One of the NFL’s most intense rivalries will take the spotlight on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 5.
The San Francisco 49ers, one of two undefeated teams in the league, host the Dallas Cowboys in a battle of NFC heavyweights and the renewal of a classic NFL rivalry. The two teams have met in the postseason each of the last two seasons, with the 49ers winning both games by a touchdown or less. They have made an NFL record nine appearances in the playoffs.
The 49ers have been arguably the most impressive team in the NFL this season, getting off to a 4-0 start and scoring at least 30 points in each of the first four games. The Cowboys returned to winning ways in Week 4 after a blowout loss to the Cardinals in Week 3.
USA TODAY Sports brings you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the night. Consequences.
The Cowboys had their first turnover of the game.
Cowboys running back Tony Pollard carried the football and had it knocked out by 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. The football bounced on the ground for a moment until 49ers defensive tackle Kevin Givens recovered the loose football before it went out of bounds. —Tyler Dragon
The Cowboys have yet to convert a first down on their first two possessions.
On third-and-3, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was sacked by 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa for a 6-yard loss. Bosa’s sack forced Dallas to send the football back to San Francisco with 6:54 left in the first quarter.
The Cowboys have two total yards to start the game. —Tyler Dragon
The 49ers made a statement in their opening series.
San Francisco went straight down the field with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, ending with a 19-yard TD reception from George Kittle.
Quarterback Brock Purdy went a perfect 4-of-4 passing game on the 49ers’ first possession. Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel all had receptions on San Francisco’s opening drive. —Tyler Dragon
The Cowboys and 49ers kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC. The game can also be streamed for free on Fubo.
Here are the USA TODAY Sports staff picks for this game:
Lorenzo Reyes: 49ers 31, Cowboys 25 – Although Dallas has said it remembers the last two meetings with the Niners, San Francisco is the more balanced and explosive team. Christian McCaffrey’s speed is untouchable and the Cowboys struggled against the rush. Inefficiency in the red zone is one thing against weaker opponents; The Cowboys can’t leave any points on the field against the 49ers.
Tyler Dragon: 49ers 27, Cowboys 20 – This is the game of week five for sure. The 49ers have sent the Cowboys home in the playoffs each of the last two seasons. San Francisco won 14 straight regular season games. The streak won’t end this week. The 49ers play like the best team in football.
Victoria Hernandez: 49ers 27, Cowboys 25 — Maybe an NFC Championship preview? This game is in prime time for a reason. Dallas’ defense will present the undefeated 49ers’ biggest challenge yet. But Christian McCaffrey is on the verge of setting records this season and will lead his team to victory.
Jordan Mendoza: 49ers 27, Cowboys 24 — Both teams have elite offenses and defenses. Therefore, this game is a must watch on TV to see who can win the battle between the two. It will be a close game and I think the offense will expose the defense a bit, but the 49ers have shown no reason to worry this season. San Francisco is on the rise and they get a big home win, solidifying their position as the best team in the NFL.
➤ Complete list of USA TODAY NFL expert predictions for Week 5
Inactive 49ers players:
- QB Brandon Allen
- OL Nick Zakelj
- DL Kalia Davis
- RB Elijah Mitchell
- TE Brayden Willis
- LB Jalen Graham
- LB Randy Gregory
Inactive Cowboys players:
- QB Trey Lance
- S Israel Mukuamu
- CB Eric Scott
- OL Asim Richards
- WR Jalen Brooks
- TE Peyton Hendershot
- DL Viliami Fehoko
Leave it to Dak Prescott to set the stage for a bit of juicy theater for Sunday night’s showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.
I mean, who else?
After last Sunday’s stunning win over the New England Patriots, the much-scrutinized Cowboys quarterback was certainly downright salty when asked about his motivation for a rematch against the rival that eliminated Dallas from the playoffs each of the last two seasons. It was all internal.
“I mean, you’re just trying to stop me going into the week,” Prescott said to a reporter who weighed in on the topic, mindful of the quarterback’s two interceptions in the divisional playoff loss at San Francisco threw in January. “I appreciate that. I do. In fact, I do.”
Read Jarrett Bell’s complete notebook here.
Before Micah Parsons became one of the NFL’s best players, he was a nightmare for high school coaches in central Pennsylvania.
As a running back. And foosball. And back, man. And of course a defensive end/linebacker.
At Central Dauphin and Harrisburg, the two high schools where Parsons played, he did it all. It’s no surprise that the Dallas Cowboys’ star pass rusher is looking for opportunities on the other side of the ball.
“He could do anything on offense,” said Mick Vecchio, the now-retired former head coach of Governor Mifflin, the team that knocked Parsons’ Harrisburg squad out of the Pennsylvania 6A playoffs in 2017, his senior year. “He would run around us and he would run over you. The combination of both is simply incredible.”
“He was a monster among boys.”
Read Chris Bumbaca’s full post here.
The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers are two historic franchises with a combined ten Super Bowl wins and even more bad blood.
These teams have met 39 times and their previous head-to-head record (including playoff games) is 19-19-1. In the eight seasons from 1988 to 1995, the 49ers and Cowboys combined to win six Super Bowls. They met a record nine times in the postseason, with the Cowboys posting a 5-4 record in those crucial matchups.
From a historical perspective, this rivalry is as close as ever. Here are some of the best moments.
Highlighting the Sunday Night Football odds, the San Francisco 49ers are among the best bets for NFL Week 5 as home favorites against Dallas. The 49ers have a 3.5-point advantage, according to BetMGM NFL odds. Would you like to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promotions in 2023.
According to the best NFL betting apps, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (+1400) has some of the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023. Both teams have some of the best early Super Bowl betting odds.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads gives you odds for Thursday Night Football, Sunday Night Football and more.
If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promotions and bonus codes from online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. –Richard Morin
All odds are provided by BetMGM
We have a complete list at each position:
The average price of a 2023 NFL ticket is $377, according to TicketSmarter data. That’s a big jump from last season, when the average price was $235. The NFL’s leader in ticket costs is the Las Vegas Raiders, who average $582 per ticket. Behind the Raiders are the Super Bowl 57 participants: the Kansas City Chiefs at $578 and the Philadelphia Eagles at $559. Here are the five highest ticket averages:
- Las Vegas Raiders: $582
- Kansas City Chiefs: $578
- Philadelphia Eagles: $559
- Dallas Cowboys: $545
- New England Patriots: $534
On the other end of the spectrum, the Atlanta Falcons have the cheapest average price at $225. They are followed by the Houston Texans ($236) and the Arizona Cardinals ($250). Here are the lowest five ticket averages:
- Atlanta Falcons: $225
- Houston Texans: $236
- Arizona Cardinals: $250
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $263
- Tennessee Titans: $265
—Jordan Mendoza
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