Before Sunday, teams in the NFL were a combined 440-0 when they did not turn the ball over and scored at least 39 points in a game. That count is now officially 440-1 after the Dallas Cowboys’ stunning 40-39 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Dallas found themselves in a pretty deep hole after the first quarter, which they mostly dug themselves. While the gametime decision that left Tyron Smith watching the action from the sideline certainly did not help matters, most of the damage inflicted on Dallas during the first quarter was their own doing. Three costly turnovers and some questionable decisions on special teams left them down by three scores after the third quarter. The game appeared lost before it had even got going for the home team.
The (post-first quarter) offense was definitely the bright spot for Dallas on Sunday; Dak Prescott and company went for 570 total yards, converted on 54% of their third-down attempts, and reached the end zone on all four of their redzone opportunities. Also, receiver Amari Cooper had the 21st 100-yard game of his career, while rookie CeeDee Lamb notched his first. Tight End Dalton Schultz stepped in for the injured Blake Jarwin, leading the team in receptions with nine and scoring his first touchdown in the league despite his early fumble.
On a different note, it is completely unacceptable for a team to come up with 40 offensive points and only walk away with a 1-point win. Dallas’s defense looked atrocious against Atlanta, allowing them to do pretty much whatever they wanted. Matt Ryan went 24/36 for 273 yards and four touchdown passes and made it look effortless, Calvin Ridley went through the secondary like a hot knife through butter, and Julio Jones dropped a touchdown pass that almost assuredly would have won the game for Atlanta. Mike Nolan has a lot to figure out if this team wants to be taken seriously.
Eventually, the game came down to an impossible situation for Dallas. On onside kick in an era where successful onside kicks are the rarest play in football. Somehow, some way, the onside kick from Greg Zurlein inched its way 10 yards and Dallas was able to recover it. Zurlein’s kick was truly one of the more bizarre plays I have seen live. With the ball on the Dallas 46 yard line and 1:48 remaining in the game, Dak Prescott was able to march downfield and put Zurlein in position to win the game for the Cowboys, which he did.
Button line, Dallas should not have won this game. Atlanta lost it more than Dallas won it. Looking down the road though, I would call Dallas a playoff team; mostly because the rest of the teams in their division are in shambles. Based on the first two games, they are certainly not Super Bowl contenders. The Cowboys are going to have to show some real growth and develop an identity if they want to make some real noise come the postseason.
