The 49ers didn’t do much to shake up their roster at the trade deadline, but they may not need to. When San Francisco meets Dallas in Week 10, the bigger story could be how the Cowboys’ quiet deadline hangs over a matchup that already tilts toward the Niners.
Dallas sat on its hands while the 49ers went after veteran help for their biggest needs. That contrast matters because the Cowboys are sitting at 4-5 and still have a path to the NFC East, yet Jerry Jones chose not to address a defense that has been one of the NFL’s worst this season. The holes are obvious at linebacker, edge rusher, cornerback, and safety, and any move for a proven veteran could have at least nudged that unit toward respectability.
Instead, the same defense stays in place for a meeting with the league’s hottest offense.
San Francisco is first in both EPA per play and success rate by wide margins, and that kind of firepower is built to punish weak defenses. Even with a depleted receiver group, Brock Purdy has been operating at an MVP level. He turned in one of his best performances of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9, and there’s little reason to expect the production to slow down against Dallas.
That’s the problem for the Cowboys: the talent gap is real, and the trade deadline did nothing to close it.
The 49ers did make one move at the deadline, adding Keenan Allen to an already banged-up receiver room. It’s a useful addition for Kyle Shanahan, but not one that dramatically changes the ceiling of the roster.
Even so, San Francisco still stacks up far better than Brian Schottenheimer’s team. Purdy is a legitimate MVP candidate, Fred Warner could win Defensive Player of the Year, and star for star, the edge belongs to the 49ers without much debate.
If that difference shows up on the field, Week 10 could get ugly fast. Dallas has enough offense to make the game interesting, but its defense doesn’t look equipped to survive a shootout.
And if the Cowboys absorb their sixth loss, the fallout could be severe. Schottenheimer is already on the hot seat, and another setback could push Jones toward a full reset.
In Other News...
49ers Get Deebo Boost But A Bigger Cowboys Concern Is Growing
San Franciscos offense is starting to look a little more like itself with Deebo Samuel moving closer to a return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out. For a unit that has been trying to regain rhythm, getting Samuel back in the mix would be a meaningful lift, especially with the 49ers trying to keep momentum headed into a matchup that has already started to feel important.
The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Got A Big Week 10 Opening
A potentially important Week 10 break is starting to tilt the 49ers way, with Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. missing practice because of a foot injury and still listed as questionable for Sunday. For a San Francisco passing game already dealing with its own wide receiver injuries, any edge matters, and the possibility of facing a shorthanded secondary only adds to the intrigue around Brock Purdys return to the lineup.
Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]