The Cowboys are back from their bye week, hoping to be refreshed and recovered from their tough loss to the Lions in Week 6. Unfortunately, the Cowboys will have to play another game without Micah Parsons, who was officially ruled out on Friday. However, the 49ers come into this matchup with their own long list of injuries.
The CBS Sports Texas team gives their Week 8 predictions:
George Teague:
The injuries at the 49ers’ skill positions make me lean toward the Cowboys. Recently, the Niners have dominated this matchup, but the pressure is mounting in Dallas. Both teams are struggling, and I wonder if the 49ers’ Super Bowl window is closing.
With key players sidelined, San Francisco is facing significant challenges, while the Cowboys have glaring weaknesses that can’t be ignored. Ultimately, I see the Cowboys playing better on the road, particularly after a bye week. Despite their inability to run the ball effectively, I believe Mike McCarthy and the team will take every creative step necessary to come out of San Francisco with a win.
Prediction:Â Cowboys 25, 49ers 23
Bill Jones:
It’s a tall order for the Cowboys to win any game without Micah Parsons, and that will be the case again Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are banged up as well, but they do have both of their elite pass rushers, Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd. Bosa and Floyd against Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele should give the Niners a big advantage in this game. San Francisco should get its fourth straight win over Dallas and maintain its psychological edge over the Cowboys.
Prediction:Â 49ers 24, Cowboys 16
Isaiah Stanback:
The 49ers’ roster is literally beaten up and prone to a beatdown. The Dallas Cowboys will edge out the Niners in this battle of wills and shallow depth charts. To come out with the victory, Dallas will need to stop the league’s second-best running back, undrafted Jordan Mason, who is second only to Derrick Henry and a notch above Saquon Barkley. Mason is a strong, patient, and explosive runner who is a complete problem for opposing defenses.
Speaking of defenses, Dallas will need to try its best to resemble a speed bump to slow down the NFL quarterback pressure leader, Nick Bosa.
If Dallas can shut down these players, they will come away from this game with a win.
Prediction:Â Cowboys 17, 49ers 13
Briana Aldridge:
If it were literally any other team the Cowboys were playing after the bye week, I would pick them to win. However, Kyle Shanahan knows how to limit what Dallas can do on both sides of the ball. I can still remember George Kittle going viral for counting each of his touchdowns in the camera.
There’s a lot of pride and determination after the Lions game, and national critics have torn this team apart; however, I don’t think the Cowboys have the tools with their top pass rushers out and linebacker Eric Kendricks fighting two separate injuries.
Prediction:Â 49ers 23, Cowboys 21