49ers report card: Comeback win over Cowboys reflects 4-4 start to season
SANTA CLARA – Here is how the 49ers (4-4) graded in Sunday night’s 30-24 home win over the Dallas Cowboys (3-4):
PASS OFFENSE: B
No stat is more defining of the 49ers’ comeback than Brock Purdy’s third-quarter passing line: 7-of-7 for 103 yards and a touchdown. After throwing three interceptions against Kansas City and delivering just two field-goal drives before halftime in this game, Purdy knew he had to play better, so he focused on simplifying his approach yet throwing with conviction. Throwing to George Kittle proved smart, as usual. Kittle, thrilled to win on National Tight Ends Day, continually breached enemy territory on his catches, such as a 30-yarder to the Dallas 40, a 43-yarder to the Dallas 4, a 27-yarder to the Dallas 28, and his team-leading sixth touchdown catch on a 2-yarder that the Cowboys wanted nixed with an interference penalty. Deebo Samuel, revived after last Sunday’s bout with pneumonia, had 71 receiving yards; a 66-yard touchdown catch got wiped out by one of three first-half holding penalties. No Brandon Aiyuk, no problem? Not exactly. Ricky Pearsall had four catches (38 yards) while Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing and Ronnie Bell got blanked.
RUN OFFENSE: A-
Purdy (8 carries, 5 first downs) ran for as many yards (56) as the entire Cowboys (19 carries) and he had more before the victory kneel down for a 1-yard demerit. Isaac Guerendo slid short of the goal line like he did in Seattle to help kill time and seal a win, only this one truly came upon orders from coaches and teammates. Guerendo (14 carries, 85 yards) stepped up once Jordan Mason aggravated his Oct. 10 shoulder sprain. Actually, Guerendo more than stepped up, as 19- then 15-yard runs just before halftime gave him confidence (and inspired teammates’ confidence in him). While Mason can use the next two weeks to heal and Guerendo can study his most game reps yet, the biggest story looming after the bye is whether Christian McCaffrey will be closer to his season debut. If not, the 49ers have a solid rushing attack, although Deebo Samuel’s place in it still seems too forced and unproductive (four carries, 15 yards). Pearsall’s 39-yard run showed his best burst yet, though he did show quick reactions on a first-quarter grab.
PASS DEFENSE: B
Deommodore Lenoir credited his film study for recognizing the formation that led to “taking the ball” for a sideline interception. That takeaway came during the game’s third-quarter pivot point, between touchdowns from Guerendo and Kittle. Ji’Ayir Brown’s first-quarter interception of Dak Prescott’s hanging deep ball surely inspired confidence, too. But the secondary gave up two touchdowns to a wide-open CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter to put unnecessary stress on the win. Lamb was Dallas’ only true weapon and he still finished with 146 yards and two scores on 13 catches. “It’s kind of been the story of this year, though: letting them back in the game, so that’s a big focus we need to correct, because playing good teams, you have to put them away,” said Nick Bosa, who had a sack along with Sam Okuayinonu.
RUN DEFENSE: A
That is what the NFL’s 32nd-ranked rushing attack should look: 56 yards on 19 carries. The 49ers did allow a rushing touchdown for the seventh time in eight games, that being a 1-yard gift to Ezekiel Elliott after Charvarius Ward’s pass-interference penalty in the end zone. Elliott had 34 yards (10 carries) and Dalvin Cook debuted with 12 yards (six carries). Bosa, Okuayinonu, and Fred Warner each had a tackle for loss, but don’t discount the stops for no gain by Warner, Lenoir, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and Renardo Green. Warner finished with eight tackles, and De’Vondre Campbell recovered from a rough start to make seven tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A-
No major mistakes for the first time in seven games. No, really. Instead, the Cowboys looked like the amateurs, committing five penalties on special teams. Anders Carlson made all his kicks (field goals from 50, 44, 41 yards, plus three point-after tries), and although a kickoff did go out of bounds. The 49ers did a stellar job containing one of the league’s best returners: KaVonate Turpin, who averaged 23 yards on five kickoff returns (or five too many in general) and had just one punt return (13 yards). Making tackles were Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Darrell Luter, Robert Beal and Patrick Taylor.
COACHING: B+
Enough with the slow, first-half starts. Enough with the late-game, lead giveaways. And enough with October. The 49ers went 2-2 this month, which is traditionally their worst month under Shanahan (15-21 since 2017). He didn’t take a bow for Sunday’s halftime adjustments but a simple enough message was delivered, to stop making penalties and mistakes against an inferior opponent. A tough schedule awaits. Rest up for it, gentlemen.