SANTA CLARA, CA — Bye-bye, BYE week! The Dallas Cowboys are heading west to the Bay for a primetime matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas is looking for its fourth win as one-of-just-five undefeated teams on the road this season.
Similar situations:
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has acknowledged the similar situations the two organizations are in, in terms of records and some major injuries. The Cowboys (3-3) have been without defensive ends Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence—Parsons has been out with a high-ankle sprain since Week 4, while Lawrence has been on injured reserve since that same week against the New York Giants. The 49ers (3-4) have plenty of injuries of their own: running back Christian McCaffrey has not played a down yet this season because of Achilles tendinitis; wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7; kicker Jake Moody is out with an right ankle injury; WR Jauan Jennings is out with a hip injury; tight end George Kittle (foot) and WR DeeBoo Samuel (illness) are questionable, but Samuel could be a go on Sunday. “I think he should rest,” Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy said about the “dangerous” and “dynamic” player, stating they have to prepare for him in the game plan.
Road dogs:
While the Cowboys have dropped every game at home, they’ve won them all on the road so far. Pending a win on Sunday, the Cowboys would have a 4-0 start on the road for the first time since 2016. That year, they went 6-0 to start on the road.
First, and one of the worst:
The Cowboys lead the league in kickoff return average thanks to WR KaVontae Turpin, who has returned seven kickoffs for 30-plus yards—also, the most in the NFL. But on the other side of the coin, Dallas is second to last in the red zone, and one of the most penalized teams in the league.
Stopping the run:
Dallas’ run defense has held opponents to less than 100 yards on three different occasions—all of which led to a win in their favor. However, the other three times they’ve given up 180 yards or more, they’ve lost. If they can keep the Bay at bay, rushing under the century mark, that would bode well for the Cowboys.
Series streaks:
“They know us, and we know them,” WR CeeDee Lamb said. The Cowboys have not beaten the 49ers since their 41-33 win over them back in December of 2020. While Dallas has won six of the last 10 matchups, San Francisco has won the last three meetings, including one in the postseason. Out of the 40 times these two teams have met, they have a 20-19-1 record—the 49ers with the slight advantage. Talk about an in-conference rivalry.
