The 4-5 Cowboys have a chance to reach .500, win back-to-back games for the first time since last Thanksgiving and close the gap on the NFC East-leading Giants. But the test is steep: San Francisco is 7-1 and has won four straight against Dallas. To pull off the upset, the Cowboys need their improving defense to pressure Brock Purdy, contain Christian McCaffrey and avoid the big-play breakdowns that have cost them recently.

By the Numbers
  • Dallas: 4-5; San Francisco: 7-1.
  • The 49ers have won the last 4 meetings.
  • San Francisco averages 29 points per game; Dallas averages 27.
  • The Cowboys have 13 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and 6 takeaways over their last 5 games.
  • The 49ers have scored 12 rushing touchdowns and 17 passing touchdowns.
Yes, But

Dallas has shown defensive improvement, holding four of its last five opponents to 24 points or fewer, but won only two of those games. Costly explosive plays and inconsistent run defense remain vulnerabilities against a San Francisco offense that has been productive on the ground and through the air.

State of Play
  • The Giants’ Thursday loss leaves them at 5-3-1, giving Dallas a chance to narrow the division gap.
  • The Cowboys are coming off a 27-23 win over Indianapolis; San Francisco’s only loss came against Atlanta.
  • Dallas needs sustained pressure on Purdy and sharper tackling to limit the 49ers’ explosive offense.
What's Next

A win would put Dallas at .500 with seven games left and set up two straight home games against Tennessee and Philadelphia. First, the Cowboys must prove their recent defensive progress can hold against one of the league’s strongest teams.

Bottom Line

The Cowboys don’t need to solve their history with San Francisco—they need to execute in the present. Pressure the quarterback, prevent the big plays and turn a promising defensive stretch into a complete performance.