The Atlanta Falcons ended their preseason with a 31-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The result, while not impacting the standings, played a significant role in shaping the Falcons’ final roster as they approach Tuesday’s deadline to cut down to 53 players.
Head coach Raheem Morris described the matchup as crucial for evaluating depth and potential practice squad members. “This is a big practice squad [game]. This is a big roster game. This is a big depth game,” Morris said ahead of the contest.
The Falcons rested many starters on both sides of the ball. Their defense struggled against Dallas’ reserves, and Atlanta’s offense failed to maintain consistent drives. Although some individual performances stood out, the overall team effort fell short compared to Dallas’ depth.
A key moment came late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Easton Stick threw an interception to Cowboys linebacker Shemar James, leading to a touchdown that sealed the result for Dallas.
Several notable players did not dress for Atlanta, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Jessie Bates III, and Kirk Cousins. The absence list was unofficial and not provided by the team.
Among those who played, defensive lineman Zach Harrison delivered one of the stronger performances by disrupting plays at the line of scrimmage. On offense, wide receiver Chris Blair made his case for a roster spot by catching six passes for 65 yards from Stick. Special teams saw Josh Woods make an impact with a strong tackle on punt coverage.
Kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 51-yard field goal but later converted from 38 and 28 yards out. The miss comes after past inconsistencies but head coach Morris continues to back him.
For Dallas, quarterback Joe Milton III impressed after being traded in during the offseason. He completed ten of eighteen passes for 132 yards and accounted for two touchdowns—one rushing and one passing.
Injury updates included reserve safety Josh Thompson returning after evaluation following an early-game incident, while reserve offensive lineman Jake Hanson left in the fourth quarter with assistance from trainers.
The Falcons now face several questions ahead of Tuesday’s roster deadline due to injuries along their offensive line—including starting right tackle Kaleb McGary and reserve tackle Storm Norton both expected to miss time—which further complicates decisions regarding final cuts.
Atlanta will open its regular season at home against Tampa Bay on September 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
