5 Cowboys players that have to step up to pull off an upset vs 49ers in Week 8
The Dallas Cowboys are considered 5.5-point underdogs heading into Sunday night's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers and understandably so. This season, the team has struggled on both sides of the ball and it is banged up. Additionally, the Niners have proven to have the Cowboys' number over the last few years. However, it's realistic to […]
The Dallas Cowboys are considered 5.5-point underdogs heading into Sunday night's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers and understandably so.
This season, the team has struggled on both sides of the ball and it is banged up. Additionally, the Niners have proven to have the Cowboys' number over the last few years.
However, it's realistic to think Dallas could pull off the upset. The Niners are also banged up and let's face it, they are 3-4 heading into the matchup. But if the Cowboys are to pull it off, they need several of their players to step up under the lights. Here are five Cowboys that must have a big game on Sunday.
1. CB Trevon Diggs
The 49ers offense is entering this game with no Christian McCaffrey, no Brandon Aiyuk, and potentially no Deebo Samuel. Even WR Jauan Jennings missed the Niners' first two practices of the week. George Kittle was limited on Thursday as he continues to deal with a foot injury. Long story short, there's a good chance the Cowboys have to worry about one specific wide receiver on this one, be it Jennings or Samuel.
Mike Zimmer hasn't really asked Diggs to "shadow" top receivers all that much this season but this could be the perfect game to do so. Chances are the Cowboys will want to load the box and take the run away from San Francisco while playing man coverage across the board. If Diggs can stop his assignment consistently, the Cowboys should have a chance.
2 – 3. RB Rico Dowdle, OC Cooper Beebe
For the last few years, the 49ers defense has been renowned as one of the best in the league. In 2024, that's true for the passing game but not quite for the run. They rank 22nd versus the run in early downs this season. The bad news is the Cowboys haven't been great are running the ball themselves.
However, I can't help but think Rico Dowdle's performance versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, a good run defense, is encouraging. The Cowboys for some reason insisted on feeding Ezekiel Elliott against the Detroit Lions early in the game. They need to tap into Dowdle instead.
I bundled he and Cooper Beebe together for one simple reason: The 49ers defensive tackles aren't doing great. If the Cowboys execute their double-team blocks effectively like they did in Pittsburgh, they should move the ball in Santa Clara.
4. LB Eric Kendricks
49ers running back Jordan Mason has the most explosive rushes in the NFL this season and he's forced the second-most missed tackles (32). Kendricks has been limited in back to back practices and the Cowboys defense should be crossing its fingers in hopes they can get their middle linebacker back for this one.
If Kendricks plays, he'll need to bring his A-game in the tackling department. If they can get Mason to the ground, they might just hold off San Francisco's highly efficient rushing offense.
5. WR CeeDee Lamb
Dak Prescott is right when he talks about the Cowboys needing other players to step up when defenses put double coverage on CeeDee Lamb. But ultimately, they need to get No. 88 going for more than a few moments in games. Top offenses with a true WR1 simply find ways to get their top guys the ball. The Cowboys need both play-calling and Lamb himself to consistently produce.
The 49ers have an underrated group of defensive backs, as they rank 3rd versus the pass per DVOA. It will be a challenge but it starts with Lamb and Prescott being on the same page, which they claim to have gotten right.
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