Atlanta gave up 131 rushing yards in the opening half against the Cowboys, as Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and their league-best offensive line set a tone by moving the ball at will. This success, along with Brandon Weeden’s effective start, allowed them to find the end zone four times in the first 30 minutes.
But that pace didn’t last. Thanks to some negative runs, Dallas lost four yards on the ground after intermission and failed to tack on another point. And the Falcons’ offense, led by Devonta Freeman, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, became a well-oiled machine—one capable of mounting yet another big comeback.