49ers vs. Cowboys: 5 Dallas players who could spoil playoff game
By Peter Panacy
No. 4: Leighton Vander Esch can thwart 49ers run game
The 49ers are going to want to take control of the run game early and often, keeping Dak Prescott and the Cowboys off the field as much as possible.
Running back Christian McCaffrey played a big role in defeating the Seahawks during the Wild Card round, and the Niners figure to deploy him regularly throughout Sunday’s contest.
Unless linebacker Leighton Vander Esch gets in the way.
Vander Esch doesn’t receive the publicity fellow backer Micah Parsons receives. Yet the former is an excellent run stuffer and was a primary reason why the Buccaneers weren’t able to establish their own running game behind tailback Leonard Fournette.
Dallas is going to want to take away San Francisco’s rushing attack, and Vander Esch is likely to be the one relied upon the most to do so.