In an unforeseen twist, the Dallas Cowboys football dream of avenging their past playoff exits was shattered by the San Francisco 49ers in a convincing 42-10 victory on Sunday evening. Many had anticipated this clash as the Cowboys’ golden ticket to Super Bowl 58. However, as quarterback Dak Prescott reflected, it turned out to be “perhaps the most humbling game” of his career.
From the get-go, the 49ers showcased their dominance, especially when it came to first down plays. San Francisco clocked in a whopping 255 yards with three touchdowns from just 33 first down plays, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. In stark contrast, Dallas could only muster 39 yards from 20 plays, marked by three untimely turnovers and averaging a mere 1.95 yards per play.
The 49ers’ quarterback, Brock Purdy, solidified his status as a rising star, delivering four touchdown passes without a single interception. His impeccable track record boasts a 12-0 streak in games he begins and concludes. His sole defeat remains the NFC Championship, where an injury sidelined him early on.
For Prescott, facing the 49ers has been a daunting task lately. Over their last three encounters, he’s managed only three touchdowns, countered by six interceptions and a staggering nine sacks. The question that looms large now is – what’s next for the Cowboys? With an impending Monday night face-off against the Chargers, the team and coach Mike McCarthy are headed back to strategize anew. The key task? Deciphering the missteps against the 49ers.
Interestingly, Kellen Moore, the Chargers’ Offensive Coordinator and ex-Cowboys playmaker, likely utilized his recent bye week to dissect the genius behind Kyle Shanahan’s recent win against Dan Quinn’s defense.
Yet, as Dallas looks ahead, they’re faced with a brewing injury storm. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is set for an MRI on Monday post his departure due to a neck injury during the game. Additionally, wide receiver Kavontae Turpin (ankle), special teams leader C.J. Goodwin (shoulder), and safety Donovan Wilson (lower leg) also exited the game with injuries, raising concerns about the team’s fitness levels moving forward.