Written by Ernie Casanova
Atlanta, GA – With us being at the halfway point of the NFL regular season, we are on course for a battle of two teams fighting to stay alive for playoff contention. The Dallas Cowboys (4-5) roll into Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday afternoon to take on the Atlanta Falcons (4-5) where it may rightfully so be called an early playoff game. You win or go home. But this time, the loser goes home with much slimmer chances for a chance at the postseason. It’s a tight race in the NFC, and these two teams were viewed early on as probable lock-ins for the NFL playoffs. With Dallas’ stout defense and the Falcons’ passing attack, the fans in Atlanta on Sunday surely should be in for a nail-biter as this matchup will display starting receivers from each team out of Alabama.
The Cowboys have performed well on defense throughout their first nine games of the season, but there’s always a point where you face the challenge needed to solidify your position. Here steps in Matt Ryan, who is rightfully top five in most passing categories, specifically touchdowns and passing yards per game. Ryan has amassed 3000 yards and has a fantastic 21-3 TD/INT ratio. What’s even more impressive is that he and star receiver Julio Jones are just starting to connect with each other in the end-zone, which can greatly help this team against a defense where safety Byron Jones has been playing like an all-pro. Jones was held scoreless for much of the season, and although he has only two touchdowns, that’s two in the last two games. Jones is already over 1000 yards leading the league and is also 4th in receptions.
Calvin Ridley, who was initially expected to be drafted by the Cowboys, also has eclipsed 500 receiving yards and has seven touchdown catches for his rookie campaign. It has to be the most best-kept secret so far that Cowboys fans are still upset about the decision from ownership, but that’s mostly because of the efficient play from their original pick, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Esch leads the Cowboys with 77 tackles and had his first career interception against the Eagles last week. The Cowboys still have visibly struggled at the wide receiver position after signing Allen Hurns and Tavon Austin after the departure of Dez Bryant. Nine games in, Bryant is still gone and the addition of former Raiders receiver Amari Cooper, has helped on the stat sheet but Dallas has split their last two games.
Cooper has 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in the last two games, so the trade so far has been a success. On the other hand, the Cowboys need to defeat their opponent from all angles in order to have a chance at the playoffs. Dallas currently ranks 5th in the league in rushing yards per game with 133.4, but the air attack is still weak as they rank 28th in passing yards per game with 194. All of that lies on Dak Prescott, and he certainly has the weapons in order to increase that number. Prescott has contributed to the rushing attack with 256 yards, but that’s what you have Ezekiel ElliottElliot for.
Elliot has been unstoppable, with 831 yards and averaging five yards per carry with four touchdowns. Still, he can’t do it on his own. While the Cowboys defense has been enough, there is still much to worry about on Sunday against the Falcons. Dallas ranks top 20 in total tackles and sacks but ranks under 20 in forced fumbles and 29th in interceptions with only three. Ironically, the Cowboys are tied for 8th in fumble recoveries, so Atlanta must do a good job at holding on to the ball. The Cowboys also rank in the bottom five on getting their defense off the field on third down, and against an offense like Atlanta, that might not be a pleasant stat for the Falcons’ offense to be aware off.
The secret matchup to watch will be Austin Hooper against his coverage. He has had four games with 50+ yards and three touchdowns on the season so he might squeak by this Cowboys defense for a big play unexpectedly with their eyesight on Ridley, Jones and the slot reliable Mohamed Sanu.
Still, with all the defense and offense talk, each team is 4-5. That just shows the competition across the NFC and Sunday afternoon will be a determining factor for each team’s future no matter how you light up the stat sheet.
