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DW
For whatever reason - insanity, alcoholism, pointless positivity - I think the Falcons find a way to win on Sunday. I still believe this is a supremely talented team that can beat any other in the league, if they just get out of their own way. Matt Ryan has been getting progressively better as the season has worn on, even if the stats don’t reflect it. Being at home should help as well. It’ll still be a hard fought game but I’m picking our birds - potentially for the last time.
Caleb Rutherford
Falcons 21 - Cowboys 27
The good feelings of the Jets win have washed away. Where I thought the team may have turned the corner, it looks like they just took the short way to pit road instead. I can’t see this team winning this week and certainly not against Houdini next week. Even with no Zeke in play, Dak is mobile enough to give us fits and I expect Darren McFadden and Alfred Morris to have career-saving games because whose career hasn’t been revived against us this year?
Cory Woodroof
Falcons 31 - Cowboys 28
Both of these teams feel a millimeter’s length from each other -- the Falcons stymied by an offense in growing pains, the Cowboys nicked with T Tyron Smith and WR Dez Bryant ailing, and now RB Ezekiel Elliott suspended, at least for this week. Both defenses have very good players but by no means are dominant units. The Falcons aren’t all that bad to be honest, just middle-of-the-road right now, and that can be good enough to win a close game at home against a team just about as good as you are. A Matt Bryant field goal makes the difference.
Eric Robinson
Falcons 35 - Cowboys 27
For a team in need of a serious confidence boost, the Falcons enter this marquee contest against Dallas with luck on their side. The Cowboys will be without their elite running back and arguably the best left tackle in football today. Here is a game where the tandem of Vic Beasley and Takk McKinley can make a few plays to help bottle up Dak Prescott and make him uncomfortable. This may also be a game where the alien, Julio Jones, is targeted early and often against a Dallas secondary that has two rookie corners and former Panthers CB Bene Benwikere. The chips are in Atlanta’s favor in this one. Bottom line, the season is on the line here.
Dave Choate
Falcons 24 - Cowboys 27
I’ve revised my prediction a little bit. The Cowboys without Tyron Smith and Ezekiel Elliott are unlikely to be as hyper-productive on offense, and I think the Falcons will have more luck keeping this one close. Ultimately, as much as I want to believe in their ability to play a complete football game, I’ve been burned too many times this season. They are, as I’ve written repeatedly, due for a complete game this week. I’m just going to still need to see it with my own eyes.
Matt Chambers
Falcons 17 - Cowboys 16
Dang, people sure are optimistic about Atlanta’s offense. I think they will have to grit out a win by scoring under 20 points. I haven’t seen matchups matter for this offense. They just plug away on a few drives early and hopefully that’s enough. Not sure what to expect out of Dallas without their Pro Bowl left tackle and running back, but obviously it isn’t much. Falcons have at least kept non-Patriots games close, and this is a game they should win.