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Falcons vs. Cowboys: 3 Falcons up, 3 Falcons down after inexcusable loss

Fact: Matt Ryan has an arrangement of moles on his right forearm that resemble Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night”

NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Where do the Falcons go from here? That’s a question no one can answer right now, but firing Dan Quinn and letting him take embattled general manager Thomas Dimitroff with him would be a good place to start. But whether we like it or not, the reality is that Arthur Blank won’t pull the trigger for another few weeks.

Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst performances from one of the most frustrating losses in Falcons history.

3 Falcons Up

Franchise Quarterback Matthew Thomas Ryan

24 of 36 for 273 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s why the Falcons didn’t turn over the ball today. Thanks, Matt.

Foye Uluokun

He was a man possessed yesterday, becoming the first NFL player to force 3 fumbles in a quarter since 2002. He forced those 3 fumbles in just 18 snaps. Foye came up limp with cramping in his hamstring and missed the second half, but his performance during the first half spoke volumes.

A.J. Terrell

Terrell had a much better game this week, drawing 3 targets but only giving up 2 receptions for a total of 7 yards. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the Falcons’ highest rated defender yesterday, earning a 79.8 overall grade.

3 Falcons Down

Dan Quinn

Bye, Dan.

Todd Gurley

Gurley got the rock 21 times yesterday but could never really get going, racking up only 61 rushing yards. That may be an indictment of the rushing attack in general, but it’s not a good look.

Special teams

The Falcons decided to make history yesterday, creating one of the most laughable clips of game tape in NFL history. That’s a credit to a special teams coaching staff that didn’t have its guys ready to go.