ARLINGTON, Texas – Unable to come up with a block, the Atlanta Falcons could only watch Sunday afternoon as they lost on a game-ending field goal.
They might not have been in that situation if their hands team hadn’t just watched the trickling onside kick that put the Dallas Cowboys in position to pull off a 40-39 win – after being down by 20 points in the first quarter.
With three Atlanta players surrounding him and curiously watching the slow-rolling ball, Dallas cornerback C.J. Goodwin pounced on it just as it got to the 10 yards needed for the Cowboys to recover when they still trailed in the final two minutes.
“We’ve just got to learn that we’ve got to attack that ball and things like,” said veteran Falcons receiver Julio Jones, who was on the field but not one of the players in the immediate vicinity of the ball.
Greg Zuerlein’s winning 46-yard field goal came six plays after his onside kick – a snail compared to the high bouncers that usually come in those situations. He did not use a tee, another unusual tactic.