49ers rout Cowboys, Purdy scores with 4 TD passes
San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy rolls out before hitting George Kittle for a 1st quarter touchdown catch against Dallas Cowboys during NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 8, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.10.08 – The undefeated Brock Purdy threw three of his four touchdown passes to George Kittle and the San Francisco 49ers extended their dominance over the Dallas Cowboys with a 42-10 victory on Sunday Night Football.
The Niners (5-0) knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs in tight games the past two seasons, adding intrigue to this early season match-up between perceived contenders.
The rematch wasn’t even close.
The Niners led 14-0 before the Cowboys got their initial first down of the night and were never really threatened on the way to matching a franchise record with their 15th straight regular-season win and earning their fifth 5-0 start.
Purdy calmly picked apart the league’s stingiest defense to improve to 10-0 as a starter in the NFL and San Francisco’s defense made life difficult on Dak Prescott all night.
“The defense does their job, so it makes life easy for me,” Purdy said.
Prescott was sacked three times and heaved an interception into double coverage after Dallas fell behind 28-10 in the third quarter. He threw two more interceptions in the fourth quarter with his only highlight coming on a 26-yard TD pass to KaVontae Turpin in the second quarter.
“It was such a great night for the whole defense, the whole team,” said linebacker Fred Warner, who had a sack, an interception and a forced fumble. “It was so fun out here today.”
2023.10.08 (SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys) Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle celebrates his 1st quarter touchdown catch against Dallas Cowboys during NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 8, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.10.08 (SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys) Game Highlights
2023.10.09 – 49ers vs. Cowboys (Football Logic – Day After)
2023.10.09 – 49ers vs. Cowboys (Football Logic – Day After)
2023.10.09 – 49ers vs. Cowboys (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
2023.10.09 – 49ers vs. Cowboys (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
It was Dallas’ most lopsided defeat since losing 49-17 to New Orleans in 2013.
Purdy again was nearly mistake free. A week after throwing only one incomplete pass in a win over Arizona, he repeatedly found openings downfield to Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and especially Kittle.
“As far as nationally and media wise and the hype, sometimes you get worried your team might get too up for stuff,” Shanahan said. “But just watching them all Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, they were so locked in all week they didn’t make too big a deal of this game. They seemed ready to go.”
They were ready, on both sides of the ball. The 49ers defense was smothering. The offense scored six touchdowns on the league’s No. 1 defense.
Purdy finished 17 for 24 for 252 yards and has not thrown an interception all season. He connected on a 19-yard TD pass to Kittle on the opening drive, a 38-yarder early in the second quarter on a reverse flea-flicker and then a 10-yarder to put the game away in the third quarter.
“He’s just so consistent every single day,” said George Kittle, the beneficiary of three Purdy touchdown passes. “He’s a robot.”
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC Sports-Post Game)
George Kittle (85) breaks free for his second touchdown in the first half as the San Francisco 49ers played the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 8, 2023.Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC Sports-Post Game)
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC Sports-Post Game)
Kittle became the first Niners player with three TD catches in a game since Vernon Davis in 2009.
Kittle was asked Thursday about his modest output against Arizona: “Sure, I love getting the football. I love running in space. If those aren’t the play calls being called, it is what it is. And I’m going to do everything I can to either get those guys open or block my ass off. And I’ve been doing that pretty well.”
Purdy added a 1-yard TD pass to Kyle Juszczyk in the fourth quarter.
FAST STARTERS
The Niners took the opening kick and drove 75 yards in seven plays to score on a 19-yard pass from Purdy to Kittle to take the lead. San Francisco has four touchdowns and one field goal on the opening drive this season for a league-leading 31 points.
The 49ers were just as tough on defense early, holding Dallas to 6 yards in the first quarter and no first downs for more than 17 minutes.
SCORING STREAK
Christian McCaffrey scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter after losing a fumble near the goal line earlier in the game. It was the 14th straight game he has scored a TD in the regular season or playoffs. The only players with longer streaks are Lenny Moore (17 games), O.J. Simpson (15) and John Riggins (15).
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey rushes in 1st quarter catch against Dallas Cowboys during NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, October 8, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
2023.10.08 – SF 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Larry Krueger-Post Game)
Last week, McCaffrey broke the franchise record held by Jerry Rice, who scored a touchdown in 12 straight games in 1987.
“I can’t remember a time calling the dogs off with 14 minutes left,” tackle Trent Williams said.
Purdy said he learned something from having played Dallas in January.
“It did help watching the film from before,” Purdy said. “Obviously watching the film from last year, it’s like man, I want to be better. There are a lot of the same guys on defense. The same scheme.”
He was better. He is better. And his teammates see his growth.
“Brock was a rookie last year, thrown into the fire,” Williams said. “You look at him now and the player you see is a different player. In his mental bank he has a lot more.
“The guy continues to grow.”
INJURIES/INACTIVES
Cowboys: LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) left in the fourth quarter. … CB C.J. Goodwin (shoulder) and Turpin (ankle) left in the first half and didn’t return.
49ers: LG Aaron Banks (biceps) left in the second half.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: Visit Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 16.
49ers: Visit Cleveland on Sunday.
Related: 49ers romp over Cards, McCaffrey with 4 TDs
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco 49ers, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
