SANTA CLARA – Sunday night’s reunion offers the 49ers a prime-time spotlight to tighten their recent stranglehold on a storied rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys.
Super Bowl wins have historically ensued after epic battles – with an emphasis on historically. It’s been almost three decades since either franchise hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Spoiler alert: Neither franchise is poised for that prize this season. The 49ers (3-3) and the Dallas Cowboys (3-4) are scuffling.
Then again, the 1981 49ers were a mere 3-2 when they debuted a pass rusher named Fred Dean (Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2008) and helped halt Dallas’ grip on this rivalry, which famously turned on Dwight Clark’s touchdown “Catch” in the NFC Championship Game.
Two seasons ago, Brock Purdy got introduced to this 49ers-Cowboys hullabaloo when coach Kyle Shanahan showed highlights of their 1990s duels, before Purdy’s rookie season peaked with a divisional-round victory over Dallas.
“That sort of filled me in on, ‘Oh man, there’s a lot of history with these two organizations,’ “ Purdy recalled. “And I remember growing up just watching some games with them and it just meant so much every time they played and faced off. … It’s really special. So we all take pride in that and are thankful to be able to play in this game.”
The 49ers have beaten Dallas each of the past three seasons, from playoff matchups in the 2021 and ’22 seasons to last October’s blowout at Levi’s Stadium. Here are five ways to extend that streak:
1.ONE-DIMENSIONAL DALLAS
The franchise that brought you Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett (and Ezekiel Elliott’s encore) now offers the league’s last-ranked rushing attack (77.2 yards per game, two rushing touchdowns).
Defensive end Nick Bosa, as he’s correctly predicted before games earlier this season, anticipates a run-heavy approach from the outset, from what’s been a pass-heavy Cowboys offense. “They’re going to try to run the ball more than they have, because, I mean, when you’ve had the losses they’ve had, they’re obviously going to try to do something a little different,” Bosa said.
The Cowboys are expected to debut four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook off the practice squad. They have scored only two rushing touchdowns all season – one by Elliott, one by Dak Prescott. The 49ers allowed four rushing touchdowns in Sunday’s 28-18 loss to quarterback-oriented Kansas City.
Assuming the 49ers’ run defense is not further compromised by their inability to buck up (and fill defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s absence), then Bosa, Leonard Floyd and any timely blitzer must pressure Prescott into sacks, interceptions and his fourth straight defeat to the 49ers.
2. RUN-GAME REBOOT
Jordan Mason, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, must be this game’s No. 1 producer. The 49ers must lean on him to run left, right and center. He must gain enough yards on first and second down to keep them out of third-and-long.
The Cowboys are allowing the fifth-most rushing yards (143.2) and they’ve surrendered 10 rushing touchdowns.
Last Sunday, the 49ers couldn’t pry Mason loose in the first half against the Chiefs. His 14-carry workload (58 yards) should have him fresh for this game, with next week’s bye affording him a chance to recover from an Oct. 10 shoulder sprain.
Mason, Isaac Guerendo, Deebo Samuel, Patrick Taylor and any other backfield option should also be tabbed as a passing target for what’s been a season devoid of screens and quick throws. Samuel is questionable as he’s progressed after last Sunday’s bout with pneumonia that required a two-night hospitalization.
3. NATIONAL KITTLE DAY
George Kittle was a blossoming, second-year star when Jimmy Garoppolo coined the term, “National Tight Ends Day,” which the NFL has come to promote every fourth Sunday in October. “It completely started as a joke and it’s grown into an actual holiday that’s on all your guys’ calendar; don’t look,” Kittle said.
Listed as questionable, Kittle needs no extra motivation or hype when it comes to facing the Cowboys, which will require him to play through last Sunday’s foot sprain. He had three touchdown catches in last year’s rout, and he proudly wore a T-shirt demeaning the Cowboys as an ode to former linebacker Gary Plummer’s original version.
With Samuel recovering from pneumonia, Brandon Aiyuk lost to a knee injury, Jauan Jennings still out, and Ricky Pearsall taking his initial NFL reps, Purdy should continue to target Kittle as his most reliable weapon (team-high 34 catches, 375 yards, five touchdowns).
Kittle professed respect for Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s schemes, adding: “We might have gotten the better of them the last couple of times we’ve gone with them, but he’s won a lot of games and his defense has been good for a reason.”
4. SPECIAL TEAMS TREND
Six consecutive games with a major breakdown on special teams is a disturbing trend the 49ers can’t afford continuing. The Cowboys have the NFL’s best special teams, and their return units boast 2022 Pro Bowl return specialist KaVontae Turpin.
Anders Carlson, who missed a point-after kick in his 49ers debut last Sunday, is likely making his 49ers finale, presuming Jake Moody’s high-ankle sprain is cured after next week’s bye.
The 49ers have not had a punt return longer than 11 yards, or a kick return longer than 35 yards. Half the league has had longer returns than those marks.
5. HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE?
General manager John Lynch made a necessary plea this week for 49ers fans to help create a home-field advantage. The past two games at Levi’s Stadium have been as demoralizing as it gets outside of a playoff elimination.
“I know our fans are frustrated,” Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “I just say hang with us. Help this be the home-field advantage that this can be. I’ve got a ton of belief we’re going to find our way in a good way here soon, but it’s got to start this week.”
A storied rivalry can enhance that. “It’s just the history of the Niners and Cowboys, the atmosphere and the way the fans come out,” Samuel said. “We feed off their energy.”
Toasty, sun-splashed conditions escorted the 49ers to defeats against Arizona (24-23, Oct. 6) and Kansas City. The one home game they’ve won this season came in prime time, in the 32-19 Monday night opener against the Jets.
“We’ve won three games on the road,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said, “and we’re getting ready to win our fourth. That’s our mindset.”
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Dallas’ wins this season — at the Cleveland Browns (33-17), at the New York Giants (20-15), at the Pittsburgh Steelers (20-17) – all came by denying opponents more than 17 points. All three of the 49ers’ wins this season have come by scoring at least 30 points.