NFL Week 8 Overreactions
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the wildest games from Week 8.
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The Dallas Cowboys have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this year. After a loss on Sunday Night Football to the San Francisco 49ers, the team has fallen below .500 for the second time this season. This is a team that has won 12 games in three straight years, but that streak could come to an end unless they start turning things around immediately.
Their Week 9 opponent will be a very hot Atlanta Falcons team. After a slow start to the season, the Falcons have won four of their last five games. They’ve started to get Bijan Robinson going. Kyle Pitts has emerged as a legitimate option in that offense. The defense is starting to force more turnovers. Everything is looking up in Georgia, which could mean disaster for the Cowboys.
Here are our experts’ predictions for this Week 9 showdown.
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FEELING LUCKY? Here are the best parlay bets and odds for NFL games this week
Jets vs. Texans | Falcons vs. Cowboys | Ravens vs. Broncos | Bills vs. Dolphins | Panthers vs. Saints | Bengals vs. Raiders | Browns vs. Chargers | Giants vs. Commanders | Titans vs. Patriots | Cardinals vs. Bears | Eagles vs. Jaguars | Packers vs. Lions | Seahawks vs. Rams | Vikings vs. Colts | Chiefs vs. Buccaneers
Dallas has shown its inability to run the ball and stop the run is a critical flaw, one that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb cannot overcome. On the other side, Atlanta is a little inconsistent on offense week to week, but I think the Falcons simply are a better play here, as long as the line stays under a field goal.
Already the losers of two in a row, the Cowboys are in danger of going on a long losing streak. The Cowboys’ next four games are against Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and Washington. The stretch will likely define Dallas’ season. The Falcons have topped 30 points in three of their last four contests. Kirk Cousins ranks third in the NFL in passing yards and Bijan Robinson is a top-10 rusher.
Atlanta’s offense is humming while Dallas is reeling on all fronts. I like the Falcons by a field goal.
Kirk Cousins has looked great in Atlanta, and he gets to feast on a struggling Dallas defense to send the Cowboys spiraling.
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