San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert. (Photo : Getty Images)
After disappointing start in the 2016-17 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys (2-1) find themselves gunning for their third win in a row against the struggling San Francisco 49ers (1-2) on Sunday at Levi Stadium.
Preview:
The Cowboys withstood a nightmarish season-opener that saw them both losing to the New York Giants and their quarterback Tony Romo to injury. After three weeks, Dallas is riding on a two-game winning streak and has a chance to improve to 3-1 with a victory at the Bay area.
On the other hand, the 49ers kicked off their season with a bang after demolishing the Los Angeles Rams 28-0. However, the hype surrounding San Francisco collapsed after blowout losses to title contender Carolina Panthers 46-27 and rival Seattle Seahawks 37-18.
Sunday's showdown will be crucial for both team's current campaign. The Cowboys would need all the momentum they can get for their next three games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 49ers will enter the soft phase of their schedule as they go against the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which are teams with .500 record or less.
Players to Watch /Daily Fantasy Picks:
Cowboys: Dak Prescott has been on fire since he was inserted into the starting lineup. The rookie quarterback covered 200 passing yards without throwing an interception in each of his first three games as pro. His running-mate in the backfield Ezekiel Elliot did just fine in his first two games before he exploded for 140 yards on 30 carries against the Chicago Bears.
These two rookies are going to be big fantasy picks against a San Francisco team that's allowing 255 passing yards per game and 122.7 rushing yards per contest.
49ers: Running back Carlos Hyde is coming off a 100+ yard, 2 TD performance in a losing effort against the 49ers. Against a Cowboys team that ranked 12th rushing defense (91 yards per game), Hyde will surely need that extra gear to come up with another productive game.
Still, the third-year rusher is the 49ers offensive weapon on the backfield. San Francisco is averaging 116.7 rushing yards a game (11th in the NFL) and Hyde is a big reason for that.
Prediction:
ESPN matchup predictor gives the 49ers a 55.2 percent chance of winning the game as opposed to the Cowboys' 44.4 percent. However, betting lines favor the Cowboys to win with a -2 handicap.
Both teams know Sunday's showdown won't be just an ordinary game because a victory will give them momentum heading into the halfway mark of the season. Prescott and Elliot are going to be dynamic in this match, and it won't be surprise if both tally big numbers.
The 49ers will try to make the competitive up to the third quarter, but the Cowboys will find a way to put them at bay for good in the fourth. Cowboys 24, 49ers 17.
Cowboys vs. 49ers will be televised on Fox at 4:25 p.m US EST and broadcast via online live stream on Fox Sports Go and NFL League Pass. Stats and highlights are available on ESPN NFL Gamecast.
