Cowboys and 49ers are both looking for rebounds headed into their game

Updated Oct. 26, 2024 3:44 p.m. ET

Associated Press

Dallas (3-3) at San Francisco (3-4)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBC

BetMGM NFL odds: 49ers by 4 1/2.

Against the spread: Cowboys 2-4; 49ers 3-4.

Series record: 49ers lead 20-19-1.

Last meeting: 49ers beat Cowboys 42-10 in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 8, 2023.

Last week: Cowboys had bye last week, lost 47-9 to Lions on Oct. 13; 49ers lost to Chiefs 28-18.

Cowboys offense: overall (12), rush (32), pass (2), scoring (20).

Cowboys defense: overall (24), rush (27), pass (19), scoring (31).

49ers offense: overall (3), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (8).

49ers defense: overall (14), rush (12), pass (16), scoring (16).

Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-6; 49ers plus-2.

Cowboys player to watch

All-Pro CeeDee Lamb has led Dallas in yards receiving in four of its six games, but is still looking for his first 100-yard day. The three-time Pro Bowler had eight last season. ESPN analyst and former Dallas QB Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl winner, criticized Lamb’s route-running in a radio appearance a few days after the loss to the Lions. Lamb and QB Dak Prescott have already had a couple of tense sideline moments this season. A year ago, Lamb’s sideline antics drew plenty of attention at the Niners on a miserable day for the Dallas offense in a 42-10 loss.

49ers player to watch

WR Ricky Pearsall made his NFL debut last week exactly 50 days after being shot in the chest. The first-round rookie had three catches for 21 yards against Kansas City but will likely need to play a bigger role on Sunday with Brandon Aiyuk out with a season-ending knee injury.

Key matchup

Special teams. The Cowboys come into the game with one of the best special teams units, while the Niners have had one of the worst. San Francisco is on pace for the third worst net punting average in the past 10 seasons and allowed another long return last week that set up a TD. The Niners have also had a punt blocked, allowed a kick return TD and rank near the bottom in starting field position for and against on kickoffs. Dallas had a punt return TD in Week 1, leads the NFL in punt return average and ranks near the top in starting field position for and against after kicks.

Key injuries

Two-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons will miss a third consecutive game with a high ankle sprain. It’s the first time Parsons has missed time because of injury in three-plus seasons with Dallas. ... CB DaRon Bland also has been ruled out. The All-Pro hasn’t played this season after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his foot at the end of the preseason. Bland set an NFL record last season with five interception returns for touchdowns. ... Two Dallas rookies could return. LT Tyler Guyton (knee) was active but didn’t play against the Lions after getting injured at Pittsburgh. CB Caelen Carson, Bland’s replacement to start the season, is questionable with a shoulder injury. So is LB Eric Kendricks, who signed with Dallas as a free agent in the offseason and initially agreeing to terms with the Niners. ... San Francisco will be without WR Jauan Jennings (hip) but WR Deebo Samuel should be back after missing most of last week's game with pneumonia. ... Niners DT Kevin Givens (groin) also is out this week.

Series notes

The 49ers won the past three meetings — including two in the playoffs — and are seeking their longest winning streak in the series since winning six in a row from 1981-90. ... The Niners' 42-10 win at home last season was their most lopsided in the series. ... Prescott has a 60.3 passer rating with three TD passes and six INTs in his past three starts against San Francisco.

Stats and stuff

Two of the Cowboys’ victories have been in prime time, including Sunday night at Pittsburgh in Week 5. ... Dallas is 3-0 on the road and 0-3 at home. ... The Cowboys are tied for 26th in takeaways with five and tied for 30th in turnover margin at minus-6. They finished at least plus-10 in each of their three seasons under former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, now the coach in Washington. ... Prescott led a winning fourth-quarter drive in Dallas’ previous Sunday night game at Pittsburgh. His next will be his 24th, which would tie Tony Romo for the franchise record. ... Prescott has five giveaways the past two games (four interceptions and a fumble). His most in a three-game stretch is eight in 2017, during a three-game losing streak that sent Dallas tumbling out of the playoff picture. ... RB Rico Dowdle had one carry each in the first and second quarters against Detroit a week after the best game of the fifth-year player’s career in the victory over the Steelers. Dallas is last in the NFL in rushing offense, and four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook will make his season debut coming off the practice squad after signing late in the preseason. Ezekiel Elliott, a two-time rushing champ for Dallas who rejoined his original team in the offseason, hasn’t been effective with his limited opportunities. ... WR Brandin Cooks’ knee injury has given Jalen Tolbert his first prominent role in three seasons with the Cowboys. Tolbert caught the winning TD against the Steelers, and his next score will be a career-high third. ... K Brandon Aubrey, who missed practice all week because of jury duty but is expected to play, has at least one field goal from 50 or more yards in eight consecutive games, an NFL record. ... The 49ers are in danger of dropping two games below .500 for the first time since a 2-4 start in 2021. ... San Francisco QB Brock Purdy threw three INTs last week for just the second time in his career. ... Purdy became the first Niners QB with two rushing TDs in a game last week. His 17 rushing first downs are tied for the fifth most for any QB. ... San Francisco leads the NFL with 26 pass plays for at least 20 yards. ... The Niners had multiple INTs in back-to-back games. The previous time they did that three straight games in a season came in 2014. ... San Francisco TE George Kittle needs six catches in his 105th game to become the fourth fastest TE to 500 catches. ... Niners LB Fred Warner had a sack, forced fumble and INT last year against Dallas. With an INT on Sunday, Warner will be the first player with INTs in three straight games vs. Dallas since Jordan Hicks did it in the 2015-16 seasons. ... San Francisco is tied for third in the NFL with 13 takeaways.

Fantasy tip

With their receivers banged up, the 49ers could put more of the load on RB Jordan Mason against one of the league's worst run defenses. Mason had had only 37 carries the past three games after averaging 111.8 yards rushing per game the first four weeks. This could be the game that gets him back to that kind of production.

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