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Why 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garcon will go off versus Cowboys in Week 7

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts to a play against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco receiver Pierre Garcon hasn’t blown up the stat sheet so far this season, but he has a real opportunity to truly break out against his former rival.

In March 2017, then-free agent Pierre Garcon, fresh off of a 1,000-receiving yard season with the Redskins, signed a five-year, $47.5 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

That’s true money for a top-tier wide receiver, and with him being the No. 2 receiver at Washington, the masses thought that he was overpaid. That seems to be bearing true this season, as Garcon hasn’t truly blown up the stat sheet so far.

However, he gets a golden matchup at home against his former rival, the Dallas Cowboys. Look for Garcon to break out in this game and contribute to the 49ers’ chances of winning their first game of the season.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

So, why hasn’t Pierre Garcon done that well for the 49ers this season?

The 49ers have played some tough secondaries in their first six games of the season. Being the No. 1 receiver on the San Francisco offense, Garcon has had his hands full playing against the cream of the crop of defensive backs in the league.

Garcon faced underrated second-year Panthers cornerback James Bradberry in Week 1 and still earned 81 yards. The following week, he faced the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman, undoubtedly one of the best cornerbacks in the league. In Week 3’s shootout against the Rams, Garcon toasted top cornerback Trumaine Johnson for 142 receiving yards.

However, he fell back to Earth the next week against arguably the best defensive back in the league, Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson, who ranks No. 3 in Pro Football Focus’ top cornerbacks in yards allowed per cover snap.

Garcon went on to have a solid day with 94 receiving yards against Colts top cornerback Vontae Davis, and went for 55 receiving yards against the much-improved Bashaud Breeland.

It’s not that Garcon has been playing poorly by any means. He’s just had his fair share of tough matchups so far this season, and it’s time for him to feast this week against a notably weaker secondary.

Oh yeah, and Brian Hoyer was the one throwing the ball to Garcon for five and a quarter of those games.

Dallas has been allowing receivers to score on them all season

Since Week 2, the Cowboys secondary hasn’t been the most imposing defensive unit. They allowed two touchdowns to Emmanuel Sanders in Week 2, an incredible 149 yards and a touchdown to Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals the next week and, most recently, allowed three combined touchdowns to Green Bay receivers.

The Dallas defense has been porous through the air, and has been the reason that the team hasn’t been meeting expectations this season.

ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Orlando Scandrick #32 of the Dallas Cowboys walks to the locker room after being injured on a play against the New York Giants in the first half at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Orlando Scandrick #32 of the Dallas Cowboys walks to the locker room after being injured on a play against the New York Giants in the first half at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Leading the group is Orlando Scandrick, who has been a decent cornerback for quite some time. However, the wheels seem to be falling off for Scandrick, who turns 31 in February 2018. He is the No. 56 ranked cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus, and Garcon, who isn’t so young himself at 31, still has more athleticism and plays tougher than Scandrick.

Scandrick is also still recovering from a hand surgery early in the season, which has impacted his level of play.

Pierre Garcon will finally have a chance to make an impact on his formal rival

The Dallas Cowboys have been Garcon’s rival for five years, having played on the Redskins.

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Historically, Garcon hasn’t made much of an impact on the Cowboys. Over the last two years (four games) against Dallas, Garcon has only made 14 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown. However, he was the No. 3 option on the Redskins behind tight end Jordan Reed and wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

By now, Garcon is very familiar with how Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli’s defense operates. Garcon knows that this game is his biggest chance to make a significant impact on his longtime rival.

Next: Cowboys vs. 49ers: Full Week 7 preview for San Francisco

I think that he’ll take advantage of the opportunity with over 100 yards receiving and multiple scores.