Dallas Cowboys can shoot down Falcons by winning this stat

Winning one major statistical battle is rarely so determinant of a team’s fate, but this is the case when the Dallas Cowboys visit Atlanta.

Dallas Cowboys fans were ecstatic to finally see their offensive line get back to bulldozing a path for Ezekiel Elliott last Sunday in Philadelphia.

The injury to rookie Connor Williams has turned tragedy into fortune. Xavier Su’a-Filo‘s superior strength and experience at left guard has elevated the entire front.

Which brings us to Sunday’s matchup in Atlanta that many assume will likely end in defeat. In the famous words of Lee Corso, “not so fast, My Friend”.

The rejuvenated Dallas line has Zeke heating up at the ideal time for this opponent. In every Atlanta game this season, the team who won the rushing battle is 8-1.

The Falcons are an abysmal 0-5 when their opponent rushes for more yards.

WINS: Panthers (ATL +49 rushing), Buccaneers (-51), Giants (+6), Redskins (+75)

LOSSES: Eagles (-39), Saints (-95), Bengals (-7), Steelers (-69), Browns (-140)

The rushing match-ups for Sunday show Dallas has a sizable ground advantage…

• DAL rushing offense: 5th in yards/game (133.4) – 5th in yards/attempt (5.0)
• ATL rushing defense: 21st in yards/game (119.9) – 31st yards/attempt (5.2)
• ATL rushing offense: 30th in yards/game (89.8), 24th in yards/attempt (4.0)
• DAL rushing defense – 8th in yards/game (96.7), 1st in yards/attempt (3.6)

Not only has Atlanta lost all five times they’ve been bested on the ground, but it’s clear Dallas enters the game with more run prowess on both sides of the ball.

To further the importance of winning the rushing battle in this game, the Cowboys seized the ground advantage in all four of their wins. Of their nine games, the rushing victor won seven of them.

With a more cohesive, powerful blocking wall paving the way for the NFL’s second leading rusher, the chances of Dallas grounding out a victory in Atlanta aren’t as far-fetched as it once seemed.