Game Recap: Week 4 Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers

Final score Cowboys win 24-17.

A dominate performance by Zeke and Dak, these two rookies are looking like the real deal. These two historical franchises have had some great battles in the past, today wasn’t legendary, but could be just another game in which we all recognize the two rookies that are running this Cowboys offence. Prescott finished the day with 245 passing yards, from 23 attempts and two touchdowns.

The game started with the 49ers getting out to an early 14-0 lead. Gabbert found a wide open receiver in Jeremy Kerley, who proceeded to take it to the house (Just as an aside, Kerley is now looking to be Gabbert’s favorite target, an interesting name to keep an eye on in fantasy circles). The second Niner touchdown came on the back of their most important and explosive offensive weapon, Carlos Hyde. With Hyde walking in a close goal line touchdown. Hyde finished the day with 74 rushing yards, from 15 attempts and touchdown for his efforts. Outside of Carlos Hyde this 49ers offence looks timid when faced with any stiff opposition.

The Cowboys lead by the two aforementioned rookies, rallied from a 14-point deficit and hit back in the second quarter. Firstly, from a very impressive drive conducted by Prescott, who hit Brice Butler in single coverage for the touchdown. Butler was a late inclusion in this game with Dez Bryant being ruled out due to his leg injury.

It was at this point in the game when Ezekiel Elliot started to get comfortable in game, his vision and patience is developing each and every week, as a result his yards per carry have been steadily rising each game. Elliot now has two back to back 100 yard rushing games, and today virtually walked the Cowboys offence down the field. After he was stopped just one yard short of the goal line, Elliot punched it in for the touch down.

This game was all about the Cowboys and their offensive rookies. Showing the maturity to not force mistakes and keep the ball for the majority of the game, the Niners had no answer when coming from behind. The 49ers are going to have to progress forward without their all pro linebacker in Navaro Bowman, early reports are that he has torn his Achilles, a costly blow for a Niners defense that lacks fire power. It was very telling when watching this game, that the 49ers struggled to get any penetration past this Cowboys offensive line. Only walking away with two sacks on the day and no turn overs, the Niners will have to find ways in which to force their oppositions into difficult situations, otherwise they may find themselves coming from behind more often than not this season.

The Cowboys defense wasn’t much better, yet they did force a timely turnover in the 4th quarter, when Morris Claiborne picked off an errant throw by Gabbert. Sean Lee also looked impressive, is flying around the field making plays, he finished the day with 9 tackles and one assist.

Yet this game was won on the back of the Cowboys offensive line and rookies.

The Niners look like a team who are crying out for impactful players on both sides of the ball, firstly a big bodied number one receiver wouldn’t hurt, and a pass rush on the defensive side of the ball wouldn’t go astray either. The Cowboys look like a team that is brimming with confidence, if Dak and Zeke can keep this chemistry going, then they may be able to surprise a few teams down the stretch.