A pair of NFC teams trending in opposite directions will meet in Atlanta on Sunday, when the Falcons host the Dallas Cowboys.Atlanta (5-3) is arguably at its highest point as a franchise since 2017, which was the last year the Falcons had a winning season and appeared in the postseason. The Falcons have won four of their last five games, with each victory coming against NFC South divisional opponents.If Atlanta has struggled to do one thing this season, it’s win at home. The Falcons have won all three of their road games but are 2-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the setting for Sunday afternoon’s game.Atlanta will host Dallas for the first time in six seasons with a chance to extend its best start since beginning 6-3 in 2016 — the year the Falcons won the NFC.So far, Atlanta can point to its offensive firepower as a reason for its success. Under a new-look offense, the Falcons’ 24.3 points per game have jumped from last year’s 18.9. Atlanta has eclipsed the 30-point total in three games this year, a mark it failed to meet a single time in 2023.First-year head coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins have brought excitement back to an Atlanta franchise that was badly in need of a shot in the arm. Cousins’ 2,106 passing yards rank third in the NFL and his 14 touchdowns through the air are tied for fifth.Cousins has shown an ability to spread the wealth, as the Falcons have five players with at least 29 receptions, with Drake London leading the way at 48.”With the amount of playmakers we have, when you talk about Drake, (Darnell) Mooney, Bijan (Robinson), Tyler (Allgeier), (Kyle) Pitts, you think at the end of the game, somebody’s not going to be happy,” Morris said. “But what’s been happening is the ball has been moving around really nicely of late. I’m really inspired by our style of play and it all starts with our quarterback.”It’s a different story in Dallas.The Cowboys (3-4) have dropped two in a row and are 2 1/2 games behind the NFC East-leading Washington Commanders. The first of those two losses was a 47-9 drubbing at home to the Detroit Lions on Oct. 13.