San Francisco, CA
Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers Game Highlights NFL Week 8 Slate
San Francisco and Dallas will face off for the fourth straight season when they meet on Sunday … [+]
Getty ImagesDallas and San Francisco, two teams in need of a statement victory, will play for the fourth time in four seasons in the feature game in Week 8 of the NFL’s prime time schedule Sunday night.
The recent meetings have been all San Francisco. The 49ers have won the last three, eliminating Dallas from the playoffs in one-touchdown games in 2021 and 2022 and blowing out the Cowboys 42-10 on Oct. 8, 2023.
Neither team looks the same this time. The 49ers have been beset by injuries. Running back Christian McCaffrey has not played this season because of an Achilles injury, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending knee injury in last week’s 28-18 loss to Kansas City and wide receiver Deebo Samuel was hospitalized last week.
Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 42-10 victory over the Cowboys last season. … [+]
The usually staunch 49ers’ defense ranks in the middle of the pack in total defense and scoring defense, in part because of injuries to linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga. The Cowboys have given up 28 points per game, 31st in the NFL in scoring defense, and could welcome the return of Pro Bowl linebacker Micah Parsons.
Minnesota and the Los Angeles Rams open the prime time weekend on Thursday, and Pittsburgh the New York Jets close the week Monday night
Thursday Night
Minnesota Vikings (5-1) at Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
How to watch: Prime Video, 8:15 pm ET
Key matchup: Kyren Williams vs Vikings D
Early line: Vikings -3
The Vikings celebrate linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel’s touchdown three weeks ago. Van Ginkel has … [+]
The Vikings suffered their first loss when Detroit kicked a field goal with 15 seconds remaining in the Lions’ 31-29 victory Sunday, that after the Vikings had taken one-point late moments before. A final desperation drive was blunted by an illegal formation penalty that forced a Hail Mary pass instead of a 68-yard field goal try.
Minnesota has an NFL-high 30.3 percent blitz rate, which has helped produce a league-high 11 interceptions and other counterintuitive results. Vikings’ opponents are averaging 260.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 30th, but opponents are averaging only 80 yards per game on the ground.
The Vikings have 11 Lions’ halfback Jahmyr Gibbs torched Minnesota for 116 yards rushing and 160 yards from scrimmage last week.
The Rams’ defense has been exposed since All-Pro lineman Aaron Donald’s offseason retirement, and quarterback Matthew Stafford’s offense has been unable to carry the load after challenging injuries to wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
The Rams have scored more than two touchdowns in only one game, a 27-24 victory over the 49ers. Williams has nine of their 12 touchdowns this season, and he has an NFL-high 24 scores from scrimmage since the start of last season.
Halfback Kyren Williams has scored nine of the Rams’ 12 offensive touchdowns this season. (Photo by … [+]
Sunday Night
Dallas Cowboys (3-3) at San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
How to watch: NBC/Peacock, 8:20 pm ET
Key matchup: Dak Prescott vs San Francisco D
Early line: Cowboys -4 1/2
Then-rookie quarterback Brock Purdy proved himself on the national stage in the 49ers’ 19-12 victory over the Cowboys in the NFC Divisional playoffs on Jan. 16, 2023, improving to 7-0 as a starter. After a strong 2023 regular season, however, Purdy has not been the same while being forced to play without his major support weapons.
The Cowboys have yet to establish a running game to support quarterback Dak Prescott. (AP … [+]
The red zone has been the 49ers’ major issue. San Francisco has reached the red zone almost 4 1/2 times per game, second only to Washington, but has scored touchdowns less than half the time — 45 percent, among the worst figures in the league.
Dallas, back from a bye week, has not found a suitable running game to complement quarterback Prescott and Cee Dee Lamb, averaging a league-low 77 yards rushing per game, and its one-sided attack also has struggled in the red zone. Only quarterback-shy Miami has converted fewer red zone opportunities into touchdowns than Dallas.
Prescott has thrown six interceptions and three touchdowns in the last three against San Francisco, the only team of the next five on the Dallas schedule with a losing record.
Russell Wilson accounted for three touchdowns in his first start of the season last week. (AP … [+]
Monday Night
New York Giants (2-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
How to watch: ABC/ ESPN/ESPN+, 8:15 pm ET
Key matchup: Russell Wilson vs Giants D
Early line: Steelers -6.5
These teams are clearly headed in opposite directions, and Pittsburgh could be a potential Super Bowl contender rather than the one-and-done playoff team it has been the last six seasons if Wilson continues to shine.
Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score in his first start of the season in the Steelers’ 37-15 rout over the skidding New York Jets last week. Wilson, who gives the Steelers’ a passing threat to go with their strong defense looked rusty early but finished by competing 14 of his final 21 throws.
The Steeler have nine interceptions after picking Aaron Rodgers twice and have a plus-nine turnover margin.
Giants’ defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence leads the NFL with nine sacks. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Associated PressThe Giants have tools the to give Wilson some trouble. They lead the league in sack percentage, and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is tops with nine sacks, the only interior lineman with more than four.
Only Miami is averaging fewer points (11.7) than the Giants’ 14.1. New York has scored only one touchdown in its last two games, losses to Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Former Giant Saquon Barkley had 176 yards rushing against the Giants last week.