3 reasons winless 49ers can upset Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys versus the San Francisco 49ers is one of the most storied rivalries in NFL history, and while their Week 7 matchup is unlikely to go down as one of the highlights, it could be remembered for a shocking upset.
Here are three reasons why the winless 49ers can pull it off despite being six-point home underdogs:
San Fran is due
The 49ers are 0-6, but they're no pushovers - far from it, in fact, as Kyle Shanahan has his team playing with a never-say-die attitude. After a season-opening 23-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers have been in every game. Yes, they've lost all five, but by a combined 13 points, with two losses in overtime.
Moreover, the 49ers are finally coming home after a rough three-game road skid, and the Cowboys may be sluggish coming off a bye and a back-breaking, last-minute loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 5.
Simply put, San Francisco is due for a win, and the 2-3 Cowboys are more than beatable - especially with Ezekiel Elliott's ongoing legal battle and possible suspension still hanging over the team's head.
Porous run defense
But how will the 49ers' offense keep up with Dak Prescott and Co.? By running early and often, that's how. The Cowboys have the 22nd-ranked run defense, giving up 118 yards per game. And they fare even worse in advanced statistics. Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings - which rates defenses based on value, per play - has the Cowboys' run defense dead last in the league.
The 49ers have struggled to get Carlos Hyde going in recent weeks, but he's more than capable of taking advantage of such a weak unit. And rookie Matt Breida has looked strong in limited snaps, averaging 4.9 and 5.3 yards per tote in Weeks 5 and 6, respectively.
The return of Sean Lee makes Dallas less vulnerable, but while the veteran linebacker is a great player, he isn't a miracle worker. If the 49ers can control the clock, keep the offense in manageable situations, and wear down the defense, it will make rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard's job much easier.
The unknown
Speaking of Beathard, the first-year pivot will be making his first NFL start after taking over from Brian Hoyer midway through San Fran's Week 6 defeat to the Washington Redskins.
The rook played admirably against Washington, especially considering he was asked to throw 36 times as the 49ers attempted a comeback. Beathard's not blessed with a great arm, but Shanahan is good at tailoring his playcalling to his quarterback's strengths. He won't force Beathard into too many precarious situations.
Beathard is more poised than your average rookie after playing in a pro-style offense in college, and Dallas' defense isn't exactly imposing. The Cowboys also have little tape from which to prepare for Beathard. While Deshaun Watson is a far superior quarterback, his revival of the Houston Texans' stagnant offense highlights how a unit can be reinvigorated by just throwing in something new.