49ers prove Cowboys aren't in their class as legitimate contenders

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – George Kittle was sitting on his sofa watching action from across the NFL on Sunday morning when a particular touchdown by a particular player caught his attention. It was a 31-yard score to Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, off a flea-flicker.

Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers' star tight end, shot a quick text to his position coach, Brian Fleury.

“Dude, they ran our play,” Kittle recalled of his message. “How’d they know?

“He goes, ‘Don’t worry. We’re going to run it better.’ “

Done. Kittle hauled in a 38-yard pass from Brock Purdy off a flea-flicker – Christian McCaffrey-to-Deebo Samuel-to-Purdy-to-Kittle – for the second of his three touchdowns in a 42-10 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium.

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“Yeah, it’s 10 yards farther out,” Kittle surmised. “So, I guess that counts.”

Noting that he and LaPorta are Hawkeyes, he added, “I’m never upset when two Iowa tight ends are scoring on the same play.”

It was that kind of night for the 49ers (5-0), who remained perfect with their most complete game of the season. While they handled the fundamentals with authority, they were also able to spice it up with the trick play that has been in the playbook for the better part of two years.

Kittle could see the razzle-dazzle coming. The 49ers ran the play during walk-through practices on Wednesday, Friday and again on Saturday.

“Whenever you get something run three times (in practice),” Kittle said, “you’re probably going to run it (in the game).” 

It worked like this: McCaffrey took a handoff toward right tackle, then tossed the football to Samuel, circling back on a reverse. Kittle began the play with a block on the defensive end, then released into his pass route. After Samuel flipped the football to Purdy, the quarterback fired a laser of a throw as Kittle streaked down the sideline.

Of course, the style points for the 49ers came with plenty of substance as they dismantled Dallas in myriad ways.

And you thought the gap between these teams was tight? Not so.

Take the quarterbacking. While Purdy, the NFL’s top-rated passer, tossed a career-high four touchdown passes and didn’t commit a turnover, Dak Prescott had another of those performances that will fuel skepticism about his ability to take the Cowboys to a championship level.

No, it’s not all on Prescott. His running game was feeble. Dallas’ defense couldn’t slow down the 49ers offense. And it was not the night for the Cowboys (3-2) to get into a shootout, unable to even get a first down until the second quarter (they finished with eight). Prescott had three interceptions (14-of-24, 153 yards, 1 TD, 51.6 rating) and was sacked three times.

Surely, the 49ers defense had much to do with Prescott’s troubles. No one exemplified that quite like linebacker Fred Warner. In leading the 49ers with eight tackles (5 solo), Warner notched a sack, forced a fumble with a timely punch-out of the football from the arms of Tony Pollard and intercepted a deflected pass.

Before leaving, Warner maintained that there is no such thing as luck when it comes to big-time performances. By that, he wasn’t dismissing the breaks that teams can capitalize on. Instead, he preached that preparation and skill provide impetus to the breaks.

He demonstrated that with his knack on the turnovers. Then again, it was that kind of a night.

On Saturday night, new 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks told his players that they didn’t realize how good the unit can become. That’s striking when considering how many 49ers defenders remain from the 2019 team that advanced to the Super Bowl.

In any event, there was the sense that they haven’t clicked yet this season after being the NFL’s stingiest defense last season. The latest effort, though, marked a major step. In allowing just the eight first downs and four turnovers, the 49ers controlled Dallas with a 4-for-11 clip on third downs.

And the domination on both sides of the ball was reflected with San Francisco’s 37 minutes of possession.

When did Warner feel it would be that type of night?

“As soon as the offense went down on that first drive and scored, I knew we got them,” he said, referring to the game-opening, 75-yard drive capped with Purdy’s 19-yard TD throw to Kittle. “The way they’re operating right now is unbelievable. I’ve been a part of a lot of good teams since I’ve been here, but the way the offense is playing is unlike anything I’ve seen.

“That right there lets me know as long as the defense is doing our job, we’re always going to have a chance.”

Indeed. Like a chance for a special season.