Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
Spread: Falcons by 4
Records: Falcons (Overall: 7-0, NFC South: 1-0); Cowboys (Overall: 3-4, NFC East: 1-1)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Oct. 25, 2009: Cowboys 37, Falcons 21; Dec. 16, 2006: Cowboys 38, Falcons 28. Series Record: Cowboys have the series edge 14-8 and have won two straight.
What matters: The Falcons offense is built very much like the Cowboys with a pass-first attack but the biggest difference between the two is how careless Dallas has been with the football. Of the top-16 passing offenses in the NFL, only Dallas, which has thrown 13 interceptions to 10 touchdowns, boasts a ratio of more interceptions than scores. Conversely, the Falcons have the fifth-best such ratio in the NFL. Turnovers are generated at the line of scrimmage and the Falcons have benefitted from great pressure (19 sacks) all season. If Tony Romo gets flustered in the pocket, don’t be surprised if the opportunistic secondary, which is tied for third in the NFL with 10 interceptions, jumps a route or two.
Who matters: Matt Ryan. The early clubhouse favorite for MVP is Ryan, who continues to put up sterling numbers for the undefeated Falcons. He had a season-best 137.4 rating after last weekend’s game against Philadelphia, as he connected on 22 of 29 passes for 262 yards. He found three different receivers for touchdowns, and seven different wideouts overall. The Falcons offense has so many weapons and Ryan has done such a masterful job of feeding all of them, that defensive coordinators simply can’t matchup. If defenses play a zone against the Falcons, Ryan will target Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White across the middle, but if teams load up the secondary, Atlanta will turn to the running back tandem of Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers, who rushed for 118 yards last week. Dallas is known for their 3-4 defense but offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has plenty of tools to work with and hasn’t lacked in creativity.
Key matchups: The Cowboys’ passing attack is so similar to that of the Falcons that each defense may benefit from seeing the other’s offense in practice. Miles Austin is Dallas’ big-play threat. He is third on the team with 34 receptions but leads the Cowboys with four touchdowns and a 16.5 ypc average. Defensive back Asante Samuel will likely draw the matchup. An ankle injury to starting OLB Sean Weatherspoon will force second-year linebacker Akeem Dent into coverage on TE Jason Witten, whose 51 catches have led to 28 first downs, the most on the team. …LT Sam Baker will have his hands full with DeMarcus Ware, who’s tied for fourth in the NFL with 7.5 sacks. Baker’s name hasn’t come up a lot recently, which is usually a positive for an offensive lineman.
Injures of note: The Falcons got some bad news on Wednesday when head coach Mike Smith announced that LB and leading tackler Sean Weatherspoon will miss Sunday night’s game with an ankle injury he suffered last week. Dent, who filled in for OLB Stephen Nicholas on Oct. 14 vs. Oakland, will replace Weatherspoon. He had eight tackles against the Raiders and has been productive in the Falcons’ nickel packages. Veteran LB Mike Peterson will replace Dent in sub-formations.
Inside stuff: Right guard Peter Konz, a rookie out of Wisconsin, got his first start last weekend against Cullen Jenkins and the Philadelphia Eagles. He performed admirably, maintaining his blocks and handing off pass-rushers like a veteran. Konz may well get his second start since regular starter Garrett Reynolds sat out practice this past Thursday with a back injury.
In an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Konz, a communications art major, opened up about his passion for film and said that while in college, he made a documentary about a zoo. To read more about it, click here.
Connections: Coach Mike Smith spent five years coaching in the Ohio Valley Conference from 1989-1993 when Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was the coach of Tennessee State. Smith was coaching at Tennessee Tech during that time.
“Believe it or not, Rob, myself, and Rex all at one time were all in the same conference coaching college football. There were some battles,” Smith said. “[Rob’s] a darn good football coach.”
Stats you should know: The Falcons lead the NFL in first-down pass attempts, throwing it on 41.5 percent of first downs. Atlanta was 10th last season, attempting passes on 36 percent of their first-down plays in 2011. … The Falcons’ turnover differential (+10) is tied for fourth in the NFL while the Cowboys’ (-11) is 31st. …The Falcons have a 29-6 record at the Georgia Dome, the third-most wins at home of any team in the NFL since 2008.
Looking ahead: After hosting Dallas, the Falcons play at New Orleans on Nov. 11.
Prediction: Falcons 31, Dallas 20
For more Falcons coverage, follow Mike Singer @CBSFalcons.
