RDS and RDS Direct will present the playoff game between the 49ers and the Cowboys at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
SCONTENTS
The San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys meet in the first round of the playoffs.
PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS OF PIERRE VERCHEVAL:
SPECIAL COLLABORATION
One of the most compelling matchups of the 1st round, this game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys will feature a team with an NFL-high +14 turnover ratio (34 turnovers caused) ) and another who, despite her 10-7 record, gave the ball 24 times to the opponent, for a mediocre differential of -4.
Instantly, this is something that scares me for San Francisco. It’s far from ideal, a generous team in turnovers which comes to the home of a club betting on a hyper opportunistic defense. So that’s the first question I ask: are the 49ers able to protect the ball well? If the answer is yes, they are likely to surprise Arlington. After all, in the five games they haven’t committed a turnover, their record is pristine. Even when they are guilty of a single reversal, their record remains excellent, at 3-1.
Notice that what I have just exposed is a two-edged sword. Because conversely, one wonders what will happen if Dallas fails to show its usual opportunism? It’s a defensive unit that concedes a lot of yards, and often, it’s through the “splash plays” that it comes to save the day. I’m referring here to interceptions, sacks and tackles for loss. This year, when those games weren’t there for the Cowboys, it more often than not led to losses.
On the other hand, the biggest challenge for the Cowboys defense is to limit the effectiveness of the 49ers’ play through running. With exotic and varied play patterns, the Niners often beat opponents before the ball is even handed to the quarterback. Their formations and movements before the throw-in can get dizzying. It’s always a potential headache if the rival defense doesn’t watch what’s around the corner and adjust to it.
When I see that the Eagles reserves (and I could even say the reserves of these) of the Eagles gained 94 yards on the ground against Dallas in Week 18, and the 190 yards allowed in the backfield of the Denver Broncos in the Week 9, I figure the run defense is vulnerable and this is a gap just waiting to be exploited.
The order for Kyle Shanahan’s formation couldn’t be clearer: we run, we convert 3rd downs with regularity, we stack plays in order to control the time of possession, we make sure the ball leaves the hands of Jimmy Garoppolo quickly. In short, everything to counter the main strength of the Cowboys, which is to apply pressure and thus set a trap for his opponents.
On the offensive side, Dallas also needs to feed on the ground game. It becomes necessary when you see that the Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Arden Key are ready to attack Dak Prescott should the attack become one-dimensional. Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard will have to bring grist to the mill too, or Prescott will be put to the test. If that contribution is felt, the Cowboys can do some damage through the air, because the Niners’ secondary is absolutely nothing terrifying; it is even one of their most important weaknesses.
The Cowboys’ final record was 12-5, and half of their victories came from dominating the National’s East Division (6-0). Against the rest of the Goodell circuit, it’s much less convincing, at 6-5. It leads me to believe that it is not a foregone conclusion, and that this confrontation does not bode well. The Niners are a tough team that feature the kind of ground game you hardly ever see, with Deebo Samuel, Elijah Mitchell and company.
*Comments collected by Maxime Desroches
