Cowboys Collapse in 2nd Half, Lose to Falcons, 39-28

The Dallas Cowboys got off to a good, even dominant start in Brandon Weeden’s first start of 2015 in the place of Tony Romo, but completely collapsed in the second half to fall to the Atlanta Falcons, 39-28.

The Cowboys came out swinging, scoring their first touchdown on their first drive, with just 57 seconds gone in the game. It came on a 37-yard run from Joseph Randle, just a play after he had gone for a 28-yard run. Randle had 91 yards and three touchdowns on ten carries in the first half, but finished with not much more than that as the Cowboys strayed from the run in the second half. On the day, he had 97 yards and three scores on 14 carries.

The Falcons had a pretty productive day on the ground, too, with Devonta Freeman running at will against the Cowboys’ defense. He stacked up 141 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries--and his two touchdowns in the first half kept the Falcons in it before they really found their rhythm in the second half.

And boy, did they ever find their rhythm. Starting with a Matt Bryant field goal to close the first half and pull Atlanta to within 11, at 28-17, the Falcons scored 25 unanswered points to close it out. Freeman aside, Matt Ryan finished 24-of-36 passing for two touchdowns and no picks. He was sacked once, by Sean Lee, which, if you can believe it, is Lee’s first career sack.

Julio Jones finished with a pair of second half touchdowns and 164 yards receiving on 12 catches.

In his first start of 2015 in the place of Tony Romo, Weeden went 22-of-26 passing, for 232 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

At 2-1, the Cowboys will travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Sunday Night Football next week.