Six decades ago, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys on a play known as “The Catch.” These two teams have a rich playoff history, having played three straight matchups from 1992 to 1994.
These two storied franchises will meet again on Sunday, and Dallas is a three-point favorite in the 49ers at Cowboys matchup, according to NFL betting odds from BetMGM. Read on to learn more about these two playoff teams.
San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys Game Information
- Date: Sunday, January 16th
- Time: 4:30 P.M. EST
- Venue: AT&T Stadium in Dallas, TX
- Line: Dallas Cowboys -3
Great Offense vs. Great Defense
Dallas had the top-scoring offense in the NFL during the regular season. The Cowboys scored 31.2 points per game in 2021 and 43 points per game over the last three contests.
The Dallas offense will face off against a stout 49ers defense that allows the third-fewest yards per game. Dallas will need to continue their strong offensive play for the Cowboys to break through the 49ers’ defense.
Dak Prescott Struggled After His Calf Injury
Prescott passed for over 300 yards on three different occasions throughout his first six games before this season’s injury. Since then, Prescott has surpassed 300 yards passing just twice in 10 games. Prescott had a quarterback rating north of 100 in five of six games before the injury; he had a quarterback ranking over 100 in five of ten games after the injury.
The good news for Cowboys fans is that Prescott has looked much better in his last three contests. Prescott threw 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the final three games of the regular season.
The 49ers Might Be In Trouble if They Fall Behind
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has struggled with turnovers throughout the past few weeks. The Cowboys’ defense has posted more interceptions than any other team in the NFL, so this could present an issue for San Francisco.
Garoppolo threw four picks in the last two games of the regular season and has thrown seven over his past six games.
I expect the 49ers to run the ball early and often, as they have all season. San Francisco averages 29.4 rushing attempts per game, the fifth-highest mark in the NFL. Of course, that game plan may change if the 49ers fall behind early. The Cowboys’ defense allows the third-lowest completion percentage (59.5%), so if the 49ers become one-dimensional, they could find themselves in trouble early.
Reviewing the 49ers at Cowboys Matchup
The 49ers at Cowboys will come down to the 49ers’ run game and defense. If the 49ers can dominate time of possession, they have a great chance.
However, I don’t think anybody can stop the Cowboys’ offense right now. I believe that this will be a high-scoring game, with Dallas pulling away in the fourth quarter. You can wager on this game and other NFL matchups by visiting the BetMGM online sportsbook. Sign up for an account today, and you can receive a risk-free initial bet of up to $1,000.
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