It's time to let CeeDee cook

FRISCO, Texas – We return to our regular Here We Goooo programming and look at the key factors that will decide the 41^st Meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. Let's dive in:

1. Take Jordan Mason to the ground

One reason for Dallas' inability to stop the run through six games this season is that ball carriers failed to bring the ball to the ground and missed tackles. In San Francisco they will face Jordan Mason, the NFL's leader in broken tackles (53). Dallas' defense has missed 15.8% of its tackle opportunities this season, the highest rate in the NFL. That's a stunning change from last year, when the Cowboys had the lowest missed tackle rate at 8%.

Mason is the NFL's second-leading rusher so far this season and will likely be relied upon heavily with Christian McCaffery out and some of the 49ers' best receivers potentially unable to play. In 2023, Mason was the 49ers' leading rusher against the Cowboys with 69 yards on ten carries and one touchdown. If Dallas' defense can post similar statistics with the way this defense played earlier in the year, it would be a stunning win.

2. Make plays when San Francisco applies pressure

It sounds strange, but Dak Prescott has actually played better when teams are attacking him. He completed 30 of 56 passes against four of his eight touchdowns and threw just one interception. When not blitzed, Prescott threw five interceptions and was sacked 13 times. If this trend is to continue, Prescott will have to take advantage of every blitz San Francisco sends, as they only send it 18.5% of the time, the fifth-lowest rate in the league.

Additionally, when under pressure, Prescott is 33 of 57 for 426 yards and five touchdowns on 73 dropbacks. His yards per attempt (7.5) are higher than when not under pressure (7), and his completion rate above expectations is +5.4% compared to -0.7% when not under pressure . The 49ers have the lowest blitz rate in the league as their defense ranks ninth in the league in pass rush win rate (45%) and has two top ten players in pass rush percentage at their respective positions. rush winning percentage, with Nick Bosa ranking 10th^Th best edge rusher (22%) and Maliek Collins as 6th^Th best defensive tackle (15%). With so much pass-rush firepower, they don't even need to blitz and can send defenders into coverage. If Prescott is able to make plays when the 49ers actually send in an extra defender or two, that could bode well for the Cowboys' offense given how successful he has been in those situations so far this year.

3. Get CeeDee Lamb the ball quickly

The connection, or lack thereof, between Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb was a disappointment early in the season. And yet Lamb's performance to this point is similar to his historic 2023 season. He had just two fewer catches and eight fewer yards in the first quarter of the year compared to last year, and if the Cowboys get the ball in his hands, he can make it happen that everything works.

Lamb's 119 yards after catches expected this season are the second most in the league. Getting the ball to him with simple, quick throws could be the first step in getting Lamb and Prescott on the same page. And CeeDee can also make defenders miss misses, with a total of 9 forced misses this season and 7 total^Th Best in the league among receivers. The Cowboys rank second in the league in passing yards per game, and if Lamb and Prescott combine, it will be difficult to keep this offense tied for first in that category.