ATLANTA — Raheem Morris didn't have to search for inspiration to present to his team in their weekly meetings as Week 9 began. He didn't have to uncover a new message to motivate them. He already had a muse in mind as the Falcons prepped to face the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Every chance he could, Morris reminded the team of their 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7.
"It's nice to throw some subtle reminders out there about what it looks like when you don't have that focus and mindset that you need to go out there and win these home games that you want to go out there and win," Morris said.
As the Falcons kicked off against the Cowboys, the juxtaposition between this game and the one against the Seahawks two weeks ago was right there.
Against Seattle, Atlanta was coming off a multi-score, road win versus an NFC South opponent, the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks were on a slide, having lost their last three games after starting the year 3-0. Seattle was without key contributors as injuries played a role in availability. Atlanta — by all intents and purposes — was primed for the win. They didn't win, though.
In fact, it was one of their most disappointing, collective performances, with offense, defense and special teams faltering. It was a complete team loss.
Two weeks later, against Dallas, Atlanta found themselves in the midst of an eerily similar situation.
The Falcons were coming off a big, road win versus an NFC South opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys were on a slide, having lost their last two games. Dallas was without key contributors as injuries played a role in availability. Atlanta — by all intents and purposes — was primed for a win. And this time, they did win.
In fact, it was one of their most complete performances, with offense, defense and special teams stepping up consistently. It was, perhaps, a complete team win.
Offensively, Kirk Cousins was exactly what the Falcons pay him to be. He connected on 19 of his 24 passes on the evening, tossing three touchdowns en route to a 222-yard passing day. Bijan Robinson was electric in the win, too, setting a new single-game best of 26 touches (19 carries plus seven receptions) for 145 yards from scrimmage.
Defensively, the Falcons' pass rush finally clicked and made the afternoon tough for Dak Prescott, who ended up leaving the game in the second half with a hamstring injury. The Falcons' pass rush got home three times. And as a unit, they held the the Dallas offense to 3-of-13 on third down.
Special teams even got involved as Natrone Brooks thwarted a Dallas fake punt to start the second half.
This game — for the Falcons at least — had a little bit of everything, and differed greatly from the last time an opponent emerged from the tunnels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It differed, Kaden Elliss said, because they knew what not to do this time around. As Morris explained to them during the week, they had an example.
"The talking point was that (the Seattle loss) was a lesson learned. Don't let it happen again," Elliss said of the message of the week. "Whatever we gotta do to make sure that doesn't happen again, don't let it happen again. We were blessed to go out this week and handle business."
Lesson learned. Business handled. And done in a way that was the exact opposite of the last home game.
As it would seem, Morris' "nice, friendly reminder" to the team during the week on what it looks like when the Falcons don't approach the game the right way paid off the second time around.
Take a look inside the Atlanta Falcons' locker room during Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 and Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom #63 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons #31 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney #1 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Rashaan Evans #43 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Kyle Hinton #68 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Zach Harrison #96 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Demone Harris #91 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Charlie Woerner #89 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier #25 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins #18 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Kevin King #32 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant #27 prepares in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 and Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Nate Landman #53 prepare in the locker room before the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron #65 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Richie Grant #27 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell #24 in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 and Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris in the locker room after the Week 9 Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, November 3, 2024. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
