Atlanta Falcons: 3 Reasons Week 10 is a must-win vs. Cowboys

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 27: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown as J.J. Wilcox #27 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on in the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 27: Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown as J.J. Wilcox #27 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on in the second half at AT&T Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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Sitting with a 4-4 record, we take a look at why the Atlanta Falcons game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 in a must-win scenario.

The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in a pretty tough position after only eight games in their 2017 regular season. Inconsistent play and self-inflicted wounds have haunted the Dirty Birds through the first half of the year, and it doesn’t look like things will get better anytime soon. That said, a Week 10 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys has become a must-win scenario for Dan Quinn’s squad.

Normally, that kind of situation brings out the best in teams, but I’m not too confident with how Atlanta will react. Sure, blowing a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl is one thing, but season-long execution problems and coaching breakdowns have caused all of us to question their toughness and adversity handling ability.

That said, the good news about Week 10 is that we’ll learn whether the 2017 Falcons are pretenders or contenders. At any given moment in the NFL, a team can get on a huge run or drop like flies.

If Atlanta wants any shot of playing playoff football in January, they have to start winning close football games. Take a look at three specific reasons why their game against the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon has become a must-win contest.