Cowboys @ 49ers
Final Score: 49ers 42, Cowboys 10
Writer: Michael James (@MikeoftheFF on Twitter)
The San Francisco 49ers held a 2-1 advantage since 2020 coming into this matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, including a two-game win streak from the last two games in the playoffs. We better get our popcorn ready for this one. San Francisco came out and dominated the time of possession and erected a brick wall on defense, holding Dallas to three plays or less on six of their seven offensive drives. The Cowboys’ defense would contain the running game but the 49ers would take it to the air to find two of their three first-half scores to go into the half 21-7. The 49ers would double their score in the second half and the Cowboys would only manage to add three points to end the game with the 49ers moving their aforementioned advantage to 3-1.
Three Up
- George Kittle – Three catches, every single one of them for touchdowns. In the up-and-down nature of the TE spot for fantasy, he delivered today.
- Brock Purdy – Four touchdowns, the most he’s thrown in one game in his NFL career.
- Fred Warner – Hit for the cycle with an interception, a forced fumble, and a sack in addition to leading the team in tackles.
Three Down
- Dak Prescott – Barely 150 yards passing and only one touchdown to go with his three interceptions.
- Tony Pollard – Less than 30 yards rushing and a fumble lost. Four receptions might numb the pain a little bit in PPR but not much.
- Dallas D/ST – Over 400 yards and 42 points allowed. The pass rush was completely neutralized.
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Dak Prescott: 14/24 for 153 yards, TD, 3 INT, 3 sacks | 1 carry, 2 yards
The first quarter had an 11-minute time of possession difference resulting in only 7 plays run in the first quarter by Dallas’ offense. So already the offense was lagging with one quarter down. You could tell frustrations were mounting as the game went on because Dak would hold on to the ball for too long and began to fall back into the habit of attempting to force plays, resulting in sacks and interceptions. The broadcast would show the replay of the secondary on a lot of passing downs, showing tight coverage and not a lot of options for Dak to go to with the ball. And if there was a brief opening, he didn’t have time to locate them or get set thanks to the 49ers’ pressure up front.
Notes
- NINE of the 13 drives went for 3 plays or less resulting in 64 combined yards for those nine drives
- Dak had his finger taped (throwing hand) halfway through the game after it got stepped on but no time was missed.
- The team’s first first-down came after two minutes into the second quarter.
- Was able to throw up a bomb for a touchdown with a hand in his face.
Missed Opportunities
- 6 of 7 first half drives resulted in three plays or less
- First interception he overthrew his receiver by 5 yards for an uncontested catch by the safety over the top
- The second interception was more unfortunate as the defended pass popped up into the air for a jump ball
- Third interception was a forced throw that was easily jumped by the defender coming the other way
- 1 for 6 on the deep ball (including 1 touchdown, 1 interception)
- 15-minute time of possession discrepancy
Cooper Rush: 2/2, 8 yards| 1 carry, -2 yards
Running Back
Tony Pollard: 8 carries, 29 yards, fumble (lost) | 5 targets, 4 receptions, 35 yards
The 49ers’ defense had 6 tackles for loss and were just a brick wall for the running game to get through tonight. Consider also there was a severe lack of snaps for the offense in the first half, as well as playing from behind for the entirety of the game. Seven of the team’s 19 carries came after the starters were pulled.
Notes
- 26 of his 35 receiving yards came on a screen pass that he took straight down the field with blockers
- 5 targets in the passing game is a small positive to take away seeing his activity on third downs and in the passing game
Missed Opportunities
- The second carry of the game for him resulted in a forced fumble from the ball being punched out
Rico Dowdle: 5 carries for 15 yards, 1 target
Deuce Vaughn: 3 carries for 7 yards, 1 catch for 1 yard on 1 target
Wide Receiver/Tight End
CeeDee Lamb: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 49 yards
As noted above, I also want to mention it here. There were camera angles showing replays of the tight coverage the 49ers had in the secondary all night. While I mentioned Prescott held on to the ball too long, he was progressing through his reads and not finding any suitable targets he liked. It didn’t help that Dak didn’t have much time before he was sent scrambling from the pocket. This was just a defensive clinic put on by the 49ers tonight.
Notes
- The first reception of the game went to Lamb for 8 yards. Dallas was trying to get him active early after last week
- The broadcast showed multiple replays of Lamb’s frustrations showing with missed opportunities, tight man coverage, and being double-teamed.
- Opened the second half with a catch over the middle of the field and an angry run refusing to go down, dragging his defender for multiple yards on a 29-yard play
Missed Opportunities
- Had a drop from a crossing route. The ball went through his hands in the 4th quarter
Jake Ferguson: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 28 yards
Notes
- Put to work early in the game on the sidelines to try to get the ball moving. Two of his three catches came on one of their many 3 and out drives of the night in the first half.
- Had a big 20-yard catch and run on a return route to get the offense into 49ers territory for the first time in the game halfway through the second quarter
Missed Opportunities
- Would not register another target in the second half
KaVontae Turpin: 1 target, 1 reception, 26 yards
Notes
- Big touchdown reception on the side of the end zone for the team’s only touchdown on a 26-yard bomb
Missed Opportunities
- Exited the game after his ankle got rolled up on from a punt return and missed the second half
Michael Gallup: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 15 yards
Notes
- Three of his five targets were to the sidelines with Dallas was backed up to their own end zone
Missed Opportunities
- Was the target of an early deep shot but was unable to gain separation and the pass was defended
- The second interception was intended for Gallup
Brandin Cooks: 2 targets, 1 reception, 7 yards
- Beat double coverage down the sideline for an open deep ball but the pass was uncatchable out of bounds
- Was the intended target on the first and third interceptions
Turp speed 😮💨 @KaVontaeTurpin
📺: NBC & NFL+ ➡️ https://t.co/yLMhJNTZjs pic.twitter.com/tR4nGBr3Mi
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 9, 2023
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Brock Purdy: 17/24, 252 yards, 4 TD, sack
The offense came out firing with quick completions, building momentum and a rhythm early and they never looked back. Purdy felt minimal pressure early in the game and only got lighter from there. I continue to be impressed with his quick read ability through his progression to find the open man but at this point, that is nothing new. It certainly helped when the first or second read was usually open too.
Notes
- The pocket collapsed on the first drive but he was able to roll out and find Kittle in the back of the end zone.
- Did you get a chance to catch the Lions’ double reverse to hit their tight end for a touchdown earlier today? The 49ers caught that play just like Kittle caught the dime from Purdy as well to run it in for his second touchdown.
- 3 for 5 on the deep ball
Missed Opportunities
- Some trouble elevating passes early as he got two balls knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
- Took a delay of game penalty that killed the momentum of the drive that would later end with them being pushed out of field goal range
Sam Darnold: 1/1, 1 yard | 1 carry, -1 yard
It's tricky 🔄@gkittle46 scores his 2nd TD of the night!
📺 #DALvsSF on NBC
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/tAUa8Ny2Jo— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023
Running Back
Christian McCaffrey: 19 carries, 51 yards, TD, fumble (lost) | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 27 yards
This one is a mixed bag as McCaffrey had his worst rushing day for the season tonight, however his backup had his best day of the season. It appeared the Cowboys prioritized stopping McCaffrey but did not seem to have an answer for Mason’s north/south running style.
Notes
- Converted 5 first downs and punched one in for a touchdown
- Held to 2.7 YPC, his lowest on the season
- Streak of scoring a touchdown in a game is now at 14
- Purdy avoided the blitz by dumping it to McCaffrey for an 18-yard catch and run
- Finished the drive to start the fourth quarter and sat out the rest of the game
- 3 carries inside the 10-yard line (1 touchdown, 1 fumble)
Missed Opportunities
- Would have converted another first down near the goal line but fumbled it on a second effort after contact
- Did not have a single rush for double-digit yards
Jordan Mason: 10 carries, 69 yards, TD | 1 target
Notes
- 7 of his 10 carries went up the middle punching through the holes for chunk yards
- Averaged 5.8 YPC running between the tackles downhill
- Big 26-yard end around going untouched into the end zone
Kyle Juszczyk: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 26 yards, TD
- “Even the fullback is running slant routes!” -Collinsworth
- Purdy rolls out on a play-action bootleg to find Juszczyk for the 1-yard touchdown
Tyrion Davis-Price: 6 carries for 21 yards
Chasin' Mason 💨 @jpmason27
📺 #DALvsSF on NBC
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/fkb0Z5Et3F— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023
Wide Receiver/Tight End
The 49ers game planned most of their routes to cross over to generate separation over the middle and in the seam. They appeared quite successful as four of the five players with multiple targets averaged multiple yards per catch. The only one not to was the fullback. It begs the question if the Cowboys’ scheme was exposed or if the 49ers are just this darn good. Perhaps a little of both?
George Kittle: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 67 yards, 3 TD
Notes
- Caught his first touchdown of the season on a 19-yard crossing route in the back of the end zone
- The second touchdown came from the beautiful double reverse to hit Kittle down the sideline ahead of the coverage to run it in
- Got his first hat trick of his career catching a 10-yard floater to the back of the end zone
Missed Opportunities
- Only caught 3 of his 4 targets for 3 touchdowns and a measly 75% efficiency. Come on man, what are we doing out there? Get it together.
Brandon Aiyuk: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 58 yards
Notes
- Opened up the first drive of the game with 2 of his 4 catches for 20 yards
- 3 of his 4 catches were for double-digit yards (the other one was for nine)
- 3 of Purdy’s 5 deep balls targeted Aiyuk
Missed Opportunities
- Had another 10-yard catch and run down the sidelines to cross midfield but was nullified by holding
- His longest reception for 23 yards saw him tackled by the shoestrings with no one else in front of him for a would-be touchdown
Deebo Samuel: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 55 yards | 5 carries, 30 yards
Notes
- Got involved in the rushing game including breaking off an 11-yard carry
- Big time 9-yard catch down to the 1-yard line taking a big hit to hold on to the ball
- 42 of his receiving yards came on a deep ball down the middle of the field seemingly uncovered to convert a 3rd and 14
HAT TRICK SEASON 🎩 @gkittle46
📺 #DALvsSF on NBC
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/Q3k4HwQ1NB— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 9, 2023