What We Saw: Week 10

The Patriots are back, and so is Patrick Mahomes, but the AFC is still a mess

Ben Brown
What We Saw 2 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Ravens @ Dolphins
Bills @ Jets
Buccaneers @ Football Team
Falcons @ Cowboys
Saints @ Titans
Jaguars @ Colts
Lions @ Steelers
Browns @ Patriots
Vikings @ Chargers
Panthers @ Cardinals
Eagles @ Broncos
Seahawks @ Packers
Chiefs @ Raiders

Falcons @ Cowboys

Final Score: Falcons 3, Cowboys 43

Writer: Chris Sanzo (@Doombot12_FF on Twitter)

 

This game was never in doubt, it was never close. This game effectively ended in the last seven minutes of the 2nd quarter. The score was 21-3. On their first two downs, Atlanta was able to gain one yard combined with two runs from Wayne Gallman and Mike Davis. On 3rd down and 9, Atlanta allowed a sack from Dorance Armstrong on a play where Jalen Mayfield did his best human turnstile impression. Punting from their own 15, CeeDee Lamb took a good punt and returns it out to the Dallas 40. They would later score and leave just 70 seconds on the clock. The Falcons then choose to press the matter, go three and out, and the Cowboys block the punt and recover in the end zone. Not that it mattered, but the Cowboys would convert on the two-point conversion as well after a penalty on the Falcons. It was an unmitigated disaster that led to a 4th quarter that featured Cooper Rush against Josh Rosen. This was a breakout game for the Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn coaching combo and they get to celebrate with their game balls after their victory today, Cowboys 43, Falcons 3.

(Warning: The sound gets a bit loud and muffled with celebration)

 

Dallas Cowboys

 

Quarterback

 

Dak Prescott: 24/31, 296 yards, 2 TD| 2 carries, 5 yards, TD

Cooper Rush: 3/3, 17 yards | 3 carries, -6 yards

 

Dak Prescott had a good day in the air in Dallas’ lopsided victory against the Falcons. He threw for nearly 300 yards and it was clear that McCarthy did his homework getting him prepped to take advantage of good matchups in the secondary. The most encouraging sign for this team, despite all the points and yards, was Dak running in a touchdown, even when he had Amari Cooper open in the end zone. I’m sure Amari’s fantasy managers disagree with my take here, but Dallas fans should be ecstatic. Prescott has seemed off a bit since coming back this season and suffering another injury this year was obviously not ideal, but finally tucking his shoulder and running through a defender, taking some hits on his way to the end zone, may have been exactly what he needed to shake his reluctance to make big plays with his feet.

 

 

Running Backs

 

Ezekiel Elliott: 14 carries, 41 yards, 2 TD | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 15 yards | 1/1, 4 yards

Tony Pollard: 11 carries, 42 yards | 7 targets, 6 receptions, 56 yards

Corey Clement: 6 carries, 20 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 5 yards

 

Both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard were mostly invisible. The Falcons played strong up front and the run game was just for picking up short downs and setting them further into holes for the passing game to pull them out of. Connor Williams had a rough night in run blocking and between him and the backup TEs, the backs were often met in the backfield with multiple defenders.

 

 

As a positive, they picked up some important downs by moving Connor McGovern into the fullback position. As a negative, that is a true testament to the struggle this week. Zeke was able to capitalize on a couple of short-yardage TDs, but they were set up by the offensive line and Zeke was unscathed falling into the end zone.

 

 

As is standard now, Zeke was outplayed by Pollard on a per touch basis, but even he couldn’t get much going, leading the backs with a sub-four-yard per carry average. Pollard was tied for second in targets to Lamb and had some big plays on the ground called back on penalties; overall, a solid not spectacular night.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

CeeDee Lamb: 7 targets, 6 receptions, 94 yards, 2 TD | 1 carry, 12 yards

Amari Cooper: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 51 yards

Michael Gallup: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 42 yards

Dalton Schultz: 2 targets, 1 reception, 14 yards

Noah Brown: 1 target, 1 reception, 18 yards

Sean McKeon: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards

Malik Turner: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards

 

Don’t get it twisted, CeeDee Lamb was an absolute monster, but this was a planned assault against poor Fabian Moreau. With Moreau again trailing in coverage, Lamb was able to haul in a TD near the goal line on a play that looked like a perfect pitch and catch. The reality is that the throw was a little late and behind Lamb, and a better defender would have a play on the ball. Maybe not much of a chance as Lamb uses his body to body the defender, while securing the catch, but more of a chance than Moreau who also could have been called for defensive pass interference on the play. Great night all around for the Lamb to Dak connection.

 

 

Amari Cooper has been a bit behind in targets and that has been largely due to injury. Against Atlanta he was efficient with his targets, but he also drew a lot of coverage from AJ Terrell, one of the better defensive backs in the league. With no need to force plays to the outside, Dak worked the middle of the field and when he was able to get a step in his slant route, Amari would catch it in stride and most importantly, in a position to shield himself from contact. Michael Gallup was able to return this week and was in perfect form. He made a couple nice catches downfield and dropped a 3rd down. It’s like he never left! Random side note, Sean McKeon recorded his first NFL catch in the game, kudos sir.

 

 

Atlanta Falcons

 

 

Quarterback

 

Matt Ryan: 9/21, 117 yards, 2 INT

Josh Rosen: 1/6, 14 yards, INT

 

This was a rough one for Matt Ryan. When you get intercepted by Trevon Diggs, it’s just another game against the Cowboys. When you get intercepted by Anthony Brown, things have gone wrong. Ryan faced pressure in his face all day and never looked comfortable. On the few dropbacks when he had any time, the coverage was air tight and he had to force a pass into tight windows. The play calling did not help him. The Falcons were committed to running on first down all night. It put a lot of pressure on Ryan to condense the offense especially with the constant threat of no pass protection. Josh Rosen came in and it is just alarming that he still has a job. I think it’s safe to say that he needs to step away from the game for everyone’s sake.

 

 

Running Backs

 

Cordarrelle Patterson: 4 carries, 25 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 14 yards

Mike Davis: 4 carries, 18 yards | 1 target

Wayne Gallman: 15 carries, 55 yards | 2 targets, 1 reception, 21 yards

Keith Smith: 1 carry, 5 yards

 

Wayne Gallman dominated the backfield in carries and it wasn’t close. It also wasn’t very effective. The Falcons were so short on playmakers that they were running 21 sets just to have multiple targets sit in the flat. It was not pretty. Cordarrelle Patterson sprained his ankle early in the game but was able to continue though it’s clear this was the reason for Gallman’s increased workload and Patterson only getting a combined six opportunities with two targets and four carries. Mike Davis was never able to establish himself in this game outside of a bad drop.

 

 

As a reminder, he was able to return, he was just limited and no updates are available as of yet.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Kyle Pitts: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 60 yards

Olamide Zaccheaus: 7 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards

Russell Gage: 3 targets, 0 receptions, 0 yards

Tajae Sharpe: 1 target, 1 reception, 0 yards

Frank Darby: 3 targets, 1 reception, 14 yards

Christian Blake: 1 target, 0 receptions, 0 yards

 

This team really misses Calvin Ridley. Outside of Kyle Pitts, there is just nothing here. Even Pitts was held nearly silent once they shifted coverage off of Diggs and on to Jourdan Lewis. No one was able to create separation, every window Ryan threw at was slammed shut immediately, and it seemed a Herculean feat to body out a defender or come down with a contested catch. The passing game was just Pitts and his three 15+ yard receptions on the first two drives and then nothing but deficiencies and drops after that.

 

 

Matt Ryan deserves better than this and the Falcons need to commit to a real rebuild.

 

— Chris Sanzo (@Doombot12_FF on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Ravens @ Dolphins
Bills @ Jets
Buccaneers @ Football Team
Falcons @ Cowboys
Saints @ Titans
Jaguars @ Colts
Lions @ Steelers
Browns @ Patriots
Vikings @ Chargers
Panthers @ Cardinals
Eagles @ Broncos
Seahawks @ Packers
Chiefs @ Raiders

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