After a disastrous start to their playoff meeting with the 49ers, the Cowboys have settled in kept it a competitive game after two quarters. Dallas goes into halftime with a 16-7 deficit to San Francisco in this 2021 wild card game.

The 49ers marched the field to score an Elijah Mitchell rushing touchdown on the game’s first possession. A slow start by the Cowboys offense, with only one first down on their first two drives, allowed the 49ers to establish early control.

While they’ve been kept out of the endzone since that first drive, San Francisco has scored a field goal on every other possession before the end of the half. At times they’ve been set up with short fields thanks to Dallas’ offensive ineptitude.

Thankfully, the Cowboys started finding their rhythm in the second quarter. A nine-play, 67-yard drive was capped with a touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Amari Cooper.

Dallas squandered a chance to narrow the margin at the end of the half, driving it to the 49ers’ 39-yard-line but then losing yards on a La’el Collins holding penalty. The drive then stalled and led to a punt.

The Cowboys have done enough to stay in range and will get the ball back to start the second half. But without crisper offensive execution, the may be the last 30 minutes of Dallas football this year.