Cowboys 21 vs 27 Falcons, Prescott injured, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 9

Cousins leads Falcons to victory over Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys fall to 3-5 after losing in a physical game to the Atlanta Falcons that saw several players suffer injuries, including Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

The Cowboys kept it a close game in the first half, which ended with Atlanta up 14-10. But turnovers by Dallas were costly in this game. Two of them led to Falcons touchdowns and the Cowboys failed to score in the second half until there were under 2 minutes left, making it a 27-21 game. They tried for an onside kick but it failed and the Falcons came away with the win, improving to 6-3.

McCarthy's seat hotter by the minute

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was already set to be outta Dallas by the end of this season with his contract running out at the end of the year, but today's game sealed that even further. Some of his questionable decisions included a fake punt on 4th down, a 4th-down conversion attempt on a pass to CeeDee Lamb that resulted in a 3-yard loss, and a botched coverage that left Falcons receiver Darnell Mooney wide open for a touchdown catch.

Player stats and injuries

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was taken to the sidelines in the 4th quarter with what appeared to be a hand injury. It was red and swollen. But he ended up being ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury. Before he was taken out, he completed 18 of 24 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown. For the first time in a while, he had no interceptions. He had more rushing yards (30) than he's had all season, which is perhaps what aggravated his hamstring. His one touchdown pass was to running back Rico Dowdle, who finished the game with 12 carries for 75 yards, plus five receptions for 32 yards and the receiving touchdown. Cooper Rush came in for Prescott in the 4th quarter and finished with 13 of 25 completions for 115 yards and one touchdown to wide receiver Jalen Tolbert. He also made a 2-point conversion with a pass to WR CeeDee Lamb, who insisted on being put back into the game after leaving briefly with a shoulder injury he'd been playing through.

Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had another tremendous game, finishing with 19 of 24 completions for 222 yards and three touchdowns to three different players - Darnell Mooney, Drake London, and Ray-Ray McCloud. Running back Tyler Allgeier also added a touchdown on the ground for Atlanta. Although RB Bijan Robinson didn't have a score, he finished with 19 carries for 86 yards. Mooney finished as the leading receiver with five receptions for 88 yards and the TD. London finished with two catches for 27 yards and the touchdown before leaving the game with an apparent hip injury in the first quarter after the score. Defensive lineman Grady Jarrett left the game with an Achilles strain. Linebacker Kaden Ellis led the defense with 13 total tackles (two for a loss), eight solos, one sack, and three quarterback hits.

What's next?

The Cowboys will return home to face NFC East rivals Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday, November 10.

The Falcons will play New Orleans Saints on the road earlier that same day.

Onside kick fails

Cowboys' only hope was the onside kick, but it was unsuccessful. Falcons win it.

Cooper Rush makes TD pass

With Prescott out, Cooper Rush made a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert to make it a one-score game. They went for 2 and CeeDee Lamb made the catch despite playing through a shoulder injury. 

Prescott left with injury

Prescott had a swollen hand, but ended up leaving the game with a hamstring injury, which ruled him out for the rest of the game. 

Cooper Rush took over in the 4th quarter.

Allgeier TD

They made it two in a row with this rushing TD by RB Tyler Allgeier

McCloud TD

After halftime, the Cowboys turned the ball over to give the Falcons a chance at another score and they did so with this touchdown by Ray-Ray McCloud

FALCONS DEFEAT COWBOYS

Cousins takes the knee x3 and the clock will run out.

Aubrey kicks onside 7 yards and it has to get to the 45...only makes it to the 42 and Pitts gets on it without trying to take it further - Falcons get the ball and can run out the clock.

Time for the onside kick...

Cowboys make it a onne-score game with 1:28 to go. Rush's pass to Tolbert was caught for 4 yards and the touchdown. They go for two and it was COMPLETE to Lamb.

Lamb back in the game catches the 2-point conversion!

Rush pass incomplete to Brooks - 2nd and goal

Rush FUMBLES, but picks it back up for 4 yards - 1st and goal

Rush pass incomplete to Tolbert - 3rd and 1

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

That takes us to the 2-minute warning.

Cowboys are down by two TDs with Prescott and Lamb both out. They have the ball at 2nd and 1 at the Falcons' 8.

Rush pass complete to Turpin for 9 yards - 2nd and 1at the Falcons 8

Rush pass complete to Dowdle who picks up 13 and another 1st down at the Falcons 17

Rush's pass DEEP to Tolbert is incomplete in the end zone - 2nd down at the Falcons 30

Rush's pass to Flournoy is complete for 13 yards and another 1st down

Falcons' Terrell was injured during the play

Rush's pass to Turpin was good for 22yards and the 1st down

Rush's pass nearly picked off by Grant, incomplete - 3rd and 5

Rush pass to Turpin complete for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Rush pass to Brooks complete for 16 yards - 1st down

Rush pass incomplete to Ferguson - 2nd and 10

Pinion punts to the Cowboys 11 and Turpin gets just 3 yards this time, pushed out of bounds by Brooks at the 14

Cousins pass incomplete to Mooney - 4th and 5

Cowboys takes second timeout

Robinson loses a yard, taken back by Wilson - 3rd and 5

Cowboys take first timeout

Robinson picks up 6 yards - 2nd and 4

Rush's pass to Turpin incomplete with Alford on him - 4th and 11

Cowboys' Lamb has landed hard on the same shoulder twice now and he's coming out of the game frustrated and in pain

Rush pass incomplete to Lamb - 3rd and 11

Rush pass caught by Lamb for 7 yards - 3rd and 11

False Start on Cowboys' Guyton- 2nd and 18

Rush pass to Luepke for a loss of 3 yards - 2nd and 13

Rush pass complete to Lamb for 4 yards and the 1st down

Rush pass incomplete to Lamb with Bates all over him - 3rd and 2

Dowdle picks up 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Rush pass caught by Ferguson for 14 yards and the 1st down

Rush pass in complete to Lamb - 2nd and 10

Pinion's 55-yard punt is returnedbyTurpin for 16 yards, which could have been much more but he stepped out of bounds at the 44

Cousin's pass is incomplete with Liufau getting his arm in there. Looked like a fumble, but it was a forward pass, incomplete - 4th and 7

Cowboys' Overshown is slow to get up after that play

McCloud gets a gan of 7 - 3rd and 7

Overshown takes Robinson back 4 yards - 2nd and 14

Anger punts to the Falcons 15 - fair catch called by Williams

Rush gets rid of the ball under pressure - 4th and 11

Rush pass incomplete to Lamb - 3rd and 11

Rush's pass to Lamb was incomplete, but Dallas is called for IllegalFormation - 5 yards, 2nd and 11

Dowdle picks up 4, 2nd and 6

Dowdle gains 9 for the first down

Rush to Ferguson for 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Prescott OUT, Rush IN

Cooper Rush is in at QB for the Cowboys

Pinion kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30

Cowboys' Prescott seems to be dealing with both a hand injury and a hamstring issue, which has ruled him out for the rest of the game

The Falcons got down into Cowboys territory led by a 29-yard run by Bijan Robinson. It was running back Tyler Allgeier who got the touchdown on a 6-yard run. The Falcons went for a 2-point conversion but failed with Koo's pass falling incomplete. Falcons extend the lead by 15 points with 11:08 remaining in the game.

Allgeier gets 6 - 1st and goal

Robinson again gets another 4 - 2nd and 6

Robinson gets 4 and the 1st down

McCloud picks up 7 - 2nd and 3

Robinson gets a huge gain of 29 yards to the Cowboys 26

Robinson picks up 11 yards - 1st down

Cowboys' Thomas is down on the field

Aubrey kicks to the Falcons 5 and Williams takes it up 29 yards to the 34.

The Cowboys make it a one-score game to end the third quarter as Aubrey makes a 57-yard field goal.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Prescott under pressure by Judon, throws it away - 4th and 10

Prescott pass caught by Brooks for 10 yards - 3rd and 10

Prescott scrambles again but is SACKED by Ellis - 2nd and 20

Prescott scrambles for 5 yards but Guyton is called for Holding - 10 yards, 1st and 20

Luepke takes it up 5 for the 1st down

Prescott scrambles for 5 yards - 3rd and 5 

Prescott pass deep to Tolbert is incomplete - 2nd and 10

Prescott sneaks for 3 yards and the first down

Dowdle picks up 9 yards - 2nd and 1

Pinion punts to the Cowboys 39 - out of bounds

Cousins' pass to Mooney incomplete, broken up by Lewis - 4th and 4

Robinson picks up another 3 - 3rd and 4

Robinson runs it up 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Cousins' pass to Mooney caught for 16 yards and the 1st down

Allgeier gets 3 this time - 3rd and 5

Allgeier picks up 2 yards - 2nd and 8

Anger punts to the Falcons 1, downed by Clark

Cowboys called for Offensive Too Many Men on Field puts them at 4th and 6 so now they won't go for it.

Prescott's pass complete6 to Lamb juuust short - 4th and inches

Cook picks up 4 yards - 3rd and 7

False Start on Cowboys' Ferguson puts them back even more - 2nd and 11

Dalvin Cook gets 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Tolbert gets a 12-yard gain for the first down

Pinion kicks to the end zone -  Touchback to Cowboys 30

The Falcons took over in Cowboys territory after they turned it over and were able to get the score after several big runs by RB Bijan Robinson. Cousins' pass to McCloud for 11 yards in the end zone gave them the TD and Koo's PAT was good. Falcons extend their lead early in the second half with 10:23 still to go in the 3rd quarter.

Robinson is taken back by Overshown for a loss of 2 - 2nd and goal at the Cowboys 11

Robinson picks up back-to-back runs of 7, then 14 - 1st down

Robinson picks up 8 yards - 2nd and 8

Dallas faked the punt with Anger passing to Goodwin and it's nearly intercepted - incomplete and the Falcons take over at the Cowboys 38

Prescott pass caught by Ferguson but it's short of the first down - 4th and 2

Prescott pass to Lamb is caught but he's tripped up by Alford for no gain - 3rd and 5

Dowdle picks up 10 yards - 2nd and 5

FalseStart on Cowboys' Steele - ast and 15

And we're back!

Pinion kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30 

Dowdle's TD

Prescott snuck away from a sack, got the ball away to Dowdle in the end zone, he gets one hand on it, bobbles it, and catches it as he falls to the ground. The Cowboys trail by 4.

Mooney's 36-yard TD

The Falcons were able to maximize on that opportunity after getting the ball back and went for it on 4th down themselves. Except they actually converted, and more...they got a 36-yard touchdown run by WR Darnell Mooney.

Falcons get it right back

That didn't last long. The Cowboys went for it on 4th and 1, handing it to CeeDee Lamb, who was taken back by Kaden Ellis to give Atlanta the ball back yet again.

Donovan Wilson's fumble recovery

Dallas got a break in the second quarter when Cousins fumbled and Wilson recovered it 

Cousins-London connection

Falcons started off their scoring with a touchdown by WR Drake London

Now for some first half highlights...

END FIRST HALF

That'll take us to the end of the first half.

The Falcons lead 14-10.

Prescott's pass incomplete to Lamb

Falcons take second timeout

Prescott pass incomplete to Ferguson - 4th and 7

Falcons take first timeout 

Prescott spikes the ball to stop the clock - 3rd and 7

Prescott gets it to Ferguson for 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Prescott hits Lamb for 10 yards and the 1st down

Prescott gets it to Luepke for 7 yards - 2nd and 3

Pinion punts to the Cowboys 6 and Turpin takes it up 17 yards to the 23

Cowboys take final timeout

Cousins SACKED by Lawson for his second of the day and a loss of 5 yards - 4th and 11

Cousins pass to Mooney is incomplete with coverage by Diggs - 3rd and 6

Allgeier gets 4 yards - 2nd and 6

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

That'll take us to the 2-minute warning.

Falcons are up by 4 and have the ball at 1st down at their own 35

Cousins' pass to McCloud is FUMBLED but he recovers it at the Falcons 35 to get the first down

Cousins pass to Mooney for 4 yards

Cousins' pass was FUMBLED and Robinson recovered it for a loss of 2 - 2nd and 12

Cousins gets it to Robinson but he falls down and gets no gain - 2nd and 10

Aubrey kicks to the Falcons 2 and McCloud gets 21 yards to the 23

Well that was definitely not the prettiest touchdown I've ever seen, but the Dallas offense got it done. At 2nd and goal, Prescott moved back under pressure but got the ball away to Dowdle, who bobbled the ball with one hand and ended up falling and catching it in the end zone for the touchdown. Aubrey's PAT was good to make it a 4-point game with four minute until halftime.

Prescott tosses it up to Dowdle and he gets 3 yards - 2nd and goal at the 3

False Start on Cowboys' Smith - 1st and goal at the 6 now

Dowdle picks up 15 yards and is tackled at the Falcons 2 and an Illegal Use of Hands on Falcons' Jarrett gives them an extra yard - 1st and goal at the 1

Prescott scrambles away for 22 yards - the Cowboys' longest rush of the season - 1st down at the Falcons 17

Delay of Game on Cowboys - 5 yards, 2nd and 15

Prescott pass to Ferguson incomplete, lucky it wasn't an interception - 2nd and 10

Prescott passes to Lamb and he runs it up for 18yards to the Falcons 34

Prescott's pass is caught by Lamb on the ground for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Dowdle picks up 11 this time for the 1st down

Dowdle gets just 2 yards - 2nd and 8

Pinion kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30

The Falcons went for it on 4th and 3 at the Cowboys 36 and Cousins passed to Mooney who was wide open and ran it in 36 yards for the touchdown. Koo's PAT was good and the Falcons extend their lead with 8:28 left in the first half.

Cowboys take second timeout

Cousins to Pitts pass complete for a pickup of 11 yards - 4th and 3 at the 36

Allgeier gets the 1st down this time with a pickup of 16 yards but it's called back due to a Holding call on Falcons' Matthews - 3rd and 14

Allgeier is tackled by Overshown for a loss of 2 yards - 3rd and 4 

Robinson runs up the middle for 8 yards - 2nd and 2

Robinson catches the ball and runs it up for a 10-yard gain and the 1st down

The Cowboys give it to Lamb and he's pushed back 3 yards by Ellis - Falcons take over yet again at their own 47 

Cowboys take first timeout

Dowdle takes it but Jarrett stopped him - 4th and 1 and Cowboys will go for it

Prescott pass to Ferguson and he's just short of the first down -  3rd and 1

Prescott pass to Tolbert for 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Dowdle picks up 7 yards and a 1st down

Prescott to Lamb caught for 7 yards - 2nd and 3

Cousins was SACKED by Lawson for a loss of 8 yards and he FUMBLES the ball. It's recovered by DALLAS' Donovan Wilson at the Cowboys 33 and their offense will take over there.

Cousins pass to Robinson caught but he's pushed back by Lewis, who as you can see, is back in the game

London's 9-yard TD

Cousins' pass to London in the end zone caught with Diggs on him.

END FIRST QUARTER

At the end of the first quarter, the Falcons are in the lead after a touchdown by London. The Cowboys trail with just a field goal on the board. 

Falcons have the ball at 2nd and 8 at the Cowboys 31 to start the second quarter.

Robinson picks up 2 yards - 2nd and 8 

Falcons go for it on 4th and 4 and Cousins' pass to Mooney is caught for 10 yards despite having Carson all over him - 1st down at the Cowboys 33

Cowboys' Jourdan Lewis was injured on the play 

Cousins passes to Hodge and he picks up 9 yards - 4th and 4 at the Cowboys 43

Robinson picks up 2 yards - 3rd and 13

False Start on Falcons' McCloud, 5 yards - 2nd and 15

Robinson taken down by Odighizuwa for no gain - 2nd and 10

Anger punts to the Falcons 46 and Williams takes it up 5 yards to the 49

Prescott SACKED a second time in a row by Jarrett for a loss of 4 yards - 4th down

Prescott SACKED by Ebiketie for a loss of 3 - 3rd and 9

Dowdle picks up 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Pinion kicks to the Falcons 35 and Turpin took it up 48 yards for a huge return but it was called back due to a Holding call on Schoonmaker - 10 yards

The Falcons had huge plays from RB Bijan Robinson and WR Drake London to get into Cowboys territory fast. It was London who caught the 9-yard pass in the end zone for the touchdown and Koo's PAT was good to put the Falcons in the lead with 5:23 still to go in the first quarter.

Robinson runs to the edge and picks up 7 yards for the 1st down at the Cowboys 9

Robinson gets a yard - 3rd and 4

Robinson picks up 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Cousins pass deep to London caught for 18 yards to the Cowboys 22

Robinson pushes through the edge for 16 yards and another first down

Cousins pass deep is caught by Mooney for 22 yards and a first down

Aubrey kicks to the Cowboys 35 and McCloud gets tripped up after 21 yards to the Falcons 22

Cowboys went quick down the field, getting into the red zone in just three minutes. Falcons LB Kaden Elliss made two critical stops to force them into 4th down and they had to settle for the field goal. Brandon Aubrey made the 34-yard try to put the Cowboys up with 9:32 left in the first quarter.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Prescott pass caught by Lamb but he's taken down by Ellis after just 7 yards and Cowboys are at 4th and 5. They'll have to go for the field goal.

Dowdle takes the ball but Elliss pushes him back for a loss of 4 yards - 3rd and 12

Dowdle picks up just 2 yards this time - 2nd and 8

Prescott gets it to Ferguson again and it's another 15-yard run and 1st down to the Falcons 21

Dowdle gets a big run of 12 yards and another 1st down

Prescott passes to Ferguson and he runs it up for a big 27-yard gain and the 1st down

Pinion punts to the Cowboys 25 - Turpin calls for the fair catch

Cousins passes deep to Mooney but Diggs was all over him - incomplete, 4th down

Cousins tosses it to Robinson again and he picks up just a yard - 3rd and 8

Robinson took it up again 5 yards but Falcons' Neuzil was given a Holding penalty to put them back 10 and negate the first down - 2nd and 9

(15:00 - 1st) B.Aubrey kicks to the Cowboys 35 and Williams takes it up 24 yards to the 30 

Robinson takes it up 9 yards to start off - 2nd and 1

GAME TIME!

And we're off, Falcons will start us off on offense.

Here we go!!

One thing the Cowboys have going for them

Or rather one thing the Falcons don't have going for them that benefits the Cowboys, is that the Falcons are not a heavy pass-rush team.

Considering the Cowboys are getting nowhere on the ground (dead last with 74.1 yards per game, just eight rushes of 10 yards or more, and Rico Dowdle's 13-yard run being the longest of the season), the pass game is their only hope. 

The Falcons acquired outside linebacker Matthew Judon this season, who has 68 career sacks, but with Atlanta, he's got just 1.5 so far, and altogether the Falcons defense has just six sacks this season, last in the league.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott has already thrown seven interceptions this season after just nine all season long last year, but at least he and WR CeeDee Lamb finally seemed to be on the same page last week when Lamb caught 13 passes for 146 yards and two TDs. The challenge will be to repeat that again this week (and the next...and the next...) as it's pretty much all they've got going for them on offense right now. 

Falcons RBs vs Cowboys' run defense

I mentioned earlier how much Atlanta's run game has improved. Sadly, I can't say the same for the Cowboys' run defense, which was already bad last season and has only become worse this season.

The running back duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Algeier does not bode well for them as they are averaging close to five yards per carry this season. Mike Zimmer will likely stack the box to try to contain them, but if they can't, we could see a repeat of what the Detroit Lions did to them in Week 5...

Falcons and Cowboys Injury Report

Although right guard Chris Lindstorm has been listed as active for the Falcons, they will be without several others, including rookies Brandon Dorlus and JD Bertrand. Rookie defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro suffered an ankle injury last week but will be active against the Cowboys today.

Also active is center Drew Dalman, who returned from Injured Reserve this week after suffering an ankle injury in Week 3.

Atlanta Falcons' Inactives Week 9

LB JD Bertrand

OL Elijah Wilkinson

OL Jovaughn Gwyn

DL Brandon Dorlus (R)

OL Brandon Parker

LB Troy Andersen

RB Jase McClellan (R)

As for the Cowboys, they continue to be short-handed on defense with star edge rusher Micah Parsons and cornerback DaRon Bland both still out with injuries. Parsons suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 4 and Bland a stress fracture in the preseason, although he was activated from IR this week. Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips remains out since Week 3 with a wrist injury. One cornerback has been cleared to return at least and that's rookie cornerback Caelen Carson.

Cowboys Inactives Week 9

DE Micah Parsons

RB Ezekiel Elliott

CB DaRon Bland

DE K.J. Henry

OT Matt Waletzko

CB Andrew Booth

QB Trey Lance (emergency third QB)

COWBOYS

Why isn't Ezekiel Elliott playing for the Cowboys vs Falcons? What did he do?

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is out for today's game against the Falcons, and no, it's not due to his incredibly underwhelming performance this season...

Read more.

Lindstorm officially in for the Falcons

Falcons guard Chris Lindstorm was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report after suffering a knee injury in last week's win over the Bucs, but was expected to be okay to play against the Cowboys, and now he's officially listed as active.

Trevon Diggs active vs Falcons

Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs had an eventful week, and it was revealed on Thursday that he'd suffered a calf injury in practice. Fortunately, he'll still be active for today's game, but hopefully he doesn't aggravate the injury. Calf injuries can be tricky, and Dallas needs all the help they can get on defense, with Diggs being one of their key players.

Cowboys and Falcons: Where they stand in Week 9

The Dallas Cowboys are heading into this game at 3-4 with their only wins happening on the road. Their last game was a 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on the road. They have a banged-up defense with injuries to several key players that's been an issue all season. Their offense, though mostly healthy, has done nothing to salvage their performance as they are the worst rushing team in the league and have only one truly great receiver in CeeDee Lamb, who's been out of sync with quarterback Dak Prescott as of late. Last week's loss placed a bleak outlook on an already grim season, but a loss today would pretty much dash any remaining hope for the remaining games.

The Atlanta Falcons, on the other hand, have had a much better season than anticipated with Kirk Cousins under center. They sit at 5-3 and their latest win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it a season sweep over the NFC South rivals and put them in first place in their division. In that game, Cousins threw for three touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to pass for eight TDs against a single team in one season. In addition to Cousins leading the way, the Falcons' run game has improved with Bijan Robinson, who ranks ninth in the league in rushing yards with 546, and Tyler Allgeier.

Afternoon, everyone! Hope you all enjoyed your extra hour of sleep last night and are back on track for NFL Sunday.

It's Jen here to bring you live text updates of the Atlanta Falcons vs Dallas Cowboys game! Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia and I'm here to give you all the latest scores, commentary, and  highlights starting from an hour before game time.

Let's jump into some of the things you need to know before the game begins.