Cowboys vs 49ers Divisional Round: history, key players, projection

Cowboys vs 49ers: “Under the Radar” Players

Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB

Leighton Vander Esch not only came back from some time off to take back his spot, he took it back with vengeance. The Boise State product played absolutely lights out for the Cowboys last weekend and was a crucial part in the dominant performance out of the Cowboys’ defense.

His challenges ups itself a level this week. He meets Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel, two of the NFL’s most versatile skill players that are a threat in the backfield, out wide, or in the slot. They have home run ability every single play.

Head coach of the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, schemes matchups with the best of them and will look to exploit Vander Esch in space. He knows Vander Esch can play downhill and will make him work laterally and have to contend with the 49ers’ speed.

San Francisco 49ers: George Kittle, TE

McCaffrey and Samuel are speedsters that use all 53 and 1/3 yards of the width of the field. The glue guy that can keep drives going for the 49ers is tight end George Kittle. A top-three tight end in the league, he can sometimes be a hidden weapon for this offense.

Since Brock Purdy took over at quarterback, Kittle has had a nice stretch run as one of his go-to receivers. Over the last five games Kittle has just 20 receptions for 302 yards, and while that is not eyepopping, not all catches and yards are created equal. A whopping 35% of those catches, seven of them, have went for touchdowns.

Kittle has become the go-to guy for the 49ers when trying to punch it into the end zone. Jayron Kearse, Leighton Vander Esch, and the rest of the Cowboys’ linebackers and safeties will have their hands full here.