Cowboys Will Try To Slow Matt Ryan And Undefeated Falcons
The Dallas Cowboys won their first two games of the 2015 NFL season to remain undefeated and in first place in the NFC East, but lost their two best offensive players in doing so. The Atlanta Falcons also won the first two games of their season, with wins over the exact same teams that Dallas beat. Now, the two teams will play in Week 3 to see which team is actually the better team. The difference is that Atlanta is healthy compared to the beaten and injured Cowboys.
Season Record
The Atlanta Falcons opened the season by beating the Philadelphia Eagles, 26-24, and then came from behind to score 14 unanswered points to beat the New York Giants, 24-20. The Falcons sit at 2-0 and sit tied with the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons on Offense
The Atlanta Falcons offense lies directly on the shoulders of Matt Ryan and the passing offense. In two games, the Falcons had 797 total combined yards, and 79 percent of the offense was passing yards. Matt Ryan has thrown the ball for 661 yards in the first two games, an average of 330 yards a game, and most of that offense comes from the resurgence of Julio Jones, one of the top receivers in the NFL in 2015. Jones has 22 receptions in two games for 276 yards. That is an astronomical amount that has Jones on pace to shatter the NFL single season records in both receptions and receiving yards.
Jones and Ryan aren't alone in the offense, either. Leonard Hankerson, Jacob Tamme, and Roddy White have combined for 22 receptions for 252 yards to make this Falcons offense one of the most explosive in the NFL right now. In the running game, rookie Tevin Coleman has run for 112 yards while holdover starter Devonta Freeman has 43 rushing yards. Since both games saw the Falcons fighting to the end, the rushing attack has been unneeded, but that doesn't explain the lackluster 3.03 yards per carry.
Atlanta Falcons on Defense
The reason that the Falcons had to throw the ball so much in the first two games is because their defense is not quite up to the level of their offense. In Week 2, the Cowboys defense completely dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, but that same offense saw Sam Bradford throw for 336 yards and Darren Sproles run for 50 yards against the Falcons. However, what kept them in the games was the fact that the defense was also opportunistic.
William Moore and Ricardo Allen both came out of week one with interceptions. They also had two fumble recoveries in two games. With Brandon Weeden at quarterback, and a running attack that is completely unproven, this is the worst offensive starting unit that the Falcons will have played so far this season. It also doesn't help that the Falcons can't get to the quarterback, with only two sacks in two games. The Falcons rank a low 27th in total defense, 29th against the pass but 11th against the run. With a backup quarterback in for Dallas, this could be the news that will help sway the game in the favor of Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons Players to Watch
While Matt Ryan is running this offense, and winning and losing rests on his shoulders, the offensive player to watch is Julio Jones. Against the Eagles, Jones caught nine passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns and against the Giants; he caught 13 balls for 135 yards. He is tied for the lead in the NFL in receptions with 22 and is second in yards with 276 yards. It is Jones who keeps getting open when the Falcons need to move the ball, and it is Jones that will help the Falcons continue to win this season. Dallas ranks 11th in the NFL in pass defense, and it is Jones they need to stop to win the game.
The biggest player to watch on the Atlanta Falcons defense is Justin Durant, who played for the Cowboys last season. Durant, thanks to the injury to Sean Lee, was the defensive play caller for Dallas in 2014, and has an intricate knowledge of Rod Marinelli's defense. He will have a huge role in helping the Falcons prepare for the Cowboys defense. However, he is also the top defensive player on the Falcons team, with 18 tackles on the season. With Dallas missing Romo and Bryant, they will have to run the ball, and that means getting past Durant in the linebacker corps.
Outlook
The Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys are both 2-0, but the Falcons have the advantage heading into Week 3. With Tony Romo out of action, the Cowboys will need to try to work the run, and that is where the Falcons are better when it comes to the first two games of the season. Add to the fact that Matt Ryan has thrown for over 300 yards a game, and the Cowboys are playing without their top cornerback in Orlando Scandrick. Dallas needs to control the clock to win the game, and that means running the ball well. Atlanta has the power to score fast, which is something Dallas is missing without Romo. This is a game Atlanta should win.
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Shawn S. Lealos is a freelance writer who graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He writes for a variety of national publications and has over 15 years of sports journalism experience. Follow Shawn on Twitter @sslealos. Examiner.com.