Falcons Close Preseason With 31-13 Loss to Cowboys

The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up their preseason slate with a 31-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Friday night, August 22, 2025. It was a night where Dallas controlled the tempo, and Atlanta couldn’t quite match the execution on either side of the ball.

Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton made his case for a roster spot, delivering one of the best performances of the evening. Milton accounted for two touchdowns—throwing one and running another in—as he led Dallas to multiple scoring drives that put the Falcons’ defense on its heels early and often.

For the Falcons, Easton Stick started under center but struggled to generate consistency. Atlanta’s offense found itself stalling against a Cowboys defense that applied steady pressure, forced quick decisions, and limited big-play opportunities. The Falcons’ lone touchdown came in the second half, but by then, Dallas had already built a comfortable lead and never looked back.

The Falcons’ special teams unit showed some spark, with kicker Younghoe Koo knocking through a pair of field goals to keep Atlanta from being completely silenced. Still, the offense couldn’t capitalize when it mattered most, and missed chances became the theme of the night.

Defensively, Atlanta had flashes—some strong tackles and pressure in spurts—but the inability to contain Milton’s mobility and the Cowboys’ balanced attack kept them from ever swinging momentum. Dallas mixed its passing and running game effectively, chewing up clock and steadily building the lead.

In the grand scheme, the preseason finale wasn’t about the score as much as it was about evaluation. With the 53-man roster deadline looming on Tuesday, this game served as the last audition for players on the bubble. Some Falcons made their case to stick, others may have played their final snaps in Atlanta.

The loss drops Atlanta to a 1-2 finish in the preseason, but the focus now shifts to when it truly counts. The Falcons open the 2025 regular season on Sunday, September 7th, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM EDT, and the Falcons will be looking to put the preseason struggles behind them in front of their home crowd.