The Cowboys only scored seven points in the second half but didn’t even need them, being up 36-3 at halftime against the Falcons. The next 30 minutes were a formality as Dallas cruised to a 43-3 dismantling of Atlanta in Week 10.
It was hard to come away with any complaints from this one. Dallas did it in all three phases and righted a lot of wrongs from last week’s collapse against the Broncos; hopefully an anomaly based on today’s result and what we saw from the Cowboys from Weeks 1-8.
Playing just three quarters in the blowout, Dak Prescott put up 296 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air plus another score rushing. The best thing we saw from Dak today though was the accuracy and efficiency that were missing last week being fully back on display.
CeeDee Lamb caught both of the passing TDs and led all receivers with 94 yards on six catches. All of his work came in the first half as, with the big lead, Lamb was kept out the rest of game following a minor arm injury.
Ezekiel Elliott scored two rushing touchdowns and had some great pass blocks in an otherwise quiet performance; just 41 yards on 14 carries. Zeke did have a fumble in the third quarter, his first of the season, in a rare miscue from the Cowboys today. Tony Pollard chipped in 42 rushing yards and 56 receiving.
The defense was arguably more impressive than the offense today. Atlanta was held to just 214 offensive yards and gave up three turnovers. Trevon Diggs got back on track with his eight pick of the year while Anthony Brown and Jourdan Lewis also had INTs off Matt Ryan.
Micah Parsons registered his team-leading sixth sack while Dorance Armstrong also had a sack and some other strong plays. Armstrong also showed up on special teams with a blocked punt that Nahshon Wright recovered in the endzone for another Cowboys touchdown.
It was a complete victory, dominant on both sides of the ball, and a big statement for Dallas as they improve to 7-2. While the Falcons aren’t that good in 2021, you could’ve said the same thing last week about the Broncos.
This was about the Cowboys showing who they really are again and proving, hopefully for good, that their last game was the fluke.
The proving process continues next week in Kansas City.
