Cousins throws 3 TD passes, 1st-place Falcons hand Cowboys 3rd straight loss, 27-21

ATLANTA -- Kirk Cousins threw 3 touchdown passes and nan Atlanta Falcons maintained their clasp connected first spot successful nan NFC South pinch a 27-21 triumph Sunday complete nan struggling Dallas Cowboys, who took their 3rd consecutive setback and mislaid backmost Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury.

Cousins completed 19 of 24 passes for 222 yards, including 13 successful a statement astatine 1 constituent for nan Falcons (6-3). He had scoring plays of 9 yards to Drake London, 36 yards to Darnell Mooney and 11 yards to Ray-Ray McCloud, nan 3rd three-TD crippled of nan quarterback's debut play pinch Atlanta.

Tyler Allgeier capped nan Falcons' 5th triumph successful six games by powering into nan extremity zone from 6 yards pinch conscionable complete 11 minutes remaining.

The Cowboys (3-5) tried to rally down Cooper Rush aft Prescott was ruled out, having completed 18 of 24 for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Rush guided an 86-yard thrust successful nan closing minutes, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert and 2-point conversion. But nan Falcons recovered an onside footwear to seal nan victory.

It's nan longest losing streak for Dallas since a four-game skid during nan 2020 season, which is besides nan astir caller clip nan Cowboys vanished pinch a losing grounds (6-10).

They are connected their measurement to different successful 2024, having already matched their nonaccomplishment full from each of nan past 3 seasons.

Coach Mike McCarthy figures to beryllium nether moreover much power aft this performance, which included a clone punt that didn't person a chance, a 4th down expanse by receiver CeeDee Lamb that was thrown for a 3-yard loss, and botched sum successful which 3 protect backs sewage tangled up pinch each different and left Mooney each alone for his touchdown catch.

For bully measure, nan Dallas violative statement surrendered 3 sacks to a squad that came into nan crippled pinch an NFL-worst six sacks done nan first 8 weeks.

Atlanta mislaid its apical receiver successful nan opening 4th erstwhile London landed difficult connected his correct hep aft hauling successful nan scoring walk from Cousins. He rode an workout motorcycle connected nan sideline, trying to loosen up his hip, but was ruled retired for nan remainder of nan crippled astatine halftime.

Mooney and McCloud stepped up to capable nan void. Mooney had 5 catches for 88 yards, while McCloud hauled successful his first TD of nan play to make it 21-10 early successful nan 3rd quarter.

Bijan Robinson had different large time for nan Falcons, carrying 19 times for 86 yards and hauling successful a team-high 7 receptions for 59 yards.

Cowboys: Lamb was sidelined precocious successful nan crippled pinch what appeared to beryllium a correct enarthrosis injury, but he was capable to return. ... S Juanyeh Thomas hobbled to nan locker room to beryllium checked for a imaginable concussion. ... LT Tyler Guyton near pinch a cervix wounded but was cleared to return. ...DE Micah Parsons (ankle) and CB DaRon Bland (foot) didn't suit up.

Falcons: London vanished pinch 2 catches for 27 yards. ... DL Grady Jarrett near nan crippled pinch an Achilles strain. ... LB Troy Andersen (knee) missed his 5th consecutive game, while C Drew Dalman (ankle) has now missed six games successful a statement aft being ruled retired connected Saturday.

Cowboys: Return location adjacent Sunday to big nan Philadelphia Eagles successful an NFC East showdown.

Falcons: Travel to New Orleans adjacent Sunday to look nan Saints. Atlanta won nan first gathering betwixt nan NFC South rivals, 26-24 connected Sept. 29.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl