The doors may have been open, but there was no airing out the product the Cowboys were putting on the field in their home opener at AT&T Stadium. The club was wrecked from before opening kickoff. Not necessarily because of the myriad of injuries that saw them starting two UDFA tackles with just two career starts between them, but they were clearly in their own heads when they took on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2. The offense was a total clown show in the first quarter, fumbling the ball away on seemingly every snap.
Dak Prescott once, Ezekiel Eliott twice (one lost) and tight end Dalton Schultz for good measure; the Cowboys lost three fumbles that allowed the Falcons to race out to a 20-0 lead. The offense did eventually collect their composure and put together several fruitful drives, but special teams gambles went up in smoke and Mike Nolan’s defense allowed the Falcons to score on 8 of 9 drives to thwart every comeback attempt. But somehow, fate had a different game plan for them. A late bomb to Michael Gallup set up Prescott’s third rushing score of the game. Somehow, inexplicably the Falcons failed to pounce on an onside kick attempt allowing Dallas to get it at the 10-yard mark, and a Greg Zuerlein kick bent back inside the goalposts.
Suddenly, miraculously, the Cowboys avoided an 0-2 dumpster fire and pulled off the 40-39 victory.
Leading Passer: Prescott 34/47 450 yards, 1 touchdown (3 rushing)
Leading Rusher: Elliott 22 carries, 89 yards 1 touchdown
Leading Receiver: Schultz 8 receptions, 88 yards, 1 touchdown
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