The dress rehearsal is over. The curtain has fallen on the Atlanta Falcons’ preseason, and the rookies have officially gotten their first taste of what life on the road in the NFL feels like. Now, the spotlight shifts to roster decisions and whether this team has done enough to be ready for a Week 1 clash with division-rival Tampa Bay.
Quick Game Recap
The Falcons closed out the preseason in Arlington with a 31-13 loss to the Cowboys. Atlanta leaned heavily on its third- and fourth-string players, using the matchup to evaluate depth and bubble talent. A win was never the expectation — live reps were the goal.
The Cowboys jumped out fast, punching in two rushing scores to grab a 14-0 lead. Atlanta answered with a Younghoe Koo 38-yard field goal, followed by Easton Stick’s 23-yard touchdown strike to Feleipe Franks, trimming the margin to 14-10 at halftime.
Dallas regrouped in the third quarter behind Joe Milton and never looked back. More rookie touchdowns and timely defensive stands sealed the deal, leaving the Falcons to settle for a preseason finale defeat.
Falcons by the Numbers
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Total Yards: Falcons 332, Cowboys 285 — Atlanta actually outgained Dallas.
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Time of Possession: Falcons 33:28, Cowboys 26:32 — strong control of the clock.
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Easton Stick: 20-for-28, 198 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
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Rushing Attack: 29 carries for 122 yards and 2 rushing TDs (Dotson led with 10 for 42 yards).
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Nick Nash: 6 receptions, 87 yards — a breakout night for the wideout.
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Turnovers: Falcons gave it away twice, proving costly.
Areas of Concern
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Quarterback depth: Stick looked steady enough to be a QB3, but is that insurance strong enough behind Kirk Cousins if trade rumors become reality?
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Offensive line depth: Rookie Jack Nelson and Brandon Parker struggled, leaving questions about protection and run blocking.
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Defense in the red zone: Dallas scored far too easily inside the 20.
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Secondary reliability: Who steps up as a nickel or backup corner? Henderson? Bryant? Ford? Alford? The competition remains wide open.
Final Whistle
The preseason is done and now comes the hard part — trimming down to the final 53-man roster. Some bubble players flashed enough to earn a practice squad spot, while others may be facing tough cuts.
One lingering question: Should Michael Penix Jr. have gotten a few preseason snaps? Even a series or two could have given him valuable live reps. Protecting starters is understandable, but football speed can’t be replicated in practice — and last season’s early injuries were proof enough.
Either way, the page turns quickly. The regular season is here, and with it, the defending NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers come rolling into Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Are the Falcons ready? We’ll find out soon. The auditions are over — time for the real show.
— Wink Bernard
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