Falcons vs. Cowboys: A look at the series history going into 2024

The Atlanta Falcons square off against yet another opponent outside of their current division that has had their number historically. This actually describes the majority of the NFL.

The Dallas Cowboys , so successful up through the 1990s, used to make it a habit of beating up on the Falcons. They lead the all time series 19-11 and it was an ugly start for Atlanta.

Through 1985, Dallas won eight of the first nine matchups against the Birds, including Atlanta's first two ever playoff defeats — one in the 1978 season and one in the 1980 campaign.

The one in 1980 particularly stung as the Falcons carried a 12-4 record and legitimate Super Bowl aspirations into that post season, where they blew a 14-point lead going into the fourth quarter against Dallas.

Atlanta had some modest success with three consecutive victories in the 2010s, including a memorable 27-7 beatdown when Adrian Clayborn set a franchise record with six sacks in one game, but it's been all Dallas since, winning the last three matchups head to head.

Last Meeting Record wise, the 4-4 Falcons coming off of a big win in New Orleans and the 6-2 Cowboys coming off of a defeat to Denver should have looked like a pretty good game going into that Week 10 afternoon in Dallas.

After the first quarter, things seemed at least somewhat evenly matched, with each team scoring points on their first drive and the Cowboys having a 7-3 lead overall. That would be about as close as things got for Atlanta.

This game was effectively over by halftime, as the Falcons went through one of the most brutal second quarters the NFL has ever seen. The Cowboys scored touchdowns on three consecutive offensive drives and capped the period off with a blocked punt which resulted in another TD.

The Falcons wound up being shut out after their first drive field goal in what was a successful "revenge game" for former head coach turned Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Atlanta suffered its worst blowout loss of the season, 43-3.