The Dallas Cowboys’ 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night exposed serious cracks in their foundation. Despite a week of preparation following their bye, the Cowboys left Levi’s Stadium with more questions than answers. This defeat, though close on the scoreboard, highlighted the team’s inability to execute under pressure as their playoff hopes dim.
While Dallas entered halftime with a 10-6 lead, the second half belonged to San Francisco. The 49ers scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the third quarter, turning the game around and pushing the Cowboys into a 27-10 deficit by the start of the fourth. Head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged the struggle, saying, “You have ebbs and flows of the game. We obviously stayed in that valley way too long.”
Dallas’ defense, which showed glimpses of improvement early, couldn’t sustain the intensity. The team’s recurring issue—allowing opponents to score on their first possession of the second half—surfaced once more, as the 49ers capitalized quickly with three touchdowns that put the game out of reach.
Quarterback Dak Prescott also continued his rough stretch, throwing two interceptions in his third straight game. It’s the first time a Cowboys QB has hit this mark since Troy Aikman in 1992. Prescott’s first interception came on a deep pass to KaVontae Turpin, where San Francisco’s Ji’Auir Brown made the play after strong pressure on Prescott. His second pick happened early in the second half, intended for CeeDee Lamb, a pass Cowboys fans and McCarthy wish they could take back. “I called it too early,” McCarthy admitted. “We’ve got to throw the ball away there. But I wish I had that play call back on the second interception.”
The Cowboys’ issues extend beyond the passing game. The team activated veteran running back Dalvin Cook for the first time this season, partly due to an illness sidelining Rico Dowdle, yet Dallas still struggled to establish a productive ground game. Cook and Ezekiel Elliott combined for limited production, falling far short of the 49ers’ offense.
While the Cowboys managed a few plays late in the game, San Francisco had already built an insurmountable lead, aided by tight end George Kittle and a crucial 47-yard gain from Deebo Samuel. Dallas’ late scoring effort did little to alter the game’s outcome, with the team now sitting at 3-4 and facing another tough road game in Atlanta.
McCarthy remains optimistic but realistic about what lies ahead: “We’re disappointed. Our men really had a good week of preparation. I thought there were areas of improvement. But still, we have a ton to work on.” As they move forward, Dallas faces a long list of problems to address, with time running out to keep their season on track.
