The Dallas Cowboys visit the depleted Atlanta Falcons at the fabulous Georgia Dome. The 8-5 Texas team got marched all over by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night. Atlanta is coming off of a little pick me up after beating the shameful Buccs. Atlanta improved to 7-6 but has almost completely written off post season contention.
After being nearly flawless since taking over the starting job, quarterback Tony Romo looked like a backup in the Dallas Cowboys' last game. He'll try to rebound from a poor performance and keep the Cowboys pointed toward the playoffs when they visit the banged up Falcons (7-6) on Saturday.
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Dallas appeared to be sailing toward a division title and a first round bye under the direction of Romo. He won five of his first six starts, threw 10 touchdowns to only four interceptions and jumped to the top of the NFL in passer rating.
He looked ordinary, however, in a 42-17 loss to New Orleans on Sunday that snapped the Cowboys' four-game winning streak and cut the Cowboys' lead in the NFC East to one game. Romo was just 16 for 33 for 249 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
With some help, Dallas can clinch at least a wild-card spot this weekend. If the Cowboys beat Atlanta and the New York Jets beat or tie Minnesota, then either New Orleans would have to beat or tie Washington or Pittsburgh would have to beat or tie Carolina to put Dallas into the playoffs.
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Atlanta, trailing New Orleans by two games in the NFC South, would probably see its playoff chances ended with another loss. The Falcons have the same record as wild-card leaders New York and Philadelphia, but own a worse conference record than both teams and lost 27-14 to the Giants in Week 6. The Falcons visit Philadelphia in the season finale.
"It gives momentum, a bit of confidence going into Saturday's game against Dallas," Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick said of Sunday's victory. "We get that win, we get ourselves back into playoff contention, and we'll take it from there."
Vick, who could assume more of a running role this week with the tailback injuries, needs 35 yards to pass Bobby Douglass for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season, Vick had only five yards on three carries against Tampa Bay, leaving him with 934 on the season. Douglass had 968 rushing yards for Chicago in 1972.
Falcons kicker Morten Andersen could become the NFL's all-time leading scorer Sunday. He has 2,433 points, one shy of Gary Anderson's league record. Andersen, who came out of retirement Sept. 19, has kicked for five teams in 24 seasons.
Dallas could come out of this a winner due to their depth chart. I like the -3 road favorite and hopefully a total over 43. Good luck!!
