Dak Prescott gave it everything he had today, but he and the Dallas Cowboys simply had no chance.
After a fantastic play by Anthony Brown forced an Xavier Woods interception, Prescott ran it in from a few yards out to give the Cowboys a 7-0 lead. Atlanta quickly cut it to 7-3, where the score would hold for much of the first half.
But as the injuries piled up for the Cowboys, and they were left without Tyron Smith, Sean Lee, and Ezekiel Elliott, they had no answers for the Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn sacked Prescott six times, each time after beating replacement left tackles Chaz Green and Byron Bell. There is no way to sugar coat it, Green was awful today. On most snaps he offered little resistance, and put Prescott at risk of injury on every play. When Bell came in for relief, he was just as bad.
With the hits piling up and Prescott having no chance, the Cowboys offense struggled to score just 7 points. If not for the early interception, the Cowboys might have been shut out today.
As putrid as the offense was, the defense was no better. With Sean Lee out after just a few minutes, the Falcons exploited the Cowboys’ weak linebackers. Atlanta ran and passed the ball with ease en route to 27 points.
Dallas now falls to 5-4, and considering how good the rest of the NFC has been, will have difficulty getting into the playoffs. The next few games are critical to the Cowboys if they hope to make any type of run into January.
Next week, the Cowboys will face the 8-1 division leading Philadelphia Eagles. And if both Tyron Smith and Sea Lee are out once again, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where this goes well for the Cowboys.
You are absolutely right. This team is terrible. The coaching staff should of pulled chaz green after first half he was terrible injuries and his play he should be released right now he is not capable of starting in this league. Every damn game we worry about lee and when he goes out there goes the chance of winning that’s pathetic. Jaylon Smith looks lost and confused every play. Anthony Brown gets beaten way too much. I blame the coaching staff for this lost they did not have this team ready to play with 2 of their best players sidelined with a 3rd before halftime. They did not adjust anything at all. Marinelli needs fired like now we as fans are getting sick of this. Garrett almost every week when a key player goes down is getting out coached. Without zeke lee and Smith Dallas is awful. Since Jerry doesn’t want to spend money to help out the damn defense looks like Dallas will continue to have a porous defense. If it wasn’t for dominating bad teams this team could be in very bad shape. If Smith and lee don’t play next week look out cuz dak will get sacked more than 9 times. For one guy to sack dak 6 times by himself is sickening. Green needs to be cut like right now cuz he is one of the worse lineman I have ever seen in my life. Dallas screwed up taking him in the 3rd round
That’s Jerry for you though messing up picks and putting this defense in bad spots every single year. Brown is not ready to be a starter at corner. Lewis was beaten alot today too. If Garrett and marinelli return next year I think I’m done watching them cuz they are both terrible and have no reason to be coaching NFL teams. We had a easy schedule last year that’s why Garrett won coach of the year. Still our defense wasn’t very good against bad teams last year. This year has shown fans that were getting sick of this well were miissing 3 of our best players so we’re not that good. No NFL left tackle should give up 6 sacks to a defensive end that is not that very good
I mean Williams is inconsistent one game has 9 catches 141 yards then completely disappears. Dak tried to do everything he could but without Smith this offensive line isn’t that good. That’s sad considering we still have Martin Frederick and Collins. Dez started off good then disappeared. Zeke gone we have no offense. Morris didn’t start going until 3rd quarter but then green gets called for holding then gives up a sack. I don’t think Dallas can win games without lee Smith and zeke. I had alot of faith before this game that they could but every analyst said they would be lost without them and they completely were. Defense is lost when lee leaves or isn’t playing. Offensive line can’t block without Smith. Running game can’t go without zeke. Morris said we will be okay with him how our running game didn’t look the same as the past 3 games with 130 yards a game. Our receivers didn’t step up and help dak. Witten disappeared. Everyone on the offense disappeared after the first quarter. Very hard to make playoffs now. We need a high pick to help this defense and get a better swing tackle and backup tackle cuz this game looked terrible and they got dominated in every aspect of the game. I understand you can’t win them all but good teams don’t get completely blown out like we have against Denver who is bad themselves and Atlanta who couldn’t buy offensive help
I will say thought that the refs completely screwed us this game. 2 receivers knocked down twice no call. I have never heard of grabbing helmet by ear hole a 15 yard penalty. Everytime Dallas got going they called us for something. Atlanta got maybe 2 penalties Dallas had double digits c’mon man that’s ridiculous. Refs ruin games every week. Wouldn’t of made a huge difference but would of extended alot of drives for Dallas. How many face mask did they miss against Atlanta they missed alot of calls on Atlanta but caught every single call for dallas
Oh stop with the over reaction. They are not terrible but not special or playoff run worthy without injured starters like most teams. That said today’s game was another example of Garett’s inability to make in game adjustments. They are usually fine playing with a lead but having to make adjustments is something he has never really done well. Green was horrific today but it’s obvious the coaching staff should have schemed better to give him help. In all honesty Tyron Smith has been pretty bad this year also. Because of the back issues he just can’t hold his ground in pass protection hence the number of holding calls. I think Jaylon Smith was a nice story but it appears he just doesn’t have it right now to be anything more than a situational player at best let alone an every down player which he will have to be if Lee is absent for an extended period. With all of this adversity a win against the Eagles will put them back on the right track. I said 11-5/10-6 this year. They are capable of going 5-2 the rest of they way. Let’s hope Garrett and the coaching staff can solve some of these problems by next Sunday Night…….
I see the only wins without zeke will be the chargers giants and skins. So yeah maybe 10-6 is right but I don’t think that will be good enough for a playoff berth. Falcons and green bay both have wins against us and they both in my opinion have a easier schedule. I think Dallas finishes 7th best in nfc. Wish that wasn’t true but I just don’t see Dallas winning much without them. Say what u will but even with Tyron smith hurt playing is better than chaz green 100% healthy. Smith has given up holding calls yes but he doesn’t give up 6 sacks to one guy that isn’t even that good. Smith is the best left tackle in the game and it was proven tonight. With him Dallas has given up 10 sacks in 8 games. Without Smith we gave up 9. Lee being out kills us at any chance of winning games cuz the defense is completely lost and terrible without lee
Aikman said he’s never seen pass blocking as bad as Green’s today, or something to that effect. And Aikman absorbed an 11-sack nightmare as a rookie against Philadelphia.
I think Dallas fans figured the offense was still good with Morris or Smith or McFadden at RB. To see it all unravel because there’s no depth at OT, is pretty deflating.
Aside from Garrett coaching another stinker like he did in Denver, it’s worrisome for the season and also for how long Tyron Smith can play football. Once the back injuries start, as we’ve seen, it’s usually deterioration from there. So the new draft priority might be OT and not RDE.
It may prove to not be, but this season looks over now – play subs more to see who emerges and to get the highest pick possible.
Garrett opened the game with the same predictability as he did in Denver – hand off on 1st downs. If that gets stuffed on the road, it throws off multiple bad effects that can set the tone for the entire game. He seems oblivious to that.
He lets a player who can change defensive alignments, Butler, sit on the bench most downs.
Worst is: how many sacks does Green have to give up before you get him help or bench him? Garrett went well into the 3rd quarter before visible alteration was made with Green.
Then on that 3rd & 19 on the Atlanta 21, Garrett throws a screen that isn’t going to get 19 or score. That is a call for 2nd and very long, not 3rd. On 3rd & 19 from there, you throw it into the end zone, or dump it off as a last option. You roll Dak right to get away from Clayborn, and try to get 7. Instead Garrett calls a cave-in screen to set up a FG to trim the Atlanta lead to 17-10.
He deserved to miss the FG.
The offense never got in a rhythm ala Chaz greenbrier think the offense will be fine. The defense was just starting to turn the corner and lee gets hurt. Why didnt we go after daryl Washington or bowman again?