Due to frustrating mistakes and Dak Prescott's injury, the Cowboys appear to be closer to a top-10 pick than the playoffs

ATLANTA – Early in the second quarter, the Dallas Cowboys called a timeout and found themselves at the Atlanta 44-yard line. Trailing 7-3, they tried to keep the drive alive with something more creative than a handoff to running back Rico Dowdle or a sneak from QB Dak Prescott.

A jet sweep to WR CeeDee Lamb was called for. He never got near the sticks as Atlanta Falcons LB Kaden Elliss and friends tackled Lamb for a 3-yard loss.

It was a great example of how the day went for the Cowboys, who suffered their third straight loss of the season, 27-21, against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Fox cameras captured Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy's reaction to that turnover on downs. He slammed his Microsoft Surface tablet angrily. It was the kind of reaction that doesn't usually come after just one bad play. It was obvious there was frustration with where this season was going.

Mike McCarthy's frustration is growing

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/vbeE0lYF5Z

– FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 3, 2024

“We need to keep the focus really narrow,” McCarthy said. “I felt like we did that at the start of this game. We have to win a game. I know what everyone wants to talk about in the long term. We suffered five defeats. I clearly understand where this is taking us and what it will take to get there. We have to manage to win. We cause too many self-inflicted wounds. At this point we repeat a few things. The pre-snap penalties are completely unacceptable.”

There was a delay of game, an illegal formation, too many men in the huddle and false starts from Tyler Smith, Terence Steele, Jake Ferguson and Tyler Guyton. Combine that with a poor fake punt attempt and an offensive line that allowed a subpar Atlanta pass rush to have its best game of the season, and you had a recipe for disaster. Not what was expected in a game that Prescott had previously admitted was a must-win situation.

Even when the Cowboys scored on Sunday, things didn't look good. Prescott's touchdown pass to Dowdle in the second quarter appeared to be a sack on several occasions. And then what seemed like a simple reception turned into a fumbled pass that ended up in Dowdle's arms. There was apparent relief on the Dallas sideline as the Cowboys got within four, 14-10.

DAK TO THE DOWDLE. HOW WAS THIS COMPLETED?

📺: #DALvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gQOFAxj8r1

– NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

Two minutes before the end of the third quarter things got worse. Prescott injured his hamstring on a short running play. Ironically, the injury occurred three days after Prescott answered questions about the need to run more. He went to the medical tent and never returned to the field. Backup QB Cooper Rush finished the game. Prescott limped slightly after the game.

“I felt something I’ve never felt before,” Prescott said. “I felt it when I got up from running. I can't even say I felt the running. Maybe the tackle, maybe something on the tackle. I don't know. But when I got up from it, I felt something. I didn't think it was much. You get tired, it's a physical game. Often you feel different things and they somehow disappear. As I got to the top of my release to throw the ball to Jalen Brooks on the right side, I felt something I had never felt before. It was difficult to walk on at that point.”

Go deeper

Despite another Cowboys loss, Jerry Jones says he's still all-in and could improve his roster

His status for next Sunday's game against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles is unclear.

“I would say I’ll be out there next week,” Prescott said. “I have to see it. Fortunately, I can say that I healed quickly. I've made quick progress with injuries and other things, so I'm grateful for that. We need to take (an x-ray) of it. If we take a picture of it, I think we'll see how bad it is. It’s going to take a lot to get me out of there, I’ll tell you that personally.”

In addition, Lamb suffered a right shoulder injury and senior running back Ezekiel Elliott was unable to make the trip for disciplinary reasons after missing recent team meetings.

Aside from Dowdle and the running game having their best performance since Week 5, there isn't much going in a good direction in Dallas. Strange things always happen in sports, but actions speak louder than words. And the actions the Cowboys are showing are more reminiscent of a team headed for a top-10 draft pick than a team on the verge of a run.

“It’s important to keep your confidence,” CB Trevon Diggs said. “We have all the talent we need in the team. We just have to hold on, keep thinking positively, keep doing our jobs right and keep coming to practice and working hard. Hopefully we can get some of these wins together.”

What gives Prescott the confidence that things can get back on track?

“So I can heal quickly,” he said. “I think CeeDee is just broken, there's nothing serious. Other guys are getting better. We have a few games all ahead of us, a lot of division games, starting next week. It's our second one this year. Sometimes in this league you just need one. It takes someone to get it going, get the confidence back, feel good and bounce back from there. I don't look too far ahead. It's about making our bodies healthy again (Monday). Then we’ll try everything in our power to put in our best performance next week at home against a good Philly team.”

(Photo by Dak Prescott: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)