Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys vs. 49ers: Previewing Week 4 for San Francisco

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The San Francisco 49ers host the visiting Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 in what could be a turning point for both teams this season. Niner Noise breaks down the matchup, notable San Francisco injuries, news, X-factors and more.

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) runs against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keith Smith (56) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers play at home again for the first time since their Week 1 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Entering Week 4, that contest still stands as the Niners’ lone win of the 2016 season.

49ers

With the First Pick 8hWiththefirstpick 2017 In-Season Weekly Mock Draft: Week 3

More headlines around FanSided:

12h - Cowboys vs. 49ers: 5 Matchups to Watch for San Francisco 17h - 49ers OT Anthony Davis Retires . . . Again 22h - Differences Exist Despite 49ers 2015 and 2016 Similarities 1 d - Cowboys vs. 49ers: How San Francisco's Defense Can Slow Down QB Dak Prescott 1 d - San Francisco 49ers: 5 Steps the Offense Needs to Take in Week 4More News at Niner Noise

San Francisco (1-2) will welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Levi’s Stadium this Sunday and, for the 49ers, the game will be a chance to rediscover the offensive and defensive prowess showcased the first week of the year.

The Cowboys (2-1) are coming off an impressive 31-17 Sunday Night Football victory over the Chicago Bears. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott continues to impress. And rookie tailback Ezekiel Elliott finally had a signature breakout game.

Meanwhile, the Niners are reeling from yet another ugly defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.

Can San Francisco reverse its fortunes and put an end to the two-game losing streak?

Niner Noise tries to answer this question as well as breaking down the latest 49ers news, injuries, matchups and more for this Week 4 bout.

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Mike Purcell (64) runs with the football for a touchdown after an interception against Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dustin Vaughan (10) during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Week 4 by the Numbers

The 2016 49ers are looking a bit too much like the 2015 Niners, at least statistically.

San Francisco’s offense has been problematic over the last two weeks. This group has netted a total of just 876 offensive yards, which is fourth worst in the NFL. Despite having the league’s 14th-best scoring offense (73 points), the low yardage total suggests San Francisco is benefiting off turnovers and little else.

Indeed, the 49ers’ eight generated turnovers ranks No. 3 in the league. The aggressive nature is nice to see. But San Francisco’s No. 23 overall defensive ranking is a bit concerning.

On the flip side, Dallas enters Week 4 with 1,155 all-purpose yards, which ranks eighth this season. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has been a pleasant surprise as he fills in for the injured Tony Romo (back). And the Cowboys’ first-round draft pick, running back Ezekiel Elliott, ripped off 140 rushing yards in Week 3 against the Bears.

The 49ers run defense, which was susceptible last week in Seattle, will be challenged to contain Elliott.

And yet the Niners offense will be a major question mark. The Cowboys don’t boast a defense as potent as the Seahawks or even Carolina Panthers. Through three weeks, Dallas is allowing 379.3 yards per game, which is 22nd in the league.

So can quarterback Blaine Gabbert and Co. take advantage at home in Week 4?

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) passes against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Comparison: Blaine Gabbert vs. Dak Prescott

On one hand, Week 4 will feature an up-and-coming quarterback who might not see his role reduced when the guy he’s replacing comes back from injury.

And on the other side? Blaine Gabbert.

Gabbert’s 2016 has not gotten off to a good start. Through three games, he’s completing a measly 55.2 percent of his passes — frequently on short-yardage attempts — and boasts a mere 68.6 passer rating.

Calls are already being made by fans and media to make the QB switch to Colin Kaepernick.

And it might come sooner than later. Pro Football Focus currently ranks Gabbert No. 35 out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks on the season.

PFF ranks rookie quarterback Dak Prescott No. 4 in this same category. Completing 66.7 percent of his passes, and with zero interceptions thrown to date, Prescott is quickly becoming a signal-caller of note this season.

Are the 49ers capable of pressuring Prescott, against a tough Dallas offensive line, and at least making him uncomfortable in the pocket?

They’ll have to be in order to ensure any defensive success.

Jan 5, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis (76) walks onto the field prior to the 2013 NFC wild card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

OT Anthony Davis Retires for the Second Time in as Many Years

One of the bigger news pieces from the week was offensive tackle Anthony Davis’ retirement.

Yeah, the second time he’s retired in as many years.

Davis had been dealing with a concussion — the same injury which likely influenced his first retirement — and had missed the Niners’ last two games this season.

Shortly after announcing his retirement, Davis tweeted out the following message:

The news wasn’t exactly shocking. Even veteran left tackle Joe Staley (h/t Kevin Jones of KNBR 680) didn’t sound surprised when asked about Davis’ actions:

49ers LT Joe Staley on Anthony Davis retiring for a second time pic.twitter.com/yLNxfEljAB

— Kevin Jones (@Mr_KevinJones) September 27, 2016

So San Francisco is without a former first-round draft pick again. But, essentially, the Niners merely lost a swing tackle acting in a backup role. Second-year pro Trent Brown already secured the starting job at right tackle. And Davis didn’t end up moving inside to guard, which has been occupied by Andrew Tiller over the first three games of 2016.

Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Garrett Celek (88) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated San Francisco 37-18. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Significant 49ers Injuries

San Francisco’s Week 4 injury report only lists three players who weren’t fully practicing on Wednesday.

All three are listed as questionable, per Pro Football Reference, as well as wide receiver Torrey Smith. Smith (ankle) is listed as questionable but does not appear on the team’s official injury report.

Defensive end Arik Armstead is dealing with a shoulder injury. And it might be something requiring surgery this offseason, per Eric Branch of SFGate.com.

#49ers Arik Armstead reiterated his shoulder injury could require offseason surgery; he plans to keep playing through it.

— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) September 28, 2016

Both tight ends Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek received big hits during the Niners’ Week 3 loss in Seattle.

But the flip side of the ball could prove to be even more challenging with defensive back Jimmie Ward — the team’s best cornerback, per Pro Football Focus — possibly unable to go.

If Ward is unable to go, look for rookie cornerback Rashard Robinson to see an increase in snaps against the Cowboys.

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) runs past Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Kyle Wilber (51) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers Offensive and Defensive X-Factors

As a unit, the 49ers will need to get a lot out of the offense. It’s a group struggling on third downs so far, and the Niners’ 35.71 3-and-out percentage mark is the second highest in the NFL so far.

So who can turn the page for San Francisco on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball?

RB Carlos Hyde

By this point, it’s pretty clear the 49ers will live and die by how well their running game is going over the course of 60 minutes.

Running back Carlos Hyde didn’t exactly get things going until the fourth quarter in Seattle but still managed to gain over 100 yards and add another two touchdowns to his season total of four.

Yet so much of head coach Chip Kelly’s offense is predicated on the ability to move the ball on the ground. The Cowboys know this too.

August 26, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium. The Packers defeated the 49ers 21-10. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

WR Torrey Smith

We shouldn’t expect quarterback Blaine Gabbert to have a signature game in Week 4 — or maybe any game for that matter — but the Niners could do worse than try to involve No. 1 wide receiver Torrey Smith more frequently.

Smith has been targeted just 20 times this season and is averaging just 34.3 receiving yards per game.

But Smith is the 49ers’ lone big-play threat through the air. And his ability to draw pass-interference calls makes him an ideal weapon against a questionable Dallas secondary.

LB Ahmad Brooks

Niner Noise took a look at the Week 4 matchup between veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks and Cowboys right tackle Doug Free already.

Free is the lone member of Dallas’ offensive line with a Pro Football Focus ranking below 70 (49.1), so perhaps the best way to get pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott will be to rush from this side of the line.

Brooks is a opportunistic pass-rusher at best, at this point of his career. And he’ll need some help from the guys up front too.

LB NaVorro Bowman

Despite Prescott’s notable maturation this season, the Cowboys running game will be a pinnacle against a suspect 49ers run defense.

So this means tailback Ezekiel Elliott. A lot of him. Elliott put on a show — literally — in Week 3. And we all know how opposing coaches love to run the ball against a Chip Kelly-led defense.

Plugging up running lanes, and setting the edge, will fall on plenty of Niners defenders’ shoulders. But look for linebacker NaVorro Bowman to be a key run-stopping plug at the point of attack.

August 23, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Andrew Gachkar (52) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Game Information

The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4 on Sunday, October 2. Game time starts with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

Here’s the scoop from our partners over at FanSided:

Date: Sunday, October 2, 2016
Start Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Venue: Levi’s Stadium
TV Info: FOX
Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Odds Shark currently lists the Cowboys as three-point favorites in this matchup. Although some are predicting a 49ers upset.

Both John Breech of CBS Sports and Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports (h/t Kevin Jones of KNBR 680) are going this route. And Cowherd hinted at the upset by pointing out how close the line actually is, which sets up a perfect opportunity for knowledgeable gamblers.

Betting lines aside, the Niners do have an opportunity here to rectify the ship.

Doing so would entail a much better San Francisco defense and a Niners offense capable of actually generating some rhythm and ball movement.