ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys dominated the Atlanta Falcons 43-3 for the team’s largest margin of victory in 21 years. Coming off last week’s embarrassing loss to the Denver Broncos, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn candidly remarked, “we’ve got some shit to fix.” Mission accomplished in Week 10. The silver and blue put up the most complete output in recent memory.
This is a copycat league, but the Cowboys made it clear after last week’s hammering that there is no “blueprint” created by the Broncos. Atlanta came out early mirroring what the Broncos did last week – man coverage to challenge the perimeter. However, that led to power runs between the tackles by Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott. In addition, Pollard showcased his shiftiness in the passing game with elusiveness down the boundary. Without the team’s two starting defensive ends and starting left tackle, Dallas put up an impressive rebound performance that garnered lavish praise from the crowd inside AT&T Stadium. The turning point came in the second quarter from fourth-and-three. The Cowboys were up 14-3 but the Falcons had a chance to recover. Enter No. 4. Prescott scrambled left and hit Gallup for a toe-drag reception. Gallup stretched the field vertically with his lethal speed and set up Elliott’s two-yard touchdown run. The nail in the coffin.
Dallas came out and defined the tone of the ballgame. The Cowboys scored on the opening drive and CeeDee Lamb was unleashed. He gashed the Falcons’ secondary with a 37-yard gain that helped set up his 13-yard touchdown. Dak Prescott eclipsed the 200-yard marker before halftime, with two aerial touchdowns to Lamb and Ezekiel Elliott compiled two scores on the ground. Lamb finished with 94 yards, and three weapons nearing the 50-yard mark: Amari Cooper (51), Michael Gallup (42), and Tony Pollard (56). Prescott spread out the football and led the offensive charge that demoralized the birds. Controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football spurred the onslaught.
Defensively, the Cowboys held the Falcons to 1-11 on third down (the one coming in garbage time) and posted three interceptions in the second half. A field goal was all they could muster against Dan Quinn’s unit. Anthony Brown and Trevon Diggs notched an interception in the third and Jourdan Lewis showcased his ball skills in the fourth, picking off Josh Rosen. The ball nearly hit the ground, but Lewis was able to get his hands underneath the ball to scoop it up. Matt Ryan’s 117 passing yards was the lowest total of his career, and the paramountcy garnered the appearance of Rosen under center in the final quarter. Despite only accumulating two sacks, Dallas made the difference on the back end. Ryan’s quick passes over the middle to Kyle Pitts or handoffs mitigated the Cowboys’ pass rush, but the secondary stepped up with sticky coverage all day – spearheaded by Lewis. He amassed three pass breakups (two on back-to-back plays) and a pick for good measure. Dorance Armstrong, Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons, Jayron Kearse, and Anthony Brown sparked the defensive demolition.
Special teams matched the other two phases with a blocked punt. In contrast to last week against Denver, this one stood and was recovered by Nahshon Wright for a touchdown.
The Cowboys advanced to 7-2 and regained their place among the NFC hierarchy.
In the candid, postgame words of CeeDee Lamb, “who doesn’t love a blowout?”
