By Mark Halpern
Few matchups in the NFL are considered legendary matchups. One of those matchups this Sunday is the Dallas Cowboys take on the San Francisco 49ers. No love is lost for these teams as they have faced off plenty during the regular season, but their matchups in the playoffs set this rivalry apart from others. Overall, the record between these two teams is 19 and 19. Cowboys points wide over these matches by 39 total points.
The Cowboys vs. 49ers is the Game of the day this season, and it’s on Sunday Night Football. After the Cowboys win last Sunday against the Patriots, Dallas Owner was asked about his thoughts on the upcoming 49ers game, and he said, “They are the best team in the NFC to go to the Super Bowl. However, they have to beat us twice to do it.) It’s not as Bold as Jimmy Johnson saying, “We Will Win The Game,” but Jones didn’t sugarcoat it and said the only way the 49ers go into the Super Bowl is that they will have to beat them to do it.
What can’t be said about this San Francisco team that hasn’t been said all season? They are currently the best team in the NFC, with Philly, Dallas, and Detroit not far behind. The running game that Christian McCaffery displays is pure brilliance. Since he was drafted, he has been one of my favorite players in the NFL to watch. He is the key to winning this Game for the 49ers; however, Dallas knows this, and when you try to take one guy away, more targets emerge. I am sure Dan Quinn has a plan to try and contain him, but then you talk about the Wide Receiver/TE core of Samuel, Aiyuk, and Kittle. You can key on one guy. The Dallas Defense has to get to Purdy and often in this Game and try to rattle this kid’s cage. Purdy has been exceptional to start the year and has been meticulous in how he passes not, forcing it into defenses and being given time by their excellent offensive line. The Dallas defense faces its most formidable challenge of the first half of the schedule in this Game. The name that is going to be tested again is Deron Bland. Even though he had a stellar game last week, he has to prove again why the Cowboys should not try and make a trade for a cornerback with the trade deadline rapidly approaching.
Let’s flip the coin to the other side. The Dallas Offense is as good if not better than the 49ers offense, but the 49ers Defense is almost as good as the Dallas Defense. Dak Prescott has to have an errorless game like last week. The Dallas offensive line has to slow down this fast 49er defense and give Prescott at least 3 seconds to get rid of the ball and find Lamb and Gallup. I have supported the move to sign Brandin Cooks, but Cooks has yet to show us love. He has had a tough time to start the year, and if there is any game for him to kick it into the next gear, this is it. Tony Pollard will also get a heavy workload this week, as I suspect he will surpass 20 carries and tack on 4-5 receptions. Jake Fergusson needs to keep doing what he is doing and giving Dak a wide target when most needed on short downs and some play actions. Cee Dee Lamb will have a Hufanga time this weekend as the Conor Back has been great to start the season. Time of Possession and pushing drives will be crucial in winning this Game.
I expect this Game to garnish the biggest audience of any game yet and expect a rough and tough matchup on the field.
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