Dallas Cowboys media responds to win over Atlanta Falcons
Channel: Breaking news
Date: 19/11/2018

Dallas Cowboys media responds to win over Atlanta Falcons

Leave it to the Dallas Cowboys to engage in a defensive battle with the Atlanta Falcons. Practically every game the Falcons have played this season has been a shootout. They have one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, but with star defenders like Keanu Neal and Deion Jones out, they typically aren't able to slow down anyone. This game therefore seemed like a perfect opportunity for the Cowboys to get their offense going and build momentum after a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but it took them over a half to get their offense going. They scored only three points in the first half. They followed that up with 19 in the second, and they needed every one of them to secure a victory. 

The Cowboys are now back to .500. With the injury suffered by Alex Smith and the Eagles playing in New Orleans against the Saints, they now seem to control the NFC East. Things are looking up for the Cowboys, and the media covering the game gave them credit for that. Here is what they had to say following the big win. 

Prescott did not play well in this game. Let's get that out of the way. But he was clearly injured, and he kept fighting. Quarterbacks with ankle issues generally don't make big plays with their legs, but in addition to his touchdown, Prescott earned a big first down on a read-option run as well. He may not be a star, but he is a fighter.

The Cowboys are missing practically an entire starting lineup today. No Sean Lee. No David Irving. No Taco Charlton. They are not remotely at full strength. If they win today, it will be a sign that their depth has improved significantly over the course of the season.

The Cowboys nearly stole a possession and some points on the first play of the game. Pressure and a bad decision by Matt Ryan led to a throw right into the hands of Maliek Collins for an interception that would have set the Cowboys up with great field position. But Collins dropped the ball, and the Falcons kept their drive going after that. You can't give away opportunities like that and expect to win on the road.

The Cowboys are so thin on the defensive line that they might have to use linebackers there moving forward. They have four inactive linemen in this game, but as long as they have DeMarcus Lawrence, they can still generate pressure. He ended Atlanta's first drive with an incredible sack.

It turns out that when the best running back in football takes on a bad defense that is without its best linebacker in Deion Jones, the team with that great running back is going to be at an advantage. Ezekiel Elliott has absolutely gashed the Falcons so far.

Drives that go for over 80 yards on 14 plays are rare. They need to be taken advantage of. The Cowboys don't have that many opportunities to score touchdowns. They missed a big one when Cole Beasley dropped an easy touchdown catch. That not only cost the Cowboys four points, but quite a bit of momentum as well.

Even the best players on defense can only tackle one player at a time. But watch Leighton Vander Esch on this one. He not only takes down the ball-carrier, but his blocker as well, who he completely shrugs off on the play. Get this man his Defensive Rookie of the Year Trophy.

The blocking is partially responsible for this, but Dak Prescott has not been able to set his feet and make basic throws so far in this game. Ezekiel Elliott has been the basis of the offense as Prescott continues to make some questionable throws, including a floater that was nearly intercepted to Beasley.

DeMarcus Lawrence may have two sacks, but he is responsible for pretty much every positive play that the Cowboys have produced so far defensively. His pressure is causing major problems for Matt Ryan. He is essentially trying to win this game for the Cowboys on his own. And it might be working.


Prescott is trying to play hero ball in a game in which his defense has starred. He is trying to turn plays that should be throwaways into too much and it is resulting in big risks and, at the end of one Dallas drive, a sack. Elliott is playing very well. The Cowboys need to lean on him, not try to win through the air. Prescott needs to know that. 

Julio Jones is a star wide receiver. Apparently, he's a star cornerback as well. Once it became apparent that Ryan had overthrown him on a big second down and Jeff Heath would intercept the pass, Jones turned into a defender and hit Heath so hard that he not only dropped the ball, but had to be evaluated afterward. It was the biggest play of the half. 

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