The Dallas Cowboys wrapped up their preseason on Friday night and did so with an emphatic win against the Atlanta Falcons. It was a night where just about everything went the Cowboys’ way and given what has been in the news lately with this team… that was a serious breath of fresh air.
Even though this was only the preseason it marked the first time that Brian Schottenheimer walked off of the field at AT&T Stadium with a win as the Dallas Cowboys head coach. As noted, the vibes were in sore need of improvement
and this really went a long way in that regard. Obviously other things have to be tended to and roster cuts loom.
Below you will find our recap of everything that happened broken down by quarter. Up next for this team is a trip to see the Philadelphia Eagles when everything officially counts.
Bring it on.
1st Quarter
The Atlanta Falcons began with the ball and started moving down the field rather quickly. Ultimately they got close enough for Younghoe Koo to attempt a 51-yard field goal and he pushed it left for a miss. A good sign!
You may be shocked to learn that the Cowboys got to work pretty quickly right after. They moved down the field really well and a big reason why was the running from Joe Milton and Deuce Vaughn (yes, really).
Milton even ran it in for the opening score of the game.
The good vibes get on coming for the Cowboys as they forced the Falcons to punt the ball away on their next possession. Two possessions in things were looking promising.
Dallas took over on offense once more and began to get back to work. Rookie Jaydon Blue got involved and showed the speed that we have all been anxious to see for some time. The Cowboys wound up in a goal-to-go situation and ultimately the aforementioned Blue found the endzone of the same color.
Things ended after the first with Dallas holding a 14-0 lead.
2nd Quarter
The quarter just about began with a Troy Pride interception, but there was a penalty on the Cowboys so Atlanta got to keep the ball.
Over the next few plays the Falcons got within scoring range and had to settle for another field goal attempt. This time Younghoe Koo was good and Dallas’ lead shrunk. 14-3.
The Cowboys could not get much going when they got the ball and again and punted for the first time on the night. Nobody pitches a perfect game. Thankfully the Falcons punted it right back. But then so did Dallas. Flip-flop.
The dam finally broke and the Falcons even broke another in terms of their touchdown drought to that point. Atlanta put seven more points on the board inside of the first half’s final minute.
There were 48 seconds left on the clock when the Cowboys got the ball back up 14-10. Give Brian Schottenheimer credit as he let the two-minute offense go to work.
The Cowboys got in position for Brandon Aubrey to try a long field goal. Very long.
It didn’t matter how long it was. Brandon Aubrey was good from 64 yards out!
17-10 Cowboys at halftime.
3rd Quarter
The Cowboys got the ball to start the second half and did not waste any time.
Joe Milton put together what was easily his best drive of his career with the Cowboys, one that included a designed run for him on 4th and short to keep it alive.
Shortly after that conversion Joe Milton found Jalen Brooks for a touchdown with one of the prettiest throws you will ever see.
Atlanta was unable to do much of anything with the ball and wound up punting it back to Dallas. It was at this point that we learned Joe Milton’s night was over as Will Grier entered the game.
Dallas would go on to punt to the Falcons and they were giving their next possession their all before the quarter ended with the Cowboys leading 24-10.
4th Quarter
The Falcons would go on to score by way of a field goal to narrow the Dallas lead to 24-13.
What was scary about the next possession for Dallas was that rookie running back Jaydon Blue appeared to be hurt. He walked off of the field under his own power and into the blue medical tent for full context.
Atlanta had the ball… until Shemar James took it!
You always want to score off of turnovers and that is exactly what the Cowboys did.
Phil Mafah was the one who found the endzone. It marked touchdowns from both rookie running backs in the game.
Amazingly the highlights were not done for the Cowboys, but the next one obviously came on defense.
Former friend Ben DiNucci was in at quarterback for the Falcons and threw it right to Robert Rochell.
The Cowboys wound up punting to the Falcons who clearly had some pride to play for.
That pride was not enough, though. Atlanta drove down and got right up near the goal line and even went for it on fourth down to try and make the score look more respectable.
The Dallas Cowboys defense denied them and won the game 31-13.
Preseason over!
