The Dallas Cowboys come off their bye week desperately in need of a victory while traveling to face a San Francisco 49ers team dealing with a litany of injuries to their skill position personnel.
One of the NFC’s oldest rivalries closes out Sunday’s action in Week 8 of the NFL’s regular season.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The 49ers (3-4) are consensus 5.0-point favorites at home. That includes at BetRivers, where the 49ers have drawn 64 percent of the spread-line money, while the Cowboys (3-3) have been backed by 53 percent of the total bets.
Dallas’ +180 moneyline has been popular, attracting 61 percent of the money, although the 49ers have garnered 46 percent of the total bets at -225.
The Over/Under total points line has hovered around 47.5 and 48.0 at most books. At BetRivers, the Under has been backed by big wagers with 82 percent of the total money, although 70 percent of the total bets have supported to Over.
SERIES HISTORY
San Francisco has won the past three meetings, including playoff victories to end Dallas’ 2021 and 2022 seasons. Last season’s meeting was one-sided as the 49ers clobbered the Cowboys 42-10 behind four touchdown passes from Brock Purdy, three to George Kittle.
That beatdown might not have been as bad as the one Dallas (3-3) just experienced — a 47-9 loss to the Detroit Lions before the team’s much-needed bye.
THE NEWS
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had a message for his teammates before they all took time off for last week’s bye.
“Look in the mirror. Go watch these six games over the bye week. Take a few days off. Reset. And be ready when we get back in that building to refocus and do every single thing that you can to help this team,” Prescott told reporters. “And everybody has a role, whatever that role may be. Make sure you understand what it is, and if it’s bigger than what it was a few weeks ago, if it’s smaller, whatever it may be, figure out a way to be the absolute best in it.
“Eleven games left. We’re going to take it one at a time. San Fran’s next, so as we watch these six games, go ahead and get a jumpstart on a couple of their games and be ready, as I said, to refocus after this reset.”
Prescott has passed for 1,602 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions entering the latest showdown with the 49ers.
Jordan Mason (shoulder) has been superb while replacing injured Christian McCaffrey and ranks second in the NFL with 667 rushing yards.
Purdy has passed for 1,841 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions for the 49ers.
San Francisco star linebacker Fred Warner has heard the critiques of the 49ers being a team in trouble and he isn’t interested in the rhetoric.
“You can listen to what people say about you in the outside world,” Warner said. “All the stories can be written that we’re not good enough and all these sorts of things. For us, it’s about just continuing to focus on what we do.”
INJURY REPORT
What the Cowboys could really use is seeing star linebacker Micah Parsons (ankle) and cornerback DaRon Bland (foot) on the field. But they’re both out again Sunday night, and Bland’s replacement in the starting lineup in 2024, Caelen Carson, is questionable with a shoulder injury.
Parsons will miss his third straight game. Bland has yet to play this season.
Cowboys starting linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) is also listed as questionable.
The 49ers are battling a slew of injuries and lost star wideout Brandon Aiyuk to a season-ending right knee injury during last Sunday’s 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Wideout Deebo Samuel (pneumonia/wrist) played just a few snaps and was later hospitalized and released on Tuesday. Though he sat out Wednesday’s practice, San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel might play, but he’s listed as questionable, the same designated the 49ers gave Kittle (foot).
Receiver Jauan Jennings (hip/groin) missed the Kansas City game, was unable to practice all week and is out along with kicker Jake Moody (ankle).
Of course, McCaffrey (Achilles) remains on injured reserve and hasn’t played a down this season.
THEY SAID IT
–“I think we’ve gotta go into these games and say, ‘We’ve gotta step on somebody’s neck. It’s just the simple things: being disciplined, can’t kill each other on red-zone trips. Can’t kill each other on third downs.” –Parsons
–“The guys in the building are really talented, so we have to figure that out. It’s on our vets to pull them along, whether they’re ready or not. … (The injuries) impact you to an extent but you have to have the three-foot mindset and just attack what’s in front of you.” –Kittle
PREDICTION
The Cowboys’ three wins have all come on the road, although the first two came against Cleveland and the New York Giants. Dallas did also secure a solid win at Pittsburgh before getting blown out at home by Detroit. The 49ers due enter the game with a concerning amount of injuries to key personnel, but this is an equally critical game for San Francisco and Dallas simply hasn’t played well against quality teams. –49ers 26, Cowboys 23
