3 Cowboys players that need big performances against the 49ers

The Dallas Cowboys played one of their best games of the season in the Wild Card round and got rewarded with their first road playoff win since 1992.

It was almost 30 years to the date — Jan. 17, 1993 — the last time the Cowboys won a road playoff game. That victory came at Candlestick Park when Dallas defeated the 49ers.

Now, the Cowboys will have the opportunity to beat the 49ers yet again on the road in the postseason. But it won’t come as easy as the Buccaneers’ victory on Monday.

The 49ers have the making of a Super Bowl contender. Their offense has been among the best in the NFL the past two months, even with 7th-round rookie Brock Purdy.

With Purdy under center, the 49ers have scored 30-plus points in six of seven games that the rookie quarterback has appeared in. He’s also 6-0 as a starter to begin his career and has done his job of getting the ball to his playmakers, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle.

Then on the defensive end, the 49ers might have one of the best all-around defenses. Their run defense ranks second in rush yards per game (79.2) and they’re holding opposing teams to just 3.4 yards on the ground.

The Cowboys might have a hard time establishing the run in this game. But if offensive coordinator Kellen Moore can call an offensive plan like he did last week, Dallas should be in good shape to compete against a physical 49ers team.

And like every game, the Cowboys are going to need players to have big performances to help carry them to victory as underdogs. Last week Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, and Israel Mukuamu really stepped up when it mattered.

This week, these three players must step up for the Cowboys to come away with the upset victory on the road.

These Cowboys need big performances against the 49ers

3. Trevon Diggs

There’s no doubt that the 49ers have some talented weapons on offense and the Cowboys’ secondary is going to have their hands full on Sunday. But, the one cornerback that will need to show out is Trevon Diggs.

The last time these two teams faced off was in the Wild Card round last season where the Cowboys lost 23-17. Diggs lined up primarily with Brandon Aiyuk in that matchup and Aiyuk led the team in catches (5) and yards (66). The Cowboys’ Pro Bowl corner is hoping to change that this time around.

But if the Cowboys want to stop the 49ers’ threats on the outside, Diggs is going to have to be much better than he was on Monday against the Buccaneers.

Diggs was solid early on in coverage against Mike Evans; though his tackling could have used some help on Monday. Despite making almost all of his tackles in the regular season, he missed what could have been two big tackles early in the game.

On a 3rd-and-7 late in the first quarter, Diggs missed Buccaneers’ running back Rachaad White on an open field tackle leading to a first down.

Then, on the same drive, he tries to hit Mike Evans low on a 3rd-and-6 reception. But instead of tackling him, Diggs just tries to “hit-stick” Evans, who would eventually rumble for another 4-5 yards.

Again, the Cowboys cornerback has been solid all year when it comes to tackling, but he’s going to need to show out in this one in all aspects of his game. It’s also been a while since his last interception, so this could be a prime opportunity for Diggs to step up against a rookie quarterback.

2. Tyler Smith

You can’t say enough good things about what Tyler Smith has done in his rookie season. With many people skeptical about the pick on Draft Day, Smith has proved the doubters wrong.

Smith has been everything the Cowboys had hoped for when they drafted him: physical, strong, and the ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line. He has done all that and more this season, especially in the Wild Card game on Monday.

He started the game at left guard against the Buccaneers. But, when Jason Peters left the game early with an injury, Smith then switched to left tackle and Connor McGovern went to left guard.

Playing multiple positions is nothing new for Smith this season. The 21-year-old lineman has stepped in at right tackle, left tackle, and left guard all this year.

With Peters currently nursing a hip injury and is listed as a did not practice on Wednesday’s Cowboys walkthrough, his status for Sunday is uncertain. That means Smith might be getting the start at left tackle on Sunday and having the responsibility of stopping Nick Bosa.

Bosa, the favorite to win defensive player of the year, has been unstoppable this year. So, Smith is going to have to be at his best to try and limit the 49ers’ star edge rusher.

With Smith’s arrival, there’s been a clear difference this year compared to last year for the Cowboys’ offensive line. They have been more physical and Smith has been a key addition to the line. But he’s got to carry that physicality into this game and stop Bosa.

1. Dak Prescott

Prescott silenced the doubters last week after his career-best performance. He threw for 305 yards, four touchdowns, and ran for another in a 31-14 blowout in Tampa. However, all that can get swept under the rug this week if the Cowboys quarterback struggles.

Prescott is going to have to carry that momentum from last game into Sunday’s clash against the 49ers. San Francisco’s defense is no joke and has one of the best defenses in the National Football League.

So the Cowboys’ offense will need to be at its best and that includes Prescott. Kellen Moore dialed up a fantastic game plan on Monday and that has to also continue for Dallas to secure the upset win.

If Prescott can replicate his play on Monday into the divisional game against the 49ers, the Cowboys can leave San Francisco with a victory.

Last season in the Wild Card game, the team scored just 17 points against the 49ers. Prescott threw for 254 yards, one touchdown, and one interception and the running game combined for just 77 yards. CeeDee Lamb also had just one catch in the contest.

Look for things to be different in this one and that starts with Prescott. If he can light it up through the air, the Cowboys can be in a good position on Sunday.

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