Atlanta-Dallas: Falcons Soar into Texas for Week Seven Statement Game

The Dallas Cowboys host the Atlanta Falcons in a huge statement game. The Cowboys haven't defeated a team over .500 all season and losing this game could be the difference between making the playoffs and finishing a game out like last season.

The Atlanta Falcons are second in the NFC South only trailing only the New Orleans Saints. Second year quarterback Matt Ryan is the reason the Falcons are a pass happy team; Ryan is having a solid season going 101-156 for 1162 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions.

Ryan's favorite is receiver Roddy White, who leads the Falcons in receptions, yards and touchdowns with 27 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns.

White along with tight end Tony Gonzalez is sure to create problems in the Cowboys' secondary. Gonzalez is the Falcons second leading receiver with 23 catches for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

The running game for the Falcons is ranked 24th in the NFL averaging just 98 yards per game.

Michael Turner leads the running game with 100 carries for 353 yards and six touchdowns, but Turner has been fumble prone this season with four and two were recovered by the opposition. The Cowboys run defense has been their only bright spot on defense so the Falcons may have trouble moving the ball on the ground.

The Falcons defense gives up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. They're 24th in yards per game, giving up 359. However they're fourth in the league in points given up per game at 15.4.

Leading the Falcons defense is linebacker Curtis Lofton, who has a team leading 57 tackles on the season. John Abraham and Kroy Biermann are tied with three sacks each for the team lead.

The Falcons defense is better at defending the pass than they are at defending the run. The Falcons give up an average of 241 yards passing per game which is 21st in the league, but they give up 118 on the ground, which isn't good because the Cowboys are third in the league averaging 160 rushing yards per game.

So you can bet that Tashard Choice and Felix Jones are excited.

For the Cowboys, this game could define their season. The turnovers, penalties and bonehead plays need to stop.

Tony Romo had a good game two weeks ago against the Chiefs and will try to build on that after a week of rest and reflection on his game.

Romo will get more chances to throw to Miles Austin, who's now starting opposite Roy Williams, while Patrick Crayton will now be the third receiver. However, Williams' status for Sunday is unknown as he's still experiencing pain in his ribs, if doesn't play then Crayton will start as the second receiver.

Romo will need to be accurate against a Falcons secondary that has five interceptions this season. He also needs to find a way to get Jason Witten involved. Witten is the team leader in catches with 28 and second in yards with 259, but has only one touchdown on the season.

The key to this game for the Cowboys offense is the running game. Choice will get the bulk of the carries according to owner Jerry Jones.

While Choice doesn't have a 100-yard game this season, he did rack up 92 yards against the Chiefs and 82 yards against the Panthers.

Jones will be back from his PCL tear and will wear a knee brace, but he should be fine to back up Choice. Barber is still fighting his quad strain; he was also diagnosed this week with a broken thumb and will wear a cast Sunday, so he'll probably get the least carries of the three.

The Cowboys' defense had a week to get things squared for this game and should be fine. They've been successful in stopping the run but the secondary has been burned three times this season by the opposition's two minute offense.

Linebacker DeMarcus Ware got his first two sacks of the season two weeks ago against the Chiefs, but Ware was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot earlier this week. He said that it hasn't contributed to his lack of productivity and that he'll be fine for Sunday's game.

If he can't go for some reason, expect Bobby Carpenter or Victor Butler to take Ware's place, which would mean Anthony Spencer will need to step up. The Cowboys let Greg Ellis go because they thought Spencer was ready, but he's shown little this season with just 13 tackles and no sacks.

Whoever is playing Wade Phillips will make sure that they're blitzing, and often. Especially if the Falcons have trouble running the ball and are stuck in a lot of third and long situations.

The secondary will need to have a stellar game this week. Terence Newman will most likely draw the assignment of covering Roddy White. Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick will also have a heavy load as the Falcons like to spread the ball around.

It would also go a long way toward winning if the Cowboys could force a turnover, although that's hard for them to do. The Cowboys have forced just four turnovers on the season in five games.

This game will be close just like every game the Cowboys have played against elite competition, but I can't see them winning. They haven't beaten anyone respectable and that's just what the Falcons are.

The Cowboys will keep the fans interested, but whether it's a turnover, the defense failing with minutes left in the game, or the offense shooting themselves in the foot with penalties, they'll do something that will cost them.

Falcons 24-20.