KEY POINTS

  • The Dallas Cowboys rallied back from a 20-point deficit to stun the Atlanta Falcons
  • This serves as the Falcons’ biggest collapse since the 2017 Super Bowl
  • Dak Prescott finished with 450 yards to lead Dallas to a 40-39 win

Blowing a big second-half lead has haunted the Atlanta Falcons yet again with Sunday's 40-39 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the biggest advantage squandered by the Falcons since their monumental Super Bowl LI collapse.

While nothing compares to the stakes of the Super Bowl, the Falcons’ more recent meltdown was still a difficult defeat to grasp. The Cowboys recovered an onside kick and booted the game-winning field goal in the final seconds for the win.

"It's tough to put a loss like that in place," Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said, as reported by ESPN.

The Falcons were playing well against the Cowboys as they had a 20-point lead in the first quarter and ended the first half with a 29-10 advantage.

"I told the team there has to be a lesson in the pain of that loss. We'll work into that as we put in preparation for next week, but definitely that one stings," Quinn continued.

It took a huge effort from the Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott to rally his team back to the game. The veteran finished the game with 450 yards, one pass touchdown coupled with three rush touchdowns.

"I don't know if I've been in many games like this thing," Prescott said.

Several players also stepped up for the Cowboys, including rookie Ceedee Lamb, as he led Dallas on the receiving end with 106 yards. A walk-off Greg Zuerlein field goal secured the win for the Cowboys and brings their record to 1-1 in the current NFL season.

"But to be able to get the win, and in front of those fans that were there, stayed the whole game, they didn't give up on us. That was a huge difference," Prescott continued.

This was the largest lead blown by the team since the New Enland Patriots’ 25-point comeback win in Super Bowl LI. The 2017 game saw the Falcons go up 28-3 early in the third quarter before superstar quarterback Tom Brady led the team to a historic comeback. A stellar performance by Brady and the Patriots gave their franchise their fifth NFL championship care of a 34-28 victory.

Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys throws a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
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