What to Watch as Dallas Heads to San Fransisco
Coming off their Sunday night vic`tory over the Bears, the 2-1 Dallas Cowboys head west this week to face the San Fransisco 49ers. After a 28-0 beatdown of the Rams opening weekend, the ‘9ers have lost two straight leaving them at 1-2. With games against Cincinnati, Green Bay and Philadelphia on the horizon getting to 3-1 would greatly benefit the Cowboys. However with news finally coming out today that Dez Bryant has a hairline fracture of his tibia, that road may have just got a little more difficult this weekend.
Here are a couple of areas I will be watching this Sunday.
Who Steps up at Wide Receiver
While the Cowboys officially list Dez as day-to-day it would be prudent for them to hold him out of this weekend’s contest. At this point, there are still a lot of unknowns regarding the specifics of Bryant’s injury but if there is any chance at all of further injury the Cowboys will not and should not let him play. However, if it turns out to simply be a pain tolerance thing then there may be a chance you see #88 running through the tunnel at Levi’s Stadium.
Let’s assume that Bryant does indeed sit this one out, the Cowboys will need someone to step up and contribute from the outside. Brice Butler will likely fill the other outside receiver position alongside Terrance Williams, allowing Cole Beasley to remain in the slot. Both Butler and Williams should have plenty of opportunities to make plays especially down the field. This game could act as a statement game so to speak for Williams. After falling out of grace with Cowboy fans through the first 3 weeks due to….. lets just say lapses in judgement, a dominant performance as the team’s #1 WR Sunday would serve him well. With the Cowboys running game seemingly getting better by the week, the receiving corps isn’t going to be asked to win the game on their own, but they must take advantage of their opportunities when called upon.
AROUND COVER32
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QB Rankings: Wentz & Prescott climb into top five
Injuries: Updates on Gronk, Dez, Russell Wilson
Mailbag Head coach hot seats, undefeated teams
Cowboys: Opponent Preview – 49ers
Cowboys: Is Now Butler’s Time?
Offensive Line
Another position group struck by injury news this week, the offensive line lost La’el Collins for what seems like the rest of the regular season. However, the Cowboys maybe the only team in the league that could get better by losing a starting guard. How is that possible? Enter Ron Leary. Leary was the starting left guard for the team in 2014 when they had their best year in a decade. Leary seems to have a great bond and feel for playing with the other four guys on the line, something the young Collins may not have developed yet.
Outside of Leary, Cowboy fans will be eager to see if star left tackle Tyron Smith suits up after his back locked up on him last Friday – rendering him inactive on game day. If Smith does indeed play it will be interesting to see if he is at full strength and how well he is moving. In the case that Smith can’t go again all eyes will turn to Chaz Green. Green played well and held his own last week filling in for the aforementioned Smith, despite two penalties.
Prediction
Dak Prescott runs for his third rushing touchdown in as many weeks, while Ezekiel Elliott breaks the century mark on the ground and adds a pair of scores of his own. T-Will redeems his early season follies with a long touchdown reception and the Dallas defense slows Chip Kelly’s fast pace offense enough to pull out a 31-27 road victory.
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