Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys vs. 49ers: San Francisco's Defense, not Offense, to Determine Week 4 Outcome

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

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The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Niner Noise breaks down why the 49ers defense will be the primary reason behind any win over rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and Co.

The San Francisco 49ers offense is scuffling. Everyone knows it. Aside from running back Carlos Hyde and, possibly, wide receiver Torrey Smith, the Niners have few players against whom other teams have to scheme.

And quarterback Blaine Gabbert isn’t getting the job done either.

So, as the 49ers gear up to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, one would think San Francisco’s offense should be a pinnacle for any home win, right? Not necessarily.

Yes, Dallas’ own defense isn’t particularly good this season. A slew of suspensions have hurt, and the Cowboys have been particularly susceptible to opponents’ passing attacks.

While an important factor for the Niners to try and exploit, San Francisco’s defense will be the primary reason behind a Week 4 victory.

San Francisco is tasked with stopping two rookies — quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Prescott is completing 66.7 percent of his passes and has yet to toss an interception. And Elliott? Dallas’ first-round draft choice finally had his first breakout game of 2016 last week.

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Both these players set the tone for the Cowboys’ 31-17 romping of the Chicago Bears in Week 3.

If the Niners take them out of the equation, well, Dallas will be in a rut. But how?

Jun 8, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle DeForest Buckner stretches during minicamp at the San Francisco 49ers Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Live & Die by the Run Defense

Let’s not get overly redundant with what the 49ers need to do versus Prescott. Niner Noise covered that already, and we already know the defense will have a tough time generating four-man pressure on the rookie quarterback.

Although Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant’s knee injury, and likely absence, certainly makes things easier for San Francisco.

Young, mobile quarterbacks need a strong running game. Elliott provides that. And while the Cowboys offense is still capable of moving the ball without its running back, stopping the ground game is inherent if the Niners want to stand a chance.

Case in point, just consider how tailback Christine Michael and the Seattle Seahawks gouged the 49ers defense a week ago. That particular contest was decided by the half, if not the first quarter.

A repeat of this Niner performance? No. Please, no.

This means better run-stuffing efforts from San Francisco’s own first-round draft pick, defensive end DeForest Buckner.

Ryan Sakamoto of NinerFans.com pointed out why Buckner setting the edge will be so important in Week 4:

Buckner’s run-defense grade (53.7), per Pro Football Focus, is the lowest out of any Niners interior defender. And only linebackers Tank Carradine (41.2) and Ahmad Brooks (40.2) grade lower within the front seven.

Why It’s Important

Taking away the run and establishing a defensive prowess is a must for Week 4. See, the 49ers aren’t built, offensively, to be a come-from-behind team. So any deficit, even early on, likely seals the deal.

September 18, 2011; San Francisco, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin (19) breaks a tackle from San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tramaine Brock (26) to score a touchdown during the second quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The stat to watch here will be San Francisco’s defensive efficiency on third downs. Currently, the Niners rank No. 20 in the NFL with a third-down-efficiency-stop fail rate of 43.2 percent.

Not good. Especially with a struggling offense on the other side.

San Francisco also ranks 23rd against the run, and the defense has already given up 368 yards on the young season.

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Taking away, or at least limiting, Dallas’ run game puts this matchup into an entirely different perspective.

Prescott’s ascension this season has been remarkable. But with a running game negated, and minus one of his best receivers, a 49ers defense would have a much easier time against him should the Cowboys offense be one-dimensional.

Stopping the run ensures it.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.

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