NFL
By: Greg Rector
Can the Dallas Cowboys finally play a good game against the San Francisco 49ers? I believe they can as long as the Dallas Cowboys defense plays the same style against Christian McCaffrey as they did against the New York Giants New York Jets and today against the New England Patriots. Next Sunday Night on NBC the Cowboys need to defeat the Niners.
Dallas Cowboys Defense
Without Micah Parsons playing very much in the first half the Dallas Cowboys defense was electric against the New England Patriots. Granted the San Francisco 49ers have many more weapons to deal with the important part of the Dallas Cowboys defense was once again causing turnovers something they haven’t done against the Niners in the last two playoff losses. I expect to see Micah Parsons to be rushing Brock Purdy right up the middle. When he’s done that this season the Dallas Cowboys’ other interior rushers have gotten to quarterbacks.
My single biggest key for the Dallas Cowboys defense facing the 49ers is to set the edge the way they have against the three teams they have beaten so far. If you contain Christian McCaffrey and get pressure on Brock Purdy that’s the only way to send him down to his first defeat as a Niners quarterback in a regular season game.
For all those Cowboys fans who were worried about Daron Bland on the other boundary corner spot for the Dallas Cowboys, I believe he answered that question against the Patriots. Bland has now picked off eight passes which leads the NFL since last season and he was superb against New England. I believe he can handle Brandon Aiyuk and with Stephon Gilmore handing Deebo Samuel the 49ers won’t be destroying the Dallas Cowboys defense through the air.
There won’t be any opportunity for the Cowboys to beat the San Francisco 49ers without playing solid defense and it’s about damn time they send that message to the Niners. The San Francisco 49ers are the predominant team in the NFL and to beat them means “You have to be the man to beat the man!!” as Ric Flair so often said. If the Dallas Cowboys cause the Niners to make mistakes the way you have against every other team you’ve faced and this Dallas Cowboys defense has the guys to do the job.
It’s not up to Micah Parsons on his own this has to be a collective effort just the way you played all game long without him against the New England Patriots. The Dallas Cowboys can defeat the San Francisco 49ers as long as the defense remembers to do their jobs for 60 minutes.
Dallas Cowboys Offense
Dak Prescott wasn’t perfect against the New England Patriots and he won’t have to be perfect against the San Francisco 49ers either. Much like the other two games he didn’t have an interception and that’s the one big key to beating the Niners.
Prescott must keep that in mind and I’m sure he’s sick to death of hearing about the turnovers as I am as well. The San Francisco 49ers defense is also a very good unit. It will be a different look for the Niners facing the “Texas Coast Offense” and that means they will have to deal with different looks from the Dallas Cowboys offense. I’m sure the Cowboys will have a few new looks as well that they haven’t used against anyone else this season.
One big change will be seeing the Cowboys having a real fullback. Hunter Luepke has been really good in his limited usage but I suspect the Dallas Cowboys will be using the big fullback to protect Dak Prescott and much like the game against the New England Patriots they have to use the big fullback in the red zone.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive line may or may not have Tyron Smith at left tackle and finally, after 23 games be a fully healthy unit. It will be a huge boost to the Cowboys to have a fully healthy offensive line playing against the San Francisco 49ers. If he doesn’t play then I suspect the Cowboys will be using plenty of 12 personnel against the Niners as the tight ends will be used as well to protect Prescott.
Now I know the bossman around here Joe Cardoso will be writing about the Niners and will have a different outlook than I do regarding this game. I believe if the “Texas Coast Offense” plays as well as they did against the New England Patriots and stops making mistakes which means they won’t get called for penalties the same way they have in the two playoff losses to the Niners then this just might be the game where they defeat the Niners.
Michael Gallup has looked very good in the last two games and along with Brandin Cooks the Cowboys receivers are as deep as they’ve been facing this Niners defense. Something that wasn’t the case in either playoff game.
My Prediction
Since I messed up my predictions as did most of the world against the Arizona Cardinals I will say the Dallas Cowboys beat the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 24-17 in what should be a real battle and it will mean the Dallas Cowboys finally send the right message out to Cowboys Nation that they’re a real team and have every intention of making a run to be playing in Las Vegas come February.
You can find me on X @GregCowboys
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