ATLANTA, GA — The Dallas Cowboys lost 27-21 to the Atlanta Falcons. While never down by more than two scores, the Cowboys ultimately lost on their third-straight, their first time doing so since 2020, and went without quarterback Dak Prescott in the final quarter due to a hamstring injury.
The game ended with QB Cooper Rush, making his 30th career appearance, going 13 for 25 with 115 yards after Prescott did not return to the game. Prescott was also seen with a cut on his throwing hand. He finished 18 for 24 with 133 yards and one touchdown.
The game started without running back Ezekiel Elliott—he was inactive, and did not travel with the team to Atlanta. RB Rico Dowdle stepped up and rushed for 75 yards on 12 carries, and RB Dalvin Cook got elevated from the practice squad for the second-straight time, but only had two carries for eight yards. Prescott had 30 of his own rushing yards.
Dallas did not allow Atlanta to pick up any points on the opening drive—the first time they’ve been able to hold their opponent scoreless on their first drive, this season.
Brandon Aubrey’s kick was good to get the Cowboys on the board first, followed by a Kirk Cousins throw over cornerback Trevon Diggs to wide receiver Drake London for a Falcons touchdown. Atlanta’s kicker, Youngehoe Koo’s kick was good, ending the first quarter with a 7-3 Falcons lead.
London would eventually go to the blue tent, and was ruled out with a hip injury.
The second quarter was exciting for Cowboys defensive end Carl Lawson, who got his first full sack and forced fumble as a Cowboy after bringing down Cousins, which resulted in a Dallas recovery.
WR Darnell Mooney’s touchdown, and Koo’s extra point, made the score 14-3, until RB Dowdle scored. Prescott was against a five-man rush, scrambled out of it, and lofted a ball to Dowdle. That ball bobbled in the air before he corralled while he was on the ground.
Aubrey’s extra point made the score at the half 14-10, Atlanta.
In the third quarter, Cowboys punter Bryan Anger attempted a fake punt, and his throw to CB C.J. Goodwin was almost picked off. Then, Atlanta’s Ray Ray McCloud III scored; Koo’s extra point, and Cousins’ third TD pass, gave the Falcons an 11-point lead, before Aubrey’s 58-yarder put the Cowboys within one score heading into the fourth.
RB Tyler Allgeier scored Atlanta’s final points of the game with his touchdown in the fourth quarter. While Prescott left the field, Rush got some points on the board—his touchdown pass to WR Jalen Tolbert for 4 yards, followed by a successful two-point conversion attempt to WR CeeDee Lamb, would bring the score to a close at 27-21; Cowboys never regained the lead.
Lamb was coming off of his only 100-yard receiving game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, but was held to 62 scrimmage yards in Week 9. He had to leave the game in the fourth quarter for his shoulder, but came back and added to the scoreboard in the game’s final minutes.
The Cowboys only converted three of their 13 third-down attempts, and had seven pre-snap penalties.
Cousins finished the day for the Falcons with 222 yards, going 19 of 24 with three TDs. RB Bijan Robinson had 19 rushes and seven receptions for 145 scrimmage yards. He led the Falcons on the ground, and Mooney’s five receptions for 88 yards and a TD led all of Atlanta’s receivers.
Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson’s 71 receiving yards led Dallas in the air.
