Niner Noise breaks down the SF 49ers game vs. the Cowboys in Week 15 in real time.
I do not miss these 4:30 a.m. (for me) starts. Welcome to the pain of being an Australian watching an American sport.
The SF 49ers might be all but eliminated from playoff contention, but a win over the Cowboys would still be great.
Jordan Reed drops the ball on third down. Nothing wrong with the pass there.
Dallas doesn’t do much better on its first drive. Not the fastest start for either side.
The 49ers are pinned at the end zone but that punt was flagged, thank goodness.
Richie James fumbles the second punt, unbelievable.
Unbelievable. Being pinned right on the end zone was the BETTER of the two punts. It’s going to be this kind of game, is it?
Touchdown to Dallas, the SF 49ers offense struggles enough without gifting the Cowboys free touchdowns.
Can I go back to bed now?
Eight consecutive games with two or more turnovers, the longest streak since 2008. That is pathetic even with a lot of backups this year.
Touchdown to Dallas. The Cowboys take advantage of two horrible turnovers to maximum effect.
Penalty on the offense as it starts to get going. I got up at 4:30 a.m. for this?
The Niners get the first down, a decent recovery.
SF 49ers have done well to go down the field here.
Touchdown! Mullens to Reed! San Francisco responds.
Cowboys fumble the kickoff return, but he was already down.
At this point, it may come down to whichever defense sucks least.
To be fair to the 49ers defense, they haven’t been given a good hand with two turnovers in the first quarter.
Speaking of, the first quarter has now finished.
Field goal is good, 17-7 to the Cowboys.
Dallas sack on first down thanks to an unblocked player, Mullens has been screwed by his blocking so far.
Good response on second down to find James though.
Dallas don’t have a good defense, but the 49ers don’t have a good offense. It’s an interesting battle.
Good passing by Mullens on this drive, he’s a good backup quarterback when he actually has adequate pass protection.
Makes you think how much of an advantage the SF 49ers might have if they didn’t keep coughing up the ball early.
49ers into the red zone, very nice drive so far.
Jeff Wilson takes the ball, and the once practice squad player gets it almost all the way.
There are other plays on 1st-and-goal other than running it up the middle, you know.
The SF 49ers got right onto the goal line and then absolutely got nowhere for three drives.
Sometimes the team gets too focused on running the ball or faking the run. Sometimes you just need to pass the ball without worrying about that.
The team is going for it on fourth down… big play here.
What a player he is.
17-14 to the Cowboys, but much needed momentum for the 49ers.
There is some time for one more drive and a chance to get the lead, if the Niners can get the ball back quickly.
Ahkello Witherspoon sighting, I like the kid. I hope he plays well.
Dallas goes nowhere, so the SF 49ers will have a chance here.
Two-minute warning, but I’m not sure how aggressive San Francisco will be.
Well the drive goes nowhere quick, so it’ll be up to the defense to try to keep Dallas from scoring.
Armstead with his second sack of the day!
Only need one more play to keep Dallas from scoring now.
And the SF 49ers promptly ruin that with one busted coverage.
Dallas threw downfield once Javon Kinlaw jumped offside.
And now a Niners player is injured; Jimmie Ward got a blow to the helmet.
And the 49ers have just made two good plays, can they hold on this third down?
Yes they can, thanks to that drop.
It’s going to be a huge field goal attempt here, 60 yards.
Wide right!
Only 22 seconds to go, will the 49ers go aggressive?
Holding penalty on San Francisco, that might give up any scoring opportunities.
Announcers, Trent Brown hasn’t played for San Francisco for years.
You’re thinking of Trent Williams.
There you go.
First half ends, onto the second half now.
Fumble! Kinlaw strips Andy Dalton!
Wait, he’s ruled down on contact.
Or was he? The ball seems like it may have moved.
Ruling on the field stands, SF 49ers lose a touchdown.
Everyone but the officials seem to think that was a fumble.
Big play from Mullens to James, and helmet-to-helmet contact will add 15 yards there.
SF 49ers drive into field goal territory, and it’s 4th down and short.
Looks like they’re going to kick and get the tie game.
It’s 17-17 but it comes at a cost, as Mostert is limping again.
If you haven’t heard from the commentators, the Niners need this win to have any chance of the playoffs.
Although to be fair, a win here and against Arizona makes it interesting.
Also, three more injuries to add to the SF 49ers pile today.
Ugh, that was horrible coverage on CeeDee Lamb and that’s going to be a big third-down play.
And it’s going to be a touchdown for Dallas on the very next play. Horrible pass coverage on this drive.
Up to the Niners to respond here.
Very nice run by Wilson, he’s just been such a nice find.
How on earth did Aiyuk almost get a first down on that!?
Great third-down connection from Mullens to Reed! One yard to a tied game again!
Wilson plunges in, and it’s tied again!
Outstanding coverage from K’Waun Williams, and the Cowboys have to punt.
End of the third quarter and it’s all tied up 24-24. Can the team keep its slim playoff chances alive?
Not with that drive, as a FOURTH player is down in Mike McGlinchey.
The defense shows up again as the Cowboys don’t get anywhere, and it’s a matter of which offense wants it more.
SF 49ers pinned right against their own end zone, can they engineer a drive from here?
For the record, my article that Aiyuk would have a career game is not looking good.
He does have a touchdown, but only 18 yards currently.
Speaking of Aiyuk, big catch to give the 49ers some breathing room.
Ugh, Mullens throws it with no arm strength and a Dallas safety comes right in and picks it off.
Very bad throw.
The defense shows up again, 17 of these 27 points have been right on non-defensive issues.
It’s now 27-24 to the Cowboys. San Francisco yet to lead in this game.
Crazy, 17 of these 27 points have been right on non-defensive issues, between this and Washington last week it’s been beyond frustrating.
Two big plays by Wilson and Aiyuk, respectively, quick puts the 49ers to midfield.
Mullens airs ANOTHER pass and it was almost picked off again.
The drive stalls in midfield, but it’s a chance to pin them deep.
And they do, not quite against the end zone but well inside the 10.
Third down conversion to Lamb, which the 49ers should have prepared for since that’s the only person the ball goes to on third down.
That was a weird trick play, I mean on a shorter field it makes sense but there?
I am so annoyed by undisciplined plays, McGlinchey hitting someone late and giving up 15 yards in a situation like this is unforgivable.
Pass interference on Dallas! Aiyuk strikes again!
Ugh, Mullens throws another pick.
It just needs to be said, Mullens has played himself out of the backup job for 2021.
Four turnovers to zero, 17 points from turnovers to zero. This is a carbon copy of how the SF 49ers lost to Washington last week.
The one bright spot is the turnover happened early enough that San Francisco might get the ball back.
Strike that with a touchdown to Dallas, bounces off a couple of poor tackles and that’s the ball game.
Two-minute warning, it will take a miracle from here, unfortunately.
C.J. Beathard in the game now, Mullens must have been hurt.
So they’re going to kick the field goal now, and then onside kick and hope for the best.
It’s good, 31-24 to the Cowboys.
But now it’s onside kick time.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone ice the onside kick before.
Bourne catches the deep ball, that was certainly interesting.
So there is a consolation touchdown for the 49ers, but the result is still the same.
That’ll do it for today, unfortunately the loss confirms that the SF 49ers will not play in the playoffs for 2020.