'Tough-A** Fun!' Dan Quinn Previews Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers Showdown
The Dallas Cowboys defense wanted retribution for the loss to the Arizona Cardinals in a game that saw their pants get pulled down. Well, against the New England Patriots, everything we have been accustomed to from a Dan Quinn defense was on show.
Let's take a moment to enjoy the 38-3 win over New England, which was good, with attention also turning to the San Francisco 49ers juggernaut, which has been the Cowboys' kryptonite over the last two seasons.
“These are going to be two tough-a**, hard-nosed units going against one another,'' Quinn said in a quick Week 5 preview. "It’ll be a lot of fun.”
Cowboys vs. Niners
In Week 4? There was pressure on Mac Jones, sacks, and, of course, takeaways as the Cowboys' defense added another quarterback's soul to their ever-growing collection as Jones was benched in the third quarter.
"Last week, I sat up here and was discouraged about our performance and said 'That wasn't us," Quinn said. "Yesterday, that was us. The energy, the hitting, the ball-hawking. That is us, and that felt more like our style and attitude and how we want to play.”
Can Dallas keep it up against the Niners? With both teams in the upper echelon of not only the NFC but the entire NFL, this is a true heavyweight clash, and coach Kyle Shanahan's team presents the biggest challenge to Quinn's unit this season.
What has made the 49ers, so far, seem bulletproof is that the offense doesn't turn the ball over. In fact, they only have one on the year, which came in Week 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Quarterback Brock Purdy hasn't thrown an interception yet as the 49ers offense ranks third in the league for scoring (31.3 points per game).
That stat is on Quinn's mind, and he knows that generating takeaways against this 49ers team could go a long way to the Cowboys escaping with a win.
“They’re really mindful of it,” Quinn said on the 49ers not turning the ball over. “Taking care of the ball as well, I think they only have one in the entire season so far. That shows you how they coach it, how they take care of it, and so both offenses are very good at that, in terms of taking care of it, being aggressive, ours and theirs. I think those will be the turning points in the game if we can knock one out or get one, they’ve done a good job of it, and that shows through the first four games."
With San Francisco having the No. 3-ranked offense and the No. 3-ranked defense, while Dallas has the No. 4 ranked offense and the 1st ranked defense, this will be some special game on "Sunday Night Football.''
While the Cowboys' recent matchups against the 49ers have undoubtedly left a sour taste in the mouth, this Week 5 contest feels like it has a lot riding on the result.
For Dallas, after two consecutive playoff losses, getting over that mental barrier early in the season could hold them in good stead should the pair meet again in the postseason. ... at which time "This is us'' will need to be true again.
