Magnitude of Cowboys’ loss to 49ers calls season’s previous accomplishments into question
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Another loss to San Francisco doesn’t doom the Cowboys to the latest in a long line of premature postseason departures.
It doesn’t indicate this team lacks what it takes to respond once the calendar turns to January.
But it’s an indication of how far away the Cowboys are from that goal at the moment.
“It’s a punch in the gut,’’ head coach Mike McCarthy said in the wake of the 42-10 loss. “It’s a kick in the ass. Whatever phrase you want to put on it.
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“We’ve been knocked down.’’
The idea that Dallas is the cream of the NFC crop along with the 49ers and Philadelphia curdled on this unusually warm October evening in Northern California. A Cowboys team that acknowledged the symbolic and psychological benefit a win over the Niners would provide had their aspirations dismissed in a blowout.
Dallas was down 32 points just two minutes and one second deep into the fourth quarter. This game didn’t simply amend the idea the Cowboys belong in the same conversation as the Niners and Eagles in the conference.
It was a repudiation for even verbalizing the notion.
“Explanation?’’ McCarthy said. “Very humbling loss.
“It clearly just shows where we are as a team.’’
Early season showdown? Please. That proved to be deceptive branding.
This was an early-season beatdown.
An offense that averaged just 294.5 yards and 14.5 points in two playoff losses to San Francisco over the past two seasons was even worse in this one.
Related:Cowboys-49ers takeaways: Dallas gets pushed around, has night to forget in playoff rematch
The Cowboys were down 14-0 before the offense picked up a first down. The group had 8 total yards of offense with 13:12 left in the first half.
A defense feeling its oats was gashed on the ground and had no answer for tight end George Kittle or receiver Brandon Aiyuk through the air.
This was a total team loss.
Dak Prescott had completed just 57.5 percent of his passes for 460 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions in those two playoff losses to San Francisco. He offered unsolicited feedback in the days going into this rematch that, “I wasn’t my best in either of those games and wasn’t close to it.’’
He was even worse on this night.
Prescott threw for 85 yards and a touchdown in the first half. But in the second, when he needed to be at his best, he threw three interceptions. He finished with 153 yards passing and a 51.6 rating before giving way to Cooper Rush in the fourth quarter.
How did his quarterback perform?
“Me, everybody,’’ McCarthy said. “I don’t foresee a lot of winning grades coming out of this performance.’’
Tony Pollard had just 36 yards rushing and 34 yards receiving in those two playoff losses. He had no impact in this one, rushing for 29 yards on eight carries.
Part of the reason the Cowboys parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore during the offseason was the offense’s inability to show any improvement in the rematch.
McCarthy was no better with his play calling in this one.
“Starting with me,’’ McCarthy said when assessing blame for the loss. “I didn’t do a good job tonight. I wish we had gotten balance earlier in the game. That did not happen.’’
The magnitude of this loss calls what the Cowboys accomplished in the opening weeks of this season into question. The four teams that Dallas played before this game have a combined record of 5-15. The New York Jets are the only one with more than one victory.
“I had a quick reflection on the five games we’ve played,’’ McCarthy said. “It’s been a wide range of performance, as wide of a range as I can ever recall in a five-week period.
“The biggest thing is for us to be accountable. But it is one game.’’
Now, the Cowboys lug a 3-2 record back on the road next week to face the LA Chargers. The intrigue here:
Kellen Moore is their offensive coordinator.
“I didn’t see this coming,’’ McCarthy said.
“We did not hit the mark at all today.’’
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