Here’s what Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had to say about the Cowboys, his team’s opponent at 1 p.m. Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas:

Q: What do you respect about quarterback Dak Prescott’s game?

A: His toughness. I think week in and week out he’s asked to do a lot, whether it’s stand in the pocket and throw. He’s on the move quite a bit, running the football, and he shows up.

Q: What did you see from Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith?

A: I thought he played well last week and got better as the game went on. Looked like he was knocking off a little bit of that rust. I thought he played really well in the second half. Played against him before. I know just how great of a player he is and how disruptive he can be.

Q: How will the Cowboys absorb the blow of losing linebacker Leighton Vander Esch due to an injury?

A: I think they will have somebody else step up. That’s part of it in this league. Every week, every team is dealing with something. … They certainly have more than enough talent on that side of the ball to be disruptive. So, we’ve got to be on top of our plan and play really well on Sunday to give ourselves a chance to be successful.

--

The Bow Tie Chronicles Podcasts:

Can be found on Google, iTunes and TuneIn

For more content about the Atlanta Falcons:

Follow me on Twitter @DorlandoAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta Falcons News Now

Atlanta Falcons coverage on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Have a question? Email me at dledbetter@ajc.com

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris looks onto the field from the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Credit: AP

Featured

In 2022, Georgia Power projected its winter peak electricity demand would grow by about 400 megawatts by 2031. Since then, Georgia has experienced a boom of data centers, which require a large load of electricty to run, and Georgia Power's recent forecast shows peak demand growing by 20 times the 400-megawatt estimate from just three years ago. (Illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC