49ers fend off late furious Cowboys rally with a victory
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) runs after a catch against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
2024.10.27 – San Francisco’s quarterback Brock Purdy threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to send the 49ers into their bye week on a high note with a 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
The Niners (4-4) bounced back from a loss last week in a Super Bowl rematch against Kansas City with a strong performance against the Cowboys (3-4) that they hope will set them up for another big push in the second half of the season.
San Francisco went 16-2 following its Week 9 bye week the past two seasons to make it to the NFC title game in 2022 and the Super Bowl last season.
Purdy led three straight touchdown drives to turn a 10-6 halftime deficit into a 27-10 lead, but San Francisco had to hold on late after Dak Prescott threw two TD passes to CeeDee Lamb to cut the deficit to six.
Prescott had a chance to complete the comeback but threw four straight incomplete passes after getting the ball back with 3:05 left in the fourth quarter.
San Francisco took control in the third quarter, driving 60 yards after the opening kick of the half to score on rookie Isaac Guerendo’s 4-yard run.
Deommodore Lenoir’s interception that set up San Francisco in Dallas territory, leading to Purdy’s 2-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle, who finished with six catches for 128 yards.
2024.10.27 (DAL Cowboys vs SF 49ers) Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) celebrates with team mates on his touchdown by San Francisco 49ers against the Dallas Cowboys in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
2024.10.27 (DAL Cowboys vs SF 49ers) Game Highlights – (CD-Highlights)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (NBC Sports Post Game)
The Niners then drove 75 yards for another TD when Purdy scored on a sneak from 2 yards out. Purdy bounced back from last week against the Chiefs to go 18 for 26 for 260 yards against Dallas.
The Cowboys returned from their bye and didn’t look a whole lot better for most of the game than they did in a 47-9 loss at home to Detroit two weeks ago.
Prescott threw two interceptions for a third straight game — the first Cowboys quarterback to do that in 32 years — and struggled to generate any consistent offense until the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys defense struggled to slow San Francisco down at all outside of when the Niners committed penalties or Purdy was off-target on a few passes. It added up to another loss that will increase the outside pressure on coach Mike McCarthy, who is in the final year of his contract.
Prescott finished 25 for 38 for 243 yards. Lamb caught 13 passes for 146 yards.
The 49ers might want to forget the first half, but still counts. After committing six penalties — including one that nullified a TD — and being limited to two field goals before halftime, the 49ers thrived in the third quarter by gaining 167 yards on 21 plays and scoring 21 points.
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) center, scrambles for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Locked On Post Game)
On National Tight End Day, Kittle caught six passes – including his 500th career reception — and a TD. Purdy (18-for-26, 260 yards, 114.3 rating) rushed for 56 yards and Guerendo collected a game-high 85 (and his first NFL TD) as Jordan Mason (shoulder) was unable to finish the game.
SHANAHAN’S HALFTIME SPEECH
We might never know all the details, but Kyle Shanahan apparently gave one of the best halftime speeches of his career Sunday (which he presaged by saying, in his on-field interview while walking off the field, that his team was going to score on the opening possession of the second half). The 49ers’ offense was disheveled in the first half, then scored 21 points on its three third-quarter possessions. Shanahan’s lone glitch came in the second quarter when he went for it on 4th-and-3 at the Dallas 43 only to have Purdy’s pass fall incomplete behind Deebo Samuel.
THE KID IS A CLOSER
The running back who made one start in his 41-game college career already has sealed two wins in his first eight games in the NFL.
Guerendo, a fourth-round pick of the 49ers in April, capped another clutch fill-in performance Sunday night in a win over the Cowboys with a game-clinching 14-yard run with about a minute left. Guerendo slid at the 3-yard line instead of scoring to ensure the Cowboys had no chance to get the ball back and mount an improbable comeback.
Guerendo did the same in a 36-24 win at Seattle on Oct. 10, decelerating at the end of a 76-yard run and sliding at the 5-yard line.
Left tackle Trent Williams, 36, smiled when asked about Guerendo taking another dive Sunday.
“I don’t think I would have done that,” Wiliams said. “I would have scored that one. I’m sorry. The defense would have had to play defense.”
The good news for the kid who has sacrificed two scores: He did get his first NFL touchdown against Dallas.
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
San Francisco 49ers’ Isaac Guerendo (31) celebrates his touchdown with team mates against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2024.10.27 – Cowboys vs 49ers (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Guerendo (6-foot, 221 pounds) became the second player in the past 20 years who weighed at least 220 pounds to run the 40-yard dash in 4.33 seconds or faster at the NFL combine, joining Seattle Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf.
“He’s a talented running back,” Williams said. “Speed is on the next level. He runs physical. He’s a rookie. He’s figuring it out. But he has been a huge weapon for us.”
For a good chunk of the fourth quarter, the 49ers appeared ready to perform another master class in wasting a double-digit, second-half lead before finding their balance. Forget the must-win label (the 2021 Niners opened 3-5 and then reached the NFC title game), but 4-4 heading into the bye — with a potential return by Christian McCaffrey on the other side — should calm the nerves and mute all anguish.
INJURIES
49ers: RB Jordan Mason went to the locker room in the first half with a shoulder injury. He missed time with an injured shoulder in Week 6 at Seattle. … LB Dee Winters left the game in the second half with a concussion. … WR Deebo Samuel (ribs) left in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: At Atlanta on Sunday.
49ers: At Tampa Bay on Nov. 10.
Related: Mahomes and Chiefs beat 49ers in SB rematch
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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