Many fans tuning into this afternoon’s game in San Francisco will believe the Dallas Cowboys are seeking revenge against the 49ers. After all, San Francisco crushed the Cowboys’ season last year with a 42-10 victory, during which linebacker Leighton Vander Esch suffered a career-ending injury due to a questionable hit by Trent Williams.
Notably, Williams was ejected in last Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs for striking a player in the helmet. Before last year’s match, the 49ers had eliminated the Cowboys in the previous two postseasons: a 19-12 victory in San Francisco in 2023 and a 23-17 win at AT&T Stadium.
So, yes, the Cowboys have motivation from that past loss, especially with their current three-game losing streak. However, Dallas faces more immediate challenges. With a record of 3-3, they sit in third place in the NFC East, 1.5 games behind the leading Commanders. Additionally, the Cowboys are just one game outside the playoff picture. While 11 games remain, they can’t afford to fall further behind.
Keys to Today’s Game
Dallas is welcoming back some defensive players, which is encouraging news. The 49ers are dealing with injuries among their wide receivers, having lost Brandon Aiyuk to a torn ACL, but they still have George Kittle to target. They also have Jordan Mason to run the ball, an area where Dallas’ defense has struggled.
Despite Dallas coming off a bye week and being well-rested, San Francisco is looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the undefeated Chiefs. The 49ers will be eager to prove themselves today.
For Dallas to secure a win and move back above .500, while significantly impacting the 49ers’ playoff aspirations, they need to focus on a few key strategies. Defensively, they must contain the running game and force Brock Purdy to rely on his lesser receiving options. It’s essential to neutralize Kittle, as Kansas City successfully did last week, turning Purdy into a liability.
Offensively, the Cowboys need to convert drives into touchdowns rather than settling for field goals from Brandon Aubrey. The Chiefs were successful by running the ball consistently in the red zone, scoring all four of their touchdowns on the ground. Dak Prescott should avoid trying to force passes into the 49ers’ secondary, regardless of the game situation. A low-scoring game would favor Dallas, while a high-scoring affair could lead to a loss that might jeopardize their season.
All-Time Record Against the 49ers
Historically, the 49ers lead the series against the Cowboys with a record of 20-19-1. San Francisco has won the last three matchups, including two in the playoffs. The 49ers are 11-10 at home against Dallas and haven’t lost to them at home since 2017, when they won 40-10.
In that matchup, Dak Prescott completed 16 of 25 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns without any interceptions, including a scoring pass to Ezekiel Elliott, who also rushed for two touchdowns and 147 yards on 26 carries. In that game, Dallas maintained a run-heavy approach, with 43 runs compared to 27 passes, a strategy they should aim to replicate today.
The Cowboys last triumphed over the 49ers in 2020 at AT&T Stadium in a 41-33 shootout with Andy Dalton at the helm. Two favorable statistics heading into today’s game include Dallas being 1-0 against the 49ers in Week 8 matchups, having beaten them 39-31 in 1965, and the Cowboys holding a 24-11 record in games following a bye week.
Week 8 Historical Performance
All-time, the Cowboys have a 36-20 record in Week 8 games. They suffered a loss during the 1982 strike and had seven bye weeks fall on this week in the schedule. While they boast a 24-10 record at home, they are 12-10 on the road. The Cowboys have won their last three Week 8 games, with their last loss coming in Philadelphia in 2020.
