By Andrew Greif
The San Francisco 49ers were expected to be one of the most formidable Super Bowl contenders entering the NFL season. Instead, it has been a roller coaster by the Bay, one that continued in their 30-24 victory over Dallas on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 8.
Unable to summon the full force of their dynamic offense for weeks because of attrition to its offensive line, receivers and MVP candidate and running back Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers (4-4)sputtered through a six-point first half and trailed, 10-6, to the Cowboys entering the third quarter.
But in the third, the 49ers scored 21 points behind the play of tight end George Kittle while holding Dallas (3-4) scoreless to jump to a 27-10 lead that lasted until eight minutes remained in the fourth quarter.
Ballgame? No — because it was nearly Dallas’ game. Consecutive touchdown passes from Dak Prescott — who had thrown two interceptions earlier — to CeeDee Lamb pulled the Cowboys within 30-24 with 3:32 remaining. After a stop, Dallas had the ball and a chance for a go-ahead score, but its drive went literally nowhere over four plays, and San Francisco had held on, finally.
Lamb finished with 146 yards on 13 catches; of Prescott’s 38 pass attempts, 17 went Lamb’s direction. Kittle, meanwhile, was targeted just seven times, but he turned them into six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. A balanced 49ers offense also ran for 223 yards (to just 56 for the Cowboys, continuing their one-dimensional and pass-heavy offense for the season) and two touchdowns.
The 49ers now go into a bye week. They have yet to win consecutive games this season and will next get their chance Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.
Dallas is in a dire position at 3-4 entering next week’s road game at Atlanta. Prescott is the first Cowboys quarterback to throw multiple interceptions in three consecutive games since 1992.
Final: 49ers 30, Cowboys 24
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San Francisco runs out the clock to improve to 4-4, and the Cowboys fall to 3-4, and a second consecutive loss.
San Francisco gets a stop!
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Dallas wanted pass interference on fourth down, but the 49ers will get the ball back with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game. Crucially, Dallas has no timeouts left. If San Francisco can get another first down and allow the clock to run, this game is over.
Once down 17, Dallas could take the lead
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With 3:15 to play in the fourth quarter, Dallas forces a fourth down and punt from San Francisco and will get the ball back trailing 30-24 with a chance for a go-ahead score.
The Cowboys trailed 27-10 with 8 minutes still to play in the fourth quarter, yet find themselves in position to pull off a stunning rally.
Another wide-open touchdown for CeeDee Lamb!
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Aided by a second defensive mistake on as many possessions, CeeDee Lamb caught a wide (and we mean WIDE) open touchdown catch for 20 yards to pull the Cowboys within 30-24 with 3:32 to play. Lamb has his first 100-yard game this season, with 146 yards on 13 receptions.
49ers extend their lead
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Anders Carlson’s third field goal of the game, from 41 yards, pushes San Francisco to a 30-17 lead with 4:25 left in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys essentially have to score on every possession remaining to have a chance at a comeback.
If you watched the chaotic finish to Bears-Commanders today, you know anything is possible....
Deebo Samuel is hurt
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Samuel, who has 86 total yards tonight rushing and receiving, is questionable to return because of injured ribs, the 49ers announced. But maybe the 49ers will have enough playmakers, even without their dynamic Deebo.
Receiver Ricky Pearsall just ran for a 39-yard gain. Pearsall, if you recall, recently came off the injured list after he suffered a gunshot wound.
Dallas stays in the game
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CeeDee Lamb completely lost the 49ers defense with a crossing route and Dak Prescott found the wide-open Lamb for a 7-yard touchdown catch that pulls Dallas within 27-17 with 7:58 to play in the fourth quarter. Getting any closer will require the Cowboys defense to put together consecutive stops -- something that hasn’t happened since the second quarter.
San Francisco is on a roll
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The 49ers completed a 21-point, game-changing third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Brock Purdy, who squeezes behind his lineman for a 27-10 lead with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
The 49ers have now scored 24 consecutive points since trailing 10-3 shortly before halftime.
Have a night, George Kittle
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The 49ers’ tight end has had a historic night, not only becoming only the fifth 49er ever with 500+ career catches — joining Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Roger Craig and Dwight Clark — but also moving into third place all-time in franchise history for receiving yards.
Touchdown, San Francisco
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A seven-play drive begun by the interception of Dak Prescott ends with the 49ers leading 20-10. What a surge to start this half for San Francisco, which scored two touchdowns and forced a turnover.
George Kittle — on National Tight Ends Day, a “holiday” he started, no less — catches a two-yard touchdown that was wide open. It looked like offensive pass interference was going to be called on San Francisco for a pick play, but officials picked up the flag.
Dak Prescott throws second interception
Greg Rosenstein
The Cowboys quarterback tried to fit a ball into a tight window down the left sideline and was burned by a diving, acrobatic play by Deommodore Lenoir, who intercepts the pass. It gives the 49ers a short field, and means Prescott has now thrown two interceptions in three consecutive games.
49ers take the lead
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The 49ers have taken a 13-10 lead after their first drive of the second half. San Francisco found a level of offensive execution at halftime that wasn’t there in the first half. Highlighted by George Kittle’s 43-yard reception and rumble down to the goal line, and punctuated by Isaac Guerendo’s short touchdown run, the 49ers are in front. Kittle is up to 99 yards receiving on four catches.
Halftime: Cowboys 10, 49ers 6
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Both teams struggle in the lead-up to halftime. After the Cowboys held the ball for only 36 seconds before punting with 1:01 remaining in the first half, the 49ers could not take advantage.
What looked to be a promising drive ended with San Francisco out of field goal range when quarterback Brock Purdy appeared to try to stop a throw as the ball left his hands, leading to a fumble and a seven-yard loss.
That was a strange first half where neither team felt either comfortable or in control. If you’re the 49ers, what was most promising was that three receivers who’d missed significant time with injuries before recent returns to the lineup — George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Ricky Pearsall – combined for 146 yards.
Cowboys 10, 49ers 6
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Anders Carlson makes his second field goal of the night, from 44 yards, to pull San Francisco within four points with 1:30 left before halftime.
Leaders for SF so far:
- Brock Purdy: 9-13 for 121 yards
- Isaac Guerendo: three carries for 38 yards
- Deebo Samuel: two catches for 52 yards
Cowboys avoid a turnover
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Dallas receiver Jake Ferguson fumbled on a short completion near the goal-line with 2:56 left in the second quarter, but was able to recover it and save three points in the process. On the next play, the Cowboys kick a field goal from 29 yards for a 10-3 lead over San Francisco.
The penalty comes back to bite San Francisco
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The holding penalty that wiped out Deebo Samuel’s long touchdown catch-and-run does, ultimately, cost the 49ers points after their drive ends with a failed fourth-down conversion. Samuel was open on a shallow route going across the field but Brock Purdy threw behind him.
The 49ers are now 2-5 on third down, and 0-1 on fourth.
49ers' touchdown negated
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Oh, that could hurt. A holding penalty by 49ers tight end Eric Saubert while blocking for quarterback Brock Purdy negates Purdy’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel. Samuel accelerated brilliantly up the right sideline for the apparent touchdown.
Cowboys 7, 49ers 3
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Ezekiel Elliott runs for a 1-yard touchdown to put Dallas ahead after a strong drive that demonstrated some good play design to avoid the rush off the edge by 49ers star Nick Bosa. So far, Dallas has nine first downs to two by the 49ers.
49ers punt after second drive
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Dallas ranks 10th this season in lowest third-down conversion percentage allowed and they force a punt on San Francisco’s second drive.
Injury scare for 49ers
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Jordan Mason, the running back who has taken the place of the injured Christian McCaffrey, was hurt and stayed on the ground after a 6-yard gain in the first quarter, but he left the field under his own power.
According to reports in the stadium, Mason is ready to re-enter the game. Significant news for San Francisco’s offense.
Dak Prescott throws 7th interception of season
Andrew Greif
For a third consecutive game the Cowboys quarterback throws an interception. This time, it ends his team’s second drive after five plays and gives the 49ers the ball back with 4:27 to go in the opening quarter.
‘Sunday Night Football’ is under way
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As Melissa Stark reports from the sideline, 49ers all-purpose playmaker Deebo Samuel is active tonight and will play after spending two nights in a hospital this week for fluid in his lungs. He had been treated for pneumonia following a Week 7 game.
Samuel’s presence can’t be overstated for San Francisco, whose offense became perhaps the most dangerous to defend last year because of its variety of ways to open up the field. But with SF still missing Christian McCaffrey, the field has shrunk for quarterback Brock Purdy. Let’s see if Samuel can make a difference.
What the loss of Brandon Aiyuk means for 49ers
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49ers star WR.Brandon Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL in the loss last week to Kansas City, ending his season after just seven games.
Aiyuk led San Francisco in receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,342) last season, earning second team All-Pro. He reportedly requested a trade this offseason and did not practice during training camp while looking for a new deal. That extension came on Aug. 30, a 4-year, $120 million deal, tying him with Tyreek Hill as the fifth-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL in terms of AAV ($30M).
Aiyuk ends his season without a touchdown, and with just one game over 50 receiving yards.
Cowboys offense leaning heavily on Prescott and Lamb
NBC Sports
The Cowboys’ offense has been one of the most pass-heavy in the league, with their 65.6% pass rate the second-highest in the NFL, per TruMedia (behind only Seattle — 66.5%).
QB Dak Prescott is third in the NFL in pass yards/game (267.0), but he’s had a relatively uneven season — he’s on pace for the lowest passer rating of his career (85.5) and his worst completion pct (63.4%) since 2017.
Last season, All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb set franchise records in receptions (135 — most in the NFL) and receiving yards (1,749). This year he once again leads the Cowboys in catches (32) and receiving yards (467) and is tied for the team lead with two TD receptions.
San Francisco offense dealing with heavy dose of injuries
NBC Sports
The 49ers have been ravaged by injuries this season and the Week 7 loss against the Chiefs was no different. San Francisco lost WR Brandon Aiyuk for the season, while WR Deebo Samuel played just four snaps before exiting with pneumonia and TE George Kittle also left with a sprained foot. The team was already playing without RB Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles) and WR Jauan Jennings (hip).
49ers, Cowboys looking to end postseason slump
NBC Sports
While Dallas and San Francisco combined to win 10 of the first 30 Super Bowls, neither team has won a title in the last 28 years. Both franchises have sent teams to the playoffs frequently over this span (13 playoff appearances for Dallas, 12 playoff apps for San Francisco), but neither has been able to get over the hump.
Since winning Super Bowl XXX (the Cowboys’ fifth Super Bowl title), Dallas is 5-13 in the playoffs, and has failed to reach the NFC Championship Game. Over that same span, San Francisco has made the NFC Championship Game eight times and reached the Super Bowl three times (2012, 2019, 2023) but is still seeking its sixth Super Bowl title.
Key stretches coming up for both teams
NBC Sports
Adding pressure in Week 8 is the fact that both teams will face difficult schedules in the weeks following Sunday’s game.
• Three of Dallas’ next four opponents enter Week 8 leading their respective divisions, with the only non-division leader being Philadelphia, who still sits a game above the Cowboys in the NFC East.
• San Francisco has its bye next week but beginning in Week 10 the 49ers face five straight opponents that enter this week with a winning record, including the Seahawks (who lead the NFC West by a game) in Week 11 and the AFC East-leading Bills in Week 13 game on SNF.
Slow start nothing new for 49ers
NBC Sports
The slow start is nothing new for San Francisco, who is now 3-4 for the third time in the last four seasons. In each of their two previous 3-4 starts, the 49ers bounced back to make the NFC Championship Game (lost at the Rams in the 2021 season and lost at the Eagles in the 2022 season).
After San Francisco's Week 5 loss vs. Arizona, it dropped the 49ers to 2-3. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he didn’t think that San Francisco's previous slow starts would play a role in how the team would respond.
“I think every year’s different and we’ve got to write our own story this year and it has nothing do with other years.”
Cowboys and 49ers both off to rocky starts
NBC Sports
San Francisco and Dallas finished last season seeded No. 1 and No. 2 in the NFC, each with a 12-5 record. While the Cowboys were ousted in the Wild Card, losing 48-32 to the Packers, the 49ers reached the Super Bowl, where they lost in OT to the Chiefs.
Both teams entered this season with expectations of staying at the top of the NFC but enter Week 8 outside of the NFC playoff picture:
• Dallas is 3-3, its worst start since 2020 (coach Mike McCarthy’s first season in charge). Following their bye in Week 7, the Cowboys are third in the NFC East behind the 5-2 Commanders and the 4-2 Eagles — both of whom won this past week.
• San Francisco is 3-4, trailing Seattle (4-3) by a game in the NFC West, although the 49ers won at the Seahawks in Week 6 (they play again in SF in Week 11). The 49ers are 1-2 in the division after blowing double-digit fourth-quarter leads to the Rams and Cardinals.
Andrew Greif
Andrew Greif is a freelance sports journalist.