GAME SET WHAT: Dallas Cowboys (3-2) vs. Atlanta (4-1)
WHEN: Sunday, 3:15 p.m. (CT)
WHERE: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TELEVISION: FOX (Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver)
BIG ISSUE: Both Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and owner and general manager Jerry Jones have called this game the biggest of the season thus far, so it's a good thing Dallas has had two weeks to prepare for it. If the Cowboys win, they're 4-2, and would be a half-game behind the Giants if New York falls to Arizona. If they lose, however, they could risk falling to third place in the NFC East, assuming the Eagles beat the hapless Redskins. And despite all of the division consequences with this game, the Cowboys need to prove they can beat good teams. The only opponents they've beaten hadn't won a game at the time, and their two losses have come against then-unbeatens. The Falcons represent a nice middle of the road, which are games the Cowboys must prove they can win.
The Falcons, meanwhile, are concentrating on keeping pace with undefeated NFC South rival New Orleans. It's too early to worry about wild-card standings, although dropping this game would muddy up the Falcons' lead in that respect. Unlike the Cowboys, the Falcons have played plenty of tough teams, with their past three games coming against clubs that currently boast winning records. Atlanta is 2-1 in that stretch, and hope to add the Cowboys to their wall of skins.
NUMBERS, PLEASE: One major storyline to Sunday's game will be Cowboys linebacker Keith Brooking facing his old team. The game will be a contest of who knows the other better, and Brooking may have the advantage. The Cowboys have been blitzing Brooking more than he used to in Atlanta, and with one sack, two tackles for losses and three quarterback pressures, he's on pace to have his highest sack total since 2005, when he had 3.5. It will be a side of Brooking with which his old team might not be too familiar.
Both Brooking and Phillips were surprised to see that Falcons running back Michael Turner has already eclipsed his fumble total from last year. In all of 2008, Turner only fumbled three times, losing only two. Already this season, he's coughed up the ball once in each of the past four games, although on the most recent two he's retained possession. The Cowboys will have to be better than they currently are at recovering fumbles - tied for second to last in the league with only two recoveries - in order to neutralize Turner.
ONE-ON-ONE: While the Mike Jenkins vs. Mike Jenkins matchup may sound more catchy/confusing, the biggest receiving threat the Falcons have is fourth-year receiver Roddy White. White is on pace to record his third-consecutive 80-plus catch, 1,200-plus yard season, and is set to score almost 13 touchdowns over 16 games. The Cowboys will rely on cornerback Terence Newman to keep him out of the end zone. Newman has been able to shut down some impressive receivers recently, including the Panthers' Steve Smith and the Broncos' Brandon Marshall (excepting Marshall's scoring play, on which Newman was in near-perfect coverage). White could prove to be a tougher challenge, simply because one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, Matt Ryan, will be throwing him the ball, as opposed to Kyle Orton or Jake Delhomme.
As always, the impetus will be on Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams to keep quarterback Tony Romo from hitting the turf too often. Adams' streak of keeping impressive pass-rushers at bay ended three weeks ago in Dallas' loss to Denver, in which he surrendered two sacks to Broncos outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil. This week he'll have to clash with Falcons defensive end John Abraham, who is tied for the team lead with three sacks (which is one more than DeMarcus Ware, if you want some perspective there). At 6-foot-4, 263 pounds, Abraham is almost 100 pounds lighter than Adams, and therefore much quicker, although the Cowboys hope that at 31, Abraham has lost a step or two.
SUPPORTING ROLE: One player who will have a large role this week wasn't even on the roster against the Chiefs - return specialist/cornerback Allen Rossum. Rossum will likely not see the field as a cornerback, but will take over punt return duties from wide receiver Patrick Crayton, and depending on the health of running back Felix Jones, possibly kickoff return duties as well. And unlike Crayton, Rossum is a home-run threat every time he touches with ball, with three punt return touchdowns and five kickoff return scores since starting his career in 1998. He hasn't fallen off much with age, either - he's had a return score in each of the past two years.
The Falcons haven't had the services of former Jaguars corner Brian Williams for long, and after only five games, they'll have to do without him again after Williams was placed on IR with a torn ACL. Second-year corner Brent Grimes will now receive only his ninth career start in Williams' place. Grimes has started two games already this season, although on the opposite side of the field, and has recorded 11 tackles and two passes defensed. Whether at only 5-foot-10 he has the ability to compete for jump balls with the Cowboys' pair of 6-foot-3 receivers, Miles Austin and Roy Williams, remains to be seen.
HEADSET GAMES: This week, the Cowboys defense will be faced with a rather unique task - stopping an offense that eerily resembles the one they face in practice every day. Like the Cowboys, the Falcons have a strong running game, a potent passing game, and one of the best all-around tight ends in the game in Tony Gonzalez. Dallas' solution will be to concentrate on the run first, which is why Brooking has said the most important battle in this game will be the Falcons' offensive line against the Cowboys' front seven. If Dallas can bottle up Turner, like Chicago and New England did, they will have the opportunity to concentrate on the passing game.
The Cowboys have to find some way to get tight end Jason Witten more involved in the passing game against the Falcons, especially in the red zone. With the rising prominence of Dallas' rushing attach, Witten has been held in more often to block, but inside the opponent's 20-yard line, where tight ends are their most dangerous in the passing game, Witten has been a non-factor, with only one score on the season, and that almost a month ago. Maybe to prevent drives stalling in opponent territory - the Cowboys are tied for 21st in red zone touchdown percentage and are 26th in goal-to-go situations - they'll look for Witten and second-year tight end Martellus Bennett more often near the goal line.
HEALTH WATCH:
Cowboys
The Cowboys' injury report is ten players deep, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, because every single one of them - starting receiver Roy Williams (ribs), starting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (foot), starting strong safety Gerald Sensabaugh (thumb), running back Felix Jones (knee), linebacker Curtis Johnson (hamstring), rookie safety Michael Hamlin (wrist), starting center Andre Gurode (knee), starting guard Leonard Davis (thumb), starting tackle Marc Colombo (ankle) and starting running back Marion Barber (thigh/thumb) - is listed as probable and practiced fully all week. Phillips has some concern about Williams' ribs, though, and said he'd wear protective padding if active.
Falcons
The Falcons will definitely be without the services of backup safety Antoine Harris, who is listed as out with a knee injury. Fellow backup safety William Moore (hamstring) and backup running back Jerious Norwood (hip) might not see the field, having been listed as doubtful after not practicing all week. Backup running back Ovie Mughelli (calf) was able to get on the practice field some Friday and is listed as questionable. Starting running back Michael Turner (chest) and backup tight end Justin Peele (ankle) are listed as probable after limited practice all week.
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