Both offenses needed to punt on their first pressure in a sport predicted to be higher-scoring. Brock Purdy discovered George Kittle for a advantage of 31 on the second one pressure, however the offense couldn`t convert after Purdy become beneathneath stress on 1/3 and long.
Both groups struggled to run the ball withinside the first quarter. San Francisco averaged 2.2 yards in line with carry, even as the Cowboys may want to best muster 1.three yards. Both protective traces are controlling the road of scrimmage.
Dak Prescott had hassle with a number of the coverages the 49ers have been gambling withinside the first quarter. Fred Warner become everywhere in the place, and Deommodore Lenoir took benefit of a bad selection via way of means of Prescott, which gave the Niners a brief subject.
Unfortunately, San Francisco needed to accept 3 factors after Purdy didn`t have time on 1/3 down. First, there has been a questionable-designed quarterback run. Dallas has an excessive amount of pace for that play to work, and that they speedy consumed the gap at the play.
After one quarter, it become three-0.
The Cowboys received 18 yards on 3rd & 2 to position themselves in 49ers` subject function for the primary time early withinside the 2nd quarter. Dallas confronted some other 3rd & 7, and this time picked up six yards, making it a brief 4th & 1.
CeeDee Lamb become concerned early and often, and he transformed the fourth right all the way down to maintain the pressure alive for the Cowboys. Lamb had 4 objectives and one rush at the Cowboys’ first 3 drives. A Dalton Schultz landing gave Dallas a 6-three lead after the greater factor become blocked.
San Francisco’s fourth pressure wanted factors. A couple of first downs might were best for giving the protection a breather, however it become their flip to choose up the slack. Christian McCaffrey stuck a tough byskip on 3rd & 7 to offer the offense with a primary down.
Jauan Jennings become thrown out of bounds, and the defender become flagged for a past due hit, however Aaron Banks had a retaining name on the subsequent play to make it 1st & 20. Deebo Samuel picked up a huge bite of the yardage on 2nd down, however a Cowboys blitz on 3rd & 2 stalled the pressure.
Instead of going for it on fourth and brief, Shanahan trusted Robbie Gould to make a 47-yarder, and he did now no longer disappoint. Gould`s kick tied the sport at six.
Dallas had over 3 mins to attain and might get the ball again earlier than the 1/2 of. So it become vital the 49ers’ protection stopped the Cowboys so they couldn`t rating twice.
For the second one sport in a row, the protection devoted a boneheaded penalty on the give up of the 1/2 of. Dre Greenlaw had an useless roughness to provide the Cowboys terrific subject function.
Greenlaw tackled Tony Pollard brief of the marker on 1/3 down after displaying off his staggering pace. Mike McCarthy elected to head for it on 4th & four from the 35-backyard line with mins to play. Prescott scrambled for 9 yards to choose up the primary down.
A Dallas rating earlier than the 1/2 of might placed all forms of stress at the 49ers. But, Dak couldn`t assist himself. The 49ers doubled Lamb withinside the slot. Prescott did now no longer see Jimmie Ward, who seemed to have the interception, however Fred Warner got here up with the interception himself for the largest forestall of the sport.
The 49ers were given the ball with 1:15 to play, however Kyle Shanahan ran the ball twice, and much like that, 30 seconds have been remaining. A 21-backyard crowning glory to Jauan Jennings stored the day, and Gould nailed a 50-backyard kick to provide the 49ers a nine-6 halftime lead.
Dallas become compelled to play the second one 1/2 of with out Tony Pollard. Theyd get hold of the ball to begin the second one 1/2 of however couldnt do some thing with it. That is till Ray-Ray McCloud coughed up a punt return.
The Cowboys took over on the 21-backyard line. The protection had no desire however to hold, and that they got here via again. Dallas needed to accept a subject purpose, and Brett Maher subsequently hit a kick to tie the rating at 9.
The offense couldn`t get matters taking place the subsequent pressure. Unfortunately, the equal become now no longer real for Dallas, as CeeDee Lamb beat Deommodore Lenoir for forty six yards. That placed the ball close to midfield, however San Francisco held all over again.
The 49ers have been subsidized up inner of the 20-backyard line. Purdy discovered Kittle for the pleasant seize of the playoffs. Kittle prolonged one hand, tipped it to himself, and reeled in a 31-yarder. From there, McCaffrey were given the floor sport going and ended up scoring from yards out to provide the 49ers a 16-nine lead.
The Cowboys didnt move away, way to a 44-backyard kick return. After a 3rd down conversion and a 17-backyard reception via way of means of Lamb, Dallas had the ball withinside the 30-backyard line. However, the protection held all over again as they were given off the sphere on 3rd & 8. Brett Mahers kick become properly to trim the result in 16-12.
Kittle picked up 17 on the primary play. And after an Elijah Mitchell rush, San Francisco discovered themselves in Cowboys territory. A landing might placed the sport out of attain at this factor withinside the fourth quarter.
McCaffrey stuck a primary down on 3rd & 2. Mitchell, with sparkling legs, endured to churn out yardage. Purdy`s scramble on 1/3 down made it a chip shot subject purpose for Gould, and that gave San Francisco a 19-12 lead with simply over 3 mins to play.
As they`ve finished all season, the protection were given off the sphere. Greenlaw almost had a choose-six, however the stress become sufficient to pressure Prescott into an errant throw.
Kittle stuck a 16-backyard byskip to transport the chains. Mitchell ran for thirteen yards however stayed in bounds, giving Dallas a bit little bit of life. After a punt, the Cowboys had to march ninety four yards without a timeouts to win the sport.
Arik Armstead had Prescott lifeless to rights for a capacity sport-finishing sack and protection however had a mind fart. It got here right all the way down to one play,
