Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons: 2024 Week 9 Recap

Game story

In Week 9 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-11-03, the Atlanta Falcons took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys, pulling away with a 27–21 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) paced the passing game, with -2.55 total EPA, and +6.6% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, K. Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +8.40 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+13.2% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (8:34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 K. Cousins · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +8.40 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Mooney · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +7.12 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.79 EPA/play
3. 3 R. McCloud · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
4. 4 R. Dowdle · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +3.07 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
5. 5 D. London · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +2.79 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.39 EPA/play
6. 6 R. Dowdle · Dallas Cowboys · Receiving · +2.13 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.35 EPA/play
7. 7 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +1.74 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
8. 8 H. Luepke · Dallas Cowboys · Rushing · +1.52 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.52 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Atlanta Falcons — D. London (K. Cousins pass) (Q1 50:27)
• Atlanta Falcons — D. Mooney (K. Cousins pass) (Q2 38:34)
• Dallas Cowboys — R. Dowdle (D. Prescott pass) (Q2 34:11)
• Atlanta Falcons — R. McCloud (K. Cousins pass) (Q3 25:29)
• Atlanta Falcons — T. Allgeier (Q4 11:15)
• Dallas Cowboys — J. Tolbert (C. Rush pass) (Q4 1:32)

Field goals

• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q1 54:36)
• Dallas Cowboys — B. Aubrey (Q3 15:05)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 16 (Q1 54:36) — (9:36) 17-B.Aubrey 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 9 (Q1 50:27) — (5:27) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short left to 5-D.London for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q1 50:23) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..

The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 13–7. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 36 (Q2 38:34) — (8:34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 15 (Q2 38:28) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 3 (Q2 34:11) — (4:11) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q2 34:01) — 17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The third quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 7–3. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 11 (Q3 25:29) — (10:29) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 34-R.McCloud for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the DAL 15 (Q3 25:23) — 6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Dallas Cowboys connected on a field goal from the ATL 39 (Q3 15:05) — (:05) 17-B.Aubrey 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger..

The fourth quarter: Dallas Cowboys won the period 8–6. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the DAL 6 (Q4 11:15) — (11:15) (No Huddle) 25-T.Allgeier right tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys found the end zone from the ATL 4 (Q4 1:32) — (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle to 1-J.Tolbert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Dallas Cowboys registered a safety from the ATL 2 (Q4 1:28) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-C.Rush pass to 88-C.Lamb is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 38:34) — (8:34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.2% · EPA +5.42]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 34:11) — (4:11) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +9.2% · EPA +1.41]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q3 28:15) — (13:15) (Punt formation) 5-B.Anger pass incomplete short right to 29-C.Goodwin. [WPA -9.0% · EPA -2.98]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:08) — (1:08) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney to DAL 33 for 10 yards (21-C.Carson). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +3.47]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:26) — (11:26) 88-C.Lamb right end to ATL 47 for -3 yards (55-K.Elliss). [WPA -7.4% · EPA -3.60]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 38:34) — (8:34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +13.2% · EPA +5.42]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q2 44:25) — (14:25) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins sacked at DAL 40 for -8 yards (55-C.Lawson). FUMBLES (55-C.Lawson) [55-C.Lawson], touched at DAL 38, RECOVERED by DAL-6-Do.Wilson at DAL 33. [WPA -7.0% · EPA -4.42]
• Dallas Cowboys (Q2 41:26) — (11:26) 88-C.Lamb right end to ATL 47 for -3 yards (55-K.Elliss). [WPA -7.4% · EPA -3.60]
• Atlanta Falcons (Q1 46:08) — (1:08) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney to DAL 33 for 10 yards (21-C.Carson). [WPA +8.6% · EPA +3.47]

Quarterback report card

D.Prescott led all passers in efficiency for Dallas Cowboys, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) · 29 dropbacks · 62.1% completion · +6.6% CPOE · -0.09 EPA/play · -2.55 total EPA
• C.Rush (Dallas Cowboys) · 27 dropbacks · 48.1% completion · -15.3% CPOE · +0.02 EPA/play · +0.65 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Atlanta Falcons held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.02 vs -0.04), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Atlanta Falcons: 11 drives, +1.33 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Dallas Cowboys: 11 drives, -3.65 total EPA, 4 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Atlanta Falcons leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• K. Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Prescott (DAL) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• C. Rush (DAL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q1 54:36 · ATL 16 · Score 3-0
   (9:36) 17-B.Aubrey 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
2. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 50:27 · DAL 9 · Score 3-6
   (5:27) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short left to 5-D.London for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
3. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 50:23 · DAL 15 · Score 3-7
   6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
4. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 38:34 · DAL 36 · Score 3-13
   (8:34) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 1-D.Mooney for 36 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Atlanta Falcons TD (+7) — Q2 38:28 · DAL 15 · Score 3-14
   6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
6. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q2 34:11 · ATL 3 · Score 9-14
   (4:11) (Shotgun) 4-D.Prescott pass short right to 23-R.Dowdle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Dallas Cowboys XP (+1) — Q2 34:01 · ATL 15 · Score 10-14
   17-B.Aubrey extra point is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
8. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q3 25:29 · DAL 11 · Score 10-20
   (10:29) (Shotgun) 18-K.Cousins pass short right to 34-R.McCloud for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q3 25:23 · DAL 15 · Score 10-21
   6-Y.Koo extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
10. Dallas Cowboys FG (+3) — Q3 15:05 · ATL 39 · Score 13-21
    (:05) 17-B.Aubrey 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-T.Sieg, Holder-5-B.Anger.
11. Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 11:15 · DAL 6 · Score 13-27
    (11:15) (No Huddle) 25-T.Allgeier right tackle for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Dallas Cowboys TD (+6) — Q4 1:32 · ATL 4 · Score 19-27
    (1:32) (Shotgun) 10-C.Rush pass short middle to 1-J.Tolbert for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Dallas Cowboys Safety (+2) — Q4 1:28 · ATL 2 · Score 21-27
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 10-C.Rush pass to 88-C.Lamb is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.