Announcers and referees for Falcons vs. Cowboys in Week 9
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons could not be trending in more opposite directions heading into Sunday's game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Cowboys have been one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL, though many fans expected them to take a step back. They are below .500 for the second time this season and a loss against the Falcons could crush their hopes of making the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
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Meanwhile, the Falcons have won four of five, including last week's all-important game against the Buccaneers, who are the only team standing in Atlanta's way of winning the NFC South. A win over Dallas would put the Falcons in the driver's seat in the division.
Without further ado, let's get into who will be announcing and refereeing the game.
Announcers for Falcons vs. Cowboys
It has felt like Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady have been on the call for every Cowboys game this season. Whenever Dallas has not played in primetime (Thursday night, Sunday night or Monday night) Burkhardt and Brady have been assigned to the Cowboys.
Well, that will change in Week 9.
- Network: FOX
- Play-by-play: Adam Amin
- Color commentary: Greg Olsen
- Sideline reporter: Pam Oliver
Olsen was notably demoted to FOX's second team to make room for Brady, who signed a historic 10-year, $375 million contract to be the network's lead NFL color analyst. Olsen is widely regarded as the best color analyst in the game, so Cowboys fans will be treated to some quality in-game analysis on Sunday.
Referees for Falcons vs. Cowboys
While it will be refreshing to have Olsen in the broadcast booth, Sunday's referee will not please Cowboys Nation. The head ref is Scott Novak, who is controversial, to say the least.
For whatever reason, Novak's crew has it out for defensive backs this season. They've called 16 penalties on defensive backs for 165 yards, per Pro Football Reference. A whopping eight of those were of the pass interference variety.
The Cowboys' secondary could be without Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, so the likes of Jourdan Lewis, Caelen Carson and Malik Hooker need to be discipline in coverage.
Here is the rest of the crew that will officiate the game with Novak:
- Umpire: Mark Pellis
- Down Judge: Brian Sakowski
- Line Judge: Mark Stewart
- Side Judge: David Meslow
- Field Judge: Terry Brown
- Back Judge: Terrence Miles
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