(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons were dealt a potentially hazardous loss over the weekend, a 38-28 setback to the Dallas Cowboys at the Georgia Dome. Unfortunately that final result, which carries a great deal of significance to the playoff fortunes of both teams, and how it came about were the last things people wanted to discuss afterwards.

Most of the pregame talk centered around head coach Jim Mora's confusing comments on a Seattle radio show a few days before Saturday's encounter, in which the Falcons' head coach foolishly proclaimed that he would leave his current position the next time the top job at his alma mater, the University of Washington, became vacated faster than the time it takes Michael Vick to run the 40.

Following the game, all the buzz focused on Terrell Owens (go figure) after the attention-starved Cowboys receiver spit in the face off Atlanta's DeAngelo Hall during Dallas' opening drive.

T.O.'s antics, despicable even by his own low standards of conduct, practically made everyone forget how he toasted the brash Hall for a pair of touchdown catches and tarnished his reputation as one of the league's premier cover cornerbacks.

Not much attention was paid to the outstanding performance by Vick, who shook off an early interception that was returned for a touchdown by playmaking linebacker DeMarcus Ware to throw for four scores, or the good games his normally rock-handed group of receivers turned out.

The enigmatic Vick produced one of his best passing efforts of the year on a night his team sorely needed him to be a superstar. He completed 16-of-24 throws for 237 yards before exiting with a groin strain in the final minutes.

Too bad he wasn't playing defensive back.

Atlanta's production on offense was counterbalanced by a submissive defense that was ravaged by Dallas signal-caller Tony Romo and his talented receiving corps, especially in the second half.

Vick's final touchdown toss of the night, a five-yard strike to fullback Justin Griffith, gave the Falcons a 28-21 lead early in the third quarter. The Cowboys then put together back-to-back scoring drives to reclaim the advantage, with Atlanta failing to make the necessary stops in key situations.

A Martin Gramatica field goal was set up when Romo connected with Terry Glenn for a 22-yard gain on a 3rd-and-13 play. With Dallas facing a 3rd-and-12 on its ensuing possession, Glenn raced by Hall and hauled in a 34-yard delivery from Romo to keep the drive alive. Shortly afterward, running back Marion Barber powered in from nine yards out to put the Cowboys ahead to stay.

Now with two games to go in the regular season, we find the Falcons in a most familiar position - at the crossroads. A playoff appearance is still very much within reach, but so is the possibility of a second straight idle January.

In other words, time to put up or shut up.

NO LAUGHING MATTER

Apparently inheriting the same foot-in-mouth disease of his father, Mora created a firestorm within the organization when he revealed his attraction for the Washington job to Hugh Millen, his former teammate with the Huskies and a former Falcons' quarterback. Those remarks surely didn't sit well with team owner Arthur Blank, and you can bet the proud patriarch will be watching his club's performance closely from his ever-present stance on the sidelines over the remaining two regular-season games.

Mora made an unbelievable attempt to diffuse the issue, saying afterward that the comments were a bad attempt at a joke. The third-year head coach was already on the hot seat prior to last week's events, and there's speculation that a deep playoff run may be the only thing that saves his job.

INTO THE RECORD BOOKS

Vick added 56 yards on the ground on eight attempts, and became the NFL's single-season leader for rushing yards during the game. He surpassed the 34- year-old mark set by Chicago's Bobby Douglass, who rushed for 968 yards in 1972. Vick now has 990 on the season.

Mora did say during his Monday press conference that Vick's groin injury is not serious, and that he expects him to be under center for this Sunday's pivotal game with Carolina.

THE GREAT DANE

Legendary kicker Morten Andersen became the NFL's all-time leading scorer when he booted home an extra point in the second quarter. The 46-year-old added two more PAT's later in the game and now has accumulated 2,437 points over his 24 seasons, three more than Gary Anderson.

Andersen said afterward that the record hasn't gone unnoticed in his native Denmark.

"The Minister of Agriculture (recently) sent me a telegram," he remarked. "I believe it might be a pretty big deal over there. It has been a great experience. I am very proud to be Danish. I am obviously proud to be in the NFL. I hope they celebrate back home."

Andersen also co-holds the league's career field goal mark of 538 with Anderson, and has played in a league-record 366 games.

INJURY REPORT

The brittle John Abraham suffered another injury during Saturday's game, as the standout defensive end tore ligaments in his left thumb in the first half. Abraham, who has missed eight games already this season because of a groin problem that required surgery, had a pin implanted on Monday and hopes to play against Carolina with the use of a cast.

Abraham was a dominant force in the Falcons' win over the Panthers in Week 1, as he compiled six tackles, two sacks and forced two fumbles to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Rookie running back Jerious Norwood was inactive for Saturday's contest because of a strained right knee, an injury he aggravated in last week's victory at Tampa Bay. Starter Warrick Dunn, who was listed as questionable for the Dallas game, did suit up and rushed for 56 yards on 18 carries, putting him over the 1,000 mark for the third consecutive season.

NEXT UP

The Falcons, who are currently tied with the fading New York Giants for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC, will try to better their postseason chances this Sunday against a reeling Carolina club. The Panthers were considered the team to beat in the NFC South this year but have virtually removed themselves from playoff consideration with four straight losses.

New York, which owns the tiebreaker over Atlanta by virtue of a 27-14 victory at the Georgia Dome in Week 6, will host the potent New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Falcons will also be looking to avenge a humiliating 44-11 home defeat to the Panthers in last year's season finale, a loss that eliminated Atlanta from the playoffs. Carolina had lost seven in a row in the Georgia Dome prior to that triumph.