marioherreraThe biggest game of the season for the Dallas Cowboys is only a few days away.
Sitting at 3-1, the Cowboys will travel to Santa Clara, CA to take on the 4-0 San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers have been the Cowboys’ Achilles heel the past two postseasons, sending Dallas home with no dinner twice by an average of 6.5 points.
Throughout Cowboys Nation, the wide sentiment is that the 49ers are the favorites, and there is no reason to look at it any other way until Dallas proves otherwise.
I’m not totally opposed to that line of thinking, but I do believe the media and fans are making it seem like a David & Goliath matchup.
I have to disagree.
This is much more of a Goliath & Goliath face off than most people want to give the Cowboys credit for.
How quickly a loss on the road to the Arizona Cardinals makes everyone forget the Cowboys are 3-0 in the other games, winning by a combined score of 108-13.
That’s dominant football in all three phases, and the obliteration of Bill Belichick and the Patriots by the largest margin in his career proved that Arizona was an anomaly.
Moving forward, two defensive juggernauts will take the field Sunday night in San Francisco.
Their offenses can score points with the same ferocity that their defenses protect the endzone.
The question now becomes which defense is more likely to break when put under the offensive pressure?
There are plenty of opportunities for both offenses this weekend, and that leads us into my bold predictions for the Battle by the Bay on Sunday night.
These takes are bold in comparison to the previous two matchups versus San Francisco and the progress in the first four games of this season.
Brandin Cooks Eclipses His Season Stats
It’s not a stretch to say that newest wide receiver Brandin Cooks was acquired by the Cowboys specifically for this matchup.
In last year’s Divisional round playoff loss, the Cowboys managed only 12 points on the scoreboard, spoiling a Herculean effort by the defense.
Some blamed Dak Prescott. Others blamed Kellen Moore.
No matter who you blamed, everyone was in agreement that the offense lacked playmakers after CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard.
Pollard getting hurt at the tail end of the first half didn’t help matters, leaving Lamb as a possession receiver, but no other speed of note to keep the 49ers’ defense honest.
Enter Brandin Cooks and his 4.3 speed to help take the top off of the Niners’ defense, and keeping them from crowding the line of scrimmage to harass Prescott.
I believe HC Mike McCarthy has purposely played vanilla football in regards to Cooks, saving his best schemes and play calls for this big matchup.
In three games, Cooks currently has eight receptions for 66 yards.
The threat of his speed will open up the underneath routes in the 49ers Cover 3 Zone scheme.
Cooks will cook to the tune of 11 receptions for 105 yards, and might even get himself his first touchdown reception as a member of the Cowboys.
Dak Prescott Will Complete 85% Of His Passes
This isn’t far-fetched considering Prescott already has two games under his belt this season with a completion percentage north of 80.
It’s bold, however, considering he has only reached that milestone five times in his career, and not since Week 2 of the 2021 season.
It’s even bolder when you consider Prescott hasn’t had a completion percentage higher than 62 versus the 49ers unless you go back to his rookie season.
The offense, and by association Dak Prescott, are different this season than years past.
Prescott has shown the willingness to forego the big play, and just take what defenses are giving him for free.
This is a stark change to a gunslinger Prescott under former OC Kellen Moore, who encouraged his quarterback to take chances down the field at every opportunity.
Dak is different, and his approach to the 49ers defense will be also.
San Francisco loves to let you complete passes underneath, and rally to the football.
Prescott will gladly take those five to seven yard completions, and patiently matriculate his offense down the field.
His deep shots will be calculated after lulling the Niners’ secondary to sleep, and will finish with an efficient stat line in the neighborhood of 28/33 for a season high 290 yards.
Christian McCaffrey Will Be Held Under 50 Total Yards
Christian McCaffrey is far and away HC Kyle Shanahan’s most dynamic weapon on offense.
The 49ers get the ball in his hands in many different ways, and McCaffrey can chop up defenses both as a running back and a wide receiver.
Currently, McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing attempts (80), rushing yards (459), and rushing touchdowns (6).
He is the catalyst to Shanahan’s offense, and elevates the play of others around him when he is at his best.
Dan Quinn also knows this. Which is exactly why he will throw everything but the kitchen sink to slow him.
In the Divisional playoff game, Quinn and the Cowboys’ defense limited McCaffrey to 16 total touches for 57 yards.
With arguably a better defense than last season after beefing up the interior and secondary, McCaffrey won’t reach the 50 yard mark on Sunday night.
Gallup has played terribly in the 2 SF playoff games as he quit patterns and looked lost in those games. To win, Gallup has to play through tough coverage and fight for the ball, not stand still and watch the defense. Cooks is an unknown and he and Gallup have to play tough in this game. I wanted the Boys to trade for Chase Claypool but Miami was the smarter team and has him for really no cost. Dallas did not add anything significant to its skill players and lost Schultz since last year. That is why the red zone is worse. To win, a skill player has to play way better than they have this year. In the West Coast, Dak completes throws but the skill guys have to make a defender miss. Can they do that against SF where they failed in 4 prior games..
They can’t stop the run, or score in the red zone…..could be a long day for them
Steve Linderman lmao only time they didn’t stop the run was the first half of the Cardinals game when they were adjusting to Diggs injury but they were back on track in the second half and in last week’s game. It’s funny how you say they can’t stop the run when they’ve blown out 3 of 4 of their opponents so you failed at hating
Ron Petrie I am not in the least worried about this line stopping the run They are back healthy. I just hope McCarthy starts the Cowbooys run.
Ron Petrie 9ERS are going to run the ball. cowboys LBs will start playing the run leaving Aiyuk/Deebo wide open over the middle. Guaranteed.
Bracken Christopher Cowboys took care of Purdy, Deebo, and McCaffrey last Season their hero was their field goal kicker who had 4 long field goals
Ron Petrie CMC was playing hurt last year. And last year is last year. cowboys getting yak’ed to death tomorrow night !!
Bracken Christopher Cowboys 10 takeaways Niners 5 lol it’s gonna come down to the defense and Dallas is gonna take care of business.
Ron Petrie Daks going to fuk it up like always he chokes in big games every year.
Ron Petrie enjoy the game
Bracken Christopher gonna be a good one and could be for home court in the Playoffs
Bracken Christopher And Kittle. TD!
Good game !!
9ERS4LIFERZ
Ron Petrie not thinking so. eagles and lions way better the cowboys from what I’m seeing here.
You better believe it !! DC4L
Dwan Macklin I don’t think that L means what you think it means
Dave Classick up against better prepared team we will see them again & we will be better prepared to return the pounding to 49ers
all one can do is grow. best of luck
Dave Classick likewise sir !
Funny
CMC over 100 yards for sure. 2 TDs. Can’t stop it.
Media: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7239657376053106&set=p.7239657376053106&type=3
9ERS4LIFERZ
The Cowboys will not win this game, all things being equal
Gary McMahon 31-10 9ERS4LIFERZ
Hopefully!
Hahahahahaha
Yeah right
The constant used word of a cowboys fan IF
Black n white ..
???
Who are the contenders
Who are the PRETENDERS !!!
160 mill baby
It’s time for SB
49’s by 10 points
What Cowboy haters- don’t call yourselves fans anymore!!!
Karin Brookins Taylor is that supposed to hurt? Not calling one’s self a fan? Lmao. Being a fan of a group of strangers is pathetic.
ZZZzzz
Give us a good score Cowboys
Almost time it feels like the longest day ever. minutes feel like hours Go Cowboys
Rey Ayala good lord, really? I’m guessing you are pretty disappointed then.
My prediction
Dallas starting OL playing in their 1st game together will come up big vs that 49ers DL
Larry Spivey not doing good. We need a running game
Dallas will not win this game for sure fuck the cow wossy
Cowboys
TD Niners! Like a machine
Maybe you are missing something..bang bang
Bosa!
So far they are doing exactly what they always do against better team play like there afraid to lose.
So far Dallas has been nonexistent.
Dallas should of just stayed home
Well crud
THEY’RE GETTING FKED
Better get it together Dak you stinking up the stadium
The offense sucks.. n defense is getting whooped. Hope coaches rips them for the penalties.
That was a given. The general on the field is no leader. Jerry will never accept that!!
Cowboys are clearly not prepared for this game. Coaching staff doing a horrible job!
Cowboys will be embarrassed!!! Guaranteed!!!
Sorry Cowboy fans!!!! SF is TOO MUCH for them!!!
Haha that’s a joke!
all bark no bite
Prescott couldn’t win a Super Bowl on Madden football on Play Station!
Greg Landigu win
2nd tier 29th year
How ’bout them Cowboys? Please cut Dak tomorrow.
Good night cowboys
This post didn’t age well
Nope
Lauren Bryant-Brinkley they sure did . . . to the hilt
Umm…yeah…!
Didn’t work lol
“Could” but didn’t.
Not in the same level as the 49rs
This post didn’t age well.
Cowboys +31 and you still lose, Dak is the problem
I missed the game ….
Is it still your year????
And Dak became Dak in a pivotal game.
Ok if you say so
Dak Prescott, the cowboy killer management when are you gonna fucking grow a brain
Somebody needs a little help reading and interpreting stats.
That aged well, Not!
Rob Nelson nice shirt
Was there ever any doubt.
This isn’t aging well
Farce!
Lol. Didn’t age well
Stupid Cowboys, and Stupid Jerry Jones, when are you dumbasses going to learn that Dak the quack is not the Cowboys answer.
They brought their c game
Pollard looked zeke slow and tired tripping over himself what a joke.
Yep. They bent over and took it all.
How did that work out for ya?
Didn’t age well for you guys
A faithful 49er fan and all I’m gonna say is 20 49ers 19 cowboys 
The only thing they can spell is suck.
I think Cowboys fans should stop blaming all their losses on Dak. They got outplayed period by a better team. The Cowboys are NOT a playoff team yet. Everytime they lose they act like it’s a fluke loss.
Dallas really did bad, the defense needs WORK!
No
Welp!
It spelled trouble alright for the cowards,the way overrated terds
Cowboy didn’t have a chance with the NERS
This semi prediction isn’t against well.