SF 49ers vs. Cowboys: 3 best individual performances from Week 15

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Anthony Brown (30) Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

The SF 49ers’ season essentially came to an end on Sunday in Dallas, but not for lack of effort from these standout players.

That sound you’re hearing is the final nail in the coffin of the SF 49ers‘ 2020 season.

Unlike last season, which ended in the 2020 calendar year, this season has essentially come to an end prior to the flip over to 2021, as an Arizona Cardinals’ victory of the Philadelphia Eagles, along with the Niners’ 41-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the early game window, officially eliminated the SF 49ers from the playoffs.

It was more of a whimper than a bang, that’s for sure, as the injury bug bit too many times and at too many vital positions, such as quarterback, pass-rusher, and tight end, for even a relatively deep San Francisco squad to overcome.

This isn’t to say that there isn’t anything to be gained out of the season’s final two weeks, both of which will be played at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium after Santa Clara County extended its ban on contact sports, or that nothing can be gleaned from even a loss like Sunday’s in Dallas.

Lots can be learned about the players on the SF 49ers’ massive pending free-agent list as well as granting opportunities for young players to show more of what they can do as the team heads into the offseason and starts looking towards the 2021 season.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three performers from Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys that stood out among the rest.