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San Francisco 49ers: Post-NFL Draft Win, Loss Predictions for 2017 Season

By Peter Panacy

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch (59) and defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrate during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers defeated the Falcons 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 2, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers 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; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Week 7 vs. Dallas Cowboys

A three-game road trip is tough, and coming home to play the Dallas Cowboys isn’t going to make things any easier.

We already know what’s to be known about quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and the mighty Cowboys offense. They’re a force, and they will have hit their stride by the middle of the season. That’s scary.

Defensively, Dallas lost a number of key pieces to its secondary via free agency. And yet the Cowboys managed to add defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis to alleviate the losses. EDGE Taco Charlton could be a major factor here as well.

It’s nearly impossible to envision a 49ers win here, especially with the Cowboys coming off a Week 6 bye.

Why Dallas Wins

The “Prescott and Elliott Show” shows up. San Francisco’s run defense has shown a lot of improvement by this point, but it’s still porous. And Elliott is more than capable — especially behind Dallas’ stout offensive line — of matching up against the best run defenses.

Even if the Cowboys don’t have a great game, defensively, their offense simply has to match the kind of production it posted last year.

And all signs point to them being able to do so.

Why San Francisco Wins

Mistakes? Luck? Any combination thereof?

Home-field advantage will mean nothing here, especially with Dallas’ two weeks of preparation for this contest.

The best bet for San Francisco would be to try like hell to take Elliott out of the game and hope Prescott simply has an off day. But that’s not going to happen.

35. 123. Final. 17. 42