Since their famous first playoff matchup ended with Joe Montana connecting with Dwight Clark to lead the 49ers to their first Super Bowl nearly 44 years ago, what’s at stake when Dallas (3-3) and San Francisco (3- 4) have often faced has been incredibly high.
With both teams looking for a spark as the midpoint of the 2024 season approaches, it will be a key opportunity for the two clubs trying to stay connected in the NFC playoff picture, needing a win on Sunday Night Football (8 :20 pm ET, NBC and streaming on Peacock) to do so.
The injury bug has taken hold in the 49ers locker room this season, and Brandon Aiyuk is the latest offensive star to be affected. He will be out for the year after tearing his ACL and MCL in a Week 7 loss to the Chiefs. Deebo Samuel, who missed that game after suffering pneumonia, had a brief hospital stay earlier in the week, and Christian McCaffrey has yet to play this season due to Achilles tendonitis.
The Cowboys have been largely beaten at home, allowing 44 points to the Saints, 274 rushing yards to the Ravens and 47 points to the Lions in three losses, so the best news for Dallas might be that this game is in San Francis. Micah Parsons, who has been out with a sprained ankle, will not play in Week 8. Additionally, kicker Brandon Aubrey missed practice late last week due to jury duty. He was selected for the 12-member panel for the case that allegedly involves the crime of second-degree strangulation. You won’t miss Sunday games because criminal courts are closed on weekends in Tarrant County, Texas.
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