The game I have bookmarked since the schedule was released is almost here.
The Dallas Cowboys travel to San Franciso to face the 49ers on Sunday Night Football.
The next handful of games will be challenging, but it starts with one, and they are ready for this team.
GAME INFO:
Date: Sunday, October 8 | Time: 7:20 p.m. CT
Location: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
TV: NBC | Stream: NFL+ & FuboTV
Radio:105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), 107.5 La Grande in Spanish (KMVK-FM)
ODDS:
ESPN Matchup Predictor Odds to Win: 49ers (55%), Dallas (44.6%).
Fanduel Sportsbook Odds: (O/U: 45) | Line: 49ers -3.5
The Cowboys are second in point differential after four weeks at +83.
Let's be honest, though: The teams they have played have had better defenses than offenses.
Still, the Cowboys blew out both the Pats and the Jets, who gave the Chiefs and the Eagles some problems.
The Cowboys offense will need to score seven this week, not three.
The Cowboys from 20-20 are the best in football but near the bottom in red zone touchdowns. Yet, they are averaging 30 plus points a game.
DEFENSE
The Cowboys number one priority should be stopping Christian McCaffery, he has looked like the MVP after the first four weeks of the season.
I understand they have Debo Samual and company, but make Brock Purdy beat you.
If anyone watched the Thursday night game against the Giants two weeks ago, he had two interceptions in the first half DROPPED right in the defender's arms.
The Cowboys defense won't drop them. I trust Dan Quinn to gameplan to slow CMC down.
He is going to get his, no doubt about it, but let's not have a repeat of the Cardinals game and let them run all over us.
Going to need ALL hands on deck from the defense!
Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore flashed on three plays in the third quarter. TE Sean McKeon did his job three times on the same play. Unheralded moments from Week 4: https://t.co/ekHdFCAFVU pic.twitter.com/BZX1AEFhAt
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 4, 2023
OFFENSE
Score touchdowns.
Simple as that, they are as good as anyone in football from the 20-20.
The Cowboys have only had to punt 10 times in FOUR games. 2.5 per game, while a few of those came when they were up 30 just running the clock out.
The Niners' defense will present a challenge, but the Giants had them within one score going into the 4th quarter a few weeks ago.
Matt Stafford threw for over 300 yards. Puka Nacua had 147 of them.
They probably win that game if he didn't give the ball away twice. They lost by 7.
If the Cowboys win the toss, I am taking the football first.
As Cowboys rest some veterans and work back others from injury, several players not practicing today: RG Zack Martin (quad), LT Tyron Smith (knee), RB Rico Dowdle (hip), TE Peyton Hendershot (ankle), WR CeeDee Lamb, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, CB Stephon Gilmore, NT Johnathan Hankins.
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 4, 2023
Make a statement, go down, and get seven. Put the pressure on Purdy to play from behind.
I don't know about you guys, but I am so excited for this football game I am going crazy.
This is what you call a statement game, and if the Cowboys win this football game, nobody on the national media may show up on Monday to talk about it.
Odds are the winner of the this game will have an upper hand at hosting a playoff game in January.
We are going to find out a lot about this team on Sunday and over the next month or so.
I truly believe in this team more so than I have in the past. The offense takes care of the football, and the defense takes it away.
This team was not ready for the Cardinals and took them lightly, I can promise you they won't do that again with anyone, especially the best team in football after four weeks.
Cowboys finally silence the doubters and beat the team that has had their number.
Dallas wins 26-23.
