The teams mirror each other in several ways.
The first, and most important, is that the 49ers and Cowboys had larger aspirations for themselves than their respective current records show.
Both the 49ers and Cowboys considered themselves favorites to not only win their respective divisions but ride deep into the playoffs.
And now, eight weeks into the NFL season, the 49ers (3-4) and Cowboys (3-3) are struggling to remain in the playoff hunt heading into their Sunday night shown at Levis Stadium.
The Cowboys are coming off a long bye week having to digest the 47-9 shellacking at home they took from the Lions in Week 6.
The 49ers are coming off their 28-18 home loss to the Chiefs and enter their bye week after this game.
“We’re in similar spots — two teams that need to right the ship and get on a better trajectory,” 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters this week. “They’re coming off the bye [and] we’re heading into it after this. They want to get going and start the second half of their season the right way, and we want to go into the bye feeling good about where we’re at.”
Both teams have not been good at the things that made them favorites to be top contenders this season.
The Cowboys biggest issue has been turnovers. They’re not creating enough of them, and they’re turning the ball over too often — 11 times. They are ranked 30th in the league with a minus-six turnover differential.
Their defense has generated just five takeaways after leading the NFL with 59 of them the previous two seasons under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. In each of the past two seasons, the Cowboys have been at least plus-10 in turnover differential.
Unfortunately for Dallas, Quinn is now the head coach in Washington, with his Commanders leading the NFC East at the moment.
“That’s the huge blinking light for us,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters of the turnover problem. “Just like anything in the game of football, where you put your time, the time on task, taking care of the football, taking it away, and we’ve added some drills.”
Another problem area has been the running game. The Cowboys have been outrushed by 66 yards per game — worst in the league and fifth-worst in franchise history through six games.
Exasperating that issue is the fact the Cowboys opted not to make a strong run at running back Derrick Henry in the offseason, and team owner Jerry Jones has been skewered for it, getting into contentious conversations with talk radio hosts on the topic.
Running backs Rico Dowdle (246 yards rushing, a 4.2-yard average and no TDs) and Ezekiel Elliott (115 rushing yards, a 3.0-yard average and one TD) have been ineffective. Henry has rushed for 873 yards, a 6.5-yard average and eight TDs with the Ravens.
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This has not been a good look for the Cowboys.
The 49ers, the Super Bowl runners-up last season, have lived on their multiplicity on offense with so many skill-position weapons. This season, they’ve been ravaged with injuries — with top running back Christian McCaffrey out, do-everything receiver Deebo Samuel in and out (he’s been dealing with pneumonia this week), receiver Jauan Jennings out with a hip injury and last week receiver Brandon Aiyuk lost for the season with a knee injury.
The loss of those players has dragged down quarterback Brock Purdy. He struggled against the Chiefs, throwing three interceptions and posting a career-low 36.7 passer rating.
For receivers, the 49ers are now forced to rely on rookies Rickey Pearsall and Jacob Cowing, and little-used veterans Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell.
“Kyle [Shanahan, coach] is going to have to scheme some stuff up,” tight end George Kittle said. “We still have guys all over our roster that can make plays.”
Special teams will be a place to watch in this game.
The Cowboys have been excellent, particularly with kicker Brandon Aubrey — who has eight field goals from 50 yards or longer as well as strong coverage and return units.
Conversely, the 49ers have had a punt blocked, allowed a fake punt for a first down, fumbled away a kickoff return, missed an extra point and had two kickers injured making tackles on kickoffs. They, too, have allowed two long punt returns to set up scores, including a game-winning field goal by the Rams in Week 3.
They are on their third placekicker. Jake Moody is nursing an ankle injury, his replacement Matthew Wright landed on IR with a shoulder problem, and now Anders Carlson will get a second week tending to the kicking duties.
“We’ve got to get a lot better at it,” Shanahan said. “It’s pretty obvious to everybody.’’
What’s most obvious is that both of these teams desperately need a win.
