San Francisco 49ers: Way Too Early Win-Loss Predictions for 2016 NFL Season
By Peter Panacy
Week 4 vs. Dallas Cowboys
The 49ers return home in Week 4 to take on a Dallas Cowboys team in what could be seen as the next winnable game on San Francisco’s schedule.
Dallas was a mess last year and one of only a few teams that finished with a worse record (4-12) than the 5-11 49ers. But a lot of that had to do with the myriad of injuries suffered by veteran quarterback Tony Romo.
When the Cowboys are playing well, they are a team capable of beating anybody in the league. When they’re not, and when injuries are a factor, Dallas’ weaknesses are exposed.
Yet one of the Cowboys’ preeminent strengths is their offensive line. Pro Football Focus ranked Dallas’ O-line No. 1 in the league last year, and it’s hard to envision any letup.
San Francisco, which was prone to giving up substantial rushing yards and ranked 29th in the league last year with a paltry 28 sacks, will have trouble getting to Romo and slowing down a Cowboys offense if it’s capable of firing on all cylinders.
But who knows if Dallas will be capable of pulling this off.
If this game was a road contest, the Cowboys would come away with a relatively easy win. Yet let’s give this one at Levi’s Stadium to San Francisco.
Prediction: Win
Next: Week 5 vs. Cardinals