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Cowboys thoughts: Defense fails; Brandon Weeden can't make downfield throws
ARLINGTON -- It's hard to believe that the Cowboys led 21-7 at one point Sunday. But the good spirits inside AT&T Stadium quickly changed as Dallas' defense couldn't find a way to stop Devonta Freeman or Julio Jones.
Here are my thoughts on the Cowboys falling to 2-1 after losing to Atlanta 39-28 on Sunday.
1.) The Cowboys needed stops in the second half. They needed to contain Atlanta star receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman. They didn't. A defense that was starting to look like a team strength suddenly has a lot of question marks. The Falcons managed 25 unanswered points Sunday. Jones ended up with 12 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Freeman added 52 receiving yards to go along with 141 and three TDs on the ground. Without Tony Romo for the foreseeable future, that'll have to change if this team is going to stay in the playoff hunt. Greg Hardy, Randy Gregory and Rolando McClain can't get back quick enough.
2.) Brandon Weeden was solid in the first half. He took what the defense gave him and really only made one mistake, an interception that turned into a Falcons TD shortly after. Weeden headed to the halftime locker room 13 of 14 for 164 yards. But with the defense unable to hold Atlanta, Dallas needed Weeden to make some plays with his arm. That never happened. He consistently took the intermediate throws and that ultimately didn't get Dallas in position to score touchdowns. Can he make the downfield throws to win games until Romo gets back? If he can't, can Matt Cassel? We'll find out over the next few weeks.
3.) Joseph Randle set the tone early, opening the game with a 28-yard run. Three plays later the Cowboys were up 7-0. And the momentum carried over throughout the first half. Darren McFadden was effective as well. Randle had 10 carries, 92 yards and three touchdowns over the first two quarters. But it was all downhill after that. Randle and the Cowboys running game was completely shut down in the final two quarters. Randle was the first player with 3-plus rushing TDs and 90-plus rushing yards in first half since Joseph Addai in 2006. That obviously doesn't matter much in the end.
ARLINGTON -- It's hard to believe that the Cowboys led 21-7 at one point Sunday. But the good spirits inside AT&T Stadium quickly changed as Dallas' defense couldn't find a way to stop Devonta Freeman or Julio Jones.
Here are my thoughts on the Cowboys falling to 2-1 after losing to Atlanta 39-28 on Sunday.
1.) The Cowboys needed stops in the second half. They needed to contain Atlanta star receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman. They didn't. A defense that was starting to look like a team strength suddenly has a lot of question marks. The Falcons managed 25 unanswered points Sunday. Jones ended up with 12 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Freeman added 52 receiving yards to go along with 141 and three TDs on the ground. Without Tony Romo for the foreseeable future, that'll have to change if this team is going to stay in the playoff hunt. Greg Hardy, Randy Gregory and Rolando McClain can't get back quick enough.
2.) Brandon Weeden was solid in the first half. He took what the defense gave him and really only made one mistake, an interception that turned into a Falcons TD shortly after. Weeden headed to the halftime locker room 13 of 14 for 164 yards. But with the defense unable to hold Atlanta, Dallas needed Weeden to make some plays with his arm. That never happened. He consistently took the intermediate throws and that ultimately didn't get Dallas in position to score touchdowns. Can he make the downfield throws to win games until Romo gets back? If he can't, can Matt Cassel? We'll find out over the next few weeks.
3.) Joseph Randle set the tone early, opening the game with a 28-yard run. Three plays later the Cowboys were up 7-0. And the momentum carried over throughout the first half. Darren McFadden was effective as well. Randle had 10 carries, 92 yards and three touchdowns over the first two quarters. But it was all downhill after that. Randle and the Cowboys running game was completely shut down in the final two quarters. Randle was the first player with 3-plus rushing TDs and 90-plus rushing yards in first half since Joseph Addai in 2006. That obviously doesn't matter much in the end.