Some conclusions to be drawn by the Dallas Cowboys' 37-21 spanking of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday:
1. Cornerback Brian Williams' season-ending injury a week ago is painful not just to him. Wide receiver Miles Austin, a household name only at his address, torched the secondary, during Tony Romo's 21-for-29 day. It must brace for aerial attacks the rest of the season.
2. Tailback Michael Turner is a half-step slower than his 376-carry season of '08. A 3.4 is a stellar grade-point average but a stinking runs-per-carry average.
3. Matt Ryan is very good but not the Second Coming.
4. Even grizzled veterans can motivate themselves with sophomoric feelings of rejection and revenge. 'Boys linebacker Ken Brooking, a Falcon for 11 seasons who was let go after the coaches allegedly told him "It's a young man's game," was trash-talkin' and arm-flappin' (bird-like) during the game. Brooking turns 34 in a week.
5. Must-win games happen only when a loss means your eliminated from the playoffs, so next Monday's isn't. But the Saints, with their rise-from-the-dead win against the Dolphins Sunday, can put their clamps on the NFC South by beating Atlanta at the SuperDome. They would lead by three games and temporarily hold the tie-breaker. Ten wins likely will be the minimum for a wild-card berth, so a loss in N'Awlins would give Atlanta a Bourbon Street-sized hangover.
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