After two quarters of play, the Dallas Cowboys trail the 49ers 21-7.
The Cowboys selected to defer to the second half, the defense was sent out on the field first, and the 49ers drove right down the field and scored a touchdown.
They made easy work of the defense on the first drive going 75 yards in seven plays.
George Kittle was wide open in the back corner of the end zone for a 19-yard score.
The Cowboys offense struggled on the first drive only mustering one yard.
The defense was much better on the second drive, forcing the Niners to punt after three plays. Jonathan Hankins knocked down a pass from Brock Purdy.
Once again, penalties are killing the Cowboys defense.
On the third offensive drive for the Cowboys Tony Pollard fumbled on a nice gain, the 49ers recovered and took over at the Cowboys 15 yard line.
The Cowboys caught a break and forced a fumble from Christian McCaffery, but again could not make work of it from their own goal line.
After punting the ball back to the Niners, they caught the Cowboys sleeping and ran a trick play allowing Kittle to be wide open for his second touchdown of the night.
The offense responded in a big way with a seven play 78-yard drive. Dak Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
That is where the offense would stop in the first half.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1711191884646039756?s=20
The 49ers followed with another touchdown drive near the end of the half to go back up by 14.
Just as the Cowboys gain some life, Niners answer with TD drive. Christian McCaffrey with a TD in 14 straight games. Niners lead, 21-7, with 2:36 left in the half. Cowboys get a chance to see if they can score and open third quarter with the ball, too.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 9, 2023
The Cowboys had a chance to put points on the board before half, but the offense again could not get anything going, resulting in a punt.
The Cowboys get the ball to start the second half. They need another drive like their one scoring drive to keep this game within reach.
They showed they can move the ball. I also don’t think they are running the football nearly as much as they should be.
Maybe the Tony Pollard fumble scares them away in the second half.
We all should have understood that this game was going to be an absolute test for this team. In the first half the 49ers made more plays than the Cowboys did.
Clean the penalties up and stop costing your team yards on defense. The offense needs to score seven out of halftime and keep the pressure on the 49ers offense.
This game is very close to being blown wide open, I am begging you Dallas. Please show up in the second half.
