(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

TONY GAROFALO - FORT MYERS, FL: I believe this is the game the Cowboys have to make a statement. They can't afford to lose this game. What are your thoughts on the importance of beating the Falcons?

Nick: I agree this is a huge game for the Cowboys on many levels. So much that I've already written a column on this very matter. So check it out later. But yes, big game for the Cowboys, for no other reason than to get to 4-2.

Rob: It's not a must-win, but it's very important for several reasons. First and foremost, this is a good Falcons team. Beating them would A) hold a potential head-to-head tiebreaker in the wild-card race; B) instill more confidence that the Cowboys can beat elite teams; and C) simply pad an early-season record (4-2) leading into another challenging December. The Cowboys can't think that far ahead, but we can.

Josh: Wade Phillips will tell you it's the most important game of the season, and he's right. Now, he's saying that because it's the only game they're playing this week, but still. When you look back at the end of the year I think this will be considered a huge swing game. There's a big difference between 4-2 and 3-3.

MARC HOLDER - FT. SAM HOUSTON, TX: I understand Miles Austin had a great game against Kansas City, but am I the only one who thinks one good game doesn't justify a starting position?

Nick: No, you're not the only one, but you and I might be the only two. I just don't see why you make the move, it's a setup for failure. Just go with things as is until you see a pattern instead of a one-game blowup. To me, it looks like a knee-jerk reaction. As I've said a few times already this week, the Cowboys didn't cut Austin because he had no catches in a game. Why promote him because he had 10 for 250? If he does it again, then maybe we're on to something. But to me, I'd wait. Obviously, the Cowboys don't agree. That's fine, starting Austin doesn't really hurt the team at all. My biggest point to this matter is to not get disappointed if Austin hasn't turned the corner like everyone thinks.

Rob: I understand the Cowboys' inclination to see what else Austin can do with more playing time. So the move makes sense to me. But keep in mind this isn't necessarily a permanent move. Remember, the team didn't make a big declaration about a change in the starting lineup. Let's just take this one week at a time.

Josh: Well I don't think it's just one game. I think this is something the Cowboys wanted to happen all along, and the 250-yard effort against Kansas City was just confirmation that the time had come. Remember when Jerry Jones cut T.O. back in March, he wasn't citing more opportunities for Patrick Crayton as the reason. They like Austin's athleticism, and just felt they needed to make him a starter if they were ever going to get the most out of it.

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