Niners Nation
George Kittle’s monster game propelled the Niners
The San Francisco 49ers were always going to every bag of tricks from the Cowboys off a bye week, and they faced one before the first play from scrimmage. The Cowboys opened the game with trickeration on the opening kickoff return. There was a penalty on the play.
Dallas picked up one first down before Fred Warner stopped the Cowboys on 3rd & 5. Confidence levels soar through the roof whenever you get a three-and-out to begin the game.
Ricky Pearsall caught the first pass of the game for the Niners, then had an illegal procedure penalty on third down. That set up a 3rd & 6, and Kyle Shanahan dialed up a gem of a call. Deebo Samuel was lined up in the backfield, motioned onto linebacker Eric Kendricks, and ran right by him for 47 yards.
However, a holding penalty on Kyle Juszczyk prevented the offense from reaching the red zone, which meant an Anders Carlson field goal. Carlson’s kick was good from 50 yards out, giving the Niners a 3-0 lead.
The defense did not force a punt on the ensuing possessions. After they allowed two first downs, Nick Bosa hit Dak Prescott as he was throwing, and Ji’Ayir Brown fielded the throw as if it were a punt for an interception.
The 49ers took over and were backed up in their territory, but Jordan Mason was injured on the first down. According to the broadcast, Mason said, “I’m good,” so the hope was that the injury wasn’t serious.
After a first-down throw to George Kittle, Purdy missed Jacob Cowing on a third-down, which led to a punt.
The 49ers drew two holding calls on Dallas's third drive on one play. Fred Warner forced a fumble on 3rd & 10, but the Cowboys recovered it. A 12-yard run moved the chains for Dallas.
The defense had another opportunity to get off the field on third down, but CeeDee Lamb gained 15 yards. Defense is about sacks and timely sacks. Nick Bosa beat right tackle Terrance Steele cleanly, but the Cowboys once again picked up a first down via the run on 3rd & long.
After a pass interference in the end zone by Charvarius Ward, Ezekiel Elliott ran it in from one yard to give the Cowboys a 7-3 lead.
Shanahan drew up another masterpiece of a play with Deebo Samuel running wide-open down the sideline, but a holding call on Eric Saubert negated the 66-yard touchdown.
The good news was that Mason returned to the field. The better news was that Pearsall caught a third-down reception to keep the offense on the field. A one-yard gain on 3rd & 4 meant Kyle Shanahan would need to make a decision.
On 4th & 3, Deebo was schemed open, but Purdy’s pass was behind him enough that Samuel couldn’t get two hands on it. The turnover on downs was another back-breaking play for an offense that left far too many yards...
