Could Brock Purdy cement his case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with a win over the Dallas Cowboys? Or is Dak Prescott destined for another epic postseason performance? Here are three keys to watch in Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. ET game.
The 49ers have one of the best offensive lines in football led by All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams. San Francisco’s stout O-line helped the offense have the NFL’s eighth-best rushing attack and the unit ranked fifth in total offense.
On the other side of the ball, San Francisco’s defensive front seven is arguably the best in the NFL. They are led by NFL defensive player of the year candidate Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. The 49ers offensive line and defensive front seven overwhelm opponents with their physicality. San Francisco dominated in the trenches in the last playoff meeting between the two clubs. The 49ers gashed Dallas for 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns on offense and the San Francisco defense sacked Prescott five times and tallied 14 QB hits. The 49ers offense gained 181 rushing yards and the defense sacked Geno Smith three times and had 16 pressures last week versus Seattle.Led by first-team All-Pros Bosa, Warner and safety Talanoa Hufanga, the 49ers defense finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in total defense and points allowed and were tied for first in total interceptions . The 49ers also had a league-best plus-13 turnover differential. Bosa led the NFL with 18.5 sacks, Warner had a team best with 130 tackles and has had five straight seasons with at least 100 tackles, and Hufanga tallied 97 tackles, nine pass deflections and four interceptions in the regular season. Prescott and the Cowboys offense were able to pick apart Tampa Bay’s defense last week, but San Francisco poses a more difficult challenge. If the Cowboys can slow down San Francisco’s pass rush and contain the team’s front seven, the Cowboys have some matchup advantages on the outside. The 49ers corners are the weaknesses to an overall stout defense. Dallas wide receivers CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup and tight end Dalton Schultz combined for 16 catches, 209 receiving yards and four touchdowns versus the Bucs. Prescott and the Cowboys pass catchers need a similar performance at Levi’s Stadium if they want to pull off the huge upset.Purdy passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in his first playoff start. He had the most passing yards by a rookie in their first playoff game since 1937. San Francisco’s three best playmakers – wide receiver Deebo Samuel, running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle – combined for 338 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns versus Seattle. Niners coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the smartest offensive minds in the NFL. He designs plays that maximizes the talents of Samuel, McCaffrey and Kittle. Simultaneously, the 49ers aren’t dependent on Purdy. The 49ers ask him to manage the game, make timely precise throws and minimize costly mistakes. He’s done everything the team's asked, going 6-0 in his starts. Can Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn design exotic blitz packages and a defensive game plan that can rattle the rookie quarterback and limit the production from San Francisco’s three primary playmakers? The answer to that question will likely determine the outcome of the game.
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