If there is one matchup that nearly every Cowboys fan circled when the schedule was released, it was this Week 5 matchup at San Francisco.
Unless you suffer from short term memory loss, you know that the 49ers are responsible for the Cowboys' playoff exit in each of the past two seasons.
Despite enticing matchups versus the Kellen Moore led Chargers or Christmas in Miami, the 49ers are the truest test of where the Cowboys rank in the NFC pecking order.
If you've grown accustomed to blowout wins, don't bank on that happening Sunday night in Santa Clara, CA.
This is going to be a knock down, drag out game with each defense making splash plays to swing momentum.
The story is not as simple as navy and silver versus crimson and gold. It goes deeper than that, all the way down to coaching and personnel.
Today we will examine a few of the key matchups on both sides of the ball that Dallas needs to go in their favor to increase chances of a road victory.
Dan Quinn vs Kyle Shanahan
The players make the plays on the field, but the real attrition begins in the meeting rooms when game plans are established.
We can argue that Dan Quinn has won the battle versus 49ers head coach and play caller Kyle Shanahan the past couple of seasons.
Shanahan's offenses scored just 23 and 19 points versus Dallas in the playoffs of 2021 and 2022, as opposed to averaging 25.1 and 26.5 in those same seasons, respectively.
The problem has been the Cowboys' offense not scoring up to their own averages, and Quinn's defense giving up untimely big plays late in the 4th quarter after standing strong all game.
Defensive genius Quinn versus offensive genius Shanahan will have a huge bearing on the result of this game.
Dak Prescott vs Steve Wilks
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's stats versus the 49ers defense the past two games are nothing to write home about.
Prescott averages just 57.8% completions, 230 yards passing, and a 66.5 QB rating.
He has thrown for only two touchdowns, with three interceptions, six sacks, and most importantly, an 0-2 record.
Gone is 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans, now the head football coach for the Houston Texans, but the 49ers players remain, and are now led by veteran DC Steve Wilks.
Wilks is well-traveled, spending time in Carolina, Arizona, and Cleveland before landing in San Francisco for 2023.
Leading the Panthers defense last year, Wilks' squad ranked in the bottom half of every major defensive category.
However, in San Francisco he has what he didn't have in Carolina: players capable of running his scheme.
If Prescott can figure out Wilks' Cover-3 scheme, nothing else should stand in the way of a Cowboys victory.
Tyler Biadasz vs Fred Warner
The matchup between C Tyler Biadasz and LB Fred Warner isn't necessarily a physical one.
Wilks likes to occasionally send Warner on a blitz in the A-gap, so that will likely happen at some point during the game.
However, the matchup between them will be more impactful pre-snap.
Biadasz makes the offensive line calls while Warner will counter with the defensive calls.
Making the correct calls on protection is no small task, especially against a defense as stout as the 49ers.
Biadasz versus Warner will be a chess match.
Brandin Cooks vs Deommodore Lenoir
Newest offensive weapon WR Brandin Cooks has been quiet thus far in 2023.
Dealing with a sprained MCL in his knee that forced him to miss the home opener versus the New York Jets, Cooks has only eight receptions for 66 yards in three games.
He does not have more than 27 yards in a game, and he has only 13 total YAC (yards after catch).
Cooks was quite literally brought onto the team to bring some speed and explosiveness to help overcome the 49ers defense.
Well, it's now or never.
CeeDee Lamb will likely draw the shadow coverage from CB Charvarius Ward, leaving Cooks to matchup against the vulnerable CB Deommodore Lenoir.
In the first four weeks of the season, Lenoir has been targeted 30 times, giving up 23 receptions for 203 yards.
He is the one chink in the armor of the 49ers defense, and expect Cooks and even Gallup to be heavily targeted when Lenoir is in coverage.
Terence Steele vs Nick Bosa
This is perhaps the biggest matchup for the offensive side of the football.
DE Nick Bosa is the 49ers most dynamic and dangerous defender on the field.
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Bosa is trying to repeat in 2023, but is off to a slow start.
San Francisco has nine sacks this season, but Bosa has only accounted for one of them.
Bosa hasn't been particularly successful in the last two games versus Dallas, posting only 0.5 sacks and three total pressures.
There are so many playmakers on the 49ers defensive line, if Steele can keep Bosa in check by himself, it will go a long way to the success of the offense.
DeMarcus Lawrence vs Colton McKivitz
The longest tenured player on the Cowboys defense, DE DeMarcus Lawrence is having arguably the best season of his career.
Lawrence has 2.0 sacks and three quarterback pressures this season, but he does most of his damage defending the run.
Only Micah Parsons has more tackles for loss this season (6) than Tank's four.
With All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey taking handoffs, Lawrence's ability to beat RT Colton McKivitz off of the line will determine how effective the 49ers run game will be.
DaRon Bland vs Brandon Aiyuk
The loss of All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs for the season to a torn ACL suffered in practice has placed a white hot spotlight on CB DaRon Bland.
Bland has responded like a Broadway star under that spotlight, recording two interceptions and returning one for touchdown in the two games since.
This week, Bland draws 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk, who is having a career season thus far.
Brock Purdy is completing 85% of his passes in Aiyuk's direction at 16.0 yards per target and two touchdowns.
Deebo Samuel is a weapon, but Aiyuk has been their big play guy through four games, and gives Purdy another option on the outside.
Jayron Kearse vs George Kittle
Jayron Kearse stands at 6'4″ 215 lbs, with the wingspan of a pterodactyl, which is why his nickname “The Pterrordactyl” fits so well.
Kearse is Dan Quinn's tight end eliminator, repeatedly blanking opponents' tight ends who usually pose matchup problems for other teams.
San Francisco's TE George Kittle was the most productive offensive piece in last season's defensive struggle in the Divisional round.
Kittle caught all five of his targets for 95 yards, including a juggling 30 yard catch on a drive that put the 49ers ahead 16-9 after the game was tied 9-9 late in the 3rd quarter.
The All-Pro tight end is a monster in the middle, and Kearse's ability to limit his impact on the game will be one of the keys to a successful day on defense.
