FRISCO – Even for the most optimistic Dallas Cowboys fans, Sunday afternoon’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons is hardly exuding anything of promise. Dallas has lost their last two games in different yet disheartening fashion while the Falcons side high after seizing firm control of the NFC South a week ago.
It has become a glass half-empty situation, and that existing amount feels lessened with the additions of injuries or delays in such returns. While the players taking the field may put on a different face, the forecasts are not ideal for the Cowboys.
However, given their current adversities and the circumstances of their situation, the Falcons are far from the least desirable opponent at this juncture. Specifically looking at the quarterback situation, history shows the Cowboys could have a new angle of looking at this game.
Kirk Cousins has fit nicely in his new home of Atlanta, fueling the Falcons’ 5-3 start this season. But Cousins has struggled against the Cowboys in the past. In fact, given the sample size, they have arguably given him the most trouble of any team throughout his career.
The quarterback’s days with Washington certainly skew the data with extra matchups, but Cousins has a 2-9 career record against Dallas. That is four more more losses than he has encountered against any opponent.
In his last meeting with America’s Team during the 2022 season, Cousins’ then team, the Minnesota Vikings, ended on the wrong side of a 40-3 beat down where he mustered 12 of 23 passing for 105 yards while taking seven sacks.
Cousins also played under current Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the head coach of the Vikings for a time in the quarterback’s tenure in Minnesota.
Now, these are much different circumstances. Cousins has a high-powered offense on his side and the Cowboys will be without Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and DaRon Bland.
The absence of their key defensive playmakers will surely provide a hindrance against a team like the Falcons.
But the knowledge of how to face this quarterback and beat him seems to be something that has translated from year to year on different installations of the Cowboys.
If that knowledge exists and could be applicable, it will certainly be pushed given the Cowboys’ current limitations. However, there is a possibility the Cowboys simply have Cousins’ number.
