"Each week is a different week," Smith said. "The outcome of the previous game has no bearing on it, and I don't think the statistics of the previous game will have any bearing on your next game. We've got to work on preparation and be focused on that."

Defensively, the Cowboys rank 17th in points per game allowed while Atlanta is seventh. The Falcons have 17 takeaways compared to Dallas' eight.

But just as Smith doesn't believe the Cowboys will continue some of their negative trends, Dallas rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne thinks the Falcons, who rank 24th in rushing behind inconsistent running back Michael Turner, could find some creases to gain explosive yards on the ground.

"They can run the ball and they're pretty balanced with the run and the pass," said Claiborne, who has an interception and fumble recovery in the last two games. "They've got a good quarterback over there who can stretch the field."

Atlanta cornerback Dunta Robinson, a nine-year NFL veteran in his third season with the Falcons, knows that the Cowboys have too many big playmakers in Witten, Dez Bryant and Miles Austin to assume they will take the night off.

"They have weapons all over the field," Robinson said. "We've been in enough situations where we understand that you're going to face great receivers on certain Sundays. We feel like we've faced a lot so far. They're just another bunch of guys that we've got to go play against."

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