Cowboys vs. 49ers: Live Week 7 updates and thread for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, and Niner Noise has your live in-game thread with full scoring breakdowns and analysis for San Francisco.

The longtime rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys hit a new chapter in Week 7 of 2017, as both teams squared off from Levi’s Stadium.

San Francisco, still winless after six games, was seeking its first victory of the season against a 2-3 Dallas squad coming off its bye week. Fortunately for the Niners, promising rookie linebacker Reuben Foster (ankle) wasn’t just scheduled to return for the first time since Week 1. He’d start, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

The game also marked the first start for rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard, who took over for the veteran, Brian Hoyer, in the middle of last week’s loss to the Washington Redskins.

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Beathard had his moments during his first NFL action, and it was going to be an interesting storyline to watch as the young quarterback looked to continue his maturation for a second consecutive week.

Yet the Niners were also going to celebrate their past during the contest.

During halftime, the 49ers honored legendary wide receiver Dwight Clark. Clark, who was diagnosed with ALS last March, is remembered for the famous “catch” made during the 1982 NFC Championship between San Francisco and Dallas. Numerous players from the 1981 team were in attendance for the ceremony.

Could the Niners pull off their first win of the season in honor of Clark?

We broke down this Week 7 contest here, and please follow along with our live in-game thread throughout the game.

Be sure to comment too, as you can find the comments thread towards the bottom of the article.

First Quarter

The 49ers won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. With defensive tackle DeForest Buckner swatting down passes, the Niners defense forced a quick 3-and-out and a punt.

But on the ensuing punt, return man Trent Taylor fumbled the ball, allowing Dallas to recover at the 49ers 20-yard line.

Three carries by Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, and Dallas was into the end zone for the first score, putting Dallas up 7-0 early.

Beathard and the Niners offense couldn’t answer back, going 3-and-out and punting.

The Cowboys managed to elongate the following drive, and cornerback Rashard Robinson committed a key third-down pass-interference penalty, which has been a problem for Robinson all season.

Robinson committed another penalty, which eventually led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Elliott. And just like that, the Cowboys were up 14-0.

San Francisco finally was able to start a drive to midfield, thanks to the rushing efforts of Carlos Hyde and a key pass from Beathard to wide receiver Marquise Goodwin.

The drive petered out at the Cowboys’ 24-yard line, forcing the Niners to settle for a field goal to make it 14-3.

Robinson was replaced by the rookie, Ahkello Witherspoon, the following defensive stand, which forced a punt.

Beathard delivered a 48-yard beautiful pass to Goodwin that almost went for a touchdown, had it not been for a score-saving tackle. But San Francisco’s third-down problems continued after a 12-yard sack by Cowboys’ David Irving.

Second Quarter

The second quarter started off with a huge hit from Foster on Elliott — a matchup most fans wanted to see:

Dallas was still able to pick up the first down later, taking advantage of the Niners’ problematic cornerbacks with veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant.

This led to an impressive touchdown grab by Cowboys tight end Jason Witten to put Dallas up 20-3 after a failed two-point conversion. Dallas kicker Dan Bailey injured his groin, explaining the odd two-point attempt.

San Francisco couldn’t get much going the following drive, ending with an eight-yard sack of Beathard after whiffed blocks by tight end Garrett Celek and running back Carlos Hyde. Punt.

The Cowboys went 3-and-out their next drive, which was a must-have for the Niners defense.

This led to an effective drive late in the half, especially with Hyde muscling his way for a tough 12-yard pickup into Dallas territory, followed by a key 14-yard reception by wide receiver Pierre Garçon.

With two minutes left and within the red zone, the 49ers managed to get a 1st-and-goal situation that ended with a sack fumble of Beathard.

Dallas recovered. It was just that kind of day.

Third Quarter

San Francisco started off the second half on offense and managed to drive into Dallas territory despite some bad pass protection. Faced with a 4th-and-4, the Niners failed to convert, giving the Cowboys the ball back on their own 28-yard line.

On the following play, a 72-yard touchdown flip pass from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott to Elliott. Before the Niners could blink, 27-3 in favor of Dallas:

And Robinson missed again.

The 49ers were forced to punt after a relatively short drive, compounded by a lack of run-blocking abilities up front from the offensive line’s interior.

Foster ended up getting injured the following drive, adding injury to insult.

Foster came back, although he ended up getting hurt again on a two-yard touchdown run by Prescott to turn this contest into an absolute route.

Dallas up 33-3 after the missed extra point.

At the end of the third, Beathard suffered another sack fumble Dallas recovered.

Ugly.

Fourth Quarter

Deep in Niners territory, the Cowboys had little trouble moving Elliott at will against a tired, overworked and injured defense.

This led to an easy touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, despite being double covered by San Francisco’s defense.

The Niners were able to effectively move their offense into the red zone the following drive, largely because the Cowboys had long since removed their starters on defense. And yet San Francisco was still giving up too much to the pass rush during the drive.

Beathard managed to scramble on a 2nd-and-goal for a touchdown, so there’s a slight positive:

San Francisco was still trailing 40-10, though.

One might have thought the Cowboys offense would slow up, having sat all their offensive starters too. Well, no. Not exactly. Dallas fullback Rod Smith managed a huge 45-yard gain into the red zone.

Dallas didn’t score, though, but neither did the 49ers on their following drive as time wound down.

Mercifully so, as San Francisco remained winless after its worst loss of the 2017 season.

Next: Cowboys vs. 49ers: 5 key matchups for San Francisco

Thank goodness it’s over.