NFL
By: Greg Rector
San Francisco 49’ers vs Dallas Cowboys 4 PM Sunday, January 16
SHEER MADNESS
Week 18 was a wild weekend of football for so many teams in the NFL. Each of these teams had their moments to be wild card opponents in the NFC playoff picture. The Niners had an amazing comeback against the Rams, while the Cowboys ran roughshod over the Eagles to move into the third seed in the conference. Everyone is 0-0 again with both of these teams wanting a 4-0 mark at the end of the journey holding the Lombardi Trophy aloft. Let’s look at this game.
Dallas Offense versus San Francisco Defense
The Niners D can bring pressure with just 4 guys, they are not a blitzing defense at all. So forget about Dak’s success against the blitz, we’re not going to see that from the Niners. To me, the key is the Dallas line holding up against the four rushers of the Niners. If Pro Bowl Tyron and Zach show up that’s perfect. Once again I believe this will be a game where Elliott must contribute more than we would like as a pass-blocking running back. Make no mistake the Niners’ front four are the key to their success in the pass rush and against the run as well. They invested heavily in those players and it’s paid dividends. Meanwhile, the Cowboys line must establish themselves early in this game, making them know it is not going to be easy against them. The battle in the trenches is where this one is won or lost. The other concern of course will be can the Cowboys run the ball against the Niners to allow the passing game to be effective. I think they can establish a ground game San Francisco has given up just over 100 yards per game. The key will be getting those yards, especially on third downs to keep drives alive. The passing game will need to attack the Niner’s secondary, which is the weakest part of the San Francisco defense. Getting the receivers involved early is going to matter. If the pass rush is coming yet Dallas still can move the football eventually that front four will get tired. I have a feeling the Cowboys will use two tight end sets as often as they can to again offset that pass rush. Make no mistake about it the Cowboys will need their “A,” game Sunday afternoon. There can be no slow start by Dallas. Execution has to be emphasized leading up to this game. Dak Prescott and the receivers must stay on the same page the way they’ve done so against the Falcons, Eagles, and WFT. Those Dallas Cowboys have to show up, not the ones we saw against Arizona, Las Vegas, and Denver.
Dallas Defense versus the San Francisco Offense
Kittle, Samuel, Mitchell, all names that Cowboys fans better be respectful of. They can change games in a hurry with their production. Deebo Samuel has become a dual and even triple threat for San Francisco. Containing him will be vital to slowing down the Niner’s offense. Mitchell has been very effective as a rusher, and well as well all know a healthy George Kittle, is a dangerous George Kittle, he aids in the run blocking and certainly can cause havoc as a receiver as well. Throw in Brandon Aiyuk as a deep threat and there are plenty of guys for the Cowboys defense to worry about. For me, the key will be making them one-dimensional. The Cowboys must frustrate their passing game through getting to Jimmy Garappolo with the pass rush, or as they’ve done all season get him under enough pressure to where he makes a mistake and the league leaders in takeaways get to continue that trend. If the Niners are rushing the ball, forcing fumbles along with limiting those gains will be very important in deciding the outcome of this game. While they come up with big plays, the Niner’s offense also grinds you down. It is a dangerous combination to be sure. Lawrence and Gregory are both going to have to set solid edges against the run and bring that pressure on Jimmy G. Garappolo releases the ball quickly so that won’t be as easy as we would think either. This game has all the makings of a struggle. Can Micah Parsons in his first playoff game make an impact? We’ll see. Can the interior of the Cowboys front prevent the Niners from making plays up the middle? Odigizuwha, Gallimore, Watkins, and Trysten Hill will be tested. Can the Cowboys’ secondary contain the San Francisco receivers? Most importantly just as with the offense can this group get off to a quick start? I can’t think of two teams that bring so many variables to the table. Neither team has a huge advantage.
INTANGIBLES AND PREDICTION
We all know what the intangibles are in a playoff game. You need things to bounce your way once more than do for the opponent. With the playoff game being in Dallas the oddsmakers still have this as a pick-em. Let’s put it this way if there’s no Dwight Clark moment for the Niners, and if the Cowboys play a full 60-minute game, I see this as close as it can get. There’s going t be a special team’s play, a defensive touchdown, something that changes the momentum for one side or the other. I hope though that the Cowboys are the beneficiaries of that one play. Time to end the fun for the haters on the sports talk shows, time to be the Cowboys that don’t come close and end up so far. 26 seasons of this is plenty. I hope this game also doesn’t get bogged down by the officiating. Let the players decide on this game. As always if you read my articles you know I am forever harping on the way the Cowboys start games. I’m not saying a quick TD or a 3 and out by the defense is necessary, I am saying they need to be battling from the opening kickoff. Never mind the noise, the Cowboys must play to their capability, and not be the pursuers, they have to establish that in their house, AT&T Stadium that they will be the better team. Four quarters, no half measures, and all the other coaches speak out there, Sunday afternoon is put up or shut up, time. When Sirriani wore his “Beat Dallas,” t-shirt, they responded. When the WFT fanbase screamed “We Want Dallas,” they responded. You don’t have that here, the Niners aren’t going down that road. So many of these players on both teams weren’t even born during the three straight NFC title games between these storied franchises, I was. The battles are legendary, let’s hope another chapter like that is written on Sunday. A very hard game to predict, I am taking the Cowboys by a score of 31- 23. The reason being is I believe the Cowboys’ defense will get that key takeaway, that they will make a special team’s play, and they will be better in the trenches. For no other reason than this group has shown an ability to play well enough to beat anyone, while the Niners have had their moments this year they’ve been less consistent overall. I’ll also shock many and say the Eagles will keep it closer to the Buccaneers than many think, much like WFT did last year, and finally, the Rams get by the Cardinals in the Monday night game.
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As always you can find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
