Cowboys vs. 49ers: 3 predictions for Sunday Night Football
We are now in week 5 of the NFL season. The Dallas Cowboys are second in the NFC East with a record of 3-1 and they have shot to take over the No. 2 spot in the NFC if they beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. The one blemish on their record is frankly […]
We are now in week 5 of the NFL season.
The Dallas Cowboys are second in the NFC East with a record of 3-1 and they have shot to take over the No. 2 spot in the NFC if they beat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. The one blemish on their record is frankly an embarrassing loss to a team who a team they should not have lost to, the Arizona Cardinals.
Over the season we have done this series of predicting three key things that will happen, so let's continue it for the 49ers matchup.
The 49ers and Cowboys have had some memorable matchups over the past couple of years. The last one doesn't sit well with Cowboys fans as it ended on this memorable play:
But the past is the past. Let's dive into three predictions for Sunday night's contest.
It will be the closest Cowboys vs 49ers matchup since 2011
The last two games have ended in one score being the difference between the victor and loser – so why should this one be any different?
I wouldn't be surprised to see this game be won by a field goal.
You have to go all the way back to 2011 to find a game where this matchup was decided on a field goal. Luckily, out of the past two matchups that came down to a field goal (2011 and 2005), the Cowboys won both of them.
This matchup will come down to defense
Last year the pressure was put on the offense to see if the could score on the final drive.
As much as Dak Prescott wants redemption and wants another shot at that drive, ultimately I think the final stand will have to be done by the defense.
I predict Prescott will have a chance to lead the offense down the field to score in the fourth, and he will do so. This will put the Cowboys ahead of the 49ers and the pressure will be on Brock Purdy to lead the 49ers in a last attempt effort to score.
If the Cowboys win or not will come down to the defense and if they can stop McCaffrey, Purdy and the potent San Francisco offense on their final drive.
The linebackers will make a huge difference… good or bad
If you ask a number of people who are into team building, they will say that linebackers are basically the running back of the defense.
Thus saying they're not very important and you can get by with replacement level play.
Today, I don't think that will be the case.
On offense, the 49ers operate out of 21 personnel (2 running-backs and 1 tight end) 40.7% of the time.
With the Cowboys losing DeMarvion Overshown to injury earlier this year, the depth that the Cowboys have at linebacker is…questionable. Behind the starters in Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark, the Cowboys have Malik Jefferson and Markquese Bell, that's it.
You can talk about moving Micah Parsons to linebacker for this game, and while he is a unicorn and can do just about everything, it takes him away from what he does best. Rushing the passer, and Purdy struggles heavily when he is pressured. 48.7 passing grade when pressured vs. 79.8 grade when he is not pressured.
I'm not quite sure what the Cowboys have planned for the linebackers in this game, but you can expect the 49ers to be aware of this and will try to attack them.
© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
