ATLANTA — Running back Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons are moving up, while quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys have fallen below .500.
Robinson is a big reason the Falcons (5-3) have won four of their past five games and sit atop the NFC South Division standings entering Sunday’s home matchup with the NFC East’s struggling Cowboys (3-4).
Atlanta took sole possession of first place in its division with last weekend’s 31-26 road win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the Falcons completing a sweep of that season series and improving to 4-0 in NFC South competition this year. The Cowboys are third in their division, ahead of only the two-win New York Giants, after Prescott threw two interceptions in a 30-24 loss to the NFC West’s San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, the second straight defeat for Dallas.
Robinson, a second-year pro who was the No. 8 pick of the 2023 NFL draft, has topped 100 scrimmage yards in three straight games and scored four touchdowns in that span. The Dallas defense ranks 31st against the run after giving up 223 rushing yards in the loss to the 49ers.
Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins threw four touchdown passes against Tampa Bay, including one to Robinson.