The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but their next opponent presents a much more difficult challenge. The San Francisco 49ers enter Week 10 with a 7-1 record, sitting atop the NFC and are looking like one of the most complete teams in the league.
San Francisco is averaging 29.4 points per game while allowing just 19.5. The offense has found success through the air and on the ground, while the defense has consistently made opponents work for every yard. The 49ers
are coming off a 38-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a game in which they forced five turnovers, including three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
For Dallas, this is a major test. The Cowboys have shown they can put up points, but they’ll need to be far more disciplined and consistent to keep pace with a San Francisco team that has very few obvious weaknesses.
Brock Purdy is playing some of the best football of his career
Brock Purdy has become the engine of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and his production through eight games explains why San Francisco has been so difficult to stop. Purdy has completed 69.1% of his passes for 1,980 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. His 109.8 passer rating ranks among the league’s best, and he’s averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. He’s also contributed 201 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, giving Shanahan another way to stress opposing defenses.
Purdy’s performance against the Raiders was a good example of what makes him dangerous. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 40 rushing yards and a score. His second touchdown pass was also the 100th of his career, making him the fastest quarterback in 49ers franchise history to reach that milestone. Crazy to think Mr. Irrelevant is atop a list that include Joe Montana and Steve Young, but here we are.
The Cowboys can’t afford to focus exclusively on Purdy’s arm. His mobility has become another dimension of the offense, and his ability to extend plays can turn a seemingly successful defensive snap into a first down. Dallas will need to pressure him without losing its discipline in the backfield. If Purdy has time to work through his progressions or escape the pocket, he has enough weapons around him to make the defense pay.
Kyle Shanahan has an offense that can beat you in multiple ways
The 49ers’ offensive success, however, starts and ends with Shanahan, whose system continues to create opportunities for players across the roster. San Francisco has accumulated 3,014 total offensive yards through eight games, averaging 6.2 yards per play. The team has also scored 31 touchdowns, with 17 coming through the air and 12 on the ground.
The rushing attack remains a major part of the identity. The 49ers have totaled 1,082 rushing yards on 234 attempts, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Christian McCaffrey leads the team with 457 yards and nine touchdowns, while rookie Kaelon Black has added 303 yards and another score. Purdy’s 201 rushing yards give the offense yet another threat to account for.
San Francisco’s ground game was particularly effective against Las Vegas, finishing with a season-high 190 rushing yards. The 49ers also ran the ball 43 times, their most in a single game since 2022. Under Shanahan, San Francisco has won all 10 games in which it has recorded at least 40 rushing attempts.
The passing game is just as versatile. George Kittle leads the team with 483 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while Mike Evans has contributed 420 yards and three scores. McCaffrey has added 270 receiving yards, and Deebo Samuel Sr. has 206 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Watkins, meanwhile, is averaging an impressive 22.4 yards per reception on 10 catches and has filled in during Evans’ absence. Oh and the Niners just added vet Keenan Allen to top it all off, so he could face the Cowboys in consecutive weeks.
There is the challenge for Dallas: there isn’t one player the defense can simply take away and expect the rest of the offense to disappear. Kittle can hurt defenses over the middle, Evans provides a downfield threat, Samuel can create yards after the catch, and McCaffrey can contribute as both a runner and receiver.
Shanahan’s offense is designed to make defenses account for all of those possibilities. The Cowboys will need to tackle well, communicate in coverage and avoid allowing San Francisco to dictate the matchup. Something they haven’t done in a whole game all season.
A defense that makes life difficult
The 49ers’ defense has been just as important to their 7-1 start. San Francisco is allowing 19.5 points per game and has surrendered only 2,335 total yards through eight games. Opponents are averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, with the 49ers giving up 647 rushing yards on 194 attempts.
The Niners defense has shown an ability to create game-changing plays. The 49ers forced five turnovers against the Raiders, including three interceptions and two fumbles. Fred Warner was at the center of that performance, recording a forced fumble and a recovery. He now has five forced fumbles this season, a career high.
The secondary has been productive, too. Cornerback Renardo Green leads the team with four interceptions, while rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger returned his first career interception 35 yards for a touchdown against Las Vegas. Malik Mustapha added another interception to close out the win.
San Francisco’s pass rush has been more of a collective effort. Keion White leads the team with 3.5 sacks, while former Cowboy Osa Odighizuwa has two and Gracen Halton also has two. The return of Nick Bosa against Las Vegas is another important development. Bosa had missed five games before returning from the team’s bye week, and his presence gives the defensive front another established playmaker.
A rivalry renewed — and one-sided lately
There was a time when Cowboys-49ers games helped define the NFL. The rivalry, spanned decades and produced some of the most memorable postseason battles in league history, but the recent chapter has belonged entirely to San Francisco. The 49ers have won each of the last four meetings with Dallas, dating back to the 2022 playoffs.
The streak began with a 23-17 San Francisco win in the 2022 NFC Wild Card round, followed by a 19-12 victory in the Divisional round in January 2023. The 49ers then delivered a 42-10 blowout during the 2023 regular season, before beating Dallas 30-24 in October 2024.
The numbers paint an even clearer picture. San Francisco has outscored Dallas 114-63 across those four games, an average margin of 12.75 points. The 49ers have also outgained the Cowboys by an average of more than 116 yards per game across that stretch.
Dallas has struggled to find answers against San Francisco’s physicality and defensive pressure. The all-time series is much closer, with San Francisco holding a 21-19-1 advantage. But history won’t offer much comfort to Dallas heading into this matchup. The Cowboys haven’t beaten the 49ers since December 2020, and they’ll need to change that trend against one of the league’s best teams.
