Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) scores a touchdown after evading a tackle by Atlanta Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud, rear, for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Cowboys Prove They Belong In Playoff Hunt with Dominating 37-21 Victory Over Falcons
From owner-GM Jerry Jones, to Head Coach Wade Phillips, and down to the players; the Cowboys’ have said all week long that Sunday’s (10-25) game against Atlanta was their most important thus far this season.
"It was our best game overall,” Wade Phillips said after the game. “But that's also perception. When you beat a team that made the playoffs last year and came in here 4-1, that's impressive.”
Even though Dallas had their top 3 running backs healthy for this game, the running game never quite took flight. Luckily for Dallas, quarterback Tony Romo stole the show, showcasing his athleticism by eluding tacklers in the pocket which led to big plays. Romo passed for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns while also competing 72 percent of his passes (21 of 29). After a record breaking week before the bye against the Kansas City Chiefs, Miles Austin picked up right where he left off with 6 receptions for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns. Austin proved he was no one week wonder and has the best 2 game stretch for a receiver in Cowboys history with 421 yards and 4 touchdowns combined.
The Dallas defense also provided a break out game. Matt Ryan came into this game having not been sacked in his past 17 quarters, and he had also been sacked only twice all year.
"After the first series, I think we established that we were going to put a lot of pressure on them," Phillips said.
The Cowboys sacked Ryan 4 times for the game and pressured him on numerous occasions which led to poor decisions, including 2 interceptions and a fumble. Cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick both had interceptions and the Dallas defense had 4 takeaways for the game which is the most they’ve had all season.
It was up to Dallas to prove today that they could beat an elite NFC team, and they delivered. Even though there was still some sloppy play, the Cowboys showed that they could make up for their deficiencies with their explosive offense and an aggressive defense. Dallas plays next Sunday, November 1 at Noon, against the Seattle Seahawks in Arlington.
(Portions of this article were taken from the Associated Press)
News and Notes:
· This was Tony Romo’s 19th career 300-yard passing game, the most in Cowboys team history.
· The Dallas defense had 2 interceptions on the day, matching their total interceptions thus far this season (2), which was lowest in the NFL.
· Both Dallas and Atlanta are now 4-2 on the year and with the Cowboys’ win they hold the tiebreaker come playoff time.
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