Jerry McDonald has been with the Bay Area News Group for more than 30 years, with a heavy concentration of NFL football since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995. His all-time favorite athlete is a right-handed pitcher at Division III Linfield College in Oregon.
49ers linebacker Fred Warner intercepts a pass by Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott in last season’s divisional playoff game at Levi’s Stadium.Aside from a sixth Super Bowl championship, the 49ers defensively aspire to be great. And while the defense has been an upper-echelon unit that has held up its end in a 4-0 start, stepping it up in that area would go a long way toward keeping the 49ers on track with the Dallas Cowboys in town Sunday night.
The defenses don’t play each other of course. But consider this — the 49ers have been held to fewer than 20 points only once in 11 games started and finished by Brock Purdy. The only defense to do it was Dallas, which held the 49ers to four field goals and a single touchdown in aSo it’s not inconceivable that Dallas, at 3-1, could be the first team to keep the 49ers’ offense in check.
In the opener against Pittsburgh, the 49ers opened with five consecutive three-and-outs and took charge early. Then inexplicably gave up a 95-yard, 12-play drive in just 1:25 just before halftime en route to a In shades of Pittsburgh, the 49ers also gave up a 99-yard touchdown drive. No defense as formidable as the 49ers’ should give up 95- and 99-yard drives during the course of an entire season, let alone in four games.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cowboys injury report: Eight Cowboys miss practice ahead of 49ersDallas Cowboys sports news and analysis. Football updates, scores, schedules and stats on the Cowboys.
Read more »
49ers-Cowboys preview: What to expect in NFC rivalry’s latest chapterHere is what you need to know for Sunday night’s game between the host 49ers (4-0) and the NFC-rival Dallas Cowboys (3-1).
Read more »
Cowboys asking Trey Lance for intel before game vs. 49ersCowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that the team would ask QB Trey Lance for intel on his former team, the 49ers.
Read more »
Once considered 49ers’ future, Cowboys QB Trey Lance is turning the page on his careerLance's San Francisco tenure didn't go as planned, but the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft is making sure things are different in Dallas.
Read more »
Cowboys' Jones: Road to SB runs through 49ersJerry Jones sees this Sunday's showdown against the 49ers as a measuring stick of where the Cowboys stack up against what he considers the team 'most likely' right now to win the Super Bowl.
Read more »