Santa Clara, CA — In a Week 5 showdown that promised intensity, the Dallas Cowboys delivered a commanding performance against the San Francisco 49ers, galloping to a 41-14 victory. The star of the game, Tony Pollard, was a force of nature, opening the scoring with a breathtaking 62-yard touchdown run and adding another to his tally before the first quarter concluded, setting the tone for the Cowboys’ dominance.
Game Breakdown
The Cowboys’ offense was a well-oiled machine, with Pollard rushing for an astonishing 236 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, averaging a remarkable 12.4 yards per attempt. His explosive plays were pivotal in Dallas amassing 352 offensive yards and achieving a 71.4% red zone efficiency. CeeDee Lamb also contributed with a rushing touchdown, while the Cowboys’ defense was relentless, sacking the 49ers’ quarterback twice and intercepting the ball five times, stifling any momentum the 49ers hoped to build.
Despite the 49ers gaining more total yards (478 to the Cowboys’ 378), their efforts were marred by penalties and turnovers, which the Cowboys capitalized on. The 49ers’ 63.6% third-down efficiency was overshadowed by their inability to keep possession, ultimately leading to their undoing.
Brock Purdy’s Struggles
49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy faced a formidable challenge against the Cowboys’ defense. His struggles were evident as he completed only 14 out of 25 passes for 177 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions. His quarterback rating of 38.6 reflected the pressure he was under, as he was sacked twice and managed a long pass of just 48 yards. Purdy’s performance was a stark contrast to the efficiency and explosiveness of the Cowboys’ offense, and his inability to secure the ball contributed significantly to the 49ers’ defeat.
Star Player’s Reflection
After the game, Tony Pollard shared his thoughts on the win:
“It’s all about momentum, and today, we showed what we’re capable of when we play our game. That first run set the stage, and we kept the energy high. We’ve got a lot of football left this season, and if we keep this intensity, there’s no telling how far we’ll go. This win is just a stepping stone for the bigger goals we have set for ourselves.”
Pollard’s performance today was nothing short of inspirational, and his leadership on the field is a testament to the Cowboys’ potential this season.
Next Up
Looking ahead to Week 6, the Cowboys will carry their high spirits on the road to face the Los Angeles Chargers, a game that promises to test their mettle. The 49ers, on the other hand, will look to regroup as they also head out to confront the Cleveland Browns. Both teams will be eager to build on this week’s outcomes as they continue their journey through the season.
The Cowboys’ victory today is a clear message to the rest of the league: they are here to compete, and with players like Pollard at the helm, they are a force to be reckoned with.
TEAM STATS |
|
|
Offensive Yards Gained |
352 | 347 |
Total Yards Gained |
378 | 478 |
Penalties |
0 | 4 |
Penalty yards |
0 | 25 |
Total first downs |
15 | 22 |
3rd down efficiency |
4 - 7 , 57.1% | 7 - 11 , 63.6% |
4th down effiency |
0 - 0 , 0.0% | 2 - 2 , 100.0% |
2 point conversion |
0 - 0 , 0.0% | 0 - 0 , 0.0% |
Trips to red zone |
7 | 4 |
Red zone touchdowns |
4 | 2 |
Red zone field goals |
1 | 0 |
Red zone efficiency |
71.4% | 50.0% |
Defensive sacks |
2 | 1 |
Defensive Interceptions |
5 | 1 |
Defensive forced fumbles |
1 | 0 |
Defensive F.F. recovered |
1 | 0 |
Stats
Passing
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
qbr |
com/att |
pct |
yds |
lng |
td |
int |
sck |
D.Prescott | 68.3 | 5 / 11 | 45.5 | 95 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 1 | T.Lance | 77.0 | 2 / 3 | 66.7 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
att |
yds |
lng |
td |
avg |
big |
yac |
T.Pollard | 19 | 236 | 62 | 3 | 12.4 | 3 | 25 | C.Lamb | 2 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 8.5 | 0 | 1 | T.Lance | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 7 |
Receiving
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
rec |
yds |
avg |
td |
yac |
lng |
drop |
C.Lamb | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 0 | 9 | 24 | 1 | B.Cooks | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 1 | T.Pollard | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 1 | 34 | 10 | 0 |
Defense
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
tckl |
sck |
pdef |
int |
int yds |
td |
ff |
ffr |
M.Parsons | 1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | M.Smith | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | L.Vander Esch | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | O.Odighizuwa | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | J.Lewis | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | J.Kearse | 3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | S.Gilmore | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Clark | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Overshown | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | N.Igbinoghene | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | D.Lawrence | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | D.Fowler Jr | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | T.Diggs | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | M.Hooker | 2 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
fg |
fg pct |
lng |
xp |
xp pct |
50+ |
50+ pct |
B.Aubrey | 1 / 1 | 100.0 | 21 | 2 / 6 | 33.3 | 0 / 0 | 0.0 |
Punting
Dallas Cowboys
Player |
punts |
yds |
avg |
tb |
in20 |
lng |
blk |
B.Anger | 2 | 84 | 42.5 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 |