49ers vs. Cowboys Week 5 Live Blog

Big test for Brock Purdy.

SANTA CLARA -- This is the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers' Week 5 Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.

4:00 Here are the 49ers inactives: Randy Gregory, Elijah Mitchell, Brandon Allen, Nick Zakelj, Kalia Davis, Jalen Graham and Brayden Willis.

Second-year running back Ty Davis-Price is active for the first time this season. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry and ran hard and decisively. I expect him to get a few carries in this game. The 49ers have to find ways to limit Christian McCaffrey's work load. He 98 touches through four games -- almost 25 per contest. That's way too much. He won't make it through the season getting hit that often. The 49ers have to use their other running backs. Remember, they drafted Davis-Price in Round 3.

4:02 The last time the 49ers and Cowboys played each other, Dallas held the San Francisco offense to just 19 points and still lost. I'm expecting the 49ers will win 23-17. The offense should do better than it did the last time it faced Dallas, and the defense should pressure Dak Prescott and force him to commit turnovers like usual. Prescott used to be a mobile quarterback, but he broke his leg a few years ago and has become one of the slower passers in the league. He wants to stand in the pocket and throw from there. When there are bodies around him, he panics and makes bad decisions.

5:22 The Cowboys win the toss and defer. The 49ers will get the ball first.

FIRST QUARTER

5:29 On 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 19, Brock Purdy steps up in the pocket, scrambles to his right and throws a touchdown pass on the run to George Kittle. What an easy drive. The Cowboys are in trouble right now.

49ers 7, Cowboys 0.

5:35 On 3rd and 9 from the Dallas 26, Dak Prescott airmails a throw up the sideline, and the Cowboys go 3 and out. Complete domination so far for the 49ers. After the punt, the 49ers get the ball at their 23.

5:40 On 3rd and 2 from the 49ers 31, Purdy's pass gets tipped at the line of scrimmage and nearly intercepted, and the 49ers go 3 and out. After the punt, the Cowboys get the ball at their 21.

5:45 On 3rd and 3 from the Cowboys 28, Arik Armstead and Nick Bosa sack Prescott, and the Cowboys go 3 and out again. This game feels over already. After the punt, the 49ers get the ball at their 30.

5:58 On 3rd and 15 from the Cowboys 36, Christian McCaffrey runs a draw and loses five yards. After the punt, the Cowboys take over at their 5. Purdy was 1 for 5 with a sack on that drive.

6:00 First play of the drive, Fred Warner strips the ball from Tony Pollard and Kevin Givens recovers at the Cowboys 16.

SECOND QUARTER

6:08 On 2nd and 4 from the Cowboys 10, McCaffrey bursts up the middle and fumbles at the 2-yard line. Dallas recovers.

6:12 On 3rd and 2 from the Cowboys 2, Fred Warner spies Prescott and when he tries to scramble, sacks him for a loss of 6, and the Cowboys go three and out. After the punt, the 49ers get the ball at the Dallas 38.

6:13 First play of the drive, Purdy hands off to McAffrey, who hands off to Deebo Samuel, who flips it back to Purdy who throws a touchdown pass to a wide open George Kittle. Gorgeous play design by Kyle Shanahan.

49ers 14, Cowboys 0.

6:26 On 3rd and 4 from the 49ers 26, Isaiah Oliver gives up a long touchdown catch to KaVontae Turbin. Beautiful throw from Dak Prescott. That's a throw Purdy might not make consistently.

49ers 14, Cowboys 7.

6:37 On 2nd and goal from the 1, McCaffrey runs into the end zone for the touchdown. Dallas' defense looks demoralized because it knows the Cowboys offense is terrible.

49ers 21, Cowboys 7.

6:47 On 3rd and 5 from the Cowboys 39, Prescott throws a three-yard pass and the Cowboys go 3 and out. He isn't even looking downfield. After the punt, the 49ers get the ball at their 18 with 1:51 left in the half.

6:51 On 3rd and 2 from the 49ers 26, Brandon Aiyuk drops a pass over the middle and the 49ers go 3 and out. After the punt, the Cowboys get the ball at their 25 with 50 seconds left in the half.

6:58 The Cowboys go nowhere and clock runs out on the first half.

49ers 21, Cowboys 7.

THIRD QUARTER

7:15 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers 32, the Cowboys run the ball and gain no yards. Just pathetic. Then they make a long field goal.

49ers 21, Cowboys 10.

7:26 On 3rd and 14 from the 49ers 39, Purdy completes a pass over the middle to Deebo Samuel who gains 43 yards. What a play call by Shanahan. Then on 3rd and 2 from the Cowboys 10, Purdy throws his third touchdown pass of the night to George Kittle. Purdy is having a phenomenal game.

49ers 28, Cowboys 10.

7:32 On 1st and 10 from the Cowboys 37, Prescott throws the ball as far as he can and gets interepted by Tashaun Gipson. The 49ers get the ball at their 38.

FOURTH QUARTER

7:46 On 2nd and goal from the 1, Purdy throws a touchdown pass to a wide open Kyle Juszczyk. That's Purdy's fourth touchdown pass of the night. He's having a phenomal game -- the best of his career.

49ers 35, Cowboys 10.

7:51 On 2nd and 10 from the Cowboys 25, Prescott throws his second pick of the night. Deommodore Lenoir tips it to Fred Warner. The 49ers take over from the Dallas 26.

7:52 On 1st and 10 from the Dallas 26, Purdy pitches the ball to Jordan Mason who bursts through the Dallas defense untouched for the touchdown. Dallas has officially given up.

49ers 42, Cowboys 10.

7:59 The 49ers pull their starters, and yet Prescott still finds a way to throw an interception -- this time to Oren Burks. That's three picks for Prescott in this game.

8:06 This game essentially is over. Stay tuned for the 49ers' grades.