| Advertisement |
ARLINTON, Texas, Sept. 27 -- Wide receiver Julio Jones caught a pair of touchdown passes and backup running back Devonta Freeman scored three times for the Atlanta Falcons, who rallied from a 14-point deficit with 25 unanswered points to improve to 3-0 in a 39-28 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium. Quarterback Matt Ryan was firmly in command, thanks to the combo of Freeman and Jones, who now leads the NFL with 34 receptions in three games.
Advertisement
The Cowboys (2-1) knew what to expect out of Jones, who came in with consecutive 100-yard receiving games. Freeman, on the other hand, was filling in for injured rookie back Tevin Coleman (ribs).
Jones finished with 12 catches for 164 yards and two scores, the second putting the game away with 3:09 left in the fourth quarter.
Freeman piled up career highs in yards (141) and touchdowns after totaling just 43 yards in the first two games. The second-year back out of Florida State had just two career scores before Sunday.
The Cowboys, in their first full game without injured quarterback Tony Romo and receiver Dez Bryant, had their highest scoring game of the season and several standout performances, but failed to push the ball downfield.
Running back Joseph Randle scored three touchdowns, all in the first half, and quarterback Brandon Weeden (22-of-26 for 232 yards, one interception) was efficient in his second start since joining the Cowboys as Romo's backup in 2014.
The Falcons rallied from an 11-point deficit at the half with two unanswered touchdowns to take a 32-28 lead.
Jones broke free on Atlanta's second possession of the second half, scoring on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Ryan (24-36, 285 yards, two TDs) followed with a two-point conversion to tight end Levine Toilolo to pull within 28-25.
After forcing a Dallas punt, Freeman found the end zone for the third time to put the finishing touchdowns on a methodical drive that covered 89 yards.
Dallas dominated the first half behind an offensive line that gave Weeden time to operate and opened up holes for whoever he handed the ball off to.
The Cowboys didn't need long to get on the board, riding two big runs from Randle on their opening drive. After scampering 28 yards on his first touch, Randle broke a couple of tackles at the line and outraced the Falcons to the goal line for a 37-yard score.
Dallas was up 14-0 midway through the first quarter after Randle's second touchdown run. Weeden played a bigger role on the 77-yard march, completing all four of his attempts for 56 yards before Randle finished it off from a yard out.
Ryan, perhaps feeling a sense of urgency, engineered an impressive 80-yard touchdown drive in 11 plays. Freeman carried the ball the last three yards for Atlanta's first score.
The Cowboys made it 21-7 halfway through the second quarter with another ground-based possession. This time running back Darren McFadden scored on a short dash around the left side.
Atlanta cut it to 21-14 after Weeden's first incompletion, which also happened to be an interception by safety William Moore.
Freeman capped the quick 23-yard drive with his second touchdown from two yards out.
Dallas didn't settle for a seven-point lead going into the locker room, going 80 yards in just 98 seconds for Randle's third rushing touchdown.
With only 40 seconds before halftime, Ryan got the Falcons into field-goal range. Kicker Matt Bryant's 32-yarder cut Dallas' lead to 28-17 at the break.
NOTES: Cowboys rookie G La'el Collins made his first career start with G Ronald Leary (groin) out. Other Dallas inactives were: DE Jeremy Mincey, QB Matt Cassel, WR Dez Bryant, RB Christine Michael, DE Randy Gregory and TE Geoff Swain. QB Tony Romo was placed on the IR/designated to return list last week. ... Atlanta inactives: WR Devin Hester, LB Brooks Reed, T Jake Long, RB Tevin Coleman, C Gino Gradkowski and T Bryce Harris. ... Dallas is at New Orleans next Sunday, while the Falcons host Houston.
