Falcons’ epic collapse against Dallas was an NFL first

Fans inside AT&T Stadium watch the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons warm up in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

A general, overall, view of AT&T Stadium before the Week 2 game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) warms up before facing the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Brandon Wade/AP)

Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Kaleb McGary (76) is attended to by team staff in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons offensive guard Kaleb McGary (76) is helped off the field after suffering a knee injury during the first half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley stretches the ball out for a touchdown during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Trysten Hill (72) rushes as Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Christian Lindstrom (63) defends allowing quarterback Matt Ryan (2) to throw a pass in the first half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrated touchdown pass to tight end
Hayden Hurst (81) in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons running back Brian Hill (23) runs the ball as Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Trysten Hill (72) attempts to make a stop Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn watches a play against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) fumbles the ball after being sacked by Falcons linebacker Deion Jones (45) with help from defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. (56) in the first half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Cowboys defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford (left) pressures as Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass in the first half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo (7) and long snapper Josh Harris (47) celebrate a successful field goal attempt in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) catches his second touchdown of the day against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage (83), Olamide Zaccheaus (17) and Matt Gono (73) celebrate with Calvin Ridley (18) after Ridley caught a pass for a touchdown Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, against he Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Cowboys defensive tackle Antwaun Woods (99) helps to stop Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) from gaining extra yardage on a scramble in the first half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) barrels over Falcons safety Damontae Kazee (27) as he runs toward the end zone for a touchdown Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) exchanges words with Falcons defensive end Takk McKinley (98) between Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons defensive back Darqueze Dennard (left) and Grady Jarrett (97) stop Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) from gaining extra yardage on a run Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons defensive tackle Jacob Tuioti-Mariner (91) rushes after the quarterback Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. Tuioti-Mariner substituted in for Takk McKinley against the Cowboys after he was sidelined with a groin injury. (Brandon Wade/AP)

Falcons strong safety Damontae Kazee (left) and linebacker Deion Jones (right) combine to stop Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) from gaining yardage after a catch Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (center) squeezes into the end zone for a touchdown in the second half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, against the Atlanta Falcons in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons' Steven Means (55), Brian Hill (23) and others celebrate with Russell Gage (83) after his touchdown catch Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (17) catches a pass in front of Dallas cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) in the second half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage (83) catches a touchdown pass in front of Cowboys' Xavier Woods (25) and Chidobe Awuzie (24) in the second half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch in front of Dallas Cowboys' Chidobe Awuzie (24) in the second half Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley (21) runs the ball in the second half against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (17) watches the onside kick roll before Dallas cornerback C.J. Goodwin (29) dives on the ball to recover the ball for the Cowboys in the closing minutes Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. The recovery led the Dallas' 40-39 victory over Atlanta. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

Dallas' Justin March (59) and Dorance Armstrong (92) look on as C.J. Goodwin (29) recovers an onside kick against the Falcons late in the game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/AP)

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Credit: AP

Fans inside AT&T Stadium watch the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons warm up in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Michael Ainsworth/AP)

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

Sept 21, 2020

When the Falcons do it up, they do it really big.

The Falcons had 39 points and zero turnovers in their loss against the Cowboys. Entering Sunday, teams were 440-0 when scoring 39 points with no turnovers since 1933, when turnovers were first tracked, according to Elias.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, teams were 1,875-6 when leading by 15 or more points in the final five minutes of regulation over the past 20 seasons. The last team to overcome such a deficit was the New Orleans Saints against Washington in 2017.

About the Author

D. Orlando Ledbetter

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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