NFL 2023 - NFL Week 5 Cowboys at 49ers

All Eyes On Levi's Stadium - Cowboys at 49ers

The Bay Area is no stranger to classic screenplays, having served as the setting for dozens of blockbusters.

This week's feature could be the best of them all.

In one of the more anticipated matchups on the NFL schedule, the Dallas Cowboys visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC). The 49ers are one of only two undefeated teams left in the NFL, while the Cowboys have a 3-1 record

Both teams are coming off of big wins, and they are both considered to be contenders for the NFC title.

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The 49ers eliminated Dallas from the postseason in the 1981, 1994, 2021 and 2022 seasons. Dallas eliminated San Francisco in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1992 and 1993. Those nine playoff meetings are tied for the most all-time between two franchises (the 49ers also have met the Packers nine times while the Cowboys also have met the Rams nine times).

This season, Dallas and San Francisco are tied with Seattle for the NFL lead in fewest turnovers (each has one). The Cowboys lead the NFL through four weeks with a plus-nine turnover margin. MIKE MCCARTHY, who served as the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2005, has a plus-37 turnover margin in road games over his 17 seasons as a head coach.

Dallas is just the third NFL team since 2014 with four non-offensive touchdowns over its first four games of a season, joining the Eagles in 2014 and Cardinals in 2015. Cornerback DARON BLAND has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season, becoming one of just seven NFL players to do that over their teams' first four games since 2000.

San Francisco has won its last 14 regular-season games. Last week, the 49ers also became the first team to reach 30 points in seven consecutive games since the 2012-13 DENVER BRONCOS, who hit 30-or-more in 11 straight.

The Cowboys are led by quarterback Dak Prescott, who is playing at a high level this season. Prescott has thrown for 1,217 yards and 10 touchdowns with just one interception in four games. He has also rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys also have a strong running game, led by Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott has rushed for 280 yards and two touchdowns, while Pollard has rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys' defense has also been impressive this season. They have allowed just 18.0 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the NFL. The Cowboys have also forced 11 turnovers, which is the most in the NFL.

The 49ers have a strong running game, led by Elijah Mitchell and Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell has rushed for 298 yards and two touchdowns, while McCaffrey has rushed for 134 yards and one touchdown.

The 49ers' defense has also been impressive this season. They have allowed just 14.3 points per game, which is the best mark in the NFL. The 49ers have also forced 10 turnovers.

Cowboys at 49ers Betting Odds

The San Francisco 49ers are favored to win against the Dallas Cowboys in their Week 5 matchup. The 49ers are favored to win by at least a field goal, with a current spread of -3.5. The moneyline odds for the 49ers are -190, while the Cowboys' moneyline odds are +155. The over/under for the game is set at 45 points.

The 49ers have been favored by 3.5 points or more three times this season, and covered the spread in two of those matchups. The 49ers have not yet lost a game they were the moneyline favorite, going 4-0 in those matchups this season. The 49ers have a 64.9% chance to win this game. The 49ers are 12-3 against the spread in their last 15 games, while the Cowboys are 6-3 against the spread in their last nine games.

Keys to the Game

Can the Cowboys stop the 49ers' running game?

The 49ers have one of the best running games in the NFL, and they will be looking to establish the run against the Cowboys. The Cowboys will need to find a way to stop the 49ers' run game in order to win the game.

Last week, running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY joined Pro Football Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH (14 consecutive games from 1995; 13 consecutive games from 1994-95) and ARIAN FOSTER (13 from 2011-12) as one of three players since 1990 with a touchdown in 13 straight games, including the postseason. McCaffrey also recorded his 12th career game with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (12 games) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (12) for the second-most such games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (15 games) has more.

Can the 49ers pressure Prescott?

Prescott is playing at a high level this season, but he is vulnerable to pressure. The 49ers have a good pass rush, and they will need to pressure Prescott in order to disrupt his rhythm and force him into mistakes.

Can the Cowboys contain Brock Purdy?

Purdy is a talented quarterback, however he is still inexperienced. The Cowboys will need to contain Purdy in the pocket and prevent him from making big plays with his legs.

BROCK PURDY, the last selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, looks for his 10th consecutive regular-season win as San Francisco's starting quarterback. With a win on Sunday, Purdy can join his Dallas counterpart, DAK PRESCOTT (11 straight wins in 2016), as one of seven quarterbacks since the 1970 merger to author a double-digit winning streak prior to their third NFL seasons. The others are BEN ROETHLISBERGER (15 from 2004-05), LAMAR JACKSON (11 in 2019) and Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (14 from 1983-84), PEYTON MANNING (11 in 1999) and JOHN ELWAY (10 in 1984). In a Week 4 win, Purdy ran for a touchdown while completing 20 of 21 pass attempts (95.2 percent) for 283 yards and another touchdown. Purdy's 95.2 completion percentage was the fourth-highest single-game mark in NFL history (minimum 20 pass attempts).

49ers Can Set Several Marks

The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS have won 14 consecutive regular-season games since Week 8 of the 2022 season and have scored at least 30 points in each of their past seven wins.

With 30 points against Dallas on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the 49ers can become the fifth team in NFL history to score 30 points in eight consecutive regular-season games, joining the 1999-2000 ST. LOUIS RAMS (14 consecutive games), 2010-11 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13), 2012-13 DENVER BRONCOS (11) and 2006-07 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (nine).

Quarterback BROCK PURDY is expected to make his 10th career regular-season start on Sunday. He has won each of his first nine career regular-season starts and with a win against Dallas, would become the third quarterback to begin his career since 1970 to win each of his first 10 career starts, joining BEN ROETHLISBERGER (15 consecutive wins to begin his career) and MIKE TOMCZAK (10).

In his first nine starts, Purdy has completed 166 of 236 pass attempts (70.3 percent) with 19 touchdowns (16 passing, three rushing) and a passer rating of 117.1. On Sunday, he can surpass ROB JOHNSON (113.8 rating) and CHAD PENNINGTON (70.8 percent) for the highest passer rating and highest completion percentage by a quarterback through his first 10 career starts in NFL history.

Running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY leads the NFL with 600 scrimmage yards and ranks tied for first in scrimmage touchdowns (seven) through the first four weeks of the season. In Week 5, he can become the fourth player in NFL history with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in each of his team’s first five games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1958) and O.J. SIMPSON (1975) as well as JAMAAL CHARLES (2013).

Dating back to Week 13 of the 2022 season and including the postseason, McCaffrey has recorded at least one scrimmage touchdown in 13 consecutive games. With a touchdown on Sunday Night Football, he would become the fifth player in NFL history to register a touchdown in 14 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LENNY MOORE (17 consecutive games from 1963-64), JOHN RIGGINS (15 consecutive games from 1982-83), O.J. SIMPSON (15 consecutive games from 1974-75) and EMMITT SMITH (14 consecutive games in 1995).

McCaffrey recorded his 12th career game with both a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown last week. With another such game, he can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (12 games) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (12) for the second-most such games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (15 games) has more.

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NFL 2023 - NFL Week 5 Cowboys at 49ers this Season