Falcons-Cowboys game day package

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Five things to watch against the Cowboys:

1. The Cowboys have a three-headed rushing monster in running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. When all three are healthy, the Cowboys rushing attack is nearly unstoppable.

This is the glaring statistical mis-match.

The Cowboys averaged 161 yards per game, third in the league. The Falcons give up 118.2 yards rushing, 23rd in the league.

Barber (thumb) and Jones (knee) have been slowed by injuries. Choice, the former Georgia Tech standout, has carried most of the load lately.

"I think the run game has been good for them," Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson said. "When something is going good, you stick with it."

2. The battle of the tight ends: There will be two Pro Bowl tight ends on the field in Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez and Dallas Jason Witten, who is the Cowboys leading receiver with 28 catches for 259 yards and one touchdown.

Gonzalez has dazzled early this season and is the Falcons' second-leading receiver with 23 catches for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

"Jason Witten is an outstanding tight end," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "I think they’re very similar in stature and what they’re able to do. Jason is a very good receiving tight end, just like Tony, but he is also a good blocker."

3. Keep the Sack Exchange closed: The offensive line is keeping Matt Ryan so clean that the guys in the equipment room haven't had to wash his uniform after the last four games.

Ryan has not been sacked since the third quarter of the opener against Miami, a stretch of 133 pass attempts.

Ryan is helping out. He has the good sense to throw the ball away if there isn't anything available down the field.

The Cowboys' pass rush has been coming on of late. They have 10 sacks over the last three games.

DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, the Dallas outside linebackers, have combined for just two sacks, but have had some success getting hits on the opposing quarterbacks.

Ware plans to play, but might be slowed by a stress fracture in his left foot.

4. Somebody better cover that Austin kid: Miles Austin was one of those small school sleeper kids coming out of Monmouth College. He turned some heads at the NFL Scouting combine and the  Cowboys took a flyer on him and signed him as a free agent after the 2006 draft.

That move is starting to pay off.

In his first career start, he caught 10 passes for team-record 250 yards receiving against Kansas City. He surpassed the previous mark of 246 yards that was set by Cowboys legend Bob Hayes against Washington in 1966.

Austin is a big receiver at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds and will present problems for the Falcons' smallish cornerbacks.

Also, wide receiver Roy Williams is a load at 6-3, 215

All of the Falcons cornerbacks are 5-11 or shorter.

5. Get the running game rolling: Running back Michael Turner only has one 100-yard rushing game and has struggled to get the run game going against 3-4 defenses this season.

Miami, New England and San Francisco all play 3-4 fronts and stopped the Falcons. Turner's only 100-yard game came against the Carolina Panthers, a 4-3 team.

Dallas is giving up 106.7 yards per game, 17th in the league. Atlanta is averaging 98.6 yards per game, 24th in the league.

"Really, with that 3-4 defense, it's really about recognizing the front," tight end Tony Gonzalez said. "You have to give a lot of credit to Mud Duck (center Todd McClure) because he's able to call out the defenses and let us know if it’s a (nickel) front or a 3-4 front."

Also, fullback Ovie Mughelli and running back Jerious Norwood are not expected to play against the Cowboys. Reserves Jason Snelling and Verron Haynes will likely be pressed into duty.

Snelling has played well in spot duty and is a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. Haynes saw his first action of the season last week against Chicago.

THREE KEY MATCHUPS:

Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton vs. Cowboys RBs Barber-Choice-Jones: It could turn into a long day if the Cowboys are able to unleash their stable of running backs. Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are a load. The Falcons have played the run well over the last two games. Lofton is the team's top tackler and will have to make sure nothing much gets to the second level.

Falcons LG Harvey Dahl vs. Cowboys ILB Keith Brooking: Dahl and Brooking will not have to be introduced. Dahl will be assigned at times to climb to the second level and knock Brooking's block off. The former Falcon leads the Cowboys in tackles and is playing well from his inside linebacker spot in Dallas' 3-4 alignment. He is making plays down hill inside of down field for the Cowboys.

Falcons CBs Brent Grimes, Chris Houston or Tye Hill vs. Cowboys WRs Miles Austin and Roy Williams: The Falcons are clearly probing for answers in the secondary after Brian Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury. Grimes and Williams started last week. Houston had been starting. But all of the Falcons corners will be giving up huge height advantages. They'll have to be feisty and try to bat down Tony Romo's passes.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Falcons will win if . .

1. Break out the no-huddle attack early: The no-huddle attack is the Falcons secret weapon. They are not starting games off well and should open the game with it. They have only two field goals, two three-and-outs and a stalled one-first down drive on five opening-game drives. The Falcons led the league with 114 first quarter points, but only have 24 this year. The Cowboys have given up just 10 first-quarter points this year.

2. Don't get Romo-nized: While the Cowboys rely on the run, they will be tempted to probe the Falcons secondary, which will be playing its first game without the stabilizer, Brian Williams. The unit was extremely shaky before he arrived. The coaches played musical cornerbacks with Brent Grimes, Chris Houston, Chevis Jackson, Tye Hill and rookie Chris Owens all week. Coach Smith wanted contingency plans for if someone falls down on the job.

3. Keep fighting: Even if things don't get off to a good start for the Falcons, they'll need to keep pressing on. Dallas has folded up like a house of cards in the fourth quarter this season. Three opponents have been allowed to tie the score late in the fourth quarter with long drives, including the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys have struggled to put teams away.