Just when it seemed like all hope had been lost, the Cowboys have climbed their way out of the hole they dug for themselves. After a huge win over the a week ago, the Cowboys went into Atlanta and emerged with an equally important 22-19 win over the Falcons on Sunday. Suddenly, at 5-5 and only one game back in the division, the Cowboys are very much a factor in the playoff race. To get to this point, rumbled for 201 total yards and the Dallas defense limited the ' offense to one touchdown. We expected a close game, but we didn't expect a low-scoring, close game in which both pa sing attacks struggled to make an impact. The kickers, and , dominated the
Pablo Sandoval Jersey scoring. At halftime, the Falcons led 6-3. That's what kind of game it was, until the offenses showed up in the fourth quarter. The first touchdown wasn't scored until gave the Cowboys a 12-9 lead with just over 14 minutes to play. A minute later, after an interception by , Elliott turned that one-score lead into a two-score advantage with a 23-yard touchdown run. In a span of two minutes, the Cowboys scored two touchdowns after registering six points through the first three quarters. They turned a measured marathon into a sprint. And the Falcons kept up, scoring 10 points on their next two drives and tying the game with 1:52 remaining courtesy of and , who provided a wicked game-tying touchdown -- with Maher's mi sed extra point earlier in the fourth quarter looming large. Maher redeemed himself. After the Cowboys drove into field goal range, Maher snuck a 42-yard field goal just inside the upright to give his team a crucial win at the final buzzer. RT if you're celebrating this win Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) Two weeks ago, when got , it certainly looked as if their season was over. They were 3-5. The most interesting conversation surrounding the team But two huge wins have propelled them back into the playoff conversation. The Cowboys are alive, and a vital game against the , who lost to during their narrow lo s to the on Sunday, awaits. With the Eagles also still breathing, there's plenty of work to be done. But they're at least in a position where the remainder of their games matter. After 11 weeks, the Cowboys matter. On the other end, the lo s likely ends the Falcons' playoff aspirations. At 4-6, they need to win out to get to 10 wins. Given their inconsistencies, they likely won't do that. In that sense, Sunday's game felt like a playoff game for both teams. Once again, the Falcons came up just short in a big moment, which has been a theme of Dan Quinn's tenure in Atlanta. Zeke powers Cowboys offense A week after gashing the Eagles for 187 yards from scrimmage
Melvin Adon Jersey , Zeke kept on rumbling against the Falcons. In all, he totaled 201 yards from scrimmage, averaging 6.7 yards per touch. He didn't rip off many huge plays, but what he did was steadily pick up four or five yards in a defensive slog of a game. According to Research, , which is the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2016. His 34-yard screen -- his biggest play of the afternoon -- set up a field goal in the first half. Feed Zeke!: FOX NFL (@NFL) His important contribution came late in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys, leading by three, just picked off Ryan. On their ensuing drive, Zeke gashed the Falcons up the gut for a touchdown that put them ahead by two scores. . ... IN!Touchdown, !: FOX NFL (@NFL) Without Zeke, the Cowboys would've been absolutely lost on offense. Prescott didn't turn the ball over, but he averaged only 6.5 yards per pa s attempt. was limited to three receptions and 36 yards. led the receivers with 51 yards, but he also dropped a touchdown in the early going. Zeke didn't just lead the team in rushing with 122 yards. He also led
Steven Duggar Jersey the team with seven catches and 79 receiving yards. Even Prescott's touchdown in the fourth quarter came on a zone-read, which forced the Falcons to take away Zeke and opened up a lane for Prescott to exploit. . in the end zone Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) Zeke single-handedly powered the Cowboys offense on Sunday. Cowboys' defense stymies Falcons Credit the Cowboys' defense for slowing down the Falcons' offense and limiting them to field goals until the fourth quarter. The Cowboys notched three sacks, and was responsible for half of them. Ryan threw for 291 yards, but his only touchdown came late in fourth quarter. He was under dure s for much of the afternoon, often scrambling and buying time in the backfield as an onslaught of pa s rushers hurried after him. Cowboys rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch continues to impre s. Leighton Vander Esch might just make it in the league Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) He registered eight total tackles, one quarterback hit, three pa ses defended -- including a crucial broken up pa s near the goal line in the fourth quarter -- and the interception that led to a Cowboys touchdown. THE WOLF HUNTERGets the big pick off Matt Ryan! Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) What's especially notable about that interception is that the ball bounced off the hands of Falcons rookie
Kobe Bryant Jersey receiver . In the lead up to the draft, most pundits expected the Cowboys to use the 19th overall pick on a receiver -- like, say, Ridley. Instead, they drafted Vander Esch. Ridley fell to the Falcons at No. 26. But on Sunday, both Vander Esch and Rildey contributed to the Cowboys' win. It goes without saying that one play doesn't justify the Cowboys' decision. It doesn't make Vander Esch the right choice. It doesn't make Ridley a bust. Both players have experienced succe sful rookie seasons. Both players were worthy of their draft positions. Both players look like future stars. Julio Jones: Elite WR and DB The Falcons lost, but Julio Jones continues to dominate. Not
Barry Bonds Jersey only did he rack up 118 receiving yards on six receptions, but he also made one of the game's best defensive plays. Late in the first half, Ryan chucked up a deep ball that flew way over Jones' head. But Jones didn't stop running. He tracked down the would-be interceptor like an All-Pro defensive back. As the ball landed in the arms of Cowboys safety , Jones timed his hit perfectly, dislodging the ball out of Heath's arms and forcing an incompletion with exemplary form. The hit forced Heath into the blue medical tent on the sidelines before he returned to the game later on the series. Julio Jones was an All-Pro safety in another life... Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) In the fourth quarter, as the Falcons tried to complete the comeback, Jones came down with an awesome grab for a 34-yard tying touchdown. It's a reminder that Jones remains unguardable, and he's finally finding the end zone. Jones now has a touchdown in his past three games after going touchdown-le s through the first seven games of the season. JULIOOOOOOOOO!: FOX NFL (@NFL) The Falcons lost a few minutes later on a walk-off field goal. Maybe they should've pl