was arguably the ' best player a season ago when as a rookie he rushed for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The team went 13-3 in the regular season and cruised to a first-round playoff bye before losing to the in the divisional round.But there was no mistaking Elliott's impact. The offense ranked third overall, according to , and the running game was the second in the league with Elliott as the NFL's best running back -- ahead of and Le'Veon Chris Paddack Jersey Bell. Even through the first eight games this season, when Elliott averaged just 4.1 yards per carry, he was still Football Outsiders' . That will change now that he is serving a six-game suspension, which started before Sunday's game against the . The expectation might be that the running game would fall apart without Elliott but that didn't happen in Atlanta; rushed 11 times for 53 yards (4.8 YPC), added 14 yards on three carries (4.7 YPC) and quarterback ran six times for 42 yards (7.2 YPC). Turns out, the Cowboys can survive without Elliott. What they cannot overcome is the lo s of one of the league's best offensive linemen: left tackle .Smith mi sed Sunday's game with a groin injury he first suffered in Week 9 against the . His absence couldn't have been more apparent if, instead of trotting out his replacement, sacrificial lamb , the Cowboys went with a life-sized milk carton with Smith's face plastered on the side positioned on the left side of the line. Because neither Green nor the milk carton could block Falcons defensive end , who had a career over the course of a 60-minute football game. This isn't hyperbole; as a rookie with the in 2011, Clayborn registered 7.5 sacks. In the five seasons since, he never had more than 5.5 sacks in a season. On Sunday against Green (and, briefly, ) Clayborn racked up sacks. ! Behold the majesty: Adrian Clayborn out here collecting sacks like they were trading cards... Watch ALL 6 sacks Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) So what the hell happened?Cowboys' first drive: The signs were there, even before Prescott was Joey Lucchesi Jersey ever sacked. On the game's third play, facing second-and-8, Clayborn blew past Green like he was wearing cement moon boots, forcing Prescott to step up in the pocket, hurry his throw and ultimately to s an interception. The play was overturned because the Falcons' was offsides. Green was solid for the next six plays, especially on running downs, and then Clayborn left him in his wake as he registered sack No. 1. What you see above repeated itself a play later, on third-and-14, and Clayborn mauled Prescott just as he released the ball. Incomplete, fourth down, Cowboys forced to punt. Cowboys' second drive: Green had his most uneventful series of the afternoon. O Dallas' four plays, two were runs -- including a rollout to the right that ended with Prescott scrambling for 11 yards and diving into the end zone for the Cowboys' only points in the game. Cowboys' third drive: On third down, the Cowboys finally give Green some help, having tight end , lined up in the backfield, chip Clayborn. That allows Prescott time to find downfield for a 30-yard gain. Three plays later, facing third-and-8, Green struggles to block who forces Prescott to step up in the pocket where he's sacked by -- you gue sed it -- Clayborn. Cowboys forced to punt. Cowboys' fourth drive: Solid series from Green, who holds his own during the four-play series, though Prescott is sacked again on third down after beats right guard on his way to the quarterback. Cowboys' fifth drive: On the first play, Green again gets help chipping Clayborn on a long-developing pa s play thrown Franchy Cordero Jersey to the right that is almost intercepted. On the next play, Green is on his own, is summarily abused by Clayborn but Prescott somehow escapes for a 12-yard gain and a first down. Seriously, Prescott somehow got out of this: The top image shows Clayborn making a beeline for Prescott and the bottom image shows the Prescott sandwich, which he somehow got out of. This turned out to be one of the worst series for one player we can ever remember. On the next play, Green jumps early but isn't flagged for a false start, and he's again helped by a chip block. And again, Prescott is pre sured, this time from the right side. A play later, Green is on an island, Clayborn beats him easily and Prescott is forced from the pocket, scrambling around the right side for another first down. The play after that, takes his turn treating Green like a turnstile -- but Prescott throws a quick completion before getting hit. Reed frog-marched Green into the backfield on the next snap, but Prescott again gets rid of the ball quickly for a first down. But that play was nullified because Green was flagged for holding (of course he was). In related news: Prescott must've thought it was Groundhog Day Things get worse before they get better. On the first play after the penalty, Clayborn rag-dolls Green and almost gets to Prescott, who again throws quickly. Clayborn beats Green again on the next snap and again on the snap after that to log sack No. 3. And for good measure, Clayborn forces and recovers Prescott's fumble. Here's the Clayborn spin move moments before the strip-sack: Mercifully, the half ended three plays later. Cowboys' sixth drive: Dallas leans on the running game to start the third quarter, has succe s, and gets down to the Falcons' 12-yard line. On first down, however, Prescott drops back to throw, Green is left alone with Clayborn and, Manuel Margot Jersey yes, Prescott is sacked for the fourth time. Two plays later, the Cowboys attempt a field goal, which promptly doinks off the upright. Cowboys' seventh drive: Dallas goes three-and-out but not before Clayborn gets his fifth sack, this time on third-and-13. Inexplicably, the Cowboys force Green to block Clayborn without help and the results are as predictable as the tides. Cowboys' eighth drive: Michel Baez Jersey The Cowboys finally bench Green for Byron Bell and he holds his own for 12 of his first 13 plays. Unfortunately, Reed beats him for a sack on play No. 13. Insult to injury: Bell is flagged for holding too. The penalty is declined and the Cowboys turn the ball over on downs. Cowboys' ninth drive: Bell remains at left tackle as do the results. On the second snap of the series, Clayborn beats Bell for sack No. 6 and strip-sack No. 2: For the afternoon, Prescott was sacked eight times and fumbled twice, though he . "We're not going to leave somebody out to dry, for the most part," Prescott told reporters after the game. "We're not going to point fingers and say it's Chaz. It's whatever it is. We'll go back and look. I probably could have gotten the ball out faster sometimes. We'll go back and look at it and get better from it." Green, to his credit, took responsibility for what had to be the low point of h