49ers-Cowboys preview: Christian McCaffrey and the Niners should run wild
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The San Francisco 49ers enter their Week 10 clash with the Dallas Cowboys holding a dominant historical edge, a disparity underscored by San Francisco's top-three rankings in points per game, EPA per pass and rush, and third-down efficiency. In contrast, Dallas has dropped five of its last seven contests, including a defeat to the Arizona Cardinals, and currently concedes a league-leading 35.2 yards per opponent possession.
The matchup presents a stark offensive mismatch, as quarterback Brock Purdy is 3-0 against Dallas and faces a defense that ranks in the bottom five for total yards allowed and third-down success.
The 49ers' ground game is poised to exploit specific vulnerabilities in the Cowboys' interior defense, which allows the second-most yards before contact per carry at 1.78. Despite defensive tackle Quinnen Williams leading the league with 14 tackles for loss, Dallas has struggled to contain inside zone runs, yielding 8.08 yards per carry on 36 such plays this season.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, who has averaged 5.04 yards on his 24 inside zone carries this year, is expected to target these A and B gaps heavily, a scheme that head coach Kyle Shanahan has identified as a key strategic advantage.