FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Falcons are set to host yet another NFC opponent this weekend as the Dallas Cowboys come to town. The Falcons enter this game at 5-3, but 4-0 in the NFC South division after beating Buccaneers last Sunday in Tampa Bay. Meanwhile, the Cowboys bring with them a 3-4 overall record. They are third in the NFC East division.

It's a big moment for both the Falcons and Cowboys. Will Atlanta grab their second win in a row? Or will the Cowboys stop the bleeding and find a win after dropping their last two games? Let's talk about it, y'all.

Injury update

The main thing you need to know about this Sunday's game from the Falcons point of view is they could — maybe, potentially — see the return of an important starter, with two other's statuses up in the air.

Center Drew Dalman has a chance to return to the starting lineup after the Falcons designated him to return to practice this week from injured reserve. Dalman was placed on IR after suffering an ankle injury in Week 3's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In his place has started Ryan Neuzil, who has been reliable in relief. Whether or not Dalman is fully ready to go after such a long time off the field, though, will be an interesting development come Sunday — one we'll need to watch.

As for the other starters I mentioned, inside linebacker Troy Andersen and right guard Chris Lindstrom were listed as questionable in Friday's game report. Andersen has missed every game since Week 4 with a knee injury. But head coach Raheem Morris said this week that the Falcons would consider him "day-to-day." As for Lindstrom, Morris said Monday that the Falcons cleared Lindstrom to return to the game last Sunday in Tampa, but that the coaching staff made the decision to keep him out as a precaution. He's been working through that knee injury this week, but did tell reporters in the locker room Sunday afternoon that he would be "good to go" by this week. Time will tell on that front.

If the Falcons do not get the reports they want on these two guys particularly, Nate Landman will continue to be the starter at inside linebacker alongside Kaden Elliss while Kyle Hinton would take over at guard.

The Falcons will release their inactives list 90 minutes before kickoff.

To Parsons or not to Parsons that is the question

A major blow to the Dallas defense in the last month has been the absence of Micah Parsons, who has missed four games since suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 4. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said this week that Parsons is "not quite there yet," in response to a question about Parsons return. Parsons did not practice this week and was ultimately ruled out of Sunday's game.

But Parsons' status isn't the only one the Falcons should take note of seeing as both of the Cowboys' premiere cornerbacks, DaRon Bland (foot) and Trevon Diggs (calf) did not participate in this week's practices, either, and Bland — like Parsons — was ruled out while Diggs is expected to be a game-time decision. With the Falcons pass game heating up with Kirk Cousins and Co., not having both of these players would be a tough development for Dallas. In fact, the loss of Parsons and Bland, specifically, has made an impact on 2024 production already.

According to a recent article from CBS Sports, during the Cowboy's last three seasons, they led the NFL in takeaways (93), interceptions (59) and quarterback pressure rate (41.4%). They are not close to having that type of production in 2024, with the defensive unit tied for the fifth fewest takeaways in the NFL this season and a No. 17 ranking in the league in quarterback pressure rate. How the Falcons offense takes advantage of this will be something to watch Sunday.

An offense trending in the right direction

After a down performance against the Seattle Seahawks, the Falcons offense got back on the right trend last week in Tampa, with Kirk Cousins throwing four touchdowns in the contest, three of which were explosive plays of 30-plus yards.

As we talked about in our Question of the Week installation, Atlanta has a healthy representation in some of the league's top categories so far in 2024, particularly offensively.

Through Week 8, Atlanta has a top-10 passer (Kirk Cousins), a top-10 rusher (Bijan Robinson) and two top-16 receivers (Drake London and Darnell Mooney) in the NFL rankings. London and Mooney are particularly thriving as of late, with the Falcons being the only team with two receivers with over 500-yards receiving (London and Mooney). If you lower that number to 400-yards receiving, the Falcons are actually the only team with three receivers with more yards than that number (London, Mooney and Pitts). So, yes. The Kirk Cousins Effect ™ is in full swing, and there are a lot of players who are benefitting from that.

The talk of the town

Despite the Falcons' winning record overall and their undefeated status in divisional play, a glaring issue is Atlanta's pass rush. Morris said it best when asked about it Monday — and then again Wednesday, too — it's not been near good enough.

We're probably beating a dead horse by pulling these numbers once again, but they're important. The Falcons are winning games in spite of their pass rush, not because of it. And there is going to come a time when it could be the difference in a game.

Atlanta has six sacks so far in 2024. They've been sack-less since Week 5. They are last in pressure rate and 28th in total pressures. With Dak Prescott rolling into town, you'd think this wouldn't bode well for Atlanta. However, as Amna Subhan pointed out this week, that may not be the case.

Prescott is not averaging close to 10-yards per carry average like he was last season. It's more like 3-yards per carry this season. He's not wiggling free from sacks in 2024 like he was in previous years. He's being sacked quite a bit. In fact, his sack rate through Week 8 is the second highest of his 9-year career.

Could this be a chance for the pass rush to finally make a statement? Someone like Grady Jarrett hopes so.

"We're gonna keep pressing, keep hunting. I know I am, for sure," he said Thursday. "I got big goals that I want to achieve for not only myself (but) for the team. Whether it's an interior guy, outside guy, linebackers, or a nickel blitzing — we definitely want to get (the quarterback), we want to get to him bad."

A first-down chance

Something interesting about the Cowboys' offense this year is the lack of success they are having on first down.

According to the team website, Dallas has the worst first-down success rate in the league at 32.5%. A big reason for that percentage is because of the struggles of the offense to find consistent production in their run game. They have the second-lowest rushing success rate on first down by an team since 2016.

For a Falcons defense that has — at times — struggled to get off the field on third down because they find themselves in a lot of third-and-short situations, this could be a fine opportunity to get Dallas in some third-and-longs. If that's the case, it could free up the Falcons defense in a way we haven't really seen: With a chance to pin their ears back and rush the passer.

Player of the Game prediction: Drake London

I know what you're thinking: "Tori, haven't you picked Drake London a lot this year?" Yes. Yes I have. And you know what? I am picking him again because what I have seen from London in the last month has been really dang good.

I chose Cousins as my Player of the Week prediction last week because I felt as though lightening could strike twice with Cousins vs. that Bucs secondary. And lookie there, Cousins was your NFC Offensive Player of the Week this week. Don't say I never did anything for y'all. But I digress. I chose Cousins last week for the same reason I am choose London this week: the trends.

Not only is London on the up-and-up in every way that is meaningful from a statistical standpoint, but he's also playing with a confidence and leader-like mentality that has come on strong in recent weeks. Ever since the loss to Seattle, in fact, which is something Morris noted in the aftermath of that loss, saying London was someone he saw organically stepping into a role of leadership.

"He's one of those guys that's in that position to say, 'Hey, man, this might be the best thing that happened to us,'" Morris said in the week following the Seattle loss. "You know, getting that hunger back, having a 3-0 start, a little bit of complacency can set in, and this is a nice time to reset and be ready to go out there and play our game."

You know who is playing hungry right now? London. And with the status of the Cowboys' corners in a space that doesn't breed much confidence? Could this be a big game for London? I think it has that potential.