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Cowboys vs. 49ers: The Good, Bad and Ugly from San Francisco’s 24-17 Week 4 Loss

By Peter Panacy

Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brice Butler (19) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brice Butler (19) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock (26) during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the ball while he is being pursued by San Francisco 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) runs the ball while he is being pursued by San Francisco 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt (29) during the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bad

A questionable personal foul on safety Jaquiski Tartt in the second quarter changed the tempo of the game in Dallas’ favor. That’s bad.

And the Cowboys didn’t have to look back.

The same Niners team which started 6-of-6 on third downs ended up with an 8-of-14 mark, which shows how much San Francisco’s offense stalled in the second half. Dallas nearly doubled the Niners in first downs made too — 26 to 14.

One of the reasons the Cowboys were able to generate so many first downs was due to their ability to move the ball so effectively on the ground.

We’ll get to the run defense in a bit. But it’s a stat not helped by the injury to linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) is carted off the field during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) is carted off the field during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi’s Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Bowman suffered a lower leg injury and had to be carted off to the locker room from the sidelines. The prognosis doesn’t look good, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

Rookie defensive end DeForest Buckner was probably having the best game of his pro career before suffering a leg injury of his own. Like Bowman, Buckner had to be carted off the sidelines. Buckner was wearing a boot and walking on crutches after the game, per Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

We can’t overlook quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who actually completed some highly accurate passes early on. But his fourth-quarter interception on a would-be touchdown pass to wide receiver Torrey Smith stands as the lowlight.

At such a crucial moment in the game, it makes sense why some fans would be calling for Colin Kaepernick to take over for Gabbert.

It won’t happen on the short week before the Arizona Cardinals visit Levi’s Stadium on Thursday Night Football.