The Dallas Cowboys’ showdown with the San Francisco 49ers proved to be a frustrating tale of missed chances and costly errors, culminating in a 30-24 defeat on Sunday night. What began as a promising start turned into a night of disappointment, with a third-quarter slump all but sealing Dallas’ fate in a game they needed to win.
Third Quarter Woes: The Turning Point
The 49ers came out of halftime with fire, quickly covering 60 yards in just five plays. A mishit kickoff from Brandon Aubrey set the 49ers up for success, and they capitalized with a precise pass from Brock Purdy to George Kittle, who left Cowboys’ safety Donovan Wilson scrambling. The Cowboys, meanwhile, found themselves struggling to regroup after Prescott threw an interception intended for CeeDee Lamb. That misstep, grabbed by 49ers’ Deommodore Lenoir, set up another Kittle touchdown on what happened to be National Tight Ends Day, pushing the Cowboys deeper into a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
From there, the momentum was all San Francisco’s. Another touchdown quickly followed, extending the lead and leaving the fourth quarter little more than a formality. The 49ers’ dominance underscored Dallas’ season-long struggles with consistency, which again came to haunt them in this crucial game.
Second Quarter: Brief Glimmers of Hope
Earlier, the Cowboys had shown potential. They opened the second quarter in favorable field position and pieced together a cohesive drive, featuring solid connections between Prescott and Lamb, a season-best rush from Ezekiel Elliott, and tough yards after the catch from Jake Ferguson. Elliott capped off the drive with a touchdown, briefly giving Dallas a glimmer of hope.
But this promise didn’t last. Though the 49ers stumbled with penalties and a dropped pass from Deebo Samuel on their next possession, they still managed to answer with a field goal, narrowing Dallas’ lead to 10-3. Dallas couldn’t take advantage of the moment and ended the half with a quick three-and-out, missing an opportunity to strengthen their lead.
First Quarter: A Stuttering Start
Despite winning the coin toss and opting to take the ball first, Dallas opened the game with a short drive that gained only 16 yards. A questionable handoff to Hunter Luepke on third down stunted their early momentum, and the 49ers soon answered with a 50-yard field goal from Anders Carlson, maintaining their streak of scoring on their opening drive. The Cowboys showed minor progress on their next possession, but Prescott’s attempt to throw into double coverage under pressure led to an interception, stalling their forward momentum.
The interception didn’t cost Dallas any immediate points, as the 49ers punted it away. Still, the early mistake foreshadowed the kind of night it would be for Prescott and the Cowboys, who would finish the quarter without finding a solid rhythm.
News and Notes
Sunday saw Dalvin Cook making his season debut, though his impact was limited, and Rico Dowdle was a late question mark after falling ill at the stadium. Defensively, the Cowboys missed both Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland, who were ruled out, impacting the team’s ability to contain San Francisco’s offense.
Looking Ahead
With Sunday’s loss, Dallas now faces a two-game road trip following their bye week. They’ll meet the Atlanta Falcons at 1 PM ET next Sunday, a critical game as the playoff picture begins to take shape. With this latest defeat, the Cowboys have much to address if they hope to remain competitive and avoid further setbacks in what has been an up-and-down season.
