(Editor's note: The content provided is based on opinions and/or perspective of the DallasCowboys.com editorial staff and not the Cowboys football staff or organization.)
ATLANTA — Though this matchup could not have mathematically eliminated the Dallas Cowboys from playoff contention, seeing as it's only Week 9, but that doesn't mean their battle against the Atlanta Falcons could be viewed as anything short of a must-win scenario — sitting at 3-4 on the heels of two losses and with three of those being at home.
They've fared better on the road, owners of a 3-1 record when traveling, and they were hoping to shake off the loss in San Francisco to regain that magic when facing off against Kirk Cousins and his stable of weapons.
That would require several, if not every, player to step up big for the Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, though.
In the end, it was not to be for McCarthy's bunch, as they drop three straight games and fall to 3-5 on the season, but credit the following players for trying their best to halt the slide.
[This list is unranked.]
Dak Prescott, QB
Ask 104,757 times and you shall receive, folks. Prescott helped get himself back on track in both the air and on the ground for much of the contest in Atlanta, taking off and running when the opportunities presented themselves and then using that to keep the Falcons off-balance by threat of the scramble when under duress. On the fourth drive of the game, Prescott rattled off a 22-yard run on 2nd-and-15 to extend a drive that ended in a touchdown toss, made possible by Prescott first using his legs to escape pressure and threaten to run — before tossing it to Rico Dowdle for a highlight circus grab to shrink the Falcons' lead to only four points.
At that point, Prescott had also completed 10 of his 11 passes for 82 yards, zero interceptions and the aforementioned touchdown for a stout 128.0 passer rating. Also noticeable was his decision making when there was nowhere to run and nowhere to throw, such as the late third-quarter drive when he threw the ball to the ground in front of Jake Ferguson instead of taking the sack from Matthew Judon. That gave Brandon Aubrey a chance to make a 57-yard field goal, making it a one-possession game at the time.
He'd be forced out of the game at the end of the third quarter though, because the injury bug is apparently not done sinking its teeth into the Cowboys' roster.
Rico Dowdle, RB
With Ezekiel Elliott ruled inactive and Dalvin Cook breathing down his neck for more action, Dowdle made a clear and definitive case for being named RB1 in Dallas, officially, for the remainder of the season. His first half against the Falcons was outstanding as both a running back and a receiver out of the backfield — averaging 5.4 yards on the ground on eight attempts (43 yards) to go along with three catches on three targets and the Cirque du Soleil touchdown grab. He wasn't done there, and there isn't really an argument that can be mounted going forward for not feeding Dowdle time and again.
Jake Ferguson, TE
It was Ferguson who got the party started early for Prescott and the Cowboys' offense. It was evident that head coach Mike McCarthy had a plan to use Ferguson often against the scheme of the Falcons' defense, one that dares teams to attack them underneath. But it wasn't simply the catches that impressed, but also the physicality of the Pro Bowl tight end, showing both his bully mentality in going through defenders and his athleticism to go around them and make them miss to tear off more yardage. It was, hands down, one of the best games of the season for Ferguson.
Carl Lawson, DE
In the absence of Sam Williams, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys desperately needed Carl Lawson to begin showing what made him such a good player in his prime. It felt as if he was ramping up, over the past few games, to what he showed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is to say he detonated in Atlanta, to the tune of two sacks against Kirk Cousins in the first half alone — both being delivered on third downs that then forced the Falcons to punt in one instance, with his first sack forcing a fumble that was recovered by Donovan Wilson deep in Cowboys' territory.
Donovan Wilson, S
It wasn't the best day in coverage for Wilson, but the fumble recovery couldn't have been more timely for the Cowboys. Lawson did the heavy lifting and Wilson made sure he was Johnny on the Spot to do the rest. Unfortunately, the Cowboys' offense couldn't gain any points off of the takeaway, one of the few Dallas has been able to muster this season but, on this play, Wilson did his job and it could've swung the game back in the Cowboys' favor — if only.
Jourdan Lewis, CB
The tone-setter for the Cowboys' secondary fought to try and steer the game toward the Cowboys with some of the best coverage of the day. Even after he had to be evaluated for injury, he'd return and make an impact play, namely getting a drive-saving tackle on Bijan Robinson in space on 2nd-and-8 with the Falcons leading only 7-3 at the time, after Robinson broke free of Trevon Diggs. The next play? Well, it was Carl Lawson sacking Cousins and forcing the aforementioned fumble. Lewis continues to scratch and claw, weekly.
