left. The Cowboys successfully completed a two-point conversion on a pass to CeeDee Lamb, narrowing the score to 27-21. Despite this late push, the Falcons’ defense held strong, securing a well-fought victory.
Postgame Reactions
Atlanta’s head coach Raheem Morris praised his players, especially the substitutes stepping up for injured stars Drake London and Grady Jarrett. “Looking forward to getting those guys rested and recovered, getting them back as soon as possible,” Morris said. “But I’m very proud of the guys that were able to step up and fill roles in those shoes.”
On Cousins’ performance, Morris highlighted his leadership, saying, “He’s just a playmaker… More importantly, I’m more proud of his leadership that he’s been able to show throughout the whole process.”
Bijan Robinson’s versatility was also a key talking point. “He does everything,” Morris said. “Running the football, blocking on protection, catching the ball out of the backfield… he is the definition of ‘What is a Falcon.’”
Cousins, too, was pleased with his teammates’ resilience. “It felt like a game we were going to have to grind out,” he said. “Teammates stepped up substantially in Drake’s absence… and now we’ve just got to keep building, keep stacking and it’s always good to drive home now after a win.”
This victory boosts the Falcons’ season outlook and emphasizes the effectiveness of their balanced offense, powered by key performances from Cousins and Allgeier. Atlanta’s defense also deserves credit for stifling Prescott and keeping the Cowboys at bay throughout the game.
Next Up: The Falcons head to New Orleans to take on their division rivals, the Saints, on Sunday, Nov. 10, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
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