With Dallas forced to play with suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott sitting out his first of at least four games, Atlanta defensive end Adrian Clayborn made the Cowboys pay.
Clayborn sacked Dak Prescott six times, setting an Atlanta record, and the Falcons snapped the Cowboys' three-game winning streak. Clayborn fell one shy of the NFL single-game record held by former Kansas City Chiefs star Derrick Thomas (1990).
Matt Ryan, who was 22 of 29 for 215 yards, threw two short touchdown passes and the Falcons won for just the second time in their past six games.
Final score: Falcons 27, Cowboys 7.