Cowboys vs 49ers: 3 bold predictions for Sunday’s primetime matchup
The Dallas Cowboys return to action on Sunday night as they travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. Despite all the injuries the 49ers are dealing with, this will still be a very difficult matchup for the Cowboys.
Before the two teams square off on primetime, here are three bold predictions for the game.
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1) Dak Prescott rushes for 40+ yards in a game for the first time since Week 6 of 2023
It’s been a long time since the Dallas Cowboys made Dak Prescott a focal point of their run game. A little over a year ago, back in Week 6 of the 2023 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, was the last time we saw the Cowboys do just that. Prescott used his legs to make some big plays in that game, and his seven rushes for 40 yards and a touchdown were a big reason the Cowboys walked away with a win.
Prescott isn’t the runner he once was at this point in his career, but there are still opportunities for him to be effective with his legs. This week against the 49ers there’s a good chance he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that.
San Francisco has faced three quarterbacks with at least average mobility this season. All three have been very effective against the 49ers’ defense running the football.
Sam Darnold – 5 rushes for 32 yards
Kyler Murray – 7 rushes for 83 yards 1 TD
Patrick Mahomes – 5 rushes 39 yards 1TD
Dak Prescott will follow suit and have his best day on the ground in over a calendar year. Prescott rushes for 40+ yards and scores a pivotal rushing touchdown helping ease Dallas’ offensive red zone struggles,
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2) Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis both record interceptions
For the first time in his NFL career, we are going to see Brock Purdy try to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load on Sunday. San Francisco’s number two receiver Brandon Ayuk is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, and there’s also a good chance that Christian McCaffrey won’t play and Deebo Samuel’s status is up in the air.
If this is the case, Purdy is going to have to do something he’s never really done in his career. Elevate lesser talent and be the reason they win a game.
If the Cowboys can slow down San Francisco’s run game and force Purdy to throw, they should have plenty of chances to take the football away. After throwing just 11 interceptions in 16 regular season games last season, Purdy has struggled to take care of the football this year. His seven interceptions, 14 dangerous plays, and 10 interceptable passes are all top six in the league among all starting quarterbacks.
Dallas’ defense takes advantage of Purdy’s ball control issues and Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis both come down with interceptions.
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3) Cowboys finally slay the dragon that is the San Francisco 49ers
If there is ever a time for the Cowboys to finally beat the 49ers, it would be this Sunday. San Francisco is as beat up as they’ll ever be, and the Cowboys have had a full two weeks to prepare for this matchup.
If the Cowboys can’t beat the 49ers when they are as decimated as they currently are, it’s hard to believe they’ll ever find a way to beat them.
This game has a chance to turn Dallas’ season around if they can walk out with a win. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but the Cowboys need to find any way they can to scratch and claw their way to a victory.
On Sunday they’ll do just that. Led by Dak Prescott and their secondary making some key plays, Dallas finally beats the 49ers, walking out of San Francisco with a 24-20 victory.
