How the Cowboys offensive line matches up with the 49ers defense

The Dallas Cowboys have a hard job today when they host the 7-1 San Francisco 49ers. If the Cowboys prepare to release an upset, they will require a well balanced offense that offers Dak Prescott time to work. Here is how the Dallas offensive line compares with the 49ers protective line.

Here are the Cowboys offending line metrics for the 2026 season up until now.

Pass Block Win Rate – 53% (8th)

Run Block Win Rate – 69% (31st)

Pressure rate enabled – 30% (15th)

Sacks permitted – 14 (4th)

Last three-week pattern: Run video game finding life

Every challenger will take a look at the Cowboys offending line and ask, where can we break it? Here’s what to look for.

PRESSURE POINT: Nick Bosa is back, and Terence Steele ought to anticipate attention

The season data can be deceiving with San Francisco. The 49ers have just 15 sacks, ranking 27th in the NFL. That does not sound especially frightening. The protective front Dallas deals with Sunday is not the very same one that produced many of those numbers.

Nick Bosa returned versus Las Vegas after missing out on 5 video games with knee and calf injuries. He instantly played 39 protective snaps and produced 2 pressures. San Francisco likewise brought DeForest Buckner back in a trade with Indianapolis.

Bosa presently has an 89.6 total PFF grade in his minimal action this season. Before suffering the calf injury, he had actually produced 6 pressures on only 41 pass-rush snaps and was winning 20% of his hurries. That brings Terence Steele into focus once again. Steele’s present 58.6 PFF total grade ranks 59th amongst 70 certifying takes on. Before Indianapolis he had actually enabled 17 pressures and 2 sacks.

Bosa moves around, so Tyler Guyton will see him. Whenever San Francisco puts Bosa over Steele, that is the match Dallas must fret about. Steele winning enough individually snaps might choose how aggressive Dallas can be offensively.

PRESSURE POINT: San Francisco unexpectedly has a challenging interior rotation

DeForest Buckner was betting Indianapolis just 2 weeks earlier. Buckner presently has 21 pressures and 6 sacks, with a 72.9 pass-rush grade. San Francisco can now turn him together with previous Cowboy Osa Odighizuwa.

Odighizuwa produced 3 pressures versus Las Vegas recently and led all 49ers protectors with an 84.4 pass-rush grade. He now brings a 51.6 general season grade after the video game. That produces an extremely various issue from merely stopping Bosa.

Dallas has Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker at guard, with Cooper Beebe in between them. That is probably the greatest part of this Cowboys offending line. San Francisco is going to check it anyhow.

Buckner is substantial and can utilize his length to keep blockers far from his body. Odighizuwa wins more with speed and currently understands much of the Cowboys linemen exceptionally well after investing 5 seasons in Dallas.

Dallas can not enable pressure from the middle to integrate with Bosa assaulting from outdoors. If that takes place, Prescott will have no place to move.

Every protective line has a weak point, here are the 49ers soft areas and where the Cowboys offending line must assault.

THUMBS-UP: Use the screen video game versus San Francisco’s hostility

Attempting to just go through San Francisco might be the incorrect response. The 49ers are enabling just 81 hurrying backyards per video game, second-best in the NFL, and their 3.33 backyards permitted per bring ranks. Over their last 6 video games, challengers have actually balanced just 70.5 hurrying lawns at 3.1 backyards per bring, and Las Vegas handled simply 24 hurrying backyards at 1.6 per bring recently.

Dallas can not invest Sunday consistently running directly into that wall. This is where screens end up being essential. San Francisco has actually enabled running backs to capture 6.8 passes per video game, the greatest in the league. That provides the Cowboys a chance to utilize the 49ers’ hostility versus them.

Unexpectedly the protectors charging towards Prescott are on the incorrect side of the play.

THUMBS-UP: Make the 49ers show the updated rush can complete

San Francisco’s protective line looked far more hazardous versus Las Vegas, however it still produced absolutely no sacks. The 49ers created lots of interruption however they might not bring the quarterback down. Their sack rate relaxes 5%, likewise near the bottom 3rd of the league. Dallas has actually enabled 14 sacks, ninth-fewest, and its 3.8% sack rate permitted ranks 5th. That is where the Cowboys need to trust themselves.

If San Francisco sends out 4 rushes, Dallas needs to want to safeguard with 5 significance they do not instantly keep additional gamers in defense since of the names standing throughout the line. Dallas requires as lots of getting alternatives as possible versus Fred Warner and a skilled 49ers secondary.

Here are the San Francisco 49ers protective patterns for this season at the protective line.

Sack Total – 15 (28th)

Pass Rush Win Rate – 49% (20th)

Run Stop Win Rate – 29% (22nd)

QB Pressure Rate – 27% (22nd)

Last three-week pattern: Front is completely packed

Terence Steele vs. Nick Bosa

There truly is just one option today. When Bosa lines up opposite Steele, enjoy them. Steele is coming off among his much better run-blocking efficiencies of the year versus Indianapolis, making an 81.7 PFF run-blocking grade, however pass security still stays the issue.

Bosa does not require 5 sacks to destroy the afternoon, one fast pressure can end a drive on 3rd down. Steele’s task is easy to explain however very hard to carry out, keep Bosa outside.

If Steele can make it through without continuous assistance, Brian Schottenheimer can send out tight ends into a path rather of leaving him to assist the take on.

Dallas does not require to attempt and show they can subdue the NFL’s finest run defense. That would be playing straight into San Francisco’s hands.

Dallas ought to still run the football. Williams is coming off a huge video game and the offending line simply produced among its much better run-blocking efficiencies of the season, however today needs more range with screens, fast passes, counters, and play-action.

Dallas has rather the prolonged injury report up until now today, however none of the beginning offending linemen are on the list. Jake Ferguson’s injury circumstance is the most significant injury amongst prospective blockers.

The most significant verified San Francisco injury in advance is Gracen Halton. The novice defensive deal with suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle versus Las Vegas and is anticipated to go through surgical treatment and transfer to hurt reserve. C.J. West is likewise attempting to return from IR after a knee injury he suffered in September.