Playing a complete football game means keeping your foot on the gas for all four quarters, and while the Atlanta Falcons have had plenty of success this season, many of their wins have come down to the wire.
The team is 6-3 after nine games, but rarely have all three phases played well. However, that was not the case during Sunday’s 27-21 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the final score, the Falcons were firmly in control throughout the afternoon.
After the game, we asked head coach Raheem Morris if Sunday’s performance was Falcons’ most complete win of the season.
“It’s hard to say right now before I watch the film,” Morris said. “But we talk about some of the complementary things that happened. That was pretty positive. I can say that was a really good feeling and a good look.”
But there is another way to look at what a “complete game” truly is. While it hasn’t always been pretty, the Falcons have consistently shown up in clutch moments. Morris highlighted some of the different ways the team has won games.
“There have been some really well-done, complete games orchestrated by these guys in the comeback and execution of the slide over the time out, kicking the long field goal to put you in overtime,” Morris said. “Going out there on offense and executing, being able to run right down the field and score and not letting them go back out there. While at the same time, causing some big-time turnovers in the Tampa game.”
The Falcons scored a touchdown in every quarter of Sunday’s win over the Cowboys. Self-inflicted wounds were an issue early on for both Atlanta and Dallas, but the Falcons seized control by taking advantage of their opportunities.
“It was a positive day coming out with a win, guys made plays, but there are always going to be things I’m going to nitpick,” quarterback Kirk Cousins said after the game. “Would love to have pulled away, but we were unable to do that.”
Still, the Falcons were firing on all cylinders with solid special teams play, another standout showing from Cousins and three sacks from the defense — the unit’s highest single-game total this season.
Atlanta will look to keep the momentum rolling when the team travels to New Orleans. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen on Monday following the team’s seventh consecutive loss.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 10 in Caesars Superdome.
