The Dallas Cowboys stumbled yet again against the San Francisco 49ers, marking their fourth consecutive loss to the NFC rival. Despite leading 10-6 at halftime, Dallas was unable to maintain control, with a dominant third-quarter performance from the 49ers sealing the 30-24 defeat at Levi’s Stadium.
Reflecting on the loss, head coach Mike McCarthy identified the third quarter as the game’s turning point. “The third quarter was definitely a factor in the outcome — the three three-and-outs by our offense and the one giveaway,” McCarthy explained. “You have ebbs and flows of the game, and we definitely stayed in that valley way too long… we didn’t give our defense any relief [in the third quarter].”
Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense erupted after halftime, scoring three touchdowns on their first three drives. Dak Prescott’s two interceptions, one in the third quarter, compounded the Cowboys’ struggles. By the fourth quarter, the Cowboys fought back, with Prescott and CeeDee Lamb leading a last-ditch drive. But self-inflicted wounds held them back from a comeback.
“We did an excellent job of fighting back in the fourth quarter and still had a chance to go down and win it on that last series,” said McCarthy. “But we came up short… we still have a ton to work on.”
With a 3-4 record, Dallas now faces a challenging schedule, with games against the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and Washington Commanders. These upcoming opponents boast a combined record of 22-9, signaling a make-or-break stretch for the Cowboys.
For McCarthy, addressing the team’s consistency is essential. “We’ve gotta stop the run and stay committed to the run for four quarters… Until we get that pattern working cohesively, we’re not playing to our strength,” he said. “We’re losing the turnover ratio week in and week out… That’s how we have to play, and that’s how we’re gonna play. We need to be better at it.”
With crucial matchups on the horizon, the Cowboys’ focus will need to sharpen as they try to salvage a season hanging in the balance.
