Cowboys vs Falcons: 3 bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup
The Dallas Cowboys are back in action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Both Dallas and Atlanta desperately need a win in this game, so this figures to be quite an entertaining matchup.
Before the two teams square off on Sunday here are three bold predictions for the game.
1) Falcons rush for 150+ yards as a team as Bijan Robinson scores two touchdowns
Just a couple of weeks back it looked like Dallas had finally started to fix their run defense. In matchups against the Giants and Steelers, the Cowboys allowed just 26 and 92 rushing yards respectively, and the team won both games.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the script has completely flipped in their last two games against the Lions and 49ers. Detroit and San Francisco both consistently gashed Dallas on the ground, combining for 407 rushing yards.
This week the Cowboys’ run defense will once again be tested as they face a Falcons team that has started to gain momentum on the ground. Since Week 6, Atlanta is fourth in the NFL in Rush EPA (0.100), rushing for 482 yards as a team over this three-game span. Former first-round pick Bijan Robinson has heated up during this stretch, averaging 5.33 Y/A on 49 carries and scoring three touchdowns.
This week, the Falcons will continue to go in the right direction as the Cowboys’ run defense continues to be in a free fall. Atlanta has another big day on the ground, highlighted by Bijan Robinson recording his second multi-touchdown game of the season.
2) CeeDee Lamb continues to find his All-Pro form, recording his second-straight 145+ yard receiving day
One good thing to come out of last week’s game against the 49ers was CeeDee Lamb’s performance. The All-Pro wideout finally looked like the guy we have consistently seen throughout his five-year career in Dallas. Lamb finished the day with 13 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Both Lamb and Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott spoke this week about how they found something during the San Francisco game that finally got the duo back on track.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said Sunday’s game against the Falcons is a must-win game for Dallas.
Prescott on his INTs: “I’ve got to be better, simple as that.”
Dak said there was a moment in last Sunday’s game where CeeDee Lamb told him “We’re back.” And it was before the 2 TD… pic.twitter.com/PYO9ZHNB4B
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 31, 2024
When Lamb and Prescot are connecting at a high rate there may not be a more dynamic quarterback-receiver duo in the league. This week, the Cowboys face a Falcons’ defense that has struggled to slow down top receivers, giving Lamb a chance to feast once again.
Below are some of the talented receivers the Falcons have faced that have given their defense trouble.
- DeVonta Smith – 7 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD
- Rashee Rice – 12 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD
- Mike Evans – 5 catches, 62 yards, 2 TD
- D.K. Metcalf – 4 catches, 99 yards, 1 TD
Lamb will follow suit and ride his performance from the San Francisco game into another dominant showing. The All-Pro wideout surpasses 145 receiving yards for the second straight week and is the focal point of Dallas’ offense.
3) Offense headlines the day as both teams score 27+ points
We’re going to see plenty of points in this game. Both the Cowboys and Falcons are struggling on the defensive side of the ball, making a shootout a likely outcome for Sunday’s matchup.
Atlanta has given up 110 points over their last four games while the Cowboys have given up 109. That’s good for an average of roughly 27 points per game, and that’s what we’ll see both teams score on Sunday.
Both offenses have big days as the teams soar past the total of 51.5 points.