SANTA CLARA – Sunday night’s reunion offers the 49ers a prime-time spotlight to tighten their recent stranglehold on a storied rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys.
Super Bowl wins have historically ensued after epic battles – with an emphasis on historically. It’s been almost three decades since either franchise hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Spoiler alert: Neither franchise is poised for that prize this season. The 49ers (3-3) and the Dallas Cowboys (3-4) are scuffling.
Then again, the 1981 49ers were a mere 3-2 when they debuted a pass rusher named Fred Dean (Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2008) and helped halt Dallas’ grip on this rivalry, which famously turned on Dwight Clark’s touchdown “Catch” in the NFC Championship Game.
Two seasons ago, Brock Purdy got introduced to this 49ers-Cowboys hullabaloo when coach Kyle Shanahan showed highlights of their 1990s duels, before Purdy’s rookie season peaked with a divisional-round victory over Dallas.
“That sort of filled me in on, ‘Oh man, there’s a lot of history with these two organizations,’ “ Purdy recalled. “And I remember growing up just watching some games with them and it just meant so much every time they played and faced off. … It’s really special. So we all take pride in that and are thankful to be able to play in this game.”
The 49ers have beaten Dallas each of the past three seasons, from playoff matchups in the 2021 and ’22 seasons to last October’s blowout at Levi’s Stadium. Here are five ways to extend that streak:
1.ONE-DIMENSIONAL DALLAS
The franchise that brought you Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett (and Ezekiel Elliott’s encore) now offers the league’s last-ranked rushing attack (77.2 yards per game, two rushing touchdowns).
Defensive end Nick Bosa, as he’s correctly predicted before games earlier this season, anticipates a run-heavy approach from the outset, from what’s been a pass-heavy Cowboys offense. “They’re going to try to run the ball more than they have, because, I mean, when you’ve had the losses they’ve had, they’re obviously going to try to do something a little different,” Bosa said.
The Cowboys have scored only two rushing touchdowns all season – one by Elliott, one by Dak Prescott. The 49ers allowed four rushing touchdowns in Sunday’s 28-18 loss to quarterback-oriented Kansas City.
Assuming the 49ers’ run defense is not further compromised by their inability to buck up (and fill defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s absence), then Bosa, Leonard Floyd and any timely blitzer must pressure Prescott into sacks, interceptions and his fourth straight defeat to the 49ers.
2. RUN-GAME REBOOT
Jordan Mason, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, must be this game’s No. 1 producer. The 49ers must lean on him to run left, right and center. He must gain enough yards on first and second down to keep them out of third-and-long.
The Cowboys are allowing the fifth-most rushing yards (143.2) and they’ve surrendered 10 rushing touchdowns.
Last Sunday, the 49ers couldn’t pry Mason loose in the first half against the Chiefs. His 14-carry workload (58 yards) should have him fresh for this game, with next week’s bye affording him a chance to …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
