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Cotton

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Sources: Cowboys uncertain Jason Witten will play vs. Falcons

Ed Werder, ESPN NFL Insider

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is receiving treatment for two sprained ankles and a sprained knee, and it is not a certainty he will be available for Sunday's home game against the Atlanta Falcons, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder.

"[Witten] will be day-to-day all week, but he's not a lock [to play] at this point," a source told Werder.

Witten insisted he was fine after Sunday's victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, referring to the injuries as "typical football stuff."

Witten, who is known for his high pain tolerance, has missed one game early in his career with a broken jaw. He also insisted on playing in this year's season opener against the New York Giants after rupturing his spleen in the preseason.

The Cowboys will be without quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant, both of whom have long-term injuries that challenge the Dallas coaching staff to create offense and score points.
 

Rev

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Ruptured spleen?? One tough dude.

My memory stinks.. Forgot that one.
 
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Simpleton

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He played like 2 weeks after being in the hospital with the spleen thing, I would be truly shocked if he missed a game due to some mildly sprained ankles and a knee.
 

Cotton

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10 things Cowboys fans need to know about the Atlanta Falcons, including Julio Jones' ridiculous catch

By SportsDayDFW.com
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The Cowboys are 2-0. The Falcons are 2-0. They meet on Sunday carrying very different circumstances. Here are 10 things Cowboys fans should know about the Falcons

1. The Falcons' win over the Giants was similar to the Cowboys' win over the Giants

Last week, Atlanta came back from a 20-10 deficit in the third quarter to beat the Giants in the final minute, 24-20. Another Eli Manning mistake helped doomed the Giants. Facing 3rd and 7 with 3:27 to go, the Giants only needed a couple more first downs to seal the game, as Atlanta had just one timeout remaining. Manning took a delay of game penalty, which pushed the Giants back and eventually forced them to punt. The Falcons score the game-winning touchdown on the next drive, with 39 seconds left.

2. They have a new head coach

A 6-10 season got Mike Smith ousted in Atlanta. In his place is Dan Quinn, the former Seahawks defensive coordinator. Before spending two years in Seattle, he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. He spent most of his career as a defensive line coach.

3. Their top running back could miss the game

Rookie running back Tevin Coleman has been the team's top rusher through two games, but he could miss Sunday's game after fracturing his rib in Week 2. The Falcons say Coleman won't practice Wednesday or Thursday and his status will be reevaluated Friday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Coleman is expected to miss a couple weeks, depending on his pain threshold. Coleman was Atlanta's third round pick this season. If he can't go, Atlanta will start Devonta Freeman.

4. Get ready to see a lot of passes

The Falcons are third in the league with 318 passing yards a game. They rank 22nd in rushing yards. They also rank 27th in pass defense, allowing 393.5 passing yards, and ninth in run defense.

5. Julio Jones is going to get the ball...a lot.

The Falcons' top receiver is tied for second in the NFL in targets with 26, second in receptions with 22, and second in yards with 276. Last week he tied a franchise record with 13 receptions and caught a 38-yard pass to set up the game-winning score.

6. Jones got more money than Dez Bryant

In July, Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million deal, with $45 million guaranteed. Roughly two months later Jones received a five-year, $71.25 million extension, with $47 million guaranteed. The deal made Jones the second-highest paid receiver in the league. Jones should probably seek Bryant out on Sunday and thank him for setting the market.

7. They'll probably have a rap about the Cowboys on Friday

Last Friday, the Falcons unveiled "Freestyle Friday," which consisted of safety William Moore freestyling about the Falcons' game against the Giants. The Falcons said it was the first edition of the feature, so count on Moore or some other Falcon having something to say about the Cowboys this week.

8. It's been a long time since the Cowboys beat the Falcons

The teams' last meeting came in Atlanta in 2012. The Falcons won that game 19-13. The last Cowboys win came in 2009, which was also the last time the two teams met in Dallas. The Cowboys won that game, 37-21, thanks to two receiving touchdowns apiece for Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin.

9. It's unclear whether they'll have their return man

Returner extraordinaire Devin Hester has missed the Falcons' first two games with turf toe injury. Hester had some limited practice time last week, but he was far from a game-time decision. Falcons coach Dan Quinn ruled out Hester on Friday. It's unclear what his status for this week will be.

10. A familiar face will be on the other side

Former Cowboys linebacker Justin Durant leads the Falcons in tackles after two games with 18. Durant spent two seasons with the Cowboys, playing in a total of 16 games. Durant was one of the Cowboys' starters until he tore his bicep in Week 8. The injury ended his season.
 

jsmith6919

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7. They'll probably have a rap about the Cowboys on Friday

Last Friday, the Falcons unveiled "Freestyle Friday," which consisted of safety William Moore freestyling about the Falcons' game against the Giants. The Falcons said it was the first edition of the feature, so count on Moore or some other Falcon having something to say about the Cowboys this week.
gay
 

Cotton

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Cowboys Will Try To Slow Matt Ryan And Undefeated Falcons
By Shawn S. Lealos for CBS Local Sports

The Dallas Cowboys won their first two games of the 2015 NFL season to remain undefeated and in first place in the NFC East, but lost their two best offensive players in doing so. The Atlanta Falcons also won the first two games of their season, with wins over the exact same teams that Dallas beat. Now, the two teams will play in Week 3 to see which team is actually the better team. The difference is that Atlanta is healthy compared to the beaten and injured Cowboys.

Season Record

The Atlanta Falcons opened the season by beating the Philadelphia Eagles, 26-24, and then came from behind to score 14 unanswered points to beat the New York Giants, 24-20. The Falcons sit at 2-0 and sit tied with the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South.

Atlanta Falcons on Offense

The Atlanta Falcons offense lies directly on the shoulders of Matt Ryan and the passing offense. In two games, the Falcons had 797 total combined yards, and 79 percent of the offense was passing yards. Matt Ryan has thrown the ball for 661 yards in the first two games, an average of 330 yards a game, and most of that offense comes from the resurgence of Julio Jones, one of the top receivers in the NFL in 2015. Jones has 22 receptions in two games for 276 yards. That is an astronomical amount that has Jones on pace to shatter the NFL single season records in both receptions and receiving yards.

Jones and Ryan aren’t alone in the offense, either. Leonard Hankerson, Jacob Tamme, and Roddy White have combined for 22 receptions for 252 yards to make this Falcons offense one of the most explosive in the NFL right now. In the running game, rookie Tevin Coleman has run for 112 yards while holdover starter Devonta Freeman has 43 rushing yards. Since both games saw the Falcons fighting to the end, the rushing attack has been unneeded, but that doesn’t explain the lackluster 3.03 yards per carry.

Atlanta Falcons on Defense

The reason that the Falcons had to throw the ball so much in the first two games is because their defense is not quite up to the level of their offense. In Week 2, the Cowboys defense completely dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, but that same offense saw Sam Bradford throw for 336 yards and Darren Sproles run for 50 yards against the Falcons. However, what kept them in the games was the fact that the defense was also opportunistic.

William Moore and Ricardo Allen both came out of week one with interceptions. They also had two fumble recoveries in two games. With Brandon Weeden at quarterback, and a running attack that is completely unproven, this is the worst offensive starting unit that the Falcons will have played so far this season. It also doesn’t help that the Falcons can’t get to the quarterback, with only two sacks in two games. The Falcons rank a low 27th in total defense, 29th against the pass but 11th against the run. With a backup quarterback in for Dallas, this could be the news that will help sway the game in the favor of Atlanta.

Atlanta Falcons Players to Watch

While Matt Ryan is running this offense, and winning and losing rests on his shoulders, the offensive player to watch is Julio Jones. Against the Eagles, Jones caught nine passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns and against the Giants; he caught 13 balls for 135 yards. He is tied for the lead in the NFL in receptions with 22 and is second in yards with 276 yards. It is Jones who keeps getting open when the Falcons need to move the ball, and it is Jones that will help the Falcons continue to win this season. Dallas ranks 11th in the NFL in pass defense, and it is Jones they need to stop to win the game.

The biggest player to watch on the Atlanta Falcons defense is Justin Durant, who played for the Cowboys last season. Durant, thanks to the injury to Sean Lee, was the defensive play caller for Dallas in 2014, and has an intricate knowledge of Rod Marinelli’s defense. He will have a huge role in helping the Falcons prepare for the Cowboys defense. However, he is also the top defensive player on the Falcons team, with 18 tackles on the season. With Dallas missing Romo and Bryant, they will have to run the ball, and that means getting past Durant in the linebacker corps.

Outlook

The Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys are both 2-0, but the Falcons have the advantage heading into Week 3. With Tony Romo out of action, the Cowboys will need to try to work the run, and that is where the Falcons are better when it comes to the first two games of the season. Add to the fact that Matt Ryan has thrown for over 300 yards a game, and the Cowboys are playing without their top cornerback in Orlando Scandrick. Dallas needs to control the clock to win the game, and that means running the ball well. Atlanta has the power to score fast, which is something Dallas is missing without Romo. This is a game Atlanta should win.
 

Cotton

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They allowed 24 points to the Eagles. Even without Romo I see us putting up at least that on them.
 

ravidubey

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They allowed 24 points to the Eagles. Even without Romo I see us putting up at least that on them.
Everyone makes a big deal about the Eagles' "offensive resurgence" in the second half vs the Falcons. It was much more to do with the defense relaxing after the Falcons had built such a lead.

So I wouldn't put much stock in anything any defense has done vs. the Eagles since they are so putridly bad and just about everything they've done has been during garbage-time when no one cares.
 

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Cotton

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Man's man.
 

mcnuttz

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I definitely don't want to see Atlanta go 3-0 this week.

These gay ass fans are constantly looking for a reason to bring the dirty bird back.
 

1bigfan13

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Matt Ryan is going to throw us a couple of balls so we'll have our opportunities. Hopefully our guys make the play and make him pay for those mistakes.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I definitely don't want to see Atlanta go 3-0 this week.

These gay ass fans are constantly looking for a reason to bring the dirty bird back.
Their fans on NFL radio were talking about the game like they already have it won. It would make me extremely happy to put those turds back in their place. Plus talk about the media not knowing what to do with Dallas at that point. 3-0 team with their best 2 players out with injuries and Brandon Weeden at QB.
 

Cowboysrock55

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Matt Ryan is going to throw us a couple of balls so we'll have our opportunities. Hopefully our guys make the play and make him pay for those mistakes.
He will make some of the best throws on one play and then make an absolute shit throw on the next.
 

Genghis Khan

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Their fans on NFL radio were talking about the game like they already have it won. It would make me extremely happy to put those turds back in their place. Plus talk about the media not knowing what to do with Dallas at that point. 3-0 team with their best 2 players out with injuries and Brandon Weeden at QB.
If things were reversed and we were relatively healthy but Atlanta was missing Ryan and Julio, we'd be saying the same thing.

That said, I think our defense gives us a fighting chance.
 

L.T. Fan

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Their fans on NFL radio were talking about the game like they already have it won. It would make me extremely happy to put those turds back in their place. Plus talk about the media not knowing what to do with Dallas at that point. 3-0 team with their best 2 players out with injuries and Brandon Weeden at QB.
If the defense vs contain Ryan the Cowboys can win this game.
 
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