The playoffs are back in Dallas as the Cowboys are preparing to take on the 49ers. San Francisco bounced back from a rough start to the season and won seven of their final nine games to clinch a Wild Card playoff berth. The last time this 49ers team made the playoffs, they went all the way to the Super Bowl.
Things are different this time around, though. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is playing through a torn ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand, and they have to face a Cowboys team that’s been red hot this year in AT&T Stadium. Still, the 49ers are one of the better bets for an upset win this week.
Dallas came into this season determined to make up for last year. Dak was firing on all cylinders and it showed. Looking back over the year however it is worth noting they have not played many top tier defences. The NFC East is a mess and equals 6 easy wins for a halfway competent team. When against top level teams the Cowboys have struggled. Losses to the Cardinals, Bucs and Chiefs may give a better indication of how this team shall fare in the post-season.
The saving grace for the Cowboys may be that the 49ers don’t possess a game changing Quarterback. Losing Michael Gallup hurt but it appears Cedric Wilson is ready to step into his shoes more than effectively. Yes the Cowboys have scored well but much of these points came against poor defences. They will have their chances but having watched the 49ers keep the Rams in check for the second half of their Week 18 matchup I have my concerns.
Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell was another player who returned from a multi-game absence in Week 18. He picked up right where he left off prior to missing time with a knee injury. Kyle Shanahan’s offensive game plan for the NFC Wild Card Game figures to include a heavy dose of Mitchell and the run game. Of course, wideout Deebo Samuel will factor into both the passing and rushing attacks. Along with Brandon Aiyuk and the newly emerging Jauan Jennings, Samuel rounds out a solid trio of receivers. Tight end George Kittle is also healthy and capable of making an impact in the postseason.
The 49ers’ defensive front completely took over in the second half of last week’s must-win game. With Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead leading the way, the unit is capable of a similar performance in Sunday’s NFL betting matchup.
It’s been a while since the Cowboys posted a quality victory. Dallas chowed down on a cupcake-laden finish to the regular season, with wins over Washington (twice), the Giants, Eagles, and Saints (with injured Taysom Hill at QB) since a mess of a game on Thanksgiving (36-33 OT loss to Las Vegas).
The telling tilt in that stretch was a 25-22 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, in which the Cowboys struggled to move the chains (3 for 11 on third down), mustered just over 300 yards of offense, and held on to the ball for a mere 25:18.
This matchup with San Francisco will undoubtedly be the toughest defense Dallas has seen since at least Week 13’s win over New Orleans. The Niners stop unit turned up the intensity in the second half of the slate, ranking No. 7 in EPA allowed per play since Week 10 (-0.059) while checking six of their final nine foes to 20 points or less in regulation.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys -3