The San Francisco 49ers arrive at AT&T Stadium on Sunday holding the best record in the NFC at 7-1, aiming to extend their lead in the conference with a win over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys, sitting at 4-5 and second in the NFC East, are looking to steady a season marked by inconsistency and push back to .500. Both teams bring their own narratives into this Week 10 clash, with the 49ers’ defense fresh off forcing five turnovers against the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas riding the momentum of a narrow 27-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
San Francisco will debut veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen in their lineup after acquiring him in a trade with the Colts ahead of the NFL deadline. Allen joins a receiving corps hit by injuries to Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Ricky Pearsall, and De’Zhaun Stribling, giving quarterback Brock Purdy a new weapon to target. Allen’s addition could prove significant in a game where offensive production will be tested by a Cowboys defense that has had its own struggles this season.
The 49ers’ secondary faces a tough challenge against Dallas’s top receivers, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris acknowledged the difficulty of containing such high-volume targets. “Obviously, CeeDee (Lamb), when you start with him you’re talking about a guy that’s highly targeted, a bunch of receptions. He’s a volume player. He gets the ball a lot,” Morris said. “They put the ball in his hand. He’s like all those guys, those JSNs, those Nacuas and all the guys in our division, where they target him a lot and he’s heavily targeted.”
Morris also praised Pickens for his versatility and ability to surprise defenses both vertically and after the catch. The health of 49ers defensive backs Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green remains uncertain due to injuries sustained against the Raiders, with Morris describing their status as game-time decisions. “They’re tough guys. They’re very physical. They’re very competitive,” Morris said. Their availability will shape how the 49ers approach containing the Cowboys’ passing attack.
San Francisco’s defensive line, reinforced by the return of former star DeForest Buckner, will be under pressure to disrupt Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. After failing to register any sacks against the Raiders, the 49ers’ defenders forced quick throws and created turnovers through consistent pressure and batted passes. Morris emphasized the importance of impact beyond sacks. “It’s really about what happens when the ball comes out quick,” he said. “Last week we’ve seen a bunch of screens and a bunch of guys really getting to the football and knocking it down and being in the right spots.”
The defensive front includes Nick Bosa, Keion White, Gracen Halton, Jaden Dugger, Romello Height, CJ West, Osa Odighizuwa, and Mykel Williams. Odighizuwa will face his former team for the first time since being traded from Dallas to San Francisco in the offseason. Morris was unsure if Odighizuwa carried extra motivation for the matchup. “I don’t know if guys hold onto those emotional rollercoaster type things,” he said. Odighizuwa himself expressed optimism after joining the 49ers, seeing it as a chance to compete for a Super Bowl. “I feel like getting some handcuffs taken off of me a little bit,” he said in May. “Definitely want to make the deep playoff run, bro, and get to the dance.”
On offense, tight end George Kittle is known for his disdain for the Cowboys, often wearing a special T-shirt to mark these games. He told reporters he “potentially” will wear it again on Sunday, raising the prospect of a memorable celebration if he scores.
Wide receiver Jordan Watkins emerged as a significant target last week, and the 49ers will look to keep that momentum against Dallas. With Allen’s integration into the offense, San Francisco’s passing game could stretch the Cowboys’ defense in new ways.
Dallas enters this matchup with quarterback Dak Prescott coming off a strong performance against Indianapolis, completing 21 of 34 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Javonte Williams contributed 101 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, while CeeDee Lamb caught 10 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown.
The rivalry between the 49ers and Cowboys remains one of the NFL’s most intense, with San Francisco holding a 22-19-1 lead over 42 regular-season meetings. This Sunday’s game offers the Cowboys a chance to reverse recent fortunes and the 49ers an opportunity to widen their NFC lead as the season approaches its critical stages. The availability of key defenders and the impact of new additions like Keenan Allen will be decisive as both teams seek to claim a crucial victory in Arlington.
According to Yahoo Sports.
