Dak Prescott helps lead Dallas Cowboys to improbable win over Falcons
Dak Prescott balled out for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in an incredible 40 to 39 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Prescott and the Cowboys offense began the game on the wrong foot — fumbling the ball as many as four different times in the first quarter. That — and porous defense — allowed Matt […]
Dak Prescott balled out for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in an incredible 40 to 39 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
Prescott and the Cowboys offense began the game on the wrong foot — fumbling the ball as many as four different times in the first quarter. That — and porous defense — allowed Matt Ryan and the Falcons to quickly jump out to a double digit lead. The Falcons once lead by as many as 20, and the Cowboys were starting at 29-10 deficit that.
Things looked bleak, to be frank.
Then, things started to go the Cowboys' way. Dallas managed to take care of the football while chipping away at the Falcons' lead. The defense was far from great, but the unit was able to hold the Falcons to field goal attempts rather than touchdown opportunities in the second half.
The Cowboys caught some breaks along the way too, no pun intended (sorry, Julio).
Dak Prescott took over the game for the Dallas Cowboys.
The biggest factor in why the Dallas Cowboys emerged victorious on Sunday is because of the quarterback. Prescott, who left the game briefly because of a hit from Deion Jones that resulted in a roughing the passer penalty, carried his team when his teammates needed him the most.
Prescott did fumble the ball in the first quarter, which led to a Falcons score, but he largely played well in a game in which many things went wrong for the home team. Prescott completed 72 percent of his passes and threw for 450 yards as the Cowboys stormed back to outscore the Falcons 30 to 10 in the second half.
The Cowboys signal-caller totaled four touchdowns on the afternoon: one touchdown toss to tight end Dalton Shultz and three rushing scores. The Falcons defense simply had no answer in stopping Prescott from torching them.
Prescott became the first player in NFL history to ever pass for at least 400 yards while scoring at least three times on the ground:
Dallas started a pair of undrafted free agents at each tackle position, and the Falcons were successful in bringing the heat on Prescott. Still, Prescott battled all game long and put his team in the best position to eventually grab a critical win.
The Dallas Cowboys would have been unable to avoid falling to 0-2 without some luck involved. That luck came on the onside kick try, where the Falcons seemingly forgot the rules of football and the Cowboys took advantage:
This is a fitting meme for the Falcons:
After recovering the onside kick, the Cowboys quickly drove into Falcons territory. Prescott led the team down the field, and the Cowboys were content settling for a field goal in a two-point game.
Greg Zuerlein kicked it through, and the Dallas Cowboys pulled off an unthinkable come-from-behind win.
Now, Prescott and the Cowboys await a matchup with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
Featured image via Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
