3 player matchups to watch for in Cowboys vs 49ers

2. Micah Parsons vs. Elijah Mitchell

San Francisco loves running the football, and they are very good at it. The Niners rank seventh in the league in rushing yards per game with 127.4. Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell has been the bell-cow for the 49ers all season.

In only 11 games this year, Mitchell racked up 963 rushing yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Mitchell was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and for him to almost achieve 1,000 yards rushing is very impressive.

The Cowboys must be prepared to defend the run at a high level. The 49ers average 29.4 rushing attempts per game good enough for fifth in the NFL. To be able to stop the run the Cowboys must give their defensive stopper, Micah Parsons, the best opportunity to be successful.

Parsons, who should be the unanimous decision for Defensive Rookie of the Year, will get his first taste of playoff football on Sunday. Parsons needs to play well especially against the run in order to lead the Cowboys to a victory.

The 49ers are creative with their run-game. They use a lot of pre-snap motion and that can sometimes confuse the defense. Parsons and the rest of the defense must stay disciplined with their eyes and not fall for the “eye-candy” the Niners will look to feed them.

Parsons has been one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL this year. Look how he compares to some of the leagues best,

The production from Parsons in the run-game has been ridiculous, and the Cowboys will need another great performance from their first-round pick on Sunday. We will see which of the two rookies comes out on top.