The San Francisco 49ers are hitting the road today for a nationally televised afternoon clash with an old foe, the Dallas Cowboys. This isn’t just another game either; FOX is broadcasting this one to 100 percent of its affiliates, so pretty much everyone in the country is going to see if the Niners keep their momentum rolling, or if the Cowboys can actually pull off a surprise in front of their home crowd. Kevin Burkhardt has the play-by-play, with Tom Brady on color commentary, so you know it’s a big deal for the league.
49ers Eyeing The Top Spot, But Are They Healthy Enough?
The 49ers just came off their bye week and absolutely dismantled the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17 last week. That game was competitive for a bit, sure, but a massive five-turnover second half by the Raiders, with three of those coming in the third quarter alone, totally blew it open. Even though San Francisco controlled that game, the pass rush was a bit of a struggle. That’s where newly acquired defensive tackle DeForest Buckner comes in. Last week was his first game with the 49ers, so he’s still got to gel with the team and hopefully start racking up those sacks.
Good news on the injury front, Deebo Samuel is back in action with no injury designation, which is huge for that offense. Mike Evans, though, is ruled out for the game. On the defensive side, it looks like C.J. West (ankle) and Nate Hobbs are out for another week. They had a shot to come off injured reserve, but the 49ers decided against any practice squad elevations. Plus, there’s a laundry list of guys questionable: Renardo Green (back), Deommodore Lenoir (foot), Upton Stout (shoulder), Trent Williams (shoulder), and Dre Greenlaw (knee). So, while the 49ers are squarely focused on playoff seeding and maintaining their lead in the division, they’ll need some of these guys to step up big time.
Cowboys’ Defense Is A Disaster, Offense Is Carrying The Load
For the Cowboys, well, what do the Cowboys even have going on? This team is an old rival for 49ers fans, maybe even the most hated team for some, even playing in a different division. The NFC East in 2025 isn’t exactly a powerhouse, and the Cowboys are sitting with just four wins, all of them against losing teams. That’s not exactly inspiring.
Their defense is absolutely struggling, ranking near last in the league in yards per game. The biggest culprit? Their rushing defense, which is a dismal 31st in the entire league. Oof. On offense, they’re doing much better, though, boasting the sixth-most passing yards in the league. If Dallas wants to do anything in the NFC East, pulling off a win against the 49ers could genuinely change their entire season outlook. The odds aren’t in their favor, though; the 49ers are favored by 4.5 points, even with the game being in Dallas. The Cowboys are also dealing with a ton of injuries, with LB Donovan Ezeiruaku (ankle), TE Jake Ferguson (knee/ankle), RB Tyler Goodson (ankle/knee), S P.J. Locke (concussion), WR Jonathan Mingo (ankle), and S Juanyeh Thomas (hamstring) all ruled out. It’s a tough road ahead for them.
With the 49ers pushing hard for playoff seeding and the Cowboys desperate to make some noise in a weaker division, this afternoon game isn’t just about an old rivalry. It’s a chance for San Francisco to solidify its spot or for Dallas to show some life. You gotta tune in to FOX and see how this one shakes out!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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