The San Francisco 49ers, currently at the bottom of the NFC West, are in dire need of a win at home before their bye week. What will it take for them to secure a victory against the Dallas Cowboys?
Run the Ball
The Cowboys rank 28th against the run, giving up 143.2 yards per game this season. The San Francisco 49ers must run the ball until they can't run it anymore. Expect the Cowboys to load the box against the 49ers' rush attack. The 49ers' run game needs to be efficient, with effective blocking and well-executed run lanes.
The Cowboys struggle against the outside zone. Maybe head coach Kyle Shanahan will unleash the speed of Jacob Cowing and Deebo Samuel using jet sweeps and other plays to stretch the field.
Play Action
Two of the weakest positions on the Cowboy's defense are the linebacker and the safety positions. If the 49ers can establish a solid run game, it should open up play-action opportunities for quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy has been highly successful against the Cowboy's defense in the past. In their last meeting, a 42-10 victory, Purdy went 17-for-24 with 252 yards, four touchdowns, and a passer rating of 144.
Purdy will be missing an elite playmaker in Brandon Aiyuk, but George Kittle scored three touchdowns in that game. The Cowboys' defense is also dealing with injuries, so Purdy should be able to take advantage of the middle of the field.
Stop the Run
The Dallas Cowboys rank 32nd in rushing, averaging 77.2 yards per game. The 49ers' first key on defense is to take away the run and force Dak Prescott to become one-dimensional. This will allow the 49ers' defense to get adequate pressure to force Dak to throw interceptions. The more Prescott throws, the more chances the defense will get to give the ball back to their offense.
Limit Explosive Plays
The 49ers defense must play fundamentally sound. Simply put, they need to wrap and tackle in the run game. In the passing game, they need to communicate. Explosive plays take life out of the defense and have led to four losses. The team must contain the edge, keep Prescott from rushing for significant gains, and meet the running backs at the line of scrimmage.
One area of concern is defending against bunch formations. Dallas has a plethora of receivers who can bunch together on one side and force the young players on the defense to make mistakes. The defense must communicate on the football field to prevent these mistakes from happening.
Special Teams Coverage
The shortcomings here have been evident throughout the season. The 49ers have to stop giving up huge returns on special teams. Last week against the Chiefs, the special teams unit gave up a 55-yard return, and against the Seahawks, a touchdown. These explosive plays change the game's momentum, and the 49ers struggle to recover from these mistakes.
In conclusion, this is a must-win game for the 49ers. While not a divisional matchup, it's a key conference game, and it's time for the 49ers to take back the NFC. If the 49ers win to head into their bye week at .500, they must stick to these keys to victory.
