It was billed as the game of the year, it was billed as a heavyweight fight between two of the best teams in the NFL. In the end, it was barely a contest.

The 49ers routed the Cowboys in their rematch of last season's NFC Divisional Round tilt, providing emphatic evidence that the gap between the two teams has widened since the Niners squeaked out a 19-12 victory back in January.

San Francisco barely had to get out of third gear to cruise to 4-0 with wins over the Steelers, Rams, Giants and Cardinals. Save for the occasional sputter — see Christian McCaffrey’s fumble on the two-yard line — this was the most complete roster in football on overdrive, and the results in the 49ers' 42-10 triumph could hardly have been more spectacular.

Hot start proves a harbinger

The signs were there from the opening drive, a seven-play, 75-yard march that ended with Brock Purdy rolling to his right and finding a wide-open George Kittle in the endzone followed by the 49ers forcing a rapid three-and-out from the Cowboys.

Though the Dallas defense tightened things up briefly. That sequence set the tone for a chastening evening for the Cowboys and one that emphatically reaffirmed the 49ers' status as the best team in football.

Purdy, aided by Kyle Shanahan's play-calling wizardry that allowed the 49ers to nullify the threat of Micah Parsons, was outstanding, producing the first four-touchdown game of his career, deserved reward for a display defined by accuracy and touch, which shone through on the 49ers' fourth touchdown drive of the night, finished off with a third scoring toss to Kittle.

Kittle leads the way

Kittle's explosion was in marked contrast to his one-catch performance of a week ago, and served as an illustration of the embarrassment of riches the Niners have at their disposal on offense.

McCaffrey, the focal point of the offense, was, by his remarkable standards, held in check. Yet he still managed to make it 14 straight games with a touchdown, extending a franchise record. His 2.7 yards per carry average never once looked like mattering. Kittle was the headliner on offense, with Purdy's outstanding rapport with both Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk the supporting act.

Yet the offense would not have had the chance to overcome some jitters after the opening drive if not for a swarming performance from a defense that reminded the league of its still strong claim for the title of best in the league despite the change in coordinator to Steve Wilks. 

Defense delivers telling reminder

Dak Prescott was sacked three times, the 49ers' loaded defensive front firmly winning the battle with a Dallas offensive line playing at full health for the first time this season.

Behind the front was the defensive star of the show. The heartbeat of that unit, Fred Warner, had his fingerprints all over this blowout, forcing an early Tony Pollard fumble, chasing down Prescott in the backfield and using his coverage instincts to oversee a fourth-quarter meltdown from the Cowboys' signal-caller. Warner's showcase of his incredibly well-rounded skill set saw him record eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception.

Prescott finished with three interceptions, CeeDee Lamb was restricted to 49 yards receiving, with the only blemish on the performance from an often underrated secondary the 26-yard hookup between Prescott and KaVontae Turpin that briefly made the game close in the second quarter.

The memory of that disappointing defensive series was soon washed away, though, as the Niners swept aside one of the few teams thought to be on their level.

Through five weeks, the 49ers have left the impression that their might not be a team in the league on their level. No team has been as consistently convincing as San Francisco so far this campaign. Until somebody proves otherwise, the Niners are fully deserving of the title of the best team in football.

49ers run same exact trick play as Lions on Sunday

It was like looking in a mirror and everyone noticed it. On  Sunday Night Football the San Francisco 49ers ran this really nice trick play that wound up with George Kittle scoring a touchdown.  That's a really cool play design by Kyle Shanahan. One of the best offensive minds in the NFL does it again. […]