San Francisco 49ers (4-4) – Dallas Cowboys (3-4): 24-30
The 49ers trailed 10-6 at the break. Then they scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to get back in front 27-10. Then they held. Just what was needed.
If San Francisco is no longer the steamroller expected at the start of the season, Brock Purdy (18/26, 260 yards, 1 TD – 8 races, 56 yards, 1 TD) and his teammates provided the essentials. They also took advantage of the weakness of a Dallas team still not at the level, on both ends of the field.
The 49ers stun the third quarter
At the start of the match, both teams struggled to finish. San Francisco gains a lot of yards, but they stall in crucial moments, on third attempts, or even a fourth. The Cowboys are the only ones to build a complete offensive, thanks to a few well-felt passes and a penalty. It's Ezekiel Elliott (10 races, 34 yards, 1 TD) who finishes in the end zone for the first touchdown of the match (3-7). At the break, the Niners still had not found the end zone (6-10).
But upon returning from the locker room, the 49ers are transformed. Rookie runner Isaac Guerendo scores. Deommodore Lenoir intercepts Dak Prescott (25/38, 243 yards, 2 TDs, 2 int), and George Kittle (6 rec, 128 yards, 1 TD) sanctions a few actions later with a new touchdown. San Francisco is in front (20-10) and continues to press the accelerator, with a defensive stop and a new long offensive of 75 yards, capped by a touchdown from Brock Purdy on the ground (27-10).
The break is over.
The Cowboys miss their comeback
If Purdy and Kittle provided the bulk of the effort, they calmed down in the last period. And Dallas takes the opportunity to maintain hope. Eight minutes from time, Prescott found CeeDee Lamb for a touchdown (27-17), then the two men doubled the lead after a Niners field goal. Here they are back at six lengths (30-24)!
Especially since the defense is finally putting a little of its own into it. San Francisco is at a standstill. With just over three minutes to play, Dallas holds a completely unexpected match point. Except… Four missed passes later, hopes are already dashed. And the 49ers eat up the rest of the clock.
Logical in the end. The Niners gained significantly more yards (469 versus 292 yards) than their opponents, still without Micah Parsons on defense and weak on the ground game (2.9 yards/run).
